22 October 1962 | Remembering a soldier of the 1962 war
Naik Munshi Ram of 5 Jat made the supreme sacrifice on 22 October 1962 during the Sino-Indian War in Ladakh. His name is recorded among the Indian Army personnel who lost their lives during the conflict, and his posthumous Vir Chakra recognises his service and gallantry.
The 1962 war placed Indian troops in Ladakh under severe pressure as Chinese forces attacked forward positions across difficult mountainous terrain. Isolated posts faced challenges in communication, reinforcement and resupply, while their defenders were required to hold their ground under attack.
The defence at Kongma
Published military histories describe an attack on the Indian position at Kongma on 22 October 1962. A platoon of 5 Jat was defending the position when Chinese forces launched their assault. The defenders resisted the attack, and the fighting continued as the opposing forces engaged one another in the high-altitude terrain.
According to the historical account, ammunition for the light machine gun was running low. Naik Munshi Ram left his trench to bring ammunition from the reserve. While returning towards his position, he was struck by a shell and made the supreme sacrifice.
The same account describes the heavy losses suffered by the platoon during the engagement. Its account of the wider battle illustrates the difficult circumstances in which the men of 5 Jat were fighting, although the actions described here are limited to those specifically attributed to Naik Munshi Ram in the historical narrative.
Recognition and remembrance
Naik Munshi Ram's Vir Chakra is part of the record of gallantry associated with the 1962 war. His sacrifice at Kongma belongs to the broader history of the Indian Army's defence of Ladakh during a conflict that placed soldiers in isolated positions under intense operational pressure.
His service reminds us that sustaining a defensive position depends not only on the soldiers firing their weapons but also on the movement of ammunition and supplies under dangerous conditions. The historical account places Munshi Ram's final actions in precisely that context.
The Honour Post pays tribute to Naik Munshi Ram of 5 Jat, who made the supreme sacrifice on 22 October 1962 in Ladakh. Awarded the Vir Chakra, his service and sacrifice remain part of the nation's remembrance of the Sino-Indian War.
