Image credit: Instagram
Date Of Birth: 9 September, 1974
Birth Place : Himachal Pradesh, India
Education: B.Sc
Spouse: N/A
Children: N/A
Occupation : Indian Army Officer
Died On: 7 July, 1999
Cause of Death: Battlefield
The legendary Indian Army 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.
Vikram Batra Early Life And Education
Born on September 9, 1974, Captain Vikram Batra was from Bandla Gaon in the Himachal Pradesh district of Palampur. Capt. Vikram Batra, son of Smt. Kamal Kanta and Shri Girdhari Lal Batra, attended D.A.V. Public School in Palampur for his elementary education before graduating from Kendriya Vidyalaya in Palampur for his senior secondary education.
In 1992, he passed his second PU and was accepted to Chandigarh’s D.A.V College. Capt. Batra joined the NCC during his undergraduate years and won the North Zone’s finest NCC Cadet (Air Wing) award.
Join the Indian Army
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.
Kargil War
The assignment to retake Point 5140 was assigned to Captain Vikram Batra, 13 JAK Rifles, and his Delta Company. He chose to lead the rear because he believed that a sense of surprise would enable the adversary become stunned, earning him the nickname Sher Shah (or “Lion King” in Urdu/Hindi) for his unwavering bravery. The enemy used machine gun fire to pin him and his soldiers on the face of the exposed cliff as they approached the summit of the sheer rock wall.
Nevertheless, Captain Batra and five of his men ascended and, once at the summit, threw two grenades at the machine gun post. In close battle, he killed three enemy soldiers by himself. Despite suffering severe injuries in the process, he insisted on reassembling his men to carry out the objective. On June 20, 1999, the soldiers of 13 JAK Rifles, motivated by Captain Batra’s bravery, stormed the enemy position and took Point 5140. His company is credited with retrieving a heavy machine gun and killing at least eight Pakistani soldiers.
A series of achievements, including Point 5100, Point 4700, Junction Peak, and Three Pimples, were triggered by the conquest of Point 5140. Points 4750 and 4875 were recaptured by Batra and comrade Captain Anuj Nayyar, who led his men to victory. In the early hours of July 7, 1999, he was murdered while attempting to save an injured officer during an enemy counterattack at Point 4875.
Conclusion
Capt. Batra will have a special place in the history of our military because of his tremendous bravery, camaraderie, and dedication to his duty. Capt. Vikram Batra received the Param Vir Chakra, the country’s highest gallantry award, posthumously in recognition of his extraordinary bravery, unwavering determination, leadership, and selfless sacrifice. Father Girdhari Lal Batra, mother Kamal Kanta, and twin brother Vishal Batra survive Capt. Vikram Batra.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Vikram Batra famous?
Captain Vikram Batra is well-known for his bravery and leadership, which became icons of Indian valor during the Kargil War in 1999.
Vikram Batra height?
He was 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall and Approximately 75 Kilograms weight.
Vikram Batra age?
He died in 1999, at the age of 24.He was born on 9th September 1974 and hailed from Bandla Gaon in Palampur district of Himachal Pradesh.
Vikram Batra death reason?
He was killed while attempting to rescue an injured officer during the Kargil War in the early hours of July 7, 1999.
Vikram Batra family?
His father Girdhari Lal Batra, mother Kamal Kanta and his twin brother Vishal Batra.
