These Quotes From Our Indian Army Soldiers Will Give You Goosebumps
Captain Vikram Batra, PVC.
Captain Batra was selected to join the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun in 1996 in Jessore company of Manekshaw Battalion, and was commissioned in the Indian Army as a Lieutenant of the 13 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles at Sopore, in Jammu and Kashmir. During the Kargil War, he re-captured Point 5140 at 17,000 feet, he radioed his commanding officer and said this:
“Yeh Dil Maange More”
“Ya toh tiranga lehrake aaunga, ya fir tirange mein lipta hua aaunga, lekin aaunga”
Captain Batra’s last words were the battle cry: “Jai Mata Di!”
He was only 24 years old.
Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC
He went to the Lawrence School, Sanawar and later joined the National Defence Academy in June 1967. His final words over the radio to a superior officer who had ordered him to abandon his burning tank were:
“No Sir, I will not abandon my tank. My gun is still working and I will get these bastards.”
He was only 21 years old.
Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, PVC
He went to Sainik School, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and Rani Laxmi Bai Memorial Senior Secondary School for his studies. He passed out from National Defence Academy in 90th course and got commissioned in the 1/11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army. He forced back the intruders on 11 June 1999 at Batalik Sector in the Kargil War. He led his men to re-capture the Jubar top which was considered crucial due to its strategic location.
Prior to his selection, during his Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, the interviewer asked him:
“Why do you want to join the Army?”
“I want to win the Param Vir Chakra.”
True to his words, Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey did win the country’s highest gallantry honour but posthumously.
He was only 24 years old.
“Some goals are so worthy, it’s glorious even to fail”.
“If death strikes before I prove my blood, I promise (swear), I will kill death.”
Major Somnath Sharma, PVC
He was commissioned into the 8th Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment (later 4th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment) of the Indian Army (then British Indian Army) on 22 February 1942.
His last message to Brigade HQ received a few moments before he was killed was:
“The enemies are only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to our last man and our last round.”
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw
He is the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. His distinguished military career spanned four decades and five wars, beginning with service in the British Indian Army in World War II. Manekshaw rose to become the eighth chief of staff of the Indian Army in 1969 and under his command, Indian forces conducted victorious campaigns against Pakistan in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 that led to the liberation of Bangladesh in December 1971.
“There will be no withdrawal without written orders and these orders shall never be issued.”
“If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha”
“I wonder whether those of our political masters who have been put in charge of the defense of the country can distinguish a mortar from a motor; a gun from a howitzer; a guerrilla from a gorilla, although a great many resemble the latter.”
Capt R Subramanium, KIRTI CHAKKRA
He was selected for the 90th course at NDA (National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla) and joined NDA in July 1993. He passed out from NDA in 1996 and completed the training at IMA (Indian Military Academy),Dehra Dun in 1997. He was commissioned in the Army on 7th June 1997 as 2nd Lieutenant. He was called to Kargil Sector in May 99 and remained at Drass Sector, Mushkoh valley till End of August 1999.
“You have never lived until you have almost died. Those who chose to fight, life has a special flavor the protected will never know!”
“Quartered in snow, silent to remain.
When the bugle calls, they shall rise and march again.”
– The scroll of honour at the Siachen Base Camp
