Tawang located at 10000 feet, in Aunachal Pradesh, then known as NEFA, was basking in the glow of the afternoon sun and was at total peace on that quiet afternoon of 8th September 1962, when suddenly everything changed and the wheel of fate started turning in an irreversible direction, quickly gathering momentum.The events starting with the Chinese surrounding the Dhola post, at the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan, on that fateful day of September, subsequent move of the brigade forward, abandoning Tawang, the Divisional Vital Ground, unprotected, with just a modicum of troops, culminating in the attack by the massive Chinese force deployed astride the Thagla ridge on the ill-prepared Indian forces, the troops of 7 Infantry Brigade, trapped, down below in the valley of River Namkachu, the dissemination of the Brigade in a few hours. On 20th October 1962 and the subsequent escape by some of the lucky ones are recorded by me, then a Captain, the Signal officer of the brigade, I was there in person and a witness to the events leading to what happened on that morning of October of the year, in my book, 'A Soldiers Journey Through Life With Two Wives".
The book was released on 2nd March 2009 by Lt Gen P Mohapatra, AVSM, SO-in- C and Senior Colonel Commandant Corps of Signals. With the 47th Anniversary of the Conflict of 1962 round the corner and the Sino- Indian relations, once again, appear to be getting strained, the book may be of interest to those following the current disturbing developments.
Brig Lakshman Singh VSM (Retd)
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