Hindustan Times – 3 November 2021
Former foreign secretary Nirupama Rao’s new book, The Fractured Himalaya, looks at the early years of the India-China relationship. She spoke to Sunetra Choudhury about writing the book amid the protracted India and China border standoff.
Edited excerpts:
Did the situation along the border prompt you to write the book?
The confrontation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, and all the events that unfolded in summer of 2020, certainly accelerated the completion of the book. My objective really was to inform the younger generation of Indians about the very nuanced and complex nature of this entire narrative. I’ve also tried to underline that while many blame (Jawaharlal) Nehru for everything that went wrong with China, I tried to say that it was not as if Nehru was not aware of the dangers and risks of dealing with this big neighbour… When the Chinese entered Tibet, it was famously said by one of our officials posted in Lhasa, Sumul Sinha, that the Chinese have entered Tibet, and the Himalayas no longer exist.
I think to some extent, Nehru was also aware of the basic challenge… He understood the nature of the challenge. But at the same time, I think he was also quite focused on the need for a peaceful environment in which India could develop to consolidate its neighbourhood. Therefore, he felt that friendship with China, dialogue, or some kind of understanding was needed.
He thought these two big countries of Asia could work together to become ….. Read more here.