Just a few days ago I came across a
post on Instagram which read “There is a Good reason Why You never get a bill
for the freedom you enjoy because somebody has already paid for it”, sounds pretty pleasant. But rarely come across the stories of those warriors very often
which we are indebted to. A debt which we just can't imagine of paying back.
This blog is about one of the
greatest battle the world has ever seen, “The Battle of Rezang La”. This battle
was the last site stand by the Charlie company of 13 Kumaon during
1962 Sino-Indian war. Though it was a war that India lost, it made us
realize the importance of modernization and advancement of our Army and
weaponry. But the one thing that stood out was the Bravery of our soldiers who
fought till the last bullet and last man and thus followed the orders of
Brigadier T N Raina to the tee.
The battle took place on
18th November 1962, in Rezang La
of Chushul in Ladakh. This battle is considered one of the greatest last
stands in the history of armed forces across the world. 13 Kumaon
in command of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was protecting Chushul airfield as it was going to play a vital role, if India had to hold on to Ladakh. It is said that if this company
hadn’t made the supreme sacrifice then Leh, Kargil, and many other strategically
important areas would have been under danger. As it is well said that Sacrifice is the divine truth.
The battle started at 3:30 in the morning and lasted for 5 hours. A lesser army
might have retreated, but the company led by commander Major Shaitan Singh
fought till last man, last round, and last breath. Legend says that the brave
120 killed close to 1,300 enemy soldiers that to when there was no
reinforcement available to Indian soldiers and they were fighting only with
Light Machine gun (LMG) and on the other side Chinese were equipped with heavy
artillery, ammunition and reinforcement.
Such was the bravery that no one believed that anything like “Battle of
Rezang La” had taken place until a shepherd from Chusul reached Rezang La after
3 months of battle and saw martyred soldiers.
Some soldiers had guns in their hands, some had a syringe in their hands. The
remaining six of 120 were taken as Prisoners of War (POW) by Chinese, but they
all miraculously escaped.
Major
Shaitan Singh, who was later awarded Param Vir Chakra (PVR) for leading the
company and showing valor beyond imagination, always knew that they were
fighting a lost battle. But he refused to surrender and led his men with
unparalleled valor. The company was also awarded five Vir Chakras, and four
Sena medals apart from the PVC awarded to the commander.
As
told by Honorary Captain Ramchander Yadav, who was one of the survivors of the
battle recalls that the Chinese kept attacking despite being repulsed twice. Soon
the ammunition of Indian Soldiers finished and they decided to take the fight
with bare hands. As told by him, Naik Ram Singh who was a wrestler
single-handedly killed many Chinese.
The gallant deed of Charlie Company is remembered today by
a memorial built soon after their funeral by the Commanding Officer and all
ranks of 13 Kumaon on the site where the Battalion headquarters had stood on
that fateful morning of November 18, 1962. On the memorial stone are inscribed
the last six lines of Lord Macaulay’s immortal poem:
How
can a man die better,
Than
facing fearful odds,
For
the ashes of his fathers,
And
temples of his gods.
(Dayatva Team Member)
Beautifully written
ReplyDelete