Book Review: Himalayan Blunder
Tuesday, 13. February 2007 - 12:55 AM
Preface
Oct 20, 1959, Ladakh:
Havaldar Karam Singh and his 20-strong troop, doing their routine border patrolling rounds amid heavy snowfall. In an eyewink nine men in the patrol are buried dead under a hailstorm of bullets, and the rest including Karam Singh are taken prisoners. Courtesy the Chinese army. What stuns the Havaldar is not so much the unexpected onslaught as where it occurred: 40 kilometres right on this side of the border .
The Army Chief, General Thimmayya’s worst fears about China stood confirmed. When he confronted the powers that be and requested an immediate modernisation of the Armed Forces, and special attention to Chinese designs, V.K. Krishna Menon, the Defence Minister, analysed the problem differently. In his view, General Thimmayya was a soldier of the Raj era who was alarmed easily. Pakistan, not China was India’s “number one” enemy, he opined. The General’s response was interesting: I understand our Defence Minister’s perspective. I have regards for his ability but I’m aggrieved at his foolishness. One does not rank enemies as first, second and the rest. Perhaps, it is done in Communist politics; as an Army Chief, I do not rank enemies.
The General submitted his resignation when Menon’s interference breached tolerance. But a panic-stricken Nehru’s emotional entreaty charmed the General into withdrawing it. In Parliament however, Nehru rose in defence of Menon: I’ve spoken to General Thimmayya. He blows issues out of proportion. He has unnecessarily created a misunderstanding with Krishna Menon, a veteran diplomat. It is ridiculous to blame Menon for interference in the issue of promotions in the Armed Forces. Silly! I totally reject General Thimmayya’s allegations.
Himalayan Blunder
This rather lengthy recount is one of the several significant botches recorded in John P Dalvi’s Himalayan Blunder. The book is a Manual of War Failure, recommended reading for everybody who wants to know why exactly India lost the 1962 war with China.
It was banned almost immediately on its release, in 1969. I read the abridged Kannada translation by Ravi Belagere. Which kind of struck me as funny. And unfortunate that I had to read a translated version because the original in English is banned. The excerpts I’ve quoted in this post are my (re)translatations from Kannada. Funny, isn’t it? Happens only in India.
John Parashuram Dalvi was the Brigadier of the 7th Infantry formed to “fight” at the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA), which is today’s Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Nagaland. His eyewitness account of the war, events that led to it, as well as his wonderful insights into the 1962 humiliation form Himalayan Blunder.
Dalvi recounts a chilling precursor to 1962. During his days in the Wellington Defence Services Staff College in 1950, he quotes a colleague and army veteran, Joe of British origin: Friends, leaders of your country have no foresight. They are mum about the Chinese invasion of Tibet. They don’t understand the reality that India’s backdoor has been broken down…. Boys! Take it from me. Some of you folks sitting here will fight with the Chinese army before you retire.
Foresight was least expected from Nehru who in those days hallucinated as the champion of world peace. Nehru’s stand on the invasion of Tibet was but a minor testimony to this: we don’t have any right to put our forces in Tibet irrespective of whether it is independent, or is part of China.
Starting around 1951, China began its silent preparations: it laid roads capable of transporting army vehicles (supporting something like 4 tonnes), made airstrips to land its combat aircraft, set up telephones and communication networks… In parallel, it began marching its troops into the region and even gobbled up parts of Aksai Chin territory belonging to India.
Meanwhile, Jawaharlal Nehru’s Hindi-Chini bhai bhai symphony had reached a crescendo. China played along–it had recently concluded a war with Korea and badly needed time and resources for what it had in mind.
Brigadier Dalvi narrates with heart-rending precision the betrayal of the political leadership at every step. However, the principal culprits responsible for our defeat stand out clearly: Jawaharlal Nehru, Krishna Menon, and General B.M. Kaul who Nehru had handpicked to lead the war efforts against China.
