Our Correspondent

Leh, June 30

A guest lecture session on the Kargil war by veterans was held here on Saturday as part of the special national integration camp to mark the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

The camp started on June 26 under the aegis of the National Cadet Corps and is being organised at the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre, Phyang. It is one of the series of outreach programmes to highlight the victory of India over Pakistan in the Kargil war of 1999. The theme of the Kargil war celebrations is rejoice, renew and remember.

During a guest lecture on Saturday, Col Sonam Wangchuk, hero of the Kargil war, shared stories and anecdotes of Operation Vijay with the cadets.

He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra. President Ram Nath Kovind released a documentary named “Lion of Ladakh” about the troops under Colonel Wangchuk, who repelled enemy forces from Chorbat La in the Batalik sector. He was successful in pushing them back on May 31, 1999. It was the first successful operation of the war.

He said his achievement had given a boost to the morale of other units of the Army. Colonel Wangchuk is known as the Lion of Ladakh and is the first Army officer who had achieved success in the Kargil war.

The war veteran motivated the young cadets to join the Army to serve the nation. Colonel Sonam Wanghuk stressed the need to be physically and mentally fit and to become a role model in society with good values and discipline.

About 500 cadets from various states and Union Territories are taking part in the special national integration camp at the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre. Governor Satya Pal Malik is expected to attend its closing ceremony on July 7.