Sela Pass - A Story of courage and love at 13000 ft. height

It’s 1962, and a war is waging between India and China on the Arunachal border. Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat is the sole warrior manning the post for last 24 hours. To make the Chinese army fool, Jaswant has set up a trench at hilltop and has placed the rifles at different locations. Jaswant suddenly feels that someone is approaching towards the trench. He has pointed out his rifle towards the source of sound. But he becomes surprised to see Sela with food and ammunition.

It is a story of affection and courage which took place during the Sino-Indo War in 1962. If you have visited Tawang, you are familiar with the name Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat. He was serving in the 4th battalion, the 4th Garhwal Rifles in the North-East Frontier Agency (now Arunachal Pradesh), during the Battle of Nuranang.

Sela, the Monpa girl fell in love with Jaswant against her father’s wish. During the Sino-Indo war, while Jaswant Singh Rawat was fighting single-handedly against the Chinese army, Sela along with her sister Nura helped him by supplying ammunition, food. Jaswant fought against the Chinese for 72 hours and single-handedly killed around 300 opponent army.

When Sela’s father came to know that Jaswant Singh is fighting alone by making fool of them, he informed the same to the Chinese army. After that, Jaswant Singh Rawat was captured and beheaded by the Chinese. Sela committed suicide by jumping from a hillock. And Noora was killed by the Chinese army. The story of love and courage ends with betrayal of Sela’s father.

In February 2017, while we are heading towards Tawang, it was chilling cold. We had started our journey from Dirang. Tawang is 135 km apart from Dirang. It took nearly 8 hours to reach Tawang. One who is going to Tawang has to cross Sela Pass at 13,680 ft height. We had spent nearly about 1.5 hours at Sela Pass. We talked with the locals, spent time in a tea stall with a hot cup of tea and one bowl of Maggi. While we are talking with locals there, we came to know about this tragic love story.

The nation awarded its hero with a Maha Vir Chakra and built the Jaswantgarh War Memorial in his memory. Also, as per the local people, Sela Pass is named after the Monpa Girl Sela, and Nuranang falls is named after Sela’s sister Nura. It is so interesting to know that history doesn’t mention any of such love stories, and we had to rely completely on the local legends. However, what history does mention is 2 Monpa girls helped Jaswant in supplying food and arms.

Sitting there, we realize that almost every destination tells a story – of love, of betrayal, of patriotism, like the tale of Sela and Jaswant.