Prez, Modi, Governor, Mehbooba, Farooq, Azad, Omar, Assam CM condole death
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Soldier-statesman Lt Gen (Retd) S. K Sinha, former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir passed away at the Army Research and Referral hospital on Thursday morning after brief illness. He was 92.
His death marks end of an era, as General Sinha was perhaps the last surviving officer of the Indian Army who coordinated troops’ movement from Delhi’s Safdarjung Airport to Srinagar Airport on 27th October 1947 in the wake of tribal raid in the Kashmir Valley, which witnessed loot, plunder, rape, destruction and devastation by tribals supported by regular Pakistani army personnel.
President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, J&K Governor N. N Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Ministers Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah besides Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad have mourned the demise of General Sinha and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.
Gen Dalbir Singh, the Chief of the Army Staff, and serving and retired army personnel will pay homage to the ‘soldier statesman’ at Brar Square, Cantonment New Delhi tomorrow, where his mortal remains will be consigned to flames at 4 PM.
As a mark of respect to General Sinha, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to observe the State Mourning for three days w.e.f 17th to 19th November, 2016. As per an order issued by the General Administration Department, the national and state flags shall fly at half-mast during the State Mourning on all buildings and places where these are flown regularly and there shall be no official entertainment or function during the state mourning.
During his five-year tenure as Governor of the State between 2003 and 2008, General Sinha played a pro-active role in various capacities including Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and Shri Amarnathji Shrine Boards besides Chancellor of the state-based universities and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University. He endeared himself as a pro-active Governor notwithstanding controversies revolving around him, especially over increasing the duration of Yatra to the cave-shrine of Shri Amarnathji on Kashmir Himalayas. The move was resented by the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed but ultimately he had to give in due to mounting public pressure across the country. Mufti Sayeed had to settle down for 45 days Yatra that witnessed record number of pilgrims paying obeisance at the cave shrine despite disturbed conditions in the Valley.
General Sinha added local blend to the age-old Amarnath pilgrimage by paying obeisance at the shrine of Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani also known as Nund Reshi at Chrar-e-Sharief immediately after holding Pratham Pujan at the cave shrine every year. “Amarnathji Yatra is one of the unique pilgrimages across the world which is being performed by one segment of people (Hindus) and facilitated by the other segment (Muslims)”, he used to say while highlighting the glorious ethos of Kashmiriyat.
“If you can win over the people, you can defeat insurgency or terrorism. A militant, without people’s support, in the words of Mao Ze Dong, is ‘like a fish without water’. In Kashmir, I certainly tried to bring about a mind change among people by emphasizing on Kashmiriyat, which is a unique heritage of the people of Kashmir”, General Sinha had told BBC World Service immediately after relinquishing his office in 2008 in an interview conducted by Suvojit Bagchi.
However, his tenure was mired in controversy. From land transfer to Amarnath Shrine Board to starting a Kashmir Studies department, from organising a Sufi Music festival to efforts of establishing a specialised Sharda Peeth University – whatever General Sinha did raised many eyebrows in the Valley. He was instrumental in organizing Sufi Festivals ahead of the Yatra. His initiative of launching Department of Kashmir Studies at the University of Kashmir was high point of his tenure, which was marked by mesmerizing performance of Junoon Band of Pakistan on Dal Banks in SKICC Srinagar. This irked separatists, who launched a vicious campaign against General Sinha. On the contrary, he was admired in Jammu and Ladakh for his magnificent role as a soldier and Governor.
A patriot to the core, General Sinha also initiated tribute-giving functions at Baramulla and Jammu on 27th October in commemoration of the arrival of Indian Army to Kashmir on this day in 1947. This was seen as a huge snub to separatists who observe this day as Black Day in Kashmir. With the assistance of the Army, General Sinha got iconic Shaheed Maqbool Sherwani Hall in Baramulla rebuilt, which was burnt by terrorists in Kashmir at the onset of terrorism in early nineties.
