Saluting our Heroes: The “Param Veer”s of 1962

Dear Friends, As we move towards the conclusion of this series on India’s finest, please take a moment today to remember the “Param Veer”s of 1962, Major Dhan Singh Thapa, PVC and Subedar Joginder Singh, PVC.     The war of 1962 is a painful chapter in Indian history…but it is also a chapter of heroic stories, of incredible valour and extraordinary courage. Today, the story of two heroes from those times – two of the finest amongst the hundreds.

From the Indian Army website:

The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air. The decoration may be awarded posthumously.

*** Saluting our Heores – The Param Veers of 1962 ***

October 1962: After years of “Panch Sheel” and slogans of “Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai”, relations between India and China have begun to cool off. There are increasing reports of border clashes. There is no mistaking the approaching storm. The unmarked border is a ready-made excuse for conflict and although the mood on the Indian side of the border is vigilant, the leadership appears to be remarkably sangunine and unaware of the trouble that lied ahead. The lull is about to be shattered.

In the third week of October, Chinese forces launch attacks in the north as well as the east, 1000 kilometres apart. There are also reports of clashes on the border of Sikkim, Nathu-La and in Aksai Chin. Stationed in Ladakh, Major Dhan Singh Thapa and 8th Gurkha are soon going to find themselves in the thick of this action. The terrain – difficult and harsh in the best of times – will soon get its first snow…

Pangong Tso, near Ladakh

This is where the men of 1/8 Gurkha are stationed. They are defending the Sirijap Valley, vital for the defence of the airport at Chushul. The attack on their post comes at dawn on 20th October 1962. This is what happened next:

…At 6am, the Chinese opened a barrage of artillery and mortar fire over Sirijap-1 post. The shelling continued till 08:30 and the whole area was set ablaze. Some shells fell on the command post and damaged the wireless set. This put the post out of communication. The Chinese then attacked in overwhelming numbers. Major Thapa and his men repulsed the attack, inflicting heavy casualties. The Chinese mounted another attack in greater numbers after shelling the area with artillery and mortar fire.

Major Thapa once again repulsed the attack, inflicting heavy losses on the Chinese.

He encouraged his men to be prepared for a third assault, which came after a short while indeed. The third Chinese attack was, however, more powerful and intense. The enemy now came with tanks in support of the infantry. The platoon post was now in a much depleted strength owing to the casualties suffered in earlier attacks. But the post held out till the ammunition lasted. When it was finally overrun by the Chinese, he jumped out of his trench and killed many intruders in hand-to-hand fighting. He was eventually overpowered (and thought to have been) killed.

For his exemplary courage, valour and inspiring leadership, Major Dhan Singh Thapa was honoured with the highest wartime gallantry medal, the Param Vir Chakra.  Fortunately for us,

…he was later discovered to have been taken prisoner and after his release from the POW camp, he resumed his military career. He retired as Lieutenant-Colonel.

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Subedar Joginder Singh’s story is set in the Tawang sector in NEFA (North East Frontier Agency) – the other prong of the Chinese attack in early October.

The Chinese presence in NEFA was significantly more as compared to Ladakh…

The Chinese, which had earlier been reported to have a regimental group (equivalent to an Indian brigade group) facing the Indian troops in Ladakh, had twice the force level deployed opposite Indian troops in NEFA. By October 1961 they had pushed their feeder roads up to their forward most posts.

…Though a lot is known through various publications of (the)..famous battle of Rezang La (in Ladakh), very little is known comparatively about the heroic exploits of Indian troops in other sectors during this conflict. Take the case of the eastern part of India.
…Describing the various acts of individual and collective valour in this theatre could go into pages. Nevertheless, Sepoy Kanshi Ram, Naik Chain Singh and Maj Chawdhary were decorated with the Maha Vir Chakras, the latter two posthumously.

Following this, a 1/9 GR company was attacked by the Chinese. Though heavily outnumbered, young Second Lieutenant (2/Lt) BD Dogra and his men held their ground and broke the initial assault. Even after receiving a serious injury on his face, the young officer continued to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy with an LMG of a dead jawan. Thereafter he was overpowered and captured. For this gallantry he was awarded the MVC.
…On 20 October …(the) ‘C’ Company of 4 Grenadiers at Nyamjang Chu was also attacked by the Chinese. 2/Lt GVP Rao, an artillery officer with the unit, and his men held on. Even after the Chinese cut off their only route of withdrawal, the company fought on till the last round. 2/Lt Rao was awarded Maha Vir Chakra posthumously for his bravery.

…Apart from those already mentioned, there were 14 other recipients of the MVC in this sector and scores of VrC and other awardees.

This is the setting in which we find ourselves in the early days of October 1962.…

..On the morning of 20 October the Assam Rifles post at Bum La was attacked, but it soon repulsed. After two days more than 1,000 Chinese soldiers and Tibetan labourers with digging implements arrived on the nearby ridge, and on 23 October about 600 Chinese attacked it Bum La. The Assam Rifles jawans put up a bold resistance, but soon their post was over-run.

Sikh Guarding the Bum La Axis

Indian Troops Deploying at Bum La

Subedar Joginder Singh and his men were amongst the ones who were to face this assault…This is what happened next:

…While holding a defensive position on a ridge in Tongpeng La area on Bum La axis, the platoon (commanded by Subedar Joginder Singh) noticed heavy enemy concentration opposite Bum La across the McMohan Line on October 20th. This was indeed a preparatory to the Chinese advance on Bum La axis on October 23rd.

