Sepoy Gobind Singh Rathore

Sepoy Gobind Singh Rathore hailed from Parava village of Bidasar tehsil of present-day Churu district in Rajasthan and was born on 18 March 1943. Son of Shri Jagmal Singh Rathore and Smt Anja Kanwar, he joined the army after completing his school education, he was recruited as a recruit in the Rajput Regiment of the Indian Army from the Rajput Regimental Center, Fatehgarh. After training, he was appointed as a Sepoy in the 2 Rajput Battalion of the Rajput Regiment, an infantry Regiment known for its valour and battle honours in various operations. Sepoy Gobind Singh got involved in the thick of operations as his unit got deployed in the NEFA sector when the war with China became imminent. 

Indo-China War: 20 Oct 1962

With the rising tensions with China on the North Eastern border Sepoy Gobind Singh's unit under the command of Lt Col Maha Singh Rikh was moved to the banks of the Namka chu river by October 10 1962, as a part of 7 Infantry Brigade. The brigade was stretched on a twelve-mile front along the Namka Chu, with the marching time from one end to the other being five days. The battalion was deployed in a trackless wilderness, where no mules could go and no civilian population lived which could help logistically. The shortage of winter clothing added to the hardships of the troops but they rose to the occasion and showed exemplary courage in the days to follow. By the time the fighting commenced, the Chinese had occupied all the dominating heights in the area. The Chinese troops launched a massive assault on the 2 Rajput front and in the fierce fighting that ensued, the battalion repulsed a number of determined attacks. 

On 20 Oct 1962, Sepoy Gobind Singh’s company was attacked by Chinese forces in multiple waves. The Chinese forces in overwhelming numbers were firing at the troops to cause maximum casualties. Undeterred, Sepoy Gobind Singh and his comrades kept the enemy engaged and ensured that the enemy did not get any tactical advantage. However during the exchange of fire, Sepoy Gobind Singh got hit by an enemy bullet. He soon succumbed to his injuries and was martyred.  Sep Gobind Singh was a gallant soldier, who laid down his life in the line of his duty, before he could even turn 20. 

Sepoy Gobind Singh Rathore is survived by his parents Shri Jagmal Singh Rathore and Smt Anja Kanwar.

• A statue of Sepoy Gobind Singh Rathore has been erected at Parawa village in Churu district of Rajasthan in his honour.