Kulpreet Yadav - The Battle of Rezang La

PENGUIN VEER

THE BATTLE OF REZANG LA

A product of the Naval Officers Academy, Kulpreet Yadav has spent two decades as an officer in uniform and has successfully commanded three ships in his career. Since his retirement as Commandant from the Indian Coast Guard in 2014, he has authored several books in diverse genres, including espionage, true crime and romance. Winner of the Best Fiction Author Award for Murder in Paharganj, an espionage novel, at the Gurgaon Literary Festival in 2018, Kulpreet is also an actor and a film-maker. He lives with his family in Delhi.

THE
BATTLE OF
REZANG
LA

KULPREET YADAV

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First published in Penguin Veer by Penguin Random House India 2021

ePubbed by Vibhatsu

Copyright Kulpreet Yadav 2021

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This book is a work of non-fiction. The views and opinions expressed in the book are those of the author only and do not reflect or represent the views and opinions held by any other person. This book is based on a variety of sources, including published materials and research conducted by the author, and on interviews and interactions of the author with the persons mentioned in the manuscript. It reflects the authors own understanding and conception of such materials and/or can be verified by research. The objective of this book is not to hurt any sentiments or be biased in favour of or against any particular person, political party, region, caste, society, gender, creed, nation or religion.

ISBN 9780143452058

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The names of the people and the events described in this book are real. The dialogues, however, have been reconstructed based on personal interviews with the survivors, available official records of the battle and logical suppositions arrived at based on factual accounts present in the public domain. Although the author has made every effort to ensure that the information in this book is correct, the author assumes no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions or any other inconsistencies herein and disclaims any liability to any party for any loss, damage or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.

You rarely come across such examples in the annals of world military history when braving such heavy odds, the men fought till the last bullet and the last man. Certainly, the Battle of Rezang La is sucha shining example.

Gen. T.N. Raina, former Chief of Army Staff
(Gen. T.N. Raina was the Brigade Commander of the 114 Brigade under whose operational command 13 Kumaons Charlie Company fought the battle of Rezang Lain 1962.)

The supreme sacrifice of the Charlie Company has fulfilled my expectations. I hope a suitable memorial will be built in Haryana so that the generations to come may seek inspiratiforonm the immense courage and valour of their forefathers.

Gen. K.S. Thimayya, former Chief of Army Staff

When Rezang La was later revisited, dead jawans were found in the trenches still holding on to their weapons every single man of this company was found dead in his trench with several bullets or splinter wounds. The 2-inch mortar man died with abomb still in his hand. The medical orderly had a syringe and bandage in his hands when the Chinese bullet hit him Of the thousand mortar bombs with the defenders, all but seven had been fired and the rest were ready to be fired when the (mortar) section was overrun.

Mgj. Gen. Ian Cardozo (Retd)

When the Chinese attacked in an overwhelming number and death was writ all over, these gallant Ahirs stood their ground to the last man, last round, although they had an opportunity to move back and roll down the reverse slopes of the ridge and save their lives. Nay, they did not do so. They chose to hold their ground to the end, despite the fearful odds, defending their nation. Can anyone quote an example of such a high display of undying courage, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice in any battle in the world? No, there is none.

Lt Gen. D.D. Saklani (Retd), former Colonel of the Kumaon Regiment
(Lt Gen. D.D. Saklani, as a captain during the 1962 war, was the adjutant of the 13 Kumaon Battalion and was the last officer to speak to Maj. Shaitan Singh.)

The gallant men of C Company of the battalion under the redoubtable company commander, Late Maj. Shaitan Singh, PVC, put up a fight at Rezang La, the like of which was never fought by any unit in the Indian Army in its entire history.

Brig. Raghunath V. Jatar (Retd)
(Brig. Raghunath V. Jatar was the post commander of B and D Companies of the 13 Kumaon Battalion on Maggar Hill located north of Rezang La.)

Im not aware of an equal in the annals of war.

Lt Gen. K. Bahadur Singh (Retd), former GOC-in-C, Central Command, Indian Army

The bravery, gallantry and patriotism displayed by Maj. Shaitan Singh and his C Company of 13 Kumaon was one of the most illustrious exceptions which redeemed the Indian Armys honour and created a legend for every soldier to emulate.

Lt Gen. R.R. Gaur (Retd), former Director General of Infantry

For every jawan on the border who lays