To the Edge and Back: 1962 India-China War

The 1962 saga was a failure at multiple levels, including failure of the Prime Minister and government to formulate a coherent national security policy, failure of diplomats to engage and gauge the Chinese, and failure of senior military leadership to provide sound military advice. This book traces the historical background of the boundary dispute and the slow build-up of mistrust, suspicion, and acrimony between India and China that led to the outbreak of war in October 1962. The junior leadership and steadfastness of the Indian Jawan were the two factors that saved grace amidst the overall disaster, with 1,383 soldiers losing their lives, 1,696 missing, and 3,968 captured. Written with the lay reader in mind, this book avoids military jargon and can be easily followed by readers without any prior knowledge of military matters.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2020
Publisher: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers

The saga of 1962 is a tale of multiple failures at various levels. It begins with the failure of the Prime Minister and the government to formulate a coherent national security policy, which cascaded into the failure of diplomats to effectively engage and understand the Chinese. Moreover, the senior military leadership failed to provide sound military advice to the political leadership, instead prioritizing political requirements over basic military principles. This book delves into the historical background of the boundary dispute and the gradual buildup of mistrust, suspicion, and acrimony between India and China, culminating in the outbreak of war in October 1962.

Throughout the battle, the resilience and determination of the Indian Jawan shone as a beacon of hope amidst the overall disaster. Despite facing isolated battles under desperate conditions and extreme shortages, small bodies of men fought valiantly, with junior leaders leading from the front, often at the cost of their lives. The jawans followed their leaders unquestioningly, unwavering, and uncomplainingly, demonstrating the strong espirit de corps forged by the regimental system of the army.

The consequences of this conflict were devastating. 1,383 soldiers lost their lives, 1,696 were missing, and 3,968 were captured, with 36 dying in captivity. This book is written with the lay reader in mind, avoiding military jargon and making it accessible to readers without prior knowledge of military matters. It is suitable for students, youth, and anyone interested in learning about this significant chapter in Indian history.

Weight: 404g
Dimension: 163 x 238 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789390095001