Rawat to hoist flag on I-Day at village bordering China

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 1

Come August 15, India’s Independence Day, Chief Minister TS Rawat will hoist the Indian flag at Gamshali, (Barahoti), the border village that usually attracts attention on and off due to Chinese incursions.

On Wednesday BJP MLA from Badrinath Mahindra Bhatt extended invitation to the Chief Minister to participate in the local fair that is held every year at Gamshali. Barahoti is located on Uttarakhand’s border with China ans is a grass land for grazing sheep and goats. An ITBP camp is also located at Gamshali.

“On behalf of the villagers today, I invited Chief Minister TS Rawat to participate in the fair that is held between August 10 and August 20 in Gamshali (Dumfudhar). It is said that the villagers heard the news about India’s independence five days late on the radio. In order to make up for the late news, the villagers decided to celebrate the occasion for 10 days,” said Mahindra Bhatt, BJP MLA from Badrinath.

Such is the zeal among the Bhotiya tribes men for the Independence Day celebrations that, where ever they are settled, they make it a point to gather for this event come what may.

The Bhotiyas inhabit the 10 villages located in the Niti Valley, moving out in the winters to escape bitter cold and snow. These villagers traded with Tibet before the 1962 war with China ended the flourishing practice.       

After hoisting flag in Dehradun, the Chief Minister will leave for Barahoti on August 15. The hoisting of flag in the border areas has become almost a ritual with the BJP leaders in the state.

Last year, Uttarakhand Minister for State (independent charge) Dhan Singh Rawat had hoisted the flag at the same place. Now, it is the turn of the chief minister to do the same.