B.M. Kaul sitting in Delhi had no clue about the situation on the ground in Arunachal Pradesh. He had allowed himself to believe what–a mere month before the actual Chinese invasion–Nehru said: China is not a warmonger. They have a “minor border dispute” with us. Dhola Post was an unncessary outpost created at B.M. Kaul’s behest: it was an invitation to attack. Yet, on September 8 1962, when the first sparks of war flew, he was holidaying in Srinagar with his family. And he didn’t think it was important to cancel his vacation: after all, Pandit Nehru was abroad. B.M. Kaul finally landed at the spot on Oct 10, 1962. Says Dalvi,
We watched the platoon of Punjabis under Major Chaudary’s leadership march towards Yum Sola….General Kaul stood next to me, weighing the success of his first stratagem. The platoon’s strength including Major Chaudary was 51. They’d barely covered a few feet when the sky came apart. Around 800 Chinese, positioned at the bank of Nam ka Chu [river] and atop the Thagla mountain began showering bullets. The first round hurt Major Chaudary’s legs. The Punjabi Platoon retaliated furiously, and dismembered and wounded a few hundred Chinese. Six of our men died in the first round. But General Kaul’s enthusiasm didn’t wither. As our men readied themselves for the second round of assault, a huge swarm of Chinese troops descended. Major Chaudary yelled to General Kaul to save his men. Never the men to turn their back from battle, our Punjabi Platoon looked at us, helplessly. All of us, including General Kaul understood what that meant. Our men had run out of ammunition.
The courageous General who had roared reassuringly to the Indian public about teaching China a lesson, couldn’t stomach the reality he saw before him. Dalvi recounts Kaul’s true character.
My God! You’re right. China has prepared itself for a full-scale war. It’s each man for himself from now on. You’re in charge of your Brigade. This is not in my reach. Only a Brigadier can execute this kind of war.
And he turned and left, leaving Dalvi to helplessly watch the massacre of the whole platoon. Dalvi records several similar incidents where a grossly underprepared Indian army faced the Chinese who were superior to them in every single aspect. A most telling instance:
…. a soldier saluted me as I stepped into the bunker and said, “Sahib, look there! the enemy is on the opposite slope. They’re burning firewood to beat the cold.” I felt a slap of humiliation. This was one of the rare instances this happened in thousands of wars throughout history. Burning a fire at night is a sure invitation for the enemy to attack. But then, this enemy on the slopes of the Thagla mountain was confident: both of his strength and our sorry state. He knew for certain that we would not attack: we could not.
In his “final journey,” Dalvi pays pages of homage to every footsoldier, Major, signaller, Havaldar…small and big, who died defending the indefensible. And the reason? You can’t read this with a straight face:
The Chinese used the same war strategies in vogue for centuries but…. their guns were more modern, and their clothes were warmer than ours…. out there, away from the warm world, the October chill doesn’t descend from the skies; it climbs from the depths of the spinal cord. All our men had to wear were cotton clothes suited for summer, shoes which slide on snow… the only colour my men could see was the ash-white colour of death. A flash of sunlight was enough to blind them. This blindness caused several men to walk directly into the waiting arms of the enemy. My request for snow glasses was granted, all right, but when they arrived, the air-dropped bag dropped somewhere in the abyss-like crevices…
You need to read this book to believe the shamelessless of Nehru’s government, which failed to supply these unfortunate men with food. Towards the end, Dalvi and those that remained went without food for more than 48 hours.
We descended the Dhola mountain after the Chinese disappeared from sight. We gave up the final hope of even sighting a small tukdi (regiment) of our men. I descended rapidly out of a sheer will to live. The slope ended in a forest…the path was even tougher to navigate. Meanwhile, I had lost four of the eleven men following me. I reached a clearing, which then led to a small mud road. It was all over.
Dalvi had walked right into a full-fledged Chinese army camp. On October 22 1962, 9:22 A.M, John P. Dalvi was taken prisoner of war. He remained in Chinese custody from October 22 1962 till about May 1963. What’s more interesting is the aftermath.
We landed in Dum Dum airport in Calcutta on May 4 1963. We were received cordially, appropriately. But the silence there was disquieting. I realized later. We had to prove we weren’t brainwashed by Chinese ideology. We had to prove we were still loyal to India. My own army maintained a suspicious distance. The irony cannot be harsher: this treatment from a country, which for more than a decade had brainwashed itself into holding the Chinese baton wherever it went.
It is more apt to call the Indo-China War as the Battle of Thagla, the altar where Pandit Nehru sacrificed hundreds of unprepared, ill-equipped, and underfed Indian soldiers as the price of his ineptitude.
