SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2019 (PAGE 4) ACCESSION ACTORS Shiban Khaibri Sheikh Abdullah preaching non-violence and amity but Sheikh Abdullah whom he had all praises for, was imprisoned when Gandhi visited .Immediately after Gandhi On October 26, at Nehru's residence, History should not become subservient to distortions, meeting the Maharaja, Prime Minister Ram Chand Kak was dismissed. the exemplary role played by Sheikh manipulations and layers of opaqueness in addition to Abdullah to shape the future of Kashmir Gopalaswami Ayyangar hiding of or bypassing important events and the role is worth mentioning. Kabaylies or He was the Prime Minister of Jammu and of various types of noted personalities. We want history Raiders supported by Pakistani regulars Kashmir for 6 years right from 1937 to 1943. He is had almost reached outskirts of Srinagar, believed to have played a notable role in the state's - correct, factual and sans distortions, history based on ready to capture the airport and Srinagar accession to the fledging union of India as he knew ascertained facts and no manipulations or any cherry when Prime Minister Meher Chand each and every nerve of the state . He was elected picking but opening up hidden and suppressed topics to Mahajan threatened Nehru to 'make it to the Constituent Assembly of India in December fast' , accept accession papers and send 1946 and was appointed to the 13 member Drafting have a broader perspective of historical events which the army coupled with giving whatever powers needed, to Sheikh Abdullah, fail- Committee that formulated the constitution of younger generations must get to know without any ifs ing which he would negotiate the terms with Jinnah as the city must be saved India .After State's accession he was Union . Angered by Mahajan's threat , Nehru asked Mahajan to "go away". Patel Minister looking after Kashmir Affairs , while and buts. With that prelude , let it be said that state's whispered in the ear of Mahajan , "Of course, you are not going to Pakistan." Nehru held the overall charge of Kashmir which accession is hard won , it is a historical festival and not Mahajan stood up to leave and in the meantime, Sheikh Abdullah who was caused ripples in his relations with Patel who overhearing the talks, sensing the gravity of the situation, sent a slip of paper should have been looking after Kashmir as well being the Home Minister, it an ordinary day which we must celebrate with devotion, to Nehru, after reading which his attitude changed completely and he called was Ayyangar who stepped into the shoes of Patel and drew nearer to Nehru. remembering splendid role played by great leaders and Mahajan back and the 'deal' clicked. This has been thrown light upon by It is he, who later, on insistence of Nehru under pressure from Sheikh our heroes of battles who fought invasion of Pakistan. Mahajan himself in a book "Looking Back" written by him. Abdullah, drafted Article 370 giving (temporary) special status to Jammu Sardar Patel and Kashmir but only on August 5 this year , that was constitutionally is a travesty that the Day of Accession is not a holiday in revoked and Article 370 rendered inoperative. Sardar Patel too played a key role in seeing that Kashmir sealed its fate Jammu and Kashmir, July 13 is instead. with the fledging Union of independ- Maqbool Sherwani ent India. He was in constant touch A dedicated activist of National Conference and Sheikh Abdullah, a 19 M.S.Golwalker with Maharaja Hari Singh as also suc- year old Mohd. Maqbool Sherwani was the one who cessive Prime Ministers of the state. At the outset, let it unequivocally be stated that forced Mohd. Ali Jinnah to stop his address in That was precisely to ensure that the those 'liberal, democratic and secular' politicians Baramulla when he spoke about two nation theory . He Ruler's decision remained in India's frustrated the advance of thousands of savages by mis- and writers who take pride in criticising the RSS favour. Much before the catastrophe leading them about the route to Srinagar thus giving day in and day out to the extent of deriding it and of the treacherous Pakistani diaboli- Indian Army valuable time to land in Srinagar. Tied to a chorusing the manufactured "link" the organisa- cal move of attacking Jammu and wooden post , pasted "I am traitor" on forehead, 15 bul- tion had in the assassination of Gandhi Ji , have Kashmir by proxy, on July 3, he wrote lets were pumped into his body by the ruthless never brought in limelight the role of RSS to the Maharaja that in joining India Kabalyees. He remains an unsung hero for the govern- Sarsanghchalak M.S. Golwalkar affectionately only, interests of Kashmir were in ment and for many people he is a "traitor". called as Guru Ji in the state's accession with safe hands, secured and protected. India. Instead, pride is taken in giving all credit to He attempted to allay Maharaja's Brig. Rajinder Singh Jawarlal Nehru for "handling" Kashmir issue when apprehensions about Congress, in A saga of valour, bravery and devotion , the first in fact, he committed Himalayan errors in the whole issue. In fact, since particular Nehru's relations with recipient of Maha Vir Chakra in independent India some events of true national history are now unfolding progressively , it is Sheikh Abdullah. However, unfortu- has earned the title of 'saviour of