Major Kushal Chand, born to Thakur Mangal Chand, former Wazir (minster) of princely Lahaul state was born on 26 September 1919 at Gemoor Khar. His uncle Rai Bahadur Thakur Amar Chand fought the Turks and Germans in Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) during World War 1. Kushal Chand was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion of the Dogra Infantry Regiment on 15 September 1941.
It was the same battalion, where his older cousin Thakur Prithi Chand served and was his three-year senior. Immediately after 15 August 1947, most princely states exercised their right to accede to the Indian dominion barring Hyderabad and Kashmir. The Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, instead, signed a standstill agreement with both India and Pakistan. Taking advantage of the wavering stand of the Maharaja, Pakistan, in connivance with the British officers, who chose to stay back and serve with the Pakistan army, planned the annexation of Kashmir, including Ladakh valley.
Leh, the hub of the valley, was its prime target. The execution of the plan began in late August 1947. By the time the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession with India on October 26, 1947, the Pakistan army, in the garb of tribal Lashkars, captured Baramulla and were on their way to Srinagar. Mirpur, Kotli, Poonch, Jhangar, Naushera and Bhimber in Jammu region were besieged or fallen to Pakistani lashkars.
Though the Gilgit Scouts had become a part of J&K state forces on 1 August 1947, the 600-strong force commanded by Major Brown actually owed allegiance to Pakistan. In October 1947, Brown rose in rebellion, arrested the governor appointed by the Maharaja, and raised the Pakistani flag on Gilgit Agency. Earlier, Lt Col Sher Jung Thapa of the 6th J&K Forces had left Leh and reinforced Skardu, which the Pakistanis attacked on February 10.
Pakistan planned to capture Leh in February 1948. Mor Prithi Chand, his cousin Major Kushal Chand and their uncle Subedar Bhim Chand with just about two platoons and a small band of volunteers from the 2nd Dogra Battalion outpaced the Pakistanis and saved not just Leh, but the entire Ladakh valley. The three brave Chands from Lahaul and Spiti, were awarded MVC for their bravery.
“Major Kushal Chand in February 1948 was one of the two officers who volunteered to go to Leh to help in raising a local militia force and to organise and conduct the defence of the Ladakh valley. For four months, he with just a platoon of J&K state forces, and 20 Dogra volunteers delayed the enemy advance south towards Leh along the Indus valley.
Major Kushal Chand fearlessly conducted guerrilla warfare of a skilful nature giving an impression to the enemy that he had many more men than he actually had. On one occasion, he held the Khaltsi Bridge for 24 hours with just himself and his buddy. At night, covered by his buddy, who kept firing on the opposite bank, Major Chand crawled down to the bridge and set it on fire. This delayed the enemy’s advance for another week.
Having no communications with Leh, Major Kushal Chand had to risk frequent visits there to keep his commander in picture. Throughout, without proper ration, without artillery support and with acute shortage of ammunition, Major Kushal Chand led his small band like the true daredevil he was.
In 1953, on promotion as the Lt Col, Kushal Chand, commanded the 9th Dogra Infantry Battalion for three years. Thereafter, he was deputed with the UN mission in Cambodia. Unfortunately, Lt Col Kushal Chand, MVC, died when the aircraft he was travelling, crash-landed over Laos.
Future generations of Ladakh valley will always remain grateful to him and his men. Lt Col Kushal Chand, MVC, is survived by his daughter and two sons. The younger one Thakur Ashok Chand, was an IAS officer, who retired as Secretary to the Government of India in 2014.