Small wonder, the book is banned in India. I wager that even if it was not banned, we’d never learn because Himalayan Blunder has simply proven its contemporary relevance in the sense of history repeating itself: notice today’s Chinese cheerleaders who occupy disproportionate clout in the UPA government. Yet none of us seem to pay heed to their misdeeds–from escalated Naxalism/Maoism to their shenanigans in Nepal.
By the way, the Battle of Thagla began on October 20, 1962 and lasted just over 3 hours, between 5 A.M and 8 A.M. An entire brigade was massacred.
Postscript: The book is very expensive to buy from Amazon.com. Dear reader, if you can get the original at around $20, I shall buy it from you. Leave a comment to let me know.
Cross-posted on Desicritics.
13. February 2007 - 10:47 AM
Oh dear. Is there not enough history for us to cry on already? Why oh why are we soo cursed when it comes to national leaders. What the hell is wrong with us as a nation, a civilization?
Yes I know due to Nehru’s devastating rule, 90% of our current problems arise and accrue, but we have not learnt from 1000 year enslavement, why would we learn from a 50 yr old debacle!
13. February 2007 - 11:00 AM
Very moving account,thanks Sandeep for reminding the thanksless nation about the sacrifices made by our brave men.
Two things,if i recollect rght,shall like to share with you.
1.As I remember just about the same time Lata Mangeshkar had sung a song ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logo…’,penned by Late Pradip.Some years after this war,I went to watch a movie called “Haqueekat” with parents,and as in those times documentries were shown before the film,in this Docu.Nehru was shown wiping his eyes as the song played in the back ground.I could not understand – then – when my father commented it as “crocodile tears”.The year was 1973 or 1974,not sure.
2.As I was told by my grandfather,whose younger brother too never returned from this war,commenting that our Ordinance factories were busy ‘churning’ third rate ‘pressure cookers’ than providing ammuniations to the men.
As for the book,since i have few contacts (in laws) in UK,tell me how I could get the book.
PI.
13. February 2007 - 12:23 PM
Prudent,
It’s very painful to read Dalvi’s account of the actual war. And thanks, the moment you get hold of it, please send me an email to sanwriter AT GMAIL DOT COM.
13. February 2007 - 6:53 PM
Prudent, Sandeep,
I also heard that our defence factories were producing lanterns, because Nehru was concerned about the “poor and the downtrodden”.
Of course, nothing wrong about concern for poor, but lanterns should be produced by lantern factories !!
13. February 2007 - 7:09 PM
Shadows,
LOL
There’s more. Just wait for my next post on a scathing analysis Dalvi has given in the same book.
14. February 2007 - 5:30 PM
sandeep
I shalltry to get this from Amazon. Meanwhile do read the book The guilty men of 1962 by DR Makekar. This is published by Penguin India. My edition even has a foreword by George Fernandes. Honeslty he was not wrong when he spoke of China being the number 1 threat. More or less says the same things – lesser from the soldiers point of view but gives the historical background. Interestingly during the Korean war – both Gen Thimayya and KAul were part of the UN peacekeeping force. The Chinese army went out of their way to befriend Kaul.
14. February 2007 - 6:13 PM
Niketan,
Interesting, and thanks! I didn’t know this about Kaul. He wrote a book later in a (failed) bid to absolve himself of the responsbility for the failure of the 1962 war.
15. February 2007 - 11:18 AM
Hi! Niketan/Sandeep
If my information is right then the same gen.Kaul was asked by Nehru to investigate the mystery of Neta ji’s propagated death in air crash.And true to his salt gen Kaul had confirmed the ’story’ of air crash and death of Neta Ji.
I am not,too sure about it if this was the same Gen.Kaul.
Please throw some light.
PI
16. February 2007 - 5:21 PM
Prudent Indian
The person appointed by Nehru to investigate Netaji’s disappearance was Shahnawaz Khan who was a member of the INA. He had even migrated to Pakistan after partition. Nehru requested him to return to India and asked him to head the panel to investigate Netaji’s death. I do not know if Gen Kaul was part of this team.
Sandeep
These details are there in Dr Mankekars book (sorry for the wrong spelling)
But it is well known that Kaul was Nehru’s lackey. He supeseded both Gen Thimayya and Thorat. Gen Kaul’s appointment was not taken kindly by the junior officers.
