The Indo-China War 1962

Battle of Walong, 18 Oct - 16 Nov 1962

 

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Battle of Chushul

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Battle of Namka Chu, 10 October 1962

"I can tell this House that at no time since our independence, and of course before it, were our defence forces in better condition, in finer fettle, and with the background of our far greater industrial production...to help them, than they are today. I am not boasting about them or comparing them with any other country's, but I am quite confident that our defence forces are well capable of looking after our security."
- Prime Minister Jawarharlal Nehru addressing the Lok Sabha on 25th November 1959.

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Injustice to Ahir Martyrs

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Last Stand at Lagyala Gompa

In January 1989 a jeep carrying a lady was winding its way through Tawang. As it neared a bridge in Dirang the local people gathered around. The lady beckoned to a girl and asked her if she knew a place called Lagyala Gompa. The girl replied " Yes – we go there for our spring festival and worship and there is tiger’s grave to which they offer flowers". The lady asked "Why they worshiped at the grave of a strange soldier". The girl replied "Wah sahib itna bara aadmi , itna bara Sher mara hai wahan, to kya hum puja nahin karein". The tiger was Lt. Col. Brahmanand Avasthy of 4th Rajput and the lady was Mrs Sushila Avasthy. In one of the last battles of the 1962 war, the men of 4th Rajput fought a valiant battle to the last man last bullet. This is their story.

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On icy heights - Rezang La

One of the bitter ironies of life is that greatest acts of heroism and valour mostly happen when the odds are hopeless and death and defeat inevitable. Throughout history nations have always glorified such episodes in their ballads and poems, by honouring the heroes and commemorating the event. It is the common perception of these few and far in between episodes in a people's history that forge a sense of nationhood. Why else would we celebrate the deaths of a Prithviraj Chauhan or a Tipu Sultan? Or a Porus or a Shivaji who battled great armies with little more than a handful of brave comrades and immense courage? Of course we rejoice in the triumphs of an Ashoka or Chandragupta or even an Akbar but that is about greatness and not heroism. Even if it is true that the end of history is at hand, we can be sure that the annals of heroism will never cease being written. However endless these may be, the heroic stand of 'C' Company of the 13 Kumaon at Rezang La on 18 November 1962 will always be among the more glorious chapters.

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Major Prem Nath Bhatia - Hero of Walong

Captain P N Bhatia

Hero of Walong Battle in 1962, Vir Chakra Awardee, Major P N Bhatia of the Kumaon Regiment. His life, his times and his saga told for the first time

 

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Official History of the 1962 India China War

 

OFFICIAL 1962 WAR HISTORY


© History Division, Ministry of Defence, Government of India

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Unforgettable Battle of 1962 : 13 Kumaon at Rezang La

Recovery efforts of the Bodies at Rezang LaThe Battle of Chushul was a saga of unprecedented courage, valour and supreme sacrifice. Never before had so many officers and Jawans (114 out of 120) laid down their lives in one battle. Colonel N N Bhatia writes on the battle in detail - along with some rare photographs of the aftermath

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