Kargil Vijay Diwas- Regional Roundup

Dear Colleagues,
Here is some regional round up.
The Kargil Divas has been celebrated with great enthusiasm across many cities in the country. It had been a forgotten event till three years ago when the IESM took up the issue. Today not only the ESM community but also the civil institutions as well as the media have started recognizing the importance of paying homage to our martyrs. Heartiest compliments to Colonel Rakesh Chaturvedi who as an IESM Governing Body member has been the pushing hand in this regard.
Havildar Gurmel Singh from Dera Baba Nanak (Punjab) controls three Blocks where ESM density is high. With the political activity building up in Punjab they have told the politicians that they will attend rallies of only those aspirants who arrange for the OROP issue to be taken up in the Parliament. Colonel Balbir Parmar, a premature retiree from AEC, has started a political outfit named Sainik Samaj Party in Dehradun. He is the President and the Party has received recognition of the Election Commission on 25 July 2011. He is mailing his manifesto, after which he has requested a meeting with the IESM leadership. Among other things they seek Presidential form of government in the country.
These may be mere fledgling steps. But these leave no doubt there is a stirring and the ESM have begun to realise their own strength and potential. As they say even Henry Ford started as a workshop hand.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

Dear Kamboj,
On 27 Jul 2011 at Navi Mumbai, Kharghar we celebrated Kargil Divas. A brief report is attached. Item was covered by print/electronic media
Brigadier Dharam Prakash (Retd)

Report
Kargil Vijay Diwas was organized on 26 July 2011 by the Faculty and students of the ITM Business School, Khargar in the College premises. Senior Citizens Leagues of Navi Mumbai nodes, Ex-Servicemen’s League and the Rotary Club Kharghar, sponsored the event. The function was held at the initiative of the students. More than 200 people participated in the function.
Dr C S Adhikari, Director of the School presided over the function which started at 1630 hours in the auditorium. Dr Adhikari was happy to narrate that the students approached him to organize the event to commemorate the sacrifices of the Armed Forces. Brig S C Sharma [R etd]narrated the rugged features of Kargil terrain. The temperature dips down to minus 60 degrees celus. Both, India and Pakistan, followed the practice of vacating some of the posts in winter and rely on patrols. Pakistan surreptiously occupied the posts over 200 square kms. The intrusion was reported by a shepherd on 3 May 1999. Pakistan’s hopes of taking parts of Kashmir or Internationalizing the issue were belied by the valour, grit and determination of our Armed Forces. He recounted the deeds of some of the bravehearts.
Brig Atma Ram [Retd] gave the background of planning for tackling intrusions and hostile acts of Pakistan. The Commander at Kargil had warned of likely intrusion but no timely action was taken. His warning was ignored. He had served in that area till February 1999. Pakistan had destroyed supplies stores through observed artillery fire. There was a failure of Intelligence.
Lt Col [Retd] Dr Shiv Shankar had served in Kargil prior to the war. He displayed slides to explain the difficulties of living, fighting and providing medical help. The operating theatre had to be heated to bring the temperature to 10 degrees before an operation. He was providing medical help to civilians as well.Young students showed keen interest in the Operations and valor of the Armed Forces Mr K N Sharma, President Senior Citizens League, Khargar proposed a vote of thanks. The meeting ended with the national anthem.