Page 40 - Seniors Today June2020
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words which were perhaps said elsewhere
but directed to India - “Power grows out of
the barrel of a gun”.
Road building activity in the Ladakh forward sector in 1961
In 1959 the communists had started
enforcing their style of rule in Tibet. It
was then that the Dalai Lama escaped to
India and was promptly given asylum.
This enraged China no end and there
was nothing but hostility – gone was the
bonhomie of the Panchsheel Treaty. In
retaliation to India’s actions they decided
to encroach further into Indian territory
Mortar shells being fired
by ambushing patrols in Eastern Ladakh -
The Panchsheel Agreement of 1954 was specifically in the Hot Springs and Spanggur
for “peaceful co-existence” based on the area of Chushul. They set up permanent
5 principles of mutual respect, mutual posts without being challenged by India.
non-aggression, mutual non-interference, Some 2240 sqkms of Indian territory was
equality & mutual growth, and peaceful occupied by them by that time. Strangely
co-existence. Nehru took this as though even then Nehru’s government did nothing
there was no outstanding issue and started to shore up defences. In early 1960 Chou
promoting the Hindi–ChiniBhaiBhai slogan En Lai visited India – ostensibly to talk
which meant nothing to the other side. It border settlement but the talks failed
now comes to fore that the Chinese were only miserably. He further stated that the areas
playing for time to strengthen their defences they had occupied were China’s now. It
and build infrastructure. In 1956 word came seems that he closed the door on any further
to the Indian government that China had negotiations. Thankfully some action was
started building a highway through Aksai finally taken and India decided to shore up
Chin – through Indian territory. This was defences. With just one infantry brigade
completed by 1957 but yet again India did and a few J&K militia battalions to look after
not recognize this development seriously. nearly 480 kms of hostile territory was
Finally some patrols were sent but the woefully inadequate. There was no road
Chinese chased away one and captured the infrastructure and everything had to be
other. The reality of the situation finally moved by men and on animals. Important
dawned on New Delhi, but by then it was too issues like high altitude and lack of fodder
late. were real challenges. It was only a year after
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