It was during the gathering chill of October-November 1962 that Chinese troops breached India’s northeastern frontiers, forcing the country into an agonising conflict that ended in a searing national setback.

Sixty-four years later, the political cauldron is being stirred again over purported incursions in the same arena — the North East. While the Union government has cleared the air regarding border integrity, faceless keyboard warriors and an anxious Opposition remain up in arms.

The only real departure from the 1962 episode is an ironic twist of political fortunes. The ideological heirs of those who raised hell in 1962 are now at the helm, while the political descendants of that era’s ruling establishment occupy the Opposition benches.

However, beyond these political tussles lies an uncomfortable reality. The Diwali fairy lights on our balconies and even the sacred idols of Ganesha and Lakshmi on our altars are largely imported from across the Himalayas. Chinese products have become deeply entrenched in everyday life in India while India’s footprint in Chinese markets is virtually negligible.

India must strengthen its economic muscle to a point where Beijing — or any other adversary, for that matter — thinks hard before embarking on a misadventure. The self-reliance campaign that gained momentum after the Galwan Crisis has made commendable progress; but India must traverse a long and arduous path before it........

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