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Revision as of 13:17, 18 June 2020 editErik-the-red (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users634 edits →Location and background: Streamlined the section. The discussion about Khinzemane is irrelevant. The point is that the Thagla Ridge is north of the McMahon Line, but India believed that the "correct border" should have been along the Thagla Ridge.← Previous edit Revision as of 13:28, 18 June 2020 edit undoErik-the-red (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users634 edits →Establishment: Streamlined the section. Deleted the map, which violates WP:NOR.Next edit →
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== Establishment == == Establishment ==
{{OSM Location map
| coord = {{coord|27|43|N|91|47|E}} <!-- Map center -->
| float = right
| zoom = 10
| width = 350
| height = 280
| caption = <center>Dhola Post and environs{{efn|The border between Bhutan and India is an agreed border. That between India and Tibet appears to be the prevailing border. These borders follow the ridge lines, quite unlike the 1914 map, except for the segment that runs along the Namkha Chu river.}}</center>
| minimap =
| mini-file =
| mini-width =
| mini-height =
| minipog-x =
| minipog-y =
| scalemark = 120
| shape = image
| nolabels = 1
<!-- Dhola Post -->
| mark-coord1 = {{coord|27|49|05|N|91|40|25|E}}
| mark1 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size1 = 6
| label1 = Dhola |labela1 = Post
| label-size1 = 10
| label-color1 = hard red
| label-pos1 = bottom <!-- | label-offset-x1 = 20 | label-offset-y1 = 0 -->
| mark-title1 = Dhola Post
| mark-image1 =
| mark-description1 = Indian border post in 1962
<!-- Tsangdhar peak -->
| mark-coord2 = {{coord|27.8070063|91.6435675}} <!-- Indian air drop -->
| mark2 = BlackRedMountain.svg
| mark-size2 = 20
| label2 = Tsangdhar
| label-size2 = 10
| label-color2 = hard red
| label-pos2 = left
| label-offset-x2 = 0
| label-offset-y2 = 0
| mark-title2 = Tsangdhar
| mark-image2 =
| mark-description2 = Indian air drop location
<!-- Thagla Ridge -->
| mark-coord3 = {{coord|27.8501514|91.6719784}}
| mark3 = Geobox Mountain Range.svg
| mark-size3 = 14
| label3 = Thagla ridge
| label-size3 = 10
| label-color3 = hard red
| label-pos3 = top
| mark-title3 = Thagla ridge
| mark-image3 =
| mark-description3 = claimed by India
<!-- Khinzemane -->
| mark-coord4 = {{coord|27.80295|91.7457}} <!-- grazing ground -->
| mark4 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size4 = 6
| label4 = Khinzemane
| label-size4 = 10
| label-color4 = hard red
| label-pos4 = right
| label-offset-x4 = 0
| label-offset-y4 = 0
| mark-title4 = Khinzemane
| mark-image4 =
| mark-description4 = Grazing ground; location of an Indian post, 1959–1962
<!-- Le (Lai) -->
| mark-coord5 = {{coord|27.8183747|91.7508716}}
| mark5 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size5 = 8
| label5 = Le
| label-size5 = 10
| label-color5 = hard red
| label-pos5 = top
| label-offset-x5 = 0
| label-offset-y5 = 0
| mark-title5 = Le (Lai)
| mark-image5 =
| mark-description5 = Tibetan town
<!-- Hatung La -->
| mark-coord6 = {{coord|27.7767145|91.7101807}}
| mark6 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size6 = 6
| label6 = Hatung La
| label-size6 = 10
| label-color6 = hard red
| label-pos6 = left
| label-offset-x6 = 0
| label-offset-y6 = 0
| mark-title6 = Hatung La
| mark-image6 =
| mark-description6 = Indian army base
<!-- Zirkhim -->
| mark-coord7 = {{coord|27.76094|91.70103}}
| mark7 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size7 = 6
| label7 = Zirkhim
| label-size7 = 10
| label-color7 = hard red
| label-pos7 = left
| label-offset-x7 = 0
| label-offset-y7 = 0
| mark-title7 = Zirkhim
| mark-image7 =
| mark-description7 = Indian army base
<!-- Lumpo -->
| mark-coord8 = {{coord|27.7253700|91.7070000}}
| mark8 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size8 = 7
| label8 = Lumpo
| label-size8 = 10
| label-color8 = hard red
| label-pos8 = left
| label-offset-x8 = 0
| label-offset-y8 = 0
| mark-title8 = Lumpo
