The date of 18th November reminds us of the immortal heroes of the Indian Army who sacrificed their lives in the lap of the Himalayas, so that the honor of the country remains intact. Major Shaitan Singh was the leading warrior of those brave men, who along with 120 soldiers of 13 Kumaon Battalion faced about 2000 Chinese soldiers in the India-China war of 1962.
Coincidentally, 18th November is his death anniversary and Farhan Akhtar’s film 120 Bahadur, based on this incident, is being released on 21st November, which is an attempt to bring the bravery of those unsung heroes in front of the new generation.
Let us know the life of Major Shaitan Singh, his military strategies and the story of that amazing battle of Rezang La, which set an example of Indian courage in history. Even today, the soldiers and officers of the Indian Army remember him with pride, the country also salutes its brave son.
Journey from childhood to battlefield
Shaitan Singh was born on 1 December 1924 in a Rajput family with military tradition in Banasar, Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. Since childhood, discipline, simplicity and love for the country were present in the air of his house and courtyard. His father was also associated with the army, so the stories of military life were not a romantic fantasy for him, but a living inspiration.
By the time he became young, Shaitan Singh’s personality had become very clear. He is a man of few words, simple, but has amazing clarity at the moment of decision. Being brought up in a harsh environment, they were less concerned about adverse weather, hunger, thirst or suffering. His dream was to wear uniform and serve the country, and this dream did not remain a dream for long. He joined the Indian Army and joined the Kumaon Regiment. The same regiment which was later to create history in the battle of Rezang La.
Major Shaitan Singh.
Kumaon Regiment and identity of Shaitan Singh
The nature of the Kumaon Regiment has been to deploy in difficult areas and stand firm in front of the enemy. Major Shaitan Singh’s image among the soldiers was that of an officer who sets an example before giving orders. They lived with the soldiers in the same harshness, same food, same cold, same thorny climbs. During the exercises, he himself would walk at the forefront, carry the load, take accurate aim in the firing range and repeatedly explain to his soldiers that there is no room for weakness on the border. The enemy may be big in numbers, but not big in heart. Behind his calm nature was hidden a firm leadership. He neither made noise nor showed off, but whenever he took a decision, the entire platoon would accept that decision as the final truth.
1962 war with China, a looming storm
In the year 1962, tension in India-China relations was at its peak. Due to lack of clear demarcation of boundaries and political differences, the armies of both the countries stood face to face in the high altitude areas. This name Rezang La was strategically important even at that time. Located near Chushul sector of Ladakh, this pass is at an altitude of more than 16 thousand feet, where even breathing is a challenge. Temperature several degrees below zero, strong icy winds, lack of oxygen and a world of stones and ice everywhere. C Company of 13 Kumaon Battalion was deployed here, whose commander was Major Shaitan Singh. On top of that, resources are limited.
Heavy weapons were scarce, ammunition limited and wireless communications completely unreliable. But despite all this, the morale of the Indian soldiers was high. They knew that if this pass was broken, Chushul and the forward base would be in direct danger.
Phils 120 is based on Bahadur Shaitan Singh
Based on a true story that shaped our nation’s history, 120 Bahadur – Trailer out now. #120Bahadur #EkSauBeesBahadur
Special thanks to: @SrBachchan Sir
Based on a true story that changed the history of our country — watch the trailer now. #120bahadur #onesoubisbahadur#RashiKhanna pic.twitter.com/T2ueu7VPTR
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) November 6, 2025
A night in Rezang La when the enemy advanced stealthily
The night of 18 November 1962 was unusually quiet. The sky was black, fine particles of snow in the air, and the slight movement of Chinese posts here and there in the distance. Major Shaitan Singh knew that this could also be the calm before the storm. He gave instructions to his soldiers and reviewed the deployment for the last time. Each platoon had orders for positioning according to rocks and climbs. A clear plan was made for the fire field, i.e. from which angles the enemy could be stopped.
Instructions were also clear on calculation of reserve ammunition and how to help each other in case of injury. The Chinese army was almost ten times more in numbers. They also had mortars, heavy machine guns and better means of communication. They planned to surround the Indian post from all sides, enter from behind and break the supply lines and open heavy fire from the front. The thinking was that 120 Indian soldiers would retreat in fear or surrender.
