Delhi: Today marks the first anniversary of Galwan Valley incident in which 20 brave Indian jawans sacrificed their lives defending the frontier of India against the CCP troops. Commemorating the day, India Tibet Coordination Office (ITCO), Delhi organized a Webinar titled “Honouring the Martyrs of Indian Army at Indo-Tibet Border” honouring all the brave jawans of Galwan.
Guest Speakers included Shri Phonsok Ladakhi, Regional Convener, Northern Region-I (Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh), Core Group for Tibetan Cause – India; Major General (Prof.) Nilendra Kumar, (retd.) AVSM, VSM, Ex JAG Army & National Vice President of Bharat Tibbat Samanvay Sangh (BTSS); Shri Soumyadeep Datta, Regional Convener, Northeast Region-I (Assam & Meghalaya), Core Group for Tibetan Cause – India; Prof. V.Anto, Director, Netaji Bose Defence Academy (NBDA, Coimbatore & Coordinator, Friends of Tibet (FoT), Coimbatore.
Shri Phonsok Ladakhi paid tribute to all the 20 brave Martyrs by reading out their names. He said we should always remember their sacrifices protecting the country. Shri Phonsok mentioned that Galwan incident was not a war; rather it was a barbaric act from Communist Chinese soldiers to incur into Indian Territory and attacked the Indian jawans with iron rods, barred wires, spikes, stones, etc, adding that an Indian army takes oath to defend the country, not to aggress as shown by Communist China.
Shri Phonsok proudly mentioned that he comes from Ladakh from where the road leads to Galwan valley and Ladakh is the land of brave hearts where the jawans and civilians both guard the border. He lamented that there should be no war in the world as it is a problem in itself, and not a solution. Dialogue and other peaceful methods should be adopted as His Holiness the Dalai Lama advises.
Major General (Prof.) Nilendra Kumarin paid shradhanjali to the jawans whom he called as inspirations and that history will remember them for their sacrifices. He said the Galwan clash which lasted for around 4 hours should not be taken as a standalone Sino-India conflict. ‘There is need to understand that no such incident happened in future. The situation is still not so good between India and China’. He shared that recently in Beijing, a law had been passed prohibiting the criticisms of the People Liberation’s Army (PLA) and its activities. There were press censorship and social media censorship in regard to Galwan incident. It was an attempt to muzzle down the critics of PLA. There is growing dissatisfaction inside China.
Major General further sharing his expertise on the defence field said that India should not trust China and must develop its defence infrastructure to defend its territory from Communist Chinese aggression. He pointed out nine specific proposals in this regard: (i) A special committee for defense matters and decisions; (ii) Infrastructure and communication development in the border areas; (iii) Self-reliant is important but security of the country cannot be ignored; (iv) Border talks should be held in a proper diplomatic way; (v)Utmost care to be given in our defense training doctrine; (vi) Operation plan to be made efficient and result-oriented; (vii) Steps to be taken to increase ITBP and Vikas battalions in the Indian army; (viii) New and innovative strategy to be used for any battle in future; (ix) North and North-East borders of India in regard to security should be fully prepared to counter China.
Concluding his address, Major General Nilendra Kumar said China has realized it cannot any more arbitrate in regard to the security of India. It is also time for India to acquire world level power to counter China in every possible way.
Shri Soumyadeep Datta in his address paid his respect and tribute to all the Martyrs of Galwan to the Sino-India War of 1962. He highlighted that China wages not one, but three types of war against India. These are physical, philosophical and ecological war. Physical war along the Indo-Tibet border, philosophical war by destroying the Buddhist philosophy which originated from India and ecological war by building numerous dams on the Brahmaputra River which is known as Tsangpo in Tibet affecting North East India. He stressed that it is not India-China border, it is Indo-Tibet border and the people of India must know this. We never recognized China as our neighbour, Tibet is our neighbour. China had forcefully occupied Tibet and now it is trying to occupy Northeast India.
He mentioned that the Brahmaputra river which is the cultural and economic lifeline is being destroyed by China. It has built not one, two or three but numerous big dams on the Brahmaputra which will be disastrous for Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and the entire Northeast. He further said that Buddhism is India’s culture. It was destroyed in India by foreign invaders but it was preserved in Tibet. China is currently trying to destroy it in Tibet so it is important to preserve it here in India where it is flourishing.
Shri Datta concluded on the importance of creating awareness in Northeast India especially among the civil societies in regard to Tibet, its significance to India and China’s evil intentions. He stressed that the Civil Society Movement must be strengthened in regard to that.
People should be made aware that: (i) Tibet is our neighbour, (ii) India doesn’t share border with China, and (iii) China is an aggressive country. It had forcefully occupied Tibet and what had happened to Tibet may happen to Northeast India.
Prof. V. Anto paralleled CTA with the exile Government of India under the leadership of Netaji in Singapore during India’s quest for Independence from British Raj. While appreciating the stand of Middle Way based upon the doctrine of Ahimsa and Non-Violence being implemented by CTA Prof. Anto also hinted that not only Tibetans but India must also prepare militarily to face Communist China. He further added that amplifying the voice of Tibet is in other words ensuring the safeguard of India’s front against China.
He also recalled Shri. Sethu Das and other distinguished members of Friends of Tibet (FoT) who were pivotal in advocating the truth of the CCP govt. Prof. Anto also registered his protest upon the manner in which the local Indian police (Mahabalipuram) dealt with Tibetan students who were peacefully and democratically expressing their voice during X Jingping’s last visit to India in 2019.
During the Webinar, a tribute song called “Maa” was screened in between to pay respect to the 20 brave jawans of Galwan. Later, some of the participants shared their views and opinions with the guest speakers.
Shri Jigmey Tsultrim, Coordinator, ITCO Delhi presented the concluding remarks paying homage and tribute to the brave jawans of India who had sacrificed their lives protecting the frontier of the country along the Indo-Tibet border.
Mr. Tenzin Jorden, Deputy Coordinator, ITCO Delhi delivered the introductory remarks in which he spoke of the significance of the day and the bravery shown by the jawans.
The participants observed two minutes of silence to pay respect and tribute to all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives protecting the country.
– Filed by ITCO