Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was an officer in the Indian Army who fought the 1962 Sino-Indian War at Rezang La in Ladakh for which he was awarded The Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest gallantry award for his valiant actions. He was martyred on the 18th of November 1962 after being injured in the battle. He is often referred to as The Hero of Rezang La or as The Saviour of Ladakh.
Wiki/Biography
Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was born on Monday, 1 December 1924 (age 37 years; as of 1962) in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. He grew up in a military family so he already had an inclination towards joining the Army. He completed his schooling at Chopasni Senior Secondary School in Jodhpur and on 1st August 1943 he joined Jaswant College where he completed his graduation in 1947.
Statue of Shaitan Singh in a central square of Jodhpur, Rajasthan
He is also said to be a good football player in his school days. . After completing his graduation he joined the Jodhpur States as an officer and was later on transferred to the Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army when the Princely State of Jodhpur joined The Republic of India. He also participated in the 1961 Indo-Portuguese War where Goa was annexed by the Indian Forces.
Family & Caste
Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was born in a Rajput family that belonged to the Bhati clan of Rajputs
Parents & Siblings
Lt. Col Hem Singh Bhati (left) father of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati (right)
His father, Lieutenant Colonel Hem Singh was also an officer in the British Indian Army who fought bravely alongside the British during the 1st World War in France.
Wife
Wreath being laid by the army on the death of Mrs. Shagun Kanwar, wife of Major Shaitan Singh, PVC
He was married to Shagun Kanwar who also passed away on 17 April 2015 at the age of 86.
Son
Narpat Singh son of Major Shaitan Singh, PVC
Major Shaitan Singh Bhati is survived by his son Narpat Singh Bhati who lives in Jodhpur.
Career
Early stepping stones in the career as a soldier –
After completing his graduation, he joined the Durga Horse of the erstwhile Jodhpur state as an officer cadet. After which he went to Officers’ Training School at Poona where he went through approximately two years of training from 26 August 1947 till 31 July 1949. After his commissioning from the training, he joined Umed Kotah Infantry as an officer. After this, he was moved to 20 Rajput (Jodhpur Sardar Infantry). Upon receiving his permanent regular commission on he joined the 13th Kumaon Regiment.
Career as an Indian Army officer –
After being transferred to the 13th Kumaon Regiment, Lieutenant Shaitan Singh Bhati actively participated in the Anti-Insurgent Operations in the Naga hills of Nagaland where he was promoted to the rank of Captain. He was also actively involved in the Indo-Portuguese War of 1961 where Goa was liberated by India. On 11th June 1962, he was promoted to the rank of Major as he was posted in the Eastern sector of Ladakh.
A Young Captain Shaitan Singh
The Battle of Rezang La and the Saga of Bravery –
Major Shaitan Singh PVC at Rezang La
Initially, the 13th Kumaon was deployed at the Baramullah sector of Kashmir. But due to the government’s Forward Policy’s implementation, his unit was called for deployment at Chushul sector for the defense of Ladakh as small skirmishes had been taking place all along the Eastern border for over a month now with the Chinese forces and a Chinese invasion of Ladakh seemed imminent. Major Shaitan Singh was the Company Commander of the Charlie Company, The Kumaon Regiment, which was tasked to defend the Ladakh region from any attacks that the Chinese forces might launch particularly on the Chushul Airbase, which was crucial for sustaining Indian operations in the region. On the morning of 18th November 1962, at around 3.30 am the Chinese attacked the Indian positions with their full force. After repeatedly thwarting back the enemy they were overrun by the enemy who was numerically superior. Major Singh refused to retreat as per the orders and decided to take the last man, the last bullet stand.
Award
Major Shaitan Singh’s wife Shagun Kanwar receiving PVC from the first President of India Dr. S Radhakrishnan on behalf of her husband
For his heroic actions, Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was awarded Param Vir Chakra as he successfully repelled 7 consecutive enemy attacks on his position with limited manpower and resources at disposal. Despite being injured in the arm and abdomen he continued to motivate his men and reorganize the defense of his area of responsibility.
