Kargil Diwas 2025: Meet Captain Yashika Tyagi Who Wore The Uniform, Carried A Child, And Faced War Fearlessly

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In the brutal summer of 1999, while most people watched the Kargil War unfold through television bulletins, Captain Yashika Hatwal Tyagi stood quietly at her post in Leh-expecting a child, yet delivering duty. She wasn't just a soldier on duty; she was a woman in her second trimester, battling physical strain, altitude sickness, and emotional conflict-all while contributing to India's most critical military operation in decades.

Her story remained unsung for years. But as India observes Kargil Vijay Diwas 2025 on 26 July, it's finally getting the spotlight it deserves-not just as a tale of patriotism, but one of unparalleled strength and feminine grit that redefined what it means to serve.

Early Life: A Childhood Shaped By Uniform And Loss

Yashika Tyagi was born into a proud military family in Dehradun. Her father, an Army Colonel, had seen the horrors of the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars. But when she was only seven years old, tragedy struck-her father died while still in service. She didn't understand it fully then, only that an Army truck brought his body home draped in garlands.

The emotional impact of that moment stayed with her for life. But more than grief, it was the solidarity of the Army fraternity-the officers who came to pay their respects and stood by her family-that carved a permanent place for the uniform in her heart. That truck didn't just bring her father home-it delivered her purpose.

Education And Determination: A Family Of Warriors In Every Field

Raised by a strong mother who became a teacher to support the family, Yashika and her two sisters were brought up with discipline, dignity, and a deep love for service. Her elder sister became a doctor affiliated with the Navy, while her younger sister joined the Indian Air Force. Tyagi initially dreamed of joining the Indian Police Service.

But in 1992, the Indian Army opened its gates to women under the Women Special Entry Scheme. Tyagi didn't think twice. She cleared the Services Selection Board and joined the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai in 1994, one of the early batches of women training to serve the country not just in spirit, but in uniform.

Career And Marriage: Breaking Barriers At 10,000 Feet

In 1995, Captain Yashika Tyagi began her military career with an unusual choice-she opted for one of the most difficult postings available: Leh, Ladakh. Harsh weather, oxygen deprivation, and treacherous terrain were all part of the job, but she was determined to prove women could thrive in postings typically reserved for men.

That same year, she married a fellow Army officer. The two shared the same ideals and love for service. In 1996, their first child, a son named Kanhav, was born. Just a year later, she returned to Leh-this time as the first female logistics officer posted in the region. She was now juggling the roles of a mother, an officer, and a pioneer in a male-dominated space.

The Kargil War: Serving While Pregnant

By 1999, Tyagi was in her second year of her Leh posting. Just as she was preparing for her transfer, the Kargil conflict erupted. She was five months pregnant with her second child. It would have been easy to step back, to choose safety and rest.

But she didn't.

Captain Tyagi continued working at her post in logistics and support, coordinating critical supplies, rations, and essentials for the troops stationed at high altitudes. Every day, she risked her health-not just for herself, but for the life growing inside her. Her presence in Leh wasn't a symbolic gesture; it was a statement: women don't just belong in war rooms-they can hold the line when it matters most.

Life After Service: From Soldier To Speaker

After completing her tenure with the Indian Army, Captain Tyagi retired and took on new roles with equal passion. She served as Director for a Ministry of Defence project, continuing her commitment to national development from a civilian post.

She also reinvented herself as a motivational speaker and leadership coach. From giving speeches at TEDx and Josh Talks to mentoring young girls across India, she has used her voice to spark courage in others. For many, especially women dreaming of the armed forces, Captain Yashika Tyagi is more than a veteran-she's a role model.

Legacy: Redefining What It Means To Serve

Captain Yashika Tyagi's story isn't one of battlefield heroism in the conventional sense. She didn't hold a rifle or charge up a peak. But her battle was no less fierce. She faced altitude, expectation, pregnancy, and patriarchy-and didn't retreat an inch.

Her service during the Kargil War was an act of quiet, profound defiance. On Kargil Vijay Diwas 2025, her name deserves to be remembered alongside the bravehearts who fought and fell-because she stood strong when few even noticed.

She didn't just serve her country. She changed the definition of who gets to be called a soldier.