16. February 2007 - 6:11 PM
Niketan,
Absolutely right on Kaul’s appointment. More on that in my sequel to the book review.
17. February 2007 - 3:14 PM
Thanks Niketan.
I wasn’t sure.Still have some doubt though.
25. June 2007 - 12:29 PM
It is very difficult to digest the fact that we were defeated by Chinese in 1962. I am still searching for some unanswered questions, like why did we refrain from using Air Power? But after reading this review I am getting some understanding of the sitution and the people who made this sitution.
12. September 2007 - 2:46 PM
Sorry to comment so late after this was posted on the net. But you should look at a site called Maddy’s Ramblings. The said person says that India lost because the army brass wouldn’t fight according to Kishna Menon’s superior strategy of taking on the Chinese in the plains. I refrain from commenting on this statement. But seriously, can anyone tell me whose side was Krishna Menon really on?
1. October 2007 - 1:38 PM
I am not sure if the book is still banned in India because I had read a paperback edition published by Jaico book in probably in 1971. The book is a must read for every self respecting Indian. If the book is still banned then why not start a campaign to force the Government to lift the ban? I am all for it.
The book contains descriptions of incidents which can only be called black comedy. One I remember.
A dakota of Indian Air Force was flying to forward air-base in Himalayas and there was a co-ordination meeting of sort in Srinagar. Representative of state govt requested some goats to be flown for research purposes. This while a war was looming over the nation. Can it get any blacker than this.
I also very distinctly remember a comment by Brig Dalvi. He notes (not exactly his words) – My soldiers were required to cook their meal of chapati and daal when children of reach can walk into any store in capital and buy imported chock lets.
13. October 2007 - 12:16 PM
Sear Sandeep,
I would like to read entire book. Please let me know where can i get it? my mail id is nimeshkhadilkar@yahoo.com
15. October 2007 - 10:19 PM
If Mr.Rahul Gandhi can and does read, this book should be presented to him and also to his mom.
26. October 2007 - 8:06 PM
DEAR ALL !!!
The book is available at ” INDUS INTERNATIONAL” New Delhi.
Google the site and order immediately. The cost is Rs. 395.00 – postage free. Delivery within 4 to 5 days.
Its an investment chaps. Order fast. Dont know how many copies are available. It will be an understatement to say its a must read.
LALIT
21. April 2008 - 2:40 AM
dear sandeep,
i dont know much about history neither “neharu” nor “rahul” sorry “rahul gandhi”, but ‘m very much sure about one thing until and unless we believe and understand fatima bhutto’s statements “I don’t believe in birth-right politics. I don’t think, nor have I ever thought, that my name qualifies me for anything” we the south asian nations, i.e. the indian subcontinent will never improve, looking at the present scenario, which include the economic growth of china, their influence in africa, northeast, the burial of “free tibet”, the growing influence of the so called communists of India (in UPA), and the rise of maoists in nepal (observe there behavior), in future the so called “indian subcontinent” (this may be little exaggeration but it is a fact)may referred by chines as “south western province” and later by the world as “south western province of china”.
6. June 2008 - 11:06 PM
Hi Sandeep
Thanks for the review. May be you should read Neville Maxwells’s
India’s China War also, if u haven’t done yet. I think this book is not banned in India
10. July 2008 - 4:38 PM
Hi
I am not one of those who critcize Nehru ideology. We owe a lot to him . But talking about three biggest blunder he comminted . Indo-Sino Relation tops the list, I too have certain background of Army – Home ministry . All i can say is lets propagate this book more, so coming generation doesn’t commit a Himalayan blunder again. Its said Nehru took the defeat personally and led to his death (well he was actually old).
The other Two Nehru prodigies which is marring this nation
- Kashmir Problem
- So called Secularism
Thanks to above his clan will never be out of business and will rule for few more decade.
18. July 2008 - 11:24 PM
Hi folks,
There are a few errors that I have noticed amomg some of the posters. Gen. Thimmayya was never superseded as he retired as the COAS. Lt. Gen. SPP Thorat was and resigned as a result of Gen. Thapar (Karan Thapar’s Papa) becoming the new COAS. These Generals were forced out as they were not toeing the Govt. line or rather speaking the truth re China.
