Debating controversial issues

Maj Gen Goverdhan Singh Jamwal
Apropos an eye opener “Debating Controversial Resolution” by K. N. Pandita published in Daily Excelsior on 04 July 2015 with an excellent Readers Write by  Ravinder Jallali published in Daily Excelsior on 07 July 2015 and yet another from Mr. Munshi on 11 July 2015.
It is indeed very heartening that Jammu writers have started writing on substantial matters delving into history with a view to present the right perspective to our future generations and also where required assuage the hurt feelings meted out to them by those in power as brought out by  K. N. Pandita, because of the blunders committed by Pandit Nehru in the initial formative years of the newly born largest democracy of the world. Pandita’s Article is very bold and a must read. It shows there is always a light at the end of the tunnel which may be long and dark, but I see the end of the tunnel is coming which should be welcomed for which credit will go to  K. N. Pandita. He has started the debate giving the facts which make the mistakes committed by Mr. Nehru for which the country and the State are suffering and perhaps will continue to suffer for centuries.
Now the Republic is almost three quarter of a Century old and in another three decades the country will be celebrating its Centenary of Independence which will be the time to analyze as to why Indians suffered more for at least quarter of a Century in every way. Similarly the State has also suffered, at least Jammu, the Dogras, the Maharaja and his Army which was denigrated for a decade till one of its Units annihilated a Pakistani Brigade at Husainiwala in 1956 on Punjab Border. As a result it was integrated with the Indian Army en block without any screening, the only Regt in the country which got this special treatment, yet its Centre was thrown out of the State. It is obvious that Mr. Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah did not like Maharaja Hari Singh and therefore whatever he did was suspect and even though Jammu people, its Army led by Brig Rajinder Singh, who actually saved Kashmir for which he is called the Saviour of Kashmir and was awarded the first gallantry award of Independent India, MVC (Posthumously), though he deserved the highest award of Param Vir Chakra (PVC), all did extremely well in 1947-48 Operations. In fact Brig Rajinder Singh deserved much more  as Mr. George Fernandis, the then Defence Minister, while inaugurating  his Birth Centenary Celebrations at his native place Rajinderpura on 14 June 1999, had said “But for the Supreme Sacrifice made by Brig Rajinder Singh, the history of subsequent events relating to J&K would have been different. He not only changed the history but also the geography of the sub-continent. He deserved PVC which will be given”.
It was for this reason that the J&K Army was denigrated and sometimes humiliated because it was Maharaja Hari Singh’s Army. How could that Army be given its due if it was intended by Nehru and Sheikh to throw him out of the State as soon as the situation normalized which was actually done in 1949.This needs a lot of research to bring out the facts for posterity and make the heirs of these great people proud of their parents who sacrificed their lives unknown, unsung and without any awards and rewards as 1200 soldiers out of 12000 of the J&K State Forces perished in this war i.e. 10% of the Army killed in war, a world record as India  lost only 1500 in J&K Operations 1947-48. In Kargil War India lost 500 killed in the Army of a million giving a percentage of 0.05%. This all needs to be studied, researched, analyzed, written and debated. I am glad Daily Excelsior has started the exercise. Congratulations.
As for Munshi’s comments, very welcome. He has read about Brig Rajinder Singh and has appreciated his role and sacrifice as well elucidated by Col JP Singh in his article “Saviour of Kashmir” on 14 June 2015. If he had read his Article on Maharaja Hari Singh ‘Remembering Nationalist Ruler’ published in Daily Excelsior on 23 Sep 2014, he may not have been so harsh. It is for this reason that writing and reading about our history is important. Capt Liddell Hart one of the greatest military writers of the twentieth century has said “?In trying to solve such problems, or make forecasts, it has repeatedly proved helpful to get a projection from the past through the present into the future”. It is again very heartening that Justice G D Sharma has written a very comprehensive account in his book ‘Plight of Jammu and Kashmir The Unknown Files’ and Shri Harbans Singh has come out with ‘Maharaja Hari Singh and Dwindling Years’ and yet another epic ‘Nothing But’ by Brig Sameer Bhattacharya of Raghu Pratap Paltan of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (erstwhile J&K State Forces) is there; these are must read by all of us.
