‘120 Bahadur’: Who Was Major Shaitan Singh, The Brave Indian Army Officer Who Led 120 Soldiers Against 3,000 Chinese Troops?

The much-anticipated movie 120 Bahadur, produced by Excel Entertainment and Trigger Happy Studios, will hit theatres on Friday, November 21. The film is based on the true story of the bravery of 120 Indian soldiers who fought against 3,000 Chinese troops during the Battle of Rezang La in 1962. The movie presents a powerful blend of patriotism and military pragmatism.

In the film, Farhan Akhtar portrays Major Shaitan Singh. The Indian Army officer displayed extraordinary courage and leadership during the Rezang La battle and sacrificed his life while fighting the enemy. He was posthumously awarded India’s highest military honour, the Param Vir Chakra.

Who Was Major Shaitan Singh?

Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was a commissioned officer in the Indian Army. He joined the Army in 1949 and, by 1962, had risen to the rank of Major. During the Battle of Rezang La in the 1962 Sino-Indian War, he led a company of the 13 Kumaon Regiment against 3,000 Chinese soldiers in Ladakh’s Rezang La region.

Major Bhati was born on December 1, 1924, into a Rajput family in the then princely state of Jodhpur. His father, Lieutenant Colonel Hem Singh, also served as an officer in the Indian Army.

On August 1, 1949, Bhati joined the Jodhpur State Forces as an officer. After the princely state merged with the Indian Union, he was transferred to the Kumaon Regiment. In November 1955, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and took part in operations in the Naga Hills, as well as the Indian Army’s action in Goa. In June 1962, he was promoted to the rank of Major.

Battle of Rezang La

During the 1962 Indo-Sino War, the 13th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment, Charlie ‘C’ Company—comprising 120 soldiers—was positioned in the Chushul sector at an altitude of 5,000 metres above sea level. The company, under the command of Major Bhati, held strategic ground at Rezang La, defended by five platoon posts.

On the morning of 18 November 1962, Chinese forces launched their assault. As dawn broke, Indian troops noticed enemy soldiers advancing through narrow mountain gorges (nullahs) and prepared to engage. Around 5:00 a.m., once visibility improved, the Indian platoons opened fire with light machine guns, rifles, mortars, and grenades, causing heavy casualties.

By 5:40 a.m., the Indians came under intense artillery and mortar fire. Soon after, another wave of roughly 350 Chinese soldiers advanced through the nullahs. No. 9 Platoon held their fire until the enemy closed to within 90 metres (300 feet), then responded with devastating effect. When this attack failed, approximately 400 Chinese troops attempted to break through from the rear.

Meanwhile, No. 8 Platoon came under medium machine-gun fire from the wire fencing of the post, along with additional mortar and artillery barrages. No. 7 Platoon faced an assault by about 120 Chinese soldiers from behind. The Indians retaliated with 3-inch mortar fire, killing many attackers. When the last group of about twenty Chinese soldiers charged the post, the Indian soldiers left their trenches and engaged in hand-to-hand combat. As Chinese reinforcements arrived, the platoon was surrounded, and eventually both No. 7 and No. 8 platoons were wiped out.

Throughout the battle, Major Bhati moved fearlessly between posts—without cover—reorganising defences and motivating his men. During one such movement, he suffered severe injuries. As his troops attempted to evacuate him, the Chinese intensified their firing. Realising the danger to his men, Major Singh ordered them to leave him behind. They placed him behind a large boulder, where he later succumbed to his wounds.

In total, 114 of the 124 Indian soldiers were killed in action, while Chinese casualties exceeded 3,000. Major Singh’s body was later recovered from the same location and brought to Jodhpur, where he was cremated with full military honours.