Kashmir' who deduced that had Nehru not interfered with it, the Kashmir issue would have nately Maharaja sent a "Stand Still fought the swarm of raiders "to the last man and been all over after Pakistan attacked it in 1947-48. Agreement" on August 12 to the union the last bullet" in unparalleled way of bravery and Sardar Patel in kashmir, November 1947, with of India in response to which Patel Following declaration of the British government's deadline of June3, 1947 Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed standing), Sheikh patriotism. Maj.Som Nath Sharma ,recipient of Abdullah and Manibehn asked him to send a representative for Param Vir Chakra , played a unique role and for the princely rulers of India to join either India or Pakistan, it had met discussions and clarifications which with an undecided option in Jammu and Kashmir which soon was felt as demonstrated superb bravery and dedication to did not happen. Curiously, Pakistan cunningly accepted it immediately after duty and defended the airport and the city of serious challenge to the freedom and the integrity of the independent India, the Maharaja sent the same to them. Sardar Patel had deputed Golwalkar to lead a political mission to Srinagar Srinagar making it operational. Many brave and patriotic souls contributed in one way or the other to meet the Maharaja and his key role played in the accession of the state Lord Mountbatten in making the day of accession with India a reality with the union of India after independence and the Maharaja getting In fact, he can be counted among the first per- sons to touch the issue of future of Jammu and historically , legally and constitutionally to whom we are inclined towards acceding to India , cannot be ignored at all. These revela- always grateful. tions have been made in details by a senior bureaucrat Arun Bhatnagar hav- Kashmir with the Maharaja on June3, 1947 imme- diately after the partition plan was made public . He ing been a close aide of Smt. Sonia Gandhi, in his book "India shedding the even visited Srinagar and camped for 3 days (June RC KAK Past, Embracing the Future 1906-2017". Bhatnagar was running her pet 19 to 23 1947). Maharaja is said to have avoided him R C Kak was the prime minister of Maharaja Hari project National Advisory Council, and also headed Prasar Bharti Board dur- as he was reportedly toeing with the idea of opting Singh's regime who had given the concept of ing UPA era. for the third choice which Mountbatten was not in Independent Kashmir keeping in view the changing Very few know that Golwalkar had reached Srinagar on Oct 17, 1947 to favour of. political scenario at that time attend a meeting which state Prime Minister Meher Chand Mahajan had arranged between the Maharaja and Golwalkar which proved not only Mahatma Gandhi Mehar Chand Mahajan effective but very successful too. The Maharaja was inclined to the signing of He paid a 4 days visit , a historical and the fist On the day Hari Singh signed the Instrument of the Instrument of Accession to India which Golwalkar reported back to and the last one to Srinagar in early August 1947. Accession with India on October 26, 1947, Mahajan Sardar Patel . However, it was only when Kashmir came under savage attack The visit was the outcome of a meeting at Birla from Pakistani irregulars fully backed by its army and the devastation and House Delhi convened by Nehru , Patel, was the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir mayhem created by the savages that forced Hari Singh's hand to take the Mountbatten and Gandhi himself where it was appointed by Hari Singh on the request of Sardar plunge . After a period of one week only, the Maharaja actually signed the decided that Gandhi Ji would visit Srinagar and Patel in May 1947. He was also the Indian National Instrument of Accession with the Indian Union. Why such a fact about the meet the Maharaja for the "job". He stayed at Congress-appointed member of the Radcliffe accession saga of Jammu and Kashmir has not been highlighted in public Barzulla in a private house and not in the Royal Commission, which was set up to demarcate the domain is baffling, if not intriguing. Palace which offer he spurned. He played a pivotal role in shaping the events boundary between India and Pakistan. Army operations to regain Kashmir

Jadunath Singh Brig Usman

Major S N Sharma Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Singh awarded the MVC. The Parachute Brigade were aptly sup- Som Nath Sharma, deployed in Budgam, came under ported by 7 CAV, whose CO, Lt Col Rajinder Singh, was Harsha Kakar strait that the Maharaja of Kashmir requested for Indian also awarded the MVC. help and signed the Instrument of Accession with India on attack from the tribal militia lead by Pak army officers on The Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, had signed a 03 Nov. Though heavily outnumbered the troops fought The battle for Poonch commenced in Nov 1947, when 26th Oct 1947. Pak troops comprising of three brigades laid siege to the stand-alone agreement with Pakistan on 12 Aug 1947, On 27th Oct, Indian troops were airlifted to Srinagar to back. The company was finally overrun and Major Som under which Pakistan had agreed not to unilaterally dis- Nath Sharma, who delayed the tribal advance, permitting city and subjected it to heavy mortar and machine gun fire. begin the counterstrike. The fist