The 1962 War was fought between India and China along the length of the Himalayan border between India and Tibet. The Indian armed forces lacked proper equipment, machinery, and infrastructure for penetrating the Himalayan barrier and mostly fought defensive actions against the Chinese invaders.
After the war was over, the body of the Rajput hero was found and cremated with full military honours at Jodhpur. Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was awarded Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry medal, for his exemplary leadership and courage in the battle of Rezang La.
The Rajpoot war hero lives on. The site of the battle has been renamed Jaswantgarh, and a bust of the Garhwali soldier has been installed. Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat has been raised to status of a deity, and every soldier and officer pays obeisance at his shrine before moving ahead.
Major Shaitan Singh
A Bhati Rajput from Rajasthan, Major Shaitan Singh commanded a company of Kumaoni troops in the isolated Chushul area of Ladakh sector. Holding fast on a ridge at a height of 5000 metres, the brave Rajpoot and his troops held out against waves of Chinese attacks, running short on ammunition. The Chinese deployed mortars and heavy machine guns, slowly encircling the different platoons under Shaitan Singh. Each platoon fought down to the last man. The wounded major at last ordered the last survivors to leave him alone to die fighting the enemy.
Second Lieutenant Bhagwan Dutt Dogra
Belonging to Jammu, Second Lieutenant Dogra commanded Gorkha troops in the Tsangdhar area of NEFA sector in the eastern Himalayas during the 1962 War. The Chinese subjected his position to heavy shelling covering their infantry attacks. When his gunner was hit the Rajpoot hero took over the light machine gun and cut down the enemy until the ammunition ran out and 2nd Lt Dogra was captured. His daring act and inspiring leadership won him the Mahavir Chakra.Major Sher Pratap Singh Shrikent
A Bihari Rajput, the Major fought a desperate action to save his battalion headquarters in the NEFA sector during the 1962 War. Sher Pratap Singh Shrikent snatched a sten gun from an orderly, rallied the few survivors of the battalion headquarters, gallantly charged the enemy with complete disregard for his personal safety and inflicted heavy losses on the advancing Chinese. The Rajpoot war hero was awarded the Mahavir Chakra.Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat
A Garhwali Rajput from Uttarakhand, Jaswant Singh Rawat fought one of the rare counter-attacks in the NEFA sector during the Battle of Nuranang. When the Garhwalis were surrounded by Chinese troops and subject to mortar and heavy machine gun fire, Jaswant Singh volunteered to destroy the machine gun. With Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain, Rawat attacked the Chinese with grenades and rushed on to the MMG position. They killed the Chinese and captured the gun but fell to their wounds while returning victorious. Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat was awarded the Mahavir Chakra and his two colleagues the Vir Chakra.
