JAC : A Journal Of Composition Theory ISSN : 0731-6755

Fall of Gilgit

Arvind Singh Jamwal Department of History University of Jammu, Jammu, J&K, India

Abstract- The research paper focuses on the north-west Frontier region of the Jammu and Kashmir State during the Dogra rule. The paper tries to explain the causes which led to the loss of Gilgit by India to Pakistan in 1947. This paper is an attempt to highlight the sudden and untimely cancellation of the lease agreement which started the process of losing grip over the Gilgit area by the Dogras. The paper explains that how in such a difficult situation Brig Ghansara Singh, the newly appointed last governor of Gilgit had to control the administration of the region. The paper further explains the attitude of R.C. Kak the then Prime Minister of the state and his personal association with H.L.Scott, the military head of the state turned the table against the Dogra governor. The paper highlights the role of two British officers of Gilgit Scout, Maj Brown and Capt Methenson behind the loss of Gilgit to Pakistan on 3rd November, 1947.

Keywords – Gilgit lease, Pakistan, Brig Ghansara Singh, Maj Brown, invasion

The British intervention in the North-West Frontier region of India forced Maharaja Hari Singh to lease Gilgit area on 26th March, 1935 to the British Government. The interest of British Government was due to the strategic and commercial importance of the Gilgit-Baltistan region. It was from this region that all the trade (silk route) was carried on and also this was the meeting place of three empires i.e. British Indian empire, Russian and Chinese. The main idea behind the lease of Gilgit Agency was primary to put pressure on Maharaja Hari Singh for the merger of Gilgit with the North-West Frontier Province. The real motive behind the merger was to ensure smooth and unsplit military and political control on North-West Frontier Province, Chitral and Gilgit. This was in order to check the Russian expansion. But this merger could not take place in spite of their best efforts. But this lease was a major blow to the territorial integrity of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

After about twelve years from the lease, the paramountcy of the British crown from all over India along with Jammu and Kashmir lapsed on 15 August, 1947. So, British Government decided to cancel the lease prematurely before the independence of India. Consequently arrangements were made by the two Governments for the proper transfer of the Gilgit Agency some days before 15 August 1947. The day, for the restoration of Gilgit Agency again under the J&K State Government was fixed as 1 August, 1947.

With this development Maharaja Hari Singh decided to send his senior most and trusted Army Officer Brig. Ghansar Singh Jamwal, who was at that time working as Brigadier General Staff of Jammu and Kashmir State Forces, as Governor of Gilgit. On 19th July, 1947 Ghansar Singh received his order of appointment as Governor of Gilgit Province. The then Prime Minister of State, Shri Ram Chander Kak called him and asked him to get ready to fly to Gilgit in order to take the charge on 1 August, 1947. It was mentioned in the Brig. Ghansar Singh Memoir that after his appointment as the Governor of Gilgit he came to know that the Prime Minister R.C Kak was not interested in his appointment as the Governor of Gilgit. He actually wanted one of his favorite to be selected for the post of Governor. But he had to bow down before the wishes of the Maharaja. He was to reach Gilgit on 21 July, 1947 to take over the charge from the Political Agent of Gilgit Col. Bacon. In order to have a wide range of discussion with Prime Minister to fully understand the existing situation and threat vis-a vis, the policy to be followed in dealing with different types of situations, he met P.M. on 20 July. It is important to mention here that Ghansar Singh had strongly objected for the retention of the British Officers in Gilgit Scouts as this would unnecessarily create problems in the independent disposal of cases. This shows the maturity and Volume XIII, Issue XII, DECEMBER 2020 Page No: 13 JAC : A Journal Of Composition Theory ISSN : 0731-6755 forsightedness of Brig. Ghansar Singh because this was what that really happened. But the P.M refuted the idea. It was decided that Maj. Gen. H.L. Scott, who was chief of Jammu and Kashmir State Forces would go with him to see his requirement on the spot and will report to the Government.

