53 Years Ago, 120 Men Saved Ladakh From China. This Is The Story Of The Greatest Last Stand Ever At RezangLa!

A hundred years can not repair a moment loss of pain ,their was once a saying that it's by protecting other's you can save your self and if you will think only of ourself you'll be destroyed that's the nature of the war . here i am not trying to portray anything but it was Mr Nehru saying that why are we bothering for the barren which is no good to us yes this was said during his sessions in parliament during war in which Ram manohar lohia said if their is no hair on my head should i cut it down. that was an absurd relation but we all know what was he trying to say

Old men said it's not the title that honor's man but man that honor's title. the reason is since the beginning of modern day warfare, their have been battles, their where war that have even wiped the whole generation .but even todays we take war as a act of bravery and soldiers as more then a ordinary man, it is because they willingly go where no one els would dare to that's what makes them different ,their have been stories specially war stories which i personally feel that had made a impression on my mind ,as the time passed they started forgetting them that's the nature of man. when it comes to peace people forget war, which is really shame and when their comes few moments when we pray and remember, the fallen some great intellectuals says we didn't ask they to give their life ,you know he is kind of true, no sir you did not but the truth is they really don't care what you think so gents here today i am going to write something from the face of past which is considered as one of the greatest last stand in the history of armed forces across the world , yes we are talking about rezang la !some of you may have herd of battle of rezang la or perhaps you may have not .that's the idea behind this so that you may know that someone slept that morning so that you may again wake tomorrow,some one stood their so that you may never have to run yes we are talking back 53 years ago 120 men saved ladakh from china facing the odd gaist 5000to 6000 soldiers .

India hasn't lost a lot of wars – which is why 1962 India-China war is essential because it hardened the resolve for India to create an army like no other.Despite the fact that India lost the war, it made us realize how important it was to modernize our army and weaponry. The only thing that stood out though was the bravado of the Indian soldier - who fought to his last breath without weapons or back up often with his bare hands like in the case of Rezang La.

The Greatest Last Stand Ever Taken

On November 18, 1962 on snow clad mountains of Chushul in Ladakh, took place the battle that is still considered to be one of the greatest last stands in the history of armed forces across the world.

The Charlie company of 120 jawans of 13 Kumaon led by Major Shaitan Singh was protecting Chushul airfield which was vital if India had to hold on to Ladakh.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of 5,000-6,000 soldiers equipped with heavy artillery support attacked Chushul early morning. And to make matters worse, a crest behind the ridge prevented Indian artillery from lending support, leaving the Jawans to fight for themselves.

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. Only 6 of the 120 member company survived the war, 114 did not.

The remaining six were taken as Prisoners of War (POW) by Chinese; but all miraculously escaped. Out of these six heroes, only four are alive now

The battle of Rezang La was the only bright spot for India in the 1962 war with China. captain (ret)Ramchander Yadav and hawaldar (ret)Nihal Singh, two of the six soldiers who survived that battle, look back at the events of that icy November morning 53 years ago. And here are few question that have been asked to both the soldiers ,wo survived the war. they say that they are alive just to tell the legend and their responsibility that is should not be forgotten .

Following question is been asked by the indian express -

Please describe the scene of that day. The attack started at 3:30 a.m.?

Yadav: I was a sepoy in Charlie Company of 13 Kumaon Regiment and was with the Major at Rezang La post. At 3:30 am, firing took place at the section of Naik Gulab Singh, who later got the Vir Chakra.

This one Company had one Param Vir Chakra, five Vir Chakras, and four Sena medals, including you. Medals were rarely awarded those days, still so many were given. What happened after that?

Yadav: We got alerts. When my officer asked, I said Platoon No 8 had informed that the enemy had attacked. The enemy was trying to climb but the LMG of Hukam Chand (Vir Chakra) killed four. After 10 minutes, Platoon 7 informed me about the attack on them. I asked Surja Ram (Vir Chakra) how things were. He said they had taken their positions and that 400 people were trying to climb from 14,000 ft to 18,000 ft.

All the names of your comrades are written on the memorial here in Rewari. The list here says that 114 jawans killed 1,300 Chinese enemies that day.

Yadav: I saw that with my own eyes. Bodies were lying all around.

So when you knew that thousands of Chinese were coming, that they had artillery support while your artillery wouldn't reach you because of the huge mountain behind you, was it evident that you had to stay put?

Yadav: Yes, there was no going back then.

Did anyone think of saving their own lives, withdrawing? What did the Major tell you?

Yadav: The Major said if we have to withdraw, then do it. But the jawans and the JCOs said we will not leave Rezang La. We have the blessings of Lord Krishna. The Major said I am with you and I am a Yadav too, so what if my name is Bhati?

What happened next? Where were you and the Major when the fire came?

Yadav: I was at the command post with platoons on either side on the two-kilometre ridge. I was with the Major. After a while, a message came from Platoon No 8. Hari Ram (Vir Chakra) said the enemy was coming through the ridge, but we would kill them once they are in range. They repulsed that attack.

Many Chinese died. Did you see their bodies?

Yadav: Yes. They were lying scattered like berries in a market. They kept climbing up, and we were at our post. Two attacks were repulsed. Then, Platoon 7 was attacked. They didn't attack Platoon 9 even though it was at the front. Their plan was to isolate Platoon 9. But they didn't know that our commander had made arrangements so that no one could climb up.

So you had made a killing ground?

Yadav: Yes, the third and fourth attacks on Platoon 8 were also repulsed. Then they attacked with full force. That's when Surja Ram declared, Ramchander, now is the time when we will all fight out of our posts in the name of hand-to-hand combat. My communication with Platoon 7 stopped. Communication started with Platoon 8 when 14-15 yaks and around 700 Chinese took position on the ridge in between us and Platoon 8.

