Battle of Rezang La, Map, Reason, Historical Background, Soldiers List

The Battle of Rezang La is one of the most Heroic Last Moment Stands in the history of the Indian Military. This battle was fought on November 18th, 1962 during the Indo-China War 1962. In this battle the company of 13 Kumaon Regiment defended Rezang La, a high altitude mountain pass located in Ladakh’s Chushul Sector. Despite lacking and being cut off heavily from reinforcements, Indian Soldiers fought bravely till their last breath.

Battle of Rezang La

The Battle of Rezang La took place in extreme weather conditions at 18000 feet above the sea level and temperature below -20°. The C (Charlie) Company which consisted of 120 Soldiers (mostly from Haryana), led by Major Shaitan Singh. The Chinese Army attacked with about 5000 troops supported with artillery. According to official accounts, 114 Indian Soldiers were martyred in this war.

Battle of Rezang La of 1962

The Comprehensive overview of the Battle of Rezang La has been tabulated below:

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Battle of Rezang La Historical Background

The Rezang La 1962 occurred during the Indo-China War of 1962, when Chinese forces launched coordinated attacks across the LAC (Line of Actual Control). The Rezang La Mountain Pass acted as a natural barrier and defense point. The 13 Kumaon Regiment was assigned to defend this area despite limited resources, poor weather and lack of Air Support.

Reason for the Rezang La 1962

The Rezang La War was a direct result of the following events:

• Indo-China Tensions of 1962: Following border disputes over Aksai Chin and NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh).
• Chinese Offense: China launched simultaneous attacks in Ladakh and NEFA to alter the boundary.
• Strategic Importance of Chushul: The Chushul sector was vital for controlling access to Leh. Rezang La was the last defensive line guarding the area.

Course of the Rezang La War

On November 18th, 1962, Chinese troops launched a multidirectional attack on the Indian Positions. The Soldiers of 13 Kumaon Regiment fought with rifles, light machine guns and mortars against highly advanced Chinese artillery. Till evening out of 120 Indian Soldiers, 114 martyred.

Battle of Rezang La Map

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Rezang La is a high mountain pass in the Chushul sector of Ladakh, close to the Pangong Tso Lake and near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). For the ease of understanding Battle of Rezang La Map and its location is described here.:

• Acting as a natural defense barrier protecting the Chushul airfield
• Providing a point to monitor Chinese movements in the sector
• Serving as a gateway to Leh, the capital of Ladakh
• Altitude: ~18,000 feet above sea level.

• Nearby Features: Located south of Pangong Tso Lake and west of the Kailash Range.
• Proximity to Leh: Roughly 90 km southeast of Leh, the capital of Ladakh.
• Border Context: Lies close to the contested areas that saw action during the 1962 Indo-China War and again during the 2020 border standoff.

Role of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati in Rezang La War

The Commander of Company, Major Shaitan Singh Bhati played a pivotal role in the Battle of Rezang La of 1962. He strategically moved across posts, motivating the soldiers under fire and fought till his last breath. For his exceptional leadership and sacrifice, he became the second person to be awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s Highest Military Honor and Gallantry Award. Along with him, Vir Chakra was awarded to other soldiers of the regiment posthumously.

Battle of Rezang La Casualties

The Battle of Rezang La remains one of the most iconic chapters of Indian military history. Fought under impossible conditions, the courage of the 13 Kumaon Regiment showed the world the resilience of Indian soldiers. The brief overview of the outcomes reported is listed below:

• Indian Casualties: 114 killed out of 120 soldiers.
• Chinese Casualties: Estimated in the thousands (though exact numbers remain unclear).
• When the snow melted in 1963, bodies of Indian soldiers were found still holding their weapons, facing the enemy positions.
• Victory on the side of China but the battle became a symbol of India’s military resolve and the undying spirit of Indian soldiers.

Rezang La Memorial

A war memorial was built at Rezang La to honor the martyrs of the battle. On November 18th 2021, on the 59th anniversary, the memorial was renovated and inaugurated by the Defence Minister, highlighting its national importance. It stands as a place of remembrance for the sacrifice of Indian soldiers and a symbol of military pride.

Battle of Rezang La Soldiers List

In the Battle of Rezang La, out of 120 soldiers from Charlie (Ahir) Company of 13 Kumaon, 114 were martyred. The remaining six survivors were either captured or escaped captivity. Among the martyrs, Major Shaitan Singh was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra. Other soldiers received the Vir Chakra and Mention-in-Despatches for their exceptional bravery. The table includes major gallantry awardees. The complete Rezang La War Martyrs List comprises several other soldiers who were honored for their bravery.

Battle of Rezang La UPSC

The Rezang La War is currently a topic of discussion among people as the Yadav Community is protesting against Farhan Akhtar’s upcoming Film- “120 Bahadur”. The reason behind protest is that the community claims the film neglects the sacrifice of the 120 Ahirs (Yadav) Soldiers and focuses only on the contributions of Major Shaitan Singh. These protestors are demanding to rename the title of the Film by including the word- “Ahir” so as to reflect the contribution of their community.