Balipara and Sadiya Frontier Tracts in the Perspective of Colonial Geo Politics

Abstract

In few leading daily newspapers of North East India  very often Chinese attempt to increase its foothold around India through its ‘string of pearl strategy’ and Bangladesh caretaker government’s remarks on the North East make headlines drawing security concerns for India. Border dispute between India and China had been an outstanding issue over the past several decades which had gone to the extent of military mobilisation. Ever since the Buddhist pilgrims Kashyapa Matanga, Kumarajiva, and Dharmaraksa visited China, Sino-India relations had been historically peaceful for thousands of years. Most of the time in history it was occupied by exchange of cultural relations, trade and missions involving Tibetan Buddhism. After 1825 British India came into proximity with Tibet. During the Manchus regime no serious attempts were made to demarcate the boundaries form either side. Trade and cultural relations continued between Tibet and British India. The rise of Russian empire and subsequent exchange of diplomatic ties with Tibet drew curiosity of British India. The mountain crests and Himalayan watersheds were drawn into the geo-political board. Then came Mao’s rule which changed his stand on Tibet and emerged as revisionist power. This paper though, explores some of the historical developments within the ‘free flowing frontiers’ of the North East India, comprising mostly the Balipara and Sadiya frrontier tracts, will not delve into ongoing contemporary issues. It is an attempt to unveil some of there remote claims on so called ‘great game politics’ preceding the Communist era.