TOEING TO IMPERIALIST DESIGNS IS DISASTROUS FOR INDIA
Tenzin Nyima , a Tibetan soldier of Special Frontier Force ( SFF ) died on August 30 , 2020 in a mine blast while patrolling in Ladakh . Tibetans were upset and angry at the way his death was handled by the Indian Government and the Army . One Tibetan , Tenzin Tsundne complained : “ When a soldier of Indian Army attains martyrdom in the line of duty , the body is sent home with full honors and the entire Country talks about it . Why this discrimination against Tibetans who also fight for India ? The body was quietly sent to his home with no State recognition .” Another Tibetan said : “ One of my relatives who served in the Indian Army did not get pension after retirement despite multiple representations . Those in SFF get married in older age so that they can dedicate their youth to India . The treatment meted out to Nyima after his death while fighting for the nation is highly unfair . The Country wants to use the Tibetans as soldiers but do not want to give them due credit ”. “ We could not fight for our Country ( Tibet ) but we continue to fight for the Country that gave us shelter ( India ). We bravely fought against Pakistan and China since 1962 which benefited India . But yet , we do not get the respect for making supreme sacrifices ”.
Perhaps , in an attempt to console the Tibetans , the funeral of Tenzin was held on Sept ’ 7 , 2020 at the Tibetan refugee settlement Choglamsar outside Leh . Soldiers in SFF uniform paid him the last salute . Mr . Ram Madhav , BJP General Secretary , MP from Ladakh attended it and laid the wreath . Bugle was played at the funeral . Chants of “ Bhartat Mata
Oct-Nov - 2020 kijai ,” Tibet Desh ki Jai ”, ect . slogans were raised . On the same day , Mr . Ram Madhav wrote in a twitter : “ Attended the funeral of SFF Company Leader Nyima Tenzin , a Tibetan who laid down his life protecting our borders in Ladakh ”. “ Let the sacrifice of such valiant soldiers bring peace along the Indo-Tibetan border . That will be the real tribute to all martyrs ”.
But this act too invited criticism . Former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said : “ While mourning the unfortunate death of the brave Company Leader Nyima Tenzin , it would have been wise to avoid unnecessary publicity about the SFF and their ostensible Tibet ‘ connection ’ in an atmosphere already charged along the LAC .”
Astonishingly , Mr . Ram Madhav later deleted his tweet .
A senior Official of the Ministry of External Affairs told that Mr . Madhav “ does not represent the government ”. He also added that as there had been “ no official communication , only media reports of the funeral , it did not signify a change in the government ’ s position .”
Before probing into and commenting on this episode , let us look into some details of the origin of SFF .
In 1950s , a section of Tibetans led by Dalai Lama , which was involved in an abortive attempt to break Tibet from China , fled and landed in India . The Nehru Govt . at the time was agreeing that Tibet was an integral part of China and the attempts at rebellion by some sections of Tibet was an internal matter of China . At the same time , toeing itself to the conspiratorial designs of US imperialism , it allowed Dalai Lama and his section to stay in India as refugees . Going against the principles and spirit of Panch Sheel the Nehru Govt . allowed Dalai Lama to enjoy all privileges , honours and facilities not only as a religious leader . but also engaged himself in anti – China propaganda and activities in India . This had seriously strained the relations between India and China . In line with the wishes of US imperialism the border dispute which was on the brink of resolution again fell in crisis led to 1962 war .
In 1962 , on the advise of the then India ’ s Intelligence Bureau Chief B . N . Mallik , the Indian Govt . had set up a military training Centre for Tibetans . A vacant Gurkha Training Centre in Uttarakhand which had all where withal - barracks , training grounds , and most importantly , training areas such as rock climbing at the height of 7000 feet was chosen for it . On Nov 14 th , 1962 – Nehru ’ s birth day – a unit by name , the “ Establishment – 22 ” was raised . This was an elite unit capable of high altitude warfare , special operations and fighting behind the enemy lines . The men of the Unit would report to the Cabinet Secretariat , and were not a part of the Indian Army . In 1967 , this unit was expanded and renamed as SFFs . The Tibetan refugees were a part of it . During the Bangla Desh War in 1971 , the SFF men were deployed in Chittagong Hill Tracts and they fought with extra ordinary valour . More than 50 laid down their lives . Again , they fought in Kargil War of 1999 at heights of 14,000 feet in sub-zero temperatures .
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