Ahead of Kargil Vijay Diwas 2024, a Special News9 and Salute Event commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Kargil War. The Chief Guest at the News9 Kargil Honours 2024, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC,paid tribute to the exceptional valour and commitment of the Kargil War veterans and martyrs.
The CDS, General Chauhan, TV9 Network MD & CEO Barun Das and Maroof Raza were joined at the event by esteemed guests from the Armed Forces and defence industry, as well as family members of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.
“It is said that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance… The Kargil War highlighted the importance of maintaining vigilance and preparedness for safeguarding our borders,” said General Chauhan. Among the hard lessons of the war was the need for greater unity among the Armed Forces and a single-point military advice. Thus, the office of the CDS was created, as a direct outcome of the Kargil War.
“It is important to draw lessons from the Kargil War and not make the same mistake… Counter-Insurgency operations in the Kashmir valley were a challenge that made us forget to see what was happening beyond the great Himalayan range,” General Chauhan stated, adding, “We must look into the future as no war in the future will be fought as the last one and the Armed Forces should be prepared for the same.”
Just as the Kargil War caught the nation’s imagination and attention, Kargil Vijay Diwas has emerged as an occasion to honour the nation’s bravehearts as well as inspire the future generations.
Among those honoured at the event Lieutenant General Mohinder Puri PVSM, UYSM (Retd), Air Marshal PS Ahluwalia, PVSM, AVSM**, VSM, VM (Retd) Lieutenant General YK Joshi PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VrC, SM (Retd), Brigadier Devinder Singh (Retd), Brigadier Umesh Bawa, VrC, SM, (Retd) Colonel Rajeev Kumar (Retd), and Captain Yashika Hatwal Tyagi (Retd). The families of the brave hearts Major CB Dwivedi, SM and Captain Neikezhakuo Kenguruse, MVC were also honoured. As was 5 PARA for its contribution to the conflict.
The Kargil War anniversary also reminds us of the unwavering support of the defence industry that stepped up to ensure India’s victory. In the aftermath of the war, the Indian companies involved in manufacturing defence equipment understood the magnitude of the nation’s reliance on imported weapons and ammunition. This was the catalyst that paved the way for reforms like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. Today, India has become one of the preferred defence exporters to the world, hitting almost Rs 17,000 crore in 2023-24. The goal is to increase defence exports to Rs 35,000 crore by 2024-25.
Amongst the luminaries from the Industry who spoke on the occasion were Padma Bhushan Shri Baba Kalyani, Lieutenant General Arun Sahni, PVSM, UYSM, SM, VSM from Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Mr AA Ramchandani of L&T Defence, Maroof Raza and Captain Gurpawan Singh (Retd) of IIRIS.
The issue of the Salute Magazine regarding 25 Years of Kargil edited by Major General Jagatbir Singh, VSM (Retd) was also released on this occasion by the CDS. Meanwhile, in his homage to the Kargil Bravehearts, Barun Das, MD & CEO, TV9, said that India must imbibe the Kargil heroes’ spirit of patriotism and also recalled the important lessons from the war. “These lessons continue to define today’s India… Holding the light to a world facing uncertainty on several counts, with war raging on two fronts, threatening to engulf the world at large,” Das said, adding, “I bow my head to the Kargil war heroes and the thousands of others in the defence forces who secure India 24×7.”
