india versus china
BY Harsimran Kaur ON Jan 11 , 2022 IN BOOK REVIEWS, INDIA versus CHINA/KANTI BAJPAI/NON-FICTION
Rating: 4/5
The last two years have seen conspicuous attacks and reprisals between India and China. The conflict at the Galwan valley in 2020 was an impertinent stamp on the prejudices and perceptions towards each other. The entire spectrum of political debates and diplomacy between both the countries seems a charade and under neck lays an invidious dystopia of creating paranoia and inflamed lesions.
The book “India versus China” is downright impressive and sets to challenge the main casus belli. Galwan Valley and Doklam conflict are just a small pebble floated by the foot to make space for territorial recognition; but the incendiary issue of recrimination dates back to the British colonial rule of infringing lines that incoherently blemished the structures of identification.
The book “India versus China” by Kanti Bajpai is not a historical purview of India and China but how an imperturbable past between them has cascaded issues of perceptions, perimeters, partnerships and power. The challenge is not to violate the predispositions and acrimoniously attack the disparity. The focus is to identity what benefits each other to become economically reliant, as deep down the hollow warfare lies a responsibility to burrow the International forces taking advantage of this imbroglio.
The book resonates the same feelings and expression as would have been felt by the citizen of this country. It is an accepted fact that China outstrips India in infrastructure, armaments, technology and military and strategic alliance. It would be incorrect to give India the same credence as China as the latter turns out to be more empowered. India’s soft handling of “Tibet” and “border issues” from Nehru era have galvanized the political chicanery on part of China. What we foresee now is a stretch of skirmishes at borders for territorial belongingness.
The author Kanti Bajpai does not underestimate the power of each, but warns against an incandescent explosion of unresolved negotiations and punctured idiosyncrasies.
TAKE AWAY
The war between India and China in 1962 was a blow across an open wound for India in spite of several blandishments offered to China. We all know about China’s aggressive approach and that it does not have one soft bone in its body. It has always given India a cold shoulder and is known for its insalubrious projection of its megalomania and condescension.
The era of Nehru is often criticised for its bedevilled foreign policy and an attempt to have a balanced strategic alliance with China. Tibet is still the loose plug and no socket seems to identify the right flow of current that could positively change the inept flow of blame-game.
The hard-hitting and the factual wisdom of the author to provide direction to the ill-fated partnership is worth thinking over. The reasons propel you to further understand the gaps filled with indictments and hubristic vendettas. It’s a book that aims to bring India and China on the pot boiler and the years lost in the burning flame.