Captain Vikram Batra was an Indian Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra (PVC). He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his exemplary actions in the 1999 Kargil War.
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Captain Vikram Batra was born on Monday, 9 September 1974 (age 24 at the time of death) in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh. His zodiac sign is Virgo.
He received his primary education from his mother. He did his middle school from DAV Public School, Palampur. His senior secondary education was from Central School, Palampur. Batra was a very popular student and his teachers say he was respected by everyone. Batra participated in many sports and academic events and won most of them. His classmates said that he used to win about 75% of all the prizes every year. He has participated in national level table tennis (Central Schools) representing Northern Zone and National Youth Parliamentary Competition.
Vikram Batra in school
He studied B.Sc. in Medical Sciences from DAV College, Chandigarh. He was declared the best National Cadet Corps (NCC) for the air wings of two zones at DAV College. This led to him being selected for helicopter flying training for 40 days at Pinjore Flying Club in Gariran, Haryana. Later he was also selected for the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi in 1994.
Captain Vikram Batra in college
During his B.Sc course, he was offered to join the merchant navy in a Hong Kong company, however, he refused; Resolved to join the Indian Army. After completing his undergraduate degree in 1995, he joined Punjab University for MA English course. They prepared for the Combined Defense Services (CDS) examinations together and, he took a job as a part-time manager in a travel agency in Chandigarh. In June 1996 he passed the CDS examination. He left his course to join the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun.
Captain Vikram Batra is studying
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 8″
Weight (Approx): 75 kg
Eye colour: black
Hair Color: Black
Captain Vikram Batra
Family, Caste and Girlfriend
Captain Vikram Batra belongs to a Hindu family. He was born to Girdhari Lal Batra and Kamalkant Batra. His father is the principal of a government school. His mother was a retired school teacher. He died on 15 February 2024 in Palampur at the age of 77. He has a twin brother, Vishal Batra, who works in a bank in Chandigarh, and two elder sisters, Seema and Nutan.
Girdhari Lal Batra, father of Vikram Batra
Kamalkant Batra, mother of Vikram Batra
Captain Vikram Batra with his twin brother Vishal Batra
Vikram met his girlfriend Dimple Cheema in college, who was studying MA English from Panjab University. After Vikram returns from the Kargil War, they fall in love and decide to get married.
military career
Vikram joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA) Dehradun in June 1996 in the Manekshaw battalion. After his training, he passed out from IMA on 6 December 1997. In January 1998, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Indian Army. He was posted with the 13th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (13 JAK Rif) in Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir. Before posting he was sent to Jabalpur for regimental training.
Captain Vikram Batra in a training camp
In March 1998, he was sent to the Infantry School in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh for the Young Officer Course, in which he was awarded Alpha grade. He was then deployed to an area with high insurgent activity. He led many operations and encounters. Once during an ambush, a bullet fired by a militant narrowly missed his shoulder and killed a soldier standing behind him. Batra knew that the bullet was meant for him and not for the other soldier. He ordered his team to capture all the terrorists to avenge the death of the soldier. Batra was saddened by this incident, as he knew that his fellow soldier had died unexpectedly. In January 1999, he was sent on a commando course in Belgaum, Karnataka. It lasted for two months and he achieved success in this course. Upon completion he was awarded the highest grade – Instructor Grade.
Captain Vikram Batra in Karnataka
In 1999, Batra went home for Holi. He used to go to Newgal Café; Her favorite place to drink coffee. The Kargil war had started, and he knew he would soon be called. His unit received orders to go to Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, but soon, his orders were changed, and he was asked to go to Kargil. His battalion, 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (13 JACK RIF) was ordered to capture Tololing Mountain, which they successfully did. 
After the success at Tololing his battalion was ordered to capture Point 5140; Which was a strategically important mountain peak in the Dras region. Under the cover of artillery fire, they began to climb from the rear side of the mountain to Point 5140, which was a steep climb and the only area from which the Pakistani troops were least likely to attack. They reached the top and suddenly attacked the Pakistani army. Batra killed 3 Pakistani soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. His battalion did not suffer a single casualty. They captured Point 5140 and recovered a large quantity of ammunition and heavy guns. Batra contacted his command post saying Yeh Dil Maange Mor (the victory cry of his battalion). After his capture, Batra was promoted to the rank of Captain. His victory was celebrated throughout India; Because it was being played on millions of television screens.
