Naik Ram Swaroop

Hailing from Kanwali village in Rewari district of Haryana, Naik Ram Swaroop was deeply influenced by the region’s proud martial heritage. Drawn to the idea of serving his country, he joined the Indian Army and became a part of the 13 Kumaon Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment—a distinguished infantry unit renowned for its gallantry and service since the 18th century. With determination and rigorous training, he honed his skills, earning a reputation as a disciplined and dependable soldier. He married Ms. Santra Devi, and together they built a life based on shared values and resilience, navigating the sacrifices that come with military life.  By 1962, as tensions escalated along India's northern borders, the 13 Kumaon Battalion, initially stationed at Ambala, was deployed to Jammu & Kashmir. Tasked with crucial defense responsibilities, the battalion upheld its legacy of bravery. 

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

In June 1962, Naik Ram Swaroop's 13 Kumaon battalion, under the command of Lt Col HS Dhingra, was moved from Ambala to Baramulla in J&K. In September 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). The 114th 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. Nk Ram Swaroop was functioning as part of No. 7 Platoon 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, Nk Ram Swaroop and his comrades of 'C' Company had fortified their positions.

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. Nk Ram Swaroop and his 'Section-Two', 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. Naik Ram Swaroop and his troops held on to their defences despite suffering losses of men and equipment until the fifth wave of attack, which came at 6:30 AM. When their ammunition ran out, Naik Ram Swaroop and his comrades under Jem Surja Ram fought a fierce hand-to-hand combat with the enemy soldiers, ultimately making the 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. Naik Ram Swaroop and other martyred soldiers of 13 Kumaon lay frozen there until a shepherd discovered their bodies nearly three months later. In February 1963, when the bodies of Naik Ram Swaroop and other soldiers of his platoon were recovered, they were found 10 meters ahead of their trenches with multiple bullet and bayonet wounds.

Naik Ram Swaroop is survived by his wife, Smt Santra Devi.