New Delhi:
For half a century, the Indian establishment was in denial. It was as if the Indian Army, the Defence Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs, all were pretending as the 1962 war with China never happened. That India's only military defeat since Independence was a nightmare that was best forgotten.
But as media reports, commentaries and article commemorating the war that left a deep scar on the collective Indian Psyche begun to appear in the public domain, the government thought it best to acknowledge the gallantry and sacrifices of over 4,000 soldiers and officers who went into the battle knowing fully well that they were fighting a far superior enemy who had a definite plan and overwhelming numbers.
On Saturday AK Antony, already India's longest serving Defence Minister, took the initiative in paying homage to the fallen soldiers at India Gate along with the Marshal of the Air Force and the three Service Chiefs. But it was clearly a last minute decision since no other military establishment across the country organised any such function. In fact in all these years, nowhere in any of the three armed forces, the 1962 was ever officially remembered.
Neeharika Naidu, whose father Lt. Col. Brahmanand Avasthi who died gallantly fighting the marauding Chinese near a place called Rupa in Arunachal Pradesh (then known as NEFA--North East Frontier Agency) says: "It's very sad for me. Ok. after 50 years someone has thought it was even important to ask us what are our feelings and how did we cope after all these years .We've not had any real help or support from the government or the people or anyone for that matter. Yes, our regiment and friends supported us but our regiment and friends don't give us
daal roti. They can give you emotional support, be by your side when you are ill but they don't give you food and a shelter over your head."
Mrs Naidu married another Rajput Regiment Officer, Milan Naidu, years after she lost her father. Milan Naidu rose to become Vice Chief of Army Staff and retired about four years ago. She however points out that her mother was extremely brave in facing the situation. "I must say am extremely proud of my mother and all women like her of that era 1962 and 1971 who have really, really struggled to make ends meet and to bring up their children and their families. I married an Army man because for me that was the only option and am a very, very proud wife because he finished his career as the vice chief of the army staff. What more can a man want? What more can a woman want? And for me the Army was the only option. My son is in the air force. My daughter-in-law is also an air force pilot till recently. She retired and that is the best way to be. After 50 years today, when I look back in retrospect, I am primarily my father's daughter. An Army daughter, who went on to become an Army wife and an Army mother and mother-in-law. Even as I am very, very proud to be my husband's wife, I think primarily am most proud to be an Army daughter. The daughter of lieutenant colonel Brahmanand Avasthi Rajput who fought the last man, last man standing and I think even today his name stands me wherever I go."
Others like Lt. Col Shrikant Hasabnis, now 81, the scars are still deep. Col. Hasabnis who was a Major in 1962, and a company commander in 5 Jat. He was flown into a remote outpost called Galwan in Ladakh along with 60 soldiers in early October 1962. "When we were flown into that post we knew we were walking into a death trap. But the 60 had no meaning because more than 2000 Chinese were around us in circled conditions and not only that they used to they had a very big ring around us of trenchers, morchas, communication weapons and they used to show their weapons as if you know show windows and the jawaans used to say, '
saab yeh to haath baandh ke bhi ayenge to hum inko kahi nahi le jaa sakte (Even if they come with their hands tied, we can't take them anywhere)'. Even our jawaans were making a joke out of it."
Hasabnis' post was overrun in an hour on October 20, the first day of the month long war. He was taken prisoner and was in the POW camp for seven months. Memories of that time still hurt, he says.
"Memories are very deep in fact they are so deep that I don't think they'll be erased of my memory at all and it's all inclusive of soldiers being taken to a place, a very remote place in Galwan. Total complete supremacy of the Chinese troops, Chinese nation as against our Indian preparation. Our Indian preparation was negligible compared to what the Chinese preparation was. They were ready; in fact they were prepared for all what they did. They had all the troops, arms, ammunition, everything positioned well in time. It was we who kept on sending troops here, pushed here and there. We were very unprepared."
Those who fought the war and their relatives have waited five decades for the nation to recognise their sacrifice and bravery. It however remains to be seen if the Government's decision to pay tributes to the 1962 martyrs is just tokenism or that gesture will translate into something more concrete like taking hard lessons from the shortcomings of that time and overcome the lacunae.