Chapters (53)
- Cover
- Title page
- Prologue
- Part One
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Part Two
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Part Three
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Author’s Note and Acknowledgements
The Prime Minister has appealed to the nation to be prepared to face the gravest danger since India’s independence. He said that there can be no sacrifice bigger than the one made for one’s motherland. Nehru commented that it was unfortunate that we had to carry out military operations extensively in the frontier regions after speaking of peace and the ideologies of the United Nations. But India had to take this step against her will. He again said that we had not gone against the ideology of the United Nations. We had not encroached on any foreign territory. What is happening is on our soil. He also said that India had to face a powerful state without any conscience. We had to prepare ourselves fully to face the situation. Praising our soldiers, he stated that even if we fail on some fronts, the final result will surely be in our favour. We will fight till we are victorious, India has said in a statement today: If China returns to the positions they held before the 18th of September this year, then India is ready to discuss the border issue. On the other hand, China has put forward a proposal that the troops of both the countries go back twenty kilometres from the Line of Actual Control. The Indian government said that this was China’s strategy to confuse …
‘Is India losing the war?’ Wenling asked gently after the broadcast was over.
Before anyone said anything, Rameswar flared up. ‘Who said so? Of course we are not losing! Those who are hoping so will soon be taught a lesson.’
Everyone looked at Rameswar’s reddened face in utter surprise. Wenling’s eyes filled with tears. She looked at Rameswar for a brief moment and, without saying a word, walked away gloomily. Before anyone could speak, Tung Chin’s mother arrived to call them for tea. Everyone was quiet. Rameswar apologized immediately for his sudden outburst.
A spread had been laid out on the large dining table. They all sat down for tea.
At the NEFA border, the Chinese soldiers had occupied three important posts – Lumpu, Boom La and Kibithu. They had started sharpening their glistening bayonets on the other side of Tawang.
Eleven
Eleven
The Makum playground was jam-packed with students. They had all been asked to bring with them a piece of blotting paper, a small ball of cotton wool, a feather pen and a pin, but no one knew why. The general secretary of the Steering Committee of the All Assam Students’ Union had appealed to the students to take an oath for safeguarding India’s sovereignty. Ananta and his group had organized this meeting.