This day in 1962.

While India is celebrating Children's Day, here is another day that is forgotten in history.....

The Battle of Walong

This day in 1962....the only attack by the Indian Army was launched.....as a birthday gift from a general to a PM? A heavy price was paid by the Kumaonis that night!

Denied even 1 day to prepare for the attack, they went in as ordered.

Out of the over 200 men that had gone into the attack, only 90 returned.

That very night, the Chinese returned the compliment - attacking the positions Kumaonis had occupied only a day earlier. Yet, the now depleted defenders repelled this attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the PLA.

Before the 2nd attack, 4 Dogra reinforced them, having broken through blocking positions established by the Chinese.

A 2nd attack too was repulsed but the position fell on the morning of 16 Nov 1962, in the 3rd attack.

6 Kumaon won 5 Vir Chakras on this single day.

6 Kumaon ended the war with 400+ casualties, including fatal, injured and PoW - more than half the battalion strength.

Also, stubbornly holding on to their land in Walong.

At Walong, troops lacked everything but guts. 

"6 Kumaon at tri-junction fought, fought and fought till there was nothing left, after that there was an eerie silence".

My take

Karrmatth veeron ko namann!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

The Eureka Forbes service rep had come by and replaced the old machine with the new one.

Lekha had gone to town to get a few urgent work done.

A quiet evening.