1962: The War That Wasn't
The Definitive Account of the Clash Between India and China
Failed to add items
Add to cart failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
2 credits with free trial
Buy Now for ₹959.00
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Manish Dongardive
-
Written by:
-
Shiv Kunal Verma
About this listen
On 20 October 1962, high in the Himalayas, on the banks of the fast-flowing Nam Ka Chu, over 400 Indian soldiers were massacred, and the valley was overrun by soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army. Over the course of the next month, nearly 4,000 soldiers were killed on both sides, and the Indian army experienced its worst defeat ever. The conflict (war was never formally declared) ended because China announced a unilateral ceasefire on 21 November and halted its hitherto unhindered advance across NEFA and Ladakh. To add to India's lasting shame, neither Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru nor the Indian army was even aware that the 'war' had ended until they heard the announcement on the radio - despite the Indian embassy having been given the information two days earlier.
This conflict continues to be one of our least understood episodes. Many books have been written on the events of the time, usually by those who were involved in some way, anxious to provide justification for their actions. These accounts have succeeded only in muddying the picture further. What is clear is that 1962 was an unmitigated disaster. The terrain on which most of the battles were fought (or not fought) was remote and inaccessible; the troops were sorely underequipped, lacking even warm clothing; and the men and officers who tried to make a stand were repeatedly let down by their political and military superiors. Time and again, in Nam Ka Chu, Bum-la, Tawang, Se-la, Thembang, Bomdila - all in the Kameng Frontier Division of NEFA in the Eastern Sector - and in Ladakh and Chusul in the Western Sector, our forces were mismanaged, misdirected or left to fend for themselves. If the Chinese army hadn't decided to stop its victorious campaign, the damage would have been far worse.
In this definitive account of the conflict, based on dozens of interviews with soldiers and numerous others who had a firsthand view of what actually happened in 1962, Shiv Kunal Verma takes us on an uncomfortable journey through one of the most disastrous episodes of independent India's history.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2016 Shiv Kunal Verma (P)2016 Audible, Inc.People who bought this also bought...
-
India's Wars
- A Military History (1947-1971)
- Written by: Arjun Subramaniam
- Narrated by: Surjan Singh
- Length: 19 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
India's armed forces play a key role in protecting the country and occupy a special place in the Indian people's hearts, yet standard accounts of contemporary Indian history rarely have a military dimension. In India's Wars, serving Air Vice Marshal Arjun Subramaniam seeks to rectify that oversight by giving India's military exploits their rightful place in history.
-
-
bass heavy
- By Manik Sejwal on 20-09-19
-
Revolutionaries
- The Other Story of How India Won Its Freedom
- Written by: Sanjeev Sanyal
- Narrated by: Adwait Karambelkar
- Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The history of India's struggle for freedom is usually told from the perspective of the non-violent movement. Yet, the story of armed resistance to colonial occupation is just as important. Names such as Vinayak Savarkar, Aurobindo Ghosh, Rashbehari Bose, Bagha Jatin, Sachindra Nath Sanyal, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Subhas Chandra Bose are still widely remembered. Their story is almost always presented as acts of individual heroism and not as part of a wider movement that had any overarching strategy or significant impact on the overall struggle for Independence.
-
-
Eye opener
- By Harshad P on 27-10-24
-
Ghost Wars
- The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001
- Written by: Steve Coll
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 26 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The explosive first-hand account of America's secret history in Afghanistan. With the publication of Ghost Wars, Steve Coll became not only a Pulitzer Prize winner, but also the expert on the rise of the Taliban, the emergence of Bin Laden, and the secret efforts by CIA officers and their agents to capture or kill Bin Laden in Afghanistan after 1998.
-
-
Excellent
- By Deepak Sharma on 23-08-24
-
Kargil
- From Surprise to Victory
- Written by: General V.P. Malik
- Narrated by: Siddhanta Pinto
- Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In February 1999, Pakistani Army personnel, disguised as jehadi militants, infiltrated mountainous Kargil and occupied key vantage points. Their intrusion triggered off a limited war between the world's newest nuclear states. It was a bitter battle, and one that throws up important lessons for India's defence preparedness, as also its responses to flare-ups such as this. This book is also a reminder of the unparalleled heroism that was on display during those grim weeks, heroism that has become a benchmark for bravery.
