Amol Kalia— warrior who defied all odds

Col Dilbag Dabas (Retd)

On February 26, 1974, Usha Kalia, a Central government employee posted at Nangal in Punjab, was blessed with a baby boy. The family named him Amol, the precious one. 

The boy not only lived up to his name, but went way ahead of what his parents thought of him. Though born in Nangal (Punjab), Amol, had Chintpoorni roots in Una district of Himachal Pradesh.

He did his schooling from NFL Model Senior Secondary School, Naya Nangal. His father Satyapaul Kalia, a teacher by profession, considers soldiering as the most noble and honourable way to serve the motherland. Though Aman, his elder son, was already serving with the Indian Air Force, he encouraged the younger one also to follow into his brother's footsteps. 

Amol, a bright student that he was, cleared the UPSC examination and Services Selection Board in the first attempt and joined the National Defense Academy in December 1991. In December 1995, Amol was commissioned into the 12th Battalion of Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry, referred to simply as 12 JAK LI.

During 'Operation Vijay', the Kargil war, 12 JAK LI was in the process of its de-induction from Ladakh after completing its high-altitude tenure. The advance party under Capt Amol Kalia had already reached its new location (Delhi), when the orders came for its move to Batalik Sub-Sector, north east of Kargil. The men in the main body, then in transit at Karu, near Leh, were not surprised by the new orders. They actually were happy for they would see and, hopefully, also be part of some live action on their way to their new location in the country's capital.

Back from Delhi with the advance party, Capt Amol Kalia joined his 'A' company as the second-in command on May 26, 1999. No one knew that just 14 days later, Amol would earn for himself a place in the annals of bravest of the braves of the Indian Army.

Once the Pak intrusions across LOC in Kargil were identified, it was planned to roll up the flanks of the enemy's intrusions in east and west and then take on the inner tiers of enemy's defenses. For that, a battalion attack was planned to recapture Pt 5203, a feature most formi-dable on the eastern extremity of the area of intrusions in Batalik Sub-Sector. 12 JAK LI under command 70 Infantry Brigade was tasked to recapture Pt 5203. 

It was during the attack on this vital feature, that for his dogged determination and inspirational leadership, Capt Amol Kalia was awarded the Vir Chakra. Amol, fondly referred to as Vipu in the family, was very jovial and a friend to all. 

His father Satyapaul Kalia recalls: "Vipu was on leave in February 1999 to attend his elder brother's wedding. During ghudchadi ceremony, while dancing, he jokingly said to his brother-  ‘bhaiyya, aap bhi dance seekh lo. Kuchh mahinon baad main ghodi par hoonga and you would be leading the dancing pack'."

Kalias had already seen a girl for Amol and he was to get married after the war ended. On June 2, he had written to his parents: "I hope to be back at Delhi by the end of the month. Thereafter, you can fix my marriage in case you all are in a hurry." 

But destiny had something else in store for him. By the time the letter reached his parents (on June 12), also the day The Tribune, too, broke the sad news as its front page headline, the brave son of India had attained martyrdom three days prior to that.

Not just Himachal, but the entire nation salutes this brave heart, who at just 24, made supreme sacrifice for the motherland.

Battle account of his conspicuous act of bravery

“On June 7, 1999, Capt Amol Kalia was second-in-command of 'A' company leading the attack on Pt 5203 by 12 JAK LI. The attacking troops made steady progress and by first light on June 8, the platoon led by Capt Kalia secured a small lodgement within striking distance of the enemy's defenses. To avoid detection by the enemy, the men lay hidden the whole day and prepared for the final assault after last light. The enemy, however, was alerted and launched a counter attack, which was courageously beaten back.

Just before midnight, Capt Kalia sounded the battle cry "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and led the assault. Despite heavy volume of enemy artillery and small arms fire, his platoon managed to capture the height. At 3 am on June 9, the enemy launched another counter attack supported by heavy automatic weapons. Noticing that in the hand-to-hand fight his machine gun crew was killed, Capt Kalia himself manned the machine gun killing three enemy personnel and injuring another three. Despite being seriously wounded by the enemy's direct fire, the gallant officer continued to fight and inspire his men till he breathed his last, but not before the enemy's counter attack was ruthlessly beaten back and the success signal flare was seen in the early morning sky.”

(As recorded in JAK LI archives)

(The writer is a veteran Gunner, 6 Field Regiment)