Shiban Khaibri
Admittedly, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have every reason and occasion to celebrate Oct 26 with the requisite festivity as exactly 67 years back in 1947, the ruler of the state Maharaja Hari Singh signed this day, the instrument of accession to bind the fate of the state with the Indian union. There has been an overall demand, though admittedly belatedly, for declaring Oct 26 as a full fledged holiday, i.e.; under Negotiable Instruments Act. Through these lines too, many a time, the case for the same has been convincingly pleaded. It is, however, a matter of interest laced with a riddle that July13 should be a declared holiday in all the three regions of the state but the day when we formally became an inalienable part of the Union of India, there should neither be any state celebrations nor series of impressive political activities with patriotic fervors. Politically expedient interpretations may be associated with July 13 to term the day as “martyrs’ day” while many, even a few surviving well past 1990 to tell the real story they themselves were witness to, bring out a totally different picture. On the other hand, in run up to the process of accession, the people of the state had to fight treachery and deceit unleashed by the newly born theocratic state Pakistan and had to undergo enormous difficulties in the shape of loss of life and property, the minorities being the worst sufferers.
When we talk about of accession of 1947, it is a natural corollary that the horrendous tribal invasion incited, indoctrinated, aided, armed and supported logistically by Pakistan and its regular army personnel be extensively discussed. It is worth noting that these hordes of tribesmen were, however, not promised of any financial support for conducting the invasion but were “assured of rewards” in the form of lavish loot of money and material collected from the victims. They did it to their fill to an extent that they even carried with them brass utensils, handles of Samawars or tea kettles as they used to be of brass. The plans to attack the state to grab Kashmir with such a lightning speed so as to “celebrate Eid” in Srinagar which was falling barely a few days away was the motivating factor made known to the commanders of the joint forces of the tribal lashkar and the Pakistani soldiers. It was also planned to “give a surprise” gift of “grabbed Kashmir” on the festival to M. A. Jinah, who contrary to the general belief, was in full knowledge of the diabolic plan and had his tacit support to the whole conspiracy to wrest Kashmir. Jihad and diplomacy were thus the first elements of Pakistan’s foreign and defense policy as has been experienced by us all these 67 Years.
It is fairly reported that multiple cells worked on the strategy. It was Colonel Akbar Khan code named as “General Tariq” who had written a secret plan for “Armed Revolt Inside Kashmir” with full support and understanding of the Pakistani political leadership. The plan included to “arm the Kashmiri civilians fully against a formidable brave 9000 strong army of the Maharaja” who were widely scattered over the vast area that was Jammu and Kashmir. This speaks of how and why even very recently the former Dictator President of Pakistan General Musharaf should justify sending Pakistani people in hundreds of thousands to “fight in Kashmir against India” and that “Kashmiris needed to be incited from time to time”. The attacking hordes with no mercy but infatuated with greed for money, lust for women and thirst for human blood did not get any local support as there are numerous examples to cite , one of which shall definitely go in the annals of patriotic pages of the history being that of Maqbool Sheerwani, a lad of just 19 years who managed to stall, right in Baramulla the advancing defiling steps of the fighting brutes who had made the first attack on Kashmir on Oct 22, 1947.It is worth noting that Sheerwani refused to say ” Glory to Pakistan”‘ when captured by the invaders who nailed him alive on a wooden cross and 15 bullets were pumped into him.
The most savages among the invaders drove down the Domel – Baramulla road leading to the capital city Srinagar. Domel was first to fall. It is here when history of lion hearted bravery and utmost dedication to duty and to save the motherland was enacted by Brigadier Rajinder Singh who had just a few days back, assumed the position as Chief of the state forces. He fought the menacingly advancing hordes of tribesmen in thousands just with an odd 150 soldiers with weapons which could not match with those of the enemy and gave the attackers a tough fight, keeping them contained and immobilized from advancing any further and therefore managed to blow a vital bridge in Uri, fought them till he attained martyrdom at Buniyar on Oct 27, 1947. He personified in him, the true picture of Dogra valour and bravery which shall always be fondly remembered not only by the people of this state but by all the countrymen. He saved Kashmir and earned the immortal title of the “savior of Kashmir”. He fought to his last breath and the last man and was awarded the first gallantry award of “Mahavir Chakra” posthumously for his heroic feat. His ancestral village Bagoona, now named as Rajindra Nagar near Samba Jammu, has attained as a pilgrimage centre of bravery, Dogra valour, heroic deeds, patriotism, grit and determination and on Oct27 every year one can proudly see, “Sheedon ki chitaon par mailey” there, as people in large numbers pay respectful homage to this brave son of the soil.
Another brave heart that would always carry pocket size Holy Gita in his breast pocket, drawing immense inspiration from it, is Major Som Nath Sharma called as the “Hero of Shalteng (Badgam) battle”. The ravaging hordes of tribesmen along with the regular Pakistani soldiers were advancing towards the city of Srinagar all the way looting, burning, killing and raping, to capture the only link between Srinagar and rest of the country – -the airport. The airport was barely a few miles away, at half an hour’s drive and the invaders had nearly almost made it to the point but Major Sharma with a plastered arm and a broken hand gave a resoundingly tough fight to the enemy that was encircling him in brute numbers but this extra ordinary determined and courageous soldier fought up to “the last round and the last man, heavily outnumbered, not moving an inch, the enemy only 50 yards away from us”. To guide the Indian aircraft land at the airport, he laid out white cloth strips and Indian army landed there and Kashmir was saved. Major Sharma was awarded the first Param Vir Chakra posthumously.
The fact of the matter is that barely a few weeks after its birth, a few days after the partition; Pakistan has been engrossed in its chicanery maneuverings to get Kashmir. Has partition satiated the aspirants of a “wonder land” on exclusive basis of hate and religious frenzy? Has Pakistan not left, no stone unturned in employing against India from its inventory of deceit , falsehood, lies, acts of aggression, setting up of propaganda Radio transmitters (Recall the lies and the inciting propaganda of Radio “Aazad Kashmir”) including the most illusive horrendous proxy war – to get Kashmir? In the backdrop of it, how much is the day of Oct 26, the accession day sacrosanct for all of us? Let us preserve it and defend it at all costs.
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