Chapter 61: Roads, Schools, and Clinics

The first phase of Adav's Tibetan gambit began with a quiet, persistent influx of Indian assistance into the remote, often neglected regions of Tibet closest to the Indian border. Under the banner of the "Himalayan Development Initiative," funded primarily by Bharat Corporation's charitable arms and overseen by the National Development Board, Indian civilian contractors began work.

Their initial focus was on infrastructure. Teams of Indian engineers, many from the ranks of Bharat Infrastructure Trust, began constructing rudimentary but vital roads, connecting isolated Tibetan communities to India's expanding road network. These were not military roads, but narrow, winding paths designed for yak carts and light trucks, enabling easier trade and access. Simultaneously, Adav poured resources into establishing schools that taught basic literacy, mathematics, and vocational skills alongside traditional Tibetan studies. Indian teachers, often Buddhist scholars themselves, were dispatched to these remote outposts, building relationships with local villagers.

Crucially, medical clinics were established. Indian doctors and nurses, equipped with modern medicines and a deep understanding of local health challenges, offered free treatment for common ailments and infectious diseases that had long plagued Tibetan communities. The sight of Indian medical teams saving lives, often in areas where traditional medicine struggled, fostered immense goodwill. These projects were slow, painstaking work in the harsh Himalayan environment, but every road built, every child educated, and every life saved deepened India's benevolent influence within the plateau.