Gilgit having been cut off since 1935, when it was leased out to the British Government of India by the State Government, it was quite possible that the State Government was not aware about the various changes that had taken place in Gilgit since the previous days. During this period (1935-47) the British had controlled this area from Peshawar, in such a way that the staff in Gilgit started considering themselves as the part of North-West Frontier Province administration. Maj. Brown, the commandant of the Gilgit Scouts came to pay his respect to the new Governor and to Gen. H.L. Scott and as the taking over ceremony was over, the Governor accompanied by the chief of staff, Gen. Scott officially met the Officers of the Gilgit Scouts. There he had to face a catalogue of demands put up by the officers and J.C.Os of the Gilgit Scouts which comprised of muslims and few British. They further told that they were ready to work under J&K State Government if their demands were fulfilled. Brig. Ghansar Singh tried his best to win over their sympathies but all in vain. Similarly the whole civil administration met him and asked for the increase in their salary, otherwise they would have opted for Pakistan. Brig. Ghansar Singh realized that these were not genuine demands but he still very tactfully promised to recommend their case to the State Government. Brig. Ghansar Singh knew that he was not given any powers by the State Government, so he can’t gave them full assurance. But all civil departments struck their work in all offices. There were only two Officers one Dr. Hans Raj Gupta and a Revenue Assistant Raja Noor Ali Khan. They took over the charge of the hospital and the treasury respectively. The other offices of the Agency were locked up by the Governor and were put under military guard. Here Lt. Col Bacon hesitated to hand over all the departments, as there were no hands to take charge of the various departments. But Brig. Ghansar Singh took the charge from Lt. Col. Bacon of all the departments of the Gilgit Agency by taking over responsibility of the whole Agency.

Brig. Ghansar Singh was not only responsible for administration but also for the security of the province from both internal and external threat. But with the passage of time his faith and his various means were coming under the shadow of suspicion. On the one hand the Gilgit Scouts under Maj. Brown and his junior apt. Metheson whose duty was the internal security of Gilgit can’t be relied upon any more, on the other hand the 6th J&K Infantry which had started from Srinagar to relieve one company of 5th J&K Infantry at Bunji, which could be used for the protection of Gilgit externally had shouted the pro-Pakistan slogans on their way from Bandipur to Bunji. This news came through the application which Governor received from the local of Gurez and Astore, and later confirmed by the Revenue Assistant Raja Noor Ali Khan on his tour to that area. Brig. Ghansar Singh sent this application to Maj. Gen. Scott and to Brig. Rajinder Singh emphasizing the need for not sending this Battalion. He also got message from Maj Gen. Scott that the statement of the applications were corroborated by the responsible Police officer of Kashmir Force. He further told that a proper enquiry may be held and the involved person may be arrested. Lt. Col Majid Khan was the head of the 6th J&K Infantry. Ghansar Singh called him as he reached Bunji, and told him about the message sent by Maj. Gen. Scott directing him for immediate action and report. He after two days informed the Governor that one religious slogan was shouted and no pro-Pakistan slogans were shouted.

At this time Brig. Ghansar Singh was also surrounded by various news and rumours such as about the Gilgit invasion by Chitral and Swat, the news about the fall of Srinagar, the secret meeting of the British Officers Maj. Brown, Lt. Ghulam Haider and Sub. Maj. Babul Khan in contact with Bunji Officers. Volume XIII, Issue XII, DECEMBER 2020 Page No: 14 JAC : A Journal Of Composition Theory ISSN : 0731-6755 The air of Gilgit was flooded with these things. The Rajas and Mirs promised their support to the Governor. The local Hindu and Sikh stared requesting the Governor to call more State Army. In this situation,Brig. Ghansar Singh was in great confusion. He knew the attitude of the 6th J&K Infantry would be more destructive than the Gilgit Scouts. The second thought that came to his mind that it will bring no credit if they die at the hands of their own soldiers. It would be rather credit to us if we were killed by the people of Gilgit to whom we have once conquered. But the locals kept on forcing him to call forces. Finally in the afternoon of 30 oct 1947, Brig. Ghansar Singh called Lt. Col Abdul Majid Khan and ordered him to sent as much forces as he can immediately to Gilgit.

As we already knew that the Sikh company was of raw recruit as they had not completed their training, so Lt. Col. Majid Khan decided to send fully trained company of Mohammaden to Gilgit at the call of the Governor. Capt. Hussain Ali and Capt. Ishan Ali were sent with a company to Gilgit. There were quite chances that these troops were in league with Gilgit Scouts and the rebel which was brewing a rebellion had no problem from these troops .But still Maj. Brown organized a coup-d-elat against the Governor before the arrival of the troops at Gilgit. According to the plan 100 Gilgit Scouts under the command of Maj.Brown, Lt. Haider Khan and Sub Maj. Babur Khan surrounded the Residence of the Governor at the night of 31st Oct. The noises of the footsteps near his verandah brook the sleep of the Governor. On enquiring he found about 6 to 8 persons were trying to enter his house. He never thought of the Scouts, but suspecting the attack of Pakistan. He used his revolver, backed up by his orderly and driver who were handed a double barrel shotgun and sporting rifle machine gun. He along with the two enquired the whole situation and realized that they were surrounded. He fired one round in air from his revover to frighten the men who were trying to enter the room through bathroom door. On his fire short, the whole Scouts opened up heavy firing which broke window panes bunglow skylights. The machine gun fire was also opened by Lt. Haider of Scouts and starting hitting right and left of the building. Exchange of fire went on for hours and two men of Gigit Scouts were killed.

