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When Major Shaitan Singh, PVC, & the 13 Kumaon Became Immortal: Decoding the Bravery of Rezang La
When Major Shaitan Singh, PVC, & the 13 Kumaon Became Immortal: Decoding the Bravery of Rezang LaWhen the biting winds sweep across Rezang La, they carry a memory. It is the echo of a long, lonely ridge in November 1962, where 120 men of Charlie Company, 13 Kumaon—led by a quiet, steel-nerved officer named Maj Shaitan Singh Bhati, PVC—held a seam in India’s frontline that, if torn, could have split Ladakh open. Their stand, at roughly 16,500–18,000 feet in the Chushul sector, has since entered the Indian Army’s living folklore as one of those moments when ordinary men decided to become immortal.
The Rezang La feature guarded the approaches to Chushul airfield, a vital gateway into eastern Ladakh. To lose it would have meant opening the road to Leh itself. The men stationed there knew this, even as they dug their trenches into frozen earth, without the comfort of supporting artillery due to the terrain’s masking effect.
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The Men of Charlie Company
Charlie Company was composed mostly of soldiers from the Ahir community of the Ahirwal region in Haryana—hardy, rural men used to difficult land and thin air. They were led by an officer who embodied the best traditions of soldiering: disciplined, composed, and deeply loyal to his men.
Major Shaitan Singh had already served in Nagaland and Goa before 1962. His reputation was that of an officer who preferred precision over bravado—a man who believed that battles are won in training, not speeches. In the sub-zero desert of Ladakh, that temperament would matter more than ever.
The Battle of Rezang La: 18 November 1962
At dawn, 18 November 1962, the calm was broken by movement on the northern slopes. Through the thin air, Indian lookouts spotted waves of Chinese infantry advancing in the dim light. The first assault came in massed ranks, supported by mortar and artillery fire.
Inside their trenches, the men of 13 Kumaon fought with machine guns, rifles, and mortars, every weapon pre-sighted for fixed lines. Ammunition was limited. Still, they held their fire until the enemy came within range—and then, they unleashed devastation.
The first wave was broken. Then came another. And another. The enemy, in vastly superior numbers, kept returning. By mid-morning, hand-to-hand combat had begun in some sections. Despite multiple injuries, Maj Shaitan Singh continued to move between platoon posts, encouraging his men, coordinating defences, and personally directing fire.
He was hit by a burst of automatic fire but refused evacuation. Even when mortally wounded, he continued to command until the very end. His last order was selfless—he instructed his men to leave him behind and save themselves if possible. They propped him against a boulder, his weapon still beside him.
The Aftermath: Silence and Sacrifice
When the battle ended, Charlie Company was effectively wiped out. Out of 120 defenders, 114 made the supreme sacrifice. Indian sources estimate that the Chinese suffered over 1,000 casualties, though Chinese records acknowledge only a fraction of that.
It took months for recovery teams to reach the site. What they found was haunting. The bodies of Indian soldiers were discovered still in their trenches, weapons in hand, as if they had continued fighting long after life had left them. Out of 97 remains recovered, 96 were cremated on site at Chushul, while Major Shaitan Singh’s body was brought to his hometown, Jodhpur, for the final rites.
The Legend Lives On
Rezang La’s story became a touchstone for the Indian Army. The 13 Kumaon Regiment received the Battle Honour ‘Rezang La’ and Theatre Honour ‘Ladakh 1962’. For his leadership and courage, Maj Shaitan Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) posthumously—India’s highest gallantry award.
But beyond medals and honours, Rezang La stood as an enduring lesson in what it means to hold a line. The Kumaonis fought without retreat, without reinforcement, and without fear. In military academies and regimental messes, the tale of their defence is taught as a lesson in morale, leadership, and duty.
'Remembering Rezang La, a poignant moment of military courage on the western front'
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) November 18, 2023
On 61st anniversary of the battle, sharing what I wrote on it..https://t.co/ZnWbnSxFFC
The Memorial and Modern Legacy
[Image Credit: www.opindia.com]In 1963, a simple memorial was built at Chushul, near the site of the battle. In 2021, the memorial was renovated and rededicated by India’s defence minister. It now bears the names of all the fallen and stands as a sentinel to their sacrifice.
At its heart is an inscription adapted from Thomas Babington Macaulay’s verse:
[Image Credit: www.frommywindowseat.com]
[Image Credit: www.frommywindowseat.com]This memorial is not just a monument of stone—it is a symbol of grit, loyalty, and the price of freedom in unforgiving terrain.
A New Tribute on Screen: 120 Bahadur
The valour of Maj Shaitan Singh and the 13 Kumaon Regiment is being immortalised in the upcoming war drama 120 Bahadur, directed by Razneesh “Razy” Ghai and produced by Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment. Set for release on 21 November 2025, the film stars Farhan Akhtar as Major Shaitan Singh, bringing to life the grit and sacrifice of Rezang La. Early trailers promise a stirring, realistic portrayal of the 1962 battle, capturing the courage of 120 soldiers who stood their ground against impossible odds.
Maj Shaitan Singh: The Man Behind the Medal
Born on 1 December 1924 in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district, Shaitan Singh came from a family steeped in military service. His father, Lt Col Hem Singh, had served in the British Indian Army. After commissioning in 1949, Shaitan Singh earned the respect of peers and juniors alike for his quiet confidence and sense of duty.
Those who knew him said he led by example—never asking his men what he would not do himself. In Rezang La, that leadership turned an impossible defence into an immortal one.
Immortality in the Cold Winds
Sixty years later, the wind still cuts across Rezang La. Prayer flags flutter against the blue Ladakh sky, and the names carved on the memorial remain young forever. For soldiers of 13 Kumaon and generations after them, Rezang La is not just a battlefield—it is sacred ground.
Maj Shaitan Singh and his men showed that courage has no arithmetic; it multiplies when shared. Their sacrifice was not just an episode in a war—it was a statement of faith, endurance, and national character.
