NEW DELHI: Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat‘s inimitable bravery in the battle of Nuranang against the advancing Chinese troops in 1962 is an indelible part of popular lore. A memorial to honour him was built by the Army at the site of his supreme sacrifice in the border region of Arunachal Pradesh.A biographical movie ’72 Hours: Martyr Who Never Died’ depicting his remarkable story as a soldier of the 4th battalion of Garhwal Rifles was made too. However, what remained missing was a befitting memorial to the Mahavir Chakra awardee at his ancestral village in Uttarakhand.
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BJP MP Anil Baluni, who represents Garhwal constituency in Lok Sabha, said the late soldier’s home at Baryun village of Pauri Garhwal will be developed into a modern museum. He will perform ‘bhoomi pujan’ for the project on Nov 17.While the ‘Jaswant Garh War Memorial’ in Arunachal Pradesh is a draw for visitors and tourists, a museum at the place of his birth is expected to further cement his legacy in his home state, which sends men to the armed forces in large numbers when compared to its relatively small size.Baluni said he had met the martyred soldier’s family members who consented to the initiative and appreciated the project. Rawat had enlisted in 4th Garhwal Rifles on Aug 19, 1960, at the young age of 19. He was just 21 when he laid down his life on Nov 17, 1962.
