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| Kashmir that would have been lost in 1947 itself | | | Daya Sagar | 10/28/2011 12:32:35 AM |
| IT could be inferred that it was on Pandit Nehru's in structions that even Kashmir day was observed in Srinagar on 2nd June 1946 and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel a week later had while addressing the General Council of the All India State People's Conference in the afternoon of 8 June 1946 advised the subjects of Princely States not to get involved in direct isolated actions in states at that moment but to be patient and carry on the agitation peacefully for responsible government. But he too in the case of J&K did not hold fast to what he said and hence ultimately the circumstances in J&K from August 1947 onwards landed both Maharaja and GOI in a ditch where Sheikh Mohd Abdullah stood on the wheel with rope in his hand although a year earlier Sheikh was at the mercy of GOI as well as the Maharaja with only Nehru providing him moral and personal support. Such actions made the local leaders and those in favour of two nation theory more and more ambitious with each day passing.
The inclinations that Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru , the prime leaders of INC and the first Prime Minister of Independent Indian Dominion showed for Sheikh Abdullah, the closeness that Nehru had with Lord Mountbatten the then Governor General of India and the manner in which Nehru supported the Quit Kashmir movement that Sheikh Abdullah 's NC launched in May/ June 1946 have agitated many minds. Quit Kashmir movement of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah was termed by Mohd Ali Jinah as a agitation of a few mal contents who were out to create dis order in J&K State. On 19-06-1947 Lord Mountbatten visited Kashmir for 4 days to apprise Maharaja of J&K of risks in indecision regarding his decision about accession of J&K with either of proposed Dominions of Inda and Pakistan. ... As per Mountbatten he found Maharaja elusive and had to return without discussing with him. In early August 1947 days under the proposed plans the whole of Gurdaspur District was to be part of Pakistan. Mountbatten well knew that J&K would have no link road available with India as per the draft plan of boundaries with Pakistan drawn till then. Later on when the Radcliff award was ready that made parts of Gurdaspur District including Pathankot as part of Indian Dominion it was announced on 16-08-1947. Lord Mountbatten the then Governor General of India well knew the importance of this award in the absence of which the then J&K would have no effective road or/ rail link with Indian Dominion in case Maharaja decided in favour of India, and this could also be one of reasons for delayed decision. Hence there are reasons to assess that mountbatten was not thatmuch for India. It could be hence also alleged that Mountbatten did not want Hari Singh to accede to India and hence Maharaja was kept under pressure, surely such comments could find some valid logics..
Even Mahatama Gandhi visited Kashmir and impressed on Maharaja Hari Singh for conceding the "demand of people" for a constitutional government ( actually it was for handing over local administration to Sheikh Abdullah as Prime Minister). Where as for the general policy of acceding States it was to be a local popular working government duely elected with a Chief Minister and the Prime Minister of the acceding Prince holding a superior position till any other settlement was made after the Government of independent Dominion took over. All new that raiders were cutting across State borders in J&K. The Government of Maharaja was in regular contact with GOI ( particularly for arms/ ammunition/ petrol/ communication equipment) after 15 August 1947 and raiders from across Pakistan borders had started regular advance nearing 20th of October 1947 .
Although J&K Prime Minister was regularly informing GOI of the status on advance of raiders from 22nd October onwards and begging for arms and ammunition if not troops in the absence of accession . But still Lord Mountbatten the Governor General of India wrote to Patel on 25th October 1947 that as per information received from Maj Thomas Wyndord Rees head of Military Engineering Staff attached to Emergency Committee of Cabinet it appeared that KOHALA had not been attacked till then ( where as raiders were far inside Kashmir Valley) and Tribesmen advancing at Uri were intercepted by Kashmir State Troops and heavy battle appeared to be in progress.
Where as Mehar Chand Mahajan ( J&K PM ) had sent a strong worded telegram to Mohammed Ali Jinnah the Governor General of Pakistan on 18-10-1947 asking to personally interfere to check the violation of State borders and in case of failure J&K Government will have no option than to ask for friendly help from out side. The same day ( 18 Oct 1947) telegram was sent to PM of U.K. by J&K Government informing that about on lakh muslims from India have been given safe conduct to their new abodes in Pakistan.
Meharchand Mahajan had written to Mr.Patel ( Home and States Minister GOI) on 23 Oct 1947 that someMuslim military personnel and police had deserted State Forces under communal pressure from outside and some were under arrest at Sialkot with Pakistan Army as deserters. The J&K Prime Minister also informed Indian Leadership that Kotli had been beseized by Pakistani raiders and Poonch was similarly being invaded and there were signs that Mirpur and Bhimber may be the next objective and repeated the request to send ammunition and arms as was requested long back.. Mountbatten showed so much of ignorance, rather pretended. They way things progressed do indicate that Lord Mountbatten was still thinking in his mind that needed delay in sending troops/ accepting accession had been made to enable raiders cut off Kashmir from India and hence just to prove his innocence Lord Mountbatten again wrote to Patel on 27 October that there was no doubt that if India had sent forces a fortnight ago to Srinagar or could have relieved the State Forces in Jammu to go to Srinagar the position could have been held with comparative ease . Mountbatten opined while writing to Patel that though Indian troops had landed at Srinagar on 27 Oct 1947 the risk was great and chances of keeping raiders out of Srinagar were no good . Mountbatten further said that it was fortunate that the tribes men were on loot and since non Muslims were very less in number ( in Valley) they will only loot and massacre their own co religionists and the this will give India a political advantage. People of J&K were bleeding and the British man was still looking for political advantages in the blood of the innocent common man.
Nehru's extra favours for for Sheikh Mohd Abdullah had delayed the signing of instrument of accession by Hari Singh . And Mountbatten not paying honest Governor general of India had nearly made Kashmir to land up in a ditch from where no return would have been possible.
Kashmir too would have been lost to Mountbatten's imagination had the delay been not there on the part of some Raiders who had come more out of lure for loot and women than for any thing else and had stopped on way lured by autumn atmosphere, beautiful land scape of Barmulla, rich prospects of loot and rape of women and had forgotten Jinah's resolve to celebrate Eid on 25 October 1947 in Srinagar. Reported events suggested that they converted holy mosques into a brothel and European Nuns of local mission hospital were also brutally molested/ raped. Had "they" not done so and lost time on way , Kashmir would have been lost in the name of those who held reins at Delhi in Oct 1947. |
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