KARGIL WAR

Introduction

The Kargil war, also known as Operation Vijay was an Indo-Pakistani war of 1999 which took place in the Kargil district of Jammu Kashmir. 

It started when Pakistani troops covertly crossed LOC (Line Of Control) and occupy the bunkers which were actually made for the Indian Army. The infiltration was not discovered until some local Shepherds reported it on May 3rd. Then the actual planning and deployment of the Indian Army had started. The war didn't lead to any territorial changes and the status remained 'quo ante Bellum' meaning 'the situation as it existed before the war'.

Indian victory was the result of the war and so it was a moment of proud but it was also a Dark event in Indian history because we lost more than 500 soldiers. 

Stages of the war

There were three main stages of the war: 

1. Pakistani infiltration 

2. Indian discovery of infiltration and deployment of Indian forces 

3. Major Battles and end of the war.

STAGE 1: Pakistani Infiltration

Pakistani troops crossed the Line Of Control and took place in Mushkoh Valley in Dras, in Kaksar near Kargil, in the Batalik sector, etc.

They set up their bases in more than 132 points all that were in control of India.

The main infiltration occurred in April.

Indian discovery of infiltration and deployment of Indian forces 

On 3rd May some local Shepards saw something unusual on the peaks near the Batalik sector. They informed about the activities they saw to a soldier.

Some of the soldiers then confirmed the news and reported it to their officials.

5 army men who went to patrol were captured and tortured to death.

Then the main deployment of soldiers took place in Kargil. Approximately 200,000 Indian soldiers were deployed.

Major Battles and end of the war

From their 130+ occupied observation post mostly at higher altitudes, Pakistani's had an advantage over the war, they could clearly see all the activities carried out by the Indian troops which were a big reason to worry. They also had their eyes on National Highway 1 which was the main supply route to Leh. 

This is when Indian Airforce came to action, airstrikes were launched on 26th May but two aircrafts MIG 21 and MIG 27 were shot down by Pakistani troops and Flight Lieutenant Kambampati Nachiketa who ejected from one of the aircraft was captured as a Prisoner Of War. K. Nachiketa was repatriated to India after 8 days. 

Another aircraft was shot down the next day resulting in the death of 4 crew members. 

The Pakistani troops occupied the peaks that were in the extreme vicinity National Highway 1, so recapturing those peaks were of huge importance to the Indian Army to protect the Highway from heavy shelling.

Indian army launched a major offensive in Kargil on 6th June and recaptured two key positions in the Batalik sector. And on 13th June the Tololing in Dras was secured by the Indian army.

Seeing this, Pakistan sought America's help but was denied by the then American Prime Minister, Bill Clinton. Sources tell us that Clinton denied helping Pakistan and asked Pakistan's PM to take back the army from the Line Of Control.

Indian army launched an attack in Kargil on 2nd July and recaptured the Tiger hill on the 4th of July.

By 11th to 14th July, all the major points we're recaptured by the Indian army as Pakistan was pulling out, and the Operation Vijay was declared a success.

And finally, on 26th July, the Indian Army announced the complete eviction of Pakistani intruders.

Pakistan was highly criticized for this act later.

Awards 

1. 4 Param Vir Chakras for displaying acts of valor were awarded.

 

2. 11 Maha Vir Chakras for displaying acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy were awarded to the Indian soldiers.

We won right? So why Kargil war is a dark event in our history?

Yes, Operation Vijay was a success and it was a moment of pride that our brave soldiers saved our motherland, but can we forget those 532 heroic souls who never returned back to their families?

Are we even allowed to celebrate the victory without them, when they contributed the most? 

War never ends happily, people die, get injured. We may win or lose a war but neither is a situation where we can celebrate. Yeah, that's right. Ask the families who were dependent on those who lost their lives. Ask a mother who still awaits her son, ask a sister who still cries on every Rakshabandhan, ask a daughter who still remains unknown of what a father's love is. 

Surely, 26th July was a day when India set an example and the whole world was appreciating us. But let's not forget the sacrifice our soldiers made. Don't let the fire die. 

Remember each wound on our motherland, remember each deception, remember each Dark Event! 

Sources: 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kargil_War

EXECUTION OF MANGAL PANDEY

Who was Mangal Pandey?

Mangal Pandey is known for being an Indian Independence Fighter. 

He was born on 19th July 1827 in Nagwa, Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh to Divakar Pandey. He was an Indian soldier in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment of East India Company. He was a Hindu of aristocratic Brahman caste and was said to profess strong Hindu beliefs.

We'll discuss further why his execution was a dark event in the history of India.

Why'd he oppose East India Company?

His main opposition began when he was posted in Barrackpore, West Bengal in 1850. India was to be introduced with a new Enfield rifle in which cartridges lubricated with cow's and pig's lard (grease) were to be inserted. Sepoys were supposed to bite the cartridges from one end to empty the gunpowder into the rifle. This is when the problem began, cows are holy to Hindus and pigs are unholy for Muslims, biting those cartridges was not acceptable to any of the groups. A couple of times the sepoys were lied to that the news is false and they shouldn't take tension about the cartridges.

But eventually, Mangal Pandey and other sepoys found out that the news about the lard of cows and pigs is true.

The first mutiny started when the army men were called to test the rifles. Nobody came forward leading to a disturbance in the rule of Britishers.

