Rajendra Nath (soldier)
Major General Rajendra Nath (born 1925) is a retired Indian Army officer. Military career. Nath graduated from the Indian Military Academy and was the commissioned into the 11th Gorkha Rifles in 1947. In 1952, he served in the Military Intelligence Directorate in New Delhi. He volunteered to lead a reconnaissance team into Aksai Chin. The team was selected by Nath and included a military engineer, doctor and fifteen men. Interpreters and linguists were attached. They also carried with them gifts for distribution such as sweets, kerosene oil, sugar and medicines. Animals such as ponies were taken to  carry supplies. The reconnaissance team started on 5 October and according to media reports trekked across Chang La, Marsmik La, Chang Chenmo River valley ending the mission at Lanak La. They returned on 15 November. The findings of the reconnaissance remain a secret till date. During the 1971 war, Nath was in charge of the 62 Mountain Brigade. Men under Major General Mohammad Hussain Ansari of 9 Pakistan Division surrendered to the Nath. From 1959-61 he got the opportunity to attend a course at the Canadian Army Staff College. He taught at Defence Services Staff College in Wellington Cantonment , from 1965-68. He was also commander of an infantry division in Jammu and Kashmir. He later served as Commandant of the Indian Military Academy in 1979-80. He retired in 1982. Later career. Nath has been associated with the Institute for the Blind in Chandigarh since 1982. He has been awarded for his social work, including a Haryana Ratan in 2005. Publications. Books Essays