| mark-image8 =
| mark-description8 = Indian village with a helipad
<!-- Zimithang -->
| mark-coord9 = {{coord|27.7106891|91.7300530}}
| mark9 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size9 = 8
| label9 = Zimithang
| label-size9 = 10
| label-color9 = hard red
| label-pos9 = left
| label-offset-x9 = 0
| label-offset-y9 = 0
| mark-title9 = Zimithang
| mark-image9 =
| mark-description9 = Indian village with a helipad
<!-- Bum La -->
| mark-coord20 = {{coord|27.7234530|91.8915958}}
| mark20 = Mountain pass 12x12 n.svg
| mark-size20 = 12
| label20 = Bum La
| label-size20 = 10
| label-color20 = hard red
| label-pos20 = top
| mark-title20 = Bum La pass
| mark-image20 =
| mark-description20 = Border pass between China and India
<!-- Tawang -->
| mark-coord21 = {{coord|27.5879186|91.8637330}}
| mark21 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size21 = 10
| label21 = Tawang
| label-size21 = 11
| label-color21 = hard red
| label-pos21 = top
| mark-title21 = Tawang
| mark-image21 =
| mark-description21 = District headquarters; historic town
<!-- Namkha Chu upstream -->
| mark-coord10 = {{coord|27.8328|91.5855}}
| mark10 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg
| mark-size10 = 12
| label10 = Namkha Chu
| label-size10 = 10
| label-color10 = hard blue
| label-pos10 = top
| label-offset-x10 = 6
| label-offset-y10 = 0
| mark-title10 = Namkha Chu
| mark-image10 =
| mark-description10 = Tributary of Nyamjang Chu
<!-- Namkha Chu midstream -->
| mark-coord11 = {{coord|27.8385|91.6171}}
| mark11 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg
| mark-size11 = 12
| label11 =
| label-size11 = 10
| label-color11 = hard blue
| label-pos11 = top
| label-offset-x11 = 4
| label-offset-y11 = 0
| mark-title11 = Namkha Chu
| mark-image11 =
| mark-description11 = Tributary of Nyamjang Chu
<!-- Namkha Chu downstream -->
| mark-coord12 = {{coord|27.7976|91.702}} <!-- 27.8127|91.6901 -->
| mark12 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg
| mark-size12 = 12
| label12 =
| label-size12 = 10
| label-color12 = hard blue
| label-pos12 = top
| label-offset-x12 = 4
| label-offset-y12 = 0
| mark-title12 = Namkha Chu
| mark-image12 =
| mark-description12 = Tributary of Nyamjang Chu
<!-- Nyamjang Chu upstream -->
| mark-coord14 = {{coord|27.8428|91.7712}} <!-- 27.8308|91.7616 -->
| mark14 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg
| mark-size14 = 12
| label14 = Nyamjang Chu
| label-size14 = 10
| label-color14 = hard blue
| label-pos14 = right
| label-offset-x14 = 0
| label-offset-y14 = 0
| mark-title14 = Nyamjang Chu
| mark-image14 =
| mark-description14 = Flows from Tibet to Arunachal Pradesh
<!-- Nyamjang Chu midstream -->
| mark-coord15 = {{coord|27.74978|91.71016}} <!-- 27.7595|91.7189 -->
| mark15 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg
| mark-size15 = 12
| label15 = Nyamjang Chu
| label-size15 = 10
| label-color15 = hard blue
| label-pos15 = right
| label-offset-x15 = 0
| label-offset-y15 = 0
| mark-title15 = Nyamjang Chu
| mark-image15 =
| mark-description15 = Flows from Tibet to Arunachal Pradesh
<!-- Nyamjang Chu downstream -->
| mark-coord16 = {{coord|27.611|91.7003}}
| mark16 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg
| mark-size16 = 12
| label16 = Nyamjang Chu
| label-size16 = 10
| label-color16 = hard blue
| label-pos16 = left
| label-offset-x16 = 0
| label-offset-y16 = 0
| mark-title16 = Nyamjang Chu
| mark-image16 =
| mark-description16 = Flows from Tibet to Arunachal Pradesh
}}
In late 1961, India settled on what came to be called a ] to circumvent the Chinese expansion into the disputed areas, asking its Army to "go as far as practicable ... and be in effective occupation of the whole frontier".{{sfnp|Raghavan, War and Peace in Modern India|2010|pp=275–276}} In the northeast frontier, ] was tasked with setting up posts all along the McMahon Line.{{sfnp|Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis|1990|p=108}} The Dhola Post came into being as part of this effort.{{sfnp|Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis|1990|p=110}}