As the firing stopped in the morning at about 4 A.M, the Scouts Officer Maj. Brown sent some non-muslim officials to the Governor’s Residence (Bunglow) which was surrounded by them. Pandit Mani Ram and a Police Inspector were sent and they told about the demands of the Scouts, to surrender quickly or they will kill all non-muslims soon. They further told that the civil officials would be safely sent to Bunji as they only wanted Gilgit into Pakistan. In this situation, Brig. Ghansr Singh called Raja Noor Ali Khan and Sehdev Singh (Tehsildar). They forced Governor to surrender. But Brig. Ghansar Singh was also expecting the troops of 6th J&K Infantry Battalion. Which were sent by Lt. Col. Majid Khan from Bunji. He thought that they can change the whole situation but no troops came there as they were in league with Gilgit Scouts Officers. Only Capt. Haasan Ali and Capt. Ishan Ali reached there, leaving the troops at Pari, which was half way between Gilgit and Bunji, to ambush there in case the Governor tried to escape from Gilgit. Now Brig. Ghansar Singh was left with no alternative but to surrender. He was arrested along with other Hindu civil servants and their families. The local people protested against this and the villagers from the surroundings areas began to gather at Gilgit. The Scouts Leaders managed to pacify the local people by collecting the slabs of the detonators from P.W.D stores and were shown to villagers. They were told that these were the hand grenades which were distributed by the Governor to the non-muslim people of the market for the destruction of the muslim people houses. Thus, these ignorant people duped for the time being but after few days they came to know about the truth but they were helpless. But this demonstration of the people’s affection saved the Governor and other non-muslims from being murdered in cold blood.

Volume XIII, Issue XII, DECEMBER 2020 Page No: 15 JAC : A Journal Of Composition Theory ISSN : 0731-6755 Immediately after the arrest of the Governor, the conspirators took step to annihilate the Sikh troops at Bunji.

The muslim troops of 6th J&K Infantry and the Gilgit Scouts attacked a Sikh post at janglot, the whole garrison was killed treacherously, except for a lone survivor who managed to cross the icy Indus river on a log of wood. On hearing the news of the happening of the Gilgit and Janglot, they fled to find their way out to Gurais via Astore. But this line of withdrawal was already cutoff by Capt. Matheson with the help of Scouts from Chilas, so that they can’t escape. They struck to the mountains and wondered in the Snow Mountains without any food, with starvation, so they had to fall back to Bunji and were captured one by one. Great panic prevailed during this time at Gilgit and Bunji. Forced conversion and slaughter of the selected non-muslims took place on minor pretext. All the civil Officials were threatened along with their families. The entire Gilgit region thus passed into the hands of Pakistan in the early days of November. At first a Provisional Government was set up. Maj. Brown, Capt. Hussain, Capt. Ehsan Ali, Capt. Muhammad Khan, Capt. Sayeed, Lt. Haidar, Sub. Maj. Babar Khan and Wazir Walayat Ali was the member of the Government. The nominal head was one local Sub. Rais Khan. From Gilgit, Maj. Brown sent wireless message to Peshawar authorities. He intimated that the Pakistan Government had been established at Gilgit. On 3rd of November 1947, a Flag hoisting ceremony was performed at Gilgit Scout line by Maj. Brown, where all the civil officials except the Governor were called and were directed to salute the Pakistan Flag.

After about a fortnight, one Sardar Mohammed Alam from Peshawar came by air and he took over as Political Agent of Gilgit. Air service started, civil and military Officer of regular Pakistan Army poured in. In short, Pakistan’s civil and military officers took over the administration of Gilgit.

REFERENCES

[1] A.S Chauhan, “The Gilgit Agency”, Atlantic Publication, pp.219.

[2] R.C. Kak, The Fall of Gilgit, pp. 12.

[3] Maj. K, Brahma Singh. History of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (1820-1956), pp. 218.

[4] Justice G.D. Sharma, Plight of J&K, The Unknown Files, pp. 197.

[5] Bhim Singh, J&K :The Blunder and the way out, pp. 48.

[6] S.N. Prasad & Dharmpal, Ph.D, Ministry of Defence Government of India, Operations in J&K, pp.282.

[7] K.Warikoo, Central Asia and Kashmir, pp. 126.

[8] E.F.Knight, Where three empires meet pp. (vi).

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