Indian lion is much more graceful and elegant in looks compared to African variety that has larger head and ears and mane. Even Indian elephant looks more elegant than African variety. On holi festival that year I was amazed to see outside temporary shops stacks of China made pitchers, colours and every gadget used in celebrating the Indian festival. Crackers and diyas for diwali celebrations were also China made and smuggled in India. Indian middle class supported the trade in China made goods. I was aghast to see China made replicas of Taj Mahal with small vendors outside the Taj Mahal in Agra. Indian artists who used to make miniature replicas of marble were put out of their trade as asbestos make of China was available at tenth of price of India made variety. The China invasion that rendered thousands of artists without markets for their makes as traders and buyers dealt in cheap varieties without either realizing that they were supporting a trade invasion. It was much worst for it exposed the Indian mind that could be easily lured with offer of price reduction. The invasion had begun a decade earlier and captured the middle class of variety, traders and their customers. Neither had pride in their mien for India, Indian makes, and great traditions preserved by small artists.

After skirmishes on the Leh Ladakh borders between mobilized Chinese soldiers and Indian border Police force the intelligentsia in India is loudly demanding explanations from the Prime Minister. Some are even goading him not to give even an inch of space to China. In view of diplomatic dialogue initiated between India and China some are demanding that the Prime Minister take India in confidence. The class that has suddenly woken up by the clatter of bullets on Northern borders leaves nothing short in expressing their patriotism. Yet they could not see the invasion of two full decades. They could not see captivation of penny saving corrupt minds through trade instead of clatter of fire weapons.

There is hardly any change in Indian attitude in six decades to comprehend why China keeps repeating the same strategy to attract the world attention to its growing might. It invades Indian markets for 15 years while it appeared to be growing an economic superpower to replace two entities America and Japan. In 1980 it lured the American capital magnets with assurance to open its economy for exploitation of cheap labour and other service with the Communist regime’s promise of protecting their interests.

The global economics concept was devised in America for removing poverty in other regions outside America but in reality it was search for cheap labour without attendant demands for social security for labour. India was also option a decade later but the strong democracy in India became a deterrent and China moved faster by offering manufacturing facilities even to Indians. Many Indian brand products made in China flooded the Indian markets as other China made products flooded shops in several other countries. The waning process began from 2007 with realisation growing that China made products may be cheap but they are wanting in quality and durability. The fading out of China products from world market plunged China into a serious economic crisis.

The 1962 October intrusion by the China forces into the Himalayan borders was more shocking event as the Indian Prime Minister was constantly endeavoring to pull China out of its isolationist shell to strengthen the non aligned nations as competitive world force since 1956. India prefers to remember the intrusion as aggression though the sudden intrusion and sudden withdrawal on 14th day remains a mystery. Yet Indians went in celebration when the China strong man Mao exchanged a broad smile with the visiting Indian vice president and enjoyed an Indian film. The Vajpayee and succeeding governments encouraged the expansion of trade relations.

But China could not deliver quality products made for others. The power whip can enable the authority to put workman in assembly line for prescribed hours but cannot force to deliver quality product. The lack of quality in products resulted in slump to force the economic crisis since 2008. But the Prime Minister Narendra Modi spared no effort in providing a rousing welcome to the Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014. NaMo was gracious enough to include the China proposal for the bullet train project on the Cabinet agenda.

The world leaders were soon disillusioned with the NaMo phenomenon as he was unable to move forward on his promised rapid economic growth scheme. Xi had come rushing to India within six months of installation of the Modi regime and landed at Ahmadabad to be put in the Gandhi swing in the Sabarmati Ashram, but from 2016 onwards became difficult person to meet and shake hands with. China began to make impossible claims on Indian Territory. Massive appearance of the Chinese troops at the Ladakh borders and skirmishes were enough to send the Indian intelligentsia on the war path. Everyone overlooked that the Indian authorities had initiated moves to scale down entry of Chinese goods, through formal or informal channels. The ruling party launched sustained campaign to boycott the Chinese goods. It was in Indian interest as many realized that not holi celebration gadgets but even statues of Ganesh made in China were flooding Indian Markets. Indian trading class was not averse to few more bucks profit regardless of its impact to the national honour. The campaign was essentially against the petty profit motivation of Indian trading class but the way it was handled became in appearance the anti-China movement. Can or will India tolerate similar kind of campaign against India made goods in any part of globe? The argument is not to justify actions by China but to induce Indian classes to think of and be prepared to reactions. For few bucks if your interests can destroy small artisans as a class and begin to peddle the foreign made miniature replicas of the Indian monument listed in the eight wonders of the world, you have to be ready to face consequences when you decide to correct many aberrations.