The CROWN of India

As a kid, I was always interested in poring over maps of different lands and countries. I used to find different places by referring to the back index in the atlas. While I also liked linking different world cities with their time zones on the world political map, I always came back to gazing at the Indian map. There was something distinct about India —at least map-shape wise. Of course, India as a country is also distinct in other aspects too. It is a land filled with every land-form found on earth. India is also one of the most diverse countries in the world, ethnically and linguistically speaking. And to top it all, it is the most populous democracy in the world. India is not only a country but also a continuous civilization spanning thousands of years.

On the other hand, I found India to be very distinct, even on its political map. I was particularly fascinated by the shape of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and the border formed by it with Pakistan, China and Afghanistan. Such was my fascination that I once drew the entire political map and colored every state. I visualized Jammu and Kashmir as a crown to India in map terms. The Himalayan ranges also adds to this imaginary visualisation (although since it extends upto Arunachal Pradesh, it could also be considered as a drape of sorts). However, this visualization was tarnished when later I came to know about something called the Line of Control and Line of Actual Control. The picture below shows the real territory controlled/ administered by India. 

It felt almost as if the head had been severed in the most cruel and haphazard manner. Indian History in our school textbooks don't talk about two important events. They are the wars that Pakistan and China waged against India in 1948 and 1962 respectively - at the end of which both countries acquired certain areas of Jammu and Kashmir from the west and the east. Pakistan administers two provinces by the name of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and China administers a province by the name of Aksai Chin. Although India claims the region of POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) as its own, in reality it is administered by Pakistan. In this backdrop, there have been constant skirmishes and infiltration occurring along the line of control. Over the years, India has amassed a large standing army at all times along its borders and also strengthened its military infrastructure. 

So what do you think that our school textbooks and atlases printed in India must depict — a territory truly administered by India or a territory claimed by India?

Fun-fact: We all know that the word India is derived from the Indus valley civilization. Yet the funny thing is, less than half the river course flows through India (in J&K) while most of its course runs through Pakistan (which means Pure Land in Urdu), thanks to the partition.