“If a man says he’s not afraid of death, he is either lying or he is a Gorkha”
— Field Marshall SHFJ Maneckshaw, MC
The 1962 China War remains a dark scar on Independent India and the history of its armed forces. The Indian Army suffered, till date, its only defeat in the battlefield. In both Ladakh and NEFA (present-day Arunachal Pradesh), the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) routed the Indian forces, who were badly short of arms and ammunition, rations, transport and even winter clothing.
However, the Indian soldiers and lower-level officers, despite the almost one-sided defeat they suffered, were rarely found wanting in courage and determination. Today, we tell you one such tale.
Indian soldiers on patrol in Ladakh Wikipedia Commons
When the British left the Subcontinent in 1947, the border issue with Tibet was not resolved satisfactorily. Things started getting serious after Communist China invaded and annexed Tibet in 1950 by force. Soon, China’s expansionist plans were evident as they disputed Indian authority over the Aksai Chin plateau in Ladakh. Through the 1950s, China built a road in Aksai Chin and started establishing border posts.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis seemed to bear fruit as the Panchsheel Agreement (Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence) was signed between the two nations in 1954. But matters took a nosedive in 1959 when the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India after a failed rebellion and was provided shelter. China’s stance hardened after this incident. Skirmishes at the border became a regular affair.
Despite earlier committing to respect the McMahon Line as the official border in NEFA, the PLA now started patrolling there as well and often came south of the Line. In response, the Indian government announced a Forward Policy in which Indian Armed forces would establish posts along the border in both western and eastern sectors and ensure that the PLA respected the border, if necessary, by force. It was wrongly and fatally believed by New Delhi that China had no real intention of launching a serious attack and this aggressive posturing would intimidate the PLA into falling back to their side.
Kashmir map – By Central Intelligence Agency, Washington Wikimedia Commons
Srijap 1 was one of the many posts that came up in wake of issuance of the Forward Policy. It was to be established on the northern bank of Pangong Lake by the 1st battalion, 8 Gorkha Rifles (1/8 GR). It was considered a vital post with respect to the defence of Chushul airfield. The responsibility of establishing the Srijap 1 post was given to Delta (D) Company of 1/8 GR, being commanded by Major Dhan Singh Thapa. Unfortunately, while issuing the orders, the PMO did not consider the harsh terrain and the difficulty of maintaining logistical and communication lines. Srijap 1 was a logistical nightmare – there were no viable resupply lines over land and the only access was through the lake. Due to the multitude of posts that had to be opened, only 28 men of D company were available to man Srijap 1 under the commanding officer, Major Thapa.
To make a bad situation worse, the Indian intelligence had also grossly underestimated the Chinese build-up. When they eventually realised this and issued fresh warnings, the same did not percolate down to the front lines in many cases. So, on the evening of October 19, 1962, Major Thapa and the D company men witnessed a massive build-up of enemy forces. As the enemy strength multiplied, Major Thapa ordered his Gorkhas to ‘dig fast and dig deep’. He anticipated that an attack was imminent.
A border outpost near Finger-3 of the Changchenmo Range on the northern bank of Pangong Tso is named the Dhan Singh Thapa post in the honour of this brave soldier Wikimedia Commons
At 0430 hours on October 20, PLA forces launched an attack on both Ladakh and NEFA. Heavy artillery and mortar fire rained down on the Gorkha outpost for two-and-a-half hours. With no artillery support, the Gorkhas could only keep their heads low and survive. This allowed the PLA forces to close within less than 150 metres of Srijap 1 post, coming into view. The Gorkhas immediately started firing incessantly, killing a large number of PLA soldiers. In retaliation, the PLA artillery opened up, inflicting casualties on the Gorkhas and worse, damaging their communication equipment. They were out of contact with their battalion headquarters, left on their own.
In the meanwhile, the PLA had closed to within 50 metres of the post. They launched smoke bombs at the Indian position to bring out the Gorkhas. But undeterred, these brave men fought ferociously, bringing down several of the enemy. Major Thapa, unmindful of the risk to his own self, moved from position to position, exhorting his men to not stop and give hell to the enemy. An unbelievably brave act was performed by the 2IC* Subhedar Min Bahadur Gurung – manning an LMG, he proved a menace to the advancing PLA when artillery fire destroyed his bunker, burying him in stone. Gurung dug himself out of the rubble, and resumed firing despite being severely wounded. He kept firing till his last breath.
Srijap 1 now had just seven men left. Sensing the end was near, PLA launched another massive attack supported by heavy machine guns (HMG) and rockets. Two amphibious crafts, fitted with HMGs, also attacked the post from the lake side. Meanwhile, battalion HQ had sent out two storm boats to check on the post. Both were fired upon by the PLA. One sunk with all on board while the other escaped badly damaged. Another wave of PLA attacks now left just three men alive. Major Thapa was one of them.
A bust of Major Dhan Singh Thapa, who retired as a lieutenant-colonel in 1980 Wikimedia Commons
With his ammunition over, Thapa launched on to the enemy and managed to kill several with his khukhri, before being overpowered and taken prisoner, along with the two remaining Gorkha soldiers. The storm boat which managed to escape went back and reported to battalion HQ that Srijap 1 had fallen with no survivors. Major Dhan Singh Thapa was missing, presumed dead.
In captivity, Thapa was subjected to brutal and humiliating treatment. His refusal to make statements against his own army and government was met with horrible physical torture. But the Gorkha officer stood firm. Rifleman Tulsi Ram Thapa, one of the other prisoners of war (PoW), managed to escape from captivity and it was he who brought back the news of Major Thapa being alive. He was released after the end of the war.
Major Thapa was honoured by the government of India with the highest military honour, Param Vir Chakra, originally awarded posthumously as he was believed killed in action. He retired from the army in 1980 as a lieutenant colonel. A border outpost near Finger-3 of the Changchenmo Range on the northern bank of Pangong Tso is named the Dhan Singh Thapa post in the honour of this brave soldier, who passed away in 2005.
* 2nd in command
