Major Mahander Singh Chaudhary MVC

Major Mahander Singh Chaudhary was born on 7 May 1930 in Dubaldhan Majra village, located in the Rohtak division of Jhajjar district in Haryana. He was the son of Chaudhary Partap Singh, a PCS officer in the erstwhile joint Punjab, and Smt. Sahib Kaur, a homemaker. Tragedy struck early in his life when he lost his father at the age of seven. Thereafter, he was brought up under the care and guidance of his maternal uncle, Major Ameer Singh, a distinguished personality who later served as a minister in Haryana. This upbringing instilled in him discipline, resilience, and a strong sense of duty from a young age. He pursued his higher education at Punjab University, where he developed both academically and personally, preparing himself for a career of responsibility and service. Driven by a deep sense of patriotism, he joined the Indian Army in 1956 and was commissioned into 9 Punjab of the renowned Punjab Regiment—one of the oldest and most decorated infantry regiments of the Indian Army, known for its valour and distinguished battle honours. After a few years of service, Major Chaudhary married Ms. Shakuntla in 1959, the daughter of Colonel LC Khajla, an Army officer from Rohtak. His personal life complemented his professional commitments, providing him with a stable and supportive foundation.

In 1961, after prolonged diplomatic efforts failed to resolve the issue of Portuguese occupation in Goa and other enclaves, the Government of India decided to take decisive military action. Consequently, “Operation Vijay” was launched in December 1961 to liberate these territories. Major Chaudhary actively participated in this significant operation, contributing to the successful integration of Goa into the Indian Union. By 1962, with nearly six years of dedicated service in various field locations, Major Chaudhary had evolved into a seasoned and dependable officer. His experiences in diverse and challenging environments shaped him into a tough soldier and a capable leader, known for his professionalism, courage, and commendable leadership qualities.

Indo-China War : 09-21 Oct 1962

During the Sino-Indian War, Major Mahander Singh Chaudhary’s unit, 9 Punjab, was deployed on the Eastern Front in the NEFA (North-East Frontier Agency) sector. As tensions escalated along the border, his unit was tasked with holding strategically vital ground under extremely challenging conditions. On 9 October 1962, Major Chaudhary was ordered to establish a forward post with two platoons at Sinjang, located north of the log bridge in the NEFA sector. The position was tactically significant but vulnerable, and the troops had very limited time to prepare defensive fortifications. In the early hours of 10 October 1962, the post came under a sudden and intense attack by a large Chinese force, estimated to be more than battalion strength. The assault caught the defenders before they could fully consolidate their position. Despite the odds, Major Chaudhary quickly assessed the situation and displayed exceptional composure and leadership. He reorganized his troops and inspired them to resist the enemy with determination and coordination. Armed only with light weapons and constrained by a shortage of ammunition, his men held their ground with remarkable tenacity. For over nine hours, they repulsed repeated enemy assaults, inflicting significant damage and preventing a breakthrough. When eventually ordered to withdraw, Major Chaudhary executed a skilful and orderly retreat, bringing his men safely south of the log bridge.

The citation for the Maha Vir Chakra awarded to him reads :

On 9 October 1962, Major M S Chaudhary was ordered to establish, with two platoons, a post at Singjang, north of the log bridge in NEFA. On 10 October, this post was assaulted by a large Chinese force of about battalion strength. Although Major Chaudhary’s post had not had sufficient time to dig in and coordinate the defenses, he stood there with the small arms and ammunition at his disposal and kept the enemy at bay for more than nine hours, after which time he was ordered to withdraw south of the log bridge which he did successfully. Although he was wounded, he refused to be evacuated and continued to be a source of great inspiration to his men throughout this and the subsequent operation of 20 October. In the latter battle, he inflicted some 100 casualties on the enemy.

Maj Mahandar Singh displayed courage and leadership of a high order.

• As a pilot project of AWHO (Army Welfare Housing Organization), Mahander Vihar Society complex came up in 1996. It was named after Major Mahander Singh Chaudhary in his honour. Spread over 8.3 acres, it is located close to Mansa Devi Shrine in Panchkula, Haryana and foothill of Shivalik ranges.