The legendary Indian Army commander Captain Vikram Batra

The legendary Indian Army commander Captain Vikram Batra lost his life retaking Point 4875 in the Drass sector during the Kargil War in 1999.  Throughout the conflict, his courage and leadership came to represent Indian bravery.

Captain Vikram Batra was born on 9th September 1974 and hailed from Bandla Gaon in Palampur district of Himachal Pradesh. Son of Shri Girdhari Lal Batra and Smt Kamal Kanta, Capt Vikram Batra received his primary education from D.A.V Public School, Palampur and then completed his senior secondary education from Kendriya Vidyalaya Palampur. After passing his second PU in 1992, he got admitted in D.A.V College in Chandigarh. While in college Capt Batra joined NCC and was awarded the best NCC Cadet (Air Wing) in the North Zone.

In 1994, he was accepted into the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun.  He was commissioned into 13 JAK Rifles, an infantry regiment renowned for its valiant warriors and many battle accomplishments, after joining the Jessore Company of Manekshaw Battalion. His first posting after being commissioned was at Sopore in the Baramulla area of J&K. His unit had finished its field assignment by April 1999 and was getting ready to relocate to their peace site.  However, the operational picture was altered and the unit's transfer to its peace site was canceled in early May 1999 after it was discovered that Pakistani forces had invaded the Kargil sector on a significant scale.

The capture of Point 5140 set in motion a string of successes, such as Point 5100, Point 4700, Junction Peak and Three Pimples. Along with fellow Captain Anuj Nayyar, Batra led his men to victory with the recapture of Point 4750 and Point 4875. He was killed when he tried to rescue an injured officer during an enemy counterattack against Point 4875 in the early morning hours of 7 July 1999.

Capt Batra’s bravery, camaraderie and devotion to his duty were extraordinary and would find exalted place in the annals of our military history. Capt Vikram Batra was given the nation’s highest gallantry award, “Param Vir Chakra” posthumously for his outstanding courage, steadfast resolve, leadership, and supreme sacrifice. Capt Vikram Batra is survived by his father Shri Girdhari Lal Batra, mother Smt Kamal Kanta and his twin brother Shri Vishal Batra.