Captain Vikram Batra after his victory
Death
On 3 July 1999, 13 JAK Rifles and 28 Rashtriya Rifles launched a mission to capture Point 4875. It was a strategically important peak, as it overlooked 30–40 km of National Highway 1 and Indian Army posts. Batra was not part of this mission; Since he was suffering from fever. The battalions began the mission and advanced towards the summit with success, but fell short of troops; Due to heavy firing. Captain Batra approached his commanding officer to ask for permission to go to the battlefield. Seeing this, other soldiers also requested to accompany him. Batra was allowed to reach the peak with 25 soldiers. A wireless message was sent to the team at the top – Shershah (codename of Batra) is coming. This message was intercepted by the Pakistanis. They knew who Shershah was, and they hacked into the Indian Army’s wireless communications and threatened him. Batra was informed about the threat but continued to walk.
Captain Vikram Batra after capturing Point 5140
He reached Point 4875 on 7 July 1999. They attacked and destroyed 2 bunkers, but were surprised when the Pakistani army attacked them from behind a ledge. Batra crouched forward and threw two grenades to destroy the Pakistani machine gun position. They attacked the ledge and entered through the narrowest entrance, surprising them and killing 5 Pakistani soldiers. This brutal attack by Captain Batra and his men resulted in them gaining the upper hand. Only one Pakistani machine-gun post remained. Batra had suffered serious injuries. They gained control of the post, but one Indian soldier was injured. Batra asked a subedar to take the soldier out, and as they were taking him out, he was shot by a sniper, followed by an RPG which hit him near the head. Batra fell and succumbed to his wounds. This angered the Indian soldiers, after which they captured Point 4875.
Captain Vikram Batra
fact
- Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously awarded the Paramvir Chakra. It is India’s highest military honor for an act of bravery or gallantry or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, sea or air.
- On 26 January 2000, his father received the Param Vir Chakra from the President of India KR Narayanan for his deceased son.
GL Batra, father of Captain Vikram Batra, receiving the Param Vir Chakra from former President KR Narayanan.
- Point 4875 (where Captain Vikram Batra died) was named Batra Top after his death. A residential area in Jabalpur Cantonment is named Captain Vikram Batra Enclave. A hall at the Services Selection Center in Allahabad, where Vikram Batra gave his CDS interview, was renamed as Vikram Batra Block.
- In 2003, a film was made about the LOC Kargil conflict. Abhishek Bachchan has played the role of Captain Vikram Batra in the film.
Abhishek Bachchan is playing the role of Captain Vikram Batra
- On 23 June 2010, the Indian Military Academy (IMA) unveiled a statue to honor Captain Vikram Batra.
Parents of Captain Vikram Batra at the unveiling of his statue at IMA, Dehradun
- Former Army Chief General VK Singh inaugurated a state-of-the-art mess, named Vikram Batra Mess. It was located at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, and could seat 1200 persons.
Captain Vikram Batra Mess in IMA, Dehradun
- In 2014, Kamal Kanta Batra, mother of Captain Vikram Batra, contested the general elections from Hamirpur constituency of Himachal Pradesh from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). She lost and left the party 11 months after joining it. She was not happy with the functioning of the party and said that she contested the elections only because Arvind Kejriwal had personally requested her to do so.
Vikram Batra’s mother Kamal Kanta Batra with Gul Panag
- On 17 April 2017, hurt by the poor maintenance of the statue of Captain Vikram Batra, his father GL Batra himself cleaned the statue. He offered funds for the maintenance of the statue if the Himachal Pradesh government was not able to do so.
Vikram Batra’s father cleaning his son’s statue
- On 9 September 2018, the statue of Captain Vikram Batra was unveiled at the Martyr Captain Vikram Batra Degree College by Health Minister Vipin Singh Parmar on his birth anniversary.
Statue of Captain Vikram Batra in Palampur
- On 28 February 2018, the statue of Captain Vikram Batra was unveiled at the National War Memorial in New Delhi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Statue of Captain Vikram Batra at the National War Memorial, New Delhi
- Karan Johar has announced to make a biopic on Captain Vikram Batra. Sidharth Malhotra will play the role of Vikram Batra and Kiara Advani will play the role of Dimple Cheema.
Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra
- To commemorate 23 years of Kargil Vijay Diwas, artist ‘Da Vinci’ Suresh installed an underwater portrait of late Captain Vikram Batra at Pangode Military Station, Thiruvananthapuram on 26 July 2022; This picture was termed by the media as the largest underwater picture of Captain Batra.
A unique tribute to #kargilwar Hero Captain Vikram Batra at Pangode Military Station in Thiruvananthapuram. 50 feet long and 30 feet wide underwater painting installed by artist Davinci Suresh@PIB_India#KargilVijayDiwas @DefenceMinIndia @Tri_Service @Rajnath Singh pic.twitter.com/koXJ4lg4AY
– PIB in Kerala (@PIBTvpm) 26 July 2022
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn