GUWAHATI, Dec 15 - The Centre for South East Asian Studies in collaboration with the Department of Political Science, Gauhati University organised a special web lecture on �Evolution of India-China Boundary� delivered by Lt General RP Kalita, today through the Google Meet online platform.
Professor Nani Gopal Mahanta, director of the centre welcomed the guest speaker Lt Gen RP Kalita and Professor Pratap Jyoti Handique, Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University to the web lecture. Professor Mahanta mentioned about the importance of the topic in the present day time in relation to India�s border relations with China.
Professor Handique spoke about Gauhati University and its academic excellence in general and the performance of the Centre for South East Asian Studies in the field of area studies and international relations. He also highlighted the significance of the topic of discussion.
Lt General Kalita�s lecture was primarily based on individual research and his professional experiences. He shared his understanding that the undemarcated and undefined nature of the northern Himalayan border of India with China is the prime cause of all the past boundary disputes that took place between India and China and the ongoing border confrontation is also a fallout of the same.
Before discussing about the evolution of this bilateral border, Lt Gen Kalita also traced the historical connections of India and China that flourished through the economic cooperation through trade routes like the Silk Route.
His presentation was covered in four parts � the concept of territorial entities, historical political developments along the non borders, evolution of the present boundary between India and China, and lastly the present status of the disputes.
In the latter part of his lecture, Lt Gen Kalita also spoke about the recent boundary confrontations that took place in Galwan Valley in Ladakh region and highlighted three major Chinese strategies in managing border relations with India � strategy of delaying; strategy of escalation and strategy of cooperation.
He shared his belief that China is resorting more to the strategy of escalation and techniques like Salami Slicing against the border troops of India. An interactive session followed the lecture.
In his concluding remarks, he shared his gratitude to the Centre for South East Asian Studies and the entire academic community for organising this event.
