Unraveling the Mystery of How India Lost Aksai Chin.
On the morning of October 10, 1962, at around 8:00 AM, in the Thagla Ridge located on the border of Arunachal Pradesh, our soldiers were engrossed in their daily activities. Suddenly, Chinese troops launched a massive attack. There were only 56 Indian soldiers present at the post, while the Chinese had 600 soldiers who initiated the attack.
Despite the odds, these 56 soldiers successfully repelled the attack. However, approximately one and a half hours later, around 9:30 AM, Chinese troops launched another assault. This time, they used mortar fire. Indian soldiers were completely unprepared to face such a situation. After a few hours, Chinese troops launched a third attack, and there were no options left but to withdraw.
About 10 days after this incident, on October 20, a significant event unfolded. The 1962 India-China War is a unique chapter in history as it was the only full-scale war fought between these two nations, and India faced defeat in this single, major war.
Let’s delve into the complete story behind the attack that took place on October 10, 1962.
There were two primary reasons behind the assault:
First Reason:
China had suspicions that India was extending its influence into the Tibetan region. However, this perception was entirely unfounded. India had no intention of causing any disturbance in Tibet. Experts believed that China’s suspicion was highly unwarranted. India’s main focus during that time was on developing its nation. The primary trigger for this suspicion was India providing refuge to the Dalai Lama in 1959.
Second Reason:
The second reason was countering India’s assertiveness in the disputed region. Experts believed that this was a reasonable assumption from China’s perspective.
These two factors played a significant role in the events leading up to the attack on October 10, 1962.
How Prime Minister Nehru Adopted the Forward Policy
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Forward Policy” in the early 1960s was a strategic move that led Indian soldiers to gradually occupy territories that India considered its own. The CIA of the United States believed that this was the primary consideration behind China’s attack.
China, which claimed a piece of land that Indian forces were gradually moving to occupy, wanted to punish India for its actions. And this was the reason why on October 10, 1962, our soldiers witnessed a painful attack on Thagla Ridge. But it wasn’t a random attack from the Chinese side; they were executing a strategic plan to counter the Indian forces.
Operation Leghorn:
India had devised its own plan for Thagla Ridge, referred to as Operation Leghorn, under the command of Brigadier John Dalvi, the Seventh Brigade Commander. The primary objective of this operation was to remove Chinese soldiers from Thagla Ridge. However, India didn’t anticipate a major battle.
Just a few days before putting this plan into action, on September 20, there were small skirmishes and grenade throwing between Indian and Chinese soldiers near the Thagla Ridge. It was clear that China intended to convey a message to India regarding its occupation strategy and they will not remain silent.
Regarding Operation Leghorn, China’s Defense Minister, Lin Biao, briefed on October 6th, stating that Chinese forces were expecting an attack on October 10th. When China’s Defense Minister conveyed this information to China’s dictator, Mao Zedong, he responded, “It seems like armed coexistence won’t work; it is just as we expected.” Nehru’s intentions to use force were not surprising. It had always seemed that Nehru aimed to establish control over Aksai Chin and Thagla Ridge. Nehru believed that he would achieve everything he desired.
As a result, a significant military meeting was held in Beijing where the Chinese leadership and China’s Central Military Council decided to initiate a war against India. On the other hand, the Indian government and Indian military officials were confident that China would not provoke a war. Consequently, very little preparation was undertaken by the Indian military.
R. Swaminathan, in his writings (Lessons of 1962) about this period, highlights how India’s top military leadership in August 1962 ruled out war with China based on previous experiences. In September 1962, Major General J.S. Dhillon remarked that based on past experiences, it seemed that firing a few rounds at the Chinese soldiers would make them flee in fear, and it was highly unlikely that they would declare war on us.
Therefore, when India faced a full-scale attack for the first time, it was highly unexpected.
Operation Leghorn in Action (Eastern Sector):
In the Eastern sector, the Seventh Brigade, embarking on their crucial operation, needed almost 600 tons of supplies to carry out their attack. However, they had less than 20% of the required supplies.
The situation took a harrowing turn following the attack on October 10, 1962. For Indian soldiers, it felt like being on the edge of a ticking time bomb where anything could happen at any moment. After October 18, 1962, Chinese preparations intensified on a larger scale, and by October 19th, they were already at their peak. They had prepared for an attack with around 2000 Chinese soldiers, even preparing for a night assault.
Witnessing this, Brigadier Dalvi offered his resignation, stating that it was a lost cause. There was no way they could prepare in time, and sending soldiers into combat would be a death trap.
The next day, on October 20th, at 5:14 in the morning, they began heavy artillery and mortar fire, which lasted for seven hours. Within hours before noon, the Indian Army’s Seventh Brigade was entirely wiped out. By morning, 493 Indian soldiers had become martyrs, and Brigadier Dalvi was captured by Chinese forces.
