Captain Vikram Batra was an Indian Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra (PVC). For his exemplary actions during the 1999 Kargil War, he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
Wiki/Biography
Captain Vikram Batra was born on Monday, 9 September 1974 in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh (age 24; time of death). His zodiac sign is Virgo.
He received his primary education from his mother. He completed his secondary education from DAV Public School, Palampur. He received his high school education from Palampur Central School. Batra was a very popular student and his teachers said he treated everyone with respect. Batra participated in many sporting and academic events and had won most of them. His classmates said that he won almost 75% of the awards every year. He represented the North District in the National Table Tennis (Central School) Competition and the National Youth Parliament Competition.
Vikram Batra at school
He pursued his bachelor’s degree in medical science from DAV College, Chandigarh. At DAV Academy, he was declared the best National Cadet Corps (NCC) of two regional air wings. This led to him being selected for a 40-day helicopter flying training at Pinjore Flying Club in Jaliran, Haryana. He was later selected to participate in the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi in 1994.
Captain Vikram Batra in college
While studying for his Bachelor of Science degree, a company in Hong Kong invited him to join the merchant navy, but he declined; determined to join the Indian Army. After completing his bachelor’s degree in 1995, he joined Punjab University for his master’s degree in English. He was simultaneously preparing for the Combined Defense Services (CDS) examination and working as a part-time manager at a travel agency in Chandigarh. In June 1996, he passed the CDS exam. He left the course and joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun.
Captain Vikram Batra is studying
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′8″
Weight (approximately): 75kg
Eye color: black
Hair color: black
Captain Vikram Batra
Family, caste and girlfriends
Captain Vikram Batra comes from a Hindu family. He was born to Girdhari Lal Batra and Kamal Kanta Batra. His father was the principal of a public school. His mother is a retired school teacher. She died in Palampur on February 15, 2024 at the age of 77. He has a twin brother Vishal Batra, who works in a bank in Chandigarh, and two sisters Seema and Nutan.
Vikram Batra’s father Girdhari Lal Batra
Vikram Batra’s mother Kamal Kantha Batra
Captain Vikram Batra and his twin brother Vishal Batra
Vikram met his girlfriend Dimple Cheema in college, where she was also pursuing a master’s degree in English from Panjab University. They fell in love and decided to get married after Vikram returned from the Kargil War.
military career
Vikram joined the Manekshaw Battalion of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, in June 1996. He collapsed from IMA on December 6, 1997 after training. In January 1998, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army. He is posted with 13th Battalion, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (13 JAK Rif), stationed at Sopore, Jammu Kashmir. Before taking charge, he was sent to Jabalpur for regimental training.
Captain Vikram Batra in training camp
In March 1998, he was sent to the Infantry School, Mohau, Madhya Pradesh to attend the Young Officers Course and was awarded Alpha rank. Thereafter, he was posted to areas with frequent armed activity. He led many operations and encounters. During one of the ambushes, a bullet fired by an insurgent passed him by, slightly hitting him in the shoulder and killing a soldier behind him. Batra knew that the bullet was meant for him, not the other soldiers. He ordered his team to capture all militants and avenge the soldiers. Batra was devastated by the incident as he knew that his comrade had died unexpectedly. In January 1999, he was sent to Belgaum, Karnataka, for a commando course. It lasted two months and he achieved excellent results in this course. Upon completion, he attained the highest rank, that of instructor.
Captain Vikram Batra in Karnataka
In 1999, Batra went home to celebrate Holi. He had been to the Neugal Café; his favorite place to drink coffee. The Kargil war had begun and he knew he would soon be called upon. His troops were ordered to proceed to Shahjampur in Uttar Pradesh, but soon, their orders changed and they were asked to move to Kargil. His 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Battalion (13 Jak Rif) was ordered to capture Tololin Hills, which they successfully did. 
After the victory at the Battle of Tololin, his battalion was ordered to capture Point 5140; a strategically important peak in the Dras region. Under the cover of artillery fire, they started to climb point 5140 from the back side of the mountain. This is a steep climb and the only most unexpected attack area by Pakistani soldiers. They climbed to the top of the mountain and attacked the Pakistani army by surprise. Batra killed three Pakistani soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. His battalion suffered no casualties. They captured Point 5140 and captured a large amount of ammunition and heavy guns. Batra contacted his command post and uttered “Ye Dil Maange More” (his battalion’s victory call). After his arrest, Batra was promoted to the rank of captain. His victory was celebrated across India. Because it’s playing on millions of TV screens.
