Ganga Bishan Chowkhani High School resounded with the chorus of a song praising Red China. Today the campus was alive with activity. Like every year, the Ganga Bishan Chowkhani High School and the Makum Chinese School had jointly organized a function to celebrate India-China friendship. All the important people of Makum had been invited. On the tastefully decorated dais had been placed photographs of Chow En Lai and Nehru. In the front row sat local political leaders and honourable guests like Banwarilal Chowkhani, K. P. Lee, Ho Yen kee, A. C. Chow, Ho Chang Ho, and other leading members of the Chinese community. Behind them sat students from both schools and their guardians.

At the gate stood Ananta Baruah, a class ten student at GBC School. He was staring at Ahlin, his classmate, who stood on the opposite side of the entrance. Ahlin, aware of his gaze, was blushing profusely. Her friends Alan, Siu, Mei Hang and Kaushalya were teasing her.

The deteriorating relations between India and China had not affected the students yet. Only those who were aware of political developments were beginning to get worried about the border dispute. Both sides had been exchanging official protest notes on the border issue from time to time.

There had been minor skirmishes and some exchange of fire. On the border of the Kameng Frontier Division of NEFA, near the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction, the situation was far from peaceful. The fire of a potential conflict had been lit, and it carried with it the possibility of a full-fledged conflagration. As a result, an unimaginable crisis had descended on the Chinese living in India. The Chinese living in Assam and West Bengal were in even more trouble. Though the teachers of the Chinese school had attended the function today, their faces were shadowed with worry.

The local authorities had suddenly imposed restrictions on the movement of the Chinese people and anyone of Chinese origin as well. They could no longer leave their towns. Upon receiving this news, the president of Makum’s Chinese society, Ho Chang Ho, had called everyone to the club. After discussing the matter there, they had come to the school.

Forgetting about their duty to receive the guests, the teachers of the Chinese school joined the discussion. Lao Thien Lee, who owned a shoe shop, was worried. ‘What will happen to us now? The Chinese government has not done the right thing. What will China gain by taking more land? They have already captured Tibet.’

‘Why do you say so? How do you know what China has said is not right?’ C Hoi countered.

‘Quiet, quiet! You should not say such things. If the CID people hear you, they will put you in jail,’ Chi Fu Hai said fearfully.

‘This old fellow is a scaredy cat!’ Ho Wang laughed.