Military Historiography of Haryana
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D A V Academic Review A Refereed Research Journal Issue 4, Vol. 1 ISSN 2455-3999 December 2018 [email protected] Military Historiography of Haryana Dr. Atul Yadav Associate Professor of History Govt. P.G.College, Ambala Cantt. (Haryana ) Abstract The foundations of the modern Armed Forces in India were laid, in the ninetieth century, by the British rulers, to serve their purpose. They introduced a systematic policy of recruitment, training, deployment, organization, welfare, etc. Subsequently indianization of our Armed Forces took its course, but it was a baptism by fire and a saga o f heroism and adventure. The Indian forces played a crucial role in the two World Wars, fighting shoulder to shoulder with the allied forces in foreign lands. After gaining independence in 1947, India has fought four wars with Pakistan -the latest being Kargil (1999). One war, in 1962, was thrust upon India by China. The ‘proxy war’ through intermittent Pakistani infiltrations, in Jammu and Kashmir, has been continually bleeding the Army and the Para - military Forces. Besides, India is the second largest cont ributor of troops for several peacekeeping missions of the U.N., in different countries of the world. There are clear indications of the heavy responsibilities being shouldered by our defence forces. The history of soldiers from Haryana, who have served th e Indian Armed Forces through the last century, is a thrilling account replete with innumerable examples of bravery, self -sacrifice and love for the country. The ‘ordinary’ men from this small state have played a big role in protecting the honour of the nation. Indian soldiers epitomize this sentiment, by being demure yet dauntless. Key Word: wars, Armed Forces, defence, ethnic, caste, soldiers. Warfare being an integral component of human civilization, nations are generally defined by the role played b y their Armed Forces in shaping their history. The story of Army has neither a beginning, nor an end; one has generally defined by the role played by their Armed Forces in shaping their history to, therefore, choose a point in time to start it. Th is story begins in 1914. The ancient wars in India have been immortalized in the epics of Ramayna and Mahabharta. In the medieval time, several invaders from the west drew the local kings and rulers into wars, from time to time. This, of necessity, created a war-culture in the north-western region of the country. Thus several fighting-fit clans were created. 34 D A V Academic Review A Refereed Research Journal Issue 4, Vol. 1 ISSN 2455-3999 December 2018 [email protected] The foundations of the modern Armed Forces in India were laid, in the ninetieth century, by the British rulers, to serve their purpose. They introduced a systematic policy of recruitment, training, deployment, organization, welfare, etc. Subsequently indianization of our Armed Forces took its course, but it was a baptism by fire and a saga of heroism and adventure. The Indian forces played a crucial role in the t wo World Wars, fighting shoulder to shoulder with the allied forces in foreign lands. After gaining independence in 1947, India has fought four wars with Pakistan -the latest being Kargil (1999). One war, in 1962, was thrust upon India by China. The ‘proxy war’ through intermittent Pakistani infiltrations, in Jammu and Kashmir, has been continually bleeding the Army and the Para - military Forces. Besides, India is the second largest contributor of troops for several peacekeeping missions of the U.N., in diffe rent countries of the world. There are clear indications of the heavy responsibilities being shouldered by our defence forces. The history of soldiers from Haryana, who have served the Indian Armed Forces through the last century, is a thrilling account re plete with innumerable examples of bravery, self -sacrifice and love for the country. The ‘ordinary’ men from this small state have played a big role in protecting the honour of the nation. Mahasweta Devi, the renowned ‘moving writer’ of our generation, once said: “I have always believed that real history is made by ordinary people who are exploited and used, and yet do not accept defeat.” Indian soldiers epitomize this sentiment, by being demure yet dauntless. 1 In this paper an effort is made to highlight t he contribution of Haryana in the wars and operations of Indian Army in India and abroad during the Colonial period and after independence. The deprived attitude of historians and scholars on national level and particularly of the region pushed me to write this paper. Not even a single book or research work available (Except one) in the universities of the state which highlights the indomitable spirit and characterizes the persona of soldiers. Military History and Historiography is not even part of Universi ty curriculum, a neglected field. 