Lt. Gen. BM Kaul never became the Chief. He was dumped after Bomdilla fell and Lt. Gen. Manekshaw (who at that particular time was going through a false accusation brought out by VK Krishna Menon and Gen Kaul – the accussation was thrown out and Maj Gen Manekshaw was promoted as Lt Gen.) took over as the IV Corp Commander.
The book is available at Lancer Publishers. Don’t worry they have as many copies as needed. I bought mine from them.
Neville Maxwells’s India’s China War is written as if India started the war. This is not true. the Chinese started the massive shelling and according to Brig Dalvi (based on his professional estimates) there were 3 divisions amounting to 20000 soldiers compared to our barely 2000 soldiers with Artillery that was OUTDISTANCED by the Chinese Infantry Mortars!!!
Cheers,
Sanju
31. July 2008 - 10:20 PM
its horrible to percieve the the truth that a so called leader like j.nehru made the whole nation go down infront of those cheap chinese communist army. brigadier John Parashuram Dalavi should be treated as awar hero………………………….I salute the great man….
3. August 2008 - 9:39 AM
hi all,,, i haven’t read that book,,, but read the kannada translation of it written by the graet RAVI BELIGERE. really its a heart touchin one,,if anybody knows kannada and want to read it,, i guess they will easily get it in any book shop,, its only 100bugs…. and thanks sandeep for givin this chance to pendown somethin about this great book,,
9. August 2008 - 4:19 PM
The book was banned in India, though it was released again in year 2000. Its available in New Delhi at the English Book Store at CP; it costs rupees 380. If you need the book; I have a spare copy; contact me at : bringmepeace@gmail.com
27. September 2008 - 1:17 AM
I read this book and was left ashamed to the core…the fact that our brave soldiers did not even have basic rations and clothes was the most pathetic thing, I hated Nehru after reading this book, but would like to forgive him on account on him being human, and would like to shoot all the people who banned this book. Instead of learning from our mistakes we prefer to shut out history. The current scenario is extremely scary, seeing the way China is building up its arms and its recent takeover of Tibet, and the border skirmishes we have had with them, it seems history is repeating itself…i just hope we are better prepared this time!!!
5. October 2008 - 10:29 PM
Hi
if any one have an e-book copy of this book please post it for the benefit of those who cant get the book. We should let all know the reality of our so called ‘great’ leaders whom are iconised by the ruling clan for the last 60 years. Think of Tibet, Chinese war, Kashmir problem, North East insurgency, Goa fiasco, UN permanent seat refusal and nominating China, refusing to test nuclear in 60’s and thereby missing the bus, tying with soviet block and embracing utopian socialism..list goes on…the majority of India’s problem that it faces today is result of Nehru’s foolishness. What if Patel, the rightful candidate was India’s first PM! Read his letter warning Nehru about China in 1950 itself! http://www.friendsoftibet.org/main/sardar.html
28. October 2008 - 9:35 PM
Really this book was superb.. i am thankful to Mr.Ravi belgere for translating this to Kannada. That Snow glass part makes me so emotional i couldn’t stop my tears.
2. December 2008 - 7:11 PM
this is the one which shows to salute our soliders……
10. December 2008 - 3:14 PM
Thanks to Internet, we are discovering true-stories about the times, we weren’t born.
People like Arun Shourie, Ravi Belagere etc., (though they are known to be with a Political Party) do care to write and inform us about hidden/lesser known facts.
However, Isn’t it time, we stop blaming Nehru-Gandhi and focus on What can be done today?
Accusing comes easy, but getting things done is tuff.
Didn’t we see it happen time and again.
NDA Govt handed over terrorists,
UPA Govt couldn’t do anything during it’s term.
30. December 2008 - 12:17 AM
Dear readers,
I read this book two years back. In this two years i read this book 2-3 times. In so many scenes/chapters i cried alone.
In kannada you can get it at Rs.100 only at Bhavana prakashana.
19. January 2009 - 12:48 PM
China is a strategic and political nightmare for India if it is not handled with core approach and fundamental communication between both nations.
I do not think this is a relationship that neither India nor China can afford to squander by warfare or a permanent state of tension. If India keeps up it’s economic growth and development (almost 100% likely for unforseen future) and America keeps sinking deeper into decadence along with the faltering fools in Eurabia, there will be a great need of increased trade and communications with China and Russia. Stronger diplomatic ties with Russia would ensure that India could do what they wanted to Pakistan without risking major conflicts with China.
