R!fleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, MVC (19 August 1941 – 17 November 1962) was an Indian Army soldier serving in the Garhwal Rifles who was awarded the prestigious Maha Vir Chakra posthumously as a result of his actions during the battle of Nuranang in present-day Arunachal Pradesh, India, during the Sino-Indian War.

• JASWANT SINGH RAWAT STORY -

The Rfn Jaswant Singh Rawat was serving in the 4th battalion, 4th Garhwal Rifles on 17 November 1962 during the Battle of Nuranang, in the North-East Frontier Agency (now Arunachal Pradesh). On that day, the 4th Garhwal Rifles had beaten back two People's Liberation Army charges on their position. During a third intrusion, a Chinese medium machine gun (MMG) had come close to the Indian defenses and was firing accurately at their positions. Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, along with Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain volunteered to subdue the MMG.

Rawat and Gusain, aided by covering fire from Negi closed within a grenade-throwing distance of the machine gun position and neutralized the Chinese detachment of five sentries, seizing the MMG in the process. However, while returning, Gusain and Negi lost their lives and Rawat was seriously injured, although he managed to return with the captured weapon. "THE BATTLE RESULTED IN 300 CHINESE C∆SUALTIES", whereas the 4th Garhwal Rifles lost two men and had eight wøunded.

Rawat's company eventually decided to fall back, but Rawat remained and kept up the fight with the help of two local girls named Sela and Noora. Later, Sela was k!lled and Noora captured. Rushing from position to position, Rawat held off the enemy for 72 hours until the Chinese captured a local supplier, who told them that they were facing only one fighter. The Chinese then stormed Rawat's position, but the exact details of his de∆th are unclear. Some accounts claim that Rawat shot himself with his last round of ammunition; others state that he was taken prisoner and executéd by the Chinese. The Chinese commander returned Rawat's severed head and a brass bust of him to India after the war was over. Sela Pass and Sela Tunnel were named after Sela to commemorate her sacrifice for mother India.

The bravery shown by Jaswant Rawat was honored by building a memorial at the post where he fended off the People's Liberation Army. The post which he held was named "Jaswant Garh". Another honor bestowed upon him is that he continues to serve even after death; he has been awarded promotions as if he is still serving.

4th Garhwal Rifles was later awarded the Battle Honour Nuranang, the only battle honor awarded to an army unit during the war.

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