Honours
In the 1980s, the Shipping Corporation of India named one of its shipping tankers MT Major Shaitan Singh PVC to honor the gallant soldier.
Shaitan Singh’s native village has been named after him by the government to honor the martyr.
Railway board of Shaitan Singh’s native place that was named after him
Achievement
He was awarded the Indian of the Year lifetime achievement award by CNN-IBN years after his death.
Death
Last rites with full military honors for the soldiers of the 13th Kumaon Regiment who were killed in the battle of Rezang La
Major Shaitan Singh was grievously wounded in the arms and abdomen as he was constantly moving from one place to another under enemy fire in order to motivate his men and to prepare battle tactics. While being moved to safety he and his men were targeted by heavy enemy artillery fire so he ordered his men to leave him behind and run for cover. He died due to excessive bleeding from his wounds on the 18th of November 1962.
Facts/Trivia
- Major Shaitan Singh led a company of 120 men against approximately 5000 Chinese troops.
- Rezang La is at a height of 17,000 meters above sea level.
- The temperature recorded on the morning of 18th November 1962 was -24 degrees celsius.
- Out of the company of 120 men, 114 were killed in combat including Major Shaitan Singh.
- When Major Shaitan Singh’s body was found he was holding his weapon in his hands.
- The body of Major Shaitan Singh was found 3 months later by the Red Cross and the Army as the snow melted.
- Major Singh and his company didn’t have any sort of support with them and were completely cut off whereas the Chinese had a lot of logistical and artillery support.
- Major Shaitan Singh’s father, Lieutenant Colonel Hem Singh was awarded the Order of The British Empire [OBE], a gallantry award presented back then by the British to the soldiers of the commonwealth for showcasing exemplary courage.
- Major Shaitan Singh sent one of the soldiers, Captain Ramchander Singh, back so as to tell the valiant tale of 120 men who fought at Rezang La.
- Major Singh’s watch was well known among his men and he used to say, “I’ll die only if my watch stops”. When his body was found he still had his watch on his wrist that was recovered by the Army.
S.S. Bhati
The West End Watch Co watch which witnessed Blood, Courage and Sacrifice. It witnessed The Battle of Rezang La. Wrist watch of Major Shaitan Singh, PVC which was recovered from his dead body.@adgpi @Maverickmusafir @37VManhas pic.twitter.com/U8rT2EzFoB— Jai Samota (@jai_samota) December 25, 2021
- Major Shaitan Singh refused to be evacuated despite being severely injured in the battle.
- After this battle, the Chinese were dissuaded from continuing their conquest of Ladakh and hence on 21 November 1962 they unilaterally declared a ceasefire and retreated away from Ladakh.
- Major Singh’s lifeless body was hidden away from the Chinese by one of the soldiers near a boulder.
- Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was one of the three Param Vir Chakra award recipients during the 1962 Sino-Indo war.
- Even though Major Singh was a company commander of the Kumaon Regiment, his troops were Ahirs and belonged to Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and none of them were Kumaonis.
- The Theatre Honor of Laddakh (1962) and Battle Honour for Rezang La were presented to the 13 Kumaon Regiment due to the battle being fought there by 13 Kumaon’s Charlie Company under the leadership of Major Shaitan Singh.
- After the war, the ‘C’ Company of the 13 Kumaon Regiment had to be re-raised as the company was completely wiped out at Rezang La. The Government of India honored the newly raised Charlie Company by naming it as the Rezang La company.
- Even as Major Shaitan Singh refused to retreat, he gave his men the opportunity to retreat and didn’t enforce his order or decision upon them but none of the soldiers decided to retreat they rather decided to stand their ground to the end.
- Another reason why Major Singh and his men didn’t withdraw from their positions was to save a tiny village not far away from their actual position and had they vacated their positions, the village would have been completely annihilated by the advancing Chinese forces. ((The Hindu