The defeat of units of the Indian Army at various places by the Chinese in the 1962 War left deep scars in the psyche of most Indians. However, there were a few isolated cases of incredible bravery. The Battle of Rezang La was one of them. I was 11 years old in November 1962 when the epic battle was fought till the last bullet and the last man by the valiant men of 13 Kumaon under the leadership of Major Shaitan Singh.
Kulpreet Yadav’s book, “The Battle of Rezang La” published by Penguin Veer in September 2021 is a must read for all interested in modern Indian history. It retraces the events that took place on November 18, 1962 in the intense cold at heights over 18,000 feet in Rezang La. Men of C (Charlie) Company of 13 Kumaon faced enemy forces that vastly out numbered them. The Chinese had location advantages and far superior weapons and equipment. The Ahirs from Haryana who made up C Company had raw courage and a determination not to yield an inch of Indian territory.
The 1962 Indo-China War started in October 1962 and ended in December 1962 . Short though the period of conflict was, these few months took a heavy toll of India’s soldiers. More often than not they fought with poor clothing, totally ill equipped to fight in the intense cold of the mountain areas they were tasked to defend against overwhelming odds. Of course, the War also affected India’s political and military leadership. Prime Minister Nehru was never the same again, and died within the next two years. The Defence Minister Krishna Menon was sacked and the Army Chief, Gen P N Thapar had to resign. This book details one of the battles forced upon the Indian Army by the poor strategy and vision of Nehru, Menon and Thapar.
The main difference between this and many other battles in the short war was that the Indian officers and men displayed phenomenal courage and fortitude. Kulpreet Yadav (who retired as Commandant in the Indian Coast Guard after 23 years service) writes that the debacle of 1962, where a Nehru-led India lost humiliatingly to China, was not allowed to be discussed in public discourses or books. That facts about the Battle of Rezang La were not known at all to the public at large which vastly disappointed the author. This motivated him to research this battle which has few, if any, parallels in the annals of military history.
In the first week of February 1963, a Ladhaki shepherd discovered the frozen bodies of the Kumaonis. They were found in the positions they had died, carrying their weapons with them. Most of them had many bullets in their bodies. Amongst the dead was Major Shaitan Singh, the Company Commander. He was later awarded the Param Vir Chakra – India’s highest honour for displaying acts of valour during war- posthumously.
On that day in 1963, the bodies of 96 soldier of Charlie Company were recovered from Rezang La and cremated with full military honours amid the chanting of Vedic mantras. The combined funeral pyre was lit by Brig. T N Raina, the Brigade Commander. Many years later, he became the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army.
The author did considerable personal research before writing this book. Being from Haryana himself, he met families of the brave Ahirs from that state who made up the complement of C Company of 13 Kumaon. He also talked to officers and men who took part in the battle, though they were not on the spot in Rezang La that fateful day in November 1962.
Charlie Company of 13 Kumaon was given the honour of being called “The Rezang La Company.” Today there is a memorial in their honour in Ladakh. The inspiration is: “To the sacred memory of the heroes of Rezang-La
114 martyrs of 13 Kumaon who fought to the last man last round
against hordes of Chinese on 18 November 1962. Built by all ranks
13th Battalion, the Kumaon Regiment.”
I would recommend this book to all students of military history and modern Indian history. I also hope the story of the famous Battle of Rezang La will reach the youth of our country.
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