Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh lit up a Victory Flame and handed it to Olympic shooter Subedar Jitu Rai in the presence of Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat and Kargil War hero Subedar Sanjay Kumar, a Param Vir Chakra awardee at National War Memorial in Delhi. The flame , marking 20 years of Kargil War Victory against Pakistan , will travel through nine major towns and cities of North India and its journey will culminate at the Kargil War Memorial at Drass on July 26 where the Indian Army Chief will receive it.
Symbolises the coalescence of the souls of the Kargil War martyrs, (Vijay Mashal) Victory Flame will be carried by Indian Army’s outstanding sportsmen and war heroes . All along the journey, Indian Army personnel will be paying homage to the heroes who fought valiantly for the Nation.
Year 2019 marks the 20th anniversary of Operation Vijay wherein soldiers of the Indian Army overcame seemingly insurmountable odds, hostile terrain, weather, and a determined enemy occupying dominating heights, to win the Kargil war. On this momentous occasion, the Indian Army is celebrating this victory in memory of its brave martyrs with events covering a myriad spectrum.
According to a press release , the design of the Victory Torch has been inspired by the grit, guts and glory displayed by the immortals who made the supreme sacrifice for the motherland in the finest tradition of the Indian Army. The Torch is made of copper, brass and wood which symbolises the tenacity and determination of our fallen heroes. The upper portion of the Torch has a metal etching of the Amar Jawan, epitomizing the fallen Unknown soldiers. The lower wooden portion of the Torch has 20 gold embossed inscriptions of the Amar Jawan exemplifying 20 glorious years of the Kargil Victory.
“This Victory Flame and the journey of the eternal flame from the National War Memorial to the Kargil War Memorial brings alive the theme of the 20th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas -‘Remember, Rejoice and Renew’. We ‘remember’ our martyrs by revisiting their sacrifices, we ‘rejoice’ by celebrating the victory in Kargil and we ‘renew’ our resolve to safeguard the honour of the Tricolour “, said in press release.
The event , at Nationa War Memorial , was also attended by Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, GOC-in-C of Northern command; Lt Gen Y K Joshi, GOC, Fire and Fury Corps and a large number of other dignitaries.
