‘Don’t believe media, visit Kashmir yourself and see warmth of people’
Drass, Jul 25: A 25-year-old content creator from Uttar Pradesh (UP), who is undertaking a solo walk from India Gate, New Delhi to Kargil War Memorial, said his journey is a tribute to the Indian Armed Forces and aims to inspire the younger generation to remember the sacrifices of Kargil War heroes.
Speaking exclusively with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) at Matayen, around 30 kilometres before the Kargil War Memorial, Ayush Kumar Madhyesh said he began his journey on June 26 and is set to reach the memorial on Saturday to pay homage to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the 1999 Kargil War.
He said the idea for the walk came after witnessing public criticism of the armed forces during Operation Sindoor last year. “I wanted to begin my content creation journey by paying tribute to our Armed Forces. Every day during my walk, I narrate the story of a Kargil War hero because I feel many people from my generation have forgotten this important chapter of our history,” he said.
Sharing his experience, Ayush said the month-long journey took him through Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, where he received overwhelming support from people. He recalled staying with a local family in Kashmir after failing to find a hotel, describing it as one of the most memorable experiences of his journey. “Don’t believe everything you see about Kashmir in the media. Visit the place yourself. The people here are warm and welcoming,” he said.
Describing the conditions in Ladakh, he said the harsh terrain, high altitude and freezing temperatures gave him a deeper understanding of the sacrifices made by soldiers posted in the region. “I have been away from home for only a month and already miss my family, while our soldiers spend months and even years serving in these difficult conditions. We should appreciate their sacrifices,” he said.
Ayush urged more youngsters to undertake similar journeys to understand the realities faced by the armed forces. He said he plans to return next year with more participants and complete another expedition to the Kargil War Memorial via the Manali route within 30 days—(KNO)
