Maj Gen Goverdhan Singh Jamwal
It is indeed a good sign that the issues taken up by K N Pandita in his Article ‘Debating Controversial Resolution’ appearing in Daily Excelsior on 04 Jul 2015 are being debated as taken up by some Journalists “Remembering The Defences of Skardu” by Harbans Singh (Daily Excelsior Dated 13 Aug 2015) appearing on the eve of fall of Skardu in 1947 to coincide with the first Independence Anniversary of Pakistan and a dooms day for thousands of Soldiers, Civilians who perished in Skardu on that day and their families in the rest of the Country, on the eve of the first Independence Anniversary of India 15 Aug 1948.
As brought out by Harbans “But those of us who are living, spare a thought for those who lived through a siege lasting more than six months, famished, hoping for the Indian Army to come and carrying out the order ‘last man last bullet’! Let us not forget the sacrifice of those gallant men simply because they belonged to a State Force that was raised by those who were at loggerheads with the emerging powers of the times!”, a very logical question by an eminent Journalist who has researched War of J&K 1947 – 48 and who is the Author of ‘Maharaja Hari Singh: The Troubled Years’. It deserves to be answered particularly for the children and the grandchildren of all those who perished in Skardu as to why Skardu which held on for over 6 months in the remote high altitude area of Baltistan could not be reinforced when the entire control of J&K Operations was handed over to the Indian Army on 27 Oct 1947 and the Army Operational Command had been functioning in the State for over 9 months from 27 Oct 1947 and had sufficient forces and the means available in the valley. It is also argued by the experts that if Indian Army could move a Battalion by air to Kashmir at one day’s notice why it could not reinforce Skardu for 8 months by the Indian Army and as brought out by Harbans Singh that reinforcements sent during the winter months were all from the J&K State Forces being assembled at Srinagar from the remnants of the Units who had been engaged in the Operations since Aug 1947 as to punish them for some unknown Crime which they had never committed.
It is a basic principle of War that when Army undertakes any Operations and sends its forces to fight it is the responsibility of that force to ensure its safety and security. As brought out by the Author and also by Gen Palit in his book ‘Jammu and Kashmir Arms’ that all the reinforcements, three in number were sent in January / February 1948 over the Zojila Pass without adequate administrative cover and Communications. Not a single Soldier from Indian Army accompanied them while 77 Inf Bde was sitting idle in the valley. No Air cover was provided to them. Inspite of that two out of three reached their destination Skardu covering 280 Kms in 30 days which enabled Skardu to hold and fight for five more months. Even the last two reinforcements had reached close by when intercepted by the enemy. It is not understood what prevented Indian Army and the Air Force not to come to the rescue of these column within their own territory.
There is much more than what meets the eye. That is where the Military thinkers and experts come in. If analyzed, it would come out clearly that it was not the Indian Army but the Govt. of India which was paralysed. It was not allowed to function by Lord Mount Batten, the Governor and Gen Lokhart, Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army and Gen Gracy, Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army. Infact J&K invasion was planned by these Actors, keeping Nehru in darkness and Jinnah in picture to ensure that Pakistan Army is allowed a foothold in the State so that it becomes a party in dispute when referred to United Nations at the behest of the Britishers to keep the strategic Gilgit – Baltistan with a Country of their making, (Pakistan) to fight communist threat of Russia and China on the Frontiers of Kashmir. Once this is understood, it becomes clear as to why Indian Army, which was capable of reinforcing and even holding Skardu, did not react. It would have automatically secured the lines of communication to Kargil and Ladakh for which the Indian Army had to mount major operations including Zojila operation later and lose many lives and yet give away large territory later.
As for Gilgit even one company dropped before 1 Nov 1947, would have definitely saved it and with it whole of Baltistan and Ladakh. Why it was not done is certainly a blemish on the part Gen Thmayya who went on to become Chief of the Army Staff. As a Military History Student, I have studied in detail and can fathom why it was not done. The truth is, the War in J&K was controlled by the Britishers. When Army wanted to Bomb Mirpur by Air Force it was overruled by Gen Lokhart. Yet Gen Thimayya, GOC 19 Inf Div, responsible for Operations in Kashmir and Ladakh cannot be absolved of the responsibility of treating Skardu as part of his force. Infact he ordered them to surrender and get killed.
On 27 Oct 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh was the ruler when Indian Army moved in at one day’s notice. In Aug 1948, it was Sheikh Abdullah. Had he insisted that Skardu must be saved and prevailed upon Pandit Nehru, Skardu would have been saved and that is where the rub lies. Since Nehru and Shiekh Abdullah were not interested in saving the State Forces of Maharaja Hari Singh, they did not even care about them. And this attitude guided the Indian Army and prevailed down the line which the author of this has personally experienced for almost for ten years when the State Forces were ill treated till its 4 Kashmir Inf decimated one Pakistan Brigade at Hussainiwala in 1956. It was only this operation which turned the fate of the Regiment and got it integrated in the Indian Army without any Screening. Today it is the finest Regiment of the Indian Army having won two out of the four Param Veer Chakras in Kargil alone.
Notwithstanding the attitude of the State and India towards Gilgit and Skardu, the Army cannot be absolved of its responsibility. It were State Forces Units only which reinforced Skardu. It proves the point made by Harbans Singh in his assertion in the quote above. I hope this will clear the haze for the progenies of those who had laid down their lives to defend what their founder of the State, Maharaja Gulab Singh and the Legendary General Zorawar Singh had bestowed on them.
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