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Thakur Prithi Chand

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Colonel

Thakur Prithi Chand

MVC
Born1 January 1911
Rangri, Kangra district, Punjab Province, British India
Died2000
Allegiance British India
 India
Service / branch British Indian Army
 Indian Army
Rank Colonel
Service numberIEC - 787 or IEC - 8968
Unit2 Dogra
7 J&K Militia
3/11 Gorkha Regiment
Battles / warsIndo-Pakistani War of 1947
AwardsMaha Vir Chakra
RelationsLt. Col. Kushal Chand, MVC
Sub. Maj. and Hony Capt. Bhim Chand, VrC & bar

Colonel Thakur Prithi Chand, MVC, (1 January 1911 - 2000)[1] was an officer of the Indian Army. He is known for his significant role in stalling Pakistani advances in Ladakh during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947-48. For his role in this war, Thakur Prithi Chand is regarded among the 'Saviours of Ladakh', alongside Kushal Chand, Bhim Chand, and Chewang Rinchen.[2][3][4]

Personal life

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Prithi Chand was born in village Rangri near Manali.[1] He was a scion of the house of Kolong, which during the British Raj ruled the mountainous tract of Lahaul in the Kangra district of Punjab Province.[5] Prithi Chand was the third son of Thakur Amar Chand (d. 1921), the Wazir of Lahaul. Thakur Amar Chand had fought in Mesopotamia during World War I. For his services during the war, Thakur Amar Chand was given the title 'Rai Bahadur' by the British Raj.[6][7] The Thakurs of Lahaul had strong bonds with Ladakh, as they married into the latter's royal family, and shared cultural, linguistic, and religious similarities.[8]

Prithi Chand passed out of high school from Kullu in 1929, and did graduation from Shri Pratap College, Srinagar. However, with his elder brother Thakur Abhay Chand becoming mentally unhealthy in 1929, Prithi Chand soon had to leave his studies unfinished, and help in the waziri of Lahaul.[9]

Armed forces career

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In 1933–34, Prithi Chand got recruited in the 11/17 Dogra Regiment. In 1936, he was appointed as Jamadar under the Viceroy's Commission. In 1939, Chand was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant through the King's Commission, into the 2nd Battalion of the Dogra Infantry Regiment in 1939.[7][9]

There seems to be some confusion regarding Chand's service number. B. Chakravorty mentions it as IEC - 787, while the website of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, mentions it as IEC - 8968.[10][11]

Actions in Ladakh, 1948

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Thakur Prithi Chand played a key role in defending Ladakh during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947–48.[1][7][12][13] Between mid-February and early March 1948, under treacherous and extremely challenging winter conditions, Prithi Chand led a small volunteer group to Ladakh, which comprised Lahauli Buddhists serving in 2 Dogra. He was accompanied by his younger cousin Major Kushal Chand, and their uncle Subedar Bhim Chand, both of whom were also in 2 Dogra.[14][13] Once in Ladakh, the trio raised local militias and conducted guerrilla warfare to thwart and repel invading Pakistani forces in that sector. For his actions, Major Thakur Prithi Chand was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, independent India's second highest gallantry award, on 15 August 1948. In these actions, Khushal Chand was also awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, while Bhim Chand was awarded the Vir Chakra (India's third highest gallantry award) and bar.[11][15][13][16]

Mahavir Chakra award

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The Maha Vir Chakra citation for Thakur Prithi Chand reads as the following:[7]

