The Night of June 15-16 was a blood soaked one. 20 braves were martyred defending the Nation at Galwan in eastern Ladakh. Expectedly, Rahul Gandhi led congress in mocking the Government, spreading lies and spreading misinformation. The lowest point was terming the PM of India being ‘Surender’ instead of Narender.

Rahul Gandhi thought he could get away with pretending that the Indo-China issue is Modi’s contribution and the Martyrdom of countless braves in 1962 and years preceding that never happened. The Nation has not forgotten 1962; families like mine have lived under the shadow of 1962. My Tauji (father’s elder brother) was martyred on the Tibetan border, during the long forgotten forward action policy of Nehru preceding the war.Rahul Gandhi may not know this, but the border was called Indo Tibetan border till 1962. The Bodies of Martyred soldiers were not sent home, only a telegram intimating the death and an urn of ashes were all the family received. My Tauji was martyred in 1961, in the build up to 1962. My parents were not married that time, and my Aunts describe my grandmother nearly loosing her mind for some time. She refused to accept the ashes, saying how could she believe that the ashes were of her Son. A bland paragraph in the local papers, not giving any details except that my Tauji – Yogesh Sharma -died in hospital while serving on Tibet border was all the detail given. This is how brave soldiers were treated in times of Nehru. My grandmother never had closure about her elder son’s death.this is how the Indo China issue had affected thousand of families.

The strength of Indian Civilisation was ‘Purva Paksha’ or researching every aspect of both the enemy and Friend and understanding the past, present, strengths and weakness of the other. We have given up on this aspect of our culture and consequently we have no knowledge about the Area and the issue of Indo Tibet border and Indo China issue. Many Indians heard about Ladakh for the first time when Ladakh was made an Union Territory on the reorganisation of J&K. This article attempts to throw some light on the history of Ladakh and Indo China issue.

Ladakh was among one of the 5 Himalayan kingdoms of Ancient and Medieval Asia. Tibet (Lhasa) was another Himalayan kingdom. The treaty of Tingmosgang, signed in 1864, between Lhasa and Ladakh after Ladakh was defeated by Lhasa, lays out ancient boundaries between Ladakh and Lhasa and concedes the ancient rights of Ladakh in Tibet. Tibet was the example of Bharathiya spirit, though it was a kingdom, it had Ladakhi and Bhutani enclaves that were administered by kings of Ladakh and Bhutan. The Rights of Ladakh in Minsar , a principality that maintained Kailash Mansarovar were laid out in the treaty of Tingmosgang in 1684, and reaffirmed in the treaty of Chushul in 1842. The rights of Ladakh in Tibet were transferred to the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir who was also termed ‘Adhipati Tibet’. On Accession to India on 26 October 1947, the rights were transferred to India.

It is a shame that Bharat’s ancient ties with Tibet have been forgotten. The Border of Tibet with India is being called Indo China border, invisibilising Tibet totally. The occupied territory of Aksai Chin is annexed as a part of Hotan province of Xinxiang autonomous region, not Tibet.

Ladakh was a very important part of the ancient trade routes. The trade routes are called Silk route in popular parlance. Leh was at the nerve centre of Trade routes, the popular ones being Leh Yarkhand route which went through Karakoram pass. The other routes were the Leh -Gartok – Lhasa and Leh- Demchok- Minsar route ,which was used both by pilgrims of Kailash Mansarovar and traders . From Leh trade routes went to Srinagar, to Skardu (which is occupied by Pakistan in Gilgit Baltistan) and as far as Hoshiarpur. The British had entered into treaties with China to maintain trade on the Leh -Yarkhand route. Unfortunately, the importance of Ladakh as a nerve centre of trade has been forgotten and it’s been relegated to a national black spot.

Ladakh is an area of High Mountains, sparsely inhabited and inhospitable climatically. Historically the borders with Central Asia, Tibet and Vassal states of J&K were always fluid. In winters, traders would traverse frozen rivers and in spring the route would shift as the rivers would be flowing. The Area has many Glaciers which would increase or retreat seasonally, changing position of borders.

