View source for Taksing

{{Use Indian English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Taksing
| native_name             =
| native_name_lang        = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| settlement_type         = [[Village]]
| image_skyline           =
| image_alt               =
| image_caption           =
| etymology               =
| nickname                =
| pushpin_map             = India Arunachal Pradesh#India
| pushpin_label_position  = right
| pushpin_map_alt         =
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location in Arunachal Pradesh, India
| coordinates             = {{coord|28.4347|93.2039|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Indian state|State]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[District]]
| subdivision_name2       = Upper Subansiri
| subdivision_type3       = [[Tehsil|Circle]]
| subdivision_name3       = Taksing
| website                 = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}
[[File:McMahon-Line-map-Subansiri-secor.jpg|thumb|right|300px| Taksing locate in nearby the McMahon Line]]
'''Taksing'''{{efn|The name has also been spelt as '''Takshing''',{{sfnp|Huber, The Cult of Pure Crystal Mountain|1999|p=143}} '''Taksiang''',<ref name=ceoarunachal/> and '''Takaing'''.{{sfnp|Sinha & Athale, History of the Conflict with China|1992|p=259}} It is not to be confused with ''Taying'', which is a separate village nearby.}} is a village and headquarters of an eponymous [[Tehsil|Circle]] in the [[Upper Subansiri district]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], India.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Arpi |first=Claude |date=26 July 2017 |title=Does India need to be invaded by China to wake up? |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/special/does-india-need-to-be-invaded-by-china-to-wake-up/20170726.htm |newspaper=Rediff}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bhattacharya |first=Rajeev |date=8 December 2015 |title=The Border Villages of Arunachal Pradesh: A Story of Neglect |url=https://caravanmagazine.in/vantage/the-border-villages-of-arunachal-pradesh-a-story-of-neglect |website=The Caravan |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The region of Taksing is populated by [[Tagin people]].{{sfnp|Johri, Chinese Invasion of NEFA|1965|pp=251–252}}
The village is on the bank of the [[Subansiri River]], shortly after the river from China enters India from the west. [[India-China Border Roads|Road access to the village]] from [[Limeking]] was provided by the [[Border Roads Organisation]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |title=BRO extends road connectivity upto Taksing in China border |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/bro-extends-road-connectivity-upto-taksing-in-china-border/articleshow/64206177.cms |date=17 May 2018}}</ref><ref name=Mandhana>
Niharika Mandhana, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/india-moves-mountains-to-build-military-road-to-china-border-1491384609 India Moves Mountains to Build Military Road to China Border], The Wall Street Journal, 5 April 2017. {{ProQuest|1884819756}}
</ref> Taksing is on the eastern edge of the [[Asaphila|Asaphila area]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Malik|first=General (Retd) V. P.|date=12 August 2003|title=Sino-Indian Asaphila Patrolling Face-off|url=https://www.orfonline.org/research/sino-indian-asaphila-patrolling-face-off/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-10|website=ORF|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Description ==
{{OSM Location map
| float = right
| height= 300
| width= 300
| zoom = 9  <!--(1=whole world, 18=a street)-->
| coord = {{coord|28.55|93.25}}
| nolabels = 1
