The Legacy of Captain Saurabh Kalia: Kargil's First War Hero

Bys: Kalia, N. K. and Sen, Sreemati

Six Indian soldiers, as part of their regular patrolling exercise, go missing from the Bajrang post in the Kaksar sector in Ladakh.

A captain and his men are outnumbered by hundreds and fired upon relentlessly from all angles.

Captain Saurabh Kalia and his five men from 4 Jat Regiment were the first casualties of the Kargil War in 1999. The unit was captured alive by the Pakistani Army and subjected to unimaginable horrors for twenty-two days--a stark violation of the Geneva Convention. The men had vowed not to reveal any secrets if captured, and they kept their promise even when each and every bone in their body was hammered to pieces.

In The Legacy of Captain Saurabh Kalia, Dr. N.K. Kalia--with author Sreemati Sen--documents the inspiring life of his son, his pivotal role in the Kargil war, and his family's relentless efforts in their quest for justice.

Featuring exclusive photographs, excerpts from the captain's diary, letters written by him and rare interviews of his family, relatives, teachers, classmates, batchmates, and officials who were then posted in Kargil, this deeply researched account brings to light a story of valor and courage like you've never known before.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0143470868
• ISBN13: 9780143470861
• Release Date: September 2025
• Publisher: Penguin Veer
• Length: 288 Pages