Author: V Sundaram
Publication: News Today
Date: January 12, 2006
URL: http://newstodaynet.com/2006sud/06jan/1201ss1.htm
Unshakable faith, the antiseptic of the soul
Shri Guruji was noted for his burning patriotism for Akhand Bharath and he
had spoken strongly against the partition of India right from 1943. Responsibilities
often gravitate to the person who can shoulder them. Many people today may
not be aware of the fact how Shri Guruji was deputed by Sardar Patel on a
political mission in a special plane to Srinagar to meet Maharaja Hari Singh
of Jammu & Kashmir and the stellar role he played in the accession of
Jammu and Kashmir to the Indian Union after independence.
This is indeed an interesting story about
the historic role played by Shri Guruji as a responsible and patriotic citizen
at a crucial time in our national history.
Soon after independence, the most serious
challenge to the freedom and integrity of independent Bharath was posed in
Kashmir. The British government declaration of 3 June 1947 left the princely
rulers of independent Bharath to join either Bharath or Pakistan or remain
independent.
Hari Singh, the Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir,
was in an awful fix. He was a devout and patriotic Hindu and could not think
of joining Pakistan. In view of the marked Muslim majority in the State, he
was a little hesitant. Lord Mountbatten flew to Kashmir in the third week
of June, 1947 in a bid persuade the Maharaja to join Pakistan. The Maharaja
resisted the pressure. R C Kak, the then Prime Minister of Kashmir, however,
advised Maharaja Hari Singh to remain independent. Amidst these conflicting
pulls, the Sangh leaders in the State of Jammu & Kashmir began exerting
every possible influence to persuade the Maharaja to declare his accession
to Bharath before the deadline of 15 August, 1947.
The State Sanghachalak of the R S S, Pundit Prem Nath Dogra, submitted several
petitions and followed them up with personal interviews with the Maharaja.
The Sangh also persuaded several social, political and cultural organisations
in the State to pass resolutions urging the Maharaja to join Bharath without
delay. At the same time, Shri Badridas, Sanghachalak of Punjab, whom the Maharaja
held in high esteem, rushed to Srinagar to meet and advise him.
However, forces inimical to Bharath would
not let Maharaja Hari Singh have his way.
When 14 August, 1947 (one day prior to independence)
came, the postal authorities in Srinagar hoisted the Pakistani flag in their
office, because the post offices in the State came under Sialkot Circle which
was to become part of Pakistan from that day. Promptly, the Sangh Swayamsevaks
and sympathisers saw to it that the postal authorities pulled down the Pakistani
flag.
On the next day, 15 August 1947, the Indian
tricolour flew over most of the houses and shops in Kashmir. The tricolour
had been prepared in thousands in the Sangh Karyalaya in Srinagar and distributed
to the people. Meanwhile, the pro-Pakistani Muslim elements in Kashmir intensified
their propaganda to pressurise the Maharaja to join Pakistan.
Large-scale smuggling of arms into the State
to foment internal rebellion started taking place from the month of August
1947. At the diplomatic level at the Centre, too, Sangh had made certain strategic
moves in the crucial mid-October days in 1948.
Sardar Vallabhai Patel, knowing the mind of
Maharaja Hari Singh, had pitched upon Shri Guruji to talk to the Maharaja.
Patel knew that Shri Guruji commanded the implicit and full confidence of
the Maharaja.
At the instance of Sardar Patel, Shri Guruji
flew to Srinagar on 17 October, 1947. He explained to the Maharaja, the futility
of entertaining any idea of retaining Kashmir as an independent Kingdom, and
advised him to join Bharath straightaway. Consequently, the Maharaja expressed
his readiness to sign the instrument of accession to Bharath.
Shri Guruji returned to New Delhi on 19 October,
1947 and reported to Sardar Patel about the Maharaja's readiness to accede
to Bharath. Unfortunately there was a sudden and massive invasion of Kashmir
on 23 October, 1947 by Pakistani tribesmen which was instigated by the government
of Pakistan and the Maharaja appealed to government of India for help, agreeing
to the accession of the State to Bharath and the flying of Indian troops to
save Kashmir - all these historic events following in lightning succession.
Within the city of Jammu itself, the local
Muslims numbering about 20,000 were in a rebellious mood. The fate of Jammu
city and the entire countryside in Jammu, with no troops on hand, was in a
precarious state.
The young men of Sangh rose to the occasion.