Fewer soldiers but deadly barricade
The biggest basis of Major Shaitan Singh’s strategy was the full use of geographical location. He deployed his sections in such a way that the enemy would become their target as soon as they climbed up. Indian soldiers hiding behind the stones kept waiting for the enemy to come closer, so that every bullet was used accurately. Despite being in limited numbers, they divided the fronts in such a way that whichever direction the enemy came from, he had to face cross firing from some section or the other. Due to this, the advantage of the number of Chinese soldiers became ineffective to some extent. In the silence of the night he ordered not to fire until the sight was clear. The result was that Indian counter-fire was extremely effective in the initial attack and the Chinese army suffered heavy losses.
When 120 soldiers stopped 1200
Even before the first rays of morning broke, Chinese soldiers started the attack. Mortar shells started exploding on the snowy ground, the loud noise of machine guns started echoing. But as soon as they moved forward, 13 Kumaon Company woke up. Rifle and machine gun bullets started raining continuously from the posts. Many Chinese soldiers were killed in the first attack of the enemy.
The Chinese Army had thought that Indian soldiers struggling with altitude and cold would not be able to last long, but the reality turned out to be the opposite. Chinese soldiers made repeated infiltration attempts from many directions. Sometimes from the left, sometimes from the right, sometimes from the back, taking a winding climb. Every time Major Shaitan Singh would lead the firing by changing his position and that of other sections. He would run from front to front in the open field, boost the morale of the soldiers, correct the direction of firing, and refuse to retreat even when injured.
Many times his companions would advise him to stay safe under the cover of a rock, but his answer was clear. How will the soldiers fight if the commander remains behind? The fighting continued for several hours. Despite cold, fatigue and injuries, Indian soldiers stood firm. Gradually the ammunition started decreasing. The situation became so serious in many sections that the soldiers used knives attached to their guns to stop the enemy. Many soldiers do not leave their positions till their last breath, their bodies were later found in the same posture in which they were martyred while fighting, as if even death could not bend the direction of their weapons.
Immortal martyrdom of Major Shaitan Singh
At a critical juncture in the battle, Major Shaitan Singh was hit by enemy machine gun fire and seriously injured. His companions wanted to take him back to a safe place. What sounds like a legend but is based on evidence is a part of history that he told his comrades to keep him at a place from where the enemy’s activity could be seen and his fellow soldiers should return to the front and continue the fight. He himself did not want to retreat and see the morale of his soldiers break.
Ultimately they sacrificed their lives on the same snow covered land for which they were fighting. Months after the fighting ended, the Indian Army recaptured the area and when the snow melted, a search operation was carried out, and it was found that Major Shaitan Singh’s body was still in the same position with his weapon as if he was in command till the last moment. The bodies of his fellow soldiers were also found around him in fighting posture. This scene was forever imprinted in the mind of every viewer of how 120 soldiers held back 1200 enemies for hours.
Paramveer Chakra and immortal legacy
Major Shaitan Singh was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military decoration. This honor was not only for his individual bravery, but also for the collective courage and unwavering leadership which caused heavy losses to the enemy in a seemingly impossible battle and protected a strategically important area. This battle of Rezang La is still taught as an example in military academies. How despite limited resources, harsh weather and huge numerical disparity, history can be changed with the help of right leadership, strategic vision and morale.
Importance of film 120 Bahadur
Farhan Akhtar’s film 120 Bahadur is releasing on 21st November. It is not just a film, but a medium of remembrance and gratitude. The power of cinema is that it makes those stories reach the common people which often remain limited in history books. This film will bring before the new generation the saga of those 120 soldiers, whom many youth probably do not even know by name. It will show that sacrificing one’s life for the country is not just a sentence, but is the name of those decisions in real life where life and death are decided in every second. It will bring to life in visual form the sacrifice of Major Shaitan Singh and his comrades, so that every viewer feels within himself the question that if he had been there, what would he have done?
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