Nair saab
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1. We gained independence under a deal in which our 24 lakhs soldiers defended Britain in Second World War. 87000 soldiers died or were wounded for our freedom. Lakhs of these soldiers were de-mobilised after the war and were given grants and good pensions to ensure that they do not revolt against British Govt even then few units revolted creating fear in Britsh minds like first war for independence in 1857.
2. Nehru, who was imposed as first PM by British and Mahatma Gandhi did not have a good relations with Military leaders. He always behaved towards them with contempt and rather used soldiers as labour force for many so called development projects.
3. It is very surprising, the Indian Military Leaders were kept totally out of Foreign Policy loop and no worthwhile military modernisation plans were undertaken ( I suspect it as a conspiracy)
4. China border was managed by Intelligence Bureau (IB) under police officers. They were advising Govt on all Military Affairs and military was totally kept out of loop. A great innovation indeed by Nehru.
5. India adopted forward policy on eastern borders without taking its military into confidence.
6. General Thimayya, then army chief fearing military retaliation from China and unpreparedness of own military wrote to Nehru to undertake military modernisation on priority. Then defence minister didnt like it and it led to an unpleasant situation where in General Thimayya resigned. He later on in national interest withdrew his resignation on Nehrus request but it didnt alter the situation.
7. When govt shared military plans as made by IB under police officers to advance Indian Military into Arunanchal Pradesh, General Thimayya advised the Defence Minister to have a consultation with General Thorat who was then Eastern Army Chief.
8. General Thorat, the true hero, advised Govt against their plans and told them not to move army beyond a line which was named after his name as Thorat Line. His argument was that beyond this line due to poor logistics and communication network army cannot sustain itself and manage a military conflict with China. He also told Menon; Defence Minister, that Indian Military is not trained and equipped to conduct a war with China. He apprehended that military movement in Arunanchal Pradesh under forward policy will be conceived as an open military threat by China and will
trigger war. Menon and Nehru under advice from IB, overruled military leaders. Their opinion was that any military movement in Arunachal Pradesh will not trigger war and Militarys fears are unfounded.
9. Nehru and Menon didnt like the frank advice of the two great military leaders. They waited for both General Thimayya and Gen Thorat to retire in mid 1961 and Appointed General Thapar who was the relative of Nehru as Army Chief.
10. With General Thapar as Chief, Govt pushed the plans made by IB under its forward policy and deployed military on China border without due preparations. The worst, one brigade was deployed on Thagla Ridge which in fact is part of Tibet even as per our own maps.
11. Indian Military deployment on Thagla Ridge ( a territory of Tibet) was seen as an act of open military aggression by China and naturally they retaliated.
12. As it comes out now, Mao was not keen in a total war with India. He had ordered their military to evict Indian Military from their territory at Thagla ridge and also gain maximum territory in Leh region (claimed as their territory) for strategic advantage.
Any military movement beyond that was part of exploitation battles which are planned and conducted as part of any military offensive.
13. In ensuing battles as expected by military leaders, much warned and expected debacle happened. Worst was when General Kaul an officer from Army Supply Corps was given command of fighting troops ( an unique and exceptional appointment not
heard in any military history).
14. But surely it was not a military defeat as portrayed. It is part of military tactics to withdraw from unfavourable positions by fighting limited tactical battles to over stretch enemy and bring them in a killing ground of own choosing to annihilate them. But yes in this case some of these withdrawing battles went wrong which resulted in debacle at Sela Pass. But then who was in command? An Army Supply Corps officer; General Kaul a very close confident of Nehru. He had a unique privilege to talk to Nehru directly even by passing General Thapar the then Chief.
15. The debacle sent shock waves. Nehru was nervous. USA intervened. They positioned their few Generals in South Block. Modern Military equipments were air lifted on priority. Very few people may know that a counter offensive plans were made which
were as under:
a. Raise new 45 Mountain Divisions with soldiers from India and equipment from USA.
b. Launch counter offensive under cover of US Air Force.
c. The military objective was to liberate Tibet from China by capturing Lahsa.d. Reinstate Dalai Lamas Govt in Tibet to create a buffer state between India and China.
e. Military strategist understand that China had no answer to it and would have given away as her military was overstretched, weak and not in position to face such a huge military force. In fact this plans of India and USA forced China to go nuclear.
16. Coward Nehru developed a cold feet and his mind was frozen. To hold Pakistan back, USA wanted some commitment on Kashmir from Indian Govt. Nehru was too sensitive to it and he knew nothing about managing such demands. He ordered USA military Advisors and Generals to leave South Block overnight throwing away such an excellent military plan in air. This is where I suspect Nehru to be a double agent for Russia. Russia stepped in and China withdrew which in any case it had too as its military been without a strong logistic support and was overstretched. Winters were
approaching. Passes would have closed due to heavy snow falls cutting and isolating Chinese Army leaving it at the mercy of Indian Army.
17. India missed an opportunity to liberate Tibet from China as a coward and weak PM advised by police officers was leading the country during war. Military leaders were totally side lined.
18. 1962 war, in my opinion should be remembered not for debacle at Sela but for a missed opportunity to liberate Tibet to create a buffer state between Indian and China. We must understand that on entire war front it was only at Sela, debacle happened. At all other fronts Indian Military conducted withdrawing battle so professionally. Unfortunately due to Sela Debacle the whole war is seen as a defeat but it was not so. Withdrawal battles were part of military strategy as was done by allies in Second World War against Japan before launching a fatal counter attack. It is a well-established military strategy and most of the professional armies conduct war in such manner. The NATO Plans in Europe against Russia are similar. But our unfounded fixation with seeing victory and defeat in terms of loss and gains of territories create such biased opinions. The same needs to be corrected. Withdrawal is very much part of a military strategy. In 1962 where actually we faulted was that India did not mobilise to launch counter offensive? Why that needs an investigation and answer?
interesting facts about Nehrus over ambitions which lead to 1962 war and later on his betrayal of the nation... dont ask me the source...
