Param Vir Major Shaitan Singh : The 1962 India–China War remains etched in the nation’s memory. India lost many brave soldiers, yet their extraordinary courage created legends that continue to inspire generations. One such immortal story is that of Param Vir Chakra awardee Major Shaitan Singh, whose fearlessness at Rezang La (Chushul sector, Ladakh) has become a symbol of unmatched bravery.
Major Shaitan Singh, of ‘C’ Company, 13 Kumaon Battalion, was born on 1 December 1924 in Jodhpur district, Rajasthan. At only 37 years old, he sacrificed his life for the nation.
The Battle of Rezang La — 18 November 1962
On the morning of 18 November 1962, Major Shaitan Singh and his 120 men were positioned at a freezing altitude of 16,000 feet. The Chinese army—more than 1,200 soldiers—launched a fierce attack on the post. They believed the Indian troops, poorly equipped and unfamiliar with extreme snow conditions, would be easy to defeat.
But what the Chinese forces underestimated was the unbreakable spirit of the Indian soldiers.
As the assault intensified, Major Shaitan Singh requested reinforcements but was ordered to abandon the post. He refused. Addressing his men, he told them anyone could retreat if they wished. Not a single soldier stepped back. They chose to fight beside their commander to the very end.
What followed was one of the most heroic last stands in military history. Surrounded by snow-clad peaks, the battlefield echoed with explosions, gunfire, and the roar of courage. The Indian soldiers fought till their last breath, inflicting massive casualties on the enemy.
Despite being gravely wounded, Major Shaitan Singh continued fighting. His comrades dragged him behind a boulder to shield him, but the Major insisted on continuing the battle. He tied the trigger of his machine gun to a rope, using it to fire at advancing Chinese troops even in his weakened state.
Against overwhelming odds, 120 Indian soldiers eliminated an estimated 1,200 Chinese soldiers, turning Rezang La into the Chinese army’s deadliest loss in the entire 1962 conflict.
Discovery After the Battle
After the war ceased, search parties began recovering bodies in the snow-covered landscape. What they discovered stunned everyone. Major Shaitan Singh’s body was found frozen under layers of snow—
- A rope tied to his leg
- The other end tied to the trigger of his machine gun
Nearby lay the bodies of his brave soldiers, each in the position they had died fighting.
Although India lost the broader war, China suffered its heaviest casualties at Rezang La—a result of Major Shaitan Singh’s leadership and the soldiers’ unwavering courage.
Honoring an Immortal Hero
For his supreme sacrifice, extraordinary leadership, and unmatched valor, Major Shaitan Singh was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military decoration.
He was born to Lieutenant Colonel Bahadur Hem Singh OBI and Jawahar Kanwar. His father, Lt. Col. Hem Singh, had joined the Jodhpur State Forces as a Sowar and even participated in World War I (1914)—a legacy of service that Major Shaitan Singh carried forward with glory.