LORD LANSDOWNE

1. Context 

The Lansdowne Cantonment Board has decided to rename the picturesque hill station in Uttarakhand as Jaswantgarh, paying tribute to Rifleman Jaswant Singh, a Maha Vir Chakra recipient and a hero of the 1962 war.

2. About Lord Lansdowne

• Lord Lansdowne, Henry Charles Keith Petty-Firzmaurice, was a British politician who served as Viceroy of India from 1888 to 1894.
• He also held other prominent positions in the United Kingdom, including Secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
• However, Lord Lansdowne is remembered in India for suppressing the Manipur Rebellion of 1891 and implementing divisive policies to sow discord between Hindus and Muslims.

3. History of Lansdowne Cantonment

• The Lansdowne Cantonment is situated in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal district.
• In 1886, on the recommendation of Field Marshal Sir FS Roberts, Commander-in-Chief of India, it was decided to establish a separate regiment for the Garhwalis.
• The chosen location for the regiment and its training centre, named the Garhwal Rifles, was a forested area known as Kalundanda, approximately 6,000 feet above sea level.
• The Cantonment and Regimental Centre were approved by Brig Gen JI Murray, GOC, Rohilkhand.
• The first battalion of the Garhwal Rifles, led by Lt Col EP Mainwaring, moved to Kalundanda on November 4, 1887.

3.1. Renaming as Lansdowne

On September 21, 1890, Kalundanda was renamed Lansdowne in honour of Lord Henry Lansdowne, the Viceroy of India at the time.

3.2. Overview of Lansdowne Cantonment 

• Lansdowne Cantonment is categorized as a Category III cantonment and covers an area of 1503.8 acres.
• According to the 2011 census, its population consisted of 5,667 civilians and military personnel.

4. The bravery of Rifleman Jaswant Singh in the 1962 India-China War

• Rifleman Jaswant Singh, a member of the 4th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles, displayed remarkable bravery during the Battle of Nuranang against the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on November 17, 1962.
• Despite his battalion facing multiple Chinese assaults, Jaswant Singh volunteered to silence a PLA machine gun that was firing accurately at Indian positions.
• Assisted by Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain, Jaswant Singh successfully neutralized the Chinese detachment manning the machine gun and captured the weapon.
• While returning, Gusain and Negi lost their lives, and Jaswant Singh sustained serious injuries but managed to bring back the captured machine gun.
• He continued to hold his post alone, fending off successive Chinese attacks until he succumbed to his injuries.

Image Source: Defence Direct Education

5. Recognition and Memorial

• Rifleman Jaswant Singh was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, the second-highest gallantry award in India, and his battalion received the Battle Honour Nuranang.
• In his honour, the post where Jaswant Singh fought is now called Jaswantgarh, and a memorial has been erected at the site to commemorate his bravery.

6. The Way Forward

• The renaming of Lansdowne Cantonment as Jaswantgarh serves as a fitting tribute to Rifleman Jaswant Singh's extraordinary courage and sacrifice during the 1962 war.
• It highlights the valour of the Indian armed forces and the spirit of bravery that continues to inspire generations.