They came from behind?

Yadav: Yes, first we thought it was our battalion's Alpha Company that had come to help us. We thought the CO might have sent them for our help but when they started positioning their yaks and machine guns, then Havaldar Major Harphool Singh said this is the enemy. After that, the Major ordered for nine platoons to be sent from the headquarters. Since the enemy was going to attack Platoon 8, we would attack them from behind and they would be trapped between Platoon 8 and us and we would finish them.

So you saw many of your colleagues being martyred before your eyes, bayonets in hand, in hand-to-hand combat?

Yadav: Yes, I saw some like (Naik) Singh Ram (Vir Chakra) catching hold of their heads and smashing them together. What he did to the Chinese earned him their respect. Before the Chinese left, they sank a bayonet in the ground near his head, and put a helmet on top. They gave him izzat, samman, they kept a note there. We have seen that note.

Singh: If Major saab (Maj Shaitan Singh) had been around, they would have thought ye morcha kahaan chalaa gayaa...

The Chinese took out Major saab's morcha first. They were able to see everything (about the Indian position). So, Singh Ram and the others, they were fighting with bayonets?

Yadav: Yes, but sometimes the bayonets wouldn't work. The Chinese were wearing thick parkas, and the bayonets couldn't penetrate them. I saw our men, stabbing repeatedly with their bayonets, and the blade would not go through. So Singh Ram just grabbed them by their necks and smashed their heads together and against rocks.

He was a wrestler...

Yadav: Bahut tagda pehelwaan tha.He could catch people like me by the scruff of our necks and say, 'C'mon, heat the milk'. I was his boxer.

Nihal saab, you have narrated the story of how you escaped. Did anyone else manage to get away as well?

Singh: No one with me.

Yadav: Oh yes, one more, Ram Pal escaped. The next day.

Ramchanderji, tell me, what did you do?

Yadav: When we were overrun—my saab was lying motionless, and I was wounded—I remembered what (Company Havaldar Major) Harphool (Singh) had said, 'Do not let the Chinese get their hands on Major saab's body.' So I opened the sling of the rifle and tied Major saab to myself with the belt, joining our bodies together at the waist. And then, slowly, I started to roll.

The Major was still alive?

Yadav: There was very little life left in him. After about 10 yards, there was gravelly ground, and I started rolling down faster. I rolled for 400 yards, and then there was a nullah, after that boulders again. After rolling for 400 yards, I stopped near a boulder to catch my breath. I was thinking that the Company headquarters are below, so I should try to somehow get a couple of people from there to help me, so I can take saab down. But when it was 8.15 by his watch, I noticed that the Major saab was no longer alive. Because Major saab's watch ran by his pulse, and when the pulse stopped, the watch stopped as well. I took off the Major's gloves, and slid his body between boulders to hide it, so that it remained safe until someone could come to fetch it. Then I made my way down. I came down about a kilometre, to the point from where our rations were supplied. I saw that the quarter master's depot was in flames.

The few people who were there had left after setting the depot on fire...

Singh: Haan, Company to khatm ho hi gayi thi...

Yadav: Yes, the commander had called them back. I wondered what to do. And then I saw one of our jeeps, with the occupants signalling to me. I moved towards them.

You were the only one who returned alive from that battle... So, when you narrated that story, did your commanders believe you?

Yadav: Only one commander believed me. D D Shukla, who was the adjutant... He said every word of what he is saying is true. Then Dhingra saab also believed this, and the brigade commander, he too accepted the real story...

That is what Lata Mangeshkar sang, didn't she, dus dus ko ek ne maara... And even the Chinese accepted it. When you hear repeatedly that in 1962, the Indian Army lost, the Indian Army did not fight, does it hurt you?

Yadav, Singh: It happened. In Bomdila, in NEFA.

Why did it happen?

Yadav: That was the fault of our commanders. When the general himself goes away to Delhi, then who will fight the war? We gave our everything.

So what would you like to tell today's jawans and officers? What lesson should they learn from the battle of Rezang La?

Yadav: You see, my battalion got another chance after Rezang La, near Jaisalmer....

Singh: In 1971.

Yadav: Everyone has to die one day, but let us do something before we die. My son is also in 13 Kumaon. In the 1999 war, he was hit by a shell on his chest, and the doctor called me to the hospital. He said, 'We suggest that you let the splinter be, trying to take it out might create problems...' So my son is there, living with it.

Have the two of you seen the film Haqeeqat, because it has been made on the battle of Rezang La? Kar chale hum fida jaanon tan saathiyon, ab tumhare hawale watan saathiyon...

Yadav: But we have not been acknowledged in the film. I left the hall midway and walked out.

Why? Because it said Punjab?

Yadav: Yes. We fought the war, it should have been Kumaon. There are so many battalions—Kumaon, Rajput, Jat, Sikh—so why is there no battalion for us? Why don't they give us an Ahir battalion as well?

The battle that was shown (in Haqeeqat), was that okay?

Yadav: It was okay, but I left midway when I saw what was written on the shoulder.

The battle that you fought changed the course of the war of 1962. Because, if you had not fought off the Chinese, they would have captured Chushul that very day. But because you fought so bravely, the others got some time, and could withdraw, and some others were able to fortify defences. And the Chinese also suffered so much.

Yadav: Yes, they could not sustain it after Rezang La. They had to declare a ceasefire. It is here that they got the big blow, not in Bomdila, not in NEFA... This is where we held on, and fought them back.

Just to explain the significance of this battle. This wasn't just the charge of the light brigade, a brave but foolhardy charge. It actually brought about a strategic turnaround in the war of 1962, because it broke the Chinese advance, the Chinese momentum. It is our good fortune that people like these survived, just a handful of them, to tell us the story.