Arun Kumar Gupta
On August 15, 1947, India bore witness to the relentless struggle of countless valiant souls. Independence was won through sacrifice and relentless effort, yet the shadows of brutality loomed large as Pakistan launched a savage assault on October 22, 1947, massacring thousands in Jammu and Kashmir. Countless were forced to abandon their homelands, enduring immense suffering as they roamed, displaced and broken. The annals of 1965 and 1971 further mark the nefarious grasp of Pakistan extending to the Chhamb region.
The onslaught unfurled under the grim banner of Operation Gulmarg, as Pakistan sought to seize Jammu and Kashmir, plundering thousands of square kilometers. These lands, now known as Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, encompass Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli, Bagh, Pulandri, Sudnoti, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit, Baltistan, Deva-Batala, and Poonch. This realm was once the cherished heritage of our forebears, but was cruelly seized, leaving the displaced denizens of PoJK in its wake.
In this heinous assault, thousands of Hindus and Sikhs met a gruesome fate, their families burned alive in their own homes, while mothers and sisters were brutally assaulted and kidnapped. The ghastly massacre compelled innumerable Hindu and Sikh families to forsake their birthright and properties. Amidst this exodus, countless families were torn apart, leaving them lost and yearning for reunification to this day.
Let us unite in reverence for the martyrs of 1947 and cherish the sacred soil of our ancestors, stained with their noble sacrifice.
The first blow fell upon Muzaffarabad on that fateful October 22, 1947. Pakistani soldiers, hell-bent on capturing Jammu and Kashmir, mercilessly targeted Hindus and Sikhs. The grim ultimatum they offered was conversion to Islam, forcing our elders to face an unthinkable choice: renounce their faith or face death. Many who resisted were brutally slain, and countless mothers and sisters were taken captive, never to return. Yet, amidst the horror, the brave youth of Muzaffarabad stood resilient, facing the invading Pakistani soldiers for three harrowing days. The Hindu-Sikh populace valiantly fought back, but the toll was devastating-about 2,000 Hindus and Sikhs were ruthlessly slaughtered. The assailants then moved to Srinagar, leaving a trail of desolation in their wake. It was on October 26, 1947, when Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession with India, paving the way for the Indian Army to reach Srinagar on October 27, 1947, and quell the bloodshed that had gripped the region.
The tragedy that unfolded in Mirpur city in November 1947 was a heartbreaking testament to the depths of human cruelty. The Pakistani army besieged the city, unleashing a relentless onslaught on Hindus. Families were torn apart as lives were extinguished in a brutal wave of violence, leaving witnesses to bear the unbearable loss of loved ones. Mirpur, once home to Gurudwara Damdama Sahib and Sanatan Dharma Temple, witnessed the horrors of this time. The Arya Samaj school hostel housed over 100 young girls who chose a tragic end, leaping into the deep well to escape dishonor. People sought refuge in basements, desperately hoping to evade the eyes of the merciless, yet they were discovered and ruthlessly slaughtered. The Pakistani Army, devoid of all humanity, slaughtered ten thousand men and forcibly abducted thousands of Hindu and Sikh sisters. Many were trafficked to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Arab nations. Eventually, the Red Cross team intervened, rescuing the remaining survivors from Kirtangarh Gurudwara and transporting them to Jammu.
Rajouri bore witness to one of the most appalling massacres in Indian history, a gruesome event that scarred the very streets with the blood of thousands of Hindus and Sikhs. Faced with the prospect of losing their identity, many mothers and sisters made the harrowing choice to embrace death by jumping into the well. Others resorted to consuming poison, a tragic testament to their despair. This massacre, commencing in November 1947, endured until April 12, 1948. The mountains and forests became a haven for thousands, hiding from the horrors that unfolded. On November 11, 1947, while Diwali was celebrated as a symbol of newfound freedom, the streets of Rajouri ran red with the blood of over three thousand Hindus and Sikhs. The stench of death hung in the air, and the very essence of humanity seemed to wither. The brutality persisted until the night of April 12, 1948, when the dawn of April 13, 1948, heralded a new beginning. The Indian Army liberated Rajouri from the clutches of Pakistan’s terror. While the nation may have moved on, the local populace still shudders at the memory of that ghastly sight.
In October 1947, Bagh tehsil of Poonch plunged into chaos. Pulandri, Bagh, Sudnoti, and Rawalakot fell swiftly under Pakistan’s dominion. The massacre raged from November to December, claiming thousands of Hindu and Sikh lives. During this dark period, the Indian Air Force facilitated the evacuation of many to Jammu, where they found temporary refuge.
The displaced masses of PoJK were coerced into a nomadic existence outside the borders of Jammu and Kashmir, victims of the calculated policies of the then-government. Sadly, they were denied their fundamental rights by successive Jammu and Kashmir governments for seven decades. The present government endeavors to restore these rights to the displaced, an attempt to bring some semblance of justice to their suffering.
On February 22, 1994, the Indian Parliament passed a resolute declaration regarding Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing its unequivocal integration with India. Any attempt to sever this bond would be met with steadfast resistance, affirming India’s resolve to protect its unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The resolution also urged Pakistan to relinquish all unlawfully occupied areas of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, and sternly warned against interference in India’s internal affairs.
This year, on October 22, 2023, we mark the completion of 76 years since the genocide and forced displacement. The Remembrance Week is an ode to the martyrs of 1947 and the gallant soldiers of the Indian Army, an opportunity to honor the hallowed land of our ancestors. This week begins on the eve of October 21, with a solemn tribute to the valiant soldiers on October 27. We beseech all patriots and organizations to pay homage to the sacrifices of their forebears from October 21 to October 27-a time to reflect on the sacrifices that have safeguarded our lives to this day.
In this week, various programs can be organized, from torch rallies and memorial events for the sacred land to lighting lamps in the names of martyrs, seminars on POJK topics, merger day celebrations, and salutations to our brave soldiers. Let us unite in reverence, and rekindle the hope of reclaiming our sacred land, standing as one in this collective tribute to our history and heritage.
We must never forget the agonizing chapters of our past. The haunting memories of massacres, displaced families, and shattered lives during the partition of 1947 must serve as a reminder of the horrors we endured. It’s a testament to our resilience that we honor and remember those who suffered, striving to ensure such atrocities are never repeated in the annals of history.
As we observe this Tribute and Remembrance Week, let us reaffirm our commitment to justice, healing, and reclaiming what was unjustly taken. The passage of time does not dilute the pain, nor should it diminish our determination to seek truth, reconciliation, and restoration. Together, let us build a better future, where the wounds of the past are acknowledged, and the wounds of the present are tended to, ensuring a more compassionate and just world for all.
(The writer is President of Arya Samaj Dayanand Marg, City Chowk, Jammu.)
(This article was penned on behalf of their mother Smt Pushpa Devi W/o Lt. Sh Sita Ram Gupta (Mirpuri) who is presently 95 years old and narrated the entire ordeal of 1947 carnage. She’s the oldest surving person from the genocide of 1947, currently residing in Jammu.)
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