1.1 Introduction: Tiger Hills 

‘Tiger Hills’ is an extract from the book Kargil written by General V. P. Malik. ‘Tiger Hills’ is the finest example of how to write a report. He describes the events in the minutest details of the Kargil War.

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Activity sheet on ‘Tiger Hills’

1. A] Read the extract and complete the activities given below:        [12]  

 Tiger Hill towers majestically above all other mountaintops in its vicinity. Although located almost 10 kilometres north of the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway, the enemy position on this mountaintop dominated parts of this highway. After the recapture of Tololing and the adjacent features, evicting the enemy from this well-fortified position became a priority.

        As the sharp triangular top of Tiger Hill was clearly visible from the highway, and appeared almost impossible to capture, the media had projected the entire episode as a national challenge.Brigadier M.P.S. Bajwa, commander, 192 Mountain Brigade, assigned the mission of capturing Tiger Hill to 18 grenadiers, now rested and recouped after their achievements at Tololing and Hump, and to 8 Sikh, which was already deployed at its base. Both these units were assisted by a crack team from the High Altitude Warfare School, with maximum possible artillery, engineering and other combat support. Throughout the last week of June 1999, 18 Grenadiers probed to establish the extent of the enemy’s defenses and to scout for suitable routes for the assault.

             A simultaneous multidirectional assault emerged as the best strategy. The commanding officer of the 41 Field Regiment drew up an elaborate artillery fire plan. Individual guns were ranged so as to cover each objective. Bofors guns were used in a direct firing role once again, with inspiring accuracy. On the day of the assault, nearly 120 field and medium guns, 122-mm multibarrelled Grad rocket launchers and mortars rained death and destruction on the enemy at Tiger Hill. The Air Force, too, targeted Tiger Hill on 2-3 July and hit the bull’s eye several times during its missions.

        For the first time in India’s military history, a TV channel covered the battle live: a sign of progress and transparency, not to mention the on-screen depiction of confidence. The Tiger Hill feature extends about 2200 meters from west to east and about 1000 meters north to south. The main extension is towards the west, on which there are two prominent protrusions. The first, approximately 500 meters west of Tiger Hill, had been named ‘India Gate’, and the second, ‘Helmet’ (located another 300 meters away). Approximately one company of 12 Northern Light Infantry (Pakistan) held the whole feature.

A1.Complete the lines by finding out the meaningful words/phrases/ statements from the above extract.   

1. The first, approximately 500 meters west of Tiger Hill, is named India Gate.
2. The Air Force targeted  Tiger Hill on 2-3 July.
3. The commanding officer of the 41 Field Regiment drew up an elaborate artillery fire plan
4. The Tiger Hill feature extends about 2200 meters from west to east and about 1000 meters north to south.

A2. Describe ‘Tiger Hill’ in brief with the help of the reference given in the extract. 

Ans: Tiger Hill is a beautiful mountaintop located almost 10 km north of the Kargil-Leh-Srinagar Highway. The Tiger Hill feature extends about 2200 meters from west to east and about 1000 meters north to south. The main extension is towards the west.

A3. Find out the new war strategy of the Indian Army mentioned in the extract.

Ans: A simultaneous multidirectional assault, elaborate artillery fire plan by the commanding officer of 41 Field Regiment and the attack by The Air Force were the best strategies applied by the Indian Army to capture Tiger Hill.

A4. Would you like to join the Indian Army? Give reasons.

Ans: Yes. I would like to join the Indian Army because I am passionate about the armed forces. I want to serve my Nation. This job will give me an opportunity to face the adventurous tasks in my life. That’s why I want to join the Indian Army.

(Also you can write your own opinions )

A5) Language study :      

i). Tiger Hill towers majestically above all other mountaintops in its vicinity.     

 (Choose the correct alternative to indicate the tense of a given Sentence.) 

d.  A crack team from the High Altitude Warfare School assisted both these units.
 

A6) Vocabulary:    (2)  

Find out any four words related to warfare from the extract.

ANS: i) assault ii) artillery fire iii)  firing iv) rocket launchers v) enemy position etc.