-
-
Excellent read
- By Tanu on 27-02-23
-
Courage and Conviction
- An Autobiography
- Written by: General V. K. Singh, Shiv Kunal Verma
- Narrated by: Sagar Arya
- Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
General V. K. Singh served in the Indian Army for 42 years, retiring as Chief of Army Staff on 31 May 2012. His distinguished career saw him on the front lines of combat in the Indo-Pak War of 1971, which led to the creation of Bangladesh, and in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force. Considered one of the world's foremost experts in counterinsurgency operations, he is also known for the principled stand he took on many issues during his tenure.
-
-
A true man who has lived for his DHARMA
- By Anuj panwar on 05-05-22
-
The Spy Chronicles
- RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace
- Written by: Asad Durrani, Aditya Sinha, A. S. Dulat
- Narrated by: Zubin Balaporia, Uday Benegal, Prateek Pillai
- Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sometime in 2016, a series of dialogues took place which set out to find a meeting ground, even if only an illusion, between A.S. Dulat and Asad Durrani. One was a former chief of RAW, India's external intelligence agency, the other of ISI, its Pakistani counterpart. As they could not meet in their home countries, the conversations, guided by journalist Aditya Sinha, took place in cities like Istanbul, Bangkok and Kathmandu.
-
-
Good book ruined by the performance
- By Abhimanyu Vyas on 28-03-21
-
India's Wars
- A Military History (1947-1971)
- Written by: Arjun Subramaniam
- Narrated by: Surjan Singh
- Length: 19 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
India's armed forces play a key role in protecting the country and occupy a special place in the Indian people's hearts, yet standard accounts of contemporary Indian history rarely have a military dimension. In India's Wars, serving Air Vice Marshal Arjun Subramaniam seeks to rectify that oversight by giving India's military exploits their rightful place in history.
-
-
bass heavy
- By Manik Sejwal on 20-09-19
-
Revolutionaries
- The Other Story of How India Won Its Freedom
- Written by: Sanjeev Sanyal
- Narrated by: Adwait Karambelkar
- Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The history of India's struggle for freedom is usually told from the perspective of the non-violent movement. Yet, the story of armed resistance to colonial occupation is just as important. Names such as Vinayak Savarkar, Aurobindo Ghosh, Rashbehari Bose, Bagha Jatin, Sachindra Nath Sanyal, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Subhas Chandra Bose are still widely remembered. Their story is almost always presented as acts of individual heroism and not as part of a wider movement that had any overarching strategy or significant impact on the overall struggle for Independence.
-
-
Eye opener
- By Harshad P on 27-10-24
-
Ghost Wars
- The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001
- Written by: Steve Coll
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 26 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The explosive first-hand account of America's secret history in Afghanistan. With the publication of Ghost Wars, Steve Coll became not only a Pulitzer Prize winner, but also the expert on the rise of the Taliban, the emergence of Bin Laden, and the secret efforts by CIA officers and their agents to capture or kill Bin Laden in Afghanistan after 1998.
-
-
Excellent
- By Deepak Sharma on 23-08-24
-
Kargil
- From Surprise to Victory
- Written by: General V.P. Malik
- Narrated by: Siddhanta Pinto
- Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In February 1999, Pakistani Army personnel, disguised as jehadi militants, infiltrated mountainous Kargil and occupied key vantage points. Their intrusion triggered off a limited war between the world's newest nuclear states. It was a bitter battle, and one that throws up important lessons for India's defence preparedness, as also its responses to flare-ups such as this. This book is also a reminder of the unparalleled heroism that was on display during those grim weeks, heroism that has become a benchmark for bravery.
-
-
Excellent read
- By Tanu on 27-02-23
-
Courage and Conviction
- An Autobiography
- Written by: General V. K. Singh, Shiv Kunal Verma
- Narrated by: Sagar Arya
- Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
General V. K. Singh served in the Indian Army for 42 years, retiring as Chief of Army Staff on 31 May 2012. His distinguished career saw him on the front lines of combat in the Indo-Pak War of 1971, which led to the creation of Bangladesh, and in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force. Considered one of the world's foremost experts in counterinsurgency operations, he is also known for the principled stand he took on many issues during his tenure.
-
-
A true man who has lived for his DHARMA
- By Anuj panwar on 05-05-22
-
The Spy Chronicles
- RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace
- Written by: Asad Durrani, Aditya Sinha, A. S. Dulat
- Narrated by: Zubin Balaporia, Uday Benegal, Prateek Pillai
- Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sometime in 2016, a series of dialogues took place which set out to find a meeting ground, even if only an illusion, between A.S. Dulat and Asad Durrani. One was a former chief of RAW, India's external intelligence agency, the other of ISI, its Pakistani counterpart. As they could not meet in their home countries, the conversations, guided by journalist Aditya Sinha, took place in cities like Istanbul, Bangkok and Kathmandu.
