Well, an article appeared on Aug, 08, 2009, in many Chinese government websites, titled, “If China takes a little action, the so-called Great Indian Federation can be broken up”. This was supposed to be written by one Zhong Guo Zhan Lue Gang. The authoritative host site for this article is located in Beijing and is the new edition of one, which so far represented the China International Institute for Strategic Studies (www.chinaiiss.org).
Claiming that Beijing’s ‘China-Centric’ Asian strategy, provides for splitting India, the writer of the article, Zhan Lue (strategy), has found that New Delhi’s corresponding ‘India-Centric’ policy in Asia, is in reality a ‘Hindustan centric’ one. Stating that on the other hand ‘local centers’ exist in several of the country’s provinces (excepting for the U.P and certain Northern regions), Zhan Lue has felt that in the face of such local characteristics, the ‘so-called’ Indian nation cannot be considered as one having existed in history.
According to the article, if India today relies on any thing for unity, it is the Hindu religion. The partition of the country was based on religion. Stating that today nation states are the main current in the world, it has said that India could only be termed now as a ‘Hindu Religious state’. Adding that Hinduism is a decadent religion as it allows caste exploitation and is unhelpful to the country’s modernization, it described the Indian government as one in a dilemma with regard to eradication of the caste system as it realizes that the process to do away with castes may shake the foundation of the consciousness of the Indian nation.
The writer has argued that in view of the above, China in its own interest and the progress of whole Asia, should join forces with different nationalities like Assamese, Tamils, and Kashmiris and support the latter in establishing independent nation-states of their own, out of India. In particular, the ULFA in Assam, a territory neighboring China, can be helped by China so that Assam realizes its national independence.
This outrageous article goes on by saying that, it wishes to break India into 20-30 nations like in Europe and if the consciousness of nationalities in India could be aroused, social reforms in South Asia can be achieved, the caste system can be eradicated and the region can march along the road of prosperity. (Source: http://www.c3sindia.org/india/719)
Well, it can be seen that such an article cannot appear in government websites without the knowledge of the Chinese authorities. It is clear that China is provoking India. But, the Indian government has responded with care. The Congress spokesman said that this article doesn’t deserve any attention, and it seems that this article is the production of an insane mind.
China’s communist government behaves more like an imperialistic government, which want their hegemony in the world. They see India as a potential threat for their hegemony in Asia. That’s why they are always eager to suppress India’s ambitions in every international forum.
Well, India and China has a long history of boundary disputes. Both countries perceive each other whith suspicion. Indians cannot forget the war of 1962. China seems to see India as a threat to its supremacy in the Asia and its major competitor as an emerging economic superpower. It is trying by all means to curtail India’s progress. It has joined hands with Pakistan against India. It is directly or indirectly helping the militant outfits in the north east area of India. China is trying to bring into its fold, all the neighbouring countries of India. Well, it already had joined hands with Pakistan. It has links with the Maoists in Nepal. It has alliance with Myanmar. Well, Bangladesh is not any way friendly with India. It is joining hand with Srilanka and it is also trying to have relationship with Mali.
In view of all this events, India cannot certainly ignore the above said article. It should know the designs of the Chinese government and form our policies accordingly. The most concerning thing is that there is a considerable army movement around the border of Arunachal Pradesh. China has already constructed rail and road lines along these borders against all the odds and by spending huge amount of money. Well, it is certainly well planned. On the other side, is India prepared? We still doest not have good transportation facility along the north-east area. We are still, lethargic in the matter of defense preparedness. It seems that our politicians and authorities have learnt nothing from the debacle of 1962, Indo-China war.
It is apparent that there is a huge gap between the Indian and Chinese defense strength. Our Army officials have admitted this fact. And above all China has progressed in the fields of technology, Industry, science, medicine, economic growth and is far ahead of India. India, with its lethargic and corrupt political system still is very slow in the path of economic growth. It also doesn’t have any say in the global affairs. Its foreign diplomacy is very weak.
Actually, the article is in one way, a mirror shown to India, to look into itself. The points pointed out are true in one sense. One point is the caste system. The vast majority of Indians are Hindus and the Hindu religion is divided into many caste systems. It is like religion within religion. Each, caste has its own customs and traditions. Certain castes never interact with each other, and view each other with animosity. Even there is huge discrimination against the lower castes, the ‘Dalits’. These Dalits hold a vast majority of population. They are not allowed to have progress and are in the grip of upper caste, especially in the rural parts of India. There is also a tendency to form organization and political parties based on the caste system. Even the political parties use this caste system and religion for their political aims. They use the same policy once used by the British Empire, against India, the divide and rule policy. All these has certainly affected the growth of India, to a large extend. And then there is the regional bias. With regional political parties gaining more power at the center, this regional divide has increased. Each state perceives other state as if there are enemy nations. The recent incidents points to these factor, such as the protest against the Biharis, in Mumbai, protest in Bangalore, against the inauguration of the statue of Tiruvalluvar, the Tamil poet, the Kaveri issue and the list goes on, and is increasing day by day. Well, it does reminds us, of the history, when the rivalry between the then small states and provinces in India, led to the capture of India by the British Empire. The Chinese article, in certain way is pointing towards our weakness, which if not corrected as soon as possible will lead to a major threat to the integrity of India. There is an urgent need to address these problems of caste system, regional tensions, communalism etc.
