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Nehru, Tibet and China

Nehru, Tibet and China

Avtar Singh Bhasin
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On 1 October 1949, the People’s Republic of China came into being and changed forever the course of Asian history. Power moved from the hands of the nationalist Kuomintang government to the Communist Party of China headed by Mao Tse Tung. All of a sudden, it was not only an assertive China that India had to deal with but also an increasingly complex situation in Tibet which was reeling under pressure from China.

Clearly, newly independent India, with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at its helm, was navigating very choppy waters. Its relations with China progressively deteriorated, eventually leading to the Indo-China war in 1962. Today, more than six decades after the war, we are still plagued by border disputes with China that seem to routinely grab the headlines. It leads one to question what exactly went on during those initial years of the emergence of a new China. And, more importantly, why have we repeatedly failed to arrive at a solution?

Based on years of meticulous archival research, this book in fascinating detail, analyses the events from 1949 to the Indo-China war in 1962 and its aftermath to explore the answers to these burning questions.

Imprint: India Viking

Published: May/2021

ISBN: 9780670094134

Length : 368 Pages

MRP : ₹699.00

Nehru, Tibet and China

Avtar Singh Bhasin

On 1 October 1949, the People’s Republic of China came into being and changed forever the course of Asian history. Power moved from the hands of the nationalist Kuomintang government to the Communist Party of China headed by Mao Tse Tung. All of a sudden, it was not only an assertive China that India had to deal with but also an increasingly complex situation in Tibet which was reeling under pressure from China.

Clearly, newly independent India, with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at its helm, was navigating very choppy waters. Its relations with China progressively deteriorated, eventually leading to the Indo-China war in 1962. Today, more than six decades after the war, we are still plagued by border disputes with China that seem to routinely grab the headlines. It leads one to question what exactly went on during those initial years of the emergence of a new China. And, more importantly, why have we repeatedly failed to arrive at a solution?

Based on years of meticulous archival research, this book in fascinating detail, analyses the events from 1949 to the Indo-China war in 1962 and its aftermath to explore the answers to these burning questions.

Buying Options
Paperback / Hardback

Avtar Singh Bhasin

Avtar Singh Bhasin retired from the Ministry of External Affairs in 1993 as director historical division after three decades of service. Since retirement, he has taken to academic research. He was senior fellow of the Indian Council of Historical Research and then honorary fellow at the Institute of Contemporary Studies, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. His area of research has been India's relations with neighbouring countries. He has over the years compiled official documents on India’s relations with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal in five volumes each, and on India-Pakistan Relation in 10 volumes. His last publication in the same genre was India-China Relations 1947-2000 also in 5 volumes.


Between 2002 and 2013 he published an annual series titled India’s Foreign Relations for the Ministry of External Affairs.


His other books include Some Called It partition, Some Freedom; India in Sri Lanka: Between Lion and the Tigers, India-Pakistan: Neighbours at Odds. His last book Nehru, Tibet and China garnered great acclaim.

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