Col J P Singh
History is replete with wars of succession which has been happening world-over because of various issues related to the succession to the throne. Conversely the history of J&K is replete with wars of accessions started by legendary Gen Zorawar Singh in 1834 which went on till 1870 resulting into annexation of nearly 84 lakh sq miles into the princely state of Jammu. The areas annexed included vast Plateau of Ladakh, mountainous valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan and vast stretch of Aksai Chin across the Karakoram. These wars were waged by the Dogra Rulers of J&K to extend Indian frontiers Northwards upto Central Asia. These victories created a unique history which somewhere hid in its pages the biggest secrets of J&K because of British waged Conspiracies. J&K thus is victim of sub-continental political and geographic transformation consequent to the ‘great game’. Luckily the secrets are getting exposed during the Amrit Mohatsav in which media is playing an important role.
J&K was the largest and one of the three 21 gun salute state in British India. The East West Silk Route passed through it. Strategically it bordered China, Tibet, Afghanistan and NWFPs and nearly touched USSR. Its location was of great interest to Western powers. Today it is to Chinese Xi Jinping for his CPEC. British were apprehensive of expansionist Russia entering into Indian Subcontinent through Kashmir. Now China is interested reaching Middle East through it. But the British couldn’t enter J&K as per the Treaty of Amritsar but China has despite various friendly protocols.
Coming back to accession, all routes and other communication channels from Delhi to J&K were through newly formed Pakistan. External factors therefore played a major part in states accession. Major factor was state’s dependence on Pakistan for all the supplies. Hence it was difficult for Maharaja to acceded to India before or on 15 August without land access to Delhi. Hence he offered a ‘Stand Still Agreement’ to both. Pakistan readily accepted it but India delayed acceptance till the release of Sheikh Abdullah from Jail. While the negotiations for accession to India were going on, Pakistan attacked J&K. A force of 10,000 Razakars, divided into two; one comprising of 6,000 attacked Kashmir on 22 October 1947. War of accession started on that fateful day. Another thing to note is that it was a war in which both the opposing armies were led by nationals of a third country. British Generals commanded both armies. In India Defence Committee was headed by Mountbatten. The complex course and outcome of war ie ‘accession’ can’t be explained by a layman like me in simple terms of political nuances. To me its military nuances look clearer. Hence I refer to Justice Mehar Chand Mahajan who had been member of Radcliffe Commission which divided India and was the Prime Minister of J&K during accession. Whether it was politics/war ridden, I leave it to the readers to imagine.
Right from the very beginning of an idea of two nation theory, Princely State of Jammu & Kashmir became an object of international conspiracy. British plan was to make it part of Pakistan for which ample evidence is on record. But the destiny had it differently. Synthesis of this conspiracy goes back to 1931 London Round Table Conference in which Maharaja Hari Singh, while speaking for Indian independence, stated that he was an Indian first and Maharaja later. Thereafter he was seen as an irritant in their rule over India. This statement made him pay a price heavily. Sheikh Abdullah, a firebrand Kashmiri of Aligarh Muslim University was encouraged to challenge Maharaja’s authority in J&K. He raised ‘All India Muslim Conference’ later ‘National Conference’ and started ‘Quit Kashmir’, a violent agitation against Dogra Ruler which was fully supported by British and Congress. Despite indignities, Maharajas acceded to India on 26 October 1947. He staked everything to prevent British conspiracy to succeed. It took India 75 years to formally acknowledge his bold decision of accession to India by granting a holiday on his birth anniversary.
But what is important to note is that the accession of J&K took place during an epoch making periods of sub-continental history. After WW II, Britain wasn’t left with the power to hold on to its greatest imperial asset. It was the time when they granted independence to India and left. Most ugly in their doing so was dividing India and forcing J&K’s accession to Pakistan.
A crucial determinant in accession was the role of Mountbatten. To defend his State from Pak invasion, Maharaja wrote to Lord Mountain for military help which he declined for want of accession. The reasons for it were obvious. In the early years of twentieth century India was fighting for freedom against the British rule. What was happening in J&K was unique. The fight for freedom was different. It wasn’t against the British. It was against the Dogra Rule. While whole India was fighting against British, Congress leaders and Kashmiris were fighting together against the Dogra Maharaja. On the one side Sheikh Abdullah had launched a violent agitation against the Dogra rule and on the other end Mountbatten & Pt. Nehru were angrily arrayed towards him. Duel between two opposing power centers marred the prospects of political accession of J&K forcing a war of Accession on the Maharaja.
Process of accession as narrated by Justice Mahajan in his autobiography ‘Looking Back’ ie, “on 24th October, Mr R L Batra, the Dy Prime Minister left Srinagar for Delhi carrying the letter of accession from the Maharaja and a personal letter for Pt Nehru and another for Sardar Patel asking military help. I also sent official letters to Pt Nehru and Sardar through Dy PM requesting them to save the state from Pakistan’s unprovoked aggression. Sheikh Abdullah also left Srinagar for Delhi by plane. Maharaja told me to fly to Delhi to negotiate accession and secure military help. As the administration was grappling with the situation and before I could leave for Delhi, Mr. V P Menon, Home Secretary, arrived in Srinagar by plane and told me that I must fly to Delhi with him to decide upon military help. On 26th early morning I and Menon flew to Delhi and drove to Pt Nehru’s residence straight away. Sardar Patel was also present there. I requested immediate military aid. Pt Nehru told me that troops could not be sent just on his request and observed that it was not easy on the spur of the moment to send troops as such an operation required considerable preparation. After lot of arguments, I said, give us the military force we need. Take the accession and give whatever powers you want to give to the popular party. The army must fly to save Srinagar this evening or else I will go to Lahore and negotiate terms with Jinnah. Pt Nehru said in an angry tone, ‘Mahajan go away’.
I got up to leave when Sardar Patel held me by saying in my ear, of course you are not going to Pakistan. Just then a piece of paper was passed over to Nehru. He read it and said in a loud voice, ‘Sheikh Sahib also says the same thing’. (Sheikh had been listening to the entire heated conversation sitting in the adjacent bed room). Pt Nehru thus called a meeting of Defence Committee at 10 AM in which a decision was taken to send two Battalions to Srinagar. Cabinet meeting in the evening affirmed the decision. Next morning army flew to Srinagar”. This is the long story told shortly.
But what is untold is that State Forces had held on till the accession and defended Srinagar for Indian Army to land despite all odds. Srinagar was saved from falling to Pakistan lap by 100 plus Dogra (Spartans) of the State Force personally led by their Chief. But the State Force couldn’t save the State alone from Pak invasion. Indian Army and the State Forces fought together and pushed the invaders back when abruptly stopped at mid-night of 1st January 1949 by UN sponsored ceasefire. That left nearly half of J&K under Pak control. Pakistan attacked again and again to grab Kashmir militarily. Her mischief continues. After abrogation of Article 370, If POJK is to come back, it won’t be without a war. The war of accession and yet to be a final integration of J&K looks to be a military affair through and through. Still historians overlook the hidden secrets and blame the Maharaja for the war of accession. The hidden secrets should put at rest any other perception about accession and spare Maharaja Hari Singh of any vilification with regards to his quest for prolonging his rule by insiders/outsiders and ensure smooth merger of entire pre independence J&K into Indian Union.
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