Captain Vikram Batra after victory
die
On July 3, 1999, the 13th JAK Rifles and the 28th Rashtriya Rifles began their mission to capture Point 4875. This is a strategically important peak as it overlooks the 30-40 km long National Highway 1 and the Indian Army posts. Batra did not participate in the mission; he was suffering from a fever. Each battalion set out to perform the mission and successfully reached the summit, but the strength was insufficient; due to fierce shooting. Captain Batra sought permission from his commander to go to the battlefield. Seeing this, other soldiers also asked to go with him. Batra was allowed to go to the top of the mountain with 25 soldiers. The top team received a wireless message – Sher Shah (Batra’s code name) was coming. The message was intercepted by Pakistanis. They knew who Sher Shah was, they broke into the Indian Army’s wireless communications and threatened him. Batra learned of the threat, but he continued on.
After Captain Vikram Batra captures Point 5140
On July 7, 1999, he reached point 4875. They attacked 2 bunkers and destroyed them, but were shocked when Pakistani troops attacked them from behind a ledge. Batra crouched forward and threw two grenades that destroyed a Pakistani machine gun position. He stormed the ledge, entered through the narrowest entrance, surprised them and killed five Pakistani soldiers. The fierce attack by Captain Batra and his men gave them the upper hand. Pakistan had only one machine gun position left. Batra was seriously injured. He took control of the post, however, an Indian soldier was injured. Batra asked a Subada to evacuate the soldier, and when they pulled him out, he was shot by a sniper and then a rocket hit him near the head. Batra fell to the ground and died from his injuries. This angered the Indian soldiers, who subsequently captured Point 4875.
Captain Vikram Batra
fact
- Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra. It is India’s highest military honor and recognizes acts of valor or self-sacrifice in the face of the enemy, whether on land, sea or in the air.
- On January 26, 2000, his father received the Param Vir Chakra awarded to his late son from the President of India KR Narayanan.
Captain Vikram Batra’s father GL Batra receives Param Vir Chakra from former President KR Narayanan
- After his death, point 4875 (the place where Captain Vikram Batra died) was named Batra Peak. A residential area in Jabalpur Cantonment has been named Captain Vikram Batra Enclave. A hall at the Service Choice Center in Allahabad, where Vikram Batra was interviewed by CDS, has been renamed Vikram Batra Block.
- In 2003, a film was made about the LOC Kargil conflict. Abhishek Bachchan plays Captain Vikram Batra in the movie.
Abhishek Bachchan as Captain Vikram Batra
- On June 23, 2010, the Indian Military Academy (IMA) unveiled a bust of Captain Vikram Batra in his memory.
Captain Vikram Batra’s parents unveil bust of him at IMA Dehradun
- Former Army Chief General VK Singh inaugurated a state-of-the-art canteen named Vikram Batra Mess. It is located at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, and can accommodate 1,200 people.
Captain Vikram Batra Mess, IMA Dehradun
- In 2014, Captain Vikram Batra’s mother Kamal Kantha Batra contested the general election from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Hamirpur constituency in Himachal Pradesh. Eleven months after joining the party, she was defeated and quit the party. She was not happy with the party’s functioning and said she was contesting the elections only because Arvind Kejriwal personally asked her to do so.
Vikram Batra’s mother Kamal Kanta Batra and Gul Panag
- On April 17, 2017, Captain Vikram Batra was so traumatized by the poor maintenance of his statue that his father GL Batra took it upon himself to clean it. If the Himachal Pradesh government is unable to provide funds for the maintenance of the statue, he will provide funds.
Vikram Batra’s father cleaning son’s statue
- On September 9, 2018, Health Minister Vipin Singh Parmar inaugurated the Shaheed Captain Vikram Batra Degree College on the birth anniversary of Captain Vikram Batra.
Statue of Captain Vikram Batra in Palampur
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Captain Vikram Batra at the National War Memorial in New Delhi on February 28, 2018.
Statue of Captain Vikram Batra at National War Memorial, New Delhi
- Karan Johar has announced a biopic on Captain Vikram Batra. Sidharth Malhotra will play the role of Vikram Batra and Kiara Advani will play the role of Dimple Cheema.
Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra
- To commemorate the 23rd birth anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, artist ‘Da Vinci’ Suresh installed an underwater portrait of late Captain Vikram Batra at Pangod Military Station in Thiruvananthapuram on July 26, 2022; the portrait was claimed by the media The largest underwater portrait of Captain Batra.
a unique tribute #kargilwar Vikram Batra, the heroic captain of Pangode Military Station in Thiruvananthapuram. Underwater portrait installed by artist Davinci Suresh, 50 feet long by 30 feet wide@PIB_INDIA#kargilvijediwas @DefenceMinIndia @Tri_Service @rajnathsingh pic.twitter.com/koXJ4lg4AY
— PIB in Kerala (@PIBTvpm) July 26, 2022
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education