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.
Tags: Books, Indian Politics, War on Communism, Weblogs
On 02.13.07 Tushar Saxena says:
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!
On 02.13.07 Prudent Indian says:
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.
On 02.13.07 Sandeep says:
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.
On 02.13.07 shadows says:
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 !!
On 02.13.07 Sandeep says:
Shadows,
LOL
There’s more. Just wait for my next post on a scathing analysis Dalvi has given in the same book.
On 02.14.07 Niketan says:
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.
On 02.14.07 Sandeep says:
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.
On 02.15.07 Prudent Indian says:
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
On 02.16.07 Niketan says:
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.
On 02.16.07 Sandeep says:
Niketan,
Absolutely right on Kaul’s appointment. More on that in my sequel to the book review.
On 02.17.07 prudent indian says:
Thanks Niketan.
I wasn’t sure.Still have some doubt though.
On 03.01.07 INI Signal - » Dictatorship is in the Veins says:
[...] The legatine parallels are visible: Nehru surrounded himself with weaklings so he could emerge the tallest, he didn’t think twice before sacrificing Krishna Menon–his protracted comrade and confidant–over a blunder of his own making, he treated corruption nonchalantly, and watched silently when hundreds of Chitpavan Brahmins were murdered by Congress party workers in the wake of Mahatma Gandhi’s murder. [...]
On 03.01.07 Seriously Sandeep » Dictatorship is in the Veins says:
[...] The legatine parallels are visible: Nehru surrounded himself with weaklings so he could emerge the tallest, he didn’t think twice before sacrificing Krishna Menon–his protracted comrade and confidant–over a blunder of his own making, he treated corruption nonchalantly, and watched silently when hundreds of Chitpavan Brahmins were murdered by Congress party workers in the wake of Mahatma Gandhi’s murder. [...]
On 06.25.07 vivek says:
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.
On 09.12.07 Sudarshan says:
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?
On 10.01.07 Lalit Wadher says:
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.
On 10.13.07 Nimesh says:
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
On 10.15.07 City.Zen says:
If Mr.Rahul Gandhi can and does read, this book should be presented to him and also to his mom.
On 10.26.07 Lalit says:
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
On 04.21.08 pangaean says:
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”.
On 06.06.08 Suresh says:
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
On 07.10.08 Rahul Sharma says:
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.
On 07.18.08 Sanju says:
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
On 07.31.08 mysur milind says:
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….
On 08.03.08 kiran balegar says:
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,,
On 08.09.08 Arjun says:
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
On 09.27.08 Sunil says:
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!!!
On 10.05.08 satish says:
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
On 10.16.08 Himalayan Blunder « The Lorem Ipsum Blog says:
[...] an excellent review of John P Dalvi’s Himalayan Blunder explaining how India lost the war here. This book was banned immediately after publication, though it is now available in India from at [...]
On 10.28.08 sudheendra S says:
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.
On 12.02.08 chandrashekar says:
this is the one which shows to salute our soliders……