contingent to land at It had within it the 1st and 8th Battalion of state forces turb the status quo and continue to treat J and K as an Badgam airfield was a company of 1st Sikh under the com- redeployment of the force, saving Srinagar from the independent state. Conveniently it broke the agreement raiders,was awarded India's first Param Vir Chakra (PVC). reinforced by 1 KUMAON and subsequently also by 3/9 mand of their CO, Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai. While the bat- Gorkha Rifles. It was commanded by Lt Col (promoted to and launched Operation Gulmarg on 22 Oct to capture the talion was being built up, the raiders were busy looting The raiders began closing in on Srinagar. They were state employing tribal militias, ex-army personnel and reg- stonewalled and blocked from advancing into the city. Brig during the battle) Pritam Singh, Military Cross from Baramulla. The Indian army celebrates Iinfantry Day on the second world war, and CO of 1 KUMAON. By Sept ular soldiers. 27th Oct in memory of the valiant landing and launch of Then, on 07 Nov, they were counter attacked from multiple They indulged in an orgy of looting and violence. The directions by 1 KUMAON and a squadron of armour of 7 1948, with the additional employment of 19 Infantry operations by 1st Sikh, the first operation by the Indian Brigade, the siege was cleared and with it 5000 sq kms of raiders hardly distinguished between religions and ran- army, post-independence. The battalion lost its CO, Lt Col CAV on the outskirts of Srinagar. They panicked and ran sacked property, murdering, raping and plundering. They and were then targeted by the air force. At Shalateng, Pak territory in the region regained. Dewan Ranjit Rai, on the outskirts of Baramulla. He too With equal tenacity Indian forces launched operations loaded their loot in trucks and sent it back. Women were forces faced their worst defeat. Hundreds were killed or was awarded the MVC. in the Leh sector,Zojila and Drass were captured by mid- wounded; the balance ran towards Baramulla. On 08 Nov, kidnapped and taken back to be sold. Hindu's and Sikhs By then 161 Infantry Brigade built up in Srinagar and Nov 1948 and Kargil a week later. Finally, the link between when 4 KUMAON entered Baramulla, they found only a were slaughtered and thrown into the river. Muslim began deployment. A company of 4 KUMAON,under Major Srinagar and Leh was secured. It was with this status that women pleaded for their lives but to no avail. The initial few stragglers of Pak raiders. Nehru visited Baramulla on the UN brokered ceasefire was enforced. onslaught was borne by the state forces but shortly they 11 Nov to be warmly received by the local populace. By 13 The signing of the accession document was the com- began losing ground. Nov, there were no raiders in the valley. Battles continued mencement of a bloody war, where Pak's first misadven- Almost nothing stood between Pakistan and its objec- to clear them off the Uri heights. Operations now shifted to ture into Kashmir was thwarted. It broke its own accord tive of Srinagar except a few companies of the J&K State the Jammu sector. By end November, the raiders had with the Maharaja of Kashmir and attempted to capture it Army under Brigadier Rajinder Singh, Chief of Staff of the secured Mirpur and penetrated into Naushera, Rajouri, by force. It failed. Had Pak played by the rules, demanded state forces. The state army was outnumbered, but by bold Mendhar and Poonch. from the British a desire to implement of the wishes of the and determined delaying actions between Uri and They had to be driven out because if they held on to population, things may have been different. It has never Baramulla, they managed to slow the advance of the these regions, theycould threaten the Jammu sector and learnt and repeated the same blunder on multiple occa- Pakistan invaders along the Jhelum Valley road. They also sever routes connecting Srinagar and Jammu.50 Parachute sions. It broke its accord with the Khan of Kalat in Mar succeeded in destroying a vital bridge at Uri, upsetting the Brigade was given this task. The battle of Naushera was 1948 and invaded Baluchistan, a battle it continues to fight timetable of Pakistan's tribal force. Consequently, the amongst the fiercest. Naik Jadunath Singh of 1 Rajput was with massive casualties. It attempted the same misadven- raiders could only reach the vicinity of Baramulla by 25th tures in Kashmir in 1965 and 1999in Kargil and failed each awarded the PVC and his company commander Lt KS time. It continues playing the game by employing terrorists October, instead of the outskirts of Srinagar. Rathore the MVC in this battle. and would never succeed, losing each time. The faster it Brigadier Rajinder Singh was ambushed on the night of Jhangar was captured after changing hands multiple learns, the faster the nation would move towards develop- 26/27 Oct. He is known as 'Saviour of Kashmir' and was times in Feb 1948. Brig M Usman, the commander of 50 ment and peace. If it continues down this stage, there will awarded Independent India's first gallantry award, the Parachute Brigade, also the hero of Naushera and Jhangar, only be defeat written before its name. 'Mahavir Chakra' (MVC) for his bravery.It was in this dire Pakistan’s tribal force was killed in Jhangar by Pak artillery shelling. He was The author is Major General (Retd)