Thakur Prithi Chand

Thakur Prithi Chand, MVC, was an officer of the Indian Army. He is known for his significant role in stalling Pakistani advances in Ladakh during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947-48. For his role in this war, Thakur Prithi Chand is regarded among the 'Saviours of Ladakh', alongside Kushal Chand, Bhim Chand, and Chewang Rinchen.

Personal life

Prithi Chand was born in village Rangri near Manali. He was a scion of the house of Kolong, which during the British Raj ruled the mountainous tract of Lahaul in the Kangra district of Punjab Province. Prithi Chand was the third son of Thakur Amar Chand, the Wazir of Lahaul. Thakur Amar Chand had fought in Mesopotamia during World War I. For his services during the war, Thakur Amar Chand was given the title 'Rai Bahadur' by the British Raj. The Thakurs of Lahaul had strong bonds with Ladakh, as they married into the latter's royal family, and shared cultural, linguistic, and religious similarities.
Prithi Chand passed out of high school from Kullu in 1929, and did graduation from Shri Pratap College, Srinagar. However, with his elder brother Thakur Abhay Chand becoming mentally unhealthy in 1929, Prithi Chand soon had to leave his studies unfinished, and help in the waziri of Lahaul.

Armed forces career

In 1933–34, Prithi Chand got recruited in the 11/17 Dogra Regiment. In 1936, he was appointed as Jamadar under the Viceroy's Commission. In 1939, Chand was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant through the King's Commission, into the 2nd Battalion of the Dogra Infantry Regiment in 1939.
There seems to be some confusion regarding Chand's service number. B. Chakravorty mentions it as IEC - 787, while the website of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, mentions it as IEC - 8968.

Actions in Ladakh, 1948

Thakur Prithi Chand played a key role in defending Ladakh during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947–48. Between mid-February and early March 1948, under treacherous and extremely challenging winter conditions, Prithi Chand led a small volunteer group to Ladakh, which comprised Lahauli Buddhists serving in 2 Dogra. He was accompanied by his younger cousin Major Kushal Chand, and their uncle Subedar Bhim Chand, both of whom were also in 2 Dogra. Once in Ladakh, the trio raised local militias and conducted guerrilla warfare to thwart and repel invading Pakistani forces in that sector. For his actions, Major Thakur Prithi Chand was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, independent India's second highest gallantry award, on 15 August 1948. In these actions, Khushal Chand was also awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, while Bhim Chand was awarded the Vir Chakra and bar.

Mahavir Chakra award

The Maha Vir Chakra citation for Thakur Prithi Chand reads as the following:

Afterwards

Upon his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1950, Chand was given the command of the 3rd Battalion of the 11th Gorkha Infantry Regiment, which he went on to hold for three years. He retired as a Colonel in 1962.

Post-retirement

Thakur Prithi Chand was a Buddhist. After his retirement from the army, he served at one point as the president of the Himalayan Buddhist Society, Manali.