Domestically, China is also more likely to approach a democracy rather than toughening, especially if they want to keep their growth and prosperity in the modern era of innovation demands and productivity. You cannot develop China further in the modern age anymore than Pakistan will ever pose a strategic threat to India on it’s own if Indian leadership decided to stand firm.
Get a good relationship with China without bending over and I see no limit to the growth and strategic security for India the next hundred+ years.
3. February 2009 - 5:52 PM
rahul sharma says that nehru had committed three blunders. but accoring to me he has committed ‘n’ number of blunders. taken any subject. he has bludnered. first of all, i personally feel that gandhi did a bluinder by projecting nehru as his successor. coming to nehru, he has done more harm to india than any politician.
1. when britishers took 200 years to unify 500 odd provinces to make it one, nehru divided it in just a matter of 4 years by dividing the country based on language. for this sardar patel and Dr. Babu rajendra prasad opposed vehemently opposed. but he never cared for them.
2. there was a proposal to link ganga-cauvery rivers so that floods could be prvented in himalyana region and drought problem of south india could have been solved. he never gave a thought about this project.
3. his theory of socialism has to be appreciated only by his family and not by any other person.
4. Though churchil was not a astrologer, he had predicted that indians are not fit to rule , ….even a drop of water will not be spared from taxation …..
12. February 2009 - 3:31 PM
Dear Sandeep,
The Original book is reprinted in 1997 and its available in some book stalls of delhi. As for about b’lore, i dont have an idea.
In kannada, its too abridged by Mr. Ravi Belagere. If possible read the english transcript by J.P. Dalvi.. Its too good…
12. February 2009 - 4:33 PM
“India’s China War” by Neville Maxwell is available online.
http://www.centurychina.com/plaboard/uploads/1962war.htm
26. February 2009 - 10:24 PM
hey can any one provide me a e-book of Himalayan Blunders, I searched for it, but no sucess.
4. March 2009 - 12:41 PM
hello patriots,
it was absolutely disgusting to know that our soldiers were not given proper food during the war against china. and our so called freedom fighter,j.nehru was reading a prepared notes in the court of UNO.
meanwhile there were a few drops of tears in the eyes about those soldiers who fought the war with all odds with them.
please do salute them….
27. March 2009 - 11:13 PM
that incident of war is a tough lesson for INDIANS
27. March 2009 - 11:20 PM
It was heartbreaking to hear the fate of soldiers who fought that war..And a bad defense strategy of Nehru government..
Now its better to be alert on that border issue..China is ever thankless and backstabbing country for India..
9. April 2009 - 10:06 PM
Hope this helps: http://www.flipkart.com/himalayan-blunder-dalvi-jp-curtain/8185019665-bw23fghv9c
Himalayan Blunder: The Curtain Raiser To The Sinoindian War Of 1962 (Hardcover – 1997)
by Dalvi Jp
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18. April 2009 - 12:52 AM
when britishers took 200 years to unify 500 odd provinces to make it one, nehru divided it in just a matter of 4 years by dividing the country based on language. for this sardar patel and Dr. Babu rajendra prasad opposed vehemently opposed. but he never cared for them.
@Rajeev
Please read some history. Linguistic states were formed due to massive protests by people. Nehru was an imperialist who opposed people’s languages and linguistic states but he was a pragmatic person and hence finally gave in to the concept of linguistic states.
Linguistic states is the best thing that happened in independent India and it simplified education and administration, cleared misgivings regarding survival of Indian languages, and united people speaking the same langauge. The stronger the sub-nationalism, the more developed the region.
14. July 2009 - 1:16 PM
Reading all this bitter truth I say that there is not too much change from 1962.Today also we can not believe governement..We all know that KASAB is a terrorist and we have make him a HERO…..the case will continue upto 10-15 years and all witness will get separated from the case
Dont you think that this will increase the confidence of these idiots..
The actuall punishment should be killing him by stones.. publicaly that will teach the terrorists and their supporting nations a lession
Before even planning something these idiots will think 100 times
14. July 2009 - 6:20 PM
I was surprised to read in the Wall Street Journal:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124748777728332473.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
I doubt India has really any strategy for defense nor a strategy for governance at the moment. What are their plans? None really. The same statue quo.