| caption = Taksing and vicinity. The main Tsari pilgrimage route was diamond-shaped, going through Chosam, Migyitun, Gelensiniak, and Taksing, back to Chosam.{{Sfn|Huber, The Cult of Pure Crystal Mountain|1999|p=95}}<ref name="arpi">{{cite news |last1=Arpi |first1=Claude |author1-link=Claude Arpi |title=Chinese village in Arunachal: India must speak up! |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/special/claude-arpi-chinese-village-in-arunachal-india-must-speak-up/20210121.htm |access-date=23 January 2021 |work=Rediff |date=21 January 2021}}</ref>
|mark-coord ={{coord|28.60071|93.22632}} |label=Dakpa Sheri |label-size=11 |label-pos=top |mark-size=10 |mark=Triangle black.svg |mark-title=[[Dakpa Sheri]] |mark-description=Dakpa Sheri
|mark-coord2={{coord|28.5405505|93.1791981}}  |label2=Potrang |label-size2=11 |label-pos2=bottom |label-offset-x2=-10 |mark-size2=6 |mark2=Blue pog.svg |mark-title2=Potrang |mark-description2=Sacred lake
|mark-coord4={{coord|28.6331911|93.0731067}}  |label4=Yume |label-size4=11 |label-pos4=left  |mark-size4=6 |mark4=Red pog.svg |mark-title4=Yume |mark-description4=
|mark-coord6={{coord|28.4345031|93.2038913}}  |label6=Taksing|label-size6=11 |label-pos6=bottom |label-offset-x6=10 |mark-size6=6 |mark6=Red pog.svg |mark-title6=Taksing |mark-description6=
|mark-coord7={{coord|28.3684880|93.0222739}}  |label7=Lung|label-size7=11 |label-pos7=bottom |mark-size7=6 |mark7=Red pog.svg |mark-title7=Lung |mark-description7=
|mark-coord8={{coord|28.6404479|93.3817051}}  |label8=Longju |label-size8=11 |label-pos8=bottom  |mark-size8=6 |mark8=Red pog.svg |mark-title8=[[Longju]] |mark-description8=
|mark-coord9={{coord|28.3721762|93.4835391}}  |label9=Gelensiniak |label-size9=11 |label-pos9=bottom |mark-size9=6 |mark9=Red pog.svg |mark-title9=[[Gelensiniak]] |mark-description9=
|mark-coord10={{coord|28.660275|93.373529}}  |label10=Migyitun |label-size10=11 |label-pos10=right  |mark-size10=6 |mark10=Red pog.svg |mark-title10=[[Migyitun]] |mark-description10=
|mark-coord11={{coord|28.6789045|93.2532511}}  |label11=Chikchar|label-size11=11 |label-pos11=left  |mark-size11=6 |mark11=Red pog.svg |mark-title11=Chikchar |mark-description11=
|mark-coord15={{coord|28.7180216|93.0519733}}  |label15=Chosam|label-size15=11 |label-pos15=right  |mark-size15=6 |mark15=Red pog.svg |mark-title15=Chosam |mark-description15=
|mark-coord21={{coord|28.6916|93.3306}}  |label21=Tsari Chu|label-size21=11 |label-pos21=right  |mark-size21=12 |mark21=AS-rzeka-icon.svg |mark-title21=Tsari Chu |mark-description21=Tributary of Subansiri
|mark-coord22={{coord|28.4159|93.0841}}  |label22=Subansiri|label-size22=11 |label-pos22=bottom   |label-offset-x22=10 |mark-size22=12 |mark22=AS-rzeka-icon.svg |mark-title22=[[Subansiri River]] |mark-description22=
|mark-coord23={{coord|28.496|93.2411}}  |label23=Pindigo|label-size23=11 |label-pos23=right |mark-size23=12 |mark23=AS-rzeka-icon.svg |mark-title23=Pindigo |mark-description23=Tributary of Subansiri
|mark-coord24={{coord|28.5839|93.0921}}  |label24=Yume Chu|label-size24=11 |label-pos24=left |mark-size24=12 |mark24=AS-rzeka-icon.svg |mark-title24=Yume Chu |mark-description24=Tributary of Subansiri
|mark-coord25={{coord|28.4133|92.9874}}  |label25=Char Chu|label-size25=11 |label-pos25=top  |mark-size25=12 |mark25=AS-rzeka-icon.svg |mark-title25=Char Chu |mark-description25=Tributary of Subansiri
}}
Taksing is on the southern bank of the Subansiri River soon after it enters India from the west.
There has been a traditional walking track on the southern bank of the river between [[Gelensiniak]] and Taksing. The track continues west for about 3&nbsp;km till the village of '''Ishneya''', and crosses the Subansiri River to its northern bank. This being close to the confluence of Yume Chu and Subansiri rivers, tracks from [[Lung, Tibet|Lung]] (in the Subansiri valley) and [[Yume, Tibet|Yume]] (in the Yume Chu valley) in Tibet join here.{{sfnp|Sinha & Athale, History of the Conflict with China|1992|p=259}} India's [[Border Roads Organisation]] (BRO) has constructed a road between Gelensiniak and Taksing between 2009 and 2018.
