(Maj Gen Harvijay Singh, SM)

17 Jan 1951 – Maj Bob Khating on orders of the Assam Governor Jairam Daulatram marched with 200 troops of Assam Rifles (AR) and 600 porters to Tawang to bring it under Indian Control. Just in time before the Chinese annexation of Tibet. Entire Tawang Tract was Indian territory by virtue of Simla Convention of 1914. It was however not published. To retrieve the mistake, a new Vol. XIV to Aitchison’s Treaties (A collection of treaties and engagements relating to India and neighbouring countries Compiled by C.U. Aitchison, B.C.S., Under-Secretary to GOI in the Foreign dept) was published in 1937. New maps showing the revised frontier were printed, partly in response to Chinese maps showing the foothills as border of Sikang Province. Tibet accepted McMohan line but continued to control and collect taxes from the Tawang tract. Tibetan tax collectors at Dirang were firmly told to leave, Tawang Tract lying South of Se La came under nominal British control. The British did not take over Northern portion of Tawang Tract to avoid hurting Tibetan feelings. Once India became independent, Tibet refused to acknowledge India as successor state till June 1948, even after doing so they did not withdraw territorial claims on Tawang. On 5 Oct 1950 Tibet was forced to capitulate to the Chinese and signing of 17-pt Agreement on 23 May 1951.

Once Tibet fell Tawang would be under risk of occupation by the Chinese. In late 1950, as Chinese advanced in Tibet, Governor Jairamdas summoned an Assistant Political Officer Maj Bob Khathing and explained possession of Tawang was vital for safety of the Northeast. He asked him to read a secret file and go take Tawang for India. Ralengnao Khathing was a Tangkhul Naga, commissioned in May 1941 in 19th Hyderabad Regt (later the Kumaon Regt). Jairamdas gave him 45 days, and Rs. 25000/- as expenses. Bob put together a column of about 200 men from 2 AR and 5 AR, Capt Hem Bahadur Limbu of 5 AR and Capt Modiero of AMC. Troops would operate at high altitude in deep winter he needed winter clothing and camping gear; he found it in the boxes of stores of US Air Force at the air bases of Chabua and Dinjan (they had operated here in World War II). At Tezpur he hired 200 mules, 600 porters, and took his men to Lokra, 26 kms North of Tezpur for intensive training for three weeks. Scouts were sent out to recce trails and gather intelligence, and porter teams despatched to make forward dumps. The column left Lokra on 17 Jan 1951. His activity attracted attention of Maj T.C. Allen, the last British political and intelligence officer in Assam. When Allen caught up with the column on 19 Jan and confronted Bob, the latter told Allen he had two choices: either join the expedition or be kept under arrest till the objective was attained. Allen gladly joined the column as Khathing’s 2IC.

The column reached Dirang Dzong on 25 Jan. The AR post set up at Dirang Dzong in 1944 had been withdrawn, and the area allowed to fall back under Tibetan control. On 26 Jan Khating raised the Indian flag and invited locals to a barakhana, his men fired volleys into the air and the Governor’s Dakota, sent to monitor the column’s progress, circled above. Katuk Lama, the ruler of Dirang gave in and sent runners out towards Tawang with warning messages. The column moved out on 1 Feb, crossed Se La on 3rd and reached Jang on the 4th. Khating sent invitations for a feast and welcomed the headmen and elders of surrounding villages. Bob explained that they were now free citizens of India and should stop paying taxes to Lhasa. The column reached Tawang on 7 Feb. The Dzongpen, a man called Nyertsang, did not respond to Khathing’s invitation for a meeting. On the night of 10 Feb Bob fired off 20 rounds of 2 inch mortar and 1000 rounds of .303 – the thunderous reverberations from surrounding hills struck terror. Next morning the Indian tricolour was hoisted in front of the monastery and troops marched through the town for four hours with fixed bayonets. The nervous Dzongpen sent emissaries and Bob set Major Allen the job of drafting a formal instrument of accession to India. The talks made little headway, so on 13 Feb the Dzong officials were rounded up and wined and dined for a week. Bob then ordered them not to obey the Dzongpen. By now it was 20 Feb and Governor’s time limit was nearly up. Bob and Allen marched into the Dzong with a hundred soldiers to make the Dzongpen understand that Tibet had ceded Tawang to India by 1914 treaty. Nyertsang wanted Dalai Lama’s approval: “What approval?” asked Bob. “The Chinese have taken over Tibet”. Nyertsang signed the instrument of accession drafted by Allen transferring Tawang to India. Bob Khathing signed for GOI, appointed Allen the Lt. Governor of Tawang, answerable only to Governor of Assam. Tawang was finally under complete control of India. Maj Bob Khathing, the saviour of Tawang was awarded the Padma Shri in 1957 for his service to the nation.