Eric's Beijing Diary

In 1938, a group of physicians from India traveled to China to assist the Eighth Route Army of the fledgling Chinese Communist Party in their war of resistance. It was Agnes Smedley's idea, actually. She suggested to Mao's general, Zhe De (spelled "Chu Teh" in the book) that he request the help of Nehru, particularly in the form of medical supplies and surgeons. The response was quick in coming, and this book is the story of that response.

First of all, the writer of this book is a doctor, not an author. This book is basically a transcription of his diary. So it is not always the smoothest reading. But that's OK. I don't mind, because when you are interested in the historical details, the records of a physician who was a stickler for detail are at least as important and valuable as a book written by a journalist, which could be more readable, but also possibly a little less accurate.

There are several very interesting insights in this book. These insights are possible because the medical mission from India was sent to Yanan, which was the headquarters of Mao and his cohorts during days after the Long March.

Dr. Basu records Mao's skepticism of Gandhi. Mao was very much opposed to non-violent resistance. He believed very firmly that it was completely unrealistic to talk about genuine revolution without violence. The Communists believed very strongly that the war against imperialism would require bloodshed. This, of course, necessitated extensive medical assistance, because the kind of violence the Communists believed to be necessary would deplete the ranks if wounded soldiers could not get fairly immediate medical attention.

Another interesting insight is Basu's observation of Zhe De's comments about democracy. It is very clear from this book, that Zhe De believed he was fighting for the purpose of helping to usher in a democratic system, which would stand as a glaring contrast to the quasi-fascist Guomindang, and the Empire of the Qing Dynasty which preceded it. One wonders how Zhe De would assess the democratic quality of the system ushered in by the hard-fought civil war he had such a large part in. What would he have said about the Cultural Revolution if he had felt completely free to comment?

In addition to these insights, the book is useful in helping one to appreciate what the day to day "grind" of life was like in the Yanan community. I have never been to Yanan, but I have stayed in the Yaodong (earth caves) in neighboring Shanxi Province. These villages tend to become very close because they are so isolated from the outside world.

Again, Basu is not an historian, but, notwithstanding the sometimes boring diary-like style, this book does give a useful insight which would probably not be possible without it. There have been several good books written which touch on what life was like in Yanan, and this book is more meaningful if read in the context of those. For example, this book contains nothing of the political infighting that went on in Yanan. During these days, Westerners (including the American military delegation) tended to be a bit overawed by the Communists. Joseph Stillwell himself once commented that he would almost rather fight for Zhe De than to be associated with Chiang Kai-shek, whom he despised. Basu's book is useful because, although it clearly gives the perspective of an outsider, it is not American. It was written by someone who is ideologically sympathetic to the Communist cause, and equally contemptuous of Western "imperialism."

This book will be very useful to you if you have any interest at all in the unique series of events which led to the formation of New China, and the demise of the Guomindang on the mainland.

Labels: History