Pakistan continued its wayward ways and persistently pressurised but Maharaja, did not budge.
Eventually, frustrated Pakistan strategised hijacking Maharaja HariSinh to forcefully sign the annexation documents!!!
The then Prime Minister of Kashmir, Meharchand Mahajan has narrated details of this monstrous plan, in his memoirs, “Kashmir ka kaduva sach” : “The strategy was to abduct, me and Maharaja Saheb, on gun point and forcefully do the merger.
The Pakistani officers were immediately informed of our movements. For the same reason, our travel plans to border area instantly reached in Pakistani hands. The police superintendent of Jammu was Pakistani spy. He had charted out a plan of imprisoning us when we would be having lunch at Bhimbar Rest House. Bhimber is situated on Pakistan border towards Gujarat and on the famous Kashmir Marg of Mughals. This path goes parallel to the the border and it’s one end touches Pakistan. We had intended to go towards Kathua on the 20th and to Bhimbar and Mirpur on the 21st. Pakistanis had strategised to attack us, by armed vehicles on the 21st at Bhimber. Their intention was to arrest us, demolish the bunglow, seize the town and destroy the Hindu population and plunder their wealth.
One unprecedented cycle of events rescued us. When We reached Kathua on the morning of 20th and lended at a crossroads. One road was leading towards Kathua and the other two Akhnoor and Bhimber. Maharaja instructed the Jeep driver to drive to Bhimber instead of Kathua.I opposed his instruction, stating that all the officers in Kathua and on the spots on the way, would be waiting for the Maharaja, where as We had not planned for any programme for Bhimber and no arrangements were made.
Maharaja shunned off my resistance and conveyed that he was not tied up with any programme and hardly follow the fix programme. We went to Akhnoor and Bhimber from there but could not reach Mirpur as it got extremely late. The Pakistani attackers were active across the border and the atmosphere around, appeared frightening chilly, like of graveyard. Hindu population was migrating to safer venues.We consoled and reassured them and provided some safeguarding measures.We ate our lunch at Bhimber Rest House, gave orders for safety measures for the town and returned to Jammu by 10 pm. On our way back to Jammu, saw houses burning on both the sides of the road. The miniscule army was putting in its best efforts in reorganizing the arrangement and providing aid to people. Chief of army staff was present right there and trying his best to put an end to the killings and conflagration.
It was planned to trigger an armed attack from Gujarat on the 21st and the Bhimber Rest House was burnt to ashes. We too, would have been burnt alive, if We would have followed the original programme. But, We were saved by the inner inspiration of Maharaja, from the death ropes of Pakistani hands.” Mahatma Gandhi came to Srinagar in July- August 1947 and called upon the Maharaja on the August 1st. It is assumed that he advised Maharaja, not to remain under conflict with his people and make up his mind one way or the other but he failed to achieve his goal.
But, Gandhiji’s visit had replication in the public eyes. Pakistan, foresee and anticipated larger development. Gandhiji’s meeting with Maharaja on 1st August, Removal of Ramchandra Kak from the office of Prime Minister on 10th August, Release of Shaikh Abdullah from prison on 29th September with tendering ‘unqualified apology’ on September 26th in a letter along with construction of strong road between Pathankot and Jammu and the scheme to build a boat bridge over the Ravi indicated that the ground was being prepared for accession of the state with Bharat.
It is exceptionally significant to note that the history of Annexation of Princely States that has been taught to us, till date has portrayed highly negative portrait of Maharaja HariSinh. We have been made to believe that ego eccentric Maharaja flirted with the idea of Independence. Hardly, a school textbooks of history, has been able to throw light on the detailed persona of Maharaja, the then socio-political conditions of the state as well as his bitter-sweet relations with Congress.
It is evident that Maharaja HariSinh, always wanted to merge with Bharat. He was toying with the idea of independence (independent Kashmir) due to certain political differences with Pandit Nehru. Maharaja’s Courtiers, Council of Ministers and Associates as well as the tallest leadership of Bharat, Sardar Patel and Mahatma Gandhi had endeavoured ceaselessly to convince Maharaja to merge with Bharat, but something was not allowing him from within to assert for this accession.
