1962 War Series
Towards Galwan
Establishment of Galwan post as termed by the Chinese was an attempt of cannibalisation by the Indian government. Galwan is one of the most used terms by the general public during the past three years of India–China stand–off in Ladakh. Though both posts of 1962 and 2020 are located at different positions. Here is the story of the actual gunfight that happened at Galwan in 1962.
Audacious Alpha
The day was 18 April, Alpha company of the 5 Jat left Uri for Leh under the command of Major Srikant Sitaram Hasabnis. The unit began moving in the direction of Chushul after adjusting. The Corps Commander, Lt Gen Bikram Singh, visited the Alpha when it arrived at Chushul in mid–May. The company was busy conducting routine tasks and building defences. It received a directive in August to take the reins of ITB Hill from the Gorkhas. After spending a month and a half in Chushul, the CO, Lt Col Bakhtawar, ordered A company to move to Hot Springs. It walked along the banks of the Pangong Tso to Phobrang before continuing on to the hot springs. Next came the climb up the pass to Marsimik. At 18300 feet, Marsimik La was a difficult ascent. Alpha arrived at the hot springs after navigating the pass and turning into the Chang Chenmo River valley to the north. At Hot Springs, A company was to replace a company of 1/8 GR led by Major Modak. Alpha took control of the Hot Springs Company’s defence during the following few days. The Gorkha company now started to withdraw in small detachments to Chushul. Major Ajit Singh led the Bravo company of the 5 Jat to the hot springs. Major Ajit Singh’s company was to proceed and take over the post of Galwan from the Gorkhas, as per an order from CO Lt Col Bakhtawar Singh.
Galwan
Galwan complex was situated at an altitude of 17000 feet, approachable by foot via Jinan pass. It was established when higher officials decided to establish an isolated post deep within the Galwan Valley in June 1962. On July 4, CO 1/8 Gorkha Rifles, Lt Col Hari Chand, MVC, established a platoon sized post opposite the Chinese post at Samzungling on orders from Army Headquarters. On July 10th, around 300 Chinese surrounded the Galwan post, which was manned by Naib Subedar Jang Bahadur and 30 other ranks of 1/8 GR. The Chinese had left the surrounding area the next day, but they were still close to the post. They continued to demoralise the troops with propaganda slogans. Major VP Bhasin of the 1/8 Gorkhas arrived a few days later with a reinforcement column to strengthen the post. The Chinese used to cut off the supply route through the patrol base. Once they stopped a platoon sized Yak loaded supply patrol and insisted the patrol return to the base immediately. No fire was exchanged during the incident. After three months at this post Jats were asked to relieve Gorkhas. Lt Col Bakhtawar reached Hot Springs one day and ordered that Major Ajit relocate to Galwan, but due to some sensitive factors and his assertion that moving to Galwan would be a suicide mission, Alpha company was instead asked to do so. Everyone was taken aback by this decision because Alpha was consistently handed the most challenging assignments. The remaining 60 soldiers of A company were to enter Galwan by helicopter while a platoon from the company was assigned to seize control of the Gorkhas’ minor outposts north of the Chang Chenmo River. Captain HN Paul, a doctor, was assigned to Alpha for the post in Galwan.
Galwan 1962
Galwan 1962 route map
Jats at Galwan Major Hasabnis and two soldiers were helo–lifted to Galwan on October 3. This relief operation lasted until 12 October. The Alpha company now had total control of the Galwan post. Including the OC and the doctor, the company had 60 personnel. Numerous difficulties beset the Jats at Galwan. Snow started to fall, and the Chinese posts totally closed off the land route. The post was entirely dependent on air supplies, which could only be delivered during clear weather. On occasion, supplies would also land on the enemy side. The Chinese kept bothering the soldiers, encircling the station, and yelling propaganda slogans like ‘Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai’. The Jats had prepared four posts in the complex:
• Company HQ + 1 Section
• 1 Platoon under Subedar Hoshiar Singh
• 1 Section under Naik Inder Singh
• Remaining men under Subedar Nihal Singh Between the posts, there was no communication and supplies were in limited numbers. Sixteen soldiers were without any kind of weaponry. Even the radio connection between Coy HQs and Bn HQs was on a set schedule because the cold used to cause batteries to deplete quickly. Every soldier felt some level of fear, but none of them uttered a word. They all felt as though they had been thrown in a death trap.
