India, July 26 -- Aishwarya Sakhuja (Rishabh) I remember when the Kargil War was going on, my father was posted in Mhau, which is a small military station in Madhya Pradesh. I vividly recall him rocking on his chair, extremely upset that he was not there to defend the country, while we had the Kargil war going on in the upper part of the country. He was posted in a peace area not field area. We were walking on eggshells around him. We also lost soldiers who had worked under my father. They were posted in Kashmir at that point of time. He was upset every time news came in like this. It was a turbulent time for our family. My dad was worried. I've never seen my father like that before:Priyanshu Painyuli Vishakha Pandit Actor Priyanshu Painyuli's father, Retd. Colonel V.K. Painyuli, was posted in Bangalore during the Kargil war. The actor mentions: "My father had just finished his posting in May before being transferred to Bangalore. Back then, he was a Major and was connected to the development in Kargil and Siachen." He further adds, "It was tough for my dad as he was worried about the situation. I've never seen my father like that before. He was constantly checking on the developments. During the war, most of the officers were called back. As we were staying in the Army colony, we would get regular updates from someone's father losing a leg, or someone going missing. There was a lot of nervousness. It takes a lot of courage for the Army wives and their families to go through what they go through. In our hearts and minds, each fauji's family knows this is what has to be done, this is what is right for the country. As an officer, that's what he signed up for, and as a family, we believed in it. You don't get used to it, but you accept it. You hear the news and you go on. It just becomes a part of your life." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Celina Jaitly (Deep) The women, the children, the elders, we all become silent warriors: Celina Jaitly On Kargil Vijay Diwas, actor Celina Jaitly remembers the period when her father (late) Colonel Vikram Kumar Jaitly was an active serving officer during the war period. "A 1971 war veteran and an infantryman from the Kumaon Regiment, during the Kargil War, although not deployed at the front, I believe he was involved from base control, playing a role in coordination, communication, and logistics. I was a teenager then and as a daughter, I carry his legacy in pieces, but each one carries immense weight. I saw the weight he carried each day, and throughout his life as an infantry man," recalls Celina. During the war period she was living in Kolkata. "What I remember most vividly are the blank stares of parents at their sons' funerals, the gut-wrenching sobs of young wives/children who had just lost their husbands. It wasn't just news, it was pain that hung thick in the air, something we witnessed up close with immense heartache. Every home in the Army circle felt it. Every radio transmission, every phone call from the front, we lived and breathed it with a lump in our throats." The memories are still fresh 26 years after. "Tense, numb, prayerful - you're always holding your breath, waiting for news, dreading every unknown number that calls. You try to carry on with life, but emotionally, you're stationed at the front lines alongside them. The uniform isn't worn just by the one who serves, it's felt by the entire family. The women, the children, the elders, we all become silent warriors. Every Kargil dispatch felt personal. And every martyr felt like one of our own." The war left a great impact on her brother. "My younger brother was still in school during Kargil, but the war left a deep impact on him. It shaped his life's path, and he went on to join the Indian Army and serve as a Para SF officer. That sense of duty, born of pain and pride, ran deep in our family," she says. Talking about the legacy, she says, "My grandfather, Colonel E. Francis of the Rajputana Rifles, was also an infantryman, a 1962 war veteran, and was wounded during the Chinese aggression. His stories of resilience and sacrifice became part of our family's DNA. My great-grandfather served in the Army Education Corps and was a WW1 veteran. So for us, Kargil wasn't just a chapter in national history, it was a moment that echoed through generations of service and sacrifice." She concludes, "There's pride, of course, but also a quiet grief that never fully goes away. When I see the country remembering Kargil with such respect and reverence, I feel seen, not just as a citizen, but as a soldier's daughter and granddaughter. But I also remember the cost. Behind every wreath laid and every candle lit, there is a family that paid the ultimate price. My father always said: 'If you want to honour a soldier, be an Indian worth dying for'." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx It was a difficult time for all of us: Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia on her father, Retd. Brigadier Gurdeep Singh Ahluwalia Vishakha Pandit Actor Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia's father, Retd. Brigadier Gurdeep Singh Ahluwalia, served in the Kargil War (1999) as a Major, with the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and was awarded the Sena Medal for his gallantry. Nimrit shares her father was posted in Jammu and Kashmir. Sharing her memories of the war, Nimrit tells us, "It was a difficult time for all of us. I was four and too young to understand what was really happening. My mom had sleepless nights as she used to juggle work, two kids, and had constant anxiety of not hearing from my dad. Every evening, she'd just be glued to the television. There was one time during Kargil war, when we didn't hear from my dad for 15-20 days. My mom would say, 'No news is good news,'. Later, my dad revealed that he would call us only right before going on operations." She further adds, "When he got the Sena Medal, we were so proud of him. I feel extremely proud of what he's done for the country. Though it's bittersweet - because the war also meant losing so many lives. It's not something anyone wants repeated." Despite it all, Nimrit express how she is proud to be a fauji kid. "Every time someone says 'your father fought the Kargil War,' my heart gets fuller. I get goosebumps every time he tells those stories - stories I've probably heard 10,000 times. Often when his Army friends gather, they talk about those operations. Stressful times, but