Vijayant at Kargil - A book review

 

Vijayant at Kargil

Authors: Col Thappar and Dr. Neha Dwivedi.

About the Authors:

Col Virendar Thappar, the father of Capt Vijayant VrC(P), is a third-generation soldier. He writes a biography about his son, who was martyred in the Kargil war.

Dr. Neha Dwivedi is the daughter of Maj CB Dwivedi, who was also martyred in the Kargil War.

Book Review:

This book is a biography of Capt Vijayant Thappar VrC (Posthumous), a fourth-generation army man from the Thappar family.  Capt Vijayanth cleared the NDA and joined the 2nd Rajputana Rifles. The 2 Raj Rif is always tagged as "Ever Victorious." This book broadly covers the life history of Capt Thappar.

The biography starts with a beautiful wedding of Col Virender Thappar and Mrs. Tripta Thappar. The Thappars kept on packing and moving as Col Thappar faced multiple postings.  Capt. Thappar was a perfect Fauji Brat, and the initial part of the book talks about his childhood days. Capt Thappar was the firstborn, and he was nicknamed Robin. He enjoyed the military stations and the warships and battle tanks. Robin was named Vijayant, inspired by the Battle Tank Vijayanta – Indian Army's first indigenous war tank. Robin had a brother whom he called Birdie. Robin's childhood days were filled with witnessing the army officers and soldiers marching at the army camps, etc.; he idolized his father, who always returned home in the olive green uniform. Robin's first words were not mama and papa, and the authors have beautifully described the scene.

His bedtime stories would include the war stories of 1965 and 1972 wars retold by his grandparents. Robin's love for tom cruise movies, TOP GUN as his favorite one, he was greatly influenced by the uniforms and aviators. Robin grows up to have his first love as Indian Air force. But eventually, he ended up joining the infantry like his father.

Robin was an introvert but would share the feelings about life and death with his very close ones, especially his cousin. His cousin and brother would be shocked when he would say that he would die for the country in the uniform or sneak into the kitchen to taste the cocktail for which he would say that he would need practice for his NDA days.

A very religious and philosophical Robin would keep thanking God for all that he was blessed with. Robin cleared his NDA and joined the 'Ever Victorious' 2 Raj Rif, whose war cry is "Raja Ramachandra Ki Jai." His coursemates and fellow brothers in arms would tell that he was seen chanting Hanuman Chalisa and was a genuinely devoted person.

Robin used to write beautifully and had created doddles about the war. He had maintained a diary that he was supposed to complete when he returned from the Kargil war. As India's political scenario changed and the Kargil war was on, the 22-year-old Robin relied on letters to communicate with his family. The exchange of letters is very well documented in the biography by the co-authors. Robin would often rely on the idea that "India is a country that is 'great' and is worth 'dying for'" The incidents during the war, where he meets the young girl Ruksana and writes about her to his parents, will definitely leave you in tears. Robin had a secret lady love Naina (as mentioned in the book). But the country stood first to Robin rather than his family or his lady love. We remember that Vijyant is known for his valor, but through this book, we get to experience his humane side, whether that be helping the distressed or taking the responsibility of Rukhsana.

When Kargil war was on, Robin and his brother in the arm – Capt Kengruese loved their superior officer Major Padmapani Acharya. They fondly called him Tau and his newly wedded, then-pregnant wife, Tai. Kengruese and Robin would visit their Tau and Tai for a cup of tea and would always be shy to pick up a conversation. When they realized their Tai was pregnant with the first child, they brought a teddy bear to gift to the unborn child.

 The last few chapters of the book are so gripping enough that it describes the importance of the Battle of Knoll's victory and the martyrdom of many brave hearts, including Robin, Capt. Kengruese, Capt Kalia, and Major Padmapani Acharya., MVC(P).

It indeed is a herculean task for the family members to write about their most challenging experience that they had gone through in their life. But as the proud father Col Thappar and a brave daughter, Dr. Dwivedi (D/o Maj CB Dwivedi – a Kargil martyr), decided that Robin's story must be retold to the generations to come, we all are reading the book 'Vijayant at Kargil.' 

I would say that Robin's strong belief in the Almighty is beyond description. Because without such Otherwise, how could he foresee a lot for himself, including a posthumous award?

If the reader doesn't get tears of pride and pain in his last letter, which is a testimony of great 'Inspiration,' then there is nothing more to say. Robin displayed great traits of bravery, courage & inspiration. Before the attack on 'Knoll,' his daring sermon that nobody will turn back speaks volumes of his inspiring leadership. The capture of 'Knoll,' an extremely challenging operation, became a 'Turning Point' of the Kargil War under his command. Though the Nation won the Kargil War, there will be many untold stories of pain and loneliness that will never be known to the world!

After reading this book ;

1. I missed Robin and his Tau, unlike ever before. How I wish Robin came back to complete his diary, to his cousin's wedding, to play with Birdie, to hug his parents, to meet Naina again.