In February 1948, Major Thakur Prithi Chand of the 2nd Dogra Battalion volunteered to command a small force of 18 volunteers from the Indian Army in the Kashmir Valley to Leh to raise and train a militia force, and organise the defence of that area. He led this small band of brave men in mid-winter across Zoji La, a mountain pass at 11,000 feet, in snow blizzard and over 20 feet deep snow without any special snow or winter equipment. This in itself was an epic feat. On arrival at Leh, Major Prithi Chand took command of two platoons of J&K State Forces, and with his own men, hurriedly raised and trained some 200 militia. By May, the enemy had overrun most of Baltistan, captured Kargil and was advancing on Leh along the Indus and Nubra valleys. This young officer with little tactical knowledge or experience, but filled with intense patriotism and an indomitable spirit, held the enemy advance by adopting guerilla tactics. Covering a front extending over hundreds of miles, he organised raids and ambushes on the enemy, frequently leading them himself. Major Prithi Chand underwent extreme physical strain; he appeared everywhere. One day he was in the Indus valley and the next day or day after, he would be in the Nubra valley many miles away. He and his men lived mostly on sattu and with very little ammunition he kept the enemy at bay until reinforcements were sent to him by air. Posterity will sing the praises of Major Prithi Chand and of his small band of men for generations to come, and the people of Ladakh valley will always remember them as their saviors. Major Thakur Prithi Chand throughout these operations displayed exceptional leadership, courage and indomitable spirit in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.

Afterwards

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Upon his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1950, Chand was given the command of the 3rd Battalion of the 11th Gorkha Infantry Regiment, which he went on to hold for three years. He retired as a Colonel in 1962.[7][17]

Post-retirement

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Thakur Prithi Chand was a Buddhist.[13] After his retirement from the army, he served at one point as the president of the Himalayan Buddhist Society, Manali.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Col Thakur Prithi Chand MVC". honourpoint.in. 3 July 2000. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Homage paid to Lt Col Khushal Chand "Savior of Ladakh"". Brighter Kashmir. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  3. ^ Francis, J. (2 October 2019). Selected Stories of Gallant Indian Soldiers. Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-88161-85-5.
  4. ^ Patial (3 February 2017). "The Lure of the Mountains | Salute". salute.co.in. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  5. ^ Bajpai, S.C. (1987). Lahaul-Spiti: a Forbidden Land in the Himalayas. New Delhi: Indus Publishing House. pp. 23–24.
  6. ^ Brentnall, Mark (2004). The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publishing. p. 364. ISBN 978-81-7387-163-4.
  7. ^ a b c d e Col. Dilbag Dabas (retd.) (17 August 2019). "Major Thakur Prithi Chand — The fearless Dogra from Lahaul". The Tribune.
  8. ^ "Hotel Snowview - Visit Lahaul, 'Scotland of Himachal'". hotelsnowviewmanali.com/Gemoor.
  9. ^ a b Tobdan (2022). The Brave Soldiers of Lahaul - the Saviours of Ladakh in 1948. New Delhi: Kaveri Books. p. 18.
  10. ^ Chakravorty, B. (1995). Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners. Allied Publishers. p. 134. ISBN 978-81-7023-516-3.
  11. ^ a b "Lieutenant Colonel Prithi Chand (Then Major)" (PDF). gallantryawards.gov.in.
  12. ^ Gutschow, Kim (2006). "The Politics of Being Buddhist in Zangskar: Partition and Today". India Review. 5 (3–4): 470–498. doi:10.1080/14736480600939306. ISSN 1473-6489.
  13. ^ a b c d Capt. D.P. Ramachandran (5 June 2017). "The Snow Warriors". Colours of Glory. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  14. ^ Lt Gen Baljit Singh (retd.) (17 February 2019). "Army's first boots in Ladakh". The Tribune.
  15. ^ Col. Dilbag Dabas (retd.) (10 August 2019). "Maj Kushal Chand — Ladakh valley's saviour". The Tribune.
  16. ^ Prasad, Shankar (2005). The Gallant Dogras: An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment. Lancer Publishers. pp. 102–3. ISBN 978-81-7062-268-0.
  17. ^ Tobdan (2022). The Brave Soldiers of Lahaul - the Saviours of Ladakh in 1948. New Delhi: Kaveri Books. p. 152.
  18. ^ "Himalayan Buddhist Society Manali". testwebsites.cybraintech.com. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
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