Heroes of 1962 Sino-Indian War honoured with a new memorial – All you need to know about the Rezang La battle

 Union Minister Rajnath Singh landed in Ladakh on Thurday to inaugurate a newly-revamped war memorial in the honour of the 13 Kumaon regiment that took on the Chinese Army during the historic 1962 Sino-Indian war. Rezang La, a mountain pass on the Line of Actual Control, had also been the site of a heroic battle on 18 November 1962. The memorial is being inaugurated on the 59th anniversary of the event.

The battle of Rezang La saw the 120-strong Charlie Company led by Major Shaitan Singh successfully countering a massive attack by China. Despite being heavily outnumbered, soldiers of the regiment fought to the last man standing, under freezing temperatures, and with limited ammunition. As many as 114 members of the regiment were killed during the clash.

According to an Indian Express article quoting Ramchander Yadav and Nihal Singh – two of the six surviving soldiers – there had been approximately 5,000 to 6,000 Chinese soldiers with heavy artillery support. The Chinese attacks began around 3:30 am and the fight continued until late into the day.

Five soldiers, including Singh, were taken prisoners after being wounded. However, they managed to escape within a day. Reports indicate that around 1,300 Chinese soldiers were killed that day. The article also makes note of the sheer disbelief that Yadav’s account of the battle (he had been sent back by the Major specifically to share the story of the battle of Rezang La) was met with in Delhi. 

According to first-hand accounts of the battle, the valiant soldiers had refused to leave the Pass, fighting till their last breath. Even in death, they were found holding onto bayonets and grenades, taking a fighting stance against the enemy. Many had even resorted to fighting hand-to-hand when they ran out of ammunition. 

While the original memorial had carried the names of the slain soldiers, it has now been expanded to include the memorial gazebos, a gallery and an auditorium named after Major Shaitan Singh. Tourists will now be allowed to visit the memorial and border areas.

The inauguration is part of a three-day event that will also have Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat in attendance. The move is being seen as a show of strength by India in an area that is visible from the other side of the LAC.