The time was running out, as the Pakistani army was at the doorstep attempting foulest of handiwork. As a result, the innocent people of the state were suffering from the lawlessness and anarchy. Amongst such chaos, Sardar Patel sent a personal note to Sarsanghchalak of RSS, Guruji Golvalkar via Meharchand Mahajan to intervene and impact upon Maharaja, to accede the annexation. Guruji, accepted this request as the responsibility towards nation and immediately flew down from Nagpur to Srinagar via Delhi on 17th October 1947 and with efforts of Pandit Premnath Dogra and Meharchand Mahajan, a meeting between the two was arranged on the next day morning.
This historical meeting has been narrated in “Shree Guruji Samagra Darshan” by the then Prant Pracharak of RSS in Jammu & Kashmir, Shri. Madha Rao ji Mulay, (who later, went on to become the Sarkaaryavah) on page 172.
The meeting of Shri Guruji and Maharaja HariSinh was held on the 18th October, early in the morning. Yuvraj Karan Singh, around 15-16 years old, was also lying down alongside, with fracture in the thigh bone. In the presence of Meharchand Mahajan, Maharaja stated his difficulties that his entire state was dependant on Pakistan. All the roads were from the Sialkot and Rawalpindi. Even the railway route was from Sialkot. The nearest airport was Lahore. How would he bond with Bharat?
Shri. Guruji explained to him that he was a Hindu king and by accessing with Pakistan, the Hindu population of the state would be endangered. He added that agreed, there was hardly any connectivity, as of now, of Rail, Road or Air but all these can be built at the soonest. It would be most appropriate for Maharaja as well as the people of the state, to merge in Bharat.
Meharchand Mahajan too, agreed with Shri. Guruji. Maharaja gifted a Pashmina shawl to Guruji.
This meeting between Maharaja and Shri Guruji influenced him immensely.
But, this impactful event has been lost behind the wrongly perceived narrative of history and has remained untold.
Firstly, RSS Swayamsevaks has always dedicated themselves in serving the nation but have hardly cared to indulge in doing the publicity of the same.
Secondly, contrary to RSS, Congress and their left leaning colleagues, have never left a chance in narrating history. Allmost all the history texts, documenting the freedom struggle, were written by Congress and their like-minded and they very conveniently sidelined the contribution of leaders with other ideologies. The contribution of other freedom fighters like Subhash Chandra Bose, Veer Savarkar, Bhagat Singh, Dr Hedgewar, even Sardar Patel were attenuated.
Thirdly, as soon as Jammu & Kashmir merged with Bharat, Shaikh Abdullah was appointed as the Prime Minister. He left no stone unturned, in creating fabricated narrative with the intention to take the credit for the merger.
It is believed that Shaikh Abdullah ravaged many of historical evidences of Maharaja. Several files, documentation and memoirs recorded by Maharaja HariSinh were destroyed.
On the other side, the British continued their gimmick. Maharaja was well aware of his limited resources and also knew that it was nearly impossible to sustain against Pakistan, who was indirectly being helped by mighty British. He also knew, in heart of his heart, that it was Bharat that he should and he would eventually have to turn to.
Maharaja had been making requests to Government of Bharat, since beginning of October to send arms and ammunition. Government of Bharat had also taken a decision to send arms to Kashmir.
On the 7th October, Sardar Patel had written to the then Defence Minister, Shri. Baldev Singh : “I am hopeful that the arrangement to send arms and ammunition to Kashmir by train, would have been arranged. If necessary, it can be transported via air too.”
But, Sardar’s this instruction was being ignored as immediately post independence, the Military of both the dominions, was under singular joint command and General Lockhart was it’s Commander-in-Chief.
He along with Field Marshal Okanlake did not follow this instruction of the Home Minister, with the excuse of unavailability of sufficient arms in Delhi!!!
Eventually, the Defence Head Quarter demanded for information about the detailed availability of arms and ammunition in various depots, through the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court was of the opinion, that as Kashmir had not officially joined any dominion, hence can not be given any aid!!!
Thus, Maharaja was denied help inspite of orders from Sardar Patel, Bharat’s Home Minister and this mystery was unveiled during the Security Council meeting on 25th October 1947.
Sources of Information :
हमारी भूलोका स्मारक : धर्मांतरित कश्मीर
नरेन्द्र सहगल
कश्मीर : दहकते अंगारे
जगमोहन जी
जम्मू कश्मीर की अनकही कहानियां
कुलदीप चंद अग्निहोत्री
Kashmir : Behind The Vale
M J Akbar
My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir
Jagmohan ji
Madhvi Bhuta is the National Executive of BJP Mahila Morcha and a Columnist on various Forums.