Rezang La

Geography

The watershed ridge (Map-1 and Map-2), a subrange of 60 km long Kailash Range, is located on the LAC, west of Spanggur Tso and east of Chushul Valley. From west to east, has the following features: Spanggur Gap (4,900 m or 16,100 ft), Magar Hill, Mukhpari peak (5,545 m or 18,192 ft), Refan Pass (5,144 m or 16,877 ft), Rezang La (5,005 m or 16,420 ft), Rechin Top (5,204 m or 17,073 ft), Rechin La (5,005 m or 16,420 ft), Rezang La II (5,500 m or 18,045 ft). Refan Pass, Rezang La, and Rechin Top are served by the Indian patrol road from the Gualchung Barma campsite. Rechin La and Rezang La II are served by a separate Indian patrol road from the Tsaka La in the south.

To the north of Rechin La along the LAC are various strategic hill peaks (Map-2), Mukhpari, Magar Hill, and north of Spanggur Gap is the Gurung Hill. To the south of Rezang La is Mount Sajum (6,064 m or 19,895 ft). Lt. Gen. H. S. Panag, India sits on Black Top with Helmet under its boots, The Print, 9 September 2020. See "Map 1 – Kailash Range Chushul Sector".

The confusion about the "Rezang La" ("Rezang La I" or "Rezang La (1962)") and "Rezang La II" arose due to the old 1954 survey map (Map-1) of region by the American Army, which labeled two adjacent valleys leading to the Spanggur Lake as "Rezang Lungpa". The pass at the head of the western valley () at an elevation of 16420 ft is labelled "Rezang La". The pass at the head of the eastern valley (), unlabelled in the survey map [now labelled as the "Rezang La II" in some sources], is at a much higher elevation of 20670 ft. The streams from these two passes (Map-1 and Map-2), which flow into Spanggur Tso, are both named as "Rezang Lungpa" on the American survey map. In 1963, the Government of India used the name "Rezang La" for pass marked on the American survey map, the one at the head of the western valley. References to "Rezang La" ["Rezang La I" or "Rezang La (1962)"] in the literature on 1962 Sino-Indian War in English language, refer to this pass.

Chinese sources use the name "Rechin La" for another saddle between the western pass ["Rezang La", "Rezang La I" or "Rezang La (1962)"] and eastern pass ["Rezang La II"], which has also been adopted by the Indian news media in 2020.

Rechin La as well as the present Rezang 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 (LAC) resulting from the 1962 Sino-Indian War coincides with the Chinese claim line in this region. The Chushul village is 27 km northwest of Rezang La.

Military operations

Battle

1962 battle of Rezang La

Main article: Battle of Rezang La

During the Sino-Indian War in 1962, Rechin La (then called Rezang La) was the site of the last stand of the Charlie "C" company {{cite book |last1=Arora |first1=Dr. N. D. |title=Political Science for Civil Services Mains The Indian side was led by Major Shaitan Singh, who perished in battle and posthumously won India's highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra, for his actions.

The Chinese employed human wave tactics, sending up to eight waves against the Indian troop positions. Eventually, the Indian position was overrun, and Indian troops were forced to withdraw to high mountain positions. After the conclusion of battle, their valor was recognized by the Chinese, who had covered the bodies of the Indian soldiers with blankets and even placed bayonets over them so that the makeshift covers do not fly off. This mark of respect is exceptional and atypical of practices of that time.

Both sides took overwhelming casualties, though both countries disagree over how many were killed. It is generally accepted 114 Indian soldiers out of a total of 120 lost their lives. However, Indian sources claim upwards of 1,300 Chinese troops were killed in Rezang La alone, while Chinese sources claim only 722 died in the entire war.

Upon successfully overrunning the mountain and reaching their claim line, the Chinese declared a ceasefire. Indian troops were ordered to withdraw from the area, marking the end of the war in Aksai Chin.

2020 border standoff

During the border standoff in the summer, the Indian Army deployed troops along the Line of Actual Control south of the Pangong Tso, 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 Spanggur Lake).

War memorials

Rezang La war memorial

Battlefield tourism

Rezang La war memorial is part of the Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan initiative of the Indian Military which will boost border tourism, patriotism, local infrastructure and economy while reversing civilian outward migration from these remote locations, it entails 77 battleground war memorials in border area including the Longewala War Memorial, Sadhewala War Memorial, Siachen base camp, Kargil, Galwan, Pangong Tso, Doklam, Bum La, Cho La, Kibithu, etc.

Rezang La War Memorial

Chushul Rezang La war memorial

The inscription on the War Memorial at Chushul, 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 Horatius, a poem by Thomas Babington Macaulay, member of the Governor-General of India's Supreme Council from 1834 to 1838

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 Ian Cardozo writes in his book Param Vir, Our Heroes in Battle:

General T.N. Raina lauded: Atul Yadav, "Injustice to Ahir martyrs of 1962 war", Tribune India, 18 November 1999.

Rezang La War Memorial at Rewari

Rewari Rezang La war memorial

General K S Thimayya wished for a memorial to be built in Haryana 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 Chowk in Rewari city. Annual memorial function is held by the Samiti in collaboration with district administration, the Kumaon Regiment and family members of those who died at Rezang La also participate. In every special and cultural event in Delhi-NCR and Rewari, the two "bravest soldiers", Capt. Ram Chander Singh and Hav Nihal Singh, Sena Medal, will be the chief guests as they tell the story of Rajangla. On 24 February 2023, they were the chief guests on Rao Bal Kishan Shaurya Diwas. They also unveiled the portrait of "Rao Bal Kishan".

Transport

National Highway 3 is the closest NH for this location. One can reach to via Loma Bridge/Loma ITBP Check Post and Mahe Bridge. Both were built over the Indus River. Distance is 170 km. It meets to Miru, where proposed Bhanupli–Leh line will connect.

References

Bibliography

References

1. [[iarchive:dli.pahar.3148/page/n1413. 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" [{{coord. 33. 25. 30. N. 78. 51. 10. E
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6. Raj, Neha. (2023-12-01). "Remembering Major Shaitan Singh Bhati: The Hero of Rezang La".
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