Karnataka - Dharwad   

Remembering Kargil soldiers

For the heroes: A memorial for soldiers who died in Kargil, in Dharwad.

DHARWAD: As the nation remembers the sacrifices of soldiers who laid down their lives during the Kargil operation, on July 26, there is something more to the commemoration programme held in Dharwad annually.

Dharwad has the “Kargil Vijayotsava Smaraka Stupa”, a memorial erected in memory of the soldiers who laid down their lives in defence of the country during the operation in 1999. The nation lost 572 soldiers in the operation that lasted for 74 days and 13 soldiers from Karnataka were among them.

Uttar Karnataka Sainikara Kalyana Samiti, established in 1970, was instrumental in erecting this memorial. The samiti’s president Chandrashekhar Aminghad and general secretary Krishna Joshi guided by retired Brigadier S.G. Bhagavat mooted the idea of having a memorial for the soldiers.

Their idea was well received by Puraskara Samsthe, Jain Youth Federation, Merchants Association and several other organisations, which joined hands with the samiti in constructing the memorial. The samiti got the memorial ready in 2002. It is believed to the first memorial in the country related to Kargil operation.

Names of the 13 soldiers from the State have been engraved on it. The samiti has plans to carve the names of all the 572 soldiers who lost their lives in the operation. This is likely to be implemented shortly. This year, the samiti, in association with various other organisations, will observe “Kargil Vijay Diwas” by honouring the family members of the martyrs and other soldiers from Karnataka who contributed to the victory.

Deputy Commissioner M.S. Srikar will preside over the programme, which will be held near the memorial situated on the premises of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, on Thursday at 4 p.m.

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