They faced the pro-Pakistani Muslim elements inside and repulsed their repeated
attacks and shattered their designs. But for the Swayamksevaks' valiant efforts,
Jammu could never have been saved; and without Jammu, there was not the ghost
of a chance to save Srinagar even by Indian forces. This inspiration to defend
our motherland against the Pakistani marauders was provided by the clarion
call of Shri Guruji to all the Swayamsevaks and not by the indecisive government
of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
On the contrary, it was Pandit Nehru who stopped
the Indian Army from driving out the Pakistani invaders from a portion of
Kashmir by taking the matter to the United Nations. Nehru took this disastrous
and abrupt decision against the advice of Major General Kulwant Singh, Corps
Commander, General Thimmiah and General Cariappa of the Indian Army. He did
not trust his countrymen. He had greater faith in the machinations of Lord
Mountbatten and his British officers. The country is still paying the price
for that inexcusable political blunder.
Against this background, it will be clear
that Shri Guruji was no less patriotic than either Nehru or Patel or for that
matter any Congress leader of that time. Shri Guruji had a good equation with
Mahatma Gandhi who addressed the RSS Swayamsevaks at Bhangi Colony in New
Delhi on 16 September, 1947 where they were posted to keep guard at various
points.
At that point of time, Shri Guruji was not
aware of the capacity of the Congress party for infidelity and intrigue. The
Nehru government, in a most uncivilised way, ordered the arrest of Shri Guruji
on 1 February, 1948 and charged him with the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
To crown it further, the same mindless and soulless government withdrew the
charge of conspiracy for assassination against Shri Guruji and issued a new
ordinance ordering his internment under the National Security Act on 7 February,
1948.
On 6 August, 1948 Shri Guruji was released
subject to certain restrictions placed on his activity. Shri Guruji immediately
wrote to Nehru and Patel protesting against his unwarranted and illegal detention
without assigning any reasons. He also jokingly commented about the restrictions
placed on him by saying: 'I have been transferred from a smaller jail to a
bigger one! Only my prison walls have been extended'. He also wrote another
strong letter to Nehru in October 1948 requesting him to lift the ban on the
RSS.
He wrote: 'It is now almost eight months and
nothing can remain to be investigated into against me or the RSS. I am sure
you are convinced that the allegations against the RSS have been found to
be without foundation in facts. It is therefore a case for simple justice,
which we have a right to expect from a government which we have always considered
our own.'
Sardar Patel sent a reply to Shri Guruji stating
'there can be no doubt that the RSS did service to Hindu society. In the areas
where there was the need for help and organisation the young men of the RSS
protected women and children and strove much for their sake. I am strongly
convinced that the RSS men can carry on their patriotic endeavour only by
joining the Congress and not by keeping separate or opposing'.
At the same time, Nehru wrote to Shri Guruji
stating that the RSS was a communal and anti-national organisation. He indirectly
seemed to share the view of Patel that the RSS should merge with the Congress.
Was it not a moment of great national disgrace
that the Prime Minister Nehru and the Deputy Prime Minister of independent
India Patel, whose government had baselessly charged Shri Guruji with the
assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and arrested him on 1 February, 1948 and detained
him illegally for six months till 6 August, 1948, should now somersault and
invite Shri Guruji to join the Congress party in October 1948(!) even while
the trial against Nathuram Godse was still on and he was to be hanged only
in November 1949? Were they not guilty of perfidy and travesty of truth? Was
it not a sordid act of great national betrayal by both Nehru and Patel? Nathuram
Godse only liquidated the body of Mahatma Gandhi. Nehru and Patel spiritually
destroyed Mahatma Gandhi and all that he represented for ever. 'Secular Spiritual
Baptism' even at that time perhaps meant joining only the Congress party and
no other political party!
On 13 October, 1948 all restrictions on Shri
Guruji's activities were unilaterally removed. Shri Guruji went to New Delhi
and met Sardar Patel on 23 October, 1948. Sardar Patel insisted that the RSS
should merge with the Congress.
Shri Guruji gave him a firm 'no' stating that
the RSS was a cultural organisation and not a political party. Emotionally
upset by Shri Guruji's spirited reply, Sardar Patel spoke imperiously to Shri
Guruji stating that no more discussions were possible and that he could go
back to Nagpur. Sardar Patel failed to realise that he was dealing with a
Maharishi and not with a Congress mercenary who would sell his soul for a
mess of pottage. Unsurpassed courage of conviction was the footstool of the
virtues upon which he stood. Shri Guruji then moved like a hurricane to show
his 'Vishwaroopa' form, even as Lord Krishna did to Arjuna at Kurukshetra,
to both Nehru and Patel and indeed the country.
(To be continued...)
(The writer is a retired IAS officer - vsundaram@newstodaynet.com)
