Stuck in India
In 1963, several weeks after India's defeat in the 1962 Sino-Indian war, 23-year-old Wang Qi accidentally strayed into Indian territory during the New Year's Day holiday.
Wang recalled to the Global Times that he got lost in a forest, and when he saw a car which belonged to the Indian Red Cross Society, he called out for help.
The Indian Red Cross Society, however, handed him over to a Indian military base in Assam. Over the six years that followed, Wang was moved between jails in Rajasthan, Delhi and Punjab, where he was interrogated by the Indian Army, who suspected that he was a spy. A 1968 document issued by the Punjab state authorities which Wang showed the Global Times says that he was arrested for "illegally entering Indian territory, threatening India's State security."
Wang was finally released in 1969, and was sent to a small village called Tirodi in Madhya Pradesh, Central India. At that time, the village, surrounded by lakes and forests, was the place where the Indian government sent domestic dissidents and refugees.
After the Indian police told Wang that he could neither return to China nor get Indian citizenship, Wang realized that he would probably have to spend the rest of his life in Tirodi. His legal identity was unclear, as he lacked documents proving he was a Chinese citizen, such as a passport, meaning he was unable to travel internationally.
He made a living by working at a local mill, built his own house in around 1970 using his savings, and eventually opened a shop. In 1975, Wang married a local woman, Sushila.
Despite starting his own family, he never stopped trying to get back to China. According to the Times of India, in the 1980s, Wang petitioned an Indian court, seeking a visa. He hoped that he could return to China at least once in his lifetime. But the petition failed.
Wang is not the only veteran that was trapped in India in the aftermath of the Sino-Indian War. Another soldier Liu Shurong, a Chongqing native that also lives in Tirodi, had a similar experience. But unlike Wang, who wants to return to China, Liu can no longer speak fluent Chinese, and said he is not willing to return to China as he no longer has any relatives in the country.
Getting home
Wang Zhiyuan's son Wang Yingjun grew up listening to others in his family telling stories about his uncle Wang Qi. After the family finally got in touch with Wang Qi, he expressed desire to come back home, come back to Shaanxi, hoping his family can help.
In 2009, Wang Yingjun decided to visit his uncle in India with his family's support. They finally met in a hotel in New Delhi.
Wang Qi told his nephew about what had happened over the years, filling in the details about how he went missing and what he had done to survive. He said he has always been a foreigner in India. Because his legal identity was unclear, he was often been bullied by locals and he said his biggest wish is to return home.
Wang Yingjun then started helping his uncle get together the documents needed to apply for a passport and visa. After returning to China, he continued to help his uncle. In 2012, the army division Wang Qi used to be in sent someone to Xianyang to investigate his case.
The Chinese Embassy in India has been in contact with Wang over the past few years, making great efforts in smoothing the way for him to return and visit China which included communicating with the Indian side to process his exit and entry permits. The Chinese Embassy in India issued a 10-year Chinese passport to him in 2013 and has been providing him with a certain amount of money per annum since then.
His son Vishnu told the Hindustan Times in October last year that they were informed that "the Indian authorities might grant his father permission to travel to China provided he is ready to stay back there and not return to India."
On January 31, his story was picked up by the BBC, who ran a feature detailing his life and ongoing struggle to return home, bringing international attention to his case.
Finally, Wang Qi flew back to Xi'an Saturday after receiving an exit permit from the Indian government. He then visited his village, saying that he hopes he can spend his final years there.
Wang told Global Times early this month that he is prepared to stay in China for good. His wife and son also said that they will follow Wang wherever he goes.
Wang's village committee in Xianyang has decided that they will give him a piece of land and ensure he has a good life in his hometown.
But according to a Legal Mirror report on Sunday, due to cultural differences, Wang's children have met with some difficulties in adjusting to local dining and toilet habits on their trip.