Gradually Mangal Pandey and other sepoys of his regiment started to plan the fight for an Independent India.

Execution of Mangal Pandey

Mangal Pandey was overpowered and arrested when he attacked two British officials with a loaded musket. It is said that after attacking those officials Pandey shot himself from the same musket but he was taken to the hospital immediately and he survived. 

He was later given a death penalty by the court. He was supposed to be hanged on 18th April 1857 but due to the fear of revolt, the Britishers decided to hang him ten days earlier, on 8th April 1857. 

They executed him publicly so as to teach a lesson to the rebels.

What happened after?

The death of Mangal Pandey caused a huge loss to the Britishers.

- The 34th regiment was disbanded by the company as a punishment of mutiny.

- The death of Mangal Pandey led to the Indian Rebellion of 1857 which further led to the end of East India company rule in India. The rule was shifted to British Crown.

Execution Of Mangal Pandey - Dark Event in the Indian history

With his courage, Pandey told the Britishers what can Indians do when it comes to their beliefs and rights. His fight started for his beliefs but later on, he turned his fight into a fight for his nation, a fight for his countrymen's rights, a fight for an independent India.

It is well known to us that the Britishers were very less in number when they started their rule in India. But unfortunately, the first war of independence was started after a hundred years of British rule by Mangal Pandey.

He'd set the fire in the hearts of Indians who were exploited by the Britishers and their unfair rules.

Death of Mangal Pandey was a huge loss to India as he was a true Patriot. If he'd lived he would have freed India much sooner.

So we can definitely say that 8th April of 1857 was one of the darkest days in Indian history.

Commemoration

- To remember Mangal Pandey government of India issued a postage stamp bearing his image on 5th October 1984.

- Where Pandey was hanged at barrackpore, a park named Shaheed Mangal Pandey Maha Udyan has been set up by the Indian government.

Sources:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangal_Pandey 

https://g.co/kgs/wSyL3c

Dhemaji school bombing 2004

What is a school bombing?

The terms 'School Bombing' define themselves, a blast that is intended to affect or damage resources of a school whether material or human, is termed as a School Bombing.

This is one of the most vicious attacks on the face of humanity.

Dhemaji school bombing 2004

Dhemaji is a district in the Indian state of Assam. 

For the celebration of Indian Independence Day, on 15 August 2004, children along with their parents were gathered in the Dhemaji college ground where a children-oriented parade was scheduled.

At 9:30 am, when parents and children were passing through the college gate, a bomb that was planted nearby went off killing 18 people, most of them were children aged 12-14 years and some were adults. The bomb was triggered using a remote control device. Apart from the killings, the bomb also injured more than 40 people very seriously. 

Local people attacked police for failing in providing the necessary security to the college. Police had to fire tear gas and launched lathi-charge to bring the situation under control.

The bomb was planted by ULFA* (United Liberation Front of Assam).

Parthajit Baruah, director of an award-winning documentary film, ''The Dhemaji Tragedy, an undefined chapter" told in an interview that this incident was a socio-political phenomenon. He also said that ULFA had asked everyone not to participate in any Independence day celebration program but the school defied the boycott, and hence the revenge was taken by ULFA.

What is ULFA* - UNITED LIBERATION FRONT OF ASSAM?

ULFA - United Liberation Front of Assam is an organization that seeks an independent Assam. The organization is banned by the government of India and has been declared as a terrorist organization. 

After the incident, ULFA clearly denied any involvement in the bombing. 

But after 5 years of the incident, chairman of ULFA, Arabinda Rajkhowa, came forward to accept the involvement and to seek an apology stating, "...This was the biggest mistake of ULFA. The Dhemaji Incident is a black mark in ULFA history. I apologize..."

What happened after?

1. The then superintendent of police, T. Thangou and Abu Sufian of Dhemaji were suspended because of their negligence. Maybe if they had taken their responsibility seriously one Dark Event of Indian History wouldn't have taken place. 

2. 16 August was declared as a state mourning day in Assam by its then chief minister Tarun Gogoi.

Every year on 16 August Assam remembers those innocents who lost their lives in Dhemaji School Bombing.

3. After 5 years chairman of ULFA accepted the involvement in the Dhemaji School Bombing and sought an apology.

4. Six accused were convicted in July 2019. Out of which four were given life imprisonment under section 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy) and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. And the other two were sentenced 4 years imprisonment. 

However, the main accuse Rashid Bharali still remains absconding.

Not to forget!

This incident was so inhuman and surely is one of the darkest events of our Indian History, but sadly enough we didn't know about it, did we? We always try to run away from History, why? We should learn from it, so that we can be more careful and alert about these things and try to avoid the same in future.

We can't even imagine the pain of those parents who lost their innocent children, someone's skull was open, someone's hand was missing, someone's face was blown up... Dreadful! 

The only Learning we can get from this dark event is that we should always take our responsibilities seriously, especially if it's a matter of life and death. Also, we can't entirely blame the police for this tragic event here. We should all try to be more alert and note if there's anything suspicious going around, especially on the sensitive days.

We will never forget The Dhemaji Tragedy.

We won't let the dark history repeat itself! 

Sources: 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Dhemaji_school_bombing 

http://www.indiatogether.org/the-dhemaji-tragedy-media

https://m.timesofindia.com/topic/Dhemaji-bomb-blast