Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 7: Contrary to Ranbir Sigh, who fought on behalf of the British during the 1857 mutiny, Maharaja Hari Singh sought India's independence during a round table conference in London in 1931. Hari Singh attended the meeting in his capacity as head of the Chamber of Princes. It was a severe jolt to the Crown. The queen desperately needed somebody to tame the Maharaja. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah agreed to play the role.
In his converted Kashmir-A bitter saga of religious conversion, Narender Sehgal unveils the secret correspondence between the Sheikh and Glancy. On December 6, 1935 Sheikh Abdullah wrote a letter to Glancy offering his services to secure the interests of the British Raj. On December 17,1935, Glancy accepted Abdullah's offer and wrote to him the following letter.
"My dear Mr Abdullah,
With reference to your letter dated 6th December, 1935, I may say that it is conceivable that therein that state, should be a development to retain work of politics as there are means to preserve the British aim.
The recent information regarding Mr. Lal indicates a tendency towards the point, yet it seems necessary that unless an immediate change in the plan is not made, his removal seems impossible. Apart from the alterations the proposal will remain as originally stated, and as I understand from the various concerns, the proposal in search of his removal will be attempted in near future, Col. Colvin's report assures that prompt and up-to-date arrangements which indicates the survey based on the consequent needs.
I hope you too remember the directions regarding the same and act upon.
Yours sincerely,
B.J. Glany ICS
Hari Kishan Lal was the head of the Sericulture Department to Jammu and Kashmir. Glancy personally knew him. But when in the wake of the Swadeshi Movement, Lal banned the purchase of the British goods for his department; he became a thorn in Glancy's flesh. Glancy used Abdullah in the first stage to seek dismissal of Mr. Lal from the post of the Director of the Sericulture Department. The weapon used to secure this aim was the division between Hindus and Muslims. Abdullah was to rouse the Muslim workers to boot out the Hindu Mr. Lal.
On February 4, 1936 Sheikh Abdullah wrote a letter to Col. Lang, the British Resident, who was then camping at Sialkot.
The letter reads: "As requested before, I have not been favoured with the important directions regarding the Director of Sericulture. Will you please pay an immediate attention towards this rough scrawl and let me know how to proceed with.
A secret meeting of the Executive body was called upon. Resolution of no confidence against H.K. Lal, the Director, has been unanimously passed. You will note with great pleasure that it was done accordingly.
It has finally been decided that this disease in the Sericulture Department requires drastic remedy and when this remedial measure appears, we give our support.
The members of the meeting were made more excited and they preferred to bring the factory under British control. The situation and circumstances will not be more severe than necessary. Rest assured".
A prominent weekly of Bombay, Blitz, in its April 24, 1964 issue published a comprehensive article in which Sheikh Abdullah was dubbed as a British Agent. In the article, original documents in the form of secret correspondence and letters were published.
According to the article, BJ Glancy, ICS, passed him on, after checking on his antecedents, to one Lt. Colonel L.E. Lang, CIE, MC, a high ranking officer of the British Intelligence, who was then posted as the British Political Agent in Srinagar.
The article further reads: "That the course of his work as a willing collaborator of the enslavers of India, Abdullah received and carried out orders, instructions and wishes of one Col. C.W. Calvin, another member of the British Intelligence, who then acted as the Prime Minister of Jammu Kashmir.". |
