The most-revered sentinel of the North-East

Col Dilbag Dabas (Retd)

Living legend Major Dwarka Nath Kanwarpal, first generation soldier in uniform, was born to Dewan Kishan Chand on March 21, 1935, in Solan (then undivided Punjab). 

He was commissioned into Hodson’s Horse (Armoured Corps) in June 1957. In June 1963, as a young Major, he was posted to 5 Assam Rifles (Paramilitary Forces) deployed in Kameng Division of then North East Frontier Agency (NEFA), the present day Arunachal Pradesh. This unique Paramilitary Force is also referred to as ‘The Sentinels of the North-East’. Incidentally, as per an Act of Parliament, only the Assam Rifles and the Indian Coast Guards are the paramilitary forces. The BSF, CRPF, ITBPF and the likes, loosely referred to as paramilitary forces, again as per an Act of Parliament, are Central Armed Police Forces and not paramilitary forces.

During his most challenging tenure with the Assam Rifles in the north-east, Major Kanwarpal was responsible to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas extending from Lohit in the east to Tawang in the west. The tasks not just involved aid to the civil administration, but also to effectively deal with some of the hostile tribes. During one of the encounters with the Dafla tribals, Major Kanwarpal, for his conspicuous act of bravery, was awarded the Kirti Chakra.

 Kirti Chakra is the second highest peacetime gallantry award in the country. It is awarded for conspicuous act of bravery other than in the face of the enemy. After a very successful and challenging tenure with the Sentinels of the North-East, Major Kanwarpal got converted into the infantry and joined the 7 Garhwal Rifles. Major Kanwarpal, KC, the living legend, retired in 1986 as Lieutenant Colonel and the octogenarian now lives a happy, contended and peaceful retired life in Solan. One of his sons, Major Bikram Kanwarpal carried forward his legacy. He served for over 12 years in the Armoured Corps and then took pre-mature retirement. He is now a well-known face not only in advertising, but in the Bombay film industry as well.

The battle account of his bravery reads...

"On May 31, 1963, Chayangtoja, an administrative centre in Kameng division of North East Frontier Agency (NEFA), now Arunachal Pradesh, was suddenly attacked by a gang of hostile Dafla tribals armed with rifles and Sten Machine Carbines. The tribals killed the base superintendent, his three men and 20 constables of the Central Reserve Police. After committing the crime, they escaped and to prevent any chase, destroyed a bridge over a river after crossing it. The task of tracking and apprehending the hostiles as also to help maintain law and order in the sensitive region bordering China was handed down to 5 Assam Rifles. Major Dwarka Nath Kanwarpal of 5 Assam Rifles was ordered to proceed with his company consisting of 7 JCOs and 200 men to re-establish law and order in the area. The journey to the place of incident involved over 12 days march through unbeaten tracks, deep into thickly forested mountains. These physical barriers, however, did not in any way affect the professional competence of Major Kanwarpal and he consciously continued operations against the hostiles from May 31 to June 20, 1963, in inclement weather and against all possible odds. The hostiles tried their best to prevent the re-construction and maintenance of the bridge and to hinder the movement of the column to the place of incident. On June 16, 1963, a hostile who had been apprehended earlier, knocked down his escort and tried to escape into the jungle. Major Kanwarpal personally gave a chase and apprehended him. On another occasion, while chasing a group of Dafla hostiles, who had jumped into a river to escape, he, along with his section of 10 men, with total disregard to his personal safety, crossed the river in spate and apprehended the entire group along with their self-styled area commander. Throughout this operation, Major Dwarka Nath Kanwarpal displayed courage and leadership of a very high order which led to apprehension of a record number of hostiles and re-establishment of civil administration in the area. For his commitment to the cause against all possible odds, Major Dwarka Nath Kanwarpal was awarded the Kirti Chakra."

(The writer is a veteran Gunner, 6 Field Regiment)