35 D A V Academic Review A Refereed Research Journal Issue 4, Vol. 1 ISSN 2455-3999 December 2018 [email protected] Several brilliant accounts, dealing with the history of our Armed Forces, have been churned out by many outstanding scholars. Some works deal particularly with various aspects and themes of Haryana’s History; however, they only make passing references, in broad terms, to the pivotal role of Haryana’s soldiers in many actions. Some of the important works are: Stephen P. Cohen, The Indian Army; Lt. Gen. S.L. Menzes (Retd.), Fidelity and Honour; Major General Sukhwant Singh (Retd.), India’s Wars Since Independence (3 Vols.); V.Longer, Red Coats to Olive Green; Humphrey Evans, Thimayya of India; Dewitt C. Ellinwood and S.D. Pradhan, India and World War-I; Maj. Gen. D.K. Palit (Retd), The Lightening Campaign-The Indo-Pakistan War 1971; Brig. J.P. Dalvi (Retd.), Himalayan Blunder; Capt. Amarinder Singh (Retd.), Lest We Forget; Philip Mason, A Matter of Honour: An Account of the Indian Army, Its Officers and Men; Brig. S.S. Chandel, Blood and Guts, The Saga of Indian Arms:Valou r and Honour;Regiment of Artillery in Association with LancerPublishers, Kargil’99 Blood, Guts and Firepower; Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, The Current Debate-1, Kargil: The Crisis and its Implications; P.P.Hypher,Deeds and Valour performed by Indian Officers and Soldiers from 1860 to 1925; Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Y.M. Bammi, Kargil 1999 ; Atul Yadav, Valour Unlimited; Haryana and the Indian Armed Forces (1914-2000). 2 As far as the historiography or History writing of Harnana is concerned large number of books and research work available in the universities and education institutions on various themes. For some reasons, however, the reference to the role, contribution and position of the soldiers has not yet attracted any focused attention of the scholars and historians. There are only passing references of the role and contribution of the Armed Forces. K.C Yadav (The Revolt of 1857 in Haryana, New Delhi, 1977; Haryana Ka Itihas, Jullandhur,1975; Haryana: History and Culture, New Delhi, 2002 ), S.C.Mittal (Haryana: A Historical Perspective, New Delhi,1986; and Freedom Movement in Punjab: 1905-1929, New Delhi,1977), Budh Parkash 36 D A V Academic Review A Refereed Research Journal Issue 4, Vol. 1 ISSN 2455-3999 December 2018 [email protected] (Glimpses of Haryana, Kurukshetra, 1969 ), B.S. Saini (The Social and Economic History of Punjab including Haryana and Himachal Pardesh:1901-1939, New Delhi,1975), Sukhdev Singh Sohal (Credit, Rural Debit and the Punjab Peasantry: 1849-1947, Amritsar,2012), Navtej Singh (Starvation and Colonialism A study of Famines in the Nineteenth Century British Punjab:1858-1901, New Delhi,1996), Chhatar Singh (Social and Economic Change in Haryana, New Delhi2004) highlighted one or the other aspect of the role of soldiers to full fill the blanks of the study for justification only. Atul Yadav (Valour Unlimited: Haryana and the Indian Armed Forces 1914-2000) did some study on the role and contribution of Haryana in the Indian Armed Forces in Colonial and Post Independence period. An effort has been made by Raja Ram in his Ph.D. thesis ‘Impact of the First World War on the Punjab’ (Punjab University, Chand igarh, 1972) to highlight the role of the soldiers. Atul Yadav again highlighted the role and contribution of the Soldiers in the Indian Armed Forces and its impact in his Ph.D. thesis ‘Haryana and the Indian Armed Forces: 1914 -1971’ (Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, 2003). Yet there has, I feel even if somewhat impulsively, been a need of studying the Haryanvi soldier in a region specific mould. The single most important reason for this is that there is no aspect of life in Haryana – in all spheres, that has remained uninfluenced by the grand old veterans of World War I and II and the subsequent decades that saw the Haryanvi youth in a profound role in the Armed Forces of the nation. Haryana is truly a society cut out for the Forces. 37 D A V Academic Review A Refereed Research Journal Issue 4, Vol. 1 ISSN 2455-3999 December 2018 [email protected] Analyzing the contributions of soldiers from a particular state, or region, may appear to be repugnant, or even undesirable to some, especially after the country became independent. Nevertheless, it is essential to remember that the Indian Army was cast in a mould, by the British, which used linguistic, religious, ethnic, caste and socio-cultural distinctions as the basis to constitute different regiments and units. They apparently did this to ensure intra-unit camaraderie for better command and control. Additionally, this system of perpetuating differences admirably served their core policy of ‘divide and rule.’ Hence soon after independence, it was felt that such basis of compartmentalization of the Indian Army was not conducive to the cohesiveness of the forces.