Rezang La,
[Note given by the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, to the Embassy of China in India, 26 July 1963]
"The location of Rezang La (E 78° 51' 10" N 33° 25' 30" []) is well known... "
also called Rechin La (),
[
is a mountain pass on the ]Line of Actual Control
The Line of Actual Control (LAC), in the context of the Sino-Indian border dispute, is a notional demarcation lineAnanth KrishnanLine of Actual Control , India-China: the line of actual contest, 13 June 2020: "In contrast, the alignment of ...
between Indian-administered Ladakh and the Chinese-administered [ panggur Lake basin that is also claimed by India. The pass is located on the eastern watershed ridge of the Chushul Valley that China claims as its boundary. It is at the head of the Rezang Lungpa valley, which houses a stream draining into the Spanggur Lake.
About 3 km southeast of Rechin La () is a pass leading to another valley that is also called "Rezang Lungpa". China recognizes this pass as Rezang La ().[
]
About 3 km northwest of Rechin La () is another pass that was the site of a major battle of the 1962 Sino-Indian War
The Sino-Indian War took place between China and India from October to November 1962, as a major flare-up of the Sino-Indian border dispute. There had been a series of violent border skirmishes between the two countries after the 1959 Tibet ...
.[ A company of India's 13 Kumaon battalion fought to the last man in an effort to block the Chinese PLA troops from crossing the ridge into the Chushul Valley.
During the ]2020–2021 China–India skirmishes
Beginning on 5 May 2020, Chinese and Indian troops engaged in aggressive melee, face-offs, and skirmishes at locations along the Sino-Indian border, including near the disputed Pangong Lake in Ladakh and the Tibet Autonomous Region, and ...
, these passes were again the site of a major face-off between the two nations' armies.
Toponymy
The old suvey maps of the region label two adjacent valleys leading to the Spaanggur Lake from the south as "Rezang Lungpa". (See the AMS map.) The pass at the head of the western valley was labelled "Rezang La" at an elevation of . The pass at the head of the eastern valley, unnamed, is at a much higher elevation of . In addition to the passes at the heads of the valleys, there are numerous other passes leading to branch valleys. Potentially, all of them could bear the name "Rezang La".
The Government of India has stated that it uses the name "Rezang La" for the same pass as in the survey map, the one at the head of the western valley.[ Chinese sources use the name "Rechin La" for this pass,][ which has also been adopted by the Indian news media in 2020.
]
Geography
Rezang La and Rechin La are mountain passes on the ridge line adjoining the Chushul Valley, which China claims as its border. India's claimed border is further east, and it coincides with the border shown on most British and international maps prior to Indian independence. The Line of Actual Control
The Line of Actual Control (LAC), in the context of the Sino-Indian border dispute, is a notional demarcation lineAnanth KrishnanLine of Actual Control , India-China: the line of actual contest, 13 June 2020: "In contrast, the alignment of ...
(LAC) resulting from the 1962 Sino-Indian War
The Sino-Indian War took place between China and India from October to November 1962, as a major flare-up of the Sino-Indian border dispute. There had been a series of violent border skirmishes between the two countries after the 1959 Tibet ...
coincides with the Chinese claim line in this region.
From northwest to southeast the LAC passes through the Finger 4 area on the northern shore of the Pangong Lake
Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake (;
; hi, text=पैंगोंग झील) is an endorheic lake spanning eastern Ladakh and West Tibet situated at an elevation of . It is long and divided into five sublakes, called ''Pangong Tso'', ''Tso N ...
, the middle of the Phursook Bay
Phursook Bay () is a bay in the Pangong Tso that is said to have formed the border between Ladakh and Tibet's Rutog County during the British Raj. The present day Line of Actual Control between China and India runs near the same location and r ...
on the southern shore, then the Helmet Top hill, Gurung Hill
Gurung Hill is a mountain near the Line of Actual Control between the Indian- and Chinese-administered portions of Ladakh near the village of Chushul and the Spanggur Lake. As of 2020, the Line of Actual Control runs on the north–south ridgel ...
, Spanggur Gap
The Spanggur Gap () is a mountain pass on the Line of Actual Control between the Ladakh union territory of India and the Rutog County, Ngari Prefecture in the Tibet region of China. It is a gap in the mountains to the south of the Pangong Lake. ...
