Brigadier Nirav Raizada, GC, NCC group HQ's Ahmedabad dispatches cards made by NCC cadets of Gujarat for armed forces deployed at Kargil

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 2021, 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, NCC cadets of Gujarat have made around 30000 handmade cards for all the soldiers, who lost their lives in the Kargil War. This is part of the Phase 5 of the #EkMaiSauKeLiye Campaign, which was formally launched by the Chief Minister of Gujarat on 3rd July 2021, aptly titled, "Kargil Ke Veeron Ko Gujarat Ka Aabhaar", keeping in sync with the 22nd anniversary of the Kargil War.

In this phase, from 04-15 July 2021, the NCC cadets of Gujarat have made around 30000 handmade cards and also posted a large number of messages on the 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.

Earlier at a ceremony at CM's Residence Gandhinagar on 17 Jul 2021, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani flagged off these handmade cards. Speaking on the occasion, the CM had appreciated the efforts of NCC cadets of Gujarat for expressing their sense of patriotism and nationalism, through the medium of these handmade cards.

Brigadier Nirav Raizada, Group Commander, NCC Group Headquarters Ahmedabad ceremoniously dispatched 30,000 cards made by the NCC cadets of Gujarat from Ahmedabad railway station on 18 Jul 2021, to HQs Northern Command, Udhampur, and will be 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, all the cartons containing these cards are expected to be ceremoniously received by Lieutenant General YK 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 YK Joshi, UYSM, AVSM, VrC, SM is an icon to emulate and this endeavour should motivate more youth to initially join the NCC and subsequently the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Between 21-25 July 2021, these 30000 cards will be handed over to all the soldiers deployed in the Kargil sector, as a mark of gratitude from the NCC cadets of the State of Gujarat and would be Gujarat states major contribution, through the NCC cadets of Gujarat, towards recognizing the contribution made by the Armed Forces, during the Kargil War. The same would also 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 one 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.