Another soldier has surfaced.
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Second Chinese soldier now sees home dreams
P Naveen| TNN | Updated: Feb 13, 2017, 07.37 PM IST
Bhopal: Moved by the grand welcome that Wang Qi received in China on his return after 54 years, the other Chinese solider Div Shu Nag Jung in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh too has made up his mind to visit his homeland at least once "before he gets bedridden".
Earlier Div Shu had told TOI that he wanted to live in India forever. "I want to go there once, but am worried whether the Chinese government will allow me to return," he said.
Div Shu Nag — a PLA infantryman — was arrested from Ladakh on January 3, 1963, armed with a machine-gun and 100 bullets.
Now fondly called Cheeni Seth in MP's Tirodi village, he spends his days at a small shop, barely 500m from where Wang lives. Both of them were shifted here in 1968, married local women and have grandkids.
Div Shu is a heart patient and his family is too scared to allow him to fly to China. While Wang Qi ran from pillar to post to be allowed to visit his homeland, Div Shu stayed at home, content to settle in India forever. He has even been trying to get voter rights and other documents required for an Indian citizen. Wang Qi's China trip has moved Div Shu.
Wang Qi was put up in a VIP rest house and will leave for his ancestral house on Monday. It is said that he had seven bowls of noodles on Saturday after an emotional family reunion. Chinese and Indian governments are projecting Wang Qi's story as a positive expression of India-China cooperation.
"I have heard that Wang Qi was felicitated in China and several people came to meet him. Does the Chinese government know that there are two Chinese soldiers in Tirodi?" asked Sunil.
"After Chinese diplomats came to Tirodi, local officials visited our house and said that they will initiate process of giving him Indian citizenship," said Sunil, who has been promised a job by the state government.
Div Shu says no one from his family is left in China. His widowed mother died a few years ago. But he still wants to visit "the country of his birth". "We would be happy if the Chinese government helps my father to visit China. Our condition here is not good," he said.
"Wang was given a warm welcome here. The ministry of foreign affairs had made good arrangements for him. However, Wang Qi and his family have not decided whether they will eventually settle in China or return to Madhya Pradesh," said Manphie Xu, a Guangzhou-based journalist told TOI.
"My father and family are very happy after reaching China. Hundreds of people came to meet us. Emotions ran high," Wang's son Vishnu told TOI from Xian. Wang's wife Sushila and daughter Anita did not accompany him on the long journey to China due to health reasons. "We have got enough time to decide on. As of now we are flooded by visitors," Vishnu said.
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These two soldiers' circumstances are slightly different.
Fifty years is a long time, their circumstances have changed.
Whatever they wish, let's hope their wishes are fulfilled.
Doesn't matter if they chose to live in India or China.
Both governments have responsibilities to do all they can.
These two soldiers' families can help to promote a better understanding between both neighboring countries.
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