By the time, India earned its independence, the ‘Rajindra Sikhs Infantry’ (RSI), now known as 15 Punjab, had tasted the blood during the First World War and SecondWorld War pulverising its enemies on foreign lands. It lived up to its reputation of ‘Har Maidan Fateh’ (Every battleground will be captured). In October 1947, the battalion had just returned after six years of bloody fighting in Burma, Java, Sumatra and North West Frontier Province. All the soldiers were immediately sent to their respective homes for a well-deserved rest, refit and recoup. It was at this critical juncture that Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, the 9th and the last ruling Maharaja of Patiala received a telephone call in the dead of the night from Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru. ‘I request you to send RSI to save the honour of J & K’, said the PM.
It was the valour of 15 Punjab in both the World Wars that hadmotivated Maharaja Hari Singh to request the PM for 15 Punjab. Pak had concentrated about 20 Lashkar battalions (1000 men each) each for incursion into the valley on 22 Oct 47. Each Lashkar battalion was a heady mix of Pashtun tribals, Razakars and irregulars.This development forced Maharaja Hari Singh to sign the Instrument of Accessionon 24 Oct 47. On 25 Oct 47, VK Krishna Menon, the defence minister got the signed legal document by hand which was accepted by the Governor General on 26 Oct 47. On 27 Oct 47, 1 Sikh, the closest battalion located near the Delhi airport was flown in. On 30 Oct 47, 15 Punjab was swiftly launched at lightning speedunder Lt Col Bikram Dev Singh Gill. On 01 Nov 47, the unit advance party under Maj Sukhdev Singh reported to Maharaja Hari Singh with a letter from MaharajaYadavindra Singh. On03 Nov 47, the balance of the unit was airlifted to Jammu followed by several flag marches to restore the confidence of the civil populace.
On 11 Nov 47, the unit got orbatted to 50 Para Brigade and subsequently under 268 Brigade. On 16 Nov 47, the unit captured the Beri Pattan bridge. On 07 Dec 47, it was tasked to capture tactically important hills around Akhnur followed by the capture of Chhamb. From 01 Jan 48 to 15 Mar 48, the unit moved to Naushera under ‘Z’ Brigade. Later, it kept shuttling between Naushera and Akhnurunder 50 Brigade. It was at this juncture that Maj GenKulwant, Commander JAK Force gave 15 Punjab the nickname of ‘Mobile Patiala’, since it was always on the move.The soldiers of ‘First Patiala’soon became the blue-eyed boys of army commanders at all levels. On 18 Mar 48, Brig Usman again asked for 15 Punjab which captured Jhangar. The battalion won the battle honour of Jhangar, 2 MVCs and 5 VrCs in this operation. Now, let’s have a look at what was happening at Leh.
Simultaneously, Maj Prithi Chand with 40 soldiers of 2 DOGRA had taken up defences around Leh. It became all the more critical to link up with them as the only road link was through Zojila pass. Leh was cut off from the land route therefore it was crucial to have an airstrip. On 24 May 48, trial landing was conducted by Air Commodore Mehar Singh and Gen Thimayya. In August 48, 2/4 GR and 2/8 GR (one company each) were flown in while mules for their logistics requirement trekked from Manali. Col Parab, the CO 2/8 GR was designated as the Commander Leh Brigade with two battalions under his command. These two battalions established strong defences along the Indus River. By 10 May 48, the Paki raiders had occupied Zojila, Kargil, Gurez and Dras.
On 11 May 1948, 15 Punjab was specially airlifted for the capture of the most difficult Zojila pass(11,575 feet). On 13 May 48, Lt Col Bikram Dev Singh Gill, DSO handed over the command of RSI to Lt Col Sukhdev Singh, MC. Pak had captured Skardu in early 1948 and now their next objective was Leh. The brave soldiers of 15 Punjab were not acclimatised and none of them had the snow clothing to protect themselves from the harsh weather.From June 48 toJuly 48, 15 Punjab not only fought against the well-entrenched enemy but also the hostile weather.In the local language, Zojila means the ‘Pass of Blizzards’. Temperatures dropped to minus 50 degrees centigrade. Hurtling avalanches, howling winds and blinding blizzards made life impossible in this semi-arctic area. A snowfall of 50 feet a year is considered normal on this pass.With the winter fast approaching in October, it was critically important for us to captureZojila failing which the Leh defences would become untenable. Army Commander decided to deploy Stuart tanks of 7 Cavalryin support of 15 Punjab for the capture of Zojila. These tankswere moved from Akhnur and winched across several bridgesenroute.
On 15 October 48, 11 tanks arrived at Baltal and their turrets were removed. Meanwhile, two companies of Madras Sappers widened the track from Baltal to Zojila.Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru was so floored by the gallantry of Patiala soldiers that he rushed from Delhi to visit 15 Punjab at Baltal a few days before the capture of Zojila.15 Punjab was tasked to capture the strategic Zojila pass over which ran the strategic highway linking Srinagar. The highly trained Gilgit Scouts battalion of the Pak army had occupied all the dominating heights varying from 11000 feet to 14500 feet.After a lot of brainstorming sessions by Lt Col Sukhdev, CO 15 Punjab with Brig KL Atal, the Commander, the approval for the surprise night attack on Zojila was accorded. It was on the intervening night on 31 Oct/01 Nov48, during a severe snow storm followed by a blizzard, when the temperature had dropped to minus 20 degrees, the determined and proud ‘Patialas’ toiled on hands and feet for six hours in the darkness and finally broke through the Zojila pass and captured it after a bloody battle killing several Pak soldiers in thehand to hand combat. The physical assault by 15 Punjab was followed by 11 tanks which were pushed up with their crew walking in wake. Lt Gen Thimayya had hopped onto one of the tanks to influence the battle. During the mopping up of the enemy at the Zojila pass, the soldiers of 15 Punjab noticed a manned enemy gun position. Without flinching our brave men fixed their bayonets on their rifles and assaulted the enemy killing most of the crew and capturing the remaining five men, includinga 3.7 inch Howitzer,the only prize of its kind in the entire J&K operations.
The attack was also supported by two regiments of 25 Pounder guns and one regiment of 3.5 inch guns and of course the Tempest aircraft. After the capture of Zojila, 15 Punjab soldiers were so overjoyed and exuberant and told their Brigade Commander, ‘ Sir, we now want to celebrate Shri Guru Nanak’s birthday (Gurpurb) at Dras after capturing it’. As promised to the Commander 77 Para Brigade, 15 Punjab celebrated Gurpurab at Drass. During 14 months long war, 15 Punjab created an unbeatablerecord in the Indian Army by being the only battalion which has won eight Maha Vir Chakras, and 18 Vir Chakras in just one war with minimun casualties. As15 Punjab started its de-induction back to Patiala after a victorious long campaign, the Army Commander remarked to the National media, ‘I have never seen such soldiers who go through toughest times so cheerfully’. Many years later, no wonder, 15 Punjab won the Force Commanders’ Citation for being the best battalion amongst all the 17 European contingents in Lebanon in Dec 2007 under the UN Flag.
He commanded 15 Punjab in Lebanon under the UN flag in 2006 and was picked up to command the Assam Rifles Sector as DIG in the most sensitive sector of Churachandpur in Manipur. For his outstanding command in Manipur, he was selected as ‘Brigadier Operational Logistics’ for the entire Western Command in 2015.
Brig Advitya Madan
