An Inspiring Story of Leadership from the Kargil War 1999

Tololing, 16000 ft overlooking Drass town was witness to some of the greatest displays of leadership and courage in the annals of modern Indian history. On 22nd May 1999 the 18th battalion of the Grenadiers of the Indian Army was tasked to capture the naked mountain: the mountainside was bereft of all vegetation and the path to the top was clearly visible to the enemy ensconced on the peak. The 18 Grenadiers reached the battle theatre only on 7th May 1999 and were not acclimatized. They wore just canvas parkas, woolen trousers and jungle boots because cold weather clothing had not yet arrived. Nobody really expected the enemy to be as well prepared and well entrenched as he was. Therefore, the first three assaults on Tololing failed decisively. The 18th Grenadiers were humiliated not just by the setbacks but by the berating they received from the superior officers.

Lt.Col.R.Vishwanathan couldn’t standby and see the competence and courage of his men be questioned any more. So he decided to personally lead the assault on Tololing on the night of 2nd June 1999. Before he left camp he ordered his troops to call their families on the satellite telephone. Like the great leader that he was, he was last in line to call home. But when his turn came at the phone the battery died and he could not make that last call. He wrote a poignant letter to his father and in it asked him to take care of the family; he wrote that he was leading the assault “for his honour and the honour of the men he commanded; nothing else mattered”. Shortly thereafter he led his unit into the bitterly cold, inhospitable night. After climbing 6 hours he did not even stop to rest and ordered the attack. It was a do or die mission. He did take the post but he was at the head of the list of the dead. He attained veerswarga on that fateful night on the slopes of the naked mountain.

Lt.Col.R. Vishwanathan, 18 Grenadiers, Vir Chakra (posthumous) was undoubtedly one of India’s greatest sons and most inspiring leaders. A true Indian hero and role model!