17 Nov each year is a day of emotion, elation, regret, condolence and celebration for me, my family and the extended family of my Unit, 4 Garhwal Rifles. Today is Nuranang Day; the day which marks the Battle of Nuranang, also known as Jaswantgarh; this was the day in 1962 when a single Indian Army Infantry unit bested the Chinese and gave them a bloody nose beating back five massive attacks on the covering position North of Sela Pass, after Tawang had already fallen to the Chinese. The combined valor of the unit won it one of the two Battle Honors awarded in the Sino Indian Conflict of 1962. Nuranang Ridge was renamed JASWANTGARH on the name of Rifleman Jaswant Singh who was awarded the MVC, posthumously. The unit earned 2 MVC, 7 VrC, and a number of other honors and awards. The casualties were 3 Officers, 4 JCOs, 147 Other Ranks and 7 Non Combatized Tradesman, all killed. In actuall effect, the casualties during the main battle were very few while the Chinese suffered hugely. The casualties actually occurred during the withdrawal from Nuranang which commenced after the position was outflanked by the Chines to reach Sela. During the withdrawal a large number of all ranks were taken prisoner by the Chinese. The famous Brig Hoshiar Singh was killed while withdrawing with the unit. In captivity, the survivors of the battaion were singled out for extra punishment in the Chinese PoW camp as retaliation for the heavy casualties the Chinese had suffered at the hands of the Garhwalis. I am proud to belong to the Nuranang Family and on this day I wish the Family the very best, even as we remember the martyrdom of our brethren. The Army is a strange place. It marks martyrdom and celebrates the honor achieved through it. That is why a Battle Honor Day is a day of regret, condolence and great celebration, all combined. I am honored to inform all Friends that 4 Garhwal Rifles was raised by my father, Maj Gen Mahdi Hasnain, PVSM and I was its 14th Commanding Officer. Much can be learnt from the units achievements given by Brig Sarvesh Dangwal, VSM (Retd) in his blog - Passion for Courage. It can be read here - passionforcourage.blogspot.in/2012/10/how-can-man-die-better-than-facing.html
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 03:54:15 +0000
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