The journey to Kargil

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

India | Wednesday, October 13, 2010 | 5 photos

It all began in the nondescript town of Drass, the second coldest inhabited place in the world. Captain Vijyant Thapar of 2 Rajputana Rifles took the first flight to counter the insurgent Pakistani soldiers, who has clandestinely entered the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Thus started the '99 India-Pakistan conflict (or the Kargil war)- the first instance of war that my generation of Indians witnessed in our living memories.

On the 10th anniversary of the Kargil war in June 2009, some of us decided to visit the places that had been pushed into the spotlight because of the role they played in the Kargil war; our primary objective was to see if things have changed since then.

Right before one enters the famous town of Kargil, one is greeted by a sign post that reads: "you are under enemy observation" – enough to give you goose bumps. With less than 10 kilometers from the line of control, one constantly realizes that two atomic nations are staring down at each other, and things can go awry anytime.

I count Kargil as one of my many adventures which has allowed me to appreciate the stories we can tell through visuals. My travels throughout the subcontinent have exposed me to the diversity in the region. My understanding of the social and political situation in the region allows me to have an eye for what is close to the heart of the people here, and therefore, which stories would mean the most to them and others. Being from India, I’m deeply sensitive to cultural diversity. My appetite for adventure, as well as my ability to understand and appreciate cultural difference makes me an ideal candidate for this scholarship.