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Film shines light on overlooked Himalayan battle
A recent Bollywood production, 120 Bahadur, has brought renewed attention to a little-known but heroic last stand by Indian soldiers during the 1962 India-China war. Though the film underperformed at the box office, it has sparked conversations about the battle of Rezang La, often described as the sole bright spot in a conflict India otherwise lost.
Historical context of the 1962 war
The war erupted amid escalating border tensions and failed diplomatic efforts between India and China. Beijing accused New Delhi of territorial encroachment and airspace violations, framing its military action as a "self-defence counter-attack." The conflict began on October 20 and lasted a month, ending with China declaring a unilateral ceasefire and withdrawing troops. India suffered approximately 7,000 casualties and lost 38,000 square kilometers of territory. The war left behind the disputed 3,440-kilometer Line of Actual Control, a de facto border marked by natural features like rivers and snowcaps.
The battle of Rezang La
Fought at an altitude exceeding 4,900 meters (16,000 feet) on November 18, the battle of Rezang La lasted less than five hours, from 3:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. The pass was strategically vital, located near the Chushul airstrip, which served as a critical logistical hub in a region with limited road connectivity to the rest of India.
Of the 120 soldiers from the C (Charlie) Company of the 13 Kumaon battalion, only five survived. Major Shaitan Singh, who led the defense, was posthumously awarded India's highest military honor, the Param Vir Chakra, for his leadership. Twelve other soldiers received gallantry medals. Despite their bravery, initial reports of their last stand were met with skepticism.
"The morale was low, we had bitterly lost the war, thousands of our soldiers, including a brigadier, were taken by China as prisoners of war. So, no one believed such a heroic last stand was possible,"
Kulpreet Yadav, former navy officer and author
Survivors' accounts and delayed recognition
For months after the battle, it was widely assumed that the soldiers at Rezang La had either fled or been captured. The truth emerged three months later when a shepherd stumbled upon the frozen battlefield, discovering destroyed bunkers, spent ammunition, and the bodies of the fallen soldiers preserved in snow. The scene provided the first accurate account of the battle.
Major Singh had been advised to consider a tactical retreat if ammunition ran low, but he and his men resolved to fight "till the last man, last bullet." The odds were overwhelming: Indian estimates suggest at least 3,000 Chinese troops attacked the pass, equipped with superior weapons and winter gear. In contrast, the Indian soldiers, hailing from the plains, had never experienced snow and lacked proper acclimatization or adequate clothing.
"The weather was terrible; we lacked proper winter clothes and shoes. The jerseys, cotton trousers, and light coat we were issued could hardly keep us warm in those freezing winds."
Subedar Ram Chander, survivor
Heroism in the face of impossible odds
On the night of the battle, temperatures plummeted to -24°C, and snowfall compounded the soldiers' struggles. Despite these conditions, C Company repelled the first wave of Chinese attacks. However, mortar fire soon destroyed their bunkers and tents, inflicting heavy casualties. The third wave proved devastating, wiping out most of the remaining defenders.
Subedar Ram Chander recounted Major Singh's final moments: severely wounded and drifting in and out of consciousness, Singh instructed his men on how to continue the fight before ordering Chander to rejoin the battalion. "I told him, I cannot leave you. 'You have to go. It's my order,' he said."
In February 1963, a senior army official, accompanied by Red Cross personnel and journalists, visited Rezang La. They found the battlefield frozen in time, with soldiers still clutching their weapons. Journalist Rachna Bisht, in her 2014 book on Major Singh, described the harrowing scene: "Every single soldier they find is dead from multiple bullet wounds, shell injuries, or splinters. Some lie dead in their bunkers, buried under boulders, others are still holding on to the butts of blown-off rifles."
Legacy and significance
In a war "mostly remembered with shame," the battle of Rezang La stands as a testament to courage and sacrifice. C Company was later renamed Rezang La Company, and a memorial was erected in Rewari, the hometown of the soldiers. The pass itself became part of the disputed territory following the ceasefire, remaining a no-man's land.
Kulpreet Yadav argues that the soldiers' valiant defense altered the course of history. "If it was not for these soldiers, I think India would have lost half of Ladakh. China would have captured the airfield and Chushul. This battle was the only silver lining for India in the 1962 war."
"We felt it was very important that this story must be told; we wanted to honour the people who lived the story. We have taken some cinematic liberties, but our film stays very true to history."
Sumit Arora, dialogue writer of 120 Bahadur
