Reazang La-Lest We Forget

The defence of the Alamo has been made into 3 movies and a song written about it.

The Charge of the Light Brigade has been immortalized in Lord Tennyson's poem and depicted in countless books and movies.

The Battle of Thermopylae has been covered in countless movies( the recent 300), books, video games, poems.

How many of us even know about something called Reazang La?

India China war had broken out in 1962. At at an altitude of 14,230 ft and in a narrow valley, Chushul was the lone Indian position in the eastern Ladakh Range. The approach to this place was through a pass called Reazang La which was 3000 yards long and 2000 yards wide. At a height of 5000 m, the Kumaon C Company headed by Major Shaitan Singh, held this pass. Major Shaitan Singh knew the importance of this pass. Should it fall into Chinese hands, the passage to Ladakh would be much easier for them.

On Nov 18th, 1962 the Chinese attacked the position. Thin air, biting cold, howling winds made the task difficult. But the actual problem was much more serious. Due to it's being surrounded by tall cliffs, artillery could not be used. And that in effect meant the soldiers did not have the cover of the big guns. In war, the standard tactic is to fire the big guns and let the soldiers advance, under the cover. Here the soldiers were totally exposed. At 5 AM in the morning, the Indian Army engaged the Chinese in a pitched battle. However since there was no artillery cover, it meant that the casualties were high, mainly from Platoons 7 &8. The Chinese attacked again at 5:40 AM, this time Platoon No 9 attacked, and the Chinese casualties were high.The Chinese then carried out a rear attack on No 8, and an assault group of 120 charged also charged at No 7 from rear.

However both the platoons fought back vigorously, and many Kumaonis engaged in hand to hand combat of the enemy.However the Chinese again bought fresh troops and both platoons were totally encircled. However they went down fighting to the last man. There were no survivors in Platoon No 7 & 8. Major Shaitan Singh fought till the end, moving from one platoon to another, encouraging his men to fight to the last breath. He kept on fighting till the last, until he fell to the bullets of the enemy.

Out of a platoon of 123 Kumaonis, only 14 survived, and 9 of them were severely injured. The fact is that an Indian force vastly outnumbered by a Chinese force, with no reinforcements and no artillery back up, fought till the last man. 123 men died, but ensured that 800 of the Chinese also died in the battle. But more than statistics, it is the fact that the last stand of these men, ensured that the Chinese could not have access to Ladakh, as 3 days later, the Chinese Army called for a ceasefire. Had it not been for Major Shaitan Singh and his Kumaon Regiment, Ladakh would have been in Chinese hands by now, like Tibet. Reazang La, is no less than the Alamo, Thermopylae, Charge of the Light Brigade when it comes to heroism, valour and sacrifice.

Yet while the latter events have been immortalized in books, movies, literature and even video games, in India such a glorious chapter has been neglected. 123 Men died and prevented the Chinese from taking over Ladakh. Yet today their sacrifice stands forgotten and ignored. I feel proud of being an Indian when i hear of this tale, yet when i hear about how we have not even given these men their due, it makes me ashamed to feel an Indian also.