Knowledge Nugget | ‘120 Bahadur’ brings Battle of Rezang La into focus: What should you know about it and India’s crucial mountain passes?

Why in the news?

In a swift courtroom resolution amid mounting pressure from the Ahir community, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the certification and release of the upcoming Bollywood war drama 120 Bahadur, starring Farhan Akhtar. In this context, let’s learn about the Battle of Rezang La and important mountain passes of India.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Battle of Rezang La, fought on November 18, 1962, during the Sino-Indian War, is a chapter etched in military lore as one of the most heroic last stands.

2. Official records from the Ministry of Defence’s History of the Conflict with China, 1962, describe Charlie Company of the 13th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment (13 Kumaon), comprising 120 soldiers, 117 of whom were Ahirs from Haryana’s Rewari, Narnaul, Mahendragarh, and neighbouring districts, defending a vital mountain pass at 16,000 feet against sub-zero temperatures and a Chinese force outnumbering them 10-to-1.

3. Under the command of Major Shaitan Singh, posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the company held the Chushul sector, a linchpin for India’s supply lines to Ladakh. Despite inadequate winter clothing, artillery support, and ammunition, they inflicted over 1,300 casualties on the enemy before being overwhelmed.

4. Of the 120, 114 attained martyrdom, five survived grievously wounded, and one was taken prisoner. The Chinese reportedly covered the fallen Indian soldiers with blankets in respect, a gesture later commemorated in dispatches.

5. While the overwhelming Chinese numbers eventually prevailed, the 120 valiant defenders gave India a much needed strategic victory, thwarting the Chinese advance, protecting the vital Chushul air base from capture, and as a result, preventing a possible Chinese occupation of the entirety of Ladakh.

“…[Just] 120 infantry soldiers succeeded in stopping the largest standing army of the world…,” author Kulpreet Singh wrote in The Battle of Rezang La (2021). “…[They] were hugely outnumbered, out-gunned and out-weathered, but each one of them fought like a true hero and proved to the world that determination, grit and belief are much bigger than any material odds.”

6. The Chinese halted their advance through Ladakh the day after the Battle of Rezang La, and announced a unilateral ceasefire on November 21.

The Rezang La Memorial at Rewari, commemorating the Ahir soldiers’ sacrifice. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Significance of Rezang La

Rezang La is a massive 16,000-foot-high feature overlooking the Spanggur Gap, a strategic mountain pass on the Line of Actual Control. Its defence is vital for protecting the forward air base at Chushul, and the overall defence of Ladakh: if the Chinese were to establish a strong presence in the sector, they would effectively have a free run to Leh.

Mountain Passes in News

A mountain pass is a transit route through a mountain range or across a ridge, connecting regions within a country and even bordering nations. These passes have long served as strategic corridors for trade, conflict, and migration. Notable passes in the news include:

1. Lipulekh Pass: It lies at an altitude of 5,115 metres, on the border between Uttarakhand and the Tibet Autonomous Region, near the trijunction with Nepal. It is an ancient passageway between the Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan Plateau, frequented by traders and pilgrims alike.

2. Nathu La Pass: Nathu La pass lies at an altitude of 4,310 metres on the border between Sikkim and Tibet Autonomous Region. It is one of two mountain passes in the region — the other being Jelep La — that have connected Sikkim and Tibet since ancient times.

3. Chang La: It is an important high-altitude pass that provides access to Pangong Lake from Leh. Standing at an elevation of 17,590 feet, it is considered one of the highest motorable passes in the world.

Chang La is one of the highest motorable mountain passes in the world (Source: Priyabrata Chowdhury)

4. Shipki La: It is a high-altitude pass that connects Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district with Tibet. Non-residents are not permitted to travel through this pass. It is primarily used for limited cross-border trade between India and Tibet.

5. Zoji La Pass: It is located near Dras, serves as a crucial link connecting the Kashmir Valley in the west with the Indus Valley in the east and the Suru Valley in the northeast. 

BEYOND THE NUGGET: Cinema Revisiting India’s Forgotten Chapters

In recent years, Bollywood has increasingly focused on significant chapters of Indian history to bring lesser-known stories into the mainstream. These films reflect a growing trend where cinema is used to highlight important episodes of India’s past, helping to revive historical discourse for contemporary audiences.

1. Chhaava: Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna’s historical drama Chhaava hit theatres on February 14, 2025. The movie is an adaptation of Shivaji Sawant’s Marathi novel of the same name. Chhaava isn’t just another historical drama—it presents the life and legacy of Sambhaji Maharaj, the valiant son of Chhatrapati Shivaji. His reign, policies, military strategies, and resistance against the Mughals.

2. Kesari Chapter 2: starring Akshay Kumar, Ananya Panday, and R Madhavan, Kesari Chapter 2 is based on the legal battle that unfolded after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919.

Post Read Question

Consider the following pairs :

Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) l and 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

(Sources: Punjab and Haryana High Court disposes of Ahir plea against Farhan Akhtar starrer ‘120 Bahadur, The Battle of Rezang La, and why Ahir community is protesting upcoming Farhan Akhtar film on it)

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