17th November, 1962; Day III, Battle of Nuranang, Rta-dbang (རྟ་དབང་), North East Frontier Agency area
“You will only upset
the Empire and bring destruction upon this land of peace, Se.”
“Is it for me father
or the Devil would have invaded our land any ways and plundered us as they always
did in the past?”
“You can save the
clan by accepting him.”
“So you looked after
me…. loved me….. All these years, just to hand me over, as a ransom?”
“No… no my dear…. You
know how much I love you.”
“And you know how
much I love him.”
“We are historically more
connected to them than the ones who crossed the great Siang”
“No we are not,
father. Monpas are independent and free to follow their heart. That is what the
nuns at Gyan-gong taught us, that was what even His Holiness told us when he
stepped first in our land, isn’t it and that is what you have always asked me
to believe in, father.”
“He represents a weak
and immature race. He can’t stand for long. He can’t save you; neither can he save
himself or dignity of his motherland. His people have all died. They now know
that he is alone and just tricked them for days from the hill top. He will be
overrun tonight and beheaded by the Dragon army.”
“So you told them
already…. ………………Then I better rush to his side, father…. I don’t want him to be
cold, thirsty, and hungry or run out of ammunition when he fights all alone for
his people, for us, for our land. History should not say that Monpas can’t keep
promises….. Monpas can’t love…..”
“You are fool. By the
time you reach Jaswant……..”
“No……….. Nothing can
keep us apart…. Not even death….. ”
“Se….. no….no….
Se…….”
1st January, 2007; Se La (Sela Pass: 4170m), Arunachal Pradesh, India
1st January, 2007; Se La (Sela Pass: 4170m), Arunachal Pradesh, India
The car kept skidding on the hard snow over the high
mountain pass as the driver tried his best to control, but in vain. Another few
meters to go before the car will plunge deep into the darkness down below. He couldn’t see
anything as the snow white surrounding blurred his vision. Only instinct told him
that the end is nearing. Whenever he faced adversity in his life, he had
visions of this shadow standing in distance, with one hand extended as if
trying to hold him, to save him. That was not there this time. So this is the end then. He followed the driver who was trying to open the door on the other side thinking
of jumping out of the vehicle. That was not easy and car was almost half submerged in the snow. And then there she appeared. He
can see her and clearly for the first time. In front of the vehicle, smiling. Suddenly, an enormous Stallion truck of the Indian Army with chains across the tyres, crossed them and halted their free fall. Soon the Army Jawans were out and rescued them from their car. He felt numbness in the whole body as if it will fly away and just stared at the blank distance where she stood even a few
seconds before.
They put the "road closed" sign in the middle and started working on removing the heavy snow.
Cursing him for his choice of the light vehicle to cross the formidable Se La, one of the Jawans shouted "Go back buddy.... may be Se don't want you here....ha ha ha ha....."
"What..who is Se?"
(The journey will begin once again on 5th October, 2016.........)
They put the "road closed" sign in the middle and started working on removing the heavy snow.
Cursing him for his choice of the light vehicle to cross the formidable Se La, one of the Jawans shouted "Go back buddy.... may be Se don't want you here....ha ha ha ha....."
"What..who is Se?"
(The journey will begin once again on 5th October, 2016.........)