The southern bank of the Subansiri River is well-populated with over a dozen villages belonging to the '''Taksing Circle'''. There are also a few villages to the north of the Subansiri River. The Taksing Circle had a population of 733 people per the 2011 census.{{sfnp|Upper Subansiri District Census Handbook|2011|p=28}}{{efn|The Census of India mentions 12 villages in the Taksing Circle: Dadu, Dojubung, Gumsing, Ishneya (Isnia), Kacha, Lingbing, Ojugu, Redding, Reddy (Redy), Taying, Thungba and Yaja.{{sfnp|Upper Subansiri District Census Handbook|2011|p=79}} According to the map of the Chief Electoral Officer of Arunachal Pradesh, the Kacha village is to the north of the Subansiri Valley, perhaps on the Pindigo river, along with four other villages: Toyingmuri, Jimbari, Papi and Mosu.<ref name=ceoarunachal>[http://ceoarunachal.nic.in/GIS/DISTRICT/UPPER_SUBANSIRI_DIST_MAP.pdf Upper Subansiri District map], Chief Electoral Officer, Arunachal Pradesh (ceoarunachal.nic.in), Retrieved 10 February 2021.</ref>}}
The population consists of [[Na people]] (or Nga people) who speak their own [[Na language]].{{sfnp|Krishnatry, Border Tagins of Arunachal Pradesh|2005|pp=2–3}}<ref>{{citation |last=Arpi |first=Claude |chapter=The Pure Crystal Mountain Pilgrimage of Tsari |title=1962: The McMahon Line Saga |isbn=9781935501404 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |date=2013}}</ref> They are said to be similar to the [[Tagin people]] populating the neighbouring [[Limeking Circle]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Tribes of India: Ongoing Challenges|author=Rann Singh Mann|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.|year=1996|pages=395–402|isbn=81-7533-007-4}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=nbt Ethnologue profile of Nga]</ref>
== History ==
=== Tsari pilgrimage ===
Taksing lies in a holy ground for the Tibetans, lying on the route of the 12-yearly Tsari pilgrimage around the [[Dakpa Sheri]] mountain. The pilgrimage went down the [[Tsari Chu]] valley up to [[Gelensiniak]] and returned via the Subansiri valley, back into the Tibetan territory. Taksing was mentioned by name in the Tibetan sources, the only one in the tribal territory to be so mentioned. Taksing itself was a sacred site that the Tibetans believed to be a tantric charnel ground named ''Ngampa Tratrok'', where certain Drukpa lamas had meditated in the past. Taksing was marked by a huge tree where the chief Tsari field-protector was believed to dwell.{{sfnp|Huber, The Cult of Pure Crystal Mountain|1999|p=143}}
The last Tsari pilgrimage was conducted in 1956, after which the [[Sino-Indian border dispute|Sino-Indian border conflict]] put a stop to the relations between the two regions. After passing Taksing, the procession reached the Doring rest house on a spur above the Char river, where Charlo tribesmen brought popped corn to the famished pilgrims.{{sfnp|Huber, The Cult of Pure Crystal Mountain|1999|p=147}}
=== Sino-Indian border conflict ===
After the [[1959 Tibetan uprising]], Chinese troops arrived in Tibet in large numbers and started militarising the border. The Indian border post at [[Longju]], near [[Migyitun]], was attacked and driven out. India withdrew the border post to [[Maja, Arunachal Pradesh|Maja]].{{sfnp|Sandhu, Shankar & Dwivedi, 1962 from the Other Side of the Hill|2015}}
At the beginning of 1962, the Chinese activity along the border increased again.{{sfnp|Sinha & Athale, History of the Conflict with China|1992|p=262}} India strengthened its border post at Taksing by a platoon. In June, a dozen tribesmen from Lengbeng (Lingbing) village stole some arms from the Taksing post, allegedly under Chinese persuasion. They were intercepted and a tribesman was killed in the ensuing clash.{{sfnp|Johri, Chinese Invasion of NEFA|1965|p=254}} On 23 October, the [[Sino-Indian War|war]] began with the Chinese troops attacking with superior force. The Asaphila post, manned by [[Jammu and Kashmir Rifles]], lost one [[Junior Commissioned Officer|JCO]] and 17 other ranks. After this, all the Indian border posts were ordered to withdraw to [[Taliha]]. It is believed that the Chinese would have occupied all the vacated posts.{{sfnp|Sandhu, Shankar & Dwivedi, 1962 from the Other Side of the Hill|2015}} On 16 November, two thousand Chinese troops were found in the Gelensiniak area equipped with heavy weaponry.{{sfnp|Sinha & Athale, History of the Conflict with China|1992|p=267}}
After the war, the Chinese withdrew to their previous positions, except that they retained possession of the [[Longju]] area in the Tsari Chu valley.
