28/05/2025
Every Year, He Walks Into the Land Where His Son Never Returned…
At IGI Airport, a humble figure waits quietly in line at the departure gate. Not for a vacation. Not for a business trip.
But for an emotional pilgrimage.
Col. Virender Thapar is on his way to Drass, near Kargil — a journey he makes every single year.
It’s the final resting place of his 22-year-old son, Lt. Vijyant Thapar, who laid down his life during the 1999 Kargil War.
Before his final mission, Lt. Vijyant wrote a heart-wrenching letter to his parents, asking his father to one day visit the place where he and his fellow soldiers stood their ground… and fell.
Col. Thapar has honoured that promise — every year, without fail.
No cameras. No headlines. Just a father keeping a promise to a son… and to his nation.
This is not just a story of war.
It’s a story of love, duty, and the unbreakable bond between a soldier and his family.
May we never forget their sacrifice