In late 1961, India settled on what came to be called a ] to circumvent the Chinese expansion into the disputed areas, asking its Army to "go as far as practicable ... and be in effective occupation of the whole frontier".{{sfnp|Raghavan, War and Peace in Modern India|2010|pp=275–276}} In the northeast frontier, ] was tasked with setting up posts all along the McMahon Line.{{sfnp|Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis|1990|p=108}} The Dhola Post came into being as part of this effort.{{sfnp|Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis|1990|p=110}}
The Dhola Post was located on the northern slopes of the Tsangdhar ridge, close to the Namkha Chu valley, at about 300 metres above the level of the river. The Indian official history of the war states that the post was able to dominate the Namkha Chu valley, but it was itself dominated by the Thagla Ridge to the north.{{sfnp|Sinha|Athale|Prasad|1992|p=106}} The terrain was extremely difficult: thickly wooded mountain slopes led to the area via walking tracks in narrow gorges. The closest inhabitable place was the village of Lumpo at a distance of {{convert|24|km|mi}}.{{sfnp|Sinha|Athale|Prasad|1992|p=106}} The posts had to be supplied by air and the nearest air drop location was on top of the Tsangdhar ridge.{{sfnp|Sinha|Athale|Prasad|1992|p=106}}


The Dhola Post was located on the northern slopes of the Tsangdhar ridge, close to the Namkha Chu valley, at about 300 metres above the level of the river. The army officer who commanded the Assam Rifles platoon, Captain Mahabir Prasad, questioned the siting of the post immediately after returning to base. He informed the Divisional Headquarters that, according to the local ] sources, the Chinese knew about the Dhola Post and regarded the location as Chinese territory. They would be ready to occupy it as soon as they received orders.{{sfnp|Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis|1990|p=110}}
A walking track was established along the mountain slope facing the Namjyang Chu valley, leading from Lupo to a depression called Hatung La. At an intermediate location called Zirkhim (or Serkhim) a helipad was constructed.{{sfnp|Sinha|Athale|Prasad|1992|p=106}} Lumpo and Zimithang also had helipads, the latter able to take MI-4 Russian helicopters.{{sfnp|Sinha|Athale|Prasad|1992|p=107}}


The army officer who commanded the Assam Rifles platoon, Captain Mahabir Prasad, questioned the siting of the post immediately after returning to base. He informed the Divisional Headquarters that, according to the local ] sources, the Chinese knew about the Dhola Post and regarded the location as Chinese territory. They would be ready to occupy it as soon as they received orders.{{sfnp|Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis|1990|p=110}} The Divisional Commander, Maj. Gen. Niranjan Prasad, queried the higher officers whether the territory was properly Indian, but did not receive a response. His superior, Lt. Gen. Umrao Singh commanding the ], expressed his own doubts about the legality of the territory, who was also greeted with no response.{{sfnp|Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis|1990|pp=110-111}} Eventually the matter was referred to ] heading the Historical Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, who answered in the affirmative, citing the Officials' Report.<ref name=Gopal/> But even before the information trickled down to the commanders, the matters came to a head.{{sfnp|Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis|1990|p=111}} The Divisional Commander, Maj. Gen. Niranjan Prasad, queried the higher officers whether the territory was properly Indian, but did not receive a response. His superior, Lt. Gen. Umrao Singh commanding the ], expressed his own doubts about the legality of the territory, who was also greeted with no response.{{sfnp|Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis|1990|pp=110-111}} Eventually the matter was referred to ] heading the Historical Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, who answered in the affirmative, citing the Officials' Report.{{sfnp|Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis|1990|p=111}}


