Recently, I was reminded of a significant part of my Chinese Indian history. An author had released a book in Assamese language about the plight of the Chinese people who were detained in a concentration camp by the Indian government in 1962 during the Sino-Indian War. Some died. Others were deported to Hong Kong or China. The survivors tell harrowing tales of incredible hardships. None of the detainees were spies; they were unfortunate political pawns.
I only knew about the Calcutta Chinese being arrested. Now I’ve learned that numerous were also snatched from their homes in Assam State. Many returned several years later to find their homes and possessions gone. They had to start all over again. I grew up and went to school with some kids whose fathers were detainees. During our teenage years, long after the chapter on this terrible event had closed, they told me stories of their struggles while their fathers were away.
Today most of the Chinese people from India have immigrated to Canada, USA, Australia and many parts of Europe. The fall-out from this momentous event has uprooted many families. These Chinese communities are now a shadow of their former selves.
There are groups of people now campaigning for the Indian government to acknowledge it’s wrong-doing. Some wrongs cannot be righted. We should never forget.
http://www.dhapa.com/sino-indian-war-1962-makum/
Labels: Family_Writing