Col J P Singh
“Justice is My Religion”, is a monumental declaration of Maharaja Hari Singh which speaks a lot about him and of his times. He took a pledge and lived by it. He dispensed justice during his rule unequivocally. But the man who dispensed justice fairly and equitably is a person who needs justice for his own memory and the burden of the challenge of getting justice for him is on the youthful shoulders of YRS. Those who are unaware of YRS may discover Youth Rajput Sabha (YRS) and those leading it at Tawi Bridge. YRS is not agitating for much. It is for recognition of a great nationalist ruler by a simple declaration of a Holiday on the birth anniversary of Maharaja. Basically it is for justice which was deliberately denied to a benevolent ruler. It is to expose those who perverted the course of justice during the political transformation in J&K. There is absolutely no hidden agenda in the agitation. Demand for the Holiday has been lingering on for years. But this time it is different. Never before has anyone sat on dharna leave aside a hunger strike. It is for first time that YRS activist have taken a lead on behalf of the public. Those who have been demanding the Holiday since years as mark of recognition of Maharaja Hari Singh’s firm nationalism and personal sacrifices for the people of Jammu & Kashmir are also part of the agitation. Therefore, the agitation may be led by YRS but it embraces all communities and religions.
As usual administration has used its axe, imposed 144 on the Tawi Bridge, dismantled their shelters and manhandled the activists. But the activists haven’t given any indication of going berserk despite that. In fact YRS led agitation is an opportunity for the BJP to show that it respects Jammu’s sentiments by which it can further strengthen its political base in Jammu. But who cares so long as Modi is their safety valve. But perhaps, some memories need to be refreshed and those not aware told of the significance of being Maharaja Hari Singh.
Soon after his coronation Maharaja went on an extensive tour of his empire to see/understand the problems of his subjects. He was sensitive to the changing times and hence was a very progressive ruler of his time. In fact, on the very day of his coronation he announced these reforms; Zamindars (farmers) were to be allowed to cultivate Govt land, female infanticide and early marriages were to be banned and many schools, madarsas, hospitals and dispensaries were to be opened. He made education free and gave liberal scholarships to those who wanted to continue their education in Indian Universities. According to the Census Report of 1921, literacy in the entire state was only 26 per thousand i.e.2.6%. By 1931 this figure had gone to 41 %. The number of students in government institutions was 44,601 in 1925 and in 1941 it rose to 1,34,000. It shows that his main focus was on education.
The state was in a stable and progressive mode during Dogra reign but it was in 1931, that there started an agitation against the Dogra rule which upset the apple cart. In 1931 rumours were afloat that Maharaja’s officials are deliberately mistreating Muslims and denigrating Islam. Mr. Wakefield, foreign & political affairs minister of the Maharaja, investigated the matter and found it a malicious propaganda.
There is a historical background to 1931 agitation. In the 1st Round Table Conference of 1931, Maharaja Hari Singh made a bold speech. He said, “I am Indian first and the ruler last”. He sought independence for India. Congress Party had boycotted the Conference. Hence the Maharaja spoke on behalf of all Indians. He boasted about communal harmony in India with special reference to his Princely State quoting it as a living example of how Hindus and Muslim could live like brethren. However, this statement was an invitation to trouble and before he returned to the State, the Political Department had set the stage for communal trouble of the worst type in the state. Thereafter the last years of his rule saw number of dramatic developments. Two important national political parties, the Muslim League and the Congress had begun to make forays in to the politics of Kashmir. In May 1946, Sheikh Abdullah was arrested for leading anti-maharaja campaign. Pt. Nehru demanded his immediate release and himself proceeded to Kashmir to make arrangements for his defense. Maharaja, under the advice of his prime minister, R C Kak, prohibited Nehru’s entry into the state. Pt. Nehru defied the prohibition order and was stopped at Kohala Bridge. He returned after two days stay in Domel guest house. But this was blown out of proportion as arrest of future PM. This event, besides causing a great public stir, permanently impaired the relations between Maharaja and Pt. Nehru. As subsequent events unfolded, Nehru was never able to get over his hostility towards the Maharaja. Sheikh exploited it to the hilt and both conspired to deny justice to the Maharaja. Pt. Nehru was keen on securing Sheikh’s release and throw his weight behind Sheikh for securing the support of Kashmiri Muslim for India thereby demonstrating to the world that not all Muslims of subcontinent believed in Jinnah’s two nation theory and the Maharaja suffered in this political grind.
In May 1946, the Cabinet Mission declared that when the British leave, British Paramountcy would lapse and the rights of princely states would return to them. According to Indian Independence act 1947, India was divided into India and Pakistan and the rulers were given the choice to accede to either of the dominions. Thereafter Maharaja Hari Singh was the sole and absolute authority to decide the fate of Jammu and Kashmir. On 26th of October, 1947, he signed the Instrument of Accession making J&K an integral part of India. Before accession a myth was created regarding Maharaja remaining Independent but it is not true. He wanted to accede to India earliest but it is because of Pt. Nehru that the accession got delayed. During and after the independence Maharaja was in constant contact with Pt. Nehru & Sardar Patel, through his Dy. prime minister RN Batra and his prime minister, Justice Mehar Chand Mahajan. On the other hand, Lord Mountbatten and Pt. Nehru wanted the Maharaja to hand over the power to Sheikh. Prof. Raghvendra Singh Tanwar, Chairman ICHR (Indian Council for Historical Research) told the audience in a seminar in Brig Rajinder Singh Auditorium of JU that he found letters written by Pt Nehru to Justice Mahajan in British Archives instructing him to use their good offices to prevail upon Maharaja to delay accession as much as possible to the extent that he is frustrated and compelled to hand over power to Sheikh who then will have the authority to take a decision on accession. He has reproduced them in his book ‘Jammu & Kashmir 1947-1953’. But Maharaja didn’t succumb to any intimidation (injustice) and himself signed “Instrument of Accession” on 26 October 1947 thereby integrating the state of J&K into the Indian Union as laid down in the Indian Independence Act. Had Sheikh signed the accession it would have been illegal and subjected to the scrutiny of International Court of Justice and perhaps geography of sub-continent would have changed again.
Maharaja kept all his differences with Pt. Nehru aside and released Sheikh from jail when legally convicted by the court and undergoing sentence; even appointed him as emergency administrator immediately after accession and later as prime minster. Can anyone or even Farooq Sahib say that Maharaja didn’t do justice to Sheikh. Ms Khalida Shah, sister of Dr Farooq has formally stated that political differences apart, Maharaja was very cordial and respectful to her parents and never discriminated Kashmiris. That is what Maharaja was.
Currently administration is under tremendous pressure. It is facing flak for its non-performance, corruption and bureaucratic high headedness. There are far too many agitations going on. Jammu region has become a powder keg which could ignite with the BJP’s brinkmanship of adding 25 lakh migrant voters. Whence it ignites, the fires are lighted and then the wildfires tend to go out of control. Public sees things going wrong and wants remedial measures. Administration knows it even more than the public in the current political setting in Jammu region. Hence I am sanguine that the administration will not drag its feet far too long mainly because of political woes looming large over the BJP in the run up to this year ending UT elections primarily after Azad Sahib’s re-entry in J&K politics.
Never before Jammu has been so close to, so confident in, and so capable of achieving its goal of getting a holiday on Maharaja’s birth anniversary because this demand never ever before had taken the form of a hunger strike by the dedicated and determined youth and supportive media. Any delay will add to the political woes that BJP faces in J&K.
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