Kargil: A family's war for honour

Palampur : Even after seven years of the Kargil conflict, the family of war hero Captain Sourav Kalia is still fighting a battle for justice, to restore the honour of their son's uniform and what they say is a demand for a death with dignity for their son.

The morning of June 7, 1999, which began like any other would, changed the lives

N K Kalia and his wife forever.

Six Indian soldiers had gone missing from Kargil on May 14 and two weeks later, their tortured and mutilated bodies were returned by the Pakistani army.

Among them was N K Kalia's 22-year-old son, Sourav Kalia.

It has been seven years since that day, but the Kalias are still on a mission to restore their son's honour.

They are fighting for an apology from the Pakistani army and an explanation for the incident.

Says N K Kalia, "The struggle is no longer just for my son, it is to restore the honour of the Indian Army. When there is a conflict, it is common for soldiers to be captured, but the way these six soldiers were treated - no parents, no nation and no army can accept that. This is my effort to restore their dignity."

Says Captain Sourav Kalia's mother, Vijaya Kalia, "We are proud of our son. He fought like Maharshi Dadachi. Though he was brutally tortured, he did not reveal any of our nation's secrets. But our fight is not for Sourav alone. It is for all those who get into the Indian Army."

The Kalia family had been demanding that along with the Pakistani authorities, the issue should be taken up with Amnesty International.

They even wrote to the ministries of External Affairs and Defence and they were assured that action would be taken. However, six years have seen an uncomfortable silence.

The Kalias last hopes now lie with President Kalam.

"We have simply appealed to the President that this is a national issue and it has to be taken up. We are asking him to take up the issue with Pakistan," says N K Kalia.

And while authorities failed to act, it was public support that kept them going.

The family has so far received over one lakh emails and 4,000 letters extending support. An online petition and a signature campaign are also on and the battle continues.

However, N K Kalia is not too hopeful. "I don't think that the Government will act on this, but I will fight till I die, till my last breath," says he.

It has been seven years since the Kargil war, but for the family of Captain Sourav Kalia, the battle has not yet ended.

The family is still fighting to restore the honour of his uniform. A fight, which they say will be taken till the end.

(With inputs from Neeraj Upadhay)

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