An Open Letter From Our Defence Editor To The Countrymen
Dear Indians,
Let us remember that fateful incident of Galwan Clash once again with a heavy heart! We should never forgive China, we should never forget their brutality.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE DARK NIGHT OF JUNE 15 , 2020 AT EAST LADAKH’S GALWAN VALLEY?
At a height of nearly 4,300m (14,000 ft) in steep terrain , lack of oxygen , sub – zero temperature , fast flowing Galwan river , rocky and icy region , narrow way and deep gorge.
Ugly Chinese troops hit bare handed Indian soldiers in a fatal clash with nailed iron rods , clubbed with barbed wires , some of them fell down in almost frozen Galwan river , profusely bleeding and slowly drowning to death under the chilled river water.
How cruel , bleak and painful death that might have been !
20 brave Indian soldiers lost their lives fighting for us, and our motherland valiantly till their last breath.
Notably, those were the first combat fatalities in 47 years along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between two nuclear powers.
It is unfortunate that China never honour LAC, they had broken the ceasefire without any provocation from Indian side and killed Indian soldiers, which is not at all desirable.
A long awaited permanent solution is required now and both the countries should take necessary initiative in that direction.
We can’t afford a single casualty on either Radcliffe Line or McMahon Line or any other International border, neither Land nor Ocean .
So, the sacrifice of the brave souls should not be allowed to go in vain and we should not backtrack. Let china not get away with it.
Do remember, they who lost their lives, were fathers who left behind their daughters and sons, parents who lost their children, wives who lost their husbands ! They are not just numbers,they are like YOU and ME.
According to me, It’s a barbarism and cowardly attack by Chinese soldiers on our unarmed men.
As an Indian, my blood boiled from that day and my heart cried when coffins were coming from Ladakh one by one.
If 140 crore Indians start thinking seriously of giving a befitting reply against this cowardly attack of Chinese troops, then China will have to think twice before repeating such incidents in future. So, have trust in your Armed Forces.
So, wake up Indians !
Protecting our sovereignty is not the duty of our Armed Forces only and all the fellow Indians should raise their voice against such cowardly attitude of this so called neighbouring country.
Earlier Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said “India is a peace-loving nation, but will give a befitting reply to anyone who casts an evil eye.”
We salute all those bravehearts of Bihar Regiment whose supreme sacrifice , passion and devotion for protecting the Indian borders dragged them to death.
Working for Western media, we are not allowed to write everything everywhere but as a Journalist I consider it to be my duty to apprise our youngsters of what happened that black night.
Photo Credit: Indian Army
(Pratyusha Mukherjee is a Senior Broadcast Journalist associated with British Media with 20 years of experience in covering the east and northeast, with specialisation in Defence and Sports.In her illustrated career she has covered many major events and achieved International and Indian media awards for Journalism.)
