Col J P Singh
Taste of the Pudding is said to be in eating without going into its ingredients and making. Same holds good for erstwhile princely state of J&K over which mind boggled over till the recent past. “Prime Minister Modi has redeemed the historic injustice done to Maharaja Hari Singh, the last princely ruler of Jammu & Kashmir”, was stated by Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS in PMO, while addressing Jammu Kashmir Peoples’ Forum and Mirpur Balidan Bhawan Samiti in New Delhi to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maharaja and govt’s declaration of a Gazetted Holiday on the occasion. “Maharaja was held in high reverence by people across all the regions of his empire. He personified the pride, esteem and identity of Jammu and Kashmir. It was evident from the fact that the announcement of Holiday was welcomed across the Union Territory with overwhelming celebration in Jammu region”, he stated.
Acclaiming his nationalist and secular credentials, the Union Minister reiterated his statement after being sworn in as ruler, “Justice is My Religion”. Unfortunately, despite his dispensing justice, injustice was meted out to him and he was unceremoniously exiled for the rest of his life after which Jammu too was subjected to similar injustice and branded communal. With the advantage of hindsight, one may find that the discrimination with Jammu had its roots to the fact that it was Duggarland which hero-worshipped the Maharaja. This was unacceptable to the new dispensation that was foisted in the name of ‘devolution of power to the people’ and was in a hurry to erase the memory of the Maharaja. In the process, the people who loved Maharaja were systematically denied their due and victimized. The Praja Parishad movement, supported by Bhartiya Jana Sangh has to be viewed in this background. But Dogras knew that many constitutional changes were inevitable and were prepared to settle down to the new realities if they were treated honorably and equitably. But alas, drunk on power, the new dispensation opened a wound on 26th April 1961, that continued to fester, when Maharaja passed away in Bombay and the govt of the day refused to share the grief and mourning of the Dogras by lowering the flag and declaring a period of mourning. History has recorded how the students and people reacted to this deliberate apathy. In fact, the govt response was a deliberate snub to the people and insult to the memory of their beloved Maharaja. This had been rankling ever since. In fact, the new dispensation and its historians and columnists were busy in forgetting that no less a person than Sardar Patel had acknowledged the sacrifices made by the Maharaja when he asked him to appoint the young Yuvraj as the Regent and stay out of the State as one more act of patriotism on his part. This fact was sought to be deleted from the pages of history. But the Dogras, particularly its youth, though neglected and abandoned by the countrymen, soldiered on by keeping the memory of Maharaja alive. It was because of these collective efforts that as time passed, this memory, instead of fading, grew stronger and deep-rooted even as the memory of those who had denigrated him when alive, faded. It was in this atmosphere that the idea of celebrating his birthday and demanding a public holiday on that occasion crystallized and gained momentum as the time passed by. Premier Modi aware of the background, understood the public anguish and took a historic decision to redeem this injustice for which people of J&K in general and Dogras in particular have expressed their deep gratitude to Prime minister through Amit Shah, Home Minister during his recent visit to J&K. By this just act of Modi, much of the malicious propaganda against the Maharaja stands rejected and discredited.
Far from personal, political, religious and security pressures, it was his final decision to sign the Instrument of Accession for India that made the State an integral part of India. His denigrators should remember that if Article 370 was operative for such a long time it was because the Constituent Assembly of India had recognized and acknowledged the sanctity of the Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja. He had done that because he knew the destiny of the people of his State was in India. However historic facts reveal that the intentions of Sheikh Abdullah were not nationalistic but more focused on grabbing power and exercising them arbitrarily. Here, I wish to quote Justice Mehar Chand Mahajan who had taken over as prime minister of J&K on 12th October 1947 and was witness to a meeting between Maharaja and Sheikh Abdullah. “I carried a message from Pt Nehru to His Highness asking him to allow Sheikh Abdullah who had recently been released from custody to visit Delhi. I conveyed this message to Maharaja who gave the requisite permission but suspected that his visit would result in trouble for him and me…….Before leaving Srinagar, he and Begum sought an interview with His Highness…….During the talk, Sheikh made no secret of his view that it was wholly unnecessary to engage a Prime Minister from outside Kashmir or to retain a Dy Prime Minister, also a retired member of Punjab Provincial Services……The burden of his talk was that His Highness should trust him and hand over the administration of the State to Him…….This was my first good look at Sheikh and my impression was that he was out to gain power at any cost. To acquire it he would try to influence his friend the Prime Minster of India, but wouldn’t hesitate to use any other means such as creating some kind an uprising in the State”.
Thus, while Sheikh Abdullah seemed to Mahajan as a person solely obsessed with political power there were other equally destabilizing factors at work. Mahajan continued; “another influential force in the State, the Muslim Conference and some influential divines in the State were keen that the Maharaja should accede to Pakistan. They had conveyed their wishes to him in various ways. I had a talk with them. Without hesitation they told me that I should advise Maharaja to accede to Pakistan and if that was done, they would always remain loyal to him and would see that he remained independent inside Pakistan. Mehtar of Chitral and Mir of Hunza and other small Chieftains continued to send telegrams to His Highness suggesting accession to Pakistan and swearing loyalty to the Maharaja if that was done”.
“Jinnah had sent his personal Secretary twice with a personal letter to Maharaja that as advised by his physician he should be allowed to visit the valley. Maharaja suspected that the object of his visit was to coerce him to secure Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan, to take possession of the State and to celebrate the Id there as Governor General of Pakistan including Kashmir. The Maharaja politely declined the request. If Maharaja had not turned down the request, Jinnah would have created a situation in Kashmir leading to its accession to Pakistan and its annexation”. “R C Kak, the Prime Minster of Kashmir at that time, had, it was believed never made any secret of his pro Pakistan leanings. He had been hobnobbing with Pak politicians promising them Kashmir on a platter.” (Looking Back by Justice M C Mahajan, page 129 – 131). It was this State that Maharaja Hari Singh had navigated into Indian constitution for which he deserved to be eulogized. During his last meeting with Sardar Patel in Delhi, Maharaja asked Sardar why he was being denied the right to stay in his State. The answer was that sometime big sacrifices have to be made in the interest of the nation. Maharaja simply made the big sacrifice as asked. Even if his progressive reforms are ignored, this action alone called for the celebration of a man who ensured a safe and honourable existence for us in our homeland. But Pt Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah didn’t allow it to happen. Perhaps it was destined to be done by Modi.
Not surprisingly, the demand for the Holiday started after Maharaja’s demise and the insulting manner it was treated. The response to the indignities heaped upon the Maharaja’s memory and the Dogras had begun to crystallize when Prof. Bhim Singh, as student of Science College, himself climbed atop the Secretariat building and tore the state flag during the demand for mourning on 26th April 1961. Ever since, the day of his birth and death have remained etched in the collective consciousness of the people in Jammu. In recent times the challenge to pursue the demand was kept alive by the YRS led agitation that happened to be the culmination of this struggle. Hence declaration of Holiday was recognition of his sacrifice for the nation.
Real tribute to Maharaja, is to carry forward his futuristic vision and the govt under Modi alone has the capacity and courage to do so has been said by Dr Jitendra Singh. Hope the UT govt does it sincerely.
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