Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar: The bravery of Kargil war heroes will live forever in the hearts of people and inspire one and all, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Sunday as he dedicated this month’s edition of his radio programme ‘Awaam Ki Awaaz’ to the brave hearts.

He also spoke about the inspiring stories of women driving change across the Union territory.

“Kargil Vijay Diwas is the saga of magnificent heroism, indomitable courage and supreme spirit of sacrifice of our brave soldiers. I pay homage to the martyrs and express my gratitude to the valiant soldiers who kept the nation safe on the path of progress,” the LG said in his radio address on Sunday.

Paying tribute to the martyred soldiers, Sinha recalled the bravery and sacrifice of Major Ajay Singh Jasrotia, Subedar Bahadur Singh and Havildar Madan Lal of Jammu; Sep Rajinder Singh of Kathua; Lance-Naik Ghulam Mohammed Khan of Sopore; Ravinder Singh and Mohammad Khan of Kupwara, and countless other brave men of the Kargil War.

“Let us bow our heads in gratitude to those valiant JK jawans and officers who fought bravely in the harsh terrain and defeated the enemy. Their bravery will forever remain etched in our hearts and inspire us,” Sinha said.

He also ensured necessary intervention on the suggestions of Colonel BD Sharma of Jammu and Inspector Sohan Singh of Udhampur on various strategies to promote literature on war heroes.

The Kargil War was declared over on 26 July 1999, after India successfully repelled Pakistani forces who had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh.

During the radio show, the LG also shared the inspiring journeys of Kounsar Jan, the first woman e-rickshaw driver of Srinagar, and other women like Anita Devi from Rajouri, Rubina Bano from Pulwama and Shahida Khaliq from Kupwara.

Sinha said Jan is rewriting the rules and his unprecedented feat inspires others to break barriers and overcome obstacles to pursue their dreams.

He lauded the efforts of Devi and her all-women self-help groups who have encouraged women-related businesses and driven change in Rajouri.

The LG also highlighted the contribution of Bano of Pulwama in reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape of the district. His foray into the dairy sector is creating excitement among entrepreneurs, he added.

Young librarian Khaliq is leaving a lasting impression on the youth of the twin towns of Kupwara and Handwara, Sinha said, adding that her dedication would enable every citizen, especially the youth, to enjoy the true fruits of education.