Sir — This refers to the article, “Tibet: A ‘problem’ that India glossed over” (September 24) by Rajesh Singh. At a time when the nation, particularly the Congress, is planning to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru on November 14, one cannot ignore his faulty legacy that contradicts his popular image as a global statesman who spoke fearlessly for the oppressed. Nehru’s handling of the Kashmir issue is just one example.
Questioning Nehru’s Tibet policy, the writer has noted that India “toeing China’s line over Tibet did not prevent Beijing from delivering the brother a humiliating military defeat in 1962”. He has recalled also Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s letter to Nehru in November 1950, warning the Prime Minister about China’s machinations and the Asian giant’s “strategic game”.
But, “blinded by his trust in the Chinese”, Nehru failed to see Sardar Patel’s concern that the Chinese “would extend its frontiers almost up to our gates”, which is what is happening now.