UNSUNG HEROES EPISODE IV : THE SHAITAN

गरदन पर किसका पाप वीर ! ढोते हो ?

शोणित से तुम किसका कलंक धोते हो ?

उनका, जिनमें कारुण्य असीम तरल था,

तारुण्य-ताप था नहीं, न रंच गरल था;

सस्ती सुकीर्ति पा कर जो फूल गये थे,

निर्वीर्य कल्पनाओं में भूल गये थे;

When I say 1962 what is the first thing that strikes your mind? I hope it’s not the Telstar first live trans-Atlantic television signal or the release of Beatles’ classic ‘ Love me do’. Most probably if you have grown up in India the first and only thing you’ll recall from 1962 is the Indo-China war. A war where not only did we loose our territory along the McMahon Line but also lost our dignity as a Nation. A war where the Chinese troops took control of both our eastern and western flanks in the region of Ladakh. A war that will always remind us of the fact that defensive unpreparedness leads to fatalities. And establishes for a fact that offence is the best policy for defence, something which China followed diligently.

But even during worst of times there were a few occasions which we can cherish and be proud of always. Chinese troops won because they had the numbers and modern machinery, but when it came to courage and gallantry spirit, when it came to the Shaurya, when it was the question of defending one’s land our soldiers will always remain unparalleled. Hence even after being downtrodden by the immense Chinese force there were flashes of success. One such silver lining was the Battle of Rezang La. And the hero of Rezang La was a man named Major Shaitan Singh. So today in the fourth episode of Unsung Heroes I bring you the story of Major Shaitan Singh.

Shaitan Singh was born on 1 December 1924 in a Rajput family of Bhati clan in Banasar village, Jodhpur district, Rajasthan. His father Lieutenant Colonel Hem Singh was himself a decorated veteran of the Indian Army and had served for the royal army in France for which he was awarded the Order of British Empire (OBE) by the British Government.

Shaitan Singh was first inducted in the Jodhpur State Forces as an officer in 1949. It was later after the princely state of Jodhpur was merged into India that Shaitan Singh was inducted into the Indian Army and transferred to the most decorated Kumaon Regiment. Before the breakout of the 62’ war Shaitan Singh had already proved his calibre by conducting successful operations in the operations near the Naga region and capture of Goa .

There had been constant disputes with China over the borders around McMahon Line during the period of 1959-62. The then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru asked the Indian Army for a solution in 1962 but later rejected the proposed solution and instead went with a plan that he himself had devised. This was one of the worst strategic decisions ever made in the history of Indian Defence stargetgies. Nehru’s authoritarian approach to the situation put Indian forces in a fix and later when war broke out this led to the fall of the land. During the same the Kumaon Regiment was asked to shift a small platoon in the Rezang La region situated at a height of almost 17000 feet.

The company consisting of 123 Ahir Kumaon Soldiers was positioned under the leadership of Major Shaitan Singh in the Chusul Sector at a forward post in Rezang La. In the morning hours of 18th November 1962 the Chinese troops started accumulating their troops near the post. The dark surroundings prevented the Ahir’s from seeing the incoming enemy. The Chinese almost accumulated 5000 soldiers for the post that was being defended by just 123 Indian soldiers.

When Indian troops sensed the danger Major Shaitan Singh asked for reinforcement but the base informed him that no troops can reach the top due to bad weather. The base asked Shaitan Singh to vacate the post. However Shaitan Singh and his troops were adamant that they would not leave.

“ Ek bhi Ahir peeche nahi hatega, ab chahe mar jaaye farak nahi padta.” A Kumaon Ahir told this to Shaitan Singh and the troops stayed to fight an impossible battle. Nail biting cold and chilling winds were making situations more difficult but our soldiers were determined.

The Chinese started by sending in a wave of almost 350 soliders but impaccable war planning of Major Shaitan Singh helped the company gain control of the incoming enemy, soon almost all the soliders of the first wave were lying dead. The Chinese went furious and sent in a second and a third wave both of which met the same fate. The Kumaon warriors were not in a mood to spare. For every Indian life there were atleast sixty dead Chinese. The Chinese Army changed their strategy, they started firing machine guns and dropping bombs from distance.

By 5:40 A.M artillery and mortar were brought in. Finally after putting up immense fight and showing undying courage the company perished in the mortar attacks, 114 of the 123 men died. Major Shaitan who was fighting and encouraging his soliders was wounded severly by enemy bombs. He was lifted by a fellow solider Captain Ramchander Yadav on his back, but sensing danger Shaitan ordered Yadav to leave him there and retreat. Yadav hid Shaitan’s body near a boulder where he succumbed to his injuires and made the supreme sacrifice. His body was recovered three months later from the same place along with his guns and ammunition.

Major Shaitan Singh was awarded India’s highest gallantry honor the Paramvir Chakra posthumously. His citation read the following-

Battle of Rezang La was one bright spot in the darkness of 62’. It showed us again that when it comes down to defending the honour of our land our soliders don’t think twice before marching ahead. It again established the fact that our army is the best in the world, not just because it is strong but because of the fact that we keep morales above anything else. This is the reason that Indian Army and Indian Armed Forces are respected across horizons and political spectrums.

Thank you for reading this episode, I’ll come back with another one soon. Until then…

JAI HIND

गीता में जो त्रिपिटक-निकाय पढ़ते हैं,

तलवार गला कर जो तकली गढ़ते हैं;

शीतल करते हैं अनल प्रबुद्ध प्रजा का,

शेरों को सिखलाते हैं धर्म अजा का;

सारी वसुन्धरा में गुरु-पद पाने को,

प्यासी धरती के लिए अमृत लाने को

जो सन्त लोग सीधे पाताल चले थे,

अच्छे हैं अब; पहले भी बहुत भले थे।

हम उसी धर्म की लाश यहाँ ढोते हैं,

शोणित से सन्तों का कलंक धोते हैं।