Listen to Story "Dear Papa" is how the letter starts. The blue inland letter dated June 19, 1999, in beautiful handwriting was penned amid icy cold winds. The letter was from Major Padmapani Acharya of 2 Rajputana Rifles.
It would be the last letter that Major Acharya, one of the heroes of the Kargil War, would write. Major Acharya had led his men to an astounding victory, recapturing the Tololing Heights. But he knew the war was far from over, and he might need to make the ultimate sacrifice.
He died a hero's death nine days after writing the letter. Major Padmapani Acharya was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, the second-highest wartime gallantry award. In the last letter from Kargil, to his father, Major Acharya explains what motivates a soldier to die for his country, even as he calls the Prime Minister "a good chap".
The letter is a glimpse into his last days at the battlefront, as he tries to comfort his family about their concerns regarding casualties in a war. Soldiers at war fronts write to their families knowing that it could be the last message for their loved ones. Vowed to military secrecy, a soldier can but reveal precious little of the war front.
Major Acharya's letter doesn't say where and when, but is significant in personal details. As India marks the 25th anniversary of the Kargil War, the letter tells the story of a braveheart, and makes people wonder at his composure. It is a must to revisit it -- lest we forget.
In the letter , written in response to a letter from his father on June 14, we see the concern of a son, a husband and a father. But, with the elan of a soldier. Acharya was commissioned into the 2nd Rajputana Rifles in 1993, and played a crucial role in the Battle of Tololing.
The recapture of Tololing was the first major victory for India in the Kargil War. India finally declared victory in the Kargil War on July 26, 1999. However, Major Acharya's role in Kargil War didn't end with the Battle of Tololing.
The Kargil War started with Pakistani soldiers dressed in civilian clothes occupying Kargil, from where Indian troops had withdrawn as a part of a mutual agreement. Major Acharya's task was important in the war as Pakistan's primary aim during the Kargil War was to stop India's access to the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway. Therefore, maintaining control over Tololing was of prime importance to the Pakistani army.
For India, reclaiming Tololing from Pakistan was a matter of urgency. The 2nd Rajputana Rifles played a key role in the Battle of Tololing along with the 18 Grenadiers. They won.
After playing a heroic role in the Battle of Tololing, he wrote a letter to his father, Jagannath Acharya. The letter was written with an awareness that he could not share details of the war, but he could inform his family about other aspects of his life. It started with informing his father about how well his unit was doing.
"Dear Papa, Hope this letter finds you in the best of health and spirits. Thanks for your letter and card dt. 14 June 1999.
We are already getting ready for our next task. Our unit now has to live up to the higher expectations of the Army, Regt, as well as the media. You know what, even the Chief sent a letter of congratulations to the unit.
" He discussed their hard work and strong ethos that have led to this appreciation for their unit. He mentioned another important aspect of a soldier's life: perseverance. Perseverance was important to Major Acharya.
The Indian Army was carrying out operations during the night amid harsh winds and temperatures as cold as -11 degrees Celsius. Challenges did not stop here for the soldiers. Rain and fog hindered their progress further.
Major Acharya's unit fought through everything, enemy bullets, bitter cold and continuous rain in the Battle of Tololing. After the unit returned victorious in their mission, they were showered with praise. But his family might have been concerned about the casualties.
That's what Major Acharya, a family man, was trying to assure his family about. "Please don't worry about casualties. It's a professional hazard which is beyond our control, so why worry? At least it's for a good cause," he wrote.
Then he quotes from the Gita. "In the Bhagwad Gita, Lord Krishna briefs Arjun on the following lines: Hato va prapyasi swargam, Jitva va bhokshijasey / mahim, taduthisht kaunteya, yudhaya kritnishchayaha. ("Die and you will go to heaven; conquer, and you enjoy sovereignty of the earth; therefore, stand up, Arjuna, and fight with determination.