-
-
Good book ruined by the performance
- By Abhimanyu Vyas on 28-03-21
-
India Since Independence, Part 1
- Written by: Bipin Chandra, Mridula Mukherjee, Aditya Mukherjee
- Narrated by: Prateek Dutt Sharma
- Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The story of the forging of India, the world's largest democracy, is a rich and inspiring one. This volume, a sequel to the India's Struggle for Independence, analyses the challenges India has faced and the successes it has achieved in the light of its colonial legacy and century-long struggle for freedom.
-
-
Gandhi family loyalist
- By Be Happy on 15-04-24
-
Bravehearts of Bharat
- Vignettes from Indian History
- Written by: Vikram Sampath
- Narrated by: Anuj Datta
- Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fifteen Brave Men and Women of Bharat who Never Succumbed to the Challenges of Invaders But were Lost and Forgotten in the Annals of History. These are the stories of those Bravehearts who Fought to Protect their Rights, Faith and Freedom.
-
-
Excellent glimpse of Indian history
- By DATTADA V. on 22-09-23
-
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
- A History of Nazi Germany
- Written by: William L. Shirer
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 57 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Since its publication in 1960, William L. Shirer’s monumental study of Hitler’s German empire has been widely acclaimed as the definitive record of the 20th century’s blackest hours. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich offers an unparalleled and thrillingly told examination of how Adolf Hitler nearly succeeded in conquering the world. With millions of copies in print around the globe, it has attained the status of a vital and enduring classic.
-
-
Almost an Anthropological Account of an Aeon!
- By Girish B Hukkeri on 07-03-20
-
Challenging Destiny
- A Biography of Chhatrapati Shivaji
- Written by: Medha Deshmukh Bhaskaran
- Narrated by: Avinash Kumar Singh
- Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Darkness engulfs the Indian subcontinent. The 17th century is destined to be an era of brutal wars, incessant oppression and physical and spiritual carnage in the name of religion. Shivaji, a warrior and thinker far ahead of his times, rises and renders a rousing dream - respect and dignity for human life, economic equity and empowerment. Destiny does not favour him; he faces terribile odds - a fallen and defeated populace, the might of the Mughal Empire, and naval supremacy of the Western powers.
-
-
Nothing great except the name and person.
- By Tushar Jambhekar on 20-01-19
-
The Tatas
- How a Family Built a Business and a Nation
- Written by: Girish Kuber, Vikrant Pande - translator
- Narrated by: Rajiv Dadia
- Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 19th century was an exciting time of initiative and enterprise around the world. If John D. Rockefeller was creating unimagined wealth in the United States that he would put to the service of the nation, a Parsi family with humble roots was doing the same in India. The Tatas is a tribute to a line of visionaries who have a special place in the hearts and minds of ordinary Indians. Written by seasoned journalist Girish Kuber, this is also the only book that tells the complete Tata story spanning almost 200 years.
-
-
Very captivating.
- By Amit Kumar on 29-03-20
-
The Revenge of Geography
- What the Map Tells Us About Coming Conflicts and the Battle Against Fate
- Written by: Robert D. Kaplan
- Narrated by: Michael Prichard
- Length: 13 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Revenge of Geography, Robert D. Kaplan builds on the insights, discoveries, and theories of great geographers and geopolitical thinkers of the near and distant past to look back at critical pivots in history and then to look forward at the evolving global scene. Kaplan traces the history of the world's hot spots by examining their climates, topographies, and proximities to other embattled lands.
-
-
A decent book on the understanding of geography
- By Gaurav mohan on 15-03-19
-
Six Days of War
- June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East
- Written by: Michael B. Oren
- Narrated by: Robert Whitfield
- Length: 17 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Israel and the West, it is called the Six Day War. In the Arab world, it is known as the June War or, simply, as "the Setback". Never has a conflict so short, unforeseen, and largely unwanted by both sides so transformed the world. The Yom Kippur War, the war in Lebanon, the Camp David accords, the controversy over Jerusalem and Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the intifada, and the rise of Palestinian terror are all part of the outcome of those six days.
-
-
Detailed account of a historic event
- By Kindle Customer on 09-07-22
-
The Ocean of Churn
- Written by: Sanjeev Sanyal
- Narrated by: Abhishek Sharma
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this ambitious audiobook, best-selling author Sanjeev Sanyal chronicles the grand sweep of history from East Africa to Australia, conjuring the great cities of Angkor and Vijayanagar, medieval Arab empires, and Chinese "treasure fleets" in rich, vivid detail. He explores remote archaeological sites, maritime trading networks, and half-forgotten oral tales to challenge established historical narratives with fresh evidence. Shining new light on medieval geopolitics and long-lost cities, The Ocean of Churn is a mesmerizing journey into the heart of a vibrant civilization.
