VIKAS MANHAS: EVERY INDIAN MUST KNOW ABOUT HIS ‘VEER YATRA’
Jammu resident Vikas Manhas has visited over a thousand families of our immortals across India, since 1999 ! His experience is unforgettable.
Having visited & connected to more than a thousand families since 1999, Vikas Manhas is the de facto single man bridge between a nation and the families of its immortals. This is an attempt by Indiainput.com for a glimpse of the single man initiative, the Veer Yatra..
Sanjay Ramakant Tiwari
He is Vikas Manhas. Age 45 years. And a resident of Bhaderwah in Jammu’s Doda tahsil. He deals in saffron and dry fruits for a living. However, there is much more about him, than just this. His single minded devotion, towards the one man initiative, sets him apart. Vikas ji has been visiting the families of our immortals since 1999, as a family member and plans to continue this till the last.
After the exodus in 1989-90, the separatism and terrorism turned the focus towards the Jammu region, making life hell for the residents there, aiming for another exodus situation. Encounters, shoot outs and killings had soon become a routine. Vikas Manhas hasn’t yet forgotten the night of 5th November 1992, when his own uncle’s house was attacked by a vicious gang of forty terrorists. His uncle and the family along with the kids had to defend their house somehow till the morning, in absence of any reinforcement. The uncle was injured badly, but saved.
Vikas ji also recalls an encounter that had taken place in 1994, wherein, seven jawans had been martyred. Those were the days when the bodies were usually not handed over to their families and instead, were cremated by the army. As teenagers, he and his friends were aghast to see that there were no family members to bid final goodbye to the heroes.
He had asked a soldier, ‘Why can’t they be taken to their hometowns, in the midst of their families?’ And after much insistence, the reply was, ‘If someone in Delhi could think and act on that..’
Vikas Manhas says, ‘That evening, i cried. The jawan held him close but couldn’t cry. His eyes were red shot, but he had successfully held back his tears. He couldn’t as he was in combat uniform with weapons. That made me realise, weeping is a luxury denied to many.’
On return, Vikas Manhas promised himself that he would visit the families of the seven jawans. He also tried to find their names and addresses in the newspaper reports that were published subsequently, but to no avail.
The first visit by Vikas Manhas
During the Kargil war, on 5th July 1999, Grenadier Uday Mansingh attained martyrdom on Tiger hills. Vikas Manhas made a point to keep his commitment made to himself and visited the family. Thus began, a series of visits that have till now silently covered over a thousand families and have come to be known as the ‘Veer Yatra’.
He continues, ‘When I was talking to Vikram Batra’s parents, suddenly aunty ji became inconsolable and began crying. Uncle ji got up and said before leaving, ‘You have made her cry, now you pacify her..’ I tried to pacify aunty ji and began crying myself. Hearing me, uncle ji came in and said, ‘I expected you to console her, but you have begun now..’
‘While leaving, I requested them for Vikram’s photo as it would be essential for the article I wished to write. After a few minutes of hesitation, aunty ji gave me one, with the condition that it would be returned. Unfortunately, on my return journey to Jammu, at one place, I somehow missed to again board the bus, I was traveling in. The bus left with my bag that had Vikram’s photograph inside. I felt horrified. I touched my pockets. I was left with just a hundred rupee note. I began running behind the bus. Soon a taxiwallah came from behind and agreed to take me ahead of the bus for a paltry hundred rupees. Finally, after a few kilometres, I could get on the bus again to find the photograph was safe.’
He also has vivid memories of Major Rajesh Nayar from Mumbai, who, during his 3 year posting, was a source of confidence and a feeling of safety for the locals of Bhaderwah. And how, on the last day of his tenure there, after having handed over his charge to his successor Major John Lobo and he had returned from the bus stand, upon hearing about an encounter and had attained martyrdom. Recalls Vikas, ‘It was Diwali night. I can not forget it ever. Our village elders were teary eyed. They told me, ‘Now you must visit his house in Mumbai and pay respects on behalf of the grateful village. Then, I travelled the two thousand kilometrs to reach his house and meet his family members. Major Nayar had made our life bearable for three years. We used to sleep tightly when he arrived with his patrol party to our village. Otherwise, village defense committee members had to stay awake and keep vigilance. Major Rajesh had given his three years to us all and yet couldn’t return alive to his home. What I could do in return? Only spare a few days to travel to his near and dear ones in Mumbai and return back. This was nothing.’
‘Veer Yatra’ continues
What does he carry to the families of the Immortals?
Replies Vikas Manhas, ‘I don’t go console them. I can’t do that. I go with a grateful and troubled mind. I forget my predicament, when I receive the affection and the acceptance of being one among the family. It’s not a crusade. I am no crusader. It’s a journey to meet my own.’
How does he bear the travel, lodging and boarding costs?
Says Vikas ji, ‘Travelling does cost money. I live wherever possible. Mostly, I stay with the family as one of them. I eat what is offered. And return.’
He remembers most of the dates, the addresses and makes it a point to try and revisit. These have been silent visits, in the sense that, he kept them private or to be exact, personal. Never disclosed to anyone in the media. And he says, most of his own family members or near and dear ones were and still are not aware about these. Those who came to know about his visits, had found his posts when he began writing on social media. Today, there are not much memorabilia for records’ sake except these very social media posts. Though there are many photographs. But, while on a similar trip to Mumbai, Lieutenant Kapadia’s mother shared details about Vikas’s initiative and his Mumbai visit, to Mid Day, a Mumbai based city eveninger. Thus, the first article was published.
Vikas manhas on the ground reality today
When asked to share his opinion on the present status, he comments, ‘We all were told since childhood that article 370 can never ever be done away with. It had almost become a prerequisite for the existence of the state. However, after the abolition of 370 and 45 A by the powerful government at the centre, things are now changing fast. Many of the separatists have been alienated or decimated. A growing number of Kashmiris are proudly and openly showing that they are Indians. They are sharing information. They are unfurling the tricolour, which was difficult once upon a time. We can remember the Tiranga Yatra in 1994. However, the last year, there was a shortage of the tricolour flags. Some were sporting a long flag. There is a pro India tilt. Though the separatists are still active, plotting and murdering. ‘
That’s the story so far, of the man on an ongoing mission, who has thousands of family members across India.
But, wait.. Aren’t they ours’ too?