During the tenure of General Sinha as Governor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University was inaugurated and the foundation stone for the state-of-art Cancer Institute was laid.
Lt. Gen. Sinha had also served as Governor of Assam besides India’s Ambassador to Nepal in the early 1990s.
Born in 1926, Lt Gen Sinha graduated with Honours from Patna University in 1942 at the age of 17. He joined the Army soon thereafter passing out as the Best Cadet from the Officers Training School, Belgaum. He saw combat during the Second World War in Burma and Indonesia and after Independence in Kashmir.
The General commanded battalion of 5 Gorkha Rifles in Ladakh, a brigade in Manipur, a Mountain Division in Assam, Infantry Division in Jammu, a Corps and a field Army in the Western Theatre. He also had the distinction of serving as Adjutant General and Vice-Chief of Army Staff.
Lt Gen Sinha resigned from service after the government superseded him and appointed General A S Vaidya as the new army chief.
Lt Gen Sinha had joined army in 1943 and in 1949 was appointed Secretary of the Indian delegation for delineation of the Cease Fire Line in Kashmir. In 1972 he led the Indian delegation to Italy for a conference on application of human rights to warfare. In recognition of his service he was awarded Param Vishist Sewa Medal in 1973.
Appreciative of his work as India’s envoy, the then Prime Minister of Nepal had said, “General Sinha was as much India’s Ambassador to Nepal as Nepal’s Ambassador to India”.
A prolific writer, he authored five books including one on Jammu and Kashmir Operation of 1947-48 and his autobiography, “A Soldier Recalls”.
General Sinha is survived by his wife, Premni Sinha, son and IFS officer Y K Sinha who is at present Indian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and is moving for his new posting to the UK, and three daughters.
What they said…
President Pranab Mukherjee has paid his condolences, saying, “Heartfelt condolences on demise of Lt. Gen. S K Sinha, former Governor of J&K and Assam#PresidentMukherjee”
“Lt. Gen. Sinha will be always remembered for his distinguished service to the nation in different spheres #PresidentMukherjee,” the official Twitter handle of President of India tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid his condolences saying, “Deeply saddened to learn of the demise of Lt Gen (retd) Srinivas K Sinha, former Governor of J&K and Assam. Had the opportunity of meeting Lt Gen (retd) Srinivas K Sinha just a few days ago. His service to our nation will always be remembered.”
Governor N.N. Vohra has expressed grief over the demise of Lt. Gen. S.K. Sinha, former Governor Jammu and Kashmir (2003-2008).
In a message of condolence, the Governor described Lt. Gen. Sinha as an efficient administrator who had served people with commitment. He prayed for the peace to the departed soul and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved family.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has also condoled the demise of former Governor, saying Lt. Gen. Sinha laid strong imprints of his personality in the State during his stint as Governor.
The Chief Minister said his keen interest in the development of the State would be long remembered.
She prayed for peace to the departed soul and conveyed her sympathies with the bereaved family of late Lt. Gen. Sinha.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also condoled the death of Lt Gen S K Sinha saying that he was a friend of the state and always stood by its people. “With Sinha’s death, Assam lost a true friend. His role as Governor of Assam on the issue of illegal immigration will be remembered by the people of the forever,” he said. Sonowal said Sinha always stood by the people of Assam even after his departure from the state.
Former Chief Minister and President National Conference, Dr Farooq Abdullah and Working President, Omar Abdullah condoled the death of General Sinha and conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family. Dr Abdullah and Omar Abdullah prayed for peace to the departed soul.
Omar Abdullah wrote on twitter, “Very sorry to hear of the demise of Lt Gen Sinha, former Governor of J&K. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to his family.”
Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed his heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of General (Retd) Srinivas Kumar Sinha.
“He will be remembered for a long time for his meritorious services. I pray for the departed soul and also express my sympathies with the bereaved family”, said Azad.
