'120 Bahadur', Meet Major Shaitan Singh, Led The Battle Of Rezang La, Received Param Vir Chakra

Farhan Akhtar's latest offering, 120 Bahadur, has stirred conversations around the forgotten Battle of Rezang La. The movie is based on an incredible true story of when 120 Indians fought with 3000 Chinese soldiers during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. As the untold sacrifice of the 120 soldiers is going to be shown with pride in the cinemas, here's everything to know about Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, the hero who led the bravehearts into the battle. 

Who is Major Shaitan Singh Bhati? Farhan Akhtar is portraying the real-life hero

Major Shaitan Singh Bhati's name has been forever etched into India's history for his unwavering patriotism and gallantry. He led the Ahir regiment of the Indian Army with 120 soldiers who valiantly fought against thousands of Chinese soldiers in the 1962 Battle of Rezang La. While bullets rained down around them, Major Shaitan Singh moved around, covering all bases to lend courage to his soldiers. He was even gravely wounded during the battle, but he refused to go to safety and instead chose to fight until his last breath. 

Major Bhati made one of the most courageous statements, which still embodies the core values of the Indian Army. While surrounded by thousands of enemies, he declared, "Hum peechhe nahin hatenge". Until the last bullet, and until the last man standing, the 120 soldiers fought bravely against all odds, motivated by Major Shaitan Singh. Unfortunately, only six Indian soldiers survived. Major Bhati embraced martyrdom as well. Recently, Hon'ble Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, shared a note paying homage to the sacrifice of Major Shaitan Singh and wrote:

"Remembering the valour and supreme sacrifice of Major Shaitan Singh on his Balidan Diwas. The heroic stand of his company at Rezang La in 1962 War embodies the highest spirit of duty and devotion towards Motherland. His courage, leadership, and ultimate sacrifice continue to inspire our armed forces and strengthen the spirit of every Indian who proudly stand by the tricolour."

Posthumously, Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was given the Param Vir Chakra. Now, 63 years later, his story has been told in the film 120 Bahadur, and Farhan Akhtar has portrayed his role with great intensity. In an interview with Dainik Bhaskar, Farhan shared how he prepared for the portrayal and stated:

"If I talk about the character of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, a lot has been written about him in books. A lot of information is also available on the internet, but there are no videos of him. Only pictures exist. So, I read as much as I could. The book 'Major Shaitan Singh, PVC: The Man in Half Light' written by Jai Samota is a very good book, which describes him, and I read it. Additionally, when I met his family, I learned from his son, Narpat Singh Bhati, what kind of person he was."

More about the Battle of Rezang La, fought under Major Shaitan Singh Bhati and depicted in 120 Bahadur 

In 1962, during the Sino-Indian war, hundreds of Indian soldiers were stationed in the harsh terrain of Eastern Ladakh, where temperatures reached beyond freezing. During the Battle of Rezang La, they faced hostile adversaries in the form of Chinese soldiers who dominated them in terms of numbers. Amid this war, the Battle of Rezang La has become a symbol of India's heroic history, with 120 fearless soldiers defending the mountain pass in the sub-zero region of Eastern Ladakh. 

These 120 bahadurs belonged to the 13 Kumaon regiment, which mostly comprised Ahir soldiers of Haryana. A strategic and crucial point in India's military geography, this mountain pass was defended by 120 soldiers against a horde of 3000 Chinese soldiers. Even though the Indian soldiers were glaringly outnumbered and lacked the advanced weapons of the foe, they had their determination and valour. They even engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the combatants when their weapons failed. And Major Shaitan Singh not only filled their hearts with encouragement, but he also fought until his last breath beside them. 

More about 120 Bahadur starring Farhan Akhtar

After staying away from the limelight since his last film, Toofan, released in 2021, Farhan Akhtar will be returning to the big screen on November 21, 2025, with 120 Bahadur. The film has been directed by Razneesh Ghai and is produced under the Excel Entertainment banner. To stay authentic to the real story, the film has been shot in parts of Ladakh and Rajasthan as well. 

Did you know about Major Shaitan Singh Bhati and the Battle of Rezang La before the film, 120 Bahadur? Let us know. 

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