Real Heroes - Real Freedom

Gaanappriya Mohan Yogesh Bio scientist/Poetess / Bilingual Writer

Biography:

Gaanappriya, a true ‘geek girl’ , had her early life in various villages and cities spread across the South Indian subcontinent, and the fashion capital of the world, New York City began writing down her experiences. Her writing started from her school days, when she eagerly waited for her language classes and essay writing competitions. An avid reader and writer from childhood days, she shares the poignant experiences of her life and travels, weaving stories and poems both in English and Tamil. She is a passionate blogger, and her writings have been published in various literary journals and online sites. Gaanappriya is a scientist by profession, having post-graduated in Biotechnology and working on cancer research for.. over a decade, and has been conferred with "Best Women Scientist" and "Young Women Scientist" awards. She is the youngest senate member of St Teresa University, the Grenadines. She is also the winner of the "Nutpam Award" for her contribution to Tamil Literature, a National Championship in Karate, another National Championship in Yoga and a Best Dancer award. When she is not at work or on literary pursuits, one can find her volunteering with her Team DESH where she interacts with families of the soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces.

She currently lives in Bangalore, India, with her husband.

Home Coming of a Hero. !

By Gaanappriya Mohan Yogesh

When you go home, tell them that we gave our today for their tomorrow..

India fought one of the major wars – the Kargil war during the summer of 1999 from May1999 – July 1999. Though the official victory of the war was on July 26,1999, there are families that have been losing their loved ones at the borders due to the tensions built. This is a tale of a Kargil war Veteran Capt Naveen Nagappa Sena Medal, who climbed up the Kargil hills on July 2019, for the first time after the war. He survived the Kargil war at Pt 4875 at the cost of losing his fellow brother in arms. A story of grit, power, determination and discipline is retold in my words. Back in 1999, a young Mechanical Engineer who had the lavish option to go to the United States of America or any such foreign countries of his choice to have a comfortable life chose to remain with the Indian Army. In January 1999, unaware of the war ahead, unaware of the consequences of the war, unaware of the losses he will go through, Capt(Retd) Naveen Nagappa was commissioned in the 13th Battalion Jammu & Kashmir Rifles (Jak Rif) of Indian Army. Within less than 6 months of his commissioning, came a surprise to the whole nation, about the Pak. Infiltrators who had started occupying the Kargil Mountains and most of the points that belonged to India. From mid-May, the Kargil War was officially announced. When the team members had already gone up there to fight, Lt Naveen was there without fighting. He went ahead and requested his then CO Col YK Joshi to permit him to lead a team for fighting. After a long discussion, the new joinee – Lt.Naveen Nagappa, was given about 120 men with an assignment to capture point 4875, Mushkoh valley's Indian Bunkers. Just before the journey of victory, Lt Naveen addressed his boys, "I WILL NOT LET ANYONE OF YOU HAPPEN ANYTHING & WILL BE READY TO EVEN SACRIFICE MY LIFE TO SAVE U. I WILL NOT BE THE MAN WHO WILL RUN AWAY. EVEN IF I DIE IN THE WAR, I WILL HAVE BULLETS ON MY CHEST BUT NOT MY BACK. I MAY HAVE THE DEARTH OF EXPERIENCE BUT NOT THE DEARTH OF SPIRIT." With such an inspirational speech, he vouched," No matter what, we will unfurl the Indian Flag and hoist it there (at the point), and only then will we return." After capturing one bunker, Lt Naveen was reaching to another bunker stealth of Pt 4875. The war was on. Continuous fighting and bombardment, 4th morning, 4th night, 5th Morning, 5th night, 6th Morning, 6th night, and 7th Morning. How did the unit fight continuously? What made them fight? It was sheer patriotism and brotherhood. And during this fight, a grenade landed in the bunker from where Lt Naveen was fighting. The Lt, who was well trained on handling the grenade, however, with the physique that had been fighting for more than three days, realized that he can't pick up the grenade within two to three seconds and throw it back to the enemy bunker. His quick reaction to the situation was that the explosion is inevitable, and he wanted his upper body and face it to reach home as one piece while he can afford to lose his lower body. Realizing his fellow brother in arms was in grave danger, the SherShah of Kargil, Capt. Vikram Batra pulled Lt Naveen from the bunker, and this act of Capt Batra is remembered by Lt Naveen every day," Probably that is what saved my life." Capt Batra fought valiantly with the boys and captured point 4875 on July 7,1999, and in the process, attained martyrdom. When Lt Naveen was taken to a lower point and was helicop-ed to the hospital, in his half-con sciousness, he witnessed the Indian Flag

