‘By the time you get this letter I’ll be observing you all from the sky. I have no regrets, in fact even if I become a human again, I’ll join the Army and fight for my Nation. ’This was the last letter Captain Vijyant Thapar wrote to his family. He was twenty-two when he was martyred in the Kargil War, having fought bravely in the crucial battles of Tololing and Knoll. A fourth-generation Army officer, Vijyant dreamt of serving his country even as a young boy. In this first-ever biography, we learn about his journey to join the Indian Military Academy and the experiences that shaped him into a fine officer. Told by his father and Neha Dwivedi, a martyr’s daughter herself, the anecdotes from his family and close friends come alive, and we have a chance to know the exceptional young man that Vijyant was. His inspiring story provides a rare glimpse into the heart of a brave soldier. His legacy stays alive through these fond memories and his service to the country.
Author Bios:
Col V N Thapar is the father of Capt. Vijyant Thapar, VrC, who was a fourth-generation army officer. At the early age of 15, he was selected for the National Defence Academy and commissioned on 12 Dec 1962 in the Maratha Light Infantry. He commanded a battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. He was part of the 1965 War and Bangladesh War, and has operated in counter-insurgency operations. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Defense Services, Staff College, Wellington. He has written for media publications and is a motivational speaker at various forums, universities, colleges and schools.
Neha Dwivedi, a Kargil war martyr’s daughter and an Armoured Corps Officer’s wife, is a doctor by profession. She is an alumnus of DPS RK Puram and Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi. Writing is what she took solace in and found her strength from post her father’s martyrdom. She now lives in Mumbai, where she works as a childbirth educator and an Infant and young child feeding specialist. She deeply believes in the healing and inspirational power of stories.
