Bob Khathing Museum of Valour inaugurated: Who was he, his role in integrating Tawang into India

Sub : History

Sec: Personality

Context:

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Major Ralengnao ‘Bob’ Khathing Museum of Valour at Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh on October 31, celebrated as National Unity Day after the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

About Bob Khathing:

Ralengnao Khathing, also known as Bob Khathing, was an Indian soldier, civil servant and diplomat and the first person of tribal origin to serve as an Ambassador for India.
He led the legendary expedition to peacefully integrate Tawang into India.
He was also instrumental in establishing military and security frameworks, such as the Sashastra Seema Bal, Nagaland Armed Police, and the Naga Regiment.

Early Life and Education:

Khathing was born on February 28, 1912, in Ukhrul district, Manipur, and belonged to the Tangkhul Naga community.
He studied at Sir Johnstone High School in Imphal and completed his matriculation from Shillong. He later attended Cotton College in Guwahati. He also worked as the Head Master of Ukhrul High School and founded a school at Harasingha in Assam’s Darrang district.

Military Service and Role in WWII:

Khathing joined the Indian Army in 1939 after the outbreak of the Second World War and was granted an Emergency Commission as an officer.
During the Second World War, he was part of a guerrilla outfit called Victor Force, raised by the British to combat the Japanese on the Burma-India Road.
In 1944, the SANCOL force was formed, consisting of the 153 Gurkha Parachute Battalion under Major John Saunders, with Bob Khathing appointed as its Advisor. SANCOL was tasked with tracking Japanese soldiers and preventing them from escaping to the southeast.

Military Recognition:

For his bravery and leadership, Khathing was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for gallantry and the Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his contribution in organizing Naga support against the Japanese forces.

Post-War Career:

At the end of the Second World War, the Emergency Commissioned officers in the Army were demobilised.
He then became involved in the political landscape of Manipur, becoming a minister in the interim government, in charge of the hill areas.
Following Manipur’s merger with India in 1949, the interim government was dissolved.
Khathing joined the Assam Rifles, serving with the 2nd Assam Rifles Battalion for two years.

Career in Administration:

In 1951, Khathing joined the Indian Frontier Administrative Service (IFAS) as an assistant political officer.
He went on to serve as Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung (in Nagaland), Development Commissioner in Sikkim, and Chief Secretary of Nagaland.
His career ended as ambassador to Burma in 1975, making him possibly the first person of tribal origin to be appointed ambassador in independent India.

Tawang Expedition (1951)

In the early 1950s, China annexed Tibet and declared it as part of its territory. The Indian government to assert control over the strategically important region of Tawang, which was culturally and historically linked to Tibet.
In 1951 Khathing, then a member of the Indian Frontier Administrative Service, was appointed by the Governor of Assam to occupy Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, a region that was strategically important due to growing Chinese influence in Tibet.
Khathing led the expedition with troops of the Assam Rifles, navigating hostile terrain and extreme weather conditions.
Once they arrived in Tawang, Khathing held parleys with the locals, winning over their trust.
He officially took Tawang under Indian administration by hoisting the Indian flag on February 14, 1951.
He also set up an administrative structure by appointing Gaon Buras (village elders) to help manage the local administration.

Legacy:

Bob Khathing passed away on January 12, 1990, in Imphal, leaving behind a legacy of service to both the military and administrative spheres of India.
For his contributions to India’s national security and integration efforts, Major Khathing was awarded numerous honours, including the Padma Shri in 1957.