The British understood the strategic importance of Ladakh. In 1865 Johnson surveyed the area and proposed a Johnson Line, which was in line with the existing and historical claims. The line was later amended by Ardagh in 1897, and came to be known as Johnson Ardagh line. The claims of India are along the Johnson Ardagh line and revenue papers and treaties back Indian claims. In both these claims, Aksai Chin is shown in Jammu and Kashmir.In 1899, to counter Russia, the British proposed that China be used as a Buffer. A new line was proposed termed Macartney-Macdonald line which put Aksai Chin in China. The Line was presented to the Chinese emperor who did not respond. The British reverted back to Johnson line after a few years. China claims that Macartney -Macdonald line is the official line and hence Aksai Chin (eastern Ladakh) is its territory. However Maps given to British by Chinese officials in 1893 and Chinese postal maps upto 1937 showed the boundary of Ladakh as claimed by India.

In 1949, communist China occupied Sinkiang now called Xinxiang and existing trade route via Karakoram pass and Nubra valley was stopped, in violation of existing treaties. However trade via Aksai Chin route carried on. In 1949, the Dalai Lama, then a teenager, wrote a letter to Nehru, laying claims on entire Ladakh. This letter enraged Nehru and many analysts believe that Nehru let China occupy Tibet, hoping that China would resolve the issue. Meanwhile, US began giving aid to China and India began moving close to a Russia. Nehru started a Non Aligned Movement, and evolved Panchsheel. Nehru was keen on Coopting China; hence occupation of Tibet by China elicited no strong response from an India. In 1954, the Sino-India trade and transit treaty with regard to Indo Tibet border was signed in which India surrendered her ancient Rights in a Tibet, including postal trading and transit for traders. The issue of Indian principality of Minsar never came up, but the Indian principality which maintained Kailash Mansarovar was given up to China. The transit from Demchok was stopped via this treaty.

China published maps showing entire Ladakh and North east as its own. On 1 July, for the first time, India published maps showing Aksai chin firmly in India, according to Johnson Ardagh line. Boundary talks followed, and letters to and fro from Nehru to Chinese premier.

China had begun occupying Aksai Chin by building a road called Highway 219 connecting Xinxiang to Tibet. This road was the existing trade route which was used all year around and was used by armies to invade Tibet in the past. Though the construction of the road in Indian Territory of Aksai Chin was reported by Indian consul stationed in Gartok, there was no response from Nehru government.

Nehru claimed that the Indo- Tibet border was accepted by both sides. In 1957 when Chinese papers announced the completion of the highest highway in Asia, only an unofficial protest was lodged by an India.

It was evident to all that China was upto no good but still the mirage of Indian China bhai bhai was continued despite Chinese premier claiming on 8 September 1959 that whole of north east and Ladakh were Chinese territories. Nehru started a forward action policy which included forward posts being maintained and Indian Patrols going up to the posts. As India had built no roads, it was a very difficult plan and many brave hearts lost their lives. An Indian patrol was ambushed by China and that created a public opinion against China.

China claimed the forward policy as intrusion into Chinese territory (sounds familiar Vis a Vis the present standoff?). In May 1962, China and Pakistan announced Sino pak boundary talks. The area which was in talks was Gilgit Baltistan which was Indian Territory. The Indian Mission in Rawalpindi made a feeble protest but China and Pakistan went ahead with talks. It should be understood that the Pakistan China nexus is not new but it was started in 1962.

On 20 October 1962, in a synchronised move, China attacked India on the Indo Tibet border and North East. On 21 November it announced a unilateral ceasefire and since then, it is occupying Aksai Chin.

It is very important to understand this historical context of the area in present day standoff. On August 5 when Amit Shah mentioned in parliament that India is committed to take back Aksai Chin along with territories occupied by Pakistan, action from China and Pakistan was inevitable. China activated its proxy in Nepal to claim Indian territories of Kalapani. Any move to reoccurs Pakistan occupied territories of Jammu &Kashmir and Ladakh is seen as a threat to Chinese occupation of Aksai Chin. By occupying Aksai chin, and the occupation of Gilgit Baltistan by Pakistan, India was cut off from trade and transit routes, causing impoverishment and Millitary isolation. In 1963, Pakistan ceded Shaksgam valley to China, completing the encirclement of India militarily.

The importance of Siachen has to be understood in this context as India commands the dominating position on the tri junction. Occupation of Aksai Chin created an Indo China border while occupation of Gilgit Baltistan resulted in Pakistan and China getting a common border at Xinxiang.

Indian claims on occupied territories by Pakistan and China are well documented. We as a nation have to put these issues in Mainstream and have a strong stomach for the inevitable action on both the LAC and the LOC. A nation looses its territory when it forgets them, not when they are occupied by the enemy.

Author: Nidhi Bahuguna can be reached on Twitter

Twitter:  @vinirish

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