Sven Hedin it Tibet
Dr.
Sven Hedin (1865 – 1952), was a remarkable man and a great explorer
of the twentieth century. He was born to Ludwig Hedin, Chief
Architect of Stockholm, and Anna Berlin Hedin, in Stockholm, Sweden.
From an early age, he was inspired by great explorers of those times
like Livingstone. At the age of twelve, he decided to pursue the life
of an adventurer. He got his first opportunity to follow his
internal urge, when he studied at the University of Stockholm. During
the spring and summer of 1885, he travelled through Russia,
Caucasus, Persia, Iraq, to Istanbul. He accepted work as a tutor in
Baku, on the Caspian Sea and continued his travels in the region for
next few years. After returning to Sweden in 1889, Hedin studied
geography and geology.. In 1890 he served briefly as an interpreter
with the Swedish/Norwegian embassy to the Shah of Persia and went on
a 3 600 mile long journey through Asia. Hedin was blinded in the
early 1890s in one eye, and suffered from it until he was 82. He
returned home in 1891. He published his thesis in the same year and
received his PhD – at the age of 27. After
this there was no looking back for him. His subsequent explorations
included:
1893-1897.
Russian Central Asia, crossing the Pamirs through Kyrgyzstan;
Tarim Basin, Taklamakan Desert to the Khotan River. He just barely
survived this expedition.
1899-1902.
Floated down the Tarim until stopped by ice; explored further around
and in the dry Lop-Nor basin, visiting the deserted site of ancient
Lou-Lan.
1905-1908.
Managed to sneak into Tibet, and explored extensively in its
southern and western regions.
1923
Peking to Moscow
1935.
Mongolia and the northern and eastern parts of the Tarim Basin.
Hedin
has, as was the practice during those days, recorded full details
about each of his journeys. He not only describes the terrain that he
has traversed, but has actually logged down details such as
coordinates, altitude and distance from previous camp, for all
places, where he camped during his expeditions. He also mentions
geographical details accurately and meticulously. His travel
accounts, supported by drawings, panoramas and photographs are of
significant help, even now, in interpreting satellite photographs or
programmes like Google earth. In his own words he says: “I will try
to give a résumé of the orographical, morphological, hypsometrical
and hydrographical observations as compared with my earlier results
and those of other travellers.” A meteorologist would always
accompany him to record all observations such as longitude, latitude,
altitude etc.
Sven Hedin's epic expedition across southern Tibet
Out of
his journeys across Asia, the journey of our particular interest is
the 1906-1908 journey through Tibet. Hedin began his expedition on
August 14th
2006 from a village known as Tankse in Ladakh, where Shoyok river
makes a U turn and starts flowing northwards, and ended it almost two
years later near Raksas-Tal or base of the Kailash mountain in Tibet.
Dr. Nils Ekholm accompanied him on this expedition as his
meteorologist.
Hedin
was located at camp 283, few Km east of the Burtse Camp, on the old
winter trade route going to Karakoram pass on 19th
December 1907. From here he crossed over to Aksaichin and Tibet to
reach Raksas Tal in month of July 1908 by a route shown as a blue
line in figure above. However, first few days of this great journey
only are of our interest and I plan to concentrate only on this part
of the route. From camp 283, proceeding towards east along Murgo
Nala, Hedin reached the fork where Burtse Nala branches off to east.
At this point, Hedin decided to try a short cut across the formidable
mountains looming large towards east. He describes this part of climb
in these words.
“ We
continued until we reached a place where the narrow passage was
blocked up by boulders and blocks that had given way and fallen down,
quite filling up the narrow space. Here we could have forced our way.
But a short distance farther on, a similar fall of rocks had taken
place which could not be traversed without straining the forces of
our animals too hard. And still higher up, my scouts reported the
valley to be absolutely impracticable. ”
Route of the futile attempt made by Hedin to break through the mountain east of Burtse camp
I have
quoted this passage from Hedin's travelogue, to highlight just one
important fact, that he found it almost impracticable to break
through the mountain range, east of Burtse camp. This mountain range
is part of the easternmost branch of Karakoram range, separating
Aksaichin region from Ladakh. This really means that the present
Burtse camp of the Indian army remains perfectly isolated and well
protected from east.
From
camp 285, Hedin moved northwards along Depsang nala and set up camp
286 near Qizil Langer Camping ground. On next day he crossed the
Depsang pass and turned towards northeast; setting up his camp 287 at
a location that is east of present line of control or LOC.