-
-
Logical and smooth
- By Udayan Pendse on 17-03-19
-
1971
- Stories of Grit and Glory From the Indo-Pak War
- Written by: Ian Cardozo
- Narrated by: Dev J Haldar
- Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this collection of true stories, decorated war veteran Major General Ian Cardozo recounts what really happened during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, piecing together every story in vivid detail through interviews with survivors and their families. The book also seeks to commemorate the lives of those who were killed and wounded in this war, which took place fifty years ago.
-
-
Good insight for someone who is not known to military terms
- By Pramodh V. on 26-03-24
-
Being Different
- An Indian Challenge to Western Universalism
- Written by: Rajiv Malhotra
- Narrated by: Kanchan Bhattacharyya
- Length: 17 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Being Different: An Indian Challenge to Western Universalism, thinker and philosopher Rajiv Malhotra addresses the challenge of a direct and honest engagement on differences by reversing the gaze, repositioning India from being the observed to the observer and looking at the West from the dharmic point of view. In doing so, he challenges many hitherto unexamined beliefs that both sides hold about themselves and each other.
-
-
Awesome Narrative
- By Niladri Bihari Nayak on 10-06-22
-
The Khalistan Conspiracy
- A Former R&AW Officer Unravels the Path to 1984
- Written by: G.B.S. Sidhu
- Narrated by: Adwait Karambelkar
- Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The author, a former Special Secretary of India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) of the Cabinet Secretariat, examines a series of interconnected events that led to the rise of the Khalistan movement, Operation Blue Star, the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984 and the anti-Sikh violence unleashed thereafter. With a timeline that moves from seven years before to a decade after 1984, the book strives to answer critical questions that continue to linger till today.
-
-
Revealing
- By Deepak Sharma on 09-09-24
-
#Tatastories
- 40 Timeless Tales to Inspire You
- Written by: Harish Bhat
- Narrated by: Anuj Datta, Mala Mangla
- Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Tatas have a legacy of nation-building over 150 years. Dancing across this long arc of time are thousands of beautiful, astonishing stories, many of which can inspire and provoke us, even move us to meaningful action in our own lives.
-
-
Amazing Inspiring
- By Vinayak R Pai on 10-12-21
What listeners say about 1962: The War That Wasn't
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- SU30MKI
- 25-08-21
Must read book
Well researched book must have book if you are inrested to what happened in indo china war & then political and military leadership thoughts process.
Also learned lessons for further warfare in high altitude.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Gaurav Mehra
- 19-01-21
fantastic
loved it. am excellent account of the various battles. good description of terrain. must read
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Pappi Reddy
- 15-12-20
painful yet poignant account
struggled to finish the book as I have to relive the humiliating moment but I did
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Pranabjyoti Bordoloi
- 21-02-19
Wealth of information
It's my first and so the only source so far on the topic, but the facts did add up and sound convincing to me as a reader. I'm likely to read the hard copy next to get a visual imprint of those.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anupam
- 02-09-23
Great read on the darkest chapter in Indian Military history
A good factual, detailed and well paced assessment and review of a war, whose details have been kept under wraps for over 60 years. A must read
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Manisha Pant
- 11-08-24
A FRANK AND VIVID TALE OF A GRIPPING TALE
compelling tale with a lucid account with least distraction and coloring due to any personal bias. The author has still managed yo convey his opinions adhering to all the above restrictions. Only if he could adhere to unity of time while describing the events it would have been even better.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Utkarsh Tripathi
- 27-09-22
Amazing Read!
Very well written and narrated. Has been a treat to have gone through such bonechilling saga of 1962. I don't think it could have been explained better than this.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- Gautham Baliga
- 25-08-24
Why leadership is paramount for India's, defence.
This is an in-depth narration of Indian leadership' s sad capitulation in 1962 war and the bravery of the lower ranks of the armed forces.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ashish Barthwal
- 16-11-19
must read
writer has very strong views on the subject and gives a detailed justification for his views. It gives a complete account of 1962, any one interested in contemporary history should read this book. Refering maps will make it more interesting.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rahul
- 16-02-23
A Masterpiece!
the book is an encyclopaedia on the disastrous events of the '62 war. incompetent Indian leadership and the perfidy of the Chinese led to hundreds of lives being lost. a cautionary tale of blind trust. brilliantly written and orated in a way that takes you to each battle of the saga.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!