KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS-2013 At Kargil Shaheed Smarak Shukratal Dear Friends, A grateful nation paid homage to the heroes and martyrs of the Kargil War on its fourteenth anniversary and celebrated the Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26, 2013 all over the country. A good many functions were organised at several important places and locations of historical significance where the people in general and the Ex-Service Men (ESM) in particular arranged Sharadhanjali sabhas in the spirit of military tradition and in fulfilment of their duty towards the departed comrades in arms. Our special complements are due to Col Rakesh Charutvedi for being the main driving force in the NCR year after year. Besides, reports are pouring in about the stellar role played by many others at their locations. Just to name a few, Col Raman at Chennai and the ESM community along with the serving personnel at Bangaluru too did the nation proud on the occasion. A memorable function was held at the Kargil Shaheed Smarak Shukratal, District Muzaffarnagar (UP). This year the Kargil Vijay Diwas was celebrated on 27 July. A large number of ESMs, Shaheed Parivar and civilians attended. Five officers from NOIDA drove down and attended the ceremony along with Lt Gen Niranjan Singh Malik, PVSM, Chairman Kargil Shaheed Smarak Samiti Shukratal. They were Brig Raj Bahadur Sharma, VSM, Cmde AN Awasthi, Col Sukhlal and Col Ram Singh. Members of Shaheed families of Nk Bachan Singh 2 Raj Rif, Sep Narinder Singh Rathi, 4 Jat and Gdr Rijavan, 22 Grenadiers were felicitated on the occasion. Wreaths were laid and floral tributes were paid by all present. The Shaheed families were honoured appropriately. Several ESMs and local persons spoke. Sub Maj Dharam pal Singh and Sub Randheer Singh who organised the function thanked all for helping to make the function a success, particularly Shri Babu Ram Baliyan, former Chief Engineer UP PWD, who took upon himself to host the function. Shri Veerpal Narwal, former MLA from the area also extended help in organising the event. Commissioner, Shri PR Varma came with his staff, laid a wreath and addressed the gathering. A word about the Kargil Shaheed Smarak Shukratal shall be in order where a memorial has been built in the memory of the 527 martyrs of Kargil on the banks of Mother Ganga. This Smarak was inaugurated in 2003 by Swami Kalyan Dev ji Maharaj, a great follower of Swami Vivekananda, who later took Samadhi at the age of 129 years in 2004. He was instrumental in building the fabulous Shaheed Smarak at this renowned mythological place. He was ably advised and helped by Lt Gen NS Malik PVSM, Late Maj Gen Shamsher Singh, AVSM, SM and Late Col Shiv Mittal Engrs. Great help was provided by 22 Infantry Division, the Bengal Engineers Group from Roorkee and the Uttar Bharat Area, Bareilley. It was a labour of love and dedication for the entire team. A question is generally asked as to why at Shukratal? The answer lies in our mythology. Raja Parikshat, the grandson of Arjun of Mahabharat fame was cursed to die of snakebite for having put a dead snake around a Rishi’s neck when the latter was meditating. The king, however, got salvation (moksh) through listening to the Bhagvad Katha recited by Maharishi Shukdev ji son of Great MahaRishi Ved Vyas ji on the banks of the Ganga under the banyan tree (the vat viraksh) at Shukteerath or Shuktal,now known as Shukratal. It is said that 88 thousand Rishis attended for seven days It is believed that along with Raja Prikshat, all those who had died in the Battle of Mahabharat,, also got moksh. The belief has continued ever since that Shaheed on the battle field would get moksh at Shukratal. This very belief had prompted the great sage, Swami Kalyandev ji, to build the Kargil Shaheed Smarak at Shukratal on the banks of the majestic Ganga, the giver of salvation. Homage is paid to the Shaheed at the Smarak twice a year viz. on 26 July and at the time of the Ganga Shnan coinciding with the Kartik Poornima, when a very big fair is held there and a large number of visitors pay a visit at the Shaheed Smarak, located right on the Kargil Ghat. The Army is also requested to lay on some demonstration and display some military equipment to attract the public. An old Vijayanta tank is placed courtesy Ministry Of Defence at the gate of the Shaheed Smarak. Shri Shukdev Ashram Shukratal built by the Late Swami Kalyandev ji Maharaj, now under Swami Omanand ji Maharaj has the tradition of hosting large Jathas of 250-300 pilgrims coming from various parts of the country though out the year to the Ashram to listen to the Bhagvad Katha under the same over 5000 years old Vat Viraksh. for seven days They are encouraged to visit the Smarak. The Smarak is an octagonal (ashta bhuj) three storeyed building in the shape of a Mandir with a large compound and big verandas ( noy shown in the old photo) that are used for meetings. Inside the Sanctum Sanctorum, the front wall supports a huge War Map depicting the complete history of the war with proper markings, as also indicating all formations and units that took part in the Kargil War. A reversed rifle with a helmet, depicting the Fallen Shaheeds, is emplaced in the centre embedded in the five stones brought from the Tiger Hill that bear blood marks on them. The other six walls carry the names of all the 527martyrs, including five from the Indian Air Force, along with the unit and districts they belonged to. As the Smarak stands on a height overlooking the Ganges, the basement below caters for eight large rooms planned to house a museum depicting the Battle of Kargil with each room dedicated to the Formations and Units that had participated in the combat for displaying their deeds of valour and tactical game plans. The large compound skirting the edifice is to be turned into a garden. A little further away a Sainik Rest House with eight rooms with all facilities is yet to come up.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Aug 2013 04:39:25 +0000
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