Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat joined the Indian Army at age 19 in August 1960. |
Jaswant was enrolled in the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Center in Uttarakhand after completing schooling until class 9. |
His ancestors, Veer Senani Bhupu Raut and Tilu Rautali, served in the Garhwal Court as military officers. |
His maternal uncle, Retired Major Pratap Singh Negi, who enlisted him in the army, also served in the Indian Army. |
Jaswant had to stop his studies due to financial difficulties despite being a bright student in his childhood. |
His father was employed at the Military Dairy Farm in Dehradun. |
Stationed in Arunachal Pradesh, Jaswant and his unit 4 Garhwal Rifles defended Sela Pass and secured the Nuranang ridge. |
There was a potential Chinese invasion to capture Sela Pass, increasing the threat in Arunachal Pradesh. |
th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles was the lone army unit stationed at Nuranang during that time. |
Even today, Jaswant Singh is honored as serving in duty, with soldiers attending to his shrine daily. |
In 2021, he was posthumously promoted to the rank of Honorary Captain and is allowed to take official leaves through his family. |