Under the shock administered by the Chinese attack on India in 1962, the wounded spirit of Indian poets reacted sharply, and remonstrative literature swept the country like a tidal wave, reminisces Madan lall Manchanda
The India of Mahatma Gandhi’s and Jawaharlal Nehru’s dreams has always championed the cause of humanity as a whole, regardless of country, class, clan, or creed to promote global peace and harmony. By evolving and adhering to the principles of Panchsheel, India has given a push for a new world order of hope to the war-weary world divided in various camps of conflicting ideologies. The optimism is brilliantly reflected in the following couplet of a renowned Indian poet:
“Panchsheel jaise asoolon ki zia-pashi se
Almi-Aman ke chherey to nikhara jis ne”
(Which has through the enlightening message of Panchsheel promoted the cause of global peace)
— Naresh Kumar Shad
However, it proved to be wishful thinking. Under the shock administered by the Chinese invasion of India in 1962, the wounded spirit of the Indian poets reacted sharply and remonstrative literature swept the country like a tidal wave.
The shell shocked Ali Sardar Jafri — a popular poet, a Jnanpith Awardee, and Sahitya Akademi Award winner, who rendered Diwan-e-Ghalib in Hindi verse, also selected to accompany former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his peace mission to lahore (Pakistan), and the then Secretary Communist Party of India — poured out his heart over the sad and sudden calamity in the following soul-stirring stanzas:
“Voh naam labh pe likha tha jo phool ban ke kabhi
Mahak utha tha seene mein jo arzoo ban ke
Tapak raha hai khalus-o-wafa ke zakhmon se
Shikast-khurda tammanon ka lahu ban ke
Rafiq samne aye hain ab adu ban ke”
(The name which at a time was carved as a flower on our lips/
And the fragrance of which had filled our bosom like a true longing/
Is oozing blood from the wounds of battered friendship and desires unfulfilled
What a pity to behold the very
friend as a foe)
— Sardar Jafri
Infuriated comrade Sardar Jafri drives home to our belligerent neighbour not to be under any misconceived illusion or labour under any wrong notion to underestimate India’s potential to thwart any evil design or to outdo any trick to subdue us by treachery as we have both will and determination to counter any misadventure and repel any attack with full force. In words surcharged with emotion Sardar Jafri delivered a clear and loud enough warning:
“Inhein naheef na samjho yeh dast-e-ahyan hain
Jo haath hum nein baraye the dosti ke liye
Jo dushmani ke theri tau dushmani he sahi
Chalo! Hum aye hain maidan mein dushmani ke liye
Karenge jung magar aman-o-ashti ke liye”
(Do not regard these hands feeble, for they have iron grip/
The hands that we had stretched out for friendship/
If you are out for a showdown, then let it be so/
You will find us only well prepared in the battle field/
We would also wage a war but for lasting peace)
The mighty resolve of the people boosted the spirit of our nation in those harrowing days when we were badly shaken after being betrayed by the very friend we had trusted the most. However, our hardened attitude was markedly evident at the times when Premier Chou En lai visited India the second time post 1962 Chinese invasion, ostensibly to mend ties. His utterance on conclusion of his talk with India’s first Prime Minister bears testimony of his failed attempt and wasted efforts: “I have met British war lords and also American Generals, but I have not come across a stiff-necked man like Nehru.”
History has repeated itself nearly after half a century. Once again there is a military standoff between India and China. This time in the Doklam area of the India, China, Bhutan trijunction. While the boundary line issue is pending settlement, China says its claim in Doklam is indisputable and that is why it has gone ahead with the building activity. On June 29, Bhutan questioned the construction of the mountain road in Doklam region and asked Beijing to restore status quo as before June 16, 2017. India also came out with clear statement on June 30. Both have asserted it is a Bhutanese territory. Also India assisted Bhutan in its modernising efforts and laid down 1500 km roads and continues to maintain them.
Sometime later, China reportedly built the dirt track of Doklam that is at the centre of the current standoff, not then objected to by the Army of Bhutan. In subsequent boundary talks, China realised that it could no longer press the Doklam point, and a year later, even offered Nathu la Pass for Kailash Mansarovar yatris. With the latest standoff, that includes cancellation of Nathu la Pass, Bhutan has become an egg between two rocks.
This could perhaps be attributed to the fact that during the 1962 India-China war, Bhutan showed its sympathy definitely lay with India. Bhutan is the only country in the region that joined India in its boycott of President Xi Jinping’s marquee project, the Belt and Road project which passes through PoK. Hence it is for India to ensure that our neighbour Bhutan is not coerced to accept what Bhutan has stood against.
China’s moves are in clear violation of the 2012 agreement that the boundaries in the trijunction point are to be decided by the three parties together. Deviating from the agreement, China’s attempt to change unilaterally the status quo has naturally perturbed India and Bhutan. India learnt its lesson long ago that the only way to avert war is to strengthen our defence and to be prepared for war.
This apart, China is reportedly meddling in Jammu and Kashmir, alleges Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. In truth, China is occupying a fifth of the original princely State of J&K, and now enlarging its strategic footprints in PoK. Earlier, it honed by adopting stapled visa policy for the residents of J&K and now by mounting pressure, Beijing has tacitly questioned India’s sovereignty over the 45 per cent of J&K under India’s control, turning a blind eye to history.
India is already irked over China’s stapled visas to Arunachal Pradesh and fanning fire in the Northeastern State. India is wary of China’s objection to the Dalai lama visiting a part of India for religious purposes. Also, India is offended by the language used by Chinese officials in the present imbroglio, which is not in keeping with diplomatic norms.
India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s excellent rebuttal in Parliament and measured statement that both the Armies should withdraw is seemingly reasonable. Only reciprocal withdrawal by India and China can ease the Doklam standoff.
While India shares President Xi Jinping’s concern that the world is far from tranquil, and peace needs to be safeguarded. The fact is both China and India are rapidly rising and are very dynamic. Today we have equilibrium. It is in our mutual interest to come to an understanding as we are the two fast growing economies of the world. India is also a big market for Chinese goods. We look forward to a stable relationship based on cooperation with each other.
Further, as rightly stated by India’s Minister of External Affairs that war is not the solution. We need to engage in talks without any pre-condition and reach a settlement. It needs to be kept in view that China has unilaterally violated the tripartite agreement and now bilaterally wants to solve the issue between China and Bhutan, ignoring the serious security implications for India, if the road is built. The spate of threats in intemperate words are aimed to sidetrack India’s security concerns.
Hence, the obvious need to make it clear to our big neighbour that come what may, India will not buckle under any pressure or budge an inch keeping in view the mighty resolve of people’s democracy that the honour and dignity of our nation will be defended at all costs with unflinching determination and loyalty, and if necessary, by giving supreme scarifies of our lives for the sake of our motherland.
“Jaan de denge tere aman pe, aazadi par
Teri kuhuash-hali-o-taamir-o-abadi par
Jo teri rah mein marte hain, jia karte hain
Phir teri khak se hum a’had-e-wafa karte hain”
(We would lay down our lives, for the sake of your independence/
Prosperity, construction and rehabilitation/
Those who die for their country live forever/
We, therefore, once again renew our pledge of sincerity to the sacred dust of our motherland)
— Zakia Sultana Nayyar
madanlallmanchanda@gmail.com