Heart always beam with pride: Families remember Kargil soldiers

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

soldiers who died in the Kargil war remembered the bravehearts on Tuesday, recalling their sacrifices while fighting Pakistani army personnel disguised as raiders. «He did not die… he became immortal. I cannot forget the scene at our house in Lucknow when his body draped in the tricolour arrived.

At least 15 lakh people joined the convoy shouting Manoj Pandey 'Amar Rahe' (immortal),» says Manmohan Pandey, brother of the fallen Captain Pandey. His quote «Some goals are so worthy, it's glorious even to fail» went on to become famous. «Imagine, mothers were getting their children and even infants to touch his feet… the scenes from that day are etched in our memory and that day I realised how one becomes immortal,» Manmohan said.

Lt Pandey, posthumously promoted as Captain, was awarded Param Vir Chakra, country's highest military honour for his exemplary work in the Batalik sector. «I even flip through his personal diary today which begins with a quote of Mehmood Rampuri's quote 'Maut usiki jiska zamana kare afsos varna marne ke liye to Sabhi aate hain' (death compliments only those who leave nation weeping, otherwise everyone comes here to die). My eyes are filled with tears even now,» Manmohan told PTI.

He plans to take his children to Batallik this time, he said. «These words comforted us that he was always desperate for this chance, he always had it in him and we are nothing but proud,» he said while quoting another one liner of his brother «If death strikes before I prove my blood, I swear, I will kill death!» For Charulata Acharya, wife of Major Padmapani Acharya, it's a pilgrimage to visit here. «For me and for families of war heroes, the visit to the Veer Bhoomi is an annual pilgrimage.