2. Though the war sings the valor and victory, some families are shattered forever. The unpaid debt of 450, the unkept promise of gold Jewelry, the unread letter in the pocket, saving a fellow officer, and dying because the protected officer is a young girl's father, and what not... every incident made me cry. After working with the noble organization called "Team DESH" I began Knowing Mrs. Acharya, Col Thappar and the Dwivedis, and other families, I feel heaviness in my chest that I presume will never go away.

Robins's story needs to be known to every young man to come. Finally, the lesson learned is to Live life king size! Kudos to Thappar uncle and Neha for this fantastic book.

Raja Ramachandra ki Jai!

JaiHind.

Breaking the stereotypes – Women in Safety profession !

EHS – Occupational Safety Officer – Health Safety Officer – Safety officer : A field that ‘was’ completely male dominant field with relatively less or even no woman working in the field. Have we ever wondered at the first instance, why women were not considered for this field, initially? When women were the ‘home-makers’ where they took care of ‘fire – safety’ while cooking, ‘road safety’ while taking their children to the school, ‘ergonomics’ while they correct the posture of the “working” husband and kids, ‘Health safety’ while feeding the family..? 

When the home maker woman considers the safety of her family members as her priority in all possible ways, why was a woman not considered fit for a “Health Safety Officer”? As difficult as it is for the society to visualize a male for a nurse, it is for visualizing a female officer for construction safety or biosafety or as a whole, Industrial safety. Of recent, a woman is not considered a rare face in the (mid)leadership of safety. Looking at the improvements, one can confidentially say that the percent of women working in safety field has tremendously increased from then to now. 

Way back in 1986, when one of the first females – Abrams was joining the field, she was taken aback by the statement that she would be terminated from the work if she gets pregnant. One may see a woman as safety managers, safety directors, very rarely vice president within a larger corporate safety program. Don’t you think this needs to change ? Don’t you think we need to Recognize women who are qualified for these positions? Don’t you think we must not discount them because of their gender? Why don’t we break the gender stereotype in professions?

Searching for a title....

It has been nearly 48 hours since I began mourning my angel baby—the one I may never hold in my arms. Did I cry? I cannot say for sure. Everything feels like a dream—a cherished yet fleeting memory. Why am I sharing this? To vent? To seek solace? I leave that for you to decide.

Like many couples navigating the ups and downs of an arranged marriage, my husband and I had our own journey. Four years after our grand wedding, we faced a persistent question: "Any good news?" Then one Friday, everything changed. The two pink lines on a pregnancy test brought a wave of disbelief and joy. In our excitement, we bought more tests to confirm what seemed like a miracle. That weekend was the longest of our lives, filled with anxiety, excitement, and hope. We decided to keep this secret until the gynecologist confirmed the news.

It was the pandemic, and even visiting a doctor was a challenge. After much effort, we secured an appointment for Monday. The wait in the reception felt endless. When my name was called, my husband and I rushed in. The doctor, who had been treating my anxiety and PMS for years, smiled warmly and asked my husband to join us. She confirmed that the news looked promising but asked us to wait another week for confirmation.

Unable to contain our excitement, we shared the news with our parents. They were thrilled but cautioned us to be patient and take things slowly. When the doctor finally confirmed the pregnancy, our hearts were overwhelmed with joy. Seeing the tiny sac on the screen was a moment we would never forget. The doctor’s advice was simple: avoid online half-truths and trust our family’s wisdom.

We named our baby "Bidda" and began talking to them every day. I read stories of heroes like Major Acharya, Netaji, and Abhimanyu. We played chants and introduced Bidda to the voices of our loved ones through videos and calls. My husband, after work, would share stories and make promises about toys and bedtime cuddles. These moments strengthened our bond and filled our lives with hope.

At 11 weeks, during a routine scan, our joy turned to heartbreak. Bidda’s heartbeat had stopped. The doctor sought second and third opinions, but the outcome remained unchanged. On July 24, the day of Adi Pooram—a day celebrating the goddess’s baby shower—we were asked to visit the scan center early in the morning. The night before was sleepless and filled with dread, reminiscent of the Thursday night when I lost my baby brother. Death was not new to me, but this loss felt unbearable.

After hours of scans, the doctors confirmed what we feared: Bidda had become an angel. The cause remained unknown—placental bleeding and the loss of cardiac activity defied medical explanation. The Giver had reclaimed the gift. That evening, amidst rituals celebrating life, we offered our angel back to the divine.

Swallowing the prescribed pills felt like swallowing shards of glass. Pain, both physical and emotional, engulfed me. Four hours later, our tiny Bidda was gone. The grief was overwhelming. Questions haunted us: Why us? Why Bidda? Was it a boy or a girl? Whom did they resemble? The answers remain elusive.

In our sorrow, we found solace in believing Bidda is now our angel, watching over us. Perhaps they came to strengthen our bond, to teach us about unconditional love, or to unite our family. Whatever the reason, we are grateful for the brief yet profound joy Bidda brought into our lives.

Thank you, Bidda, for choosing us. We will miss you deeply but will forever cherish the precious days of parenthood you gave us.

Dated July 26, 2020.