ABSTRACT
In the early morning hours of 20 October 1962, the Sino-Indian border conflict, which had been simruering and escalating since the late 1950s, erupted in a major Chinese attack. The all-out attack, as weil as the poor performance of and devastating defeat suffered by the proud but ill-prepared Indian army, shocked Indian policy-makers and took them by complete surprise. The few weeks between then and 21 November, when the Chinese unilaterally declared a cease-fire, were trauma tic, and left a mark on Indian politicians and generals w h ich would not be erased for years to come. This led, in the ensuing years, to a major effort being invested in the rebuilding and restructuring of the Indian army and of India's military thinking in general. This study deals critically with various aspects of the Indian strategic pasture during the period preceding the war.
