Vijayanth Thapar

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Vijayant Thapar was one of the many martyrs who laid down his life for the nation in the Kargil War he was in 2 Rajputana Rifles.

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1 Biography
2 Sources

[edit] Biography

[edit] Childhood

Vijayant always wanted to be in the Army . His favourite toys were guns He would wear his father's peak cap, take his cane and march around like an officer. He studied at the prestigious Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi (1993 batch). He worked hard to fulfill his ambition. And one day his hardwork paid off. He got selected in Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

His lasting memory of his child hood was running around In the sprawling garden, with his two dogs, Hirni and Alca chasing butterflies, catching dragon flies and doing mock charges on Langoors (Baboons) who were actually friendly. In the evening he would be in the Paltan (Battalion), watching wrestlers, boxers and other sportsman. At the age of four or five he had already fired a pistol sitting in his dads embrace.

[edit] Military career

Vijayant after getting commissioned on the 12th Dec'98 joined the 2 Rajputana Rifles at Gwalior. The battalion stayed barely for a month before they move to Kashmir to check counter insurgency.

The unit moved to Kupwara where it was involved in counter terrorists operations. Here Vijayant was involved in two fierce encounters. While still involved in this counter insurgency tasks orders were received for the unit to move to Drass to evict the enemy who had occupied Tololing, Tiger Hill, and adjoining heights.

[edit] The Kargil War

Vijayant moved under the command of his CO Col. M.B. Ravindernath, VrC and his company commander Major P. Acharya. The battalion was then given the task of capturing Tololing. This was a God sent opportunity for Vijayant as he was an officer always looking for action. After the initial assault by Major Mohit Saxena was held up, on the night of 12th June'99 Capt. Vijayant Thapar led his platoon to capture Barbad Bunker.

After the successful capture of Tololing he was given the task of capturing Three Pimples, Knoll and Lone Hill area. The attack started with Vijyant's platoon leading on a full moon night along a razor sharp ridge wih no cover to offer. There was intense and accurate artillery shelling and heavy enemy fire. He lost some of his dear men and some more were injured causing the attack to be disrupted. However with his indominable spirit and tremendous urge to capture Knoll he got together, the remenants of his men and moved through a ravine to face the enemy. It was a full moon night . Moreover this was an impossible position to capture. The troops of 6 Northern Light Infantry had all the advantages. Strongly prepared positions one narrow knife edge ridge, with precipitous slopes on both side, ravines thousands of feet deep, devoid of cover and almost vertical climbs at places.

While the exchange of fire was going on, full of excitement Vijayant reached his company which had already secured a foothold on Knoll. By this time his company commander Major P. Achrya had been killed. At this news Vijayant's anger was explosive. He surged ahead with his colleague Naik Tilak Singh. Both of them started engaging the enemy merely 15 mts. away. There were two enemy machine guns firing towards them. After about an hour and a half of fierceful exchange of bullets and abuses Vijayant decided that he had to end the enemy. As he moved up to do so a burst of fire struck him on his head. He fell in the arms of his comrade Naik Tilak Singh. A brave son of India had fallen. It was after that the men of his company charged and fully captured Knoll. The victory at Knoll on 29 June 1999, is a saga of bravery unmatched, and unbounded grit and determination. Courage alone and unflinching faith in almighty God alone turned a tactically impossible situation into a victory

For this act of bravery and his ultimate sacrifice, Capt. Vijayant Thapar was awarded the Vir Chakra.