=== Border incidents ===
{{expand section|date=March 2021}}
== Transportation ==
India's [[Border Roads Organisation]] (BRO) has constructed a [[India-China Border Roads|road]] between Gelensiniak and Taksing between 2009 and 2018. It connects Taksing to existing Gelensiniak-[[Limeking]]-[[Taliha]]-[[Daporijo]] road. All the road-building equipment was shipped, piece by piece, by helicopters and reassembled at the location. In addition, the construction teams had to battle rains, dense forests, rugged and steep mountains, landslides and resistance from the local tribes who claim ancestral ownership of the mountains.<ref name=Mandhana/><ref>
ANI, [https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/bro-creates-history-through-road-link-to-china-border-118051700535_1.html BRO creates history through road link to China border], Business Standard, 17 May 2018.</ref>  It was reported that the road was in bad condition in 2020.<ref name="Telegraph abduction spotlight">[https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/abduction-spotlight-on-poor-border-roads-in-arunachal/cid/1791246 ‘Abduction’ spotlight on poor border roads in Arunachal], The Telegraph (Kolkata), 8 September 2020.</ref>
Another strategic road was constructed by BRO in 2017 in [[Kurung Kumey district]] between Huri (which is already connected to [[Koloriang]]) and Sarli after heavy construction equipment was heli-airlifted from [[Ziro]], which will enable Koloriang-Huri-Sarli-Taliha-Daporijo connectivity by facilitating the construction of the remaining Sarli-Taliha section.<ref name=sar3>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/border-road-org-builds-strategic-road-in-remote-arunachal-near-china-117090400810_1.html Border Road Org builds strategic road in remote Arunachal near China], Business Standard, 4 Sept 2017.</ref><ref name=sar1>[http://www.arunachalpwd.org/pdf/SARDP_Power_point.pdf SARDP approved roads], SARDP plan, 2017.</ref> Once Taliha-Daporijo, Taliha-[[Nacho, Arunachal Pradesh|Nacho]], Taliha-[[Tato]] (headquarter of [[Shi Yomi district]] are completed, all of which were under construction in February 2021 while facing land acquisition issues, it will provide the [[Arunachal Frontier Highway|strategic frontier connectivity]] from [[Seppa]]-Tamsang Yangfo-Sarili-Koloriang-Sarili-Nacho (and beyond to Daporijo-Taksing)-Tato (and beyond to Mechuka-Gelling and Aalo).<ref name=sar2>[http://164.100.47.193/lsscommittee/Defence/17_Defence_10.pdf Defence committee: action taken report], Parliament of India, 12 Feb 2021.</ref>
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== Bibliography ==
* {{citation |title=Upper Subansiri District Census Handbook, Part A |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Arunachal Pradesh |year=2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/12/1205_PART_A_DCHB_UPPER%20SUBANSIRI.pdf |ref={{sfnref|Upper Subansiri District Census Handbook|2011}}}}
* {{citation |last=Huber |first=Toni |title=The Cult of Pure Crystal Mountain: Popular Pilgrimage and Visionary Landscape in Southeast Tibet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ac4PUrEtVtsC |year=1999 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-535313-6 |ref={{sfnref|Huber, The Cult of Pure Crystal Mountain|1999}}}}
* {{citation |last=Johri |first=Sitaram |title=Chinese Invasion of NEFA |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eZc5AQAAIAAJ |year=1965 |publisher=Himalaya Publications |ref={{sfnref|Johri, Chinese Invasion of NEFA|1965}}}}
* {{citation |last=Krishnatry |first=S. M. |title=Border Tagins of Arunachal Pradesh: Unarmed Expedition 1956 |publisher=National Book Trust |year=2005 |isbn=978-81-237-4460-5 |url=http://pahar.in/?wpfb_dl=19901 |ref={{sfnref|Krishnatry, Border Tagins of Arunachal Pradesh|2005}}}}
* {{citation |last1=Sandhu |first1=P. J. S. |last2=Shankar |first2=Vinay |last3=Dwivedi |first3=G. G. |title=1962: A View from the Other Side of the Hill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=boBNCgAAQBAJ |year=2015 |publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-93-84464-37-0 |ref={{sfnref|Sandhu, Shankar & Dwivedi, 1962 from the Other Side of the Hill|2015}}}}
* {{citation |first1=P.B. |last1=Sinha |first2=A.A. |last2=Athale |first3=S. N. |last3=Prasad |title=History of the Conflict with China, 1962  |publisher=History Division, Ministry of Defence, Government of India |year=1992 |url=http://www.php.isn.ethz.ch/lory1.ethz.ch/collections/coll_india/documents/WarWithChina_1962_000.pdf |ref={{sfnref|Sinha & Athale, History of the Conflict with China|1992}}}}
[[Category:Villages in Upper Subansiri district]]
[[Category:Borders of Arunachal Pradesh]]