The Indo- China Conflict of 1962
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Presented by Dr R M Mathur
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(In the above photo Dr R M Mathur is presenting Indo-China conflict of 1962)
I lead my mobile surgical unit to cater for health and rehabilitation of the soldier before, during and soon after the actual combat.
We were medically reasonably provided as a laid on drill of twenty medical personnel, each one fully trained for his duties for emergency operations including blood transfusion if necessary before evacuation to base as and when possible.
We were located with the brigade head quarters at Chusal at a height of 14000 feet. Geographically, we were located in a bowel with Hindukush range in the North-west, Kuen Lun and Lake Pangoug (salt water) in the North-east, Rezang la in the south and overlooking the China-Tibet highway 219 in East. The highway is the main bone of contention. It cuts through 42000 sq. miles of Aksai-Chin claimed by us. The highway is very vital to them since it connects Lasha with the Muslim majority district of Xinjiang, which is showing separatist and terrorist tendencies.
The Indian army units were deployed on two hillocks overlooking the national highway 219. There was political ambiguity between the two nations (India and China) about the sovereignty on Aksaichin. India was neive enough to believe that inspite of the dispute, China would never take a military action to dislodge the Indian army units on these hill-top manned by major Shaitan Singh and Maj. Dhan Singh Thapa with about hundred soldiers each. Inspite of the fact that our briged commander communicated the numerical incompatibility between Indian and Chines troops, The order received from Delhi were “fight up to last man and last round (bullet).”
The terrain was unfamiliar to us. Climatic condition were unbearable with ambient temp: as minus forty, wind velocity at 80 mph, altitude 14 to 16000 and atmospheric oxygen at 12%(as against 21% what we breath in the planes).
There was no ground support as there are ten high altitude passes ranging up to 14 to 16000 feet high between Jammu and Ladakh. There were no regular connecting road for vehicular traffic. Project beacon had started road building over Zojila pass. All supplies and food were Para-dropped as and when the big aircraft could make it up to that altitude depending upon clouds/weather conditions. On an average this could only be about twice a month or so.
Our personal facilities were also not very sufficient. Shoes, clothing and heating arrangements were less then adequate. Any way all the officers and soldiers showed great courage, and creativity inspite of adverse climate and logistic conditions. Medically we had to take care against frostbite (ambient temp: 40) and pulmonary edema (atmospheric 02 con: only 12% as against the 21% which we are enjoying in the planes). Battle casualties were adequately cared for and evacuated in time.
Aksaichin is a region located at the junction of the people’s Republic of China, Pakistan and India. It is administered by china and claimed by India. Aksaichin is one of the two main borders disputes between India and China,the other one being Arunachal Pradesh. Aksaichin (which literally means’ Desert of white stones) is a vast Desert of Salt. This land is also the soda plain. The region is almost uninhabited.
One of the main causes of Sino- Indian war of 1962 was India’s discovery of road China had built through the Region, which India considers its territory. The road which connects Tibet and Xingiang passes through the settlement of Tianshuihai the only sizable town in the Region, with about 1600 inhabitants. Aksaichin is currently under the administration of the people’s Republic of China, with the vast majority of it as a part of Hoton County, in the Xingiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
India claims the area as a part of Ladakh, District: of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The area is strategically important because it contains china national highway 219, a major road between Tibet and Xinjiang.
Note:-
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A
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(The Three concepts regarding Aksaichin Border. 1) Mr. Jonson in his hurried dash to khotan had made only a cursory record of Aksaichin main features. However it was Mr. Federic Drew, Governor of Leh who first prepared a detailed Map of Aksaichin in the year 1870-71. 2) Thereafter Elgin Line made no attempt to include the Empty Quarter of N. E. Aksaichin. 3) However Gen. Ardagh (DMI) totally refuted the ‘Water shed Principle’. The record shows he recommended ‘Border to be pushed up to include ‘Kunlun’.)
B
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(Besides that Major Dhan Singh Thapa, and Major Shaitan Singh were awarded Parma Vir Chakra Posthumously for bravary shown.)
(Writer is a former Major Genaral of Indian army who witnesses personally the said conflict.)
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