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