Tiruchirapalli, July 26 -- Twenty six years on this very day the Indian Army recaptured its posts in Kargil occupied by the Pakistani forces and brought to an end the three-month-long war.

As the country celebrates Kargil Vijay Diwas on Saturday, the story of Major Mariappan Saravanan, an officer in the prestigious Bihar Regiment of the Indian Army continues to inspire. The later officer laid down his life fighting Pakistani forces on Jubar ridge on the western side of Batalik, the second-highest battlefield in Ladakh.

Batalik sector, close to the Line of Control (LoC), is characterized by high altitude, rugged terrain, and deep valleys, which presented significant logistical and operational challenges during the Kargil war.

Major Sara...