Battle of Rezang La
| Battle of Rezang La | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Sino-Indian War | |||||||||
 Memorial for the battle at Rezang La | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 India |
 People's Republic of China | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Major Shaitan Singh † | Unknown | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
| 13th Kumaon Regiment | People's Liberation Army (PLA) | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| ~120 soldiers[note 2] | ~3000 soldiers | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 114 killed[2] | ~1400 killed[3] | ||||||||
The Battle of Rezang La was a major military engagement that took place on 18 November 1962, during the Sino-Indian War between the Indian Army's 13th Kumaon Regiment and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA). The battle is remembered as one of the most heroic last stands in the military history, where 120 Indian soldiers of all-Ahir Charlie C Company faced more than 3000 Chinese aggressors and successfully defended the strategic mountain pass of Rezang La in Ladakh. Fought at an altitude of 16,000 feet, against overwhelming Chinese forces, the battle saw one of the greatest last stands, with Indian sources documenting more than 1400 Chinese casualties. Major Shaitan Singh, who led the defense, was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honor, for his extraordinary bravery; along with several other decorations being awarded posthumously to many officers and soldiers of the company.[4]
Background
[edit]In October 1962, China launched a large-scale offensive against India in the disputed border areas of Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh (then NEFA). The Indian Army, under-prepared and outnumbered, was tasked with defending these high-altitude regions. Rezang La, a pass located in the Chushul sector of Ladakh, became a key defense point as it guarded the vital airstrip at Chushul.[5]
The defense of Rezang La was entrusted to the 13th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment, under the command of Major Shaitan Singh. The battalion was positioned on the barren, exposed ridges of the pass, without adequate artillery support or reinforcements.[6]
The Battle
[edit]During the Sino-Indian War in 1962, Rezang La was the site of the last stand of the Charlie "C" Ahir company[7][8][9] of 13 Kumaon, consisting of 124 Indian soldiers.[10][11] According to the official Indian history of the war, the Rezang La picket of Charlie company was located at an elevation of 5,500 metres (18,000 ft), 11 km south of the Spanggur Gap, on the same ridge line as Rezang La.[12] Rezang La had the drawback that an intervening feature blocked artillery operation, so that the Indian infantry had to do without artillery cover.[13]
The Indian side was led by Major Shaitan Singh,[14] who perished in battle and posthumously won India's highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra, for his actions.[15][16][13]
The Chinese employed human wave tactics, sending up to eight waves against the Indian troop positions.[17][18][19] Eventually, the Indian position was overrun, and Indian troops were forced to withdraw to high mountain positions. After the conclusion of battle, their valor was recognized by the Chinese, who had covered the bodies of the Indian soldiers with blankets and even placed bayonets over them so that the make-shift covers do not fly off. This mark of respect is exceptional and atypical of practices of that time.[20]
Both sides took overwhelming casualties, though both countries disagree over how many were killed. It is generally accepted 114 Indian soldiers out of a total of 120 lost their lives.[21][22] However, Indian sources claim upwards of 1,300 Chinese troops were killed in Rezang La alone.[22][23][24]
Upon successfully overrunning the mountain and reaching their claim line, the Chinese declared a ceasefire. Indian troops were ordered to withdraw from the area, marking the end of the war in Aksai Chin.[20]
Aftermath
[edit]The heroic defense by the Kumaon Regiment became a source of inspiration for the Indian military and the nation. Major Shaitan Singh's bravery and leadership were recognized with the posthumous award of the Param Vir Chakra.[25] The battle is considered one of the most heroic last stands in modern military history.[citation needed]
Legacy
[edit]The Battle of Rezang La remains a symbol of Indian courage and determination. Memorials have been erected at Rezang La and at various places in India to commemorate the bravery of the soldiers who fought and died in the battle.[4]
In 2012, on the 50th anniversary of the battle, veterans and military historians gathered to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers, and the battle continues to be studied as a lesson in mountain warfare.[26]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ The Battle stands out for sheer valour, grit and dogged determination of C Company of 13 KUMAON that fought to the last man, defending Rezang La, under the dynamic leadership of Major Shaitan Singh. Against all odds and grossly outnumbered, the valiant soldiers of ‘C’ Company, 13 KUMAON, repulsed seven attacks by the Chinese, launched in waves. Despite heavy artillery shelling and fierce Chinese assaults, Major Shaitan Singh and his 113 brave hearts delivered the heaviest blow to the Chinese."Battle of Rezang La – 2023-11-18" (PDF). Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ The number of Indian soldiers involved in the defense of Rezang La was approximately 120, comprising C Company of the 13th Kumaon Regiment."Battle of Rezang La – 2023-11-18" (PDF). Retrieved 10 September 2024.
