The feature “1962 India-China War — A Timeline” and the report “China documents reveal ignored warnings, missed opportunities” (Oct. 20) made interesting reading. The hitherto unknown narration of events ferreted out of the archives of documents de-classified by China reveal stunning, staggering and perplexing insights into the conflict. The so-called “warning,” issued by a Chinese official in a meeting with an Indian diplomat, was part of a dubious design to expand China’s border locations in the Himalayas. The country’s actions vis-à-vis its border nations, including Japan, are well known.
R. Sampath,
Chennai
Contrary to the common belief that China is a big, aggressive neighbour, the files show how the two big Asian neighbours were more or less similarly placed in terms of securing their newly independent nations. The 1962 war holds lessons for policymakers on the unintended consequences of their actions and the importance of the unsaid in a relationship.
B. Ramakrishna,
Hyderabad
It is painful to note that it has taken five decades to honour the martyrs of the 1962 war. The soldiers laid down their lives in the hope that their countrymen would take care. But we have taken decades to recognise their sacrifice. If India is capable of defending itself today, it is because of the sacrifices made by the soldiers of the past.
Balasubramaniam Pavani,
Secunderabad
The Indian forces are now, no doubt, well equipped and energetic but we must recall the sacrifices of the 1962 war martyrs every year.
M. Xavier,
Vallioor
It is necessary to objectively analyse the reasons for the 1962 debacle so that we are much better prepared for any eventuality in future. Research on the subject unmistakably shows that it was Nehru who, in his over enthusiasm to protect the Non-Aligned Movement and, to some extent, his own role as the champion of Panchsheel, deliberately played down the China threat.
Whatever his geo-political compulsions in not standing up to the aggressive designs of the Chinese, it is impossible to explain why he and Krishna Menon chose to abandon the Indian Army in a pathetic condition in a hostile environment.
V.S. Kaushik,
Bangalore
Although it was China that took the first step towards the war by occupying Tsenjang, the war was more or less India’s doing. It is unfortunate that in wars, the unknown and speechless foot soldiers are used as cannon fodder. Even during the 50th anniversary of the Sino-Indian war, the media is more interested in analysing bureaucratic chicanery and the behind the scenes developments that led to the war. No one has interviewed the soldiers who fought the war or the relatives of those killed.
Ritvik Chaturvedi,
New Delhi
I was in the army during the conflict. Many Indian soldiers were taken prisoners. They were treated well by China. They were not allowed to go out of the college campus where they were housed and were given good food, clothing and overcoats since it was very cold. On their return to India, all PoWs said the Chinese had treated them well, irrespective of their ranks (Some sections here said the ‘treatment’ was part of a brainwashing exercise by the Chinese.)
In 1965, I was in Sikkim (near China’s border in Nathang) when China warned India about intrusions across the China-Sikkim border (Sikkim later became a part of India.) There was no demarcation of boundaries on both sides then, with a stream flowing between mountains. The northern side was meant for China and the southern side for India. The Chinese army personnel used to visit our kitchen and eat with us. We too went to their kitchens. There was and is no enmity among defence personnel anywhere in the world.
P.K. Balachandran Nair,
Elakollur
