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A curtain raiser on Kargil Diwas

Ambarish K Diwanji in New Delhi

One year after the Kargil war ended on July 26, 1999 - according to the army, that is the date when the last of the Pakistan-backed intruders left Indian territory - the country is preparing to pay homage to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives for their motherland.

July 26, 2000, will be marked as the first Kargil Diwas (day). Preparations are underway at India Gate - New Delhi's most famous landmark - for the big day when the Indian army, navy, and air force will hold an exhibition. For security reasons, the grounds have been declared out of bounds for the general public.

Unlike Republic Day when the armed forces stage an impressive march past with the President of India taking the salute, Kargil Diwas is going to be more people-friendly. India's military capabilities will be on display on the spacious lawns that surround India Gate.

The day will begin with the laying of wreaths at the Amar Jawan Jyoti (flame for the immortal soldier), which is housed under India Gate. The flame burns continuously while flags of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force flutter in attendance. Also on guard - 24 hours a day, every day of the year - are a soldier, a sailor and an airman.

President K R Narayanan - also the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces - will lay a wreath to honour the 500 martyrs of the Kargil war. He will be followed by Vice-President Krishna Kant, Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Minister of State for Defence Harin Pathak and the three chiefs of staff - General V P Malik, Admiral Sushil Kumar and Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis.

The wreath laying ceremony will take place in the morning at 0830 hours (IST) and will be broadcast live by Doordarshan. Immediately after, there will be a fly past by select aircraft of the Indian air force, which will be a combination of helicopters and jets.

After the dignitaries have departed, Defence Minister Fernandes will inaugurate the armed forces exhibition three segments of which will house exhibits from the three wings of the Indian armed forces. The fourth is devoted to the Kargil War and will include equipment captured from the enemy and equipment used by the Indian forces in the war. Video films will also be shown to the general public on Wednesday, July 26.

Later in the evening, the prime minister will lead about 500 school children at India Gate in a candle light ceremony to pay homage to the Kargil martyrs.

The exhibition will be open on Thursday and Friday from 1500 hours to 2200 hours and on Saturday and Sunday from 1000 hours to 2200 hours. The five-day exhibition will culminate in a laser show put up the Indian army on Sunday night from 2030 hours.

An army officer said the idea was to remind the people of what happened a year ago and to show Pakistan's involvement in the war. Documents seized from killed Pakistani soldiers will be displayed along with maps of the Line of Control, which was violated by Pakistan and its mercenaries.

It is also learnt that the Indian army had initially planned a small ceremony to pay homage to the Kargil martyrs and honour the soldiers involved in the war, but the government intervened saying it to wanted to be involved.

Hectic preparations are under way. Tanks, artillery guns, armoured cars, models of submarines and war ships, helicopters, jets etc are being moved into the lawns around India Gate.

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