Imagine being arrested on sedition charges because you wrote a letter to the Parliament saying that the PM needs to retire. I cannot wrap my head around the arrest of Dharampal by Nehru, the man whom we were taught to associate with the highest ideals of democracy.

Yesterday, I requested Gita Dharampal ji to share with me a digital copy of her father’s letter (co-signed by NN Datta and Roop Narain), dated 21.11.1962, that was sent to all Members of the Indian Lok Sabha. Here it is. The text is as follows:

<< Dear Friend,
In a circular recently sent to all Congress M.P.s, M.L.A.s, M.L.C. s and Pradesh and District Congress Committees, the All-India Congress Committee has said: “Positive stand against criticism of the Prime Minister should be taken. It must be emphasised that those who criticise him are traitors.”

In a broadcast over the All-India Radio announcing the fall of Bomdilla, the Prime Minister said:

“We are not going to tolerate this kind of invasion of India by any foreign country. […]We must train ourselves and we must steel ourselves to meet all these reverses and to make our determination still firmer and to do all we can to repel and throw out the invader from India. We shall not be content till the invader goes out of India or is pushed out.

We shall not accept any terms that he may offer because he may think that we are a little frightened by some little setbacks. […]Any setback which may come to us in this way, which has been thrust upon us, will not permit us to waver in our determination.” He ended with: “I want to make a pledge to them here and now that we shall see this matter to the end and the end will have to be a victory for India.”

Alas! These are words and sentiments which the country has been hearing for the past 15 years. The context only changes. One day it may be grow-more-food; another, the building of modern temples symbolised by steel plants and dams; yet another time, national integration or our quarrel with Pakistan or the endless fight against old prejudices and a hundred other things. The fact is that all content has been drained out from such exhortations and instead of leading to courage, to determination, to hope, each pronouncement of the Prime Minister leaves the people limp.

Perhaps the Prime Minister has changed, has seen the light. But how is one to be convinced. The actions of the Government of India during the last 30 days are no pointers. It is not to ignore the steps Government has taken since October 20. These, in fact, can be enumerated. The Prime Minister did demote the Defence Minister and then sacked him; but soon after he publicly regretted this step. A National Defence Council and a National Citizens’ Committee have been formed. The 30 odd members of the first have yet to meet. About the second, the less said the better. Maybe, with God’s grace, the Prime Minister and his daughter, who respectively chair these two august bodies and the Prime Minister’s court can save this country and its freedom. Dare one hope ?. The past gives no assurance.

Perhaps this time, the Prime Minister is his old 1929 self again. But how does one know?

Nobody can expect an old man of 73 to stand shoulder to shoulder with men of the Indian Army at Bomdilla (which is no more) or Chushul or some other border posts. But surely, if he feels as he claims, if his pledge has any meaning, if his patriotism has any passion, the Prime Minister can still move over to Tejpur or Gauhati or Shillong or some other place, offer comfort and confidence to the people of Assam, supervise the generals appointed by him and be available on the spot till, as he says, we get rid of the Chinese from Indian soil. But does he have courage? Does he believe in his own words? Does he have hope?

In reply to the Government of India, on, November 18, 1950, the Chinese had said: “The Chinese People‘s Liberation Army will liberate the Tibetan people and defend the frontiers of China. This is the firm policy of the Chinese Government.”
Which were those borders which China had referred? Did the Government of India enquire? Did the Prime Minister think? It brings popularity to call the Chinese “this treacherous enemy, but had not one had sufficient notice ? 12 long years is not such a short time.

Time is running fast in this country. Not that if the Chinese occupy a large part of the country, they can not be thrown out in due time; not that truth ultimately does not Win. But is this the fate of this country to first allow the aggressors to come in and then exerting for an endless time in pushing them out? Firstly it is for the Prime Minister, personally, to make his own choice. Can he physically be with the people who are defending India at our borders and the citizens of Assam who need assurance? Has he the nerve?

Can he work as a member of a team; can he rise above personal glory? Above all, is he really sorry for all the mess which is there today? In olden times, one in his position would have crawled hundreds and thousands of miles to beg forgiveness of one’s fellow beings and of the gods that may be. He at least can tender an unqualified public apology. The people of this country would not deny forgiveness to an old man if he were really repentant.

It is no crime that in this crisis in India, he is not equal to the task. He has done his part in days gone by. But today is no occasion to look to the past. The need is he gets out so that the Chinese do not come any further and are pushed back in a reasonable time, more so that the fight which is going on serves some purpose.. One wants to be certain that we are fighting this battle with firmness according to some plan.

Today the Chinese have come with the ceasefire. This may rightly be a ruse. But if and when the time for negotiations or a settlement comes, one must have people who can do the job and who can be also trusted by the people. The Prime Minister’s past record is of a man engaged in a private deal. If the Prime Minister can not decide, it is for the Congress Party or the Parliament of this country, or falling both for the head of the Indian Republic to make the choice for the Prime Minister that he retires, and give India a Government which knows what it is doing which does not talk in terms of eventual Triumph but does something today.

The people of this country have been shamed, they have been bewildered by the ways of Government. How long can they wait? It is for wise people in this country, whoever they are to see that this shame and anger does not burst its bounds, does not lead to a road which no one desires. Let those be put in – charge who can act against the aggressors and not against their own people.

The people who criticise the Prime Minister are no less patriotic than him. If anything their patriotism is more robust.

Yours sincerely,

Signed by Dharampal, Roop Narain, NN Dutta, Member Parliament, New Delhi.

(The article was published on Arisebharat.com and has been reproduced here)