However for his information I will explain the reasons behind the delayed Accession which may be an eye opener for many as they do not know the hard facts. In this regard it may be remembered that Maharaja Hari Singh was a person non grata with Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru because of Sheikh Abdullah. Pt Nehru made it a personal issue with the result that Maharaja Hari Singh could not decide as there was no encouragement from the would be Prime Minister of India and even after 15 Aug the attitude remained the same, infact he became more vindictive. It may be remembered that after all, the Maharaja Hari Singh was the hereditary ruler of the State and he considered the people of the State as his children. There is no doubt that he was advised by many and he himself deliberated on Independence, but as the events unfurled he wanted to join India and never accede to Pakistan. His reasons were that Pakistan was founded on two nation theory and hatred towards Indians (Hindus) on purely religious ground, where 40% Hindus of the State would never be safe and happy. Further he thought Bodhs,Sikhs and Christians and even Shia Muslims would not be safe and happy in Pakistan whereas all of them would be safe and happy in new India which was founded on principle of Secularism for which he had himself voted in the Round Table Conference in England in 1931. He wanted an opportunity and a holding hand which were never available because Nehru never understood the problem. He had forgotten that J&K, particularly Gilgit and Baltistan were very important for the British and its Allies including USA against the Communists including China at that time led by the Soviet Union. They would never let the State join India. If he was a historian and a statesman he would have done everything to cultivate Maharaja Hari Singh to accede to India as was done by Patel. But it was not to be.
Further although he wanted to join India yet no one was willing to talk to him from India whereas Pakistan had sent emissaries to woo him with all the allurements which he refused. So much so, that India did not enter into Stand Still Agreement while as Pakistan jumped for it and having signed it, deprived the State of supplies including Medicines, Arms and Ammunition for the Armed Forces. In fact Stand Still meant blockade from Pakistan as the State was dependent for everything on Western Punjab which was now Pakistan. Had Pt. Nehru accepted the offer for Stand Still Agreement, India would have remained in touch with developments from 15 Aug 1947 to 21 Oct 1947 when Pakistan attacked. In fact India did not know about the attack till 24 Oct 1947 when Uri fell, that too through a wireless intercept of a message from ‘Owin Pattan’ which fell on that day  to Pakistan Army in Poonch sector. That was the consequence of shunning the Stand Still Agreement by Pt. Nehru. This blocked all the doors till Menon opened the gate on 25 Oct 1947 and thanks to Brig Rajinder Singh who provided four vital days for these Parleys.
Now a word about Maharaja joining Indian Union before 15 Aug 1947. This is a matter of research and debate but suffice to quote Official history  to prove that Pakistan had made all the plans considering all eventualities which would have prevented him from doing so even if it meant his elimination. Where would he have gone when Nehru’s India was not prepared to listen to  him. We should not forget that all this had been planned by the British who were executing the plans ‘Operation Gulmarg’ having duped Nehru.
As per Official History of Ministry Of Defence, J&K Operations / The Invasion Plan (Page 18) the British Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army had personally signed a top secret letter to all Commanders, One such letter was received by Maj Onkar Singh Kalkat, Brigade Major Bannu Brigade on 20 Aug 47, which shows that the planning of such a major operation would have taken place at least 3 months in advance (The Plight of Jammu and Kashmir by G D Sharma) Invasion of Kashmir by Pakistan (Page 134). Further it will be seen that about 6 Lashkars of 1000 each were deployed in area of Poonch and Rajouri by end August. Had he joined before 15 Aug the same could have perhaps not let him do that with other contingency plans put in to take over the State immediately Maharaja and there would have been much worse bloodshed in J&K than in Punjab which he had managed to avoid as the situation in J&K was normal till 15 Aug 1947.

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