Chewang Rinchen
|
Colonel Chewang Rinchen MVC and Bar, SM |
|
|---|---|
| Born | 1931 Sumur, Ladakh, India |
| Died | 1997 Leh, Ladakh, India |
| Allegiance |
 India
|
| Service/branch | Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1948–1984 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit |
Nubra Guard (1948–?) |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Maha Vir Chakra |
Nubra Guard (1948–?)
Colonel Chewang Rinchen MVC and Bar, SM was an officer in the Indian Army from the Ladakh region of Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Rinchen joined the Nubra Guard in 1948 and served in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 alongside Indian Army units. Fighting in the Nubra Valley, he was promoted through the ranks and was awarded a Mahavir Chakra for bravery.
Rinchen also served in the 1962 India-China War, where he was awarded a Sena Medal. In the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Rinchen, now a major in the Ladakh Scouts led the capture of the Chalunka complex of the Pakistani Army and the strategic outpost of Turtuk. For these actions, he was awarded a bar to his MVC, being one of only six Indian soldiers so honoured.
Rinchen retired as a full colonel in 1984. He was appointed honorary colonel of the Ladakh Scouts. The Indian Army has named an army shopping complex after him in Leh.
The citation for the first Maha Vir Chakra awarded to him reads:
Gazette Notification: 9 Pres/52,26.1.52
Operation: 1947 Indo Pak Kashmir War Date of Award: 01 Jul 1948
Citation: As a young lad of 17 Chewang Rinchen* enrolled himself in the Ladakh Guards on 25 July 1948. With hardly a week’s training he organised and trained a local militia unit of 28 youths. In September, operating alongside Indian Army units, he fought in the Nubra Valley. His grim defence of a position on the Kharu Nullah earned him promotion to the rank of Jemadar (Naib Subedar). In the same month, negotiating a 17,000 feet high snow clad pass under most trying conditions, he helped the capture of Lama House, a vital enemy stronghold.
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