Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1962 Sino-Indian War, which saw fighting between India and China over two disputed border territories in the Western and Eastern parts of the Himalayans. There was probably more to the war than the border dispute (Tibet had been annexed, the Dalai Lama had also recently been granted asylum by India) - the Wikipedia page has a list of references about the war.
The conflict was never actually resolved, and Arunachal Pradesh / South Tibet just to the north of Assam is still claimed by both India and China. Even today, while other NE Indian states have removed the need for foreigners to obtain Restricted Area Permits (RAPs) or Protected Area Permits (PAPs), visitors to Arunachal still need a permit.
Here're some articles about the 50th anniversary:
50 Years Since Sino-Indian Battle: War Never Begets Peace (International Business Times)
Half a Century ago - October 20, 1962 (Times of Assam)
Lessons of the Sino-Indian War (Japan Times)
The other night I was sitting in a friend's house in Guwahati listening to her friend, a former DCO (district coordination officer) who'd worked all over Assam. He was telling a little joke / anecdote (of dubious historical authenticity) about the war.
The story went like this. A Marwari (Rajasthani) trader had a business in a town near the border between Assam and Arunachal. One day, on the eve of the war, he caused a massive panic in town when he was heard saying, "Chini ahise." Everyone thought he'd meant 'The Chinese are coming.' or 'The Chinese have come.'
Of course, he just meant that the 'sugar' had arrived.
