Mohali, November 23, 2004
Students of the local Government College had an interesting interaction with Brigadiar Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri (Retd), a Mahavir Chakra winner and the hero of the Battle of Longewala of 1971.
While giving details of the battle at the Longewala post in Rajasthan, Brigadier Chandpuri told the students that the battle could not be won just because he fought bravely at the front but due the bravery shown by jawans of the Punjab Regiment during the war.
They fought fearlessly and that was how a company comprising nearly 90 jawans, headed by him, defeated a Pakistan division, comprising 3,500 jawans and fully armed.
He said the Punjab Regiment had lost 16 jawans in the war at the Longowala post and another 16 got injured. He also got an injury while fighting the enemy. The casualties on the Pakistan side were much higher and number of officials were sacked by the Pakistan Government for giving a poor performance on the Rajasthan border.
While addressing students, most of whom came from rural areas, the Longewala hero said he, too, was from a rural background. He said 90 per cent of those serving in the defence forces had a rural background and they were always considered better fighters than those coming from urban areas.
Brig KS Chandpuri, MVC speaks to school children
Brigadier sues Air-Marshal, Maj-Gen for disputing history Seeks damages of just Rs 1
Battle of Laungewala (Longewala) - latest developments
I had the privilege of serving in HQ 15 Corps when Brig KS Chandpuri was the Assistant Adjutant-General (AAG) tasks involved personnel management, financial management, general administration, military education, legal services, and provost (military policing) services. He was a thorough professional, a gentleman to the core and with simple tastes. He respected his Juniors and never threw his weight around. I had close association with him for nearly one year. He is symbol of a great soldier and approachable by one and all. An edifice of impeccable Integrity and Honesty. The bravest of the brave.
Controversy Why?
There has been some doubt about the heroism of valour by Brig K S Chandpuri, MVC and his team. In recent times this seems to be part of journalistic investigation. The reason is easy to fathom because no one individual can recreate the battle field in totality. Hence the real hero who braved the enemy is likely to be sidelined to other glamorous events of the supporting arms and services. No one is qualified to comment on the Heroic Deeds of Brig KS Chandpuri except by those who fought with him and survived to tell the tale.
Lt Col James Kanagaraj (Retd)
Moderator, Report My Signal Blog
To recapitulate the Battle
The Battle of Longewala December5 - December6, 1971 was one of the first major battles in the Western Sector during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, fought between assaulting Pakistani forces and Indian defences at the Indian border post of Longewala, in Thar Desert of the Rajasthan state in India. It is generally regarded to be one of the decisive battles in the two week long war.
The Indian 'A' company of 120 odd soldiers of the 23rd Bn, Punjab Regiment, managed to hold a 2000-3000 strong assault force of the 51st Infantry Brigade of the Pakistani Army, backed by the 22nd Armoured Regiment, for two days, until the Indian Air Force would arrive to thwart the Pakistani assault. The Indian victory in this battle ensured that Pakistan had no way of countering the Indian Army in the west and eventually succumbed to a swift defeat in the war.
For his part, the Indian company commander Major (later Brigadier) Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was decorated with India's second highest gallantry award, the Maha Vir Chakra. Several other awards were earned by members of the defending battalion. On the other hand, the Pakistani Divisional Commander was sacked. However the commander of the Pakistani 51 Brigade who mounted the daring attack and crossed into Indian territory was later awarded Pakistan's high award of the Sitara-e-Imtiaz.
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