, Magar Hill, Mukhpari hill, Rezang La, Rechin La and then Mount Sajum
Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest.
Mount or Mounts may also refer to:
Places
* Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England
* Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, ...
.[
Lt. Gen. ]H. S. Panag
Harcharanjit Singh Panag, PVSM, AVSM is a retired lieutenant general of the Indian Army. He is presently a defence analyst and commentator on strategic affairs. A proponent of use of robotics by Indian armed forces he is very active on social ...
India sits on Black Top with Helmet under its boots
''The Print'', 9 September 2020. See "Map 1 – Kailash Range Chushul Sector".
The Chushul
Chushul is a village in the Leh district of Ladakh, India. It is located in the Durbuk tehsil, in the area known as "Chushul Valley", south of the Pangong Lake and west of the Spanggur Lake. The Line of Actual Control with China runs about 5 m ...
village and Indian military post are 27 km northwest of Rezang La.
Military operations
1962 battle of Rezang La
During the Sino-Indian War
The Sino-Indian War took place between China and India from October to November 1962, as a major flare-up of the Sino-Indian border dispute. There had been a series of violent border skirmishes between the two countries after the 1959 Tibet ...
in 1962, Rezang La was the site of the last stand
A last stand is a military situation in which a body of troops holds a defensive position in the face of overwhelming and virtually insurmountable odds. Troops may make a last stand due to a sense of duty; because they are defending a tactic ...
of the Charlie ‘C’ Ahir
Ahir or Aheer are a community of traditionally non-elite pastoralists in India, most members of which identify as being of the Indian Yadav community because they consider the two terms to be synonymous. The Ahirs are variously described as a ...
company of 13 Kumaon, consisting of 124 Indian soldiers. According to the official Indian history of the war, the Rezang La picket of Charlie company was located at an elevation of , 11 km south of the Spanggur Gap
The Spanggur Gap () is a mountain pass on the Line of Actual Control between the Ladakh union territory of India and the Rutog County, Ngari Prefecture in the Tibet region of China. It is a gap in the mountains to the south of the Pangong Lake. ...
, on the same ridge line as Rezang La.
The company was led by Major Shaitan Singh
Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, PVC (1 December 1924 – 18 November 1962) was an Indian Army officer and recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration. Singh was born in Rajasthan. On completing his graduation, Singh joine ...
, who won a posthumous Param Vir Chakra
The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime. Param Vir Chakra translates as the "Wheel of the Ultimate Brave", and the award is granted for "most conspicu ...
for his actions.[
][
][
]
From the Indian point of view, Rezang La had the drawback that an intervening feature blocked artillery operation, so that the Indian infantry had to do without artillery cover.
In the action on 18 November 1962, 114 Indian soldiers out of a total of 120 were killed and more than 1000 Chinese troops were killed.[
] A memorial in Rewari
Rewari is a city and a Municipal Council in Rewari district in the Indian state of Haryana. King of Rewari is Rao Onkar Singh.It is located in south-west Haryana around 82 km from Delhi , where most of the Ahir
Ahir or Aheer are a community of traditionally non-elite pastoralists in India, most members of which identify as being of the Indian Yadav community because they consider the two terms to be synonymous. The Ahirs are variously described as a ...
soldiers came from, claims that 1,300 Chinese soldiers were killed in the battle.
The Indian side was led by Major Shaitan Singh
Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, PVC (1 December 1924 – 18 November 1962) was an Indian Army officer and recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration. Singh was born in Rajasthan. On completing his graduation, Singh joine ...
, who was later posthumously awarded Param Vir Chakra
The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime. Param Vir Chakra translates as the "Wheel of the Ultimate Brave", and the award is granted for "most conspicu ...
, India's highest gallantry award for conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice in the face of the enemy.
This battle was also important as China declared ceasefire after watching the bravery of Indian soldiers in this battle.
2020 border standoff
During border standoff in summer, the Indian Army deployed troops along the Line of Actual Control south of the Pangong Tso
Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake (;
; hi, text=पैंगोंग झील) is an endorheic lake spanning eastern Ladakh and West Tibet situated at an elevation of . It is long and divided into five sublakes, called ''Pangong Tso'', ''Tso N ...
, including at Rezang La and Rechin La. This was said to give them a commanding view of the Spanggur Gap and China's "Moldo sector" (the deployments around the [ panggur Lake).
