India, April 8 -- From the optimism of Panchsheel to the shadows of the 1962 war, the story of the Dragon and the Elephant is one of trust gained and lost, of cooperation in multilateral arenas, and of a shared yet often conflicting vision for Asia's future

The relationship between India and China, two of the oldest civilisations in the world, has been a saga marked by both shared history and contentious moments. As the two nations now celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of their diplomatic ties, the journey of their complex relationship reveals a fascinating story of aspirations, trust, mistrust, and evolving geopolitical realities.

When India and China first established diplomatic ties in 1950, it was a moment of promise. India was the fir...