Lion of Ladakh | Life & Times of Col Chhewang Rinchen

Colonel Chewang Rinchen, MVC**, SM, is rightfully hailed as the Lion of Ladakh. Starting as a young soldier at the tender age of 17, he excelled as a soldier and leader of men while operating in possibly the harshest terrain and weather conditions in the country. A die-hard soldier, a great leader, a loving father, a doting husband and a social activist, Colonel Rinchen continues to inspire the following generations of Indian warriors and Ladakhi youth alike. With two Mahavir Chakras, one Sena Medal and a Mentioned-in-Dispatches, he stands tall amongst the highest decorated soldiers of India.

About the Authors

1.    Dr P ANGMO is the eldest daughter of Col Chewang Rinchen. She did her initial schooling in Dehra Dun till class 6th before shifting with her parents to Srinagar, where she studied till class 10th. She did her MBBS from the Govt Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, and MD in Pathology and DCP from the GMC, Jammu. 

She worked as Senior Resident and as Teaching Faculty at GMC Jammu for 18 years before retiring in 2014 as an Associate Professor of Pathology at GMC Jammu. Post her retirement, she worked as a Professor of Pathology in a few private Medical Colleges before saying adieu to her professional life. 

She is married to Wangchuk Kalon. They have one daughter, a son and a grandson. 

2.  Colonel Ajay K Raina, SM, is an Indian Army veteran and a military historian. He has authored 25 books, including a five-book series on the 1947-48 Conflict in Jammu & Kashmir. He is the founding Trustee of the Military History Research Foundation ®, which aims to enable military historians and authors to take their well-researched works to the public. The author can be contacted at ajaykrraina@gmail.com