'Last Man, Last Bullet' The Heroic Tale of 1962 Indo- China War at Rezang La

Sixty-two years ago, India witnessed true epitome of strength and valour during Si-Indian War of 1962. tale of Rezang La begins on a frigid vember night when a small band of Indian soldiers braced mselves to defend ir position on freezing mountains of Chushul Valley's souastern ridge against a much larger Chinese army.

In Neville Maxwell's book India’s China War, Chushul is described as a crucial strategic point for defence of Leh. He added that Spangur Gap, where Chushul is located, was expected to be route Chinese would take if y intended to advance furr into Indian territory.

Rezang La, located at an altitude of 16,000 feet, experiences temperatures that can drop to minus 30 degrees Celsius. soldiers of Charlie Company ('C' Company) from 13th Battalion of Kumaon Regiment displayed remarkable bravery, representing ir motto of 'Last man, last round.' ir heroism continues to inspire many to this day.

Despite being underprepared for war, outnumbered by Chinese troops, and armed with outdated weapons, soldiers faced additional challenges as height of mountains interfered with ir artillery. Out of 120 soldiers and officers, 114 from company laid down ir lives, yet y mand to cause over 1,000 fatalities on Chinese side.

Heroism That Has Parallel

Indian Army has faced many challenges in past, but ne like this one. 

This achievement is even more commendable considering that all soldiers, except for ir Rajput commander Major Shaitan Singh, were Ahirs from Gurgaon and Mewat regions of Haryana. se men, hailing from communities of cattlemen and farmers, had never experienced temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees, and most had only served in Jammu and Kashmir before this battle. This might be reason Charlie Company of 13 Kumaon Battalion is one of most decorated units in Indian Army history, as written by Kulpreet Yadav, author of book ‘ Battle of Rezang La’.

Chinese army was better prepared to bear harsh wear and extreme cold of - 24 degrees Celsius. Out of 120 Indian soldiers, 114 made supreme sacrifice, five were captured as prisoners of war but eventually mand to escape, while one soldier was released by Chinese to recount events of battle.

From China’s side, exact number of casualties remains a topic of debate. ir official records claim 500 losses, but Kuldeep Yadav, in his book asserts that more than 1,000 Chinese soldiers were killed. Yadav also mentions that frozen bodies of Indian soldiers were discovered after months of search operations. 

On February 10, 1963, search team found soldiers' bodies, with bullet wounds to ir chests—proof of ir bravery, strength, and valor.
In his book, Lest We Forget, Retired Captain Amarinder Singh recounts a rare tribute from Chinese, who covered bodies of fallen Indian soldiers with blankets, securing m with bayonets. 

Obstacles Encountered by Indian Troops

t only were y outnumbered, but Indian troops faced numerous daunting challenges. battle occurred at an aver altitude of 16,000 feet, with pass soaring higher at 16,420 feet. Soldiers faced a difficult time digging defensive positions in frozen ground.

Colonel N. N. Bhatia (Retd.) recalled that Indian troops faced significant challenges due to high mountain crests, which made it impossible to use artillery effectively. y also lacked anti-personnel mines to hinder advancing enemy, which left m exposed and depending entirely on ir bravery and determination.

Equipped with outdated .303 single-shot bolt-action rifles from World War II, Indian soldiers were severely disadvantd. victory in this battle seemed even more far-fetched as y had old 62 radio sets with batteries that froze in bitter cold, making communication completely impossible. 

In stark contrast, Chinese forces were armed with modern 7.62 self-loading rifles and included troops familiar with harsh terrain, many of whom were locals from Singkiang region. y efficiently used ir maps and conducted reconnaissance.

Yadav asks in his book, "What if se brave soldiers had better guns, more ammunition, adequate sw clothing, eugh food, artillery support, and capable leaders at army headquarters and in government?"

Who Was Major Shaitan Singh?

story of Rezang La is heroic because of heroes like Major Shaitan Singh, commander of Charlie Company who was posthumously awarded Param Vir Chakra for his determination and cour.

During war, Major Singh exemplified what cour is by moving fearlessly from post to post, motivating his soldiers and boosting ir morale despite constant danger. He was first injured in arm and n hit by a bullet in abdomen. Despite his injuries, two of his men mand to pull him behind a boulder for shelter, though he was in a critical condition.

After months of search operations, Major Singh's frozen body was discovered near a boulder, alongside bodies of several or Indian soldiers, some still holding on to ir rifles.

Major Shaitan Singh's body was flown to Jodhpur, where he was cremated with full military hours, as a tribute to his final sacrifice for country.

A Tale of Escape and a Loyal Companion

Naib Subedar Ram Chander was one of five Indian soldiers captured, taken unconscious, and eventually released after six months. Meanwhile, story of Havaldar Nihal Singh's daring escape adds ar unique layer to heroic saga of Rezang La.

Captured by Chinese forces, Nihal Singh mand to escape following night. During his escape, a dog, who was occasionally fed by Charlie Company soldiers since ir arrival in October, became a saviour and guided him back to Indian battalion headquarters. Singh followed dog through rugged terrain, and after several hours, he reached back safely.

" soldiers who captured me were walking around and talking. When it became dark, I decided to run. I quietly sneaked out. After walking about 500 meters, y fired three shots in air," Singh recalled in an interview fifty years later. Although some believe that Singh might have hallucinated dog due to his severe injuries and exhaustion, claiming story is a myth.

Republic's Interview with Author Kulpreet Yadav on Battle of Rezang La

Author Kulpreet Yadav shared his insights with Republic on Battle of Rezang La, stating that it is a story that should t be forgotten. He ted that nation was largely unaware of this heroic saga, as focus in 1962 was on criticisms of defense's preparedness due to numerous wars. author mentioned that some of army soldiers who fought in battle were from South Haryana, his hometown, but orwise, this heroic battle was t widely discussed.

When asked about search operation, he said that it was only years later that seniors paid attention to ir juniors, and a search operation was conducted, finding soldiers lying with ir guns, embodying ir slogan "Last man, Last Bullet".

Regarding why Battle of Rezang La is often deemed a disaster despite heroic tale of soldiers, Yadav replied that it is because India lost battle. Most books on 1962 war focused on defense's unpreparedness. As someone who served in uniform for 23 years, Yadav said he never heard of this story until he spoke to survivors in detail to learn more about battle and capture firsthand accounts.

In his final comment, Yadav urged youth to strive for excellence, t just in defense but also on individual levels.

Author Kulpreet Yadav has written a new book on Battle of Haji Pir. 

Hour of Heroes

Charlie Company of 13th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment, was renamed Rezang La Company to hour ir extraordinary act. According to Indian Army's Additional Directorate General of Public Information, this was first time a regiment's name had been re-designated in such a manner.

Major Shaitan Singh was posthumously awarded India’s highest wartime gallantry award, Param Vir Chakra, for his extraordinary cour and perseverance. 13th Battalion of Kumaon Regiment was also houred with atre Hour ‘Ladakh 1962’.

Last year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated revated Rezang La War Memorial in Eastern Ladakh. 

memorial reads:

"How can a man die better
Than facing fearful odds
For ashes of his fars
And temples of his Gods."

To sacred memory of Heroes of Rezang La, 114 martyrs of 13 Kumaon who fought to Last Man, Last Round, against hordes of Chinese on 18 vember 1962.

– Built by All Ranks 13th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment.

While we cant do anything that equates to ir sacrifice, we can hour se unsung heroes by sharing ir stories and remembering ir struggles. ir bravery at Rezang La stands as a testament to cour and resilience that inspires us all.