The film Border was based on the real battle that was fought in Laungewala on the night of December 4-5, 1971, by 124 soldiers of the 'A' Company of the Indian Army's 23 Punjab Regiment.
The regiment was commanded by Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri against the Pakistani assaulting formation, which comprised two infantry battalions, a regiment and a squadron of armour with 59 tanks.
In the film Border, Sunny Deol, playing Brigadier Chandpuri, walks up to the last pillar on the India-Pakistan border, in spite of everyone warning him against the move as Pakistani snipers could shoot him.Brigadier Chandpuri had actually done that,many times."The enemy should know that I am there and not afraid of him. What does it mean to dominate? I cannot dominate the enemy by just sitting inside a bunker near him", he said.
"We have the third biggest army in the world, bravest of brave soldiers and still our neighbours have the guts to trouble us," because, says Brigadier Chandpuri, "We do not retaliate."
When he was a colonel, he was posted in Kashmir and only the Line of Control separated him from the enemy. The enemy once fired at his post and killed two of his men. Colonel Chandpuri retaliated and his men killed 14 personnel on the other side. After that day, Colonel Chandpuri continued to be deployed there for two years, but nobody dared to fire at him.
Major K S Chandpuri was commanding a company of a battalion of Punjab Regiment occupying a defended locality in Laungnewala in the Rajasthan Sector. On December 5, 1971, in the early hours of the morning, the enemy launched a massive attack on his locality with infantry and tanks. Major Chandpuri exhibited dynamic leadership in holding his command intact and steadfast.
Showing exceptional courage and determination, he inspired his men; moving from bunker to bunker, encouraging them in beating back the enemy till reinforcements arrived. In his heroic defence, he inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and forced them to retreat leaving behind twelve tanks. In this action, Major Chandpuri displayed conspicuous gallantry and leadership.
Though he no longer wears his olive green uniform, Brigadier Chandpuri has not hung up his boots, literally. He told me, "Every morning I put on my boots and take them off only at night".
This septuagenarian is still as energetic as a young officer. He is a councilor in the municipal corporation of Chandigarh and had served as an advisor to the recently held Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Hats off to you Sir...
