The rugged terrain of the Keran Sector of Kashmir Valley, where snow-covered peaks touch the sky, witnessed the beginning of an extraordinary bond in 1996. Colonel (then 2nd Lieutenant) Rajesh Bhanot was newly commissioned to the 17th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles when he first met Captain Jintu Gogoi at the Naag Post in Keran Sector.
What began as a professional relationship between a senior and junior officer soon transformed into an unbreakable brotherhood, forged in the crucible of shared hardships, countless missions, and a silent understanding of duty and sacrifice.
The Flames of Kargil
When the Kargil War erupted in 1999, the 17 Garhwal Rifles was deployed in Batalik Sub Sector. Captain Gogoi and Captain Bhanot, now Company Commanders, were entrusted with two critical objectives—Capturing Kalapathar (Jubar Heights) and Twin Bumps (astride the Shangruti ridgeline), respectively. The challenges were insurmountable, with treacherous heights, freezing winds, and a mischievous enemy.
In the face of adversity, Captain Gogoi displayed unparalleled valour, leading his men with courage that inspired awe. On 30 June 1999, while securing his objective, he made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. His martyrdom was more than a moment of loss—it became a beacon of duty, honour, and selfless service. For his extraordinary bravery, Captain Jintu Gogoi was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra.
Meanwhile, Captain Bhanot successfully led his men to victory, securing his objective and earned the Sena Medal for gallantry. Amidst the chaos of war, life found a way to celebrate. As Captain Bhanot came to know about Captain Jintu Gogoi, he also received the news that he was blessed with a daughter. To honour the symbolic significance of the Shangruti ridgeline, the unit proposed naming her "Shangruti," a living reminder of triumph and sacrifice.
A Bond Beyond Life
Even after Captain Gogoi’s martyrdom, the two families remained deeply connected. They celebrated milestones of life together, their bond transcending time and space. To the Bhanot family, Captain Gogoi wasn’t just a war hero—he was family. His legacy was kept alive through stories of courage and selflessness, passed down to the next generation.
In 2004, the Indian Army immortalized Captain Gogoi’s memory by instituting the Captain Jintu Gogoi Memorial Football Tournament in Dibrugarh, Assam. Captain Bhanot, then stationed in Laipuli, played a significant role during the inauguration of the tournament. Over the years, the tournament became a symbol of unity, inspiring countless youths and keeping the spirit of the war hero alive.
Destiny’s Full Circle
In a poetic twist of fate, on 07 September 2024, Lieutenant Shangruti, the daughter named after the ridgeline her father had Captured, was commissioned from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai—the same academy where Captain Gogoi had once donned the olive green. Assigned to the Army Service Corps, her first posting brought her to Assam, the land her family shared a deep connection with through Captain Gogoi.
As if guided by destiny, Lieutenant Shangruti found herself in the same sector during the 20th edition of the Captain Jintu Gogoi Memorial Football Tournament. Returning as an officer to the very tournament she had attended as a four-year-old child, she stood alongside Captain Gogoi’s family, embodying the continuity of their shared legacy.
The Passing of the Baton
The reunion was nothing short of a divine orchestration. The sight of Lieutenant Shangruti with Captain Gogoi’s family symbolized the culmination of a 25-year journey—a relationship rooted in valour, sacrifice, and unbreakable bonds. It was a poignant reminder that the legacy of heroes transcends generations, carried forward by those inspired by their courage.
As the tournament concluded, Lieutenant Shangruti stood at attention with the parents of Captain Jintu Gogoi, her heart brimming with pride and emotion. She was not just the daughter of a war hero; she was now a custodian of a legacy, a testament to the enduring power of shared values and unshakable bonds.
In the shadow of the Himalayan peaks, where stories of valour echo through the winds, life had come full circle. From the battlefields of Kargil to the football fields of Assam, the legacy of Captain Jintu Gogoi and Colonel Rajesh Bhanot lives on—not just in the annals of history but in the hearts of those who honour their sacrifice. (PR)