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Ralengnao Khathing, popularly referred to as Bob Khathing, is comparatively an unknown determine for many of Arunachal and even India, however folks of Tawang nonetheless bear in mind him with respect for being the only real Indian official to come back as their saviour when the Chinese menace loomed giant.
Speaking at a perform held to felicitate newly elected Gram Panchayat and Zilla Parishad chairpersons, Khandu stated {that a} Memorial will probably be constructed in honor of Maj Khathing by the state authorities at a web site to be determined by the district administration.
He stated the memorial will even home a museum of Monpa custom and a cafeteria.
“Not many of us are aware of Maj Khathing and his contribution to Arunachal Pradesh. Once the memorial is constructed, visitors will come to know about Maj Khathing and his contributions while having a glimpse of Monpa life,” he stated.
Khandu additional knowledgeable that the muse stone of the memorial will probably be laid on February 14 subsequent, the day it’s believed Maj Khathing hoisted the tricolour in Tawang for the primary time in 1951.
As per sources, Bob Khathing served within the British Army and fought World War II. A British officer, discovering the pronunciation of his title, ‘Relengnao’ as being a bit too troublesome, determined to name him Bob, and that was the title Khathing got here to be recognized by. During World War II, he served within the well-known V Force and for his gallantry was awarded the Military Cross (MC). He additionally obtained the Award of Member of the British Empire (MBE).
He was inducted as an Assistant Political Officer (APO) in November 1950 in Tirap Division and was posted to Pasighat after which to Kameng Division with headquarters at Charduar.
Maj Bob Khathing is believed to have began on an arduous journey from Charduar with a staff of troopers from 5 Assam Rifles on 17 January 1951. This was the primary expedition to barter extraordinarily inhospitable terrain in sub-zero temperatures, and Bob Khathing along with his staff of Assam Rifles troopers reached Tawang on 6 February 1951. The frontier area was sparsely populated and the street community was virtually non-existent.
To set up Indian presence upto the extent of the McMahon Line, which was demarcated because the border between India and Tibet in 1914, below the phrases of the Simla Treaty, required overlaying the world by foot over very troublesome terrain. This, Maj Khathing and his troop of 5 Assam rifles, efficiently achieved. He then met and interacted with plenty of ‘gaonbudhas’ (village headmen) and shortly and successfully established authority over Tawang. Indian administrative presence was thus established on this distant a part of the nation.
“This memorial will be our tribute to Maj Bob Khathing,” added Khandu.
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