The Battle
Since the final Jat had landed at Galwan, a week had passed, yet the Chinese had continued to protest at the soldiers. On the tragic day of 20 October, Major Hasabnis was in his tent when he heard a machine gun fire towards his post at around 0400 hours. He could see incendiary bullets being shot at his post in order to burn it down as he peeked outside the tent. All the posts at Galwan were immediately shelled by artillery and mortars. There were no bunkers or deep ditches to stand vigil in. Fire started from all directions. Bullets from rifles, machine guns, and artillery were pelting the ground. The operator sat peacefully with his hands on his hands while Maj Hasabnis approached the tent with the radio to alert the battalion and brigade HQs that they had been attacked by the Chinese. “Did you inform the headquarters?” he inquired. At this hour, there was a radio silent period. That meant that nobody was present, not even in headquarters where the radio was off. Therefore, it was impossible to alert HQ. They had no contact with the outside world at all. They were now left to tackle this battle by themselves! The remaining company positions were out of sight. Heavy blows from the firing were being delivered to a Company HQ soldier who was sitting out in the open. Someone questioned him, “Why are you doing this?” He said, “Wait, Saab.” He was waiting for the shot that would kill him. He was one of the 16 unarmed men in the company. Even Major Hasabnis had a single pistol.
Lt Col SS Hasabnis, he was Major and Company Commander, Galwan 1962
Subedar Nihal Singh’s post was pounded by artillery. After the shelling stopped for a while, Chinese infantry launched a battalion sized assault on the forward defences. Those valiant Jats were fighting from their crumbling defences. Heavy weapons were not available to support the Indian troops. Subedar Nihal Singh was moving from one man to another to inspire them to fight till the end. Subedar Nihal Singh was hit by a shell and was fatally wounded as the men continued to battle and resist; upon noticing this, Sepoy Bhopal Singh immediately ran to the unconscious JCO, gave him aid, and moved him to a safe location. He found his LMG 1 severely wounded when he returned to his trench, so he took control of the weapon and dealt severe casualties to the enemy. His gun had been hit by a shell, leaving him with only grenades. He lobbed grenades, causing fatalities, but eventually the front line defences crumbled and Bhopal Singh was killed. Major Hasabnis, in the rear position, continued to repulse Chinese attacks with his remaining troops. Doctor Captain HN Paul was advised to exit the tent and enter the trench by Major Hasabnis, but before he could do so, the tent caught fire due to a shell, and he had no choice but to remain inside where he must have died. Under severe shelling and machine gun fire, Havildar Banwari Lal, the CHM, continued to organise supplies and ammunition. While moving, he was killed by a shell burst as he continued to sprint from trench to trench supplying ammo and inspiring his comrades to fight to the bitter end. Heavy shelling and an infantry attack were both carried out on Subedar Hoshiar Singh’s isolated location. Although the initial waves of the enemy were repelled, the sheer quantity of them was overwhelming as they continued to attack the post. The end appeared to have arrived. It was clear to Subedar Hoshiar Singh that it was an alarming situation. He gathered his remaining supplies and came forward to rally his troops. Then, his LMG operators had sustained mortal injuries. He personally carried the LMG and dealt damage to the adversary before being shot. A four times larger enemy targeted Naik Inder Singh’s weak section. The section gave it all it had to fight, but after an hour they had nothing left, and the enemy had taken control of the position. The hail of gunfire ended quickly, just as it had begun.
Unsettling silence suddenly descended onto the Galwan complex. Hand–to–hand combat broke out as soon as the adversary closed. Soldiers who were hurt could be heard screaming. After several hours of fighting, the Chinese were able to take control of the post, killing 30 Indian soldiers out of 60 overall, including Captain (Dr.) HN Paul of AMC. 18 men suffered serious injuries. The men fought until the last bullet was shot. Those men, even though they knew death and defeat were staring them in the eye, knew there was no way out, but they did not raise the white flag of surrender. They were vastly outnumbered. Major Hasabnis and his surviving soldiers were taken prisoner by the enemy under duress. Galwan had been seized. Two tents filled with enemy casualties and one with Indian casualties were shown to Major Hasabnis. While in captivity, Subedar Nihal Singh and 1 OR lost their lives and Sepoy Roshan Lal lost his limbs. On 21 October, Chinese soldiers opened fire on Indian helicopters as they flew over the Galwan position. The pilot was unable to get in touch with the post. The pilot stated that there was no indication of life on the post when he arrived back. It was believed that every single man was missing in action. The captives were repatriated on 10 May 1963. Subedar Nihal Singh was awarded Vir Chakra in recognition of his bravery and leadership. Not a single Jat hesitated going to Galwan despite knowing it was a suicide mission, or should I say a death trap. They endured the cold and the terrain despite the limited access to basic necessities like food and water, and ultimately fought determinedly against the stronger foe.
Subedar Nihal Singh
Gorkha troops with Chinese troops
Article by Jai Samota (email: jaisamota411@ gmail.com) Photos and maps specially arranged and made by the author. Lt Col SS Hasabnis’s photos courtesy Hasabnis family.