flying high at Pt 4875. The sense of pride and satisfaction was equal to none. Lt. Naveen told himself that whatever was going to happen after the hoisting in irrelevant, and he had played his role with sincerity and was successful. The satisfaction or the sedatives made Lt Naveen close his eyes. In the grenade blast, Lt Naveen's legs were severely injured. He was in the Artificial Limb Center, Pune. The following 21 days after the attack, Lt. Naveen's legs were tied. He underwent 8 major surgeries and was bedridden for 21 months. For his valor and bravery during the war, Lt Naveen was promoted as Capt Naveen Nagappa and was awarded, Sena Medal. However, he was officially boarded out of Army. Doctors said that he would not be able to walk ever again, without any support. Twenty years passed by(1999 – 2019). Not a day goes for Capt Naveen without remembering his beloved Vicky sir (Capt Vikram Batra., Param Vir Chakra), who had saved his life. Losing many comrades in the war had a very massive impact on Capt Naveen that he was never able to visit the place where his boys won, where he lower parts of the body were shattered, where his beloved Capt Vikram Batra chose to make the supreme sacrifice, where he lost his buddies. Nevertheless, when the order came from his then Commanding officer, who is presently Gen YK Joshi, to trek the point 4875 to recreate the memories of the Kargil War, Rejoice the victory, remember the Heroes and renew the memories, Capt Naveen, who is still a soldier in heart and mind, obeyed the order and set off for the journey. Capt Naveen Nagappa and eight other officers made it to Point 4875, which is now called Batra Top, along with Mr. Vishal Batra, who replaced the position of his identical twin, the SherShah – Capt Vikram Batra, ParamVir Chakra(P). It was an emotional movement to see the whole team letting out the War Cry of 13 – JAK RIF: Durga Mata Ki, Jai! Not only, Capt Naveen, but there were also thousands of such soldiers who are out there safeguarding the country and her pride. About 527 warriors laid down their lives in the Kargil war of 1999. Twenty years down the lane, they have pain, memories, pride, and some citations. All citations mention their bravery, how valiantly the soldiers fought the war. But no citation explained how the soldiers disregarded their own safety and fought, how their feelings of brotherhood made them fight back ferociously, how the soldiers fought despite their fevers, how the boys volunteered to go with their officers, how the men protected each other, saying that "aap bachche wale log hai (you are a family man and have a wife and kids to look after!), and many more…

Along With Capt Naveen, the father of Major Sandeep unnikrishnan (26/11 Blast Martyr), family of Major Akshay Girish (Nagrota Martyr), and Desh Family with its founder Mrs Adrija Sen.

Team Desh, with his family members, wanted to give the hero a surprise and a warm Home Coming, which was due for Twenty Years. Mrs. Sowmya Naveen, Ms.Savera Naveen, along with the sisters, sister – in – law, Aunts, Friends, and his extended family DESH, Parents of martyrs, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Major Akshay Girish were waiting with bated breath to receive the braveheart, who had climbed up the icy top of point 4875 despite his physical conditions. When Capt Naveen was about to book a cab for his home from the airport, a huge crowd greeted him with placards, signboards, and a chorus war – cry. Capt Naveen was overwhelmed with such a warm homecoming. For, this is the least that we, as citizens of India, could give the soldier.