By Mr Lionel D’Souza for BISMumbai

On 26 July, 2023, the 24th anniversary of India’s victory at Kargil was celebrated at St Joseph’s High School, Wadala. The war took place on 3 May 1999 and ended with India’s victory over Pakistan on 26 July 1999.

The remembrance of this victory began with the documentary screening of a video showing the bravery of the Kargil war heroes. The video highlighted the efforts of the Indian Army and the way they sacrificed their lives, guarding the borders. The weapons used, the scale of the war and the technology that was used in the war, had the students awestruck. It was a very emotional moment for the students as they watched and heard the comments of the family members who had lost their dear ones in this war. 

After the screening, Subedar Flecture Patel of the Indian Army, an alumnus of St Joseph’s batch of 1996 and President of the Army Welfare Society, gave a motivational talk to the students about the war and the need of each individual to be ready to fight for the country. The Subedar, in his talk, informed the students about the various ways joining the Indian army would benefit the country and also one's lives as well. The eligibility for entering the armed forces was told to the students, but the Subedar informed the boys that the most important criteria for joining the armed forces, was not just the educational qualifications, but the inspiration, enthusiasm, vigour and the desire to fight for the country was very important.

A poster making contest was held on the occasion. The students used all their creativity and came out with very heart touching posters of the war documentary they had just viewed. Posters depicting the war, the effect on the lives of those who lost their loved ones, the pride they felt on being victorious in the war and most important of it all, was the patriotic fervour that was brought out in the posters that caught the attention of the students and the teachers. 

The celebrations ended with the students taking the pledge to safeguard the country and the singing of the National Anthem.