Jemadar Surja Ram VrC

Jemadar Surja Ram,  was born on May 1, 1926, in Bhairaupur village in Rewari district of Haryana. He was the son of Shri Mangal Singh Yadav, whose values of resilience and hard work left a lasting impression on him. Drawn by a sense of duty and patriotism, Jemadar Surja Ram joined the Indian Army on November 1, 1943, before turning 18. He was recruited into the 13 Kumaon Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment, an elite infantry regiment known for its illustrious history and significant contributions to India’s military successes. With a legacy dating back to the 18th century, the regiment has earned accolades for its courage and discipline in various campaigns.

During his early years of service, Jemadar Surja Ram demonstrated exceptional commitment to his duties, mastering field craft and other essential soldierly skills. After some years of service, Jemadar Surja Ram married Ms Chandra Devi, also from Haryana, and together they built a family grounded in the values of dedication and service. By 1962, Jemadar Surja Ram had completed over 19 years of exemplary service in the Indian Army. Rising to the rank of Jemadar (now known as Naib Subedar), he became a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), a position of great responsibility and honor. As a JCO, he played a crucial role in mentoring younger soldiers, maintaining unit discipline, and contributing to operational planning. 

In 1962, as geopolitical tensions escalated, the 13 Kumaon Battalion, stationed at Ambala, was redeployed to Jammu & Kashmir. This region, with its strategic importance and challenging terrain, demanded the highest levels of preparedness and resilience. Jemadar Surja Ram, with his extensive experience and leadership skills, was instrumental in ensuring his battalion's readiness for their mission.

Battle of Rezang La (Indo-China War): 18 Nov 1962

In June 1962, Jemadar Surja Ram's 13 Kumaon battalion, under the command of Lt Col HS Dhingra, was moved from Ambala to Baramulla in J&K. In Sep 1962, when the war clouds with China were on the horizon, the battalion was asked to move to Leh at short notice. The 13 Kumaon battalion was put under the operational control of 114 Infantry Brigade under the command of Brigadier TN Raina (who later became COAS). 114 Infantry Brigade was given the responsibility of defending about 400 km of the Indo-China border, including the Chushul area. Besides 13 Kumaon, 114 Infantry Brigade had four other battalions under its command, including 14 J&K Militia, 7 J&K Militia, 5 Jat, and 1/8 Gorkha Rifles. Jemadar Surja Ram at that time was functioning as the No 7 'Platoon Commander' of Charlie Company under the command of Major Shaitan Singh. As per the operational plan of 114 Infantry Brigade, the 'C' Company of 13 Kumaon was deployed at Rezang La. Alpha Company under the command of Maj GN Sinha was the battalion reserve at the battalion HQs on high ground near Chushul. The Bravo and Delta companies were deployed on Maggar Hill between Spanggur Gap and Rezang La Pass under the command of Capt RV Jatar. By 26 October 1962, Jemadar Surja Ram and his troops had settled in and was busy strengthening their defences.

Based on the terrain and threat perception, platoons 7, 8, and 9 were deployed in such a way as to have optimum tactical advantage. The soldiers were placed on the forward slopes of the hill - 7th Platoon under Jemadar Surja Ram on the north flank; 8th Platoon under Jem Hari Ram in the pass area; and the central post was held by 9th Platoon under Jem Ram Chander, with the company HQ next to it. The mortar section under Naik Ram Kumar Yadav was on the reverse slope. The Chinese offensive in this sector commenced on November 18th, coinciding with the attack on Sela in the Northeast Frontier Agency (NEFA). A two-pronged assault was launched against the Chushul defenses. The northern prong targeted Gurung Hill, while the second prong attacked the Charlie Company of 13 Kumaon, also known as the Ahir Company, at Rezang La. Rezang La was an isolated feature situated approximately 11 kilometers south of Spanggur Gap and dominated the lifeline of the Chushul garrison - the road connecting Leh via Dungti.

The first wave of attack was launched from the direction of Platoon 8 at around 2:00 AM by a column of enemy soldiers. It was bravely repelled by the soldiers of Platoon 8 under the command of Jem Hari Ram. The second attack was launched at 4:00 AM from the direction of Platoon 7 by another column of enemy soldiers. Jem Surja Ram swiftly redeployed his 'Section-Three' to the planned alternate location to engage the enemy. 'Section-Three', under the command of Naik Sahi Ram, counterattacked the enemy with light machine guns, rifles, and grenades. Jem Surja Ram and his platoon, aided significantly by Naik Sahi Ram's section, successfully repelled the second enemy attack. The pattern continued with the enemy launching attacks at regular intervals with increasing intensity. Jem Surja Ram and his troops held on to their defences despite suffering losses of men and equipment until the sixth wave of attack, which came at 7:40 AM. When their ammunition ran out, Jem Surja Ram led his remaining soldiers in a fierce hand-to-hand combat with the enemy soldiers, ultimately making the supreme sacrifice.

Jem Surja Ram, leading the 7th Platoon, displayed exemplary bravery through his actions. Even with significant casualties within the platoon, he continuously motivated and unified his comrades. Jem Surja Ram displaying outstanding courage and gallantry, laid down his life at the age of 36 years in the line of his duty. He was posthumously awarded the "Vir Chakra" for his exceptional courage, devotion to duty, and supreme sacrifice. After the ceasefire, Rezang La fell into no man's land, which meant it was disputed and not to be occupied by either country. Jem Surja Ram and other martyred soldiers of 13 Kumaon lay frozen there until a shepherd discovered their bodies nearly three months later. In Feb 1963, when the bodies of Jem Surja Ram and five other soldiers of his platoon were recovered, they were found 10 meters ahead of their trenches with multiple bullet and bayonet wounds. 

Jem Surja Ram is survived by his wife Smt Chandra Devi. 

Citation for the "Vir Chakra" Awarded to him reads:-

On 18 November 1962, the Chinese forces attacked the Rezang La company post in Ladakh after heavy concentration of artillery and mortar fire. The defending company was greatly outnumbered but continued to fight very gallantly and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. Jemadar Surja, Hari Ram and Ram Chander set a fine example by their actions. They continued to rally and encourage their own men in spite of the heavy casualties suffered by them and displayed courage and devotion to duty of a high order.