Story of Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, whose valour impressed even the Chinese commanders.
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| RiflemanJaswant Singh Rawat (MVC) |
The story of Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, MVC. a soldier who's valour was celebrated even by his enemies.
Jaswant Singh Rawat was an Indian rifleman soldier who won the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) posthumously at the Battle of Nuranang. Rifleman (RFN) Jaswant Singh, number 4039009, was serving with the 4th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles.
Rifleman Jaswant Singh is considered the hero of Sino-India War in 1962. According to a local legend,he single-handedly fought the Chinese army for three days. (battle that started on 17th November 1962 and continued for the next 72 hours). It was the last phase of the war in November 1962, and due to a lack of resources, his company was asked to fall back. But, Jaswant Singh remained at his post. With the help of two local girls, Sela and Nura, Jaswant Singh set up weapons at three different spots and fired them non-stop for three days. Thinking a big contingent was firing at them, the Chinese Army stayed put.
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| Memorial of Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat |
As the time passed, the Chinese Army grew frustrated, as they knew no way to counter the purported attack of the Indian Army. It’s said that Jaswant Singh managed to kill more than 300 enemy soldiers before the Chinese captured the man supplying him rations and told them about the lone rifleman who opposed them. The man spilled the beans. The Chinese then surrounded Jaswant Singh from all sides. Nura was captured and Sela died in a grenade burst. Jaswant Singh, realising he was about to be captured, shot himself.
The Chinese forces cutoff Jaswant Singh's head and took it back to China as a war souvenir. After the war was over, the commander of the Chinese forces, impressed by the late Jaswant Singh's show of bravery, returned his head along with a brass bust made of the soldier. It is now installed at the site of the battle. He was posthumously awarded Maha Vir Chakra for his bravery. Jaswant Singh's display of valour, and his love for his nation has proved to be a great source of inspiration to Indian soldiers since.
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| The Honour |
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| Inside the Hut. |
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| Personal Belongings of Singh. |
Regardless of what the real story of Jaswant Singh was, for locals, the jawans who are posted for his upkeep and all travellers who pass by – he remains the guardian ghost of India’s Eastern Border – the man who saved Arunachal Pradesh from the Chinese. The silver lining in what was otherwise a disappointing battle.
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| Singh & His Memorial. |
Locals have even constructed a Buddhist temple at the spot. Even though Jaswant Singh was decorated (posthumously) with a Mahavir Chakra, the Indian Army continues to treat him with the fanfare of a serving officer.A hut constructed over the spot where he was martyred, houses a bed which is constantly made by one of the army jawans posted at the post, his shoes are regularly polished and letters by his well wishers are presented to Jaswant Singh every day and taken away the next day after he’s gone through them..
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