When the war clouds loom large, what comes along is the sense of uncertainty. It is not an easy task to wade through uncertainty and help the fighting men see a clearer picture and arouse confidence of victory in them. Brigadier Sunil Gaopande, now retired, not only led the movement of one of the first contingents of troops to Jammu when mobilisation was ordered as Kargil War broke out, but also motivated them spiritedly. As he recalls 25 years later, after his speech, the troops told him in unison, “Haan Sahab, hum jeet ke aayenge!” Now 66-year-old, Brig Sunil Gaopande joined the Indian Army in 1980 at the tender age of 23 years. After completing his BE (Mechanical) from Nagpur University, he joined the Indian Army as a Lieutenant and steadily rose through the ranks. In his school and college days, he represented Nagpur in State-level basketball competitions and continued playing for the services, representing the Army in tournaments of servics.

 

When this Nagpurian joined the Army, he was first posted with the 5 Engineer Regiment in Bareilly, where he served for around three-four years. Then, he was posted to the 201 Engineer Regiment in Ranchi. As the clouds of war loomed large over the country, the then Chief of Army Staff General VP Malik ordered troops from other sectors to move to the Northern Sector. “Our entire unit was asked to move towards Delhi on May 3, 1999. As the second-in-command of the Regiment at that time, I was asked to lead the train towards the Northern Sector. I was given just 10 hours to prepare, and the train was supposed to carry soldiers, arms, ammunition, JCBs, dozer trucks, and many other things required on the battlefield. This was the first train from the Eastern Sector to the Northern Sector,” recalls then Lt Col Gaopande. It was not easy. Namkum was a small station, which made it extremely difficult to manage 25-27 coaches within given time-frame.

 

The station near Ranchi was built by the British during World War-II for loading and unloading military shipments. Lt Col Gaopande and his assistant were running from pillar to post to get a train ready. After repeated requests, the Assistant Station Master managed to give the 201 Regiment, consisting of 800+ soldiers, a train to leave for Jammu. Recalling the events now, Brig Gaopande (retd) says, “As second-in-command, the responsibility for all the 800 soldiers was mine. I asked them not to worry and promised them that all of us would come home safe. Our only aim was to give our best. All the soldiers had said in unison, “Haan Sahab, hum jeet ke aayenge. Bharat Mata ki Jai!” With these words, we started the journey.” They got a train that the railways used to carry sugar, with just a few general bogies attached to it. As time passed, the situation became difficult as red ants had infested the coaches where the soldiers were sitting. A few of them were in pain due to ant-bites. “I felt helpless as a leader, unable to do anything for my soldiers,” he says with lament palpable in his voice. But, he made it possible with his leadership skills and presence of mind. “Mid-way, Maj Gen AS Brar, who was with us in the train, came to me and said that the train would first go to Shakur Basti near Delhi, and from there, further plan would be decided. Finally, after reaching Shakur Basti, our men were divided into two groups.

 

One went to Jammu, and the second was deployed to Nagaur in Rajasthan, as there was a possibility that the war might take place in the Eastern Sector as well. I was placed with the team that went to Jammu and was given the task of laying mines in that sector, which I completed with my team,” says Brig Gaopande with a deep sense of pride. Immediately after completing the task, the then Lt Col was ordered to move to forward areas touching the International Border. His task in the forward areas touching the International Border was to clear the mines laid by the enemy and to support the other battalion posted there. By early July 1999, it was clear that Pakistan was losing the Kargil War as India made rapid advances. As Brig Gaopande recollects, “On July 10, Pakistan agreed to withdraw its forces from occupied places to end the conflict. However, there were still three posts in the Northern Sector that needed to be captured by the Indian Army.

 

These three posts were swiftly captured by July 25.” On July 26, 1999, the conflict ended. Since then, July 26 is celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas every year. But, India cannot stay relaxed. For, Pakistan has developed tendency to resort to misadventures towards India. “Although we defeated Pakistan in 1965, 1971, and the Kargil War, Pakistan remains unchanged and can act anytime. Hence, we have to stay strong and well-prepared always,” concludes Brig Sunil Gaopande, who retired in 2015 as Deputy Director General (Projects and Infrastructure in high-altitude areas).