== Skirmishes == == Skirmishes ==

Revision as of 13:28, 18 June 2020

Border post in Arunachal Pradesh, India
Dhola post
border post
Dhola post is located in Arunachal PradeshDhola postDhola postShow map of Arunachal PradeshDhola post is located in TibetDhola postDhola postShow map of Tibet
Coordinates: 27°49′05″N 91°40′25″E / 27.81806°N 91.67361°E / 27.81806; 91.67361
CountryIndia
ProvinceArunachal Pradesh
DistrictTawang

Dhola Post was a border post set up by the Indian Army in June 1962, in the Namka Chu river valley, in a border area of Tawang that was disputed by China and India (and is still disputed). On 20 September, the post was attacked by Chinese forces from the Thagla Ridge to the north, and sporadic fighting continued till 20 October when an all-out attack was launched by China leading to the Sino-Indian War. Facing an overwhelming force, the Indian Army evacuated the Dhola Post as well as the entire area of Tawang, retreating to Sela and Bomdila.

Location and background

The McMahon Line in the Tawang sector

The map attached to the 1914 Simla Convention, displaying the border between Tibet and the Assam Himalayan region (called the McMahon Line), showed a straight line border running east–west in the vicinity of the Nyamjang Chu river, cutting across a ridge called Tsangdhar. Immediately to the north of Tsangdhar ridge is a higher Thagla Ridge (or Tang La Ridge or Che Dong in Chinese nomenclature). The Namka Chu river, 16 miles (26 km) long, flows in the valley between the two ridges, west to east, joining Nyamjang Chu at the bottom.

While the Thagla Ridge is to the north of the McMahon Line, India believed that the 1914 map incorrectly depicted the border due to inadequate exploration at that time. India held that if the boundary was supposed to follow the Himalayan watershed, then the correct border should have been on the Thagla Ridge.

Establishment

In late 1961, India settled on what came to be called a 'forward policy' to circumvent the Chinese expansion into the disputed areas, asking its Army to "go as far as practicable ... and be in effective occupation of the whole frontier". In the northeast frontier, Assam Rifles was tasked with setting up posts all along the McMahon Line. The Dhola Post came into being as part of this effort.

The Dhola Post was located on the northern slopes of the Tsangdhar ridge, close to the Namkha Chu valley, at about 300 metres above the level of the river. The army officer who commanded the Assam Rifles platoon, Captain Mahabir Prasad, questioned the siting of the post immediately after returning to base. He informed the Divisional Headquarters that, according to the local Intelligence Bureau sources, the Chinese knew about the Dhola Post and regarded the location as Chinese territory. They would be ready to occupy it as soon as they received orders.

The Divisional Commander, Maj. Gen. Niranjan Prasad, queried the higher officers whether the territory was properly Indian, but did not receive a response. His superior, Lt. Gen. Umrao Singh commanding the XXXIII Corps, expressed his own doubts about the legality of the territory, who was also greeted with no response. Eventually the matter was referred to Sarvepalli Gopal heading the Historical Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, who answered in the affirmative, citing the Officials' Report.

Skirmishes

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)

On September 8, 1962, a Chinese unit launched a surprise attack on an Indian posts at Dhola on the Thagla Ridge, which is deep in Chinese territory by even India's own claim.

Notes

References

  1. Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis (1990), pp. 108–110.
  2. ^ Raghavan, War and Peace in Modern India (2010), pp. 293–294.
  3. Raghavan, War and Peace in Modern India (2010), pp. 296–305.
  4. Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis (1990), p. 139.
  5. Raghavan, War and Peace in Modern India (2010), pp. 275–276.
  6. Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis (1990), p. 108.
  7. ^ Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis (1990), p. 110.
  8. Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis (1990), pp. 110–111.
  9. Hoffmann, India and the China Crisis (1990), p. 111.
  10. Maxwell, Neville, India's China War, New York, Pantheon, 1970.
  11. Calvin, James, THE CHINA - INDIA BORDER WAR (1962), Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 1984.

Bibliography

Primary sources
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