Eighth century witnessed victory of Tibetan King Trisong Dentsen over China, a Treaty was signed in 783 CE to respect each other’s territorial boundaries. It is so engraved on a plaque at the entrance of Jokhang Temple in Chinese and Tibetan that stands even today.
The last Mughal JL Nehru did not register even an iota of protest on any forum when Tibet was invaded by China and razed jeopardising thereby our northern borders and water resources located there. Since Tibet was not even a member of the UN, they requested Nehru to lodge protest. Instead of raising the issue aggressively, Nehru advised them to negotiate for a peaceful settlement with Chinese marauders !! Their direct complaint was accepted by the UN merely as an appeal from a NGO. On Nov. 23, 1950 when the issue was taken up for discussion, it was opposed on a dubious ground that Chinese had assured us of a peaceful settlement ! Nehru didn’t want to spoil image of China as he was pulling all knobs to ensure, China joined UN Security Council !! Nehru’s duplicity was vicious as he raised an internal issue of J&K at the UN which he must not have albeit resolutely opposed raising Tibetan issue which he ought to have. Both his action as well as inaction were disastrous for the nation. Sardar Patel once let out his frustration in so many words, “I have been eating my heart out because I have not been able to make him see the dangers ahead. China wants to establish its hegemony over South-East Asia. We cannot shut our eyes to this because imperialism is appearing in a new garb…He is being misled by his courtiers. I have grave apprehensions about the future.” Probably Nehru had his own unique way of following foreign policy of anti-colonialism or anti-imperialism if he really understood those terms !!
During early 19th century, Russian Tsar extended their southern borders into Central and South Asia. As British-intruders were conscious of protecting northern borders of British-Bharata from another set of intruders, they were determined to protect Tibet as a buffer-state, painstakingly prepared a detailed map of Tibet for the purpose. British were also prepared with a detailed plan to invade and protect Tibetan autonomy without annexing it forever as they were reluctant to deploy their resources there. China succeeded in annexing Tibet only due to the hidden ‘Jaichand’ in the last Mughal Nehru. He was incompetent to visualise / realise that China had opened the gateway into Bharata through Tibet. China could have been effectively restrained in their advances as their internal scenario in 1950s was pathetic, British-Bharata Treaty with Tibet would have come in handy for Nehru and extensive international support for Tibetan cause already existed. The Economist explained the situation so vividly, “Having maintained complete independence of China since 1912, Tibet has a strong claim to be regarded as an independent state. But it is for India to take a lead in this matter. If India decides to support independence of Tibet as a buffer state between itself and China, Britain and USA will do well to extend formal diplomatic recognition to it.” Sardar Patel understood the strategic situation very well and cautioned Nehru on several occasions albeit Nehru cared two hoots about that. NS Rajaram had some very harsh comments on Nehru, “Much has been made of Nehru’s blunder in Kashmir but it pales in comparison with his folly in Tibet. As a result of this monumental failure of vision and nerve, India soon came to be treated as a third rate power, acquiring ‘parity with Pakistan”. Only if Nehru had undertaken the grand geographic diplomatic initiative, almost entire world would have supported just as Mongolia attained independence from China through plebiscite only.
Why was the last Mughal Nehru so much worked up about pleasing China when they never cared a damn for us ? The then US Ambassador in New Delhi Loy Henderson dubbed Bharata’s attitude a ‘philosophical acquiescence’ ! When it was decided to celebrate Tibet Day in 1953, Nehru instructed all Congress members to remain aloof as it violated China policy and amounted to an unfriendly act. His varied justifications were strange bordering lunacy viz. Tibet was a feudal State, so no merit in imposing development upon them etc. Did he mean, Chinese acquisition of Tibet was de facto imposing lack of development on them ? Didn’t that justify colonisation of Bharata by Britain ? How was Chinese Communism superior to Buddhist feudalism ? His weird conduct could not be explained even by Arun Shourie, “If only we are humble enough to the python, it
will not swallow us.” Or by Winston Churchill, “ An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.” The only plausible explanation that lasts is his love for Communism and contempt for Hinduism as he was a Hindu by an accident of a pair of sperm and an ovum !! The last Mughal was a diehard Communist and by no stretch of imagination, a democrat.
Discussion about this post