Panorama of Aksaichin seen from Hedin's camp 287
Hedin describes this region in these words:
“On
December 24th, our march continues N. E. for 15.4 km. From Qizil
Langar
the
direction is north and the distance to the Dapsang Pass of the
northern Karakorum Range is 4 km. The ascent on this stretch is from
5,128 m. to 5,428 m. or 300 m., being at a rate of i : 13.3. On the
other, or Chang-tang side, we have 11 km. to Camp 277, where the
height is 5,227 m. or a fall of 201 m.,
being
a rate of i : 54.7. From Qizil Langar the road is comparatively easy
on the slopes of the right side hills of the uppermost part of the
valley. They consist of soft red material. There are the tracks of
many caravans to and from Eastern Turkistan, and there are, as
hitherto, the carcasses of many dead ponies.”
Route of Hedin's dash from present LOC ( Red line) to Xinjiang-Tibet highway (Yellow line) in 11 marching days
Hedin,
from this point of time, onwards, was in a territory, presently held
by Chinese and hence his description of the topography becomes rather
relevant for us. Making a dash towards east from here, Hedin reached
camp 301 right on the bank of the great lake of Aksaichin, on 9th
January 2008. Since Hedin's team took some diversions and also took
couple of days of rest, it can be safely assumed that he covered this
distance in about 11 marching days. The straight line distance
between camp 287 and 301 is about 132 Km and on road it could be well
above 200 Km.
Hedin's route near Xinjiang-Tibet highway; he encountered 3 passes near camps 297,298 and 299; Highway is shown in yellow line; large blue patch on right is the great lake of Aksaichin.
Hedin
encountered only three minor passes over this journey, near camps
297,298 and 299, which were all in vicinity of Aksaichin lake. Hedin
describes this journey as through one single latitudinal valley of
tectonic origin. While describing the landscape, he adds:
“The
ground is very even and comfortable. Here and there watercourses,
filled with snow, are crossed. The valley is straight and regular,
bounded on both sides by black mountains of no great height and with
patches of snow. Through the openings of two or three side valleys
from the south, higher ridges and peaks are visible, completely
covered with snow, but not forming continuous ranges. The soil is
partly gravel, partly yellow earth and dust, which, judging from
systems
of crevices, is soft and floating in the summer. The footprints of
antelopes are deep, showing that the light animals had trodden the
ground before it was frozen.”
I
think that readers by now must have got a fairly good idea about the
topography of the region, east of Depsang plateau.
Panorama towards southwest; drawn from a spot near Aksaichin lake
Now
coming back to our main story, the present Tibet-Xinjiang road
crosses Hedin's track, between camp 300 and camp 301, located near
the great lake. Or in other words, Hedin's team had covered the
distance between present LOC on Depsang plains to Tibet – Xinjiang
highway in just 11 marching days carrying along with them their
entire paraphernalia of tents, servants and baggage carried on horses
and mules. For a modern, mechanized army unit, this distance can be
covered in much less time.
It can
be disputed that whether this can be considered as huge strategic
risk or not, but considering the way in which Chinese have gone about
sealing the Xinjiang-Tibet highway from any possible approaches from
west in 1962, they perhaps now consider this as a big gap in their
defense and must be consolidating their defenses along this route.
The present Chinese incursion appears to have taken place exactly in
the vicinity of the spot, where Hedin's track cuts the LOC.
India
has undertaken a major drive to build up infrastructure in the border
areas and from Chinese point of view, sealing of approaches on
Depsang plains could have become an important issue under the
circustances. Going by 1962 experience, Chinese would ideally like to
push back the Indians to Shoyok river in west, north bank of
chipchap river in north and to Burtse camp in south. This may not be
possible now, as Indian army is in much stronger position. Chinese
incursion in April 2013 could be considered therefore as a
strengthening attempt of their defenses along Hedin's track.
Regarding
timing of this action, it is really difficult to hazard a guess. But
Chinese have been observed following their Military goals rather
objectively and according to a plan. I would not consider this action
as a decision taken at a lower level, without knowledge of superiors.
The action must have been as per a plan.
I am
afraid that in future we may see more and more such incursions in
this region, till Chinese are convinced that the approaches to
Xinjiang-Tibet highway, are all secured. India would have to guard
against this in future. Only permanent solution to this problem is
to finalize and mark the LOC line on Depsang plains and formally
agree to it till a final and permanent settlement of the Ladakh-Tibet
border problem is found.
9 May
2013
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