War memorials (Ahir Dham)
Rezang La War Memorial at Chushul
The inscription on the War Memorial at Chushul
Chushul is a village in the Leh district of Ladakh, India. It is located in the Durbuk tehsil, in the area known as "Chushul Valley", south of the Pangong Lake and west of the Spanggur Lake. The Line of Actual Control with China runs about 5 m ...
, Ladakh raised by the Indian Army in memory of the soldiers who died in the Battle of Rezang La, reads as below. The first four lines are quoted from ''s:Horatius, Horatius'', a poem by Thomas Babington Macaulay, member of the Governor-General of India's Supreme Council from 1834 to 1838
How can a man die better,
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his gods.
To the sacred memory of
the heroes of Rezang-La
114 martyrs of 13 Kumaon
who fought
to the last man last round
against hordes of Chinese
on
18 November 1962.
Built by all ranks
13th Battalion the Kumaon Regiment.
Major-General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Ian Cardozo
Major General Ian Cardozo AVSM SM is a former Indian Army officer. He was the first war-disabled officer of the Indian Army to command a battalion and a brigade. He is an amputee due to a war injury.
Early life
Ian Cardozo was born to Vincent C ...
writes in his book ''"Param Vir, Our Heroes in Battle"'':
General T.N. Raina
General Tapishwar Narain Raina (24 January 1921 – 19 May 1980), best known as T.N. Raina, was a senior army officer and a diplomat who served as the 9th Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army between 1975 and 1978.
Upon retirement, ...
lauded:[
Atul Yadav]
Injustice to Ahir martyrs of 1962 war
Tribune India, 18 November 1999.
Rezang La War Memorial at Rewari
General K S Thimayya wished for a memorial to be built in Ahirwal
Ahirwal is a region spanning parts of southern Haryana , north-eastern Rajasthan, and South-Western Delhi The region was once a small principality based from the town of Rewari and controlled by members of the Yaduvanshi Ahir community fro ...
region of Haryana
Haryana (; ) is an Indian state located in the northern part of the country. It was carved out of the former state of East Punjab on 1 Nov 1966 on a linguistic basis. It is ranked 21st in terms of area, with less than 1.4% () of India's land ...
in the memory of soldiers who were mostly from this area. He felt generations to come would seek inspiration from the immense courage and valour of their forefathers. Consequently, another Rezang La war memorial was constructed by ''Rezangla Shaurya Samiti'' inside Rezang La Park near Dharuhera
Dharuhera is a census town located, just 19 km from Rewari city in Rewari district of the state of Haryana, India. Dharuhera comes under Delhi NCR region and it is a big Industrial hub in Rewari district, Rewari District. Dharuhera is the new gr ...
Chowk in Rewari
Rewari is a city and a Municipal Council in Rewari district in the Indian state of Haryana. King of Rewari is Rao Onkar Singh.It is located in south-west Haryana around 82 km from Delhi city in Ahirwal region. Annual memorial function is held by the Samiti in collaboration with district administration, the Kumaon Regiment
The Kumaon Regiment is one of the oldest infantry regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment traces its origins to the 18th century and has fought in every major campaign of the British Indian Army and the Indian Army, including the two world war ...
and family members of those who died at Rezang La also participate.
See also
* Border Personnel Meeting point
* India-China Border Roads
India-China Border Roads (ICBRs, ICB Roads) is a Government of India project for developing infrastructure along the Sino-Indian border by constructing strategic roads, including bridges and tunnels. The ICBR project is largely in response to ...
* Sino-Indian border dispute
The Sino-Indian border dispute is an ongoing territorial dispute over the sovereignty of two relatively large, and several smaller, separated pieces of territory between China and India. The first of the territories, Aksai Chin, is adminis ...
* Gurung Hill
Gurung Hill is a mountain near the Line of Actual Control between the Indian- and Chinese-administered portions of Ladakh near the village of Chushul and the Spanggur Lake. As of 2020, the Line of Actual Control runs on the north–south ridgel ...
References
Bibliography
*
External links
Rezang La War Memorial in Chushul
Rezangla Shaurya Samiti
{{Ladakh
Mountain passes of China
Mountain passes of Tibet
Mountain passes of Ladakh
Sino-Indian War
Borders of Ladakh
Rutog County