Himachal: Soldiers who stood like a wall in front of the enemy in the 1971 war
Himachal Pradesh: A recorded account of the 1971 Indo-Pak War recounts the immense bravery of Lance Naik Megh Raj, who played a key role in the fierce battle of Shyamganj on the night of December 15th and 16th. As the LMG detachment commander of ‘C’ Company of the 1st JAK Rifles, Megh Raj was deployed on the left flank, leading the battalion’s attack in the darkness. By dawn, the battalion had successfully captured a highly fortified enemy position. However, as the unit was rebuilding its defenses in the early morning, the enemy launched a determined counterattack in broad daylight. From his position, Megh Raj unleashed a fierce fire from his LMG, scattering the advancing troops and breaking the momentum of the attack.
His accuracy and fearlessness were so effective that he single-handedly repelled two consecutive counterattacks. However, the intensity of his fire revealed their location. During the enemy’s third and more aggressive counterattack, the enemy opened fire on their position with machine guns. Despite suffering fatal injuries, Megh Raj continued to fire until the attack was over, ensuring that Shyamganj was fully under Indian control. For displaying unparalleled courage, complete devotion to duty, and the highest traditions of soldierly service, Lance Naik Megh Raj was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra—a sterling testament to a hero who fought to his last breath.
Humble Beginnings
The quiet village of Amlela, near Nagrota Surian in the Jawali subdivision of Kangra district, cherishes the memory of one of its bravest sons—Lance Naik Megh Raj, Vir Chakra, whose valor in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War is etched in the country’s military history. Born on January 28, 1948, to farmer parents Banta Ram and Sahabo Devi, Megh Raj had a humble upbringing. There was no school in or near his village, so he could only study until Class V. Nevertheless, those who knew young Megh Raj remember him as a lively boy—full of enthusiasm, fond of singing and dancing, and possessing tremendous athletic talent. His outstanding performance in sports ultimately led to his enlistment in the 1st Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (1 JAK Rif) on January 28, 1966.
His transformation from a cheerful village boy to a brave soldier was rapid. The courage he displayed on the battlefield during the 1971 war will always be remembered. For his immense bravery in action, Megh Raj was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra on August 15, 1972, establishing him among India’s most revered war heroes. However, his sacrifice came at a heavy price for his family. Megh Raj had been married for five years when he gave his life for the country. His two children—Gurcharan Singh, who was just two and a half years old at the time, and Ramesh Kumari, who was six months old—grew up listening to stories about their father from the villagers, who still speak of him with pride. Today, Gurcharan is posted in the Eastern Sector as an ASI in the SSB, while Ramesh Kumari is settled with her family. Their mother, Suriya Devi, passed away in 2016. In honor of this brave son of the soil, Meghrajpura, a railway station on the Kangra Valley Railway, stands as an everlasting tribute. Every passing train reminds us of the courage of the young soldier from Amlela, who sacrificed his tomorrow for the country’s today.
