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PAKISTAN’S INVASION ON J&K (1947-48) -
UNTOLD STORIES OF VICTIMS:
Dr Ramesh Tamiri
– Deepak Budki
The book titled ’Pakistan’s Invasion on J&K (1947-48)-Untold Stories of Victims’ is a well-researched and authentic book on the trials and tribulations undergone by Hindu and Sikh communities at the time of partition, more so in the areas now under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. The book is divided into five parts, in addition to the introduction: Pakistan Invasion, Muzzaffarabad District, Jammu Region, Baltistan, and Gilgit Region. As is evident, the developments in each sector have been dealt with separately.
The author, Dr Ramesh Tamiri, is an ophthalmologist by profession who developed an interest in literature and later in history, with a focus on his own state. While studying literature, he was enamoured of the famous Urdu short story writer Sa’adat Hasan Manto, who wrote many captivating stories about the Partition and whose works have been translated into Hindi and English. While learning history, Tamiri had to study a large number of books on history and research methodology. He belongs to Kashmir and was forced to migrate from the valley to Jammu in 1990 by the Jehadi wave that swept the valley and resulted in persecution and exodus of his community from the valley. His first book was titled ‘Painting and Theatre in Kashmir; Suraj Tiku’s Journey’, which encompassed the life and works of the great watercolour painter from Kashmir. The book also contains many photos of paintings by Suraj Tiku. The present book is the fruit of 23 years of his research on the subject, comprising the study of innumerable primary and secondary resources, the collection of oral evidence and as many as 450 interviews. Though no eyewitnesses were available yet, information was collected from people who were related to people killed or imprisoned during that period and had heard stories from them. Moreover, the book contains many rare photographs of people who faced persecution at the hands of the Pakistan army and the tribals (Qabailis). Many of these photographs depict the pain and suffering that the people in the area endured.
As per the author, Pakistan’s objective was complete ethnic cleansing of the minorities living in the areas conquered by them, resulting in the killing of 38,000 Hindus and Sikhs besides plunder and rapine. On the contrary, the Indian and J&K Governments had prior knowledge about the attack planned by Pakistan on the Jammu & Kashmir state, but they looked the other way. Pakistan had meticulously prepared several alternative plans and plotted to kill the Maharaja of J&K before October 27. M A Jinnah and Liaqat Ali Khan were very much aware of the situation, and so were General Gracy, Sir Francois Mudie, Governor of Punjab, Sir George Cunningham and General Messervy. The British Officers in charge of different areas collaborated with the Pakistan Army. They planned to induce desertions of Muslim soldiers in the J&K army, secure voluntary recruits amongst the retired personnel of INA and J&K Army and arouse Kashmiri Muslims in different areas through religious indoctrination for internal disruption, violence, killings and looting, besides abduction and rape of innocent women. The conversion of surviving non-Muslims in the areas under their control was also carried out. Even the doctors were not spared, though the Pakistan Army often called for their services. In Shigar, the Pakistan Army had sought the services of a doctor from the Kashmiri Pandit community, which was put in verse by Mrs Tiku in a satirical way because Muslims, who were eliminating Hindus, wanted a Hindu Doctor to save their lives. The verse was recalled by her daughter Indira:
Pakistan aav order, (Order received from Pakistan)
Gatchi aasun Doctor; (We need a doctor)
Drav mazhab futraevith, (He went ignoring his own faith)
Haal baevith kus haekha. (Who do I narrate my woes to?)
The bodies of victims, dead or alive, were thrown into the Kishen Ganga and other rivers flowing in such areas. Even after the ceasefire was announced, the Pakistan army disregarded all international covenants on the treatment of POWs and refugees. Unfortunately, their plan was facilitated by the low-density dispersion of J&K forces across the state, which J&K Army Officers had knowingly engineered before deserting the army.
Nevertheless, the rest of the J&K forces who continued to hold allegiance to the Maharaja, though in small numbers and the Sikhs put on a great resistance against the bestial tribal raiders as revealed by
Sachwant Singh of Kotli. Brig Gansara Singh fought valiantly in Gilgit till his capture by Pakistani forces. Many Sikhs preferred drowning to conversion. Pakistan Army sent Pakhtoon tribal raiders called ‘Qabailis’ in common parlance to make advances into J&K territory and conquer as many areas as they could. Temples, especially the famous Sharda temple, Gurudwaras and Havelis were targeted by them since non-Muslims took refuge in such places. Logistics, especially the supply of arms and training, were ensured by the Pakistan Army. The Pakistan Government, on the other hand, enforced an economic blockade on J&K
which resulted in a complete salt shortage in the valley despite the standstill agreement.
