“Exploring History, Culture, and Conflict: Prosenjit Das Gupta’s Journey in ‘A Conflict in Thin Air'”
Prosenjit Das Gupta, a native of Kolkata, was born in 1944. He embarked on his educational journey at St. Xavier’s School and later pursued his studies at Presidency College. In 1966, he embarked on a career with a prominent chamber of commerce in Calcutta, where he dedicated his professional efforts until his retirement in 2008.
Beyond the confines of his professional life, Prosenjit’s passions have revolved around folk and tribal culture as well as wildlife. His fascination with history took root at an early age, prompting solitary journeys to explore historical sites. Since the 1970s, he has undertaken extensive travel both within India and abroad, both for work and pleasure. His explorations have led him to discover historical treasures in far-flung places, including Egypt, Greece, and more.
Prosenjit Das Gupta is not only a traveler and explorer but also an accomplished writer. He has authored several books that span a diverse range of topics. Among his notable works are a biography of the renowned hunter Jim Corbett, “Eco-Yatra” (a study of economic changes in India since 1947), “Issues and Idioms” (an exploration of trends in political discourse in India), “A Conflict in Thin Air” (an examination of the Sino-Indian border conflict of 1962), “Chasing a Dream” (an account of his journeys to tribal areas of Bastar), and “A Partition in the Mind” (a study dissecting the factors that led to the Partition in 1947).
In addition to his writings, Prosenjit maintains an active online presence through his blog-site at tollykol.blogspot.com. Residing in Kolkata and leading a single life, he continues his research on the political and economic history of India. Meanwhile, he persists in nurturing his passions for travel and wildlife photography, offering a rich tapestry of experiences and knowledge to the world.
In “A Conflict in Thin Air,” Prosenjit Das Gupta offers a refreshing departure from conventional narratives on the Sino-Indian war of 1962. Unlike many books constrained by a limited 20th-century perspective, Das Gupta embarks on an ambitious journey, delving into the multifaceted tapestry of history, politics, socio-culture, geography, and economics spanning from the earliest annals of Tibetan history.
With compelling evidence, including maps, local customs, trade routes, norms, social practices, and treaties, Das Gupta bolsters the argument for Tibet’s independence. This assertion persists, challenging the narrative of a so-called ‘peaceful’ liberation of Tibet by communist China.
Here at bookGeeks, we consider ourselves fortunate to engage in a thought-provoking conversation with the esteemed author, Prosenjit Das Gupta.
We invite you to join us as we offer you an enticing glimpse into this enlightening exchange of ideas.
| Tell us something about yourself, your occupation, and your interests. |
| I was born in 1944 and have since studied, worked, and lived in Kolkata all these years. In addition to my professional work in a chamber of commerce, I developed a keen interest in wildlife, folk culture, and history, besides my main subject of Economics. I have also been an avid reader from childhood. This led me to travel widely in India and, to some extent, abroad. This, in turn, sharpened my interest in people and places and pushed me into further research, especially into history. Possibly, my work at the chamber in analyzing government policies and programs and in preparing studies and reports also helped in the process. So, I gradually progressed from writing articles for newspapers on wildlife or folk culture to writing books on issues that interested me and about which I wanted to share my thoughts, ideas, and impressions with readers. I am single, a bachelor, and keep myself occupied with traveling, wildlife photography, reading, and writing. |
| Can you shed some light on your inspiration behind writing the book, ‘A Conflict in Thin Air’? |
| I had just started college in 1962, and it was a traumatic event for us when the Chinese attacked India's borders in October of that year. We had never imagined that China, with which we had a long-standing historical relationship, would actually launch an attack on India. There were severe food shortages and skyrocketing inflation, and we didn't know how to make sense of it or how to cope. This experience surely left a lasting impression on my mind. Several years later, I delved into books like Neville Maxwell’s “India’s China War,” Brig. J.P. Dalvi’s “Himalayan Blunder,” and Lt. Gen. B.K. Kaul’s “The Untold Story.” In 2012, the fifty-year anniversary of the Sino-Indian border conflict approached, and more articles surfaced, yet I remained unsatisfied. Certain aspects of the situation still didn't add up. It was during a chance discussion with friends, where one of them vehemently criticized Nehru's policies in the 1950s and 60s, that I felt compelled to undertake a study of the subject myself. |
| What makes the book different from other books on the Sino-Indian conflict of 1962? |
| I was determined to delve beyond the military aspects of the conflict and explore the broader history of India-Tibet-China relationships. My goal was to base my analysis solely on records and documents. I noticed that some earlier books seemed to rely excessively on Chinese press releases and were rather lacking in content from records available in India and London. They also appeared to be somewhat dismissive of these sources. Fortunately, I had access to numerous books, records, maps, and more at the National Library in Kolkata. These materials were grounded in records from the India Office Library, the Foreign Office in London, and the National Archives of India. They not only quoted dates and names but also provided authentic reproductions of several original documents. Through this extensive research, I was able to explore various accounts of the institution of the Dalai Lama, the conduct of Imperial China, and their relationship dating back to the 8th century CE. This gave me a comprehensive overview of the de facto and de jure relationship between Tibet, China, India, and later British India. This perspective helped me clarify some misconceptions found in earlier books, such as Nehru's competence in handling the situation, the Lt. Gen. Henderson-Brooke report, whether China had indeed signed an agreement at Simla in 1914, and the status of the border in terms of delineation, definition, or demarcation, among other issues. I was able to address several claims and questions that Chinese authorities had raised over time. In essence, my book aims to offer a more factual, balanced, and comprehensive approach to the issue compared to some of the earlier works on this topic. |
