The Fractured Himalaya is a riveting account of India Tibet China relations from 1949-1962. Nirupama Rao, who was recently Foreign Secretary of India and has served as the Indian ambassador to the United States and Japan, provides an insider’s view on how these three powerful countries interacted with each other in one of the world’s most sensitive regions. The book offers fascinating insights into key moments such as Mao Zedong’s historic visit to Delhi in 1954, Premier Zhou Enlai’s multiple trips to Lhasa between 1957 and 1961, Jawaharlal Nehru’s personal diplomacy with Chairman Mao and Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, and John F Kennedy administration efforts to manage Sino-Indian hostilities.
For who is this book for ?
The Fractured Himalaya is a must read for anyone interested in contemporary Indian history, international relations, and Chinese politics.
Pros :
- The author has a unique perspective, as she has served as the Indian ambassador to the United States and Japan.
- The book provides fascinating insights into key moments in Sino-Indian relations.
- The book is well written and easy to read.
Cons :
- The Fractured Himalaya provides a detailed and well-researched account of India Tibet China relations from 1949 to 1962
- The author, Nirupama Rao, has extensive first-hand experience based on her roles as Foreign Secretary of India and Indian ambassador to the United States and Japan
- The book offers fascinating insights into key moments such as Mao Zedong’s historic visit to Delhi in 1954, Premier Zhou Enlai’s multiple trips to Lhasa between 1957 and 1961, Jawaharlal Nehru’s personal diplomacy with Chairman Mao and Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso.
Learn more about the author
Nirupama Rao is a highly respected diplomat who has served as the Indian ambassador to the United States and Japan, and as Foreign Secretary of India. She provides an insider’s view on how three powerful countries interacted with each other in one of the world’s most sensitive regions.
Reader Reviews
“Anyone interested in modern history, diplomacy or Sino-Indian relations will find much to appreciate in this book. Nirupama Rao has a fluid writing style and provides rich detail on the politicking among India’s various leaders as they navigated the delicate dance with China.”
“The Fractured Himalaya is a highly readable and perceptive account of India’s relations with China and Tibet in the years immediately following Indian independence. Drawing on her own first-hand experience as a diplomat, Nirupama Rao offers keen insights into all the key players – Jawaharlal Nehru, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and the Dalai Lama – and deftly unravels their often conflicting agendas. This is an important book that will be of great interest to anyone seeking to understand one of Asia’s most complex relationships.”
“Nirupama Rao has written a perceptive and timely book on Sino-Indian relations in the Himalayas. Drawing on her wealth of experience as a senior diplomat, she offers fresh insights into the complex webs of influence that have shaped this pivotal relationship over the past six decades. This is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand one of Asia’s most consequential bilateral relationships.”
“A well-crafted and insightful account of the complicated triangular relationship between India, Tibet and China from 1949 to 1962. Nirupama Rao, who has served as Indian ambassador to both the United States and Japan and was recently Foreign Secretary of India, brings her unique personal experience to bear in providing a fascinating insiders view on how these three powerful countries interacted with each other during a time of high tension in one of the world’s most sensitive regions.”