25. July 2009 - 3:36 PM
Blunders: congress itself is a big blunder. They never allowed us to know our true history. Indias true history is being written by Swatantrya Vir Savarkar. Visit savarkar.org and get boos for free and please do read it.
26. July 2009 - 4:29 PM
hi Sandeep,
dont know if you managed to get the book, but i think you can order it on Flipkart.com…
31. July 2009 - 12:21 PM
I can understand now why a true Indian hates Nehru and congress. Oh!! God I do not know if We will able to see India without these …… leaders.
31. July 2009 - 9:34 PM
i have read Mankekars recording of the situation in “The guilty men of 1962″ available from Amazon.com
Some of his observations are very critical of the political establishment. He accuses Nehru not of stupidity but of a wooly headed stubborn belief in the innocence of the Chinese against all facts and evidence to the contrary.
Krishna Menon is another culprit. His sterling managerial skills were shadowed by his interference in issues military and constant bellitling of army chiefs. The army was politicised by Menon. The next to blame is the army itself that went soft after winning the 1947 Pak war.
I request readers to see the similarities between now and 1954-62 in the political establishment. We have a peacenik PM, a home ministry that is the resort of retirees (Patil and now Krishna) and a defense procurement system that is mired in red tape. 37 years later we seemed to have learned little from our bitter experiences.
29. August 2009 - 5:08 PM
hi,
can u help me buy the book?
31. August 2009 - 5:21 PM
Are we still prepared to handle a similar situation again…. may be projected in 2012….
I don’t feel so but we have to do some brainstorming about it….
1. September 2009 - 10:54 AM
yes Arun….you are right….we have a similar shameless leadership even today….Pakistanis attack us and we look towards others, like beggars,for taking action….why should any other country take action on our behalf…..our country has been made so helpless by these politicians that it can not act on its own….shame!….everybody inside the country knows clearly that these naxalites are being driven by China….and these politicians keep mum about all this and never take any strong action against these terrorists…why?…perhaps because they always think of their vote bank, not about their country,their motherland..
1. September 2009 - 1:40 PM
I thing the recent border crossing of chinese choppers mean something to think about.Some kinda provokes!!
7. September 2009 - 1:56 PM
Very appropriate review.
The book seems to be available on flipkart now for Rs. 395/- Hope to buy it soon.
10. September 2009 - 10:33 AM
Hey the book is available on lancr publishers, follow the link
http://www.lancerpublishers.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=dalvi&osCsid=a1e2a98b6f5cf9ea29c281e91efc9346&x=6&y=2
16. September 2009 - 2:05 PM
India should Retaliate to chinese incursions if they come inside to our border indian Army shuld warn them and if possible capture or Kill them then and there ,” Indian Politicians Playing with the Dignity of the Country”
16. September 2009 - 6:13 PM
Hey Vishal,
I think our soldiers’ are still living in 1962 era, ill-equipped and least infrastructure made in border areas; our army men use mule to transport food, ammunition etc. even in 2009 almost after 50 years of fist sino-indian war.
It proves that our Congress led govt. did not take any lesson from 1962’s massacre and so Foreign Minister says sino-indian border in world’s most peaceful border in this whole world. What a pity!
IAF’s #20 wing operational in north-east region uses Mig-21 (flying coffin) where their Chinese counterpart has AIDC F-CK-1 a 5th generation fighter aircraft product of China’s indigenous fighter project. Our Tejas LCA a 4.5 generation aircraft which is proposed to be replacement of Mig-21 still in paper. Did you see Chinese ammunition and PLA’s war accessories during joint exercise with Indian Army? I believe those were just glimpse of Chinese dragon power.
16. September 2009 - 6:22 PM
I just love these sentences:
“Dalvi recounts a chilling precursor to 1962. During his days in the Wellington Defence Services Staff College in 1950, he quotes a colleague and army veteran, Joe of British origin: Friends, leaders of your country have no foresight. They are mum about the Chinese invasion of Tibet. They don’t understand the reality that India’s backdoor has been broken down…. Boys! Take it from me. Some of you folks sitting here will fight with the Chinese army before you retire.”
How freaking dumb our politicians are… we’re peace loving people that’s OK! But we shouldn’t forget Shivaji Maharaj, Samrat Ashoka, Tipu Sultan, Rana Pratap, Netaji S C Bose were also children of their peace loving motherland, India.