It is also evident from the book that the Maharaja’s delay in signing the instrument of accession and opting for a standstill agreement with both India and Pakistan ultimately proved a disaster. The situation was further worsened by Nehru’s reluctance, later on, to accept the request of the Maharaja for accession to India because of his insistence upon making Sheikh Abdullah a party to the accession and transfer of power to the latter without any conditions, which caused an unprecedented delay in the matter. Had the request been accepted as and when received and the Indian army dispatched in time, J&K would not have seen the colossal bloodshed that was eventually witnessed. Worse still, going to UNO and accepting a premature ceasefire when more than half of J&K, besides Gilgit-Baltistan, was under the illegal occupation of Pakistan was a Himalayan blunder. The part of J&K that remains with Pakistan is known as POK.
The violence in Poonch started as early as August 1947, in which veterans were involved, and a regular attack was launched on 21-22 October 1947, which instantly spread all over the western border right up to Baramulla. Col Akbar Khan, alias General Tariq, was in command of the tribal raiders, which included Sudans of Poonch and Rajputs of Mirpur. The areas affected were Muzzaffarabad, Mirpur, Kotli, Basnade, Dera Amborje, Naluchi, Kohala, Ramkot, Domel, Radoo, Geru, Rajouri, Thanamandi, Budhal, Dandakote, Chattibatti, Chasna, Sanote, Daraji, Gangauti, Skardu, Khaplu, Shigar, Drass, Leh, Gilgit, Astore, Bhunji, Chillas, etc. There were thousands of Hindu and Sikh merchants in these areas. Kashmiri Pandits were mostly employed in the State.
Government offices such as revenue, excise, education, power, police and the army. The majority of locals helped the raiders and indulged in arson, loot and plunder of the hapless Hindus and Sikhs. In Ladakh, people, especially the Young Men’s Buddhist Association, put up a brave resistance against the invaders.
It was only on 27 October 1947 that the Indian Army landed in Srinagar and advanced towards Baramulla, making the tribals, who had by this time reached Shalteng at a distance of 20 kilometres from Srinagar city, retreat. The raiders had aimed to take control of the Airfield. Besides thwarting their aim, the Indian Army fought many battles during its advance.
The USA and the UK took a keen interest in the Kashmir issue and backed the Pakistan side as they had a vested interest in retaining hold of the Gilgit agency to contain the influence of the USSR. Mr G K Reddy, the then correspondent of ‘Kashmir Times’, exposed the developments at that time. He was fortunate to escape to Mumbai later. Many Kashmiri Pandits had unflinching faith in the local people, as is seen by their reply to B N Sapru’s suggestion that they leave their homes before Pakistanis come, “Last time when Kabayalis came, the villagers kept us in their homes.” Eventually, betrayals by locals were reported, e.g. in the case of B N Sapru, betrayed by G N Wani, the guide. In Rajouri, Lala Anant Ram Kaila & his son, Dr Virender Kumar Gupta, had a narrow escape. Many Hindus and Sikhs poisoned their families before facing raiders or drowning themselves in the rivers nearby.
The clouds, however, had a silver lining too. Sheikh Abdullah’s supporters did not cooperate with the raiders and saved many non-muslims. Similarly, some conscientious Muslims rescued many Hindus and Sikhs and helped them cross over to safer areas even at the risk of their lives. Thekedar Abdul Aziz of Dutiyal Camp and Sonaullah Dar proved messiahs for them. RSS played a great role in arming poor Hindus and Sikhs for self-defence and rescuing many of them, especially in areas like Rajouri. Finally, after the Nehru-Liaquat Agreement, the exchange of POWs and civilian hostages took place from May 25, 1950, onwards. The Red Cross Society, too, rescued many people and repatriated them to India through Wagah and Ferozepur. Kashmiri Pandits who reached Kashmir had to face unthinkable situations. Many of them had been suspended, and salaries were not paid. A few of them were not given their jobs back on the pretext that they had absconded from their duties. In one case, Sheikh Abdullah had to intervene personally because he knew the man.
In a nutshell, the book is an authentic reference document about the events that happened in the J&K state at the time of Partition in 1947, especially the persecution of the Hindu and Sikh community, which could have been avoided had the Maharaja and the Indian Government decided in time. In collecting the data, the author has put in a lot of hard work, which is appreciated. My good wishes to the author.
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