The Doklam standoff between India-China-Bhutan has its symbolic presence here in Shillong in India's Northeastern State, Meghalaya. It’s one of the gleaming witnesses of history involving an expansionist China.
But before we get to it, there were several theories about the Doklam standoff, but truth be told – China is living in an illusory past.
Consider this: China's sole claim over South China Sea is based on assertions that its ancestors from the Ming and Qing dynasties roamed these seas, so the area belongs to China!
To further back this claim, it has shown bits and pieces of ancient Chinese artefacts retrieved from these seas and presented these as “scientific evidences.” The mineral-rich area is close to the coastlines of Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and other countries.
China has similarly dragged the Doklam standoff to 1890, even though recent agreements between India, China and Bhutan clearly emphasizes on status quo in this disputed area.
China disturbed that status quo. It unilaterally took the decision to build a road to connect a watch tower, which it recently built as late as 2007 in the area. Let alone discuss its plan (as a responsible neighbour,) China did not even bother to inform India or Bhutan.
Several Nations, including the US and the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Hague, couldn’t do much about its unilateral decision to build artificial Islands in South China Sea. So probably according to China, India and Bhutan are just minnows and not worthy of having a dialogue with.
However, what the present Communist regime in China failed to understand is that unlike the Chinese population, Indians live in a democracy – chaotic perhaps, but nonetheless a questioning and vibrant democracy.
The Government of the day in India is answerable to its people all the time, which the Communist regime does not have to. The Indian Government would have to answer to its people if it compromises the country's security.
China building the road in the Doklam plateau is a serious security threat, as it inches closer towards the Siliguri plains that connects India's northeast. Moreover, China’s strategy to corner Bhutan with such threats is to further enclose India.
Tibet is a classic example of Communist China’s expansionist attitude and blatant distortion of historical records. Coming to Tibet and the Dalai Lama, the Doklam standoff is a new chapter of the 1950's history book.
China has always felt betrayed by India standing for the Dalai Lama. His recent visited to Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh and received by Union Home Minister (State) Kiren Rijiju was not to Beijing’s liking. India snubbing its offer to join the One Belt One Road, which would arrogantly pass through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, also hurt the Communist regime’s ego.
China would not like to see an assertive neighbour in its backyard, which India is at this moment, hence the bullying.
Now for some history: If history is what China is interested in, than one of the lonely witnesses of history mentioned earlier has to be seen and importantly understood.
The witness is a Mauser, a semi-automatic pistol, belonging to a Monk. It is encased in a glass box at the Assam Rifles headquarters museum in Laitkor, Shillong.
It is one of the most attractive artifacts and the grip of the pistol is made of Ivory. The wooden holster or carrying case is embellished with Gold and Silver.
“This was the personal pistol of the Dalai Lama,” an official at Assam Rifles said. To be precise it’s a C96 broomhandle with "Waffenfabrik Mauser Oberndorf A. Neckar" embossed on it indicating the factory where it was manufactured in Germany.
The first question that comes to the mind is: what on earth a Monk, especially the Dalai Lama who received the Nobel for peace, got to do with a weapon.
More questions follow. Did anyone compel a 23-year-old Monk to pick up a pistol, instead of prayer beads? Was a shot fired from it? How was it used - as a weapon of defence or offense? These are some of the uncomfortable questions that the Communist regime in China needs to dig the history books further to answer.
According to history after China invaded Tibet in 1950, the Dalai Lama’s life was under threat. The CIA provided logistic support to him and together with his security and Cabinet Ministers the Dalai Lama escaped to India.
The Assam Tribune was one of the first Newspapers in India to inform the world about the Dalai Lama's safe passage to India in May 31, 1959.
The Dalai Lama stopped in Bhutan during his fifteen-day arduous journey on foot through the Himalayas to reach India. Therefore, in Bhutan the Dalai Lama is a revered spiritual Guru. These are well-documented history and needs no elaboration.
However, there are small bits of history that needs to be retold and that is probably about his Mauser. It is a German-made pistol manufactured by Mauser Company between 1896 to 1937 and even China’s Chairman Mao Tse Tung, who ordered the attack on India in 1962, carried these weapons.
These pistols were extremely popular and leaders such as Winston Churchill, Lawrence of Arabia and even Indian freedom fighters such as Rajendra Nath Lahiri, Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan had these pistols during their time.
But for us living in the present what we need to understand is that the Dalai Lama handed over the pistol to the 5 Assam Rifles, which provided security to him, upon reaching Indian Territory in Tawang.
Not just his personal pistol, other weapons of his security entourage were also handed over to the Assam Rifles. A handful of people know about this historical event of the Dalai Lama handing over the weapons.
Nonetheless, the Dalai Lama could have very well kept these weapons for his safety and also pursued the path of violence to fight for Tibet’s independence, but he choose the path of peace and reconciliation instead.
Tibetan Buddhism advocates nonviolence not pacifism. This also holds true for other religions. Krishna’s advocacy in the battlefield of the Mahabharata to Arjun is one such example of such teaching.
The Doklam standoff should be also seen in this light too; especially when China intimidates and plans to expand its Territory, be it in Tibet, Aksai Chin, Bhutan or South China Sea.
India’s security lies in having an independent Bhutan, an independent Tibet, an independent maritime route and so like the Dalai Lama, India has picked up the gun for protection of the neighbourhood.
India would put down the gun once it has the safe passage through history, but presently India would perhaps not make the mistake of 1962 by trusting China and foolishly embrace "Hindi-Chini-Bhai-Bhai" only to be stabbed at the back.
India has historically accepted the Dalai Lama with open arms and stood by him and the Tibetans all these years and also endorses his doctrine of peace and understanding and would continue to do so.
India and other aggrieved Nations in South Asia and bordering South China Sea must counterbalance China’s expansionism with non-violence, but not pacifism.
As the Communist regime in China threatens to move mountains and seas to have its way, India and other affected Nations must heed to the Dalai Lama's call when he said: “ If someone has a Gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun."India China Standoff Doklam