Another thing we should look is the defense preparedness. The, Indian government still, does not heed to the needs of the defense sector. There is an unlimited delay to the procurement of defense equipments. There is always a scam looming around every defense deal. The corruption in this sector is very high, and which is also very dangerous to our defense. Often the deals results in procurement of equipments unsuitable for the armed forces. A recent example is the revelation of army officials, that missiles brought from Russia, during Kargil war, were below standards, and many of them even didn’t explode during the test done by the army. Then, there is Gorshkov deal. We are going to buy, an old used aircraft carrier, which the Russians want to abandon. According to the CAG report, the delay in the supply of aircraft carrier, has coasted India more than what it would take to buy a new aircraft carrier. Certainly, there is something fishy in the deal.
So, such is the state of defense in India. The preparedness of the army for a war is yet to be tested. India’s pacifistic approach is a failure in, it should have abandoned after the Indo China war. We should, also take into notice that we have yet, only won war against Pakistan. One should consider the fact that Indian army and Pakistan army have the same roots. If we see, the performance of Indian army, after the Indo-China war, the weakness can be seen in the Sri Lankan operations, when dealing with the LTTE. There is also, a concern over the decline in discipline of the armed forces, as there is an increasing interference of politicians in the affairs of armed forces, like for the purpose of transfer, promotion etc. The, retired army officers are also indulging in the arms deals. This is also exposed in the Tehlka scandal. Corruption in the defense sector should be eradicated as soon as possible. Army should be strong, disciplined and should have up-to-date equipments. We should not forget the debacle of the Indo-China war. The ‘Himalayan blunder’ committed during the war should be great lesson, to remember. The Nehru’s lack of foresight has caused the war and the defeat of the India Army. This shows a shear negligence on the part of government can lead to the death of lots of people including the army. Many, defense personalities of those times still believe that we would have won the 1962 war, if Nehru had listened to the defense experts. Nehru neglected the army, and confronted the Chinese without seeing our defense preparedness. His pacifistic approach, led to the death of millions of army men, and a humiliating defeat. This shows that however peace loving we are, we still should not neglect the defense. The strongest person can only talk of peace. To know more about the Indo-China war, visit the wikipedia. Also visit these sites: Paper written by James Barnard Calvin, Lieutenant Commander, US Navy, on Indo-China war, and cause of India’s defeat--
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1984/CJB.htm
Also, see the article written by Wing Commander (retd) R V Parasnis, who participated in the Indo-China war.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/dec/18chin.htmIf we go by these articles, and read the history, then we would come to the conclusion that Nehru also had a very great role in the humiliating defeat of the India. Therefore, he should have resigned.
It would make us chill, if we know the condition of the army men in the war. Many of them were wearing, summer uniforms, at altitude as above as 15,000 feet! Most of them had .303, bolt action rifles that are useless at chilling condition at such ultra altitude. And above all, the Chief commander, BM Kaul had no experience leading a war, he was in ASC (Army Service Core- which is responsible for logistics supply). He had no idea how to lead the war. The reason he was in such a position -- nepotism by Nehru (He was the relative of Nehru). China won the war only because of its war strategy and its huge strength, which Indian Army lacked. It had a weak Chief of staff and a weak political head.
The war also showed the weakness of India to the world. Our reputation in the world declined. Nehru’s dream of making India an Asian leader also got a big jolt.
After this long years we still are following the paths of Nehru, which is laziness in every matter. At present Chinese officials see their nation on the rise and feel no need to compromise with India. That’s why the Indo-China border dispute is left unresolved. The number of incursions by China's troops into Indian-controlled territory appears to be increasing. It always had a soft approach towards China, but the later played a hard game. Chinese have always supported Islamabad's campaign of terror against the Indian. The terrorists attacking Mumbai hotels last November used Chinese equipment--the distinctively blue Type 86 grenades, manufactured by China's state-owned Norinco, which has continually supplied parties working with militants inside India. China has given Pakistan most of the ordinance that its notorious Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence--better known as ISI--gives to terrorist groups. Almost all of the sophisticated communications equipment used by terrorists in India, especially Kashmir, is Chinese-made and was routed through the Pakistani army. The training the Chinese give to Pakistani personnel is, with Beijing's knowledge, leached to terrorists. Furthermore, in April and May 2006, May 2007 and August 2008, China blocked U.N. sanctions against and censure of Lashkar-e-Taiba and its front, Jammat-ud-Dawa, the organizations responsible for the horrible hotel attacks.
In May, Fali Homi Major, then India's air force chief, said China posed more of a threat than Pakistan to his country. He was widely criticized in New Delhi and forced to retract his remarks. Why was he silenced, when he had spoken the truth. Doesn’t the Indians have the right to know the truth or we should be in a illusion that our army can take any attacker, and be surprised by Chinese like the 1962 war? We are still doing the same mistake the Nehru had did.
I think, Indian politicians, are unaware of the developments in the world. They are more concerned of the political activity within the nation. We can never expect any thing new from the Congress, as they follow the path of Nehru. Well, I think all political parties are same, in this matter. BJP, in spite of its pro-active approach on defense matters, its performance in the center was not much of a think to be happy, when it was in power. There was the most embarrassing incidents in its tenure- the Kargil war, the Khandahar episode of airplane hijacking, parliament attack. The Kargil war, although India won, on the cost of many army jawans life, it clearly showed how India was guarding its borders.
So, coming back to the article, I think, this article, published in the Chinese website is a kind of eye opener for India. Indian government and the citizens of India, should take these things very seriously. We should build a strong nation in every respect and therefore there is an urgent need to address these issues. After these 62 years, we are still lagging in social reformation. I think there should be a movement to eradicate caste system, which is a main hindrance in the development of this country. If we see, the developed states, they generally have a more uniform society. We can be proud of our diversity, but it should not come in the path of our economic and social development.
