Background:-
The Indo-China war of 1962 was perhaps the biggest blunder of Mr. Nehru. For each Indian soldier, China had deployed anywhere between 5-10 soldiers.
Apart from an overwhelming numerical superiority, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army also had better equipment with no shortage of ammunition or artillery support. The Indian Army knew it was fighting a lost battle.
Location:-
Rezang La is a mountain pass located about 30 km south-west of Pangong Lake and 11 km south of the Spanggur Gap and 5 km south of the Chushul Airstrip at an altitude of 16420 km above mean sea level.
The Battle Scenario:-
On 18th November 1962, 123 Indian under-armed and underequipped soldiers fought 6000 Chinese invaders at Rezang La in sub-zero temperatures without basic protective winter clothing. The Indian soldiers belonged to the Charlie Company, 13 Kumaon Regiment under the leadership of Major Shaitan Singh.
The Charlie Company was “crested to artillery” which meant that there was a crest behind the ridge where the Charlie Company was posted which prevented any Indian artillery support to these soldiers.
It was critical to defend Rezang La as it was the gateway to the Chushul Airstrip, the fall of which would most likely result in the fall of Ladakh.
The Battle:-
The battle began at 3.30 a.m. in the morning when the first Chinese offensive was launched. The Chinese opened Medium Machine Gun (MMG) fire on Indian positions along with heavy artillery and mortar shelling.
The brave Indian soldiers repulsed a total of seven attacks by the Chinese. The Indian soldiers countered Chinese advances with light machine guns (LMG), mortars, rifles, and grenades.
They fought to the “last man” and to the “last bullet.” When the ammunition was over Indian soldiers fought with their bayonets and when their bayonets broke they fought with their bare hands.
Major Shaitan Singh went from platoon to platoon to reorganize defenses and motivate his troops without caring for his personal safety. By about 8:00-8.15 a.m. all Indian positions had been overrun.
For 114 Indian martyrs,’ there were 1300 Chinese casualties. All Indian soldiers were shot in the chest or the head and not in the backs.
Five injured Indian soldiers were captured by the Chinese who managed to escape later and one soldier was sent by Major Shaitan Singh to tell the story of the battle to the rest of the world as he knew that the Company would not survive the battle.
Aftermath:-
In the first week of February 1963 when the bodies were finally discovered by a Ladakhi shepherd who informed the Indian Army Unit in Chushul. The Indian Army Unit arrived at Rezang La on 10th February 1963. In his book "Param Vir, Our Heroes in Battle" retired Brigadier Ian Cardozo described the scene as, “When Rezang La was later revisited dead jawans were found in the trenches still holding on to their weapons, every single man of this company was found dead in his trench with several bullets or splinter wounds.
The 2-inch mortar man died with a bomb still in his hand. The medical orderly had a syringe and bandage in his hands when the Chinese bullet hit him, Of the thousand mortar bombs with the defenders, all but seven had been fired and the rest were ready to be fired when the (mortar) section was overrun.”
Ninety-six dead bodies were found and cremated on the same spot. The bravery of the Indian soldiers had managed to protect the Chushul Airstrip and Rezang La. Two days after this battle, China declared a ceasefire bringing to an end the war.
Gallantry Awards:- Major Shaitan Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra. Eight Indian soldiers were awarded the Vir Chakras and four jawans were given the Sena Medals.
This article is a tribute to the spirit of those 120 Ahirs who fought to the “last man and to the last bullet” to protect their motherland. The martyrs of Rezang La managed to save Ladakh from falling into the hand of the Chinese despite facing unprecedented odds. This was perhaps the greatest last stand in the history of modern warfare.
Written By - Megh Shah
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