Lt Col KL Rattan led 6 Sikh to 1971 war’s finest defensive stands
PIR PANJAL’S EPIC GRIT Awarded Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest gallantry award for dynamic leadership and chivalry
While commanding the 6 Sikh during 1971 India-Pakistan war, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Kashmiri Lal (KL) Rattan was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), the second highest gallantry award for his dynamic leadership and personal gallantry. The battle account on his bravery of a very high order, reads: “Lieutenant Colonel KL Rattan was commanding 6th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment at Poonch. His battalion was assigned the task of holding a feature, which was the key to our defences in this sector. From December 3 to 6, 1971, the enemy launched a series of fierce attacks in strength against the defended area. On each of these occasions, he positioned himself in the most threatened locality and unmindful of the heavy enemy shelling and small arms fire, moved from bunker-to-bunker encouraging and inspiring his men to beat back all attacks and inflict heavy losses on to the enemy.”
Lt Col Kashmiri Lal Rattan with Sam Manekshaw.
“The officers and men of 6 Sikh boldly executed the orders of their commanding officer in letter and spirit, contributing a lot in Poonch. Throughout the operation, Lt Col KL Rattan displayed cool courage, conspicuous bravery and exemplary leadership for which he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.”
The 1971 epic of grit in Pir Panjal saw two Himachalis rising to the occasion. In the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the turbaned warriors of the 6th Sikh Battalion delivered one of the most heroic defensive stands south of the Banihal Pass. Holding a 13-km frontage above Poonch, they faced a massive assault by two Pakistani brigades on the intervening night of December 3and 4. Despite encirclement and repeated attacks, Chhe (6 Sikh) held firm, inflicting heavy losses and safeguarding Poonch. The valour, commendable gallantry and utmost devotion to duty by its officers and men, Chhe won one Maha Vir Chakra and five Vir Chakras. The impressive award tally has two bravest of the brave Himachalis. Lt Col KL Rattan from Kangra won the Maha Vir Chakra and Major Panjab Singh from Hamirpur earned the well-deserved Vir Chakra.
Personal life
Kashmiri Lal Rattan left this mortal world in 2020, but the impressions he left by the sheer grit of his untiring hard work shall ever remain. Born at Bhater, a small remote village of Amb tehsil of Una district on September 7, 1931, he had his basic education at the nearby Government School, Daulatpur. Coming from a very humble background, he stood the ground under all odds. Not many know that he studied under a lamppost and would come to school barefoot. In early fifties, Rattan initially got into the ranks of the “Corps of Signals”, but immediately spotted as a bright soldier and was asked to join Joint Services Wing, Clement Town, Dehradun — the interim home of NDA. He was initially commissioned into the 4 Sikh on December 11, 1955.
Kashmiri Lal Rattan, now a Major, joined the newly raised 6 Sikh in 1962. Subsequently, as Lieutenant Colonel, he took over the 6 Sikh — popularly known as “Chhe” Sikh (Aage Kadam), on April 11, 1970, and most gallantly commanded the battalion during the India-Pakistan war on the northern front.
He retired on September 30, 1987, as Major General after a distinguished service. Thereafter, KL Rattan firstly became the Vice Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University and later the Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission.
He was married to Brij Rattan on October 14, 1958. His wife died in the year 2001 and now he is survived by Sanjay Rattan, his son, who retired from the logistics and shared invaluable information about his father-a brave heart, who according to him was camera shy and all that he achieved in life was just by the sheer hard work and perseverance.
