Mother of Kargil War Hero Captain Vikram Batra Passes Away at Age 77

Vikram Batra and his mother Kamal Kant Batra

Kamal Kant Batra, the revered mother of Kargil war hero Captain Vikram Batra and a former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, has passed away at the age of 77. Her demise occurred in Palampur, located in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, on Wednesday.

Expressing his condolences, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu remarked, “Sad news was received about the demise of Mrs. Kamalkant Batra, mother of martyr Captain Vikram Batra. We pray to God to grant Mata Ji a place at His feet and give strength to the bereaved family to bear the immense sorrow.”

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In 2014, Kamal Kant Batra contested the Lok Sabha elections from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, representing the AAP. However, she resigned from the party after a short stint, citing dissatisfaction with its organizational structure.

Her son, Captain Vikram Batra, fondly known as ‘Sher Shah’, valiantly sacrificed his life at the age of 24 while fighting Pakistani forces during the Kargil war on July 7, 1999. His courageous actions earned him the highest wartime gallantry award, the ‘Param Vir Chakra’. Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously bestowed with several titles such as the ‘Tiger of Drass’, the ‘Lion of Kargil’, and the ‘Kargil Hero’. His victory slogan, ‘Yeh Dil Mange More’, became a rallying cry across the nation.

Born on September 9, 1974, in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, Captain Vikram Batra pursued his education at DAV Public School and completed his senior secondary education at the Central School. Later, he pursued higher education in Chandigarh and joined the Air Wing of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).

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Vikram Batra’s military journey began when he joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA) at Dehradun in June 1996, serving in the Manekshaw Battalion. He excelled in a Commando Course in Karnataka in 1999, where he was awarded the highest grading, the Instructor’s Grade. Rising swiftly through the ranks, he began his service as a lieutenant and soon achieved the rank of Captain.

Notably, Captain Vikram Batra made his final phone call to his mother on June 29, 1999, just days before he made the ultimate sacrifice in the war.

Naiteek Bhatt