they always make it seem so effortless. It's only later that you realize the weight of it all." XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx Rannvijay Singha : 'During Kargil War, I witnessed how families need to very strong' (Deep 'Kargil Vijay Diwas brings memories of the first war my generation witnessed' Deep Saxena Actor and host Rannvijay Singha comes from a distinguished military family - his father, Lt Gen (retd) Iqbal Singh Singha, was posted as Colonel in the Poonch-Batalik sector during the 1999 Kargil War. Twenty-six years later, the actor reflects on that pivotal time when Indian armed forces were fighting for the nation. With five generations serving in the armed forces, Rannvijay shares: "Seeing my grandfather, maternal grandfather, and uncle in uniform made those formative years incredibly impactful. For my family, the fauz (army) was the only way of life. In the 1980s, Punjab was the field area, and by the early 1990s, we were posted to Jammu and Kashmir, where we witnessed action while living in various locations." "Kargil Vijay Diwas brings back memories of the first war my generation witnessed firsthand. My father and uncles were directly involved. That's when I truly understood what it means to be part of something greater than yourself - the meaning of patriotism and our collective consciousness as Indians," he says emotionally. During the war, his father was in the combat zone while Rannvijay was at his college boarding (Army Public School, Delhi), with the rest of the family in Hissar. "When war broke out, I rushed home. Those were days filled with anxiety. While we couldn't communicate directly with Dad, we received periodic updates. I saw how military families had to remain strong so their men could focus on the fight without worrying about home. My responsibility was to motivate children and youth through sports and activities, while senior women mentored young officers' wives," he recalls. Rannvijay notes that post-war, families rarely discussed the details. "There are many protocols and confidential matters that simply aren't talked about. Everyone assumed I would join the Army - I even cleared the SSB (Services Selection Board) - so they wanted me to learn through experience without preconceptions, as partial knowledge can be dangerous." He attributes his success to his military upbringing. "I grew up surrounded by people passionate about sports, which led me to develop a love for motorcycles, travel, and adventure sports. When I took a year to explore adventure, that's when Roadies happened," he says, referring to his breakthrough on TV popular show. Reflecting on a pivotal conversation with his father, Rannvijay shares: "I was hesitant when asking my father for advice. He told me I had officer-like qualities but could also serve by spreading awareness about the armed forces. Now, when I participate in the Mhow Infantry Run or bike runs on Kargil Diwas, or motivate youth to join the services, I understand what he meant by 'serving the army from outside'." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx A daughter of the forces Nikita Dutta: remembers Kargil: Those days were extremely tense (S Farah Rizvi For actor Nikita Dutta, her family's deep roots in the Indian armed forces, days like Kargil Diwas evoke a powerful mix of overwhelming emotions and patriotism. Having been just six years old during the Kargil conflict in 1999, Nikita vividly recalls the tense atmosphere. "Known as Operation Vijay, we were based in Mumbai, and my father was posted at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai," Nikita explains. "The Navy during Kargil Conflict was basically responsible for blocking ports of Pakistan, specially Karachi. I remember him coming back very late or sometimes not even returning back home. My elder sister would still put a brave face on but I would often feel scared and cry. I was in a navy school where there were only children from the armed forces. Those days were extremely tense. Every time my father came back home was a huge relief for us." Nikita shares that for families of soldiers, wars and conflicts represent the toughest phase. "The stories we got to hear about our young officers and jawans who conquered those mighty peaks of Himalayas, and laid down their lives defending them filled us with pride," she says. "But as a child I do vaguely remember those days being very gloomy. There would always be news about someone getting martyred. There was an emotion which is a mix of being brave but also anxious because you knew anything can happen." The actor further elaborates on her father's significant role during that period. "My father, Rear Admiral A K Dutta, who as a naval architect, has been responsible for the design, building and maintenance of warships and submarines," she explains. "He was a part of a technical branch trained in India and abroad to undertake these tasks. So, per se that's not a fighting arm of the Indian Navy but a crucial one in ensuring that our warships remain fighting fit, always." On the Indian Navy's broader role, Nikita emphasises, "We know 80 to 90% trade of a country takes place through sea routes, and during conflict or war situations, the first action is always to cut the supply chain of your adversary. That is what the Indian Navy did during Kargil and did very successfully. The role of the organisation where my father worked was to ensure that all our ships and submarines are fit enough for long deployments out at sea, and in case any problem arises, to address it in double time." Not only her father, but Nikita also shares that her father's brother, her uncle, was also part of the conflict. "My uncle Major General SK Dutta belonged to the regiment of artillery, which played a significant role during Kargil. So we as a family were completely connected with war scene back then," she states. For Nikita, Kargil Diwas holds significant meaning, especially for her father and uncle who served. "I feel once you have grown up in the environment of armed forces, every victory or loss attached to it feels personal. And a day like the Kargil Diwas is exactly that," she quips. "What makes it etched in our memories is that my father was awarded the Nausena Medal. Being a commander he was a part of the submarine overseeing team so he was also awarded a medal for Operation Vijay for being involved in the operations on the technical front." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...