The Battle of Rezang La is perhaps independent India’s most glorious story to tell. It is a story of valour, courage, tenacity, and above all, an indomitable spirit to fight for the country to every last breath that one draws. The Battle of Rezang La haunts China to this very day. While China won the 1962 war against India, it could not establish complete control over Ladakh – and that is because it suffered disproportionate casualties during the battle of Rezang La, as Major Shaitan Singh and his mighty boys rained fire and brimstone on the Chinese.
Now, defence minister Rajnath Singh has reminded the Chinese of the kind of humiliating defeat they suffered at the hands of the Indian Army during the Battle of Rezang La. Rajnath Singh is all set to inaugurate a newly-revamped war memorial in Ladakh’s Rezang La, which was built to honour the 13 Kumaon regiment that defeated the Chinese Army during the 1962 war. Departing for Ladakh, Rajnath Singh tweeted, “Leaving New Delhi for Ladakh. I shall be visiting Rezang La to pay my tributes to those brave Indian soldiers who fought a heroic battle there in 1962 and dedicate to them, a revamped War Memorial. Looking forward to it.”
Leaving New Delhi for Ladakh. I shall be visiting Rezang La to pay my tributes to those brave Indian soldiers who fought a heroic battle there in 1962 and dedicate to them, a revamped War Memorial. Looking forward to it.
— Rajnath Singh (मोदी का परिवार) (@rajnathsingh) November 18, 2021
During the inauguration of the revamped memorial, Rajnath Singh will be accompanied by chief of defence staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lieutenant General Chandi Prasad Mohanty and Northern Army Commander YK Joshi. India is effectively reminding China that any misadventure on its part will be met with the kind of ferocity that the Indian Army displayed during the Battle of Rezang La in 1962. According to China’s own claims, the Peoples Liberation Army lost 500 soldiers in that battle alone. 1,300 Chinese soldiers were killed in the 1962 war.
How India Killed Chinese Little Emperors like Mosquitoes
The Battle of Rezang La haunts China to this very day. In 1962, China wanted to take control of Ladakh in its entirety, however, such plans were foiled by the Indian Army’s ‘Charlie’ company, which was led by Major Shaitan Singh, who was awarded the country’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra posthumously. During the attack by the Chinese forces, Major Shaitan Singh moved at great personal risk from one platoon post to another to boost the morale of his soldiers.
Despite being seriously wounded, Major Shaitan Singh continued to lead his men. As per the Gazette of India, for every man lost to us, the enemy lost four or five. 120 Indian Army soldiers managed to repulse an attack mounted on their motherland by an entire Chinese brigade! Charlie Company obstructed China’s advance and prevented them from capturing the Chushul airfield.
China Has Been Warned
Winters have arrived. China is looking to draw the conflict in Eastern Ladakh over a long period of time. But India’s message to Beijing is clear – back off, or face another Rezang La. Last year in August, the Indian Army occupied a number of mountain peaks in the Rezang La region. Since the conflict in Eastern Ladakh began, India has been poking China with the Rezang La club. The CCP is ashamed of this battle because a handful of Indian Army soldiers were able to take down an entire Chinese brigade, which by the way, was more heavily armed.
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Apart from heavy artillery, the Chinese lined up 132mm rockets, 120mm heavy mortars, 81- and 60-mm medium mortars and 75 and 53 mm RCL guns in a direct firing role. Yet, they faced defeat in Rezang La. If they undertake a similar misadventure again, the results will be even more humiliating for them now
