Amid ongoing India- China face –off in eastern Ladakh , one vital aspect related to Sino – Indian boundary dispute sadly got lost in all discourses since last five months .Had it not been for the courage and conviction shown by late Brigadier John Dalvi ,nation would have been deprived of knowing harsh realities of 1962 war with china and cause of our humiliating defeat . He penned the painful and horrifying experience of war by his book titled, ‘Himalayan Blunder’ which was first published in London in 1969 . Due to the then non- conducive atmosphere in country it got published subsequently in India . His was the first authenticated battle account till date on causes of our debacle , as commission of inquiry report headed Lt Gen Handerson Brookes and then Brigadier P. S. Bhagat has yet not been made public .
This ( Brigadier John Dalvi ) brave fighter of India was born on July 3, 1920 at Basra, in Iraq , as his Father was serving in British Army . Incidently his 100th birth anniversary should have been observed and remembered in first week. of July this year in befitting manner . Alas – it was not to be . It would not be wrong to say that nation forgot his contribution in the conflict which has still not been resolved and lessons not learnt.
He commanded the ill fated 7 th brigade on Namka Chu forward post in then NEFA . He was taken as POW by Chinese on 22 October , 1962 .During his captivity in Tibet he was kept in separate camp , in utter disregard to the provisions of Geneva convention .He was repatriated to India on 4 th May , 1963 .
His son , Michael Dalvi , a former Ranji trophy cricket player, has paid humble tribute to his brave Father on the occasion of 100th birth anniversary in following words – ‘The man you see in uniform , in which he took great pride , joy and honour , would have been 100 years on July 3 this year . It is good time as ever , indeed imperative , that at this crucial and critical time, we honour and respect memory of bravest of the brave of our warriors who have selflessly done battle in the service of nation’ . This the most opportune time to remember his immense contribution towards Nation .
Blogger Satish B Marathe