The Kargil war was fought between India and Pakistan between May and July 1999, in the Kargil district of Kashmir and along the Line of Control. During the War, the Indian Army evicted Pakistani intruders and succeeded in capturing Tiger Hill and other posts, as part of Operation Vijay. The 22nd anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas is going to be held on 26 July, with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kargil War Memorial, Dras, followed by various other commemorative and solemn functions. To commemorate the commencement of this solemn occasion, officers, staff and cadets of Gujarat NCC Directorate attended a function at the Chief Minister’s residence, Gandhinagar on Saturday, wherein Vijay Rupani flagged off about 30000 handmade cards made by NCC cadets of Gujarat for all the soldiers, who lost their lives in the Kargil War.
This is part of Phase 5 of the #EkMaiSauKeLiye Campaign, which was formally launched by the Chief Minister of Gujarat on 3 July, aptly titled, “Kargil Ke Veeron Ko Gujarat Ka Aabhaar”, keeping in sync with the 22nd anniversary of the Kargil War. In this phase, from 4 to 15 July, the NCC cadets of Gujarat have made about 30000 handmade cards and also posted a large number of messages on social media, highlighting the sacrifices and valour of our Armed Forces and reiterated their commitment to work for the well-being of their fellow countrymen. These cards are also a medium for these young cadets to honour the memory of the martyrs and the Armed Forces personnel who are guarding the national borders round the clock under adverse conditions.
As is known, the Gujarat NCC Directorate has been running the #EkMaiSauKeLiye Twitter Campaign, which was launched on Gujarat’s Foundation Day on 1 May 2021. In the previous four phases, the cadets have connected with their relatives, inmates of old age homes, veterans and veer naris of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, doctors and frontline health workers and explained to them the protocols of Covid-19 and importance and requirement of vaccination and also expressed their gratitude for their services in these tough times. The NCC cadets of Gujarat have done phenomenal work in this Campaign, in a matter of two months. For their efforts, the Gujarat NCC Directorate was also recognised by the World Book of Records London by being accorded the “Certificate of Commitment”. In addition, this has given the Gujarat NCC cadets a direct emotional connection to the population of Gujarat, who have seen a very innovative and sincere effort being made by the NCC cadets.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of the NCC cadets of Gujarat for expressing their sense of patriotism and nationalism, through the medium of these handmade cards. He further said that youth are the future of the nation and Gujarat NCC Directorate is working very efficiently to make these cadets responsible citizens of the country. Maximum students must endeavour to join the NCC activities during their student life to imbibe the values of patriotism, duty and discipline in life, which is very necessary for the unity of the nation.
These 30,000 cards made by the NCC cadets of Gujarat will be appropriately packed and ceremoniously dispatched to HQs Northern Command, Udhampur, carried by the Western Railway, under the aegis of the Gujarat NCC Directorate by train from Ahmedabad to Jammu and further onto Udhampur. At Udhampur, on 20 July, all the cartons containing these cards are expected to be ceremoniously received by Lieutenant General Y.K. Joshi UYSM AVSM Vrc SM, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command. The General officer, who was then a Lieutenant Colonel, in the Kargil war, led the 13th Battalion of the JAK RIF in Dras and was awarded the Vir Chakra gallantry award in this action. For these NCC cadets and the youth of the Nation, Lieutenant General Y.K. Joshi is an icon to emulate and this will motivate more youth to initially join the NCC and subsequently the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Between 21 to 25 July, these 30,000 cards will be handed over to all the soldiers deployed in the Kargil sector, as a mark of gratitude from the cadets of Gujarat.
On 26 July, the 22nd anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas, while a solemn function would be held at the Kargil War Memorial, Dras, simultaneously the ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas Blood Donation Drive’ would be held at the five NCC Groups of the Gujarat NCC Directorate, all over Gujarat, at Ahmedabad, Vadodra, Jamnagar, Rajkot and VV Nagar, with due covid protocols. A total of 500 NCC cadets would donate blood, as a mark of respect for all the soldiers who laid down their lives in the Kargil War, while fighting for the nation, as also those presently serving the nation. Gujarat Chief Minister would be the Chief Guest for the main function at NCC Group headquarters, Law Garden, Ahmedabad on 26 July. This would be Gujarat’s major contribution, through the NCC cadets of Gujarat, towards recognising the contribution made by the Armed Forces, during the Kargil War, and also motivate the youth of the state, to meet their social service and community development responsibilities, as part of nation-building.
The flagging off of these 30000 handmade cards under the slogan “Kargil Ke Veeron Ko Gujarat Ka Aabhaar”, by the Chief Minister of Gujarat on 17 July 2021 would go a long way in motivating the youth of the state and NCC cadets in particular, on a very solemn national occasion, as also convey respect from the people of Gujarat, for all the soldiers who laid down their lives in the Kargil war in 1999, as also all the soldiers who are presently deployed on the national borders, making Gujarat, the state which has connected to the troops in Kargil, as well as motivated the youth in the entire state, towards meeting their social service and community development responsibilities and contribute towards nation-building. Major General Arvind Kapoor, Additional Director General, Gujarat NCC Directorate thanked the Chief Minister for his motivational and inspirational words and recognition of the endeavours of the Gujarat Directorate.