Major Shaitan Singh ka janm 1 December 1924 ko Jodhpur ki Rajput family mein hua tha. Desh ki seva karne ka jajba unke khoon mein tha, kyunki unke pita Hem Singh bhi British Indian Army mein Lt. Colonel reh chuke the or unhone world War 1 mein bhi hissa liya tha. Shaitan Singh ne bachpan se hi apne pita ki bahaduri ke kisse sune the, jise sunkar unhone bhi desh seva ke liye Army join karne ka faisla liya. Saal 1947 mein Jaswant college se apni graduation poori karne ke baad, 1 August 1949 ko Shaitan Singh ne Jodhpur ki State forces ko as a officer join kar liya. India ki azaadi ke baad jab Jodhpur riyasat ko India mein mila liya gaya, tab Shaitan Singh ko free India ki Indian Army ki Kumaon Regiment mein transfer de diya gaya. November 1955 mein Shaitan Singh ko Captain ki rank par promote kar diya gaya. Iske baad unhone Naga hills operation or saal 1961 mein Goa ko India mein milaane wale operations mein bhi participate Kiya tha. Jiske baad inki work effectiveness dekhkar June 1962 mein Captain Shaitan Singh ko Major ki rank par promote kar diya gaya.
Major banne ke kuch mahino baad hi October 1962 mein India aur China ke beech war start ho gaya. Eise mein Major Shaitan Singh ki leadership mein Kumaon Regiment ki 13th battalion ki ek company ko Chusul sector par deploy kar diya gaya. Chusul sector India China ke beech border ko lekar chal rahe vivaad ka ek important hissa hai, or Line Of Actual Control yahan se sirf 5 mile ki doori par hi hai. Isliye Chusul sector political or geographical point of view se India ke liye kaafi important sector bhi hai.
Kumaon Regiment ki 13th battalion ko Chusul air strip ki raksha ke liye deploy kiya gaya tha. 13th battalion ke jyadatar soldiers north India se belong karte the, jinhone kabhi snowfall bhi nhi dekhi thi or eise mein unhe Ladakh ke thande mausam mein deploy kar diya gaya tha. Major Shaitan Singh ki company mein 47 new recruit soldiers the, jinhe seedhe training se Ladakh mein bhej diya gaya tha, unhe vahan ke mausam mein ghulne Milne ka bhi samay nhi Mila tha. 47 naye recruit soldiers ke saath ab Major Shaitan Singh ki command mein total 120 soldiers the. Iss company ko Charlie naam diya gaya tha, or ise C company bhi kaha jaata hai. C company ko Chusul sector ke South-east mein stith Rezang – La point par bhej diya gaya, ye point 5000 meters ki unchaai par stith tha. Isse pehle kbhi bhi un soldiers ne ese thand ka saamna nhi kiya tha, fir bhi vo soldiers eise thand mein desh ki seva karne ke liye taiyaar the. Jab Major Singh ko information mili ki China ki people liberation army 18 November ko kai hajaar soldiers ke saath attack karne wale hai, to unhone apne seniors se madad maangi or unse or jyada soldiers or ammunition bhejne ke liye kaha. Lekin us samay unke seniors chahte huye bhi unki madad nhi kar sakte the, isliye unhone Major Singh ko apni company ke sath peeche hatne ke orders diye. Kyunki Indian Army ke liye apne soldiers ki jaan bachana first preference tha, lekin peeche hatne ka matalab tha haar maan lena jo Major Singh or unke soldiers ko bilkul bhi manjoor nhi tha. Major Singh ne apne soldiers ke saath meeting ki or sabne yahi decide kiya ki, vo log peeche nhi hatenge or apni aakhiri saans tak dushman ka saamna karenge. Jiske baad Major Singh ne bhi apne seniors ko jawaab bhej diya ki, C company peeche nhi hategi.
18 November 1962 ko subah ke 3:30 baje Rezang La ke pass China ki taraf se kuch hulchul hui, C company ke soldiers samajh chuke the ki, ab dushman se ladne ka samay aa gaya hai. Major Shaitan Singh ne apne soldiers ko order diya ki “ jaise hi Chinese soldiers firing range mein aa jaaye, unke upar firing shuru kar di jaaye”. Jahan ek taraf 3000 hajaar Chinese soldiers ke pass us samay ke hisaab se advance weapons or jyada amount mein gola barood maujood tha, vahin dusri taraf Major Shaitan Singh ke pass sirf 120 soldiers or bohot hi limited amount mein gola barood mojood tha. Indian soldiers ke pass jo weapons the, un weapons ko world War 2 ke time unfit ghosit kar diya gaya tha. Indian soldiers ke pass sirf light machine guns or single loaded rifles thi yaani ki eisi rifles jinhe ek baar fire karne ke baad firse load karna padta tha. Itni sab pareshaniyon ke baavjood Major Shaitan Singh or unke 120 soldiers ne apni position nhi chodi, or hajaro dushman ke saamne dat kar khade rahe.
To kya hoga aage ? Kya Major Singh bacha paayenge Rezang La ki dharti ko ? Jaanenge iss blog ke agle part mein.
