60 years later, no central government honour has been bestowed upon a martyr of the 1962 Sino-Indian war

"Little we know about Havildar Shere Thapa of Indian Army who singlehandedly delayed waves of Chinese Army assault during the 1962 war in Upper Subansiri sector," Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu tweeted earlier this year as he unveiled a bust of the unsung hero, who is still awaiting central government recognition. According to official records, Thapa of the Indian Army's 2nd Battalion of Jammu & Kashmir Rifles killed 79 Chinese soldiers and injured many more in the battle waged in the Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh in November 1962 before laying down his life.

Sixty years later, the martyr, lost in the annals of history, has yet to be recognized, lamented Thapa's commanding officer, 2nd Lieutenant Amar Patil, who retired as a colonel. Tapir Gao, Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal East Parliamentary Constituency, had visited Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi in September last year and submitted a letter requesting that the havildar be awarded the gallantry award posthumously.

Thapa, who was born in Nepal in 1928, served in the JAK Regiment Special Force from December 27, 1945 to December 31, 1956 before joining the Indian Army on January 1, 1957. Subedar Sher Bahadur afterwards designated him as platoon havildar. "Thapa was assigned to a protection patrol at Tama Chung Chung ridge near Rio Bridge in Upper Subansiri district to cover the tracks coming from the Sino-Indian border," the retired colonel explained.

"On November 18, 1962, approximately 200 PLA soldiers infiltrated the Tama Chung Chung Ridge and ran into the defensive patrol of the 2 JAK RIF. Havildar Thapa was guarding the border from a high vantage point in the highlands. His pistol roared like a roaring tiger, knocking down numerous Chinese. He continued firing nonstop for three days without food (since supply lines were cut off) or sleep, while his lone soldier-friend continued changing carbines till the duo ran out of ammunition "Patil stated to PTI.

According to him, the mound of Chinese troops' bodies was "so high" that the river couldn't transport them. "When the Chinese firing ceased, Thapa emerged from his bunker on a reconnaissance mission. He gazed with delight at the heap of mortal remains, but death awaited him. A wounded Chinese soldier opened fire, quickly killing him "claimed the octogenarian war veteran. According to him, Thapa's valiant actions delayed the Chinese advance by about 72 hours. "Over 70 Chinese soldiers, including a senior officer, were alleged to have been killed in the engagement," the retired army official added. Thapa may not have received an award, but his bravery is remembered by villagers, who hold him in high regard, he added.

Patil said the havildar was survived by his wife and two children, but little is known about their location. "Thapa is regarded as a role model by the people of Arunachal Pradesh. They are disappointed that he did not receive the well-deserved gallantry award from the national government. The Chinese, on the other hand, admired his bravery and erected a wooden tombstone near where his mortal remains were discovered, with a Chinese inscription honouring Thapa's fighting spirit "Patil added. As a tribute to the brave soldier, the Indian Army later built a memorial near Rio Bridge.

A bridge erected by the BRO over the turbulent Tsari Chu River near Nacho circle in the Tama Chung Chung (TCC)-Maza axis in Upper Subansiri district has also been named after Shere Thapa. Khandu unveiled the braveheart's bust in January at his memorial near Rio Bridge, between Limeking and Nacho, where he laid down his life fighting for the country, receiving praise from locals. Tiger Baza, a septuagenarian from Upper Subansiri, stated, "We've been hearing stories about Thapa's bravery for a long time. Many people in this region of Arunachal Pradesh see him as their idol. It's past time for the Centre to honour him with an award worthy of his valour and sacrifice."

(source : PTI)