At 0530 hours on October 23rd, the Chinese launched a heavy attack on the Bum La axis. The intention was to achieve a breakthrough to Tawang. The enemy attacked the Ridge in three waves, each about 200 strong. The attack was supported by artillery and mortar fire, besides other weapons. The fierce resistance of the Sikh platoon, however, compelled the enemy to fall back with heavy losses.

But he regrouped quickly and launched a fresh attack under the cover of an artillery barrage.

However, Subedar Joginder Singh and his platoon stood firm like a rock before the advancing enemy. In this fierce action, the platoon lost half of its men but not the will to fight. Subedar Joginder Singh, despite a wound in the thigh, refused evacuation. His platoon also refused to yield any ground to the enemy.

The last wave of the Chinese attack, which was more determined and more forceful followed next. Now the platoon had very few men left to fight. Subedar Joginder Singh, therefore, manned a light machine gun and killed a large number of enemies.

But he could not stem the tide of the enemy advance single-handed. The Chinese Army continued advancing with little concern for the casualties. By now all ammunition with the platoon had been exhausted. When the situation became desperate, Subedar Joginder Singh and his men emerged from their position with fixed bayonets, shouting the Sikh battle cry, “Wahe Guruji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guruji ki Fateh“

They fell upon the advancing enemy and bayoneted many to death. Finally better weapons and numerical superiority of the enemy prevailed and Subedar Singh was killed in this epic battle.

For the extraordinary courage he displayed and the inspiring leadership to the men under his command, Subedar Joginder Singh was awarded the highest wartime gallantry medal, the Param Vir Chakra, posthumously. As you go about your day today, please take a moment to remember these bravehearts, India’s finest – many of whom laid down their lives so we may live in peace.

CITATION

Major Dhan Singh Thapa, 1/8 Gorkha Rifles (IC-7990)

Major Dhan Singh Thapa was in command of a forward post in Ladakh. On 20 October it was attacked by the Chinese in overwhelming strength after being subjected to intensive artillery and mortar bombardment. Under his gallant command, the greatly outnumbered post repulsed the attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the aggressors. The enemy attacked again in greater numbers after heavy shelling by artillery and mortar fire. Under the leadership of Major Thapa, his men repulsed this attack also with heavy losses to the enemy.

The Chinese attacked for the third time, now with tanks to support the infantry. The post had already suffered large numbers of casualties in the earlier two attacks. Though considerably reduced in number it held out to the last. When it was finally overrun by overwhelming numbers of the enemy, Major Thapa got out of his trench and killed several of the enemy in hand-to-hand fighting before he was finally overpowered by Chinese soldiers.

Major Thapa’s cool courage, conspicuous fighting qualities and leadership were in the highest traditions of our Army.

CITATION

Subedar Joginder Singh, 1 Sikh (JC 1547)

Subedar Joginder Singh was the commander of a platoon of the Sikh Regiment holding a defensive position at a ridge near Tongpen La in NEFA. At 0530 hours on 23 October 1962, the Chinese opened a very heavy attack on the Bumla axis with the intention of breaking through to Towang. The leading battalion of the enemy attacked the ridge in three waves, each about 200 strong. Subedar Joginder Singh and his men mowed down the first wave, and the enemy was temporarily halted by the heavy losses it suffered. Within a few minutes, a second wave came over and was dealt with similarly. But the platoon had, by then, lost half its men. Subedar Joginder Singh was wounded in the thigh but refused to be evacuated. Under his inspiring leadership the platoon stubbornly held its ground and would not withdraw. Meanwhile the position was attacked for the third time. Subedar Joginder Singh himself manned a light machine-gun and shot down a number of the enemy. The Chinese however continued to advance despite heavy losses. When the situation became untenable Subedar Joginder Singh and the few men that were left in the position fixed bayonets and charged the advancing Chinese, bayoneting a number of them before he and his comrades were overpowered. Throughout this action, Subedar joginder Singh displayed devotion to duty, inspiring leadership and bravery of the highest order.

As I mentioned at the beginning, the saga of 1962 is a sad one for India. But 1962 is also a story of untold valour, extraordinary courage and numerous sacrifices... As Col Shorey wrote:

Though this conflict was a debacle for India, yet Indian troops more than lived up to their reputation. In spite of being ill equipped and ill clad, no other army could have fought the Chinese as ferociously as Indian troops. That apart, in spite of receiving orders to withdraw from various fronts, battalions and even companies have dug their heels to take on the enemy head on, ignoring such orders. In the process they delayed the enemy’s advance in various sectors considerably, something which the Chinese never expected. The numerous top gallantry awards won by Indian troops speak for themselves.

This post is amongst the ones that have taken a long time to write…As my eyes glaze over looking at the computer screen for the last few hours, my wrists are beginning to hurt a little…But I am overwhelmed by a sense of awe at the remarkable and extraordinary exploits of these men…and I am grateful, truly grateful – from the bottom of my heart.  Of course no remembrance of 1962 would be complete without a mention of the Hero of Chushul: Major Shaitan Singh, PVC. Do read his story too and share it with your friends and others. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!

Related Posts: Pl see the series of posts under “National Heroes”

Pangong Tso Image Courtesy: Hansraj (via Wikipedia)

Images of “Sikh Guarding the Bum La Axis”, “Indian Troops Deploying at Bum La” are from the Indian Army’s Rich History website, based on Colonel Anil Shorey’s research. Pl do cite  these references while circulating the images. Thanks.