Puran Chand Sharma
Liberation of POJK is imminent. It is not only a dry political rhetoric but a deep imbedded wish of 130 crore plus sons and daughters of India. Cumulative Prayers always get answered. Things are moving in the right direction for wiping out the historical stigma. We simply need to diligently maintain tempo and mental equipoise As usual we have enthusiastically celebrated Accession Day across the length and breadth of JKUT this year as well in the form of seminars, debates and other colourful programmes organized by social, political and educational Institutions. It is considered to be a great Historical Day of monumental significance in terms of National Integrity. We attained freedom together with pangs of division. At that critical juncture our country was passing through an extreme difficult and painful situation. Mohd Ali Jinnah strongly pitched for separate homeland to Muslim community on the basis of two nation theory playing as a puppet in the hands of British. Gandhi, the influential mass leader failed to stick to his pronounced stance, ‘Pakistan Meri Laash Par Bane Ga’. Accordingly the demand for unscientific division of Matri Bhoomi grew stronger and stronger at the behest of unpatriotic elements. Indian National Congress also wilted under undue influence of unruly and anti national elements as well as British Authorities disproportionately to the extent that culminated into Congress working committee passing the resolution of partition of a cohesive country on communal lines. Amazingly even Jinnah, the relentless crusader for partition bluntly said in reaction to the decision of CWC “Have they gone bad?”. He was clandestinely preparing ground for some top position in the very first Government of Independent India. However, his inflated ego and ambitiousness could not be cautiously handled by the authorities that be.
The most significant point in the resolution of partition was “all Muslim majority areas would go to the newly born country namely Pakistan. In this context it will be interesting to ponder over the candid views of Dr B R Ambedkar, the principal architect of our constitution. “Agreeing for division of the country on communal and religious basis is unfortunate and if at all it has been done, the complete transfer of population must be diligently ensured failing which the adverse consequences of this suicidal blunder shall have to be faced by our future generations.”
The prevailing situation vis-a-vis our traditional rival Pakistan in the current times bears testimony to the pinpointed foresight of an outstanding legal luminary of the country. Our intractable neighbour has degenerated into a lacerating sore for ever for our upcoming progeny in the critical times ahead. Alas, our Leadership would have kept in mind the words of Abraham Lincon, American President amidst grave crisis, “Let there be a civil war but the country will not be divided.”
In the back drop of pangs of division of country and not strictly enforcing complete transfer of population, we turn focus on Jammu & Kashmir wherein a Hindu King was successfully ruling a Muslim majority state. As per the India Independence Act all princely states immediately signed the letter of Accession well before 15th August,1947 but Maharaja was taking some time to sign the letter of Accession as J&k state was not a princely state but being a Muslim majority state it was to go to Pakistan which Maharaja never wanted. The final authority to take a decision was vested in the incumbent king. Simultaneously Mountbatton was pressurizing Maharaja to submit a letter on the lines of Princely state so that he is empowered to decide the fate of J&k state but Maharaja was resisting this illegal move, had the King meekly toed their line, entire state would have gone into the dominion of Pakistan.
It goes to the credit of Maharaja that he did not succumb to the Imperialist arm twisting tactics and saved Jammu & Kashmir. It is also significant to note that the document of accession signed by Maharaja was inclusive of PoJK subsequently subjugated by Pakistan through armed rebellion.
Whilst on the subject a brief revisit to those horrific and explosive conditions arising out of our killer follies and beastly conduct of Pakistani Kabalis together with Army of newly born dominion would be eye opener for e general public and authorities at the helms. Hordes of Pakistanis assembled on the Borders to hold a massive demonstration exhibiting horrible stance on 7.9.1947.
On 9th September, 1947, Pakistani Tribals along with Army launched attack on Jammu & Kashmir and massacred huge number of Hindu refugees coming from Pakistan to Kohala. In Mirpur, which is now in PoJK, 18,ooo men, women and children were brutally killed by Pakistani Army and Raiders in three days atrocious action on September 25, 26 and 27, 1947.
On October 6, 1947 Pakistani instigated marauders attacked Pattan (Kotli). Hindu force was inadequate, they fought valiantly but got massacred. Raiders and Kabalis burnt villages, killed people and dishonoured womenfolk. Almost entire Mirpur District fell into the subjugation of Pakistan. Similarly many other strategic areas of Indian territory like Skardu, Gilgit, Baltistan etc. slipped into the illegal occupation of Pakistan.
At this twilight hour we are well poised to launch a decisive, sustained, diplomatic and aggressive campaign at all appropriate levels to retrieve our sacred territory from the claws of wily neighbour and can stamp out the grave historical folly. Newly born Pakistan stabbed us in the back and annexed substantial territory of J&K by use of force. Union Govt and Maharaja were conducting themselves as strange bed fellows. Central forces were not sent in time. Being extremely upset over unreasonable delay he told his ADC, “If you do not hear Indian planes tomorrow morning, shoot me in my sleep”. Further when the forces arrived and swung into action, the advancing army was halted by way of unilateral decision which proved to be damp squib and a consumptive mistake which has degenerated into permanent sore point for the Nation. Pakistan has been using our PoJK territory for its nefarious designs against us. This has to be stopped forthwith by the rising India enforcing the resolution of our Parliament unanimously adopted in the year 1994. Jai Bharat.
