1931 Sumur, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, British Raj
Died
1997 (aged 65–66) Leh, Ladakh, India
Allegiance
India
Service/branch
Indian Army
Years of service
1948–1984
Rank
Colonel
Unit
Nubra Guards (1948–?) Ladakh Scouts (1971–1984)
Battles/wars
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
India-China War
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Awards
Maha Vir Chakra & bar Sena Medal Mention in dispatches
Colonel Chewang Rinchen MVC & Bar, SM (Kalon Tsewang Rigdzin,[1] 1931–1997) was a highly decorated officer in the Indian Army from the Union territory of Ladakh.[2] He was the youngest ever recipient of the Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest Indian gallantry decoration, for his role in the defence of Ladakh in the First Kashmir War.[3] He received the Maha Vir Chakra for a second time after Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, for his role in the conquest of the Turtuk and Tyakshi (a small village of the Chorbat. valley), in what came to be known as the Battle of Turtuk.[4] He was one of only six Indian service personnel to have the Maha Vir Chakra twice.
He was awarded a Sena Medal for gallantry in the 1962 India-China War.[4] and Mention in dispatches for gallantry in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965[3]
^Gutshow, The Politics of Being Buddhist in Zangskar (2006), p. 474.
^Claude Arpi (22 December 2011). "Have you heard about this Indian Hero?". Rediff News.
^ abCite error: The named reference India Today was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abCol Y Udaya Chandar (Retd) (2 January 2018). Independent India's All the Seven Wars. Notion Press. p. 402. ISBN 9781948473224.
Colonel ChewangRinchen MVC & Bar, SM (Kalon Tsewang Rigdzin, 1931–1997) was a highly decorated officer in the Indian Army from the Union territory of...
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second-in-command Major ChewangRinchen were both honoured with a Maha Vir Chakra for their gallantry and a street is named after Major Rinchen in Leh. In 1999...
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including key posts was captured by Indian troops under leadership of Col. ChewangRinchen.[better source needed] To straighten the line of control in the area...
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the capital of Ladakh district. The Guard was originally formed by ChewangRinchen whose family was from the area. In April 1948 the Guards were at company...
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local militia called the Nubra Guards under the command of 17-year old ChewangRinchen, which reportedly blocked various passage routes to Leh. The Gilgit...
on 10 December 1971, the Ladakh Scouts under the command of Major ChewangRinchen cleared the village of the Pakistani forces (two companies of Karakoram...
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