In just one day, all the disputed territory was occupied. However, the Chinese forces did not stop here; they continued to advance into the North-East Frontier Agency and further into the city of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Tawang is located at an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet and is about 445 kilometers away from the state capital, Itanagar, in the Western Most Region of Arunachal Pradesh, sharing its boundaries with China in the North and with Bhutan in the South-West.
On October 23, 1962, Chinese forces also occupied this area. Attacks were launched here at night, and because not only were the Chinese forces more numerous and better prepared, but they were also positioned at a higher ground, it became impossible to defend Tawang. Indian forces made the right judgment here and withdrew.
Situation in Western Sector:
What Was Happening in the Aksai Chin and Ladakh Region
On the night of October 19, Chinese forces launched an attack in the Western sector as well, specifically targeting several Indian force positions. These included the posts of Daulat Beg Oldie, Chip Chap Valley, and Galwan Post.
Positioned to the north of Daulat Beg Oldie was a post known as Chandini, where a mere 30 Indian soldiers were stationed. In a remarkable display of valor, this outpost successfully withstood an assault by 500 Chinese soldiers for an entire day. Tragically, all but one of the 30 soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice.
The next day, on October 20th, Chinese forces easily captured Chip Chap Valley, Galwan Valley, and Pangong Lake. The area that held the utmost significance for the Indian forces in this region was Chushul, situated at 14,000 feet. It was a small valley with Pangong Tso Lake to the north, and it stood as the sole Indian post in Eastern Ladakh.
It was in this very region that the Battle of Rezang La, one of the most heroic battles of the war, took place. If you look at the official dates, this battle lasted from October 20, 1962, to November 21, 1962, totaling 33 days. However, the actual fighting occurred for approximately two weeks within this period.
Pause Emerged in the conflict:
After October 24th, a pause emerged in the conflict, which continued for the next three weeks. This was because Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai wrote a letter to Prime Minister Nehru proposing certain terms. In this letter, three key points were mentioned:
- Both sides would peacefully resolve this dispute.
- Both sides’ armies would move 20 kilometers away from the Line of Actual Control.
- Both Prime Ministers would meet again to reach a settlement.
It is essential to mention that by this point, China had gained control over a significant amount of disputed territory. In this war, they had laid claim to all the areas they had declared, causing substantial damage to the Indian Army. When Prime Minister Nehru read this letter, he did not trust China’s intentions. He believed that China might make another move in their favor. In response, Nehru wrote that while China had made several declarations about peacefully resolving the border situation, the ongoing actions on the ground contradicted these declarations.
A few days later, on November 4th, Zhou Enlai wrote to Nehru again, suggesting that India should give Aksai Chin to China, and in return, China would accept the MacMahon Line as a boundary in the Eastern sector.
Pandit Nehru outrightly rejects this proposal. On November 14th, in response, he writes that China is making a generous offer, one that benefits them from past aggression and secures it with the latest aggression, including the disputed region of Aksai Chin. However, one thing is made abundantly clear: this is a demand that India will never agree to, whatever the consequences may be, and no matter how long or challenging the struggle may become.
Fighting resumes:
As soon as this letter is received, on November 14, 1962, the fighting resumes on Pandit Nehru’s 73rd birthday. This time, for the first time in the war, India launches a counterattack, known as the Battle of Walong.
In reality, during the three weeks before this, India had to rescue some of its soldiers from the Assam Rifles. On November 5th, during this rescue mission, some Indian forces strategically occupied an important location known as Green Pimple. This was a hilly region located between Walong and Kibithu.
On the morning of November 14th, when this battle begins, the 6 Kumaon Infantry launches a counterattack. Four companies are formed:
- A Company under Captain B.N. Singh
- B Company under Major B.N. Sharma
- C Company is kept in reserve
- D Company is positioned at Green Pimple
A and B Companies engage in heavy fighting during this battle, with heavy firing observed. The D Company was only 20 meters away from its target but could not advance due to heavy casualties and limited fire support. The reserve team is called in for assistance. However, before more troops could reach, the Chinese forces launch an attack on November 16th, surrounding the remaining Indian troops. Walong falls under Chinese occupation. An estimated 642 soldiers are martyred in Walong. While India lost this battle, China eventually vacated this area, making it a part of India’s territory. Today, Walong is one of the most easternmost places in India.
Next, we come to the Western sector, where the bravest battle of this war was fought – the Battle of Rezang La.
The Battle of Rezang La:
Rezang La is a feature at an altitude of 16,000 feet, which is of immense importance for defending Chushul. If any invader crosses this point, they can easily advance towards Chushul. The responsibility of defending Chushul was given to the 13th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment, specifically to their C Company, consisting of 117 soldiers under the command of Major Shaitan Singh.