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ Battle of Rezang La 2023.
- ^ Maxwell 1970, p. 334.
- ^ Singh 2016, p. 201.
- ^ a b Singh 2016, p. 203.
- ^ Palit 1991, p. 275.
- ^ Singh 2016, p. 198.
- ^ Brig Chitranjan Sawant (2021). Living Life Loving Life. Prabhat Prakashan. pp. 150–151. ISBN 9788184303995.
- ^ Bisht, Rachna (2014). The Brave Param Vir Chakra Stories. Penguin Books Limited. p. all. ISBN 9789351188056. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ^ Arora, Dr. N. D. (2017). Political Science for Civil Services Mains. McGraw-Hill Education. p. all. ISBN 9789352604906. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ "The Battle of Rezang la".
- ^ "Micro review: 'The Battle of Rezang La' by Kulpreet Yadav". The Times of India.
- ^ Sinha & Athale 1992, p. 334.
- ^ a b Mohan Guruswamy (20 November 2012). "Don't forget the heroes of Rezang La". The Hindu.
- ^ Raj, Neha (1 December 2023). "Remembering Major Shaitan Singh Bhati: The Hero of Rezang La". PUNE.NEWS. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ Press Information Bureau, Government of India (7 January 2007). "Remembering Rezang La heroes". Sainik samachar.
- ^ Col Dilbag Dabas (Retd) (15 December 2018). "Heroes of Rezang La 1962". The Tribune.
- ^ "Soldier who won respect of enemy; tale of Rezang La 1962 battle". TOI. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "The 1962 War at Rezang La: A Story of Raw Courage and Spirit". Quint. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Rezang La, 1962: When 120 Indian soldiers fought to the end & wiped out over 1,000 Chinese troops". Print. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ a b "BHARAT RAKSHAK MONITOR Volume 3(3)". 9 February 2001. Archived from the original on 9 February 2001. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Gen Dalbir Singh (20 November 2014). "Coas Paid Homage to Heroes of Battle of Rezangla". Indian Army.
- ^ a b Shekhar Gupta (30 October 2012). "'Nobody believed we had killed so many Chinese at Rezang La. Our commander called me crazy and warned that I could be court-martialled'". The Indian Express.
- ^ Wortzel 2003, pp. 340–341
- ^ Feng, Cheng; Wortzel, Larry M. (2003). "PLA Operational Principles and Limited War". In Ryan, Mark A.; Finkelstein, David Michael; McDevitt, Michael A. (eds.). Chinese warfighting: The PLA experience since 1949. M. E. Sharpe. pp. 188–. ISBN 978-0-7656-1087-4. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ^ Palit 1991, p. 278.
- ^ Palit 1991, p. 279.
Bibliography
[edit]- Maxwell, Nevill (1970). India's China War (PDF). London: Jonathan Cape.
- Palit, D.K. (1991). War in High Himalaya: The Indian Army in Crisis, 1962. Lancer International.
- Singh, Amarinder (2016). The Monsoon War: Young Officers Reminisce – 1962 India-China War. Roli Books.
- Sinha, P.B.; Athale, A.A. (1992), History of the Conflict with China, 1962 (PDF), History Division, Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
- Wortzel, Larry M. (July 2003), "Concentrating Forces and Audacious Action: PLA lessons from the Sino-Indian War" (PDF), in Laurie Burkitt; Andrew Scobell; Larry M. Wortzel. (eds.), The Lessons of History: The Chinese people's Liberation Army at 75, Strategic Studies Institute, pp. 340–341, ISBN 978-1-58487-126-2, archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2012.
- Battle of Rezang La (PDF), 18 November 2023
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