Jaswant Singh Rawat

Jaswant Singh Rawat (19 August 1941 - 17 November 1962) was an Indian rifleman soldier of 4 Garhwal Rifles, Uttarakhand who won the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously at the Battle of Nuranang in the present day Arunachal Pradesh during the 1962 India-China war. He was born on 19 August, 1941 to Shri Guman Singh Rawat, in the village of Baryun, Pauri Garhwal District, Uttarakhand.

The bravery shown by Jaswant Rawat was honoured by building a memorial at the post where he fought the Chinese Army. The post which he held was named "Jaswant Garh"[1]. Another honour bestowed upon him is that he continues to serve even after death: he has been awarded promotions as if he is still serving the nation.[2]

The citation

Jaswant Garh War Memorial, Jaswantgarh, Arunachal Pradesh

In memory of RFN Jaswant Singh Rawat, MVC assisted by L/Nk Trilok Singh Negi and RFN Gopal Singh Gusain as part of Company 4th Battalion Garhwal Rifles on 17 Nov 1962, volunteered to silence an enemy MMG that had come close to their defenses and was firing accurately at the locality. That very day 4th Garhwal Rifles had beaten back two of the enemy attacks on their location. Jaswant Rawat and Gopal Gusain supported by the covering fire from Trilok Negi heroically closed within grenade throwing distance and destroyed the Chinese detachment of five men seizing the MMG. However, in the process of returning Jaswant Rawat and Trilok Negi were killed whereas Gopal Gusain though seriously injured came back with the captured weapon. The entire operation cost the Chinese 300 dead and wounded with loss to Garhwal rifles being 2 dead and 8 wounded.[3]

The 4 Garhwal Rifles was awarded Battle Honour Nuranang, the only battle honour awarded to any army unit in the Sino-Indian war of 1962.[4]

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ Pisharoty, Sangeeta Barooah. "When It Comes to Renaming Places in Tawang, China Is Not Alone". thewire.in. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
  2. ↑ Talbot, Ian (2016). A History of Modern South Asia: Politics, States, Diasporas. Yale University Press. ISBN 0300216599.
  3. ↑ Col J Francis (Retd) (30 August 2013). Short Stories from the History of the Indian Army Since August 1947. Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. p. 53. ISBN 9789382652175.
  4. ↑ Singh Gp Capt, Ranbir (2009). Memorable War Stories. Prabhat Prakashan. p. 27. ISBN 8188322660.
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