17. September 2009 - 10:15 AM
hi,
I read all you peoples comments and thanks for sandeep to translating it, It was an eye opening for me,
but i wonder being in a democratic country how can they ban a book, its like banning freedom of speech.
19. September 2009 - 2:28 AM
hey this book is not truly banned,i am reading its original english version by natraj publishers dehradun.
23. September 2009 - 3:35 PM
This shows clearly how nehru and its congress want to hide the truth.
1962 was a shame on INDIA but still we are able to learn lessons, we simly like to hide the truth.
Could not imagine how a PM could be so cowards ?
“A single blade of grass does not grow there” so…
Thats the importance given to the national security by nehru.
Basically he was fool.. when one of army’s senior officer was talking to him about modernization of army he replied “Who is going to attck us ? “.
My god can you all imagine.. he was thinking himself as a world leader and a nobel prize winner for world peace .
Now we could understand why jinnah, patel and so many leaders were not willing to make him as PM of independent INDIA.
30. September 2009 - 5:23 PM
I personally feel after reading the book that if Indian Army or Indian Govt. had a task force to implement “What went wrong” and points raised in the book, then Indian ARMY can face any chinease threat.
18. October 2009 - 11:09 PM
it is so upsetting to read even a few excerpts. we can all get upset and be bitter on individuals. as an Indian we should be able to stand on our own two feet. as long as the politicians are only interested in looking after their own interests but not the national interests, I don’t think that there is going to be much change. if we look at our neighbours with better organised military it is unavoidable to note the different form of government. I begin to wonder if we deserve democracy
30. December 2009 - 3:38 PM
Right from elementary level to college, all the text books showing our national leaders independence struggle and how they fought to get the freedom, but such kind of failures not mentioned in the records to safe guard their names and images not cares of Nation’s interest.
INDIRA GANDHI’S policies on security arrangement and plans to modernise the our defense system was really miracules and she was very stubborn on such issues.
After Indira Gandhi, no one else took a serious view on neighbour countries attitudes and their movements, since every one busy detaining their posts and fighting each other with in the parties, between the parties, between the religionity,casts, languages, water sharing issues and no one party having common goal on national security.
Ministers busy swalloing public money for their inevsestment in elections.
Even some higher defence officials and judges involving in money & land scam.
Police officials busy hunting of females like Ruchika and some of the political leaders escorting them.
Even public, them selves not united and care about nation, busy fighting to own a sepaerate states,districs,taluks and even at our home itself not united.
Slowly all the party leaders bringing their kin and kith to their posts. In the name of democarcy, imperialism ruling our nation.
Its not too late, still every one, particulalry politicians should care about our nation’s security interest rather than their own interest.
But still, we advertise that we are living together and we are united.
Let us see each other freindly manner and trust each other.We Indians are hard workers and intelligent in all the feilds but still lacking in unity. If we are through in this particular issue, no one can think to shake our precious nation.
8. January 2010 - 10:59 PM
It is really distressing to see that our politicians, irrespective of their party affiliations are still not at all bothered about the Chinese threat. Our forces need better firepower, better aircraft ,better warships ,better equipment . But the Government is not in a hurry to buy them.They call it procedural delays. Why are there no procedural delays when a Chief Minister wants to buy the latest aircraft for himself/herself.Why are there no procedural delays when our politicians & babus have to go abroad on holidays in the garb of study tours.Why are there no procedural delays when our Netas indulge in gimmicks to get extra votes.It’s shameful ! It’s criminal negligence.It is high time that they start thinking about the country ,it’s integrity & security.
24. January 2010 - 1:44 PM
Recently I confronted a friend of mine when very assertivrly he confimed that nothing has changed relatively since 1962 Indo-China humiliating war. same way we had ill dressed and equiped army during Kargil, and hopelessly trained police on 26/11 during Mumbai terror attach.
Shame on all of us,
We are becoming very insensitive as a proud nation,No one backs cowards, we need to fix our own issues. Nepal moved away from us to China.
We shall work to see that Sri Lanka, Nepal, Burma join and become part of India, to start with. We have such traditional relationship with yellow race counties, we should have very special relationship with them. We need to have compulsory defence training for everyone for two years and one month evey tow years.
We need to be physically and mentally strong nation, we shall be able to take pride in our country, history.
It is never late.