Learning Lessons and Revisting Myths from Kameng

Episodes in the modern military history of a nation need to assist in deriving lessons. At the same time, due to reasons such as fading public memory, local discourse in the area of conflict, non-availability of archival data, poor recording of history, and over-securitisation leads to the creation of myths. This article discusses tactics of victory employed by the Chinese in the 1962 Sino-Indian War. It then assesses the need to sustain capacity for mobility in the Himalayas. It also highlights the fact that local perceptions have not been understood at the national level. Thus the current discourse is placed to understand the war and society school of the locals, and how myths—both military and non-military— are generated. The article also shows how reputed international scholars who have studied the war have used rigorous research methodology to construct very authentic narratives and accounts. The paper concludes by re-emphasizing the need for basic soldiering routines and skills.