The legendary Bob Khathing led the expedition to peacefully combine Tawang into India. He was additionally instrumental in establishing important army and safety frameworks, such because the Sashastra Seema Bal, Nagaland Armed Police, and the Naga Regiment.
By the point of the Tawang expedition, Bob Khathing had already made a reputation for himself within the Second World Battle by means of his soldierly exploits. We check out the eventful profession of the soldier and civil servant.
What was Bob Khathing’s Tawang expedition?
In 1951, Maj Bob Khathing, then a member of the Indian Frontier Administrative Service, was tasked by the Governor of Assam, Jairamdas Daulatram, to occupy Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. It was necessary to safe the world as there have been indications that the Chinese language had been getting ready to stroll into Tibet and probably re-align the boundary with India.
Effectively-versed in jungle warfare, Bob Khathing began the expedition for Tawang on January 17, 1951, from the Lokhra Camp close to Assam’s Charduar with troops of Assam Rifles. The terrain was hostile and the climate excessive, however Khathing and his males persevered. As soon as they arrived in Tawang, Khathing held parleys with the locals, successful over their belief. He formally took Tawang below Indian administration by hoisting the Indian flag on February 14, 1951.
Thereafter, Khathing began the method of building an administrative set-up within the space round Tawang. He appointed Gaon Buras (village elders) in every village for that function, in step with the standard follow of 1 Gaon Bura for teams of three to 10 villages.
Historian Claud Arpi, who has written extensively on the Sino-Indian battle and border points, stated in considered one of his articles, “The Chinese language Liberation Military arrived in Lhasa in September 1951, only a few months after Khathing had taken management over Tawang. One can think about what would have occurred if Khathing had not ‘liberated’ Tawang and the encircling space in time.”
Who was Bob Khathing?
Ranenglao ‘Bob’ Khathing was born on February 28, 1912, in Manipur’s Ukhrul district. He was a Tangkhul Naga. He studied at Sir Johnstone Excessive College in Imphal and did his matriculation from Shillong earlier than becoming a member of Cotton School in Guwahati. He joined Ukhrul Excessive College as its Head Grasp. He additionally based a faculty at Harasingha in Assam’s Darrang district.
In 1939, after the Second World Battle broke out, Khathing joined the Indian Military and bought an Emergency Fee as an officer.
What’s the report of his Military service?
In a brief time period, Bob Khathing was not solely given the coveted award of Member of British Empire (MBE) for his position in galvanising Naga help in opposition to the Japanese in Burma and India, but in addition the Army Cross (MC) for his acts of bravery above and past the decision of responsibility.
Bob was commissioned into the 9/11 Hyderabad Regiment (now Kumaon Regiment). In 1942, he was transferred to the Assam Regiment in Shillong.
Through the Second World Battle, he was a part of a guerrilla outfit referred to as Victor Drive, raised by the British to fight the Japanese on the Burma-India street. Later, one other pressure referred to as SANCOL, comprising 153 Gurkha Parachute Battalion, was shaped in June 1944 below command of Main John Saunders, and Bob Khathing was appointed Advisor to this pressure.
Frivolously outfitted with solely two days’ rations, SANCOL was tasked with monitoring Japanese troopers round Tangkhul Hundung and stopping them from escaping to the southeast.
The quotation for award of MC to Khathing says he was of the best help within the success of the operations. “He’s recognized and revered by the Naga inhabitants from Kohima to Humine. He organised and managed a most effective system of acquiring data from villagers. He imbued them with the spirit to battle in opposition to the Japanese and to offer the troops each help. He organised the gathering of provides for the column. With out him it might not have been attainable for the column to reside on the nation and so perform its job. Not solely was Captain Khathing tireless in his duties as adviser to the commander, however he additionally took half in a number of most profitable ambushes,” it says.
What did Bob Khathing do after the battle ended?
On the finish of the Second World Battle, the Emergency Commissioned officers within the Military had been demobilised. Identified to be very near the then Maharaja Kumar Priyabrata Singh of Manipur, Khathing joined the then interim authorities as minister answerable for the hill areas.
In 1949, when Manipur merged with India, the interim authorities was dissolved and he joined the Assam Rifles. Khathing served with the 2nd Assam Rifles Battalion for 2 years.
In 1951, he joined the Indian Frontier Administrative Service as an assistant political officer. He went on to function Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung (in Nagaland), Growth Commissioner in Sikkim, and Chief Secretary of Nagaland. His profession ended as ambassador to Burma in 1975 — making him probably the primary individual of tribal origin to be appointed ambassador in unbiased India. He died in Imphal on January 12, 1990.
