About the Society

As a pilot project of AWHO (Army Welfare Housing Organization), Mahander Vihar Society complex came up in 1996. It is named after Major Mahander Singh Chaudhary, who was awarded MVC posthumously in October 1962 , in Sino – India war.

It is located close to Mansa Devi Shrine in Panchkula, Haryana and foothill of Shivalik ranges. It is spread over 8.3 acres. The complex has 23 blocks (Designated as A to W). 20 blocks are having 15 Dwelling units (DUs) each in Ground plus 3 Configuration. Two blocks have 8 DUs each and one block has 16 DUs, thus making a total of 332 DUs. There are 68 DUs on the ground floor and 264 on the three upper floors.

In January 2014 , a case was taken up for extension of Balconies and installation of lifts . HSVP approved the plans on 10 October 2014. However some ground floor owners objected and the case was contested in the Court. In April 2016, a final clearance came through from Estate officer, HSVP. However, he wanted revised plans for regularization of some aberrations. After almost 4 years, finally REVISED PLANS -2019 were approved by HSVP in July 2020. Presently, Lifts in 16 Blocks have been installed. F, H, K, M, U V & W blocks have not yet got installed. Out of 264 Flats requiring extension only 8-10 are left out today.

Mahander Vihar society is a gated community with proper security arrangements with CCTV coverage. It has a shopping complex of four shops and two guest rooms with all modern facilities. It has a good park with a walking plaza, children swings/slides and a fountain. Community centre is available for social functions. Over and above, it has an ICICI Bank ATM, which provides service to its residents round the clock. During pandemic and demonetization, it has proved very beneficial. Society has also the services of Washer men, Safaiwallas and Gardener’s. The maid are permitted to work in the flats after security clearance. The society has own in-house maintenance support of electrician and plumber.

The society is registered under the Registrar of the Cooperative Societies. The management of the society is carried by the elected members of the resident members. The eight management officials are elected for every five years duration with two female members. The present management Committees members are as under:-

Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) was set up in 1978 and is registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. The aim of the organisation is to build houses/flats for serving and retired Army personnel and their widows in stations all over the country to enable the soldiers to own a house. AWHO functions on self-financing basis and on “no profit-no loss” principle. The Chief of the Army Staff is the Patron of AWHO and the Adjutant General is the ex-officio Chairman.

The management of AWHO is carried out through a Board of Management which includes senior Army officers from the Army Headquarters as well as from all Command Headquarters. The Board of Management lays down the rules and regulations under which the AWHO functions. Land for the projects is acquired either through the State Governments or through private parties.

On 9 October 1962, Major Mahander Singh Chaudhary was ordered to establish, with two platoons, a post at Singjang, north of the log bridge in NEFA. On 10 October, this post was assaulted by a large Chinese force of about battalion strength. Although Major Chaudhary’s post had not had sufficient time to dig in and coordinate the defences, he stood there with the small arms and ammunition at his disposal and kept the enemy at bay for more than nine hours, after which time he was ordered to withdraw south of the log bridge which he did successfully. Although he was wounded, he refused to be evacuated and continued to be a source of great inspiration to his men throughout this and the subsequent operation of 20 October. In the latter battle, he inflicted some 100 casualties on the enemy.
Maj Mahander Singh displayed courage and leadership of a high order.

About Him

Major Mahander Singh Chaudhary was born on 7th May, 1930 in village Dudaldhan Majra, about 40 km from Rohtak, in Jhajjar district of Haryana. His father Chaudhary Partap Singh was a PCS officer in the joint Punjab and his mother Smt Sahib Kaur, a home maker. He lost his father at the age of seven and was brought up by his maternal uncle Major Ameer Singh, a former minister of Haryana.

After completing his education from Punjab University, Major Chaudhary joined the Army in the year 1956 and was commissioned into 9 Punjab of the famed Punjab Regiment, a regiment known for its fearless soldiers and numerous battle honours. By 1962, he had served for nearly six years with the unit in different field locations and was promoted to the rank of Major. Later Maj Chaudhary got married and had two children, a son and a daughter.

The Army Complex at Mansa Devi Complex has been named after the martyr. Mahander Vihar Society, MDC , Panchkula has built a memorial in the complex as a tribute to the martyr.

Indo-China War : 21 Oct 1962

During the Indo-China of 1962, his unit 9 Panjab was deployed on the Eastern front in NEFA sector. On 9th October, 1962, Major Chaudhary was ordered to establish a post with two platoons at Sinjang, north of the log bridge in NEFA Sector. On 10th October his post was attacked by a large Chinese force of more than a battalion strength. This attack was sudden and Maj Choudhary and his troops did not have sufficient time to dig in and prepare defenses to fortify their positions. But Major Chaudhary took stock of the situation and motivated his men to repulse the attack in a coordinated manner.

His troops had only light arms and did not have sufficient ammunition, yet they managed to keep the enemy at bay for more than 9 hours. On being ordered, he successfully withdrew his men south of the log bridge. Although wounded, Major Chaudhary refused to be evacuated and continued to lead his men in the subsequent operation on the 20th of October. In this action he was able to inflict more than 100 casualties on the enemy and was later martyred on 21 Oct 1962.

Major Mahander Singh Chaudhary was given the nation’s second highest gallantry award, “Maha Vir Chakra” for his undaunted courage, leadership, indomitable spirit and supreme sacrifice.