| It is quite obvious that a lot of research has gone into the making of this book. What methods did you follow and how did you go about the entire process? |
| I had no guide or advisor; I had to rely on myself. It demanded rigorous research, relying on books, reports, records, documents, and maps that I managed to locate at the National Library. For books published prior to 2005, the National Library had a manual indexing system. This meant painstakingly going through the card indexes one by one, identifying books that might shed light on the subject, and then reading them cover to cover, hoping to uncover new insights. It also involved meticulously examining maps of the border areas with a magnifying glass for hours and taking notes since the Library didn't allow me to photograph them due to security concerns. Over a span of about three years, I went through 76 books and 7 maps, as mentioned in the Bibliography of the book. Afterward, it took another year or so to write it all out. I also managed to conduct two or three interviews with individuals who had either served in the theater of war or were closely associated with those who had. |
| Who is your target reader base – scholars or regular history buffs? |
| My primary audience comprises the concerned citizens of India, those who are concerned about the occasional skirmishes and tensions along the India-China border. These incidents consume a significant portion of our national time, attention, energy, and resources. It is my hope that by reading this book, they will become better informed and gain a more comprehensive understanding, enabling them to form their own opinions about the overall Sino-Indian relationship and the specific border issue. |
| Some of the sources quoted in the book, are not accessible or popularly known to the public. How did you find out about them? |
| Fortunately, by around 2010, the Internet had significantly developed, and it initially assisted me in accessing reports and articles that provided valuable sources and references. Using these, I located books at the National Library, and from their Bibliography, I identified additional sources and books to investigate. I also diligently cross-referenced many footnotes and endnotes in these texts. Moreover, the maps available at the National Library, some dating back to the mid-19th century, aided me in addressing several unsubstantiated Chinese claims that earlier authors had accepted without scrutiny. These efforts, I hope, have enhanced the value of the book. |
| How long did it take you to write the book, from the first pages to the final draft? |
| Overall, it took me approximately 12 months to complete the manuscript. |
| What was the biggest challenge that you faced in writing the book? |
| I believe the most significant challenge was to avoid getting distracted by and bogged down in details while maintaining a narrative that is both readable and, at the same time, dispassionate "arm's length" level. |
| Which are some of your favorite books on Indian history? |
| There are numerous books on specialized aspects of Indian history. However, at a more general level, some of the books I have revisited multiple times include: 1. "The Wonder That Was India" by A.L. Basham 2. "Prehistory and Protohistory in India and Pakistan" by H.D. Sankalia 3. "Archaeology of Soviet Central Asia and Indian Borderlands" by S.P. Gupta 4. "India as Known to Panini – A Study of the Cultural Material in the 'Ashtadhyayi'" by Vasudev Saran Agrawala 5. "Alberuni’s India," edited by Dr. Edward Sachau 6. "The Enchantment of Democracy & India" by Sudipta Kaviraj 7. "The Felt Community – The Commonality and Mentality Before the Emergence of Indian Nationalism" by Rajat Kanta Ray 8. "Narratives and the Writing of History" by Romila Thapar There are others, but listing them all would make the list quite extensive. |
| Tell us about the other books that you have written. |
| Over the past twenty years, I have authored around 8 to 10 books. I would like to highlight the more recent ones from the last ten to twelve years that may still be available: (a) "Eco-Yatra" (Published by Tata McGraw-Hill, 2007) – a study of changes in economic policies in India from 1947 to 2005. (b) "Issues and Idioms" (Published by Cinnamon Teal Publishing, 2012) – an examination of the language of political discourse from 1947 to around 2010. (c) "Chasing a Dream" (Cinnamon Teal, 2014) – a journey into the tribal heartland of Central India. (d) "A Partition in the Mind" (Published by Cinnamon Teal, 2018) – offering fresh perspectives on factors leading to the Partition of India in 1947. |
| Any new projects that you are currently working on? |
| I am in the final stages of completing a travelogue based on my journeys to places of historical significance in India and abroad spanning the past 50 years. Additionally, I am contemplating updating and revising a few of my earlier books that have gone out of print. Furthermore, there's the possibility of embarking on another book focused on Indian economic development. |
Embark on this enlightening journey through history and geopolitics—discover the untold story of Tibet’s struggle for sovereignty; grab your copy of Prosenjot Dasgupta’s “A Conflict in Thin Air” today.
