Today is our Battle Honour Day Rezang La!
Homage to the soldiers of 13 Kumaon : A tribute.
On 18 Nov 1962, at Rezang La (La means Pass), Chushul, Ladakh at 16,000 ft at minus 40 deg Celsius and howling blizzards, around 4 AM, the Chinese Army attacked Charlie Company of 13 Kumaon with Medium Machine guns, heavy mortars and artillery, followed by human waves. Charlie Company led by Major Shaitan Singh was waiting in their fire trenches and sanghars for the enemy to appear in their cross hair.
Unfortunately, Indian troops were without artillery fire support due to ground conditions. 123 soldiers mainly from Ahirwal (Rewari, Mahendergarh, Narnaul) area of Haryana, many each others relative, with nerves of steel and bravehearts were ready for the ultimate.
Ahirs opened heavy volume of fire according to plan, as the Chinese appeared in their cross hairs. Two waves of assault were defeated, hundreds of Chinese lay dead in the 'nullahs'. But the enemy came well prepared and had the advantage of numbers, fire power and was on the offensive.
Chinese attacked relentlessly from multiple directions, in 7 human waves. Major Shaitan Singh continuously moved from trench to trench motivating his men to defeat the designs of the enemy. Soldiers kept firing till the classical last man last round. Then Indian soldiers jumped out of their defences and launched themselves into hand to hand combat with the Chinese. This battle lasted for almost 5 hours before the guns fell silent.
Of the 123 Indian soldiers, 114 laid down their lives, all from Charlie Company of 13 Kumaon, killing over 1,000 Chinese. On 21 Nov 1962, China declared unilateral ceasefire.
In 16 Feb 1963, a team of Red Cross and 13 Kumaon, revisited Rezang La to recover the remains of our martyrs. Due to minus 40 deg Celsius, the bodies lay immortalised, frozen in fighting positions, still with rifles firmly grasped.
A Nursing Assistant was found in a trench with a bandage in hand that he was tying on a wounded comrade.
Later, 95 martyrs were cremated on one single pyre, 25 metres long at the very place where Battalion Headquarters was located. The pyre was lit by their Brigade Commander, Brig TN Raina, later the Chief of the Army Staff.
At the very place where these 95 martyrs were cremated, very close to Pangong Tso (Lake) Chushul, Ladakh. The battalion constructed a befitting War Memorial of marble, on which are inscribed the names of all 114 Rezang La martyrs and the following lines,
"How can a man die better than facing fearful odds for the ashes of his fathers and the temples of his Gods".
For this unparalleled battle, the following Gallantry awards were bestowed :-
* Param Vir Chakra (1) Major Shaitan Singh, Posthumous * Vir Chakras (8), of these 6 were posthumous * Sena Medals (4), of these 1 was posthumous. AVSM - 1, Mention-in-despatches - 1.
The Army Headquarters awarded the following to 13 Kumaon :-
* Renamed the Charlie Company as REZANG LA Company * Battle Honour "Rezang La" * Theatre Honour "Ladakh".
Please do not write RIP. Those who go to Pangong Tso, Ladakh, may visit the Rezang La Memorial and pay homage!
Tailpiece.
Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. The usual Wednesday morning 'aarathi' of the house was carried out.
Drove to the bank to meet up with the new manager, Mr Anup. A genial young man, who'd to urgently go out despite my appointment with him. Subha had carried out all the work that I'd earmarked during the visit but Anup had returned just as I was preparing to leave. We'd a chat for about half an hour.
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