Hero of Bum La: Subedar Joginder Singh

Col. Alok Mathur, SM, (veteran)

JC 4547 Subedar Joginder Singh was the commander of 11 Platoon of Delta company of 1 Sikh. The unit was located at Jaipur Rajasthan and suddenly got move orders to move to NEFA (North East Frontier Agency) now known as Arunachal Pradesh. In last week of Sept 1962. The unit concentrated at Missamari Cantt near Tezpur (Assam) across mighty Brahmaputra River and had to reach Tawang which was 320 kms away to North in Himalayas at height of 11000 feet. It was a memorable journey from deserts to snow covered peaks of majestic Himalayas. The route was partially motorable from foothills ,Rupa to Bomdila , jeepable till Sela and mule track up to Tawang .

I Sikh reached gen area Tawang town in first week of Oct 1962. Lt Col B N Mehta was the Commanding officer He had briefed all troops regarding strained Sino Indian relations and warned against the slogan of Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai . He motivated troops to be ready to face two enemies, Chinese troops and Cold climate of high altitude. He personally addressed Subedar Joginder Singh (fondly called Tiger) that he would be the first one to face Chinese aggression as he would be northern most post commander at Bum La. Accordingly, Tiger was now holding a platoon defended locality with his 23 men ahead of Tong pen la at IB Ridge and keeping Bum La pass under continuous observation since 18 Oct 1962. Nyam Jang Chu River was flowing North to South from To la, about 15 kms to the west of Bum La and Tawang Chu was was gurgling from NE to southwest in eastern flank. His responsibility was to cover Northen approach to Tawang town, which was 34 Kms from Bum La.

D company under Capt Haripal Kaushik (an Indian hockey Olympian) was deployed in depth at Tong pen la 2 Kms south A and C Company of 1 Sikh and A company of 4 Garhwal were at Milak Tongla with CO and B Company was at Pamdir covering Northern Axis strongly.  Tawang was important node and was held strongly. Brig Kaiyan Singh , Artillery Brigade Commander, was nominated Garrison commander and had following troops 4 Garhwal minus one company, along with 4 Div Arty brigade HQ and units.

Subedar Joginder Singh observed on 21 Oct 1962 that 5 Assam Rifles post ahead of his platoon was being vacated. He asked the post commander ,who said Chinese had concentrated just 100 yards from his post and he had his orders to withdraw. Chinese were in heavy numbers and would attack soon. Subedar Joginder Singh took a patrol in night and saw min two company strength of PLA soldiers. After assessing situation, he deployed his Ops/LPs ahead of his defences with an order to fall back if Chinese were advancing. He briefed his troops to be ready and Alert.

He informed his company commander, who told him that across Nyam Jang Chu, Chinese Army had already launched attack on first light of 20 Oct. 7 Mountain brigade battalions were fighting a ferocious battle on Nam Ka Chu River. 2 Rajput, 9 Punjab had suffered heavy casualties and Chinese were advancing to Lumpu. Subedar Joginder assured Capt Haripal Kaushik, Delta company Commander and said “Wahe guru the sau, each Singh will kill min 100 Chinese soldiers but will not withdraw “. On 22 Oct 1962, Artillery guns finally opened up with heavy Pre H hour shelling at 0400 h and Chinese attack commenced on Bum La. At first light, Sub Joginder Singh was motivating his troops and ordered them to open up once in eye ball range due to limited ammunition. He prayed Deh Shiva var mohe, shubh Karman tey kabhi no taru.

The Bum La Memorial 

Then, as the sun was rising at 0645h, he saw the first group of PLA soldiers of about 100 Chinese soldiers marching towards them in extended line in two waves. He let his LMG Gunner to open up full blast. The other LMGs and Rifles have also opened up with full fury. The battle of Bum La had begun. Subedar Joginder Singh saw waves after waves following. Subedar Joginder Singh platoon mowed down about 2 groups of four Waves by mid -day. He had also suffered mortar and bullet wounds. There was a brief lull, when he remembered his young days and green fields of Mahala Kalan.

Joginder Singh was born on 26 Sep 1921 at Village Mahala Kalan, Moga District, Punjab. His father Sher Singh Sahnan was a farmer and belonged to Saini Sikh community. They had two cows, a pair of bull and a herd of goats. His mother Bibi Krishna Kaur Behla was very affectionate mother and devoted house wife. She always took her children to Gurudwara sahib every day.Young Joginder studied at village primary school and completed middle school from Deorali Village. He was married to Bibi Gurdiyal Kaur Banga. He was a good boxer and tough sportsman.

He joined British Indian Army on 28 Sep 1936 and joined 1 Sikh. He was a keen student but could not complete his high school but he passed all Army education exams with his hard work and was appointed Education instructor. He was a man of high integrity and dedicated Soldier. He never compromised on morals and hard training.  He served with his Unit in Burma front in Second World War against Japanese. He also actively participated in 1947-48 Kashmir War and was airlifted from Delhi on 27 Oct 1947 to Sri Nagar. He was promoted as Subedar in 1961 and now he was facing the Chinese attack. A mortar bomb exploded in front of his trench which brought him back to Bum La.

Subedar   Joginder Singh saw about 200 Chinese soldiers’ dead bodies were lying all over. He also observed that half of his platoon was either dead or wounded. He saw from his blood-soaked eyes that new wave of another 100 soldiers was forming up in front and had started moving towards them. The were look alike robots moving towards them with AK 47 Rifles. The ammunition was almost over. Few soldiers opened with Enfield 303 Bolt action Rifles with blistering fingers. Mortars bombs were finished. He now ordered everyone to get ready for close quarter battle.

He put last magazine on Browning LMG of a dead comrade and mowed down about 20 soldiers. There were no magazines left now. All singhs now unsheathed Bayonets .He shouted Bole jo Nihal. The others responded with Sat Sri Akal. He led from front profusely bleeding and came out and charged at Chinese Soldiers who were foxed to see Indian Sikh Soldiers with flowing beard and Turbans charging at them.  The battle lasted another 30 minutes and almost entire platoon fought last man last bullet. Subedar Joginder Singh who was severely injured become unconscious and was taken POW by Chinese troops and taken to Medical Camp. He succumbed to his wounds in captivity. He and his platoon had halted the Chinese attack  on Northern Axis. Tawang was safe at least for 72Hours. Only three men survived who were also severely wounded but managed to fall back to relate story of valour of Subedar Joginder Singh and his men.

Subedar Joginder Singh was awarded Param Vir Chakra on 26 Jan 1963 posthumously for his most conspicuous bravery in face of enemy, resolute and inspiring leadership and  Devotion to duty of highest order at Battle of Bum La. The Chinese sent his urn of ashes with full military honour on 17 May 1963. Subedar Tiger Joginder Singh will be remembered by Nation  for ever as hero of Battle of Bum La .

The grateful nation has named one island in Andaman Nicobar Island as Joginder island. Shipping Corporation of India also named an Ocean Liners on his name. A memorial near Tong pen La has been built on Tawang Bum La road and a bronze statue of Sub Joginder Singh has been installed at Yodha Sthal at National War Memorial.

“Nischay kar Apni Jeet Karon”