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The Lansdowne Cantonment Board in Pauri Garhwal district recently passed a motion to rename the picturesque hill town, known for its founding by the British, as Jaswantgarh.
The new name is in honor of Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, hero of the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
The proposal is now set to be forwarded to Army Central Command in Lucknow and subsequently to the Ministry of Defense (MoD), as confirmed by Benita Jakhmula, Lansdowne District Council Office Manager, according to a report by Times of India.
Let’s explore the history of the picturesque hill town, among the favorite places of travellers. We’ll also have a look at the bravery of Jaswant Singh Rawat, after whom the city might be renamed:
The Journey from Kalundanda to Lansdowne
Located in the heart of Pauri Garhwal district in the state of Uttarakhand, Lansdowne Cantonment has a rich history. In 1886, on the recommendation of Field Marshal Sir F. S. Roberts, a decision was taken to establish a separate Garhwalis’ regiment. The site chosen for assembly and regiment was a pristine forested area known as Kalundanda, located at an altitude of about 6,000 feet.like for every Government.
This site, mostly covered with oak and rhododendron forests, was named Kalundanda due to its dark appearance in the gray and misty weather common in the area.
On 21 September 1890 Kalundanda was renamed Lansdowne in honor of the then Viceroy of India, Lord Henry Lansdowne. The 1st Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles arrived, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel E.J. B. Mainwaring, to Kalundanda on 4 November 1887. They contributed to the development of the area by establishing the Mainwaring Lines, the first set of barracks named after their commander.
Today, Lansdowne Cantonment is home to the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Training Centre. Lansdowne itself is on the way to popular tourist destinations such as Badrinath, Kedarnath, Hemkund Sahib, Valley of Flowers and Corbett National Park. Surrounded by dense oak and pine forests, Lansdowne offers a calm and serene environment, free from the usual hustle and bustle of other hill stations. The city’s scenic beauty, pleasant climate, and surroundings that are well preserved by the Cantonment Council make it an ideal destination for a peaceful getaway.
Who was Jaswant Singh Rawat?
Singh hails from Bariya village in Perunkhal district of Puri district. In 1962, he served in the 4th Battalion Garhwal Rifles stationed in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. During the war with China, Singh’s battalion successfully repulsed two PLA attacks on their position.
When the PLA launched another attack, they placed a medium machine gun near the Indian defenders and fired relentlessly at them. Singh, supported by Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain, displays tremendous bravery and manages to eliminate the five Chinese guards and capture the machine gun.
Tragically, Negi and Jozen lost their lives during the operation, while Singh was seriously injured. Two local girls, Sila and Nora, assist Singh in the battle, one of whom loses her life and the other is captured by the People’s Liberation Army. Singh, with their help, held off the Chinese army for an impressive 72 hours, preventing their advance.
Despite his valiant efforts, Singh succumbed to his injuries on 17 November in Tawang. His heroic actions resulted in the deaths of more than 300 Chinese soldiers, and he was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India’s second highest award for bravery.
In honor of his bravery, a war memorial commemorating Singh was erected about 25 kilometers from Tawang. The Ministry of Defense continues to honor Singh by awarding him a pension and giving him promotions as a sign of deep respect for his sacrifices and contributions to the nation. Read News18’s detailed report here
Opposing naming the city?
While Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dami supports the idea of ​​changing British era names that recall India’s colonial past, there are those who oppose the move. A local official speaks anonymously The Times of IndiaSome residents oppose the proposal, he said.
Lansdowne Cantonment Council, which has proposed renaming the town after the war hero, acknowledges opposition from some local residents. Among the concerns raised by the residents was the fear that changing the name of the city would lead to the loss of its identity, which would negatively affect tourism, which is an important trade in the region. Local BJP MLA Dilip Singh Rawat expressed his disagreement, stating that the city’s original name should be retained for the benefit of the public.
Rawat also criticized the decision to consider changing the name rather than addressing the dissolution of the council itself, calling it wrong and unfortunate in an interview with. Hindu.
This isn’t the first time proposals to change the name in Lansdowne have faced opposition. Previous proposals to rename it “Kalau Danda” and after Lord Subedar Balbhadra Singh were met with rejection by the local population, which prompted the government to retract those proposals, according to first post.
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