He was almost immediately posted in the 4 JAT Regiment (Infantry) in the Kargil Sector which he joined in January 1999.
Trouble was already brewing. In the last fortnight of May 1999, Captain Saurabh went out on Patrol duty thrice. He is hailed as the first office to provide detailed intelligence about Pakistan’s large-scale intrusion into Kargil.
The fourth time Patrol Duty came up, Captain Saurabh volunteered to go in place of another slightly older officer. With five other soldiers, he went to Bajrang Post at the height of 14,000 feet in the Kaksar area where his group faced heavy firing from the Pakistan army. They returned fire and held their posts until they ran out of ammunition and their signal equipment went out of order.
They were captured on 15 May 1999 and kept in captivity for twenty two days without informing India about their Prisoner of War status. When Pakistan returned their bodies on 9 June, it was clear that they had been brutally tortured: broken teeth and bones, punctured eyes, cigarette burns, chopped off limbs and finally a fatal gun wound. But they didn’t give in and reveal any information that was demanded of them.
Captain’s Saurabh’s parents never got the opportunity to actually see him in a uniform since he was sent to war so soon after training. He became a martyr before his last salary arrived in his bank account, before he could see himself become a Captain. He gave his life in what came to be known as Operation Vijay, named after his mother, Vijay Kalia.
His last words to this mother before going to Kargil were: "Maa, tum dekhna. Ek din aisa kaam kar jaoonga ki saari duniya mein mera naam hoga.” (Maa, you see, one day I will do such a deed that the whole world will know my name).
See all the letters here.
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[00:00:00] Dear Saurabh, I received your letter and we just spoke on the phone.
[00:00:05] First of all, thank you so much for wishing me on my birthday.
[00:00:09] Everyone here is absolutely fine and I hope you are doing well in taking care of yourself.
[00:00:14] Your uncle is fine now.
[00:00:16] The doctor has asked him to exercise and start using a walker after some time.
[00:00:21] The bones have set well.
[00:00:23] Your father is still in Amritsar.
[00:00:25] He might return in a day or two.
[00:00:27] I am all alone here.
[00:00:29] My health is absolutely fine.
[00:00:31] So you don't have to worry.
[00:00:32] Whenever you get the time, please do write a letter to your mother.
[00:00:36] Please take care of your health and don't worry about us at all.
[00:00:39] All your friends had come to visit us.
[00:00:41] Bulu had also come from Shimla.
[00:00:43] So much sisters getting married.
[00:00:45] Bulu won't be able to come for Himanshu's sister's wedding but God of will.
[00:00:50] I think Himanshu might not get leave.
[00:00:52] Sachin has got a job at Aptek.
[00:00:55] Sanjeev had gone to take his alhabad board exams but his work didn't get done.
[00:00:59] He is now in Kanpur.
[00:01:01] The weather here is very hot.
[00:01:04] Champa's husband is also in Srinagar.
[00:01:07] Vairbhava is left for Amritsar.
[00:01:09] In May, he might have his papers.
[00:01:11] Raju has been blessed with a baby boy.
[00:01:14] Otherwise everything else is just fine.
[00:01:18] If you get time, please do write a letter to your Anusha.
[00:01:22] Rest everything is fine waiting for your letter, your mummy.