Around 5:00 AM on November 18th, Chinese forces initiated an attack. Two out of three Indian platoons present their opened fire, causing heavy casualties among the Chinese. The first attempt by the Chinese failed, and they then began heavy artillery firing. Indian troops took cover in their trenches to save themselves from the shelling.
When the Chinese attempted to occupy Rezang La for the second time, the Indian platoon unleashed their remaining ammunition upon them. Approximately 20 Chinese troops survived, while 12 Indian troops from both sides engaged in hand-to-hand combat. The second attempt by China also failed.
Subsequently, a third attempt was made by Chinese forces, with a significant number of troops and the use of artillery and mortars. Eventually, the Chinese army succeeded in this battle.
Despite the loss, the Battle of Rezang La is famous for the incredible bravery displayed by our soldiers. In the end, there were 109 soldiers fighting to the last man. The battle was a “last man standing” fight.
Some Indian soldiers were captured by Chinese forces, but those who became martyrs on the Indian side had emptied their weapons. This is the reason why Major Shaitan Singh became another Indian to be honored with the Param Vir Chakra, the nation’s highest gallantry award.
During this battle, Major Shaitan Singh was seriously wounded by the Chinese firing. Two soldiers attempted to reach him to a safer location, but in response, he said, “Leave me here.” He hid behind a large rock and fought until the end. Later, his body was found at the same spot.
Prime Minister addressing the entire nation:
On November 20, 1962, the Chinese army was advancing in both sectors. Prime Minister Nehru addressed the entire nation on All India Radio, saying, “Brothers and sisters, a large number of Chinese troops are marching into the Northeast Frontier Agency. We have seen some reverses in places like Walong, but I want to make it clear that we shall not rest till the invader goes out of India or is pushed out. I want to make that clear to all of you and especially our countrymen in Assam, to whom our heart goes out at this moment.”
A day before this, on November 19th, Prime Minister Nehru wrote a letter to the American President, John F. Kennedy. In this letter, he explained how the Chinese forces had planned this offensive and their propaganda, presenting their three-point proposal and putting on a play for peace.
Prime Minister Nehru sought assistance from the American President for military strikes against the Chinese. The involvement of the American military could have been a significant turning point in this war. However, the very next day, on November 21st, China unilaterally declared a ceasefire.
Ceasefire and Aftermath:
There’s a significant question as to why the Chinese forces, despite having such a large upper hand, stopped fighting. Some experts believe it was a practical decision. The harsh winter was approaching rapidly, making their supply lines vulnerable. Perhaps, more importantly, the American President, John F. Kennedy, had listened to Prime Minister Nehru’s plea. The United States was sending weapons, ammunition, and clothing to India at that time. So, in this situation, a strategic decision was made by the Chinese army to halt the fighting and declare victory.
The Chinese army also withdrew from the Chushul area, which is now a part of Indian territory. In the Eastern sector, the United States recognized the McMahon Line as the international border, including the entire area of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory. It is a different matter that today China has again raised its claims over Arunachal Pradesh’s area and the Aksai Chin area, which China had completely occupied back then. To this day, the United States recognizes Aksai Chin as a disputed area.
One interesting mention here is that when Prime Minister Nehru requested fighter jets from the United States, it’s reported that his request was denied, partly due to concerns about the situation in Aksai Chin. Kennedy’s reason for this was that the USA was involved in dealing with the Cuban Missile Crisis at that time, which was so significant that it almost led to a World War III. Internally, Prime Minister Nehru faced a lot of criticism for this, including criticism from President Radhakrishnan, and the defense minister V.K. Krishna Menon resigned from his position in response. Prime Minister Nehru himself openly accepted his mistakes.
Nehru’s Health:
After this defeat, Nehru’s health began deteriorating rapidly. It is said that the emotional stress, shock, and strain his body endured were significant factors. Behind his deteriorating health in the aftermath of this war, the stress caused by his leadership decisions was a major contributor. Nearly a year later, in January 1964, Prime Minister Nehru suffered a stroke, and a few months later, in May 1964, Jawaharlal Nehru passed away.
Ongoing Tensions
Afterward, the relations between India and China never fully recovered, with ongoing disputes over Aksai Chin and other territories. There were minor conflicts in 1967 and 1987, and clashes have been observed even today, including the Doklam clash in 2017.
Conclusion:
The 1962 conflict between India and China stands as a momentous chapter in history, forged through unfounded suspicions, territorial contentions, and pivotal strategic choices. Grasping the catalysts behind this conflict is paramount to gaining insight into the intricacies of international relations and the lasting impact of historical events.
