This Diwali as we light candles, we must remember those bravehearts who sacrificed their lives for us in the 1962 war
The memories of October 20, 1962, may not move the hearts of today’s overwhelmingly young population of the country. This is natural, as their knowledge about the great Chinese betrayal is largely limited to media reports or second-hand information. But for most senior citizens who have seen and felt that ordeal, the brutal Chinese attack has not just been a date on the calender. It is an old wound that still hurts.
It was a full-scale war on the unsuspecting Indians, who took the slogan of Chinese Premier Chou En-lai — Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai — at face value. The war shook the national conscience, proving once again that statecraft and diplomacy are techniques of one-upmanship, and has very little place for moral values. The incident also proved right the age-old adage — adversity tests friends — as we, despite being the champions of the non-aligned movement, could not find any ally in that hour of crisis. The world was busy with the Cuban missile crisis that saw a US-USSR nuclear standoff. India’s righteousness did not have takers. Not even a word of displeasure came for the Chinese act from any quarter. Our principles of Panchsheel fell flat on face. It was our own battle and we fought it. Though not the way we would have liked.
But why do we need to remember this humiliationIJ Because it gave some important lessons to learn, the foremost being that in this world if you want to live in peace, be prepared for a war. After all, how could any civilised country launch an an unprovoked war on its peaceful neighbourIJ But China did exactly the same. India was humbled, bruised and bloodied. But the country fought and its spirit lived.
In this hour of crisis, we had our golden moments as well. One such moment was the Battle of Walong, fought at the heights of the Northeast. Some 3,000 officers and soldiers give a stiff resistance for three weeks to the invading army. This battle was led by young army officers who fought not only to the last round of their ammunition but also to their last breath.
On October 25, then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, in his message to the nation, observed: “Soon we shall celebrate Deepawali, the festival of light. This is an occasion for joy. But we shall have little joy or lights in our hearts because a part of our Motherland has been invaded and the officers and men of our army on the borders have passed through ordeal of great suffering.”
To all our jawans, I send my heart-felt sympathy and good wishes. And this Diwali as we light candles and diyas, we must remember those bravehearts who sacrificed their lives for us. When our political leadership failed to deliver, it was the army that gave us a few moments to be proud of the nation and its age-old civilisation. let the spirit live on and continue to charge all of us.
The writer is professor, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad (Jharkhand). He can be reached at ppathak.ism@gmail.com