")" Then, like the skilled officer he is, Major Acharya makes the matter light. Major Acharya discusses the food he eats and what he looks like. This is where he reveals his humorous side.
(Images: X/CestMoiz) "No, we are not air maintained, but the food is good, and we have a Bengali doctor if not Chinese. I am quite a sight now with an unkempt beard and Vaseline cream all over my ugly face to counter the icy winds." Even Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Acharya's unit and tried to motivate them.
Interestingly, he calls the PM a "good chap". "Yes, the PM's Kargil visit was good motivation. Good chap," he wrote.
Towards the end of the letter, Major Acharya speaks of a soldier's honour. He also reveals that he has been thinking about his unborn child. "Please tell manam (his mother) that combat is an honour of a lifetime and I would not think of anything less.
What better way to serve the nation. I am proud to be in the Infantry and especially in our illustrious battalion. Take care of your health as well as manam's.
Don't worry and lose sleep. Tell a story a day of the Mahabharata to Charu [Major Acharya's wife, Charulata], so that your grandchild imbibes good values. Jai Mataji ki.
" The letter was written after the victory at Tololing. After losing Tololing, Pakistani militia had gathered at Point 4700. On June 28, 18 Garhwal Rifles received success despite continuous firing from the enemy front.
Three Pimples was next, made of Knoll, Lone Hill and Three Pimples, according to the former Army chief General Ved Prakash Malik. This was an important complex as it allowed the enemy front to keep an eye on the movement of Indian troops. The Rajputana Rifles tried to launch an all-out attack but was not successful.
The Indian Army got Knoll first, followed by Lone Hill and Three Pimples on June 29. It was in the battle for Lone Hill that Major Acharya would again play a crucial role again. Next was Tiger Hill, just 10 km away from the Srinagar-Leh highway.
This time, Brigadier MPS Bajwa, commander of the 192 Mountain Brigade, assigned this task to 19 Grenadiers and the 8 Sikh Regiment. The Indian Army’s High Altitude Warfare School supported them, acording to General (retired) VP Malik's book, Kargil: From Surprise to Victory. A company led by Captain Sachin Nimbalkar secured an important point just 100 metres away from the peak, and the Ghatak Platoon, led by Lieutenant Balwan Singh, secured a point which was 30 metres away.
Both companies moved towards the peak and shelling continued. The Pakistani military supply lines were cut by the Sikh battalion and finally, the 18 Grenadiers hoisted the Indian flag at Tiger Hill on July 8. India would emerge victorious in the battle after the Batalik Sector was recaptured.
Finally, military operations were concluded on July 26, 1999. Major Acharya played an important role in the Lone Hill battle. In the battle on June 28, 1999, he was at an altitude of 5,000 metres and bullets fired by the Pakistani army were whistling past.
Amid the barrage of bullets from machine guns, Major Acharya, as a company commander, led his troops to the top. Success of the Battalion and Brigade operation hinged on the early capture of the position. The leading platoon came under heavy fire, and saw high casualties, revealed Malik, the former Army Chief.
"With utter disregard to his personal safety, Major Padmapani Acharya took the reserve platoon of his company and led it through raining artillery shells. Even as his men were falling to the murderous enemy fire, he continued to encourage his men and charged at the enemy up the steep rock face with his reserve platoon," the Ministry of Defence citation on Acharya being awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously, reads. Amid the hail of enemy bullets, Major Acharya crawled up to the enemy position and lobbed grenades.
But he sustained grievous wounds. "Despite being severely injured and unable to move, he ordered his men to leave him and charge at the enemy while he continued to fire at the enemy. The enemy position was finally over-run and the objective was captured," says the citation.
After completion of the mission, Major Acharya, however, succumbed to his injuries. The letter written to his father became Major Acharya's last letter from Kargil. That letter is a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice of a soldier and his love and fortitude amid some of the most extreme conditions.
Three months after Major Acharya laid down his life for his country, the family was blessed with a baby girl..
