It was a rainy day, in our school's prayer assembly (though i went to an Assamese medium school but it was of too high discipline monitored by a group of Ex.Air Force officer's families) i could sense some kind of murmuring even after arrival of our Principal Mam "BORBAIDEW"; which was really unusual.I was in UKG as far as i remember. Our principal gave a speech and said the war of Kargil was been over. But there is not a symbol of joy in her face, She continued how bravely our soldiers fought. At that time i knew a little about alphabets so my world runs by listening to others. Then she suddenly took a name, and said we lost one of our brave heroes."Capt. Jintu Gogoi is no more amongst us."
After few years when i read an article in news paper,i came to know much about him.There are many Indian heroes like him.So by this article i want to pay tribute to all of them.Today the way of life we have won't be possible if they weren't there.
When Capt. Jintu Gogoi lay down his life on June 30, 1999, fighting Pakistani intruders in Kargil, he had sparked off a socially significant chain of events back home in Assam.
It was a time when Ulfa had given an open call to the people of the state to back the Kargil intruders. But the people backed Jintu and India.
When the mortal remains of the young soldier — he was just 28 — arrived home a few days later, every inch of space on either side of the road from Jorhat airport to Khumtai in Golaghat was packed with people shouting “long live Jintu Gogoi”.And my school was on that airport road only.So that day i saw how much respect a soldier could get.It really sparks the light of patriotism upon me.
Later as i came to know On the night of 29/30 June 1999 during "Operation Vijay", Captain Jintu Gogoi was tasked to evict the enemy from ridge line Kala Pathar near the Line of control in general area of Juber Hill complex in Batalik sub-sector.
Without any hesitation, he led the troops in the face of heavy enemy fire and reached the top by first light. However, he was immediately surrounded by the enemy and was asked to surrender. As he had no chance to protect himself, he chose the honourable way of fighting with valour and dignity. He opened fire on the enemy, killing two enemy soldiers before making the supreme sacrifice. Before this action, he made sure that his group had taken cover for safety.
Just a day before he fell in the battlefield, Jintu had written to his father, “The war was well done. Nothing known about my next visit”.
Capt Jintu Gogoi, who was recalled from leave to join his unit 17 Garhwal barely a 12 days after his engagement, was brought in a tri-colour draped coffin. A marigold wreath on it. Watched by his fiance and relatives who waited for the senior officers to pay their respects before giving way to their own sorrow. "There is no hope now," Anjuna said. Just days ago she hoped that since Capt Gogoi’s body had not been recovered he may be alive.
No tears fell from her bright eyes. The smile belied the shattered dreams. Yet the quiet dignity honoured the soldier more.
"He was leading from the front. There were three men ahead of him. His body was found barely 150 yards from the picket on Jubar Hills that he had been ordered to take. A full burst from a machine gun had caught him in his solar plexus,"said one of his companion on the mission. The men of 17 Garhwal had charged into battle shouting ‘Badri Vishal’, their battle cry. Of the four companies that went into battle one officer and eleven jawans did not return."- From another source, Source: The Telegraph
Nation's third highest wartime gallantry award VIR CHAKRA was awarded to Captain Jintu Gogoi on 15th August 1999 posthumously. For me you were fallen but not forgotten.
JAI HIND !!!
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