‘Some of the Chinese living in Calcutta seem to be loyal to the People’s Republic of China. Some of the Chinese have taken Chinese passports because of the constant pressure from the pro-China people. They have convinced only 2000 Chinese to take red passports so far. It looks as though the Chinese Consulate General in Calcutta is taking an active interest in convincing the Chinese in Calcutta to take PRC passports. A number of Chinese who were active in this effort have been deported to China for their anti-India activity. Of these, approximately eighty people have been pushed out through the Nathu La Pass and the rest asked to leave the country …’ Lee Chang stopped. He sat silently without looking at anybody.

Intense feelings of humiliation and sadness engulfed him. This was the first time that they had attended a meeting of this sort in the Chinese Club. So far, the elders had kept them away. Now the crisis had become acute. It had become necessary to get the opinion of the youngsters before taking any decision.

‘What if they think of us as Chinese spies too?’ Akong asked, breaking the silence.

‘Why should they think like that? The government knows fully well who is involved in what. Their informers are everywhere, though we don’t know who they are.’

‘What if they think we are? Everyone should speak carefully or else we will be in trouble.’

‘We should tell the government that we want to live in India. We have no one in China. Even if there is, India is our land. We were born here. We have worked here, married here. Our birth place is our motherland.’

‘Anyone who attacks our motherland is our enemy. We are Indians and we will be with India.’

‘People have started staring at us angrily as though we are the ones who have attacked India.’

‘You are right. I feel so ashamed. I should not have listened to the teacher from Calcutta and obtained a Red China passport.’

‘It’s not wise to roam around too much now.’

‘If we don’t go out, how are we going to survive? What is there to fear? China has attacked India. Not us.’

‘I have a hunch that things are going to get worse.’

‘No need to worry right now. All our shops are running as before, including Mok Min’s hotel. No one has said anything offensive so far.’

‘What else does it say?’ asked Yui Yi’s grandfather.