Wednesday, August 27, 2014

why freedom on 15.8.47

Was it so simple that 15/8 was a lucky date for Lord Mountbatten as on this day of 1945, Japanese surrendered to him in the World War II; therefore Lord Mountbatten declared 15/8/47 as India's Independence Day?

He came to India on 12/2/47 and left on 21/6/48. With his stay of 16 months in office in India he became a change agent, changing the History and Geography of India. He came with a mandate of transferring powers to Indians by June 1948. He was given extra freedom of decision making of his choice to resolve turmoil in India. He and his assist (Chief of the Staff) Lord

Ismay assessed the situation and came to a conclusion that the situation in India was dire, heading for civil war; India was a ship on fire in mid ocean with ammunition in her hold. Finally, he succeeded in dividing India into India & Pakistan through Hobson's Choice, 'take it or leave it'.

On other side, our leaders were tired off long freedom fight. Ganghi (78), Sardar (72) and Jinnah (71) were ageing old. Nehru tested the fruits of power. Britishers were in search of safety and respectful departure with diplomatic divide to keep India less powerful on world map.

Jinnah was suffering from a Cronic Cariating Pulmonary Tuberculosis. It was diagnosed by his physician Dr. J.A.L Patel, in June 1946. Jinnah who lost face because of failure of Muslim League

Government in Bengal to save lives of thousands in the famine of 1943, suddenly gain strength in 1944 with 19 days (9-27 September 44) visit of Gandhi to his house in Mumbai for negotiating freedom solutions. This has put Jinnah back on scene with an equal partner on the table of negotiations. He grabbed the opportunity and executed Direct Action Day on 16/8/46, put India on a fire of communal violence and heading for Civil War.

It is said that if Lord Mountbatten, Gandhi, Nehru, or Sardar had been known in April 1947 of secret of Jinnah disease, the division threatening India might have been avoided. Records say that the secret was so well kept that even the British Secret Service (BSS) were entirely unaware of it. It is impossible to accept that Mountbatten and BSS were unaware of his illness. The treatment drug for tuberculosis, streptomycin was not available freely. it cannot go unnoticed by any of the whites. A tuberculosis patient can be recognised with his uneasiness in any of the meetings lasting an hour.

The way Jinnah was covering his thin body with three piece suit, Mountbatten, Nehru and Sardar could have looked at him from the angle of his illness.

After April 1947 consultation amongst the parties and finalising 3rd June Plan of Partition, the declaration of 15/8/47 as date for independence of India-Pakistan in a press conference of 4/7/47 while replying a journalist, Mountbatten surprised all. It was just only 73 days remained. Drawing borders between two countries and dividing properties on 80:20 in just 73 days was a herculean task.

The date was not discussed at all with Congress. But he might have discussed it in private with Jinnah as Jinnah was on death sentence of tuberculosis. Jinnah knew that his end is nearby.

Ramadan was starting on 19/7/47. 15/8/47 was Friday, the last Friday of Ramadan. Jinnah (and Britishers) wanted to give a gift to his Muslims a Nation Pakistan (Land of Pure) taken away from Indian freedom fighters on religious divide. With his non compromising nature, continuous persuasion of goal, support of Muslim community and Britishers he succeeded in getting Pakistan.

But his dream was not realised fully due to diplomatic intervention by Nehru and Sardar. Jinnah wanted Pakistan with undivided Punjab, undivided Bengal, whole of Kashmir and a highway road link between West and East Pakistan. In fact he was claiming a bigger nation Pakistan with Muslims in majority and Hindus in minority and leaving India with Hindus majority and Muslims minority to maintain balance of power in the subcontinent.

Nehru tried to keep Mountbatten on his side by using Lady Mountbatten as a bridge between him and Mountbatten with his Platonic Love Diplomacy. Simultaneously, with good behaviour and offering Governor General post of Independent India, Nehru and Sardar won the confidence of Mountbatten.

This can be seen in some of the actions: division of Bengal and Punjab; accession of Princely States to India; Radcliffe drawing a border line keeping Gurudaspur in India giving a land approach to Srinagar-Kashmir (the land route was used for sending tanks and infantry to Srinagar in 1947 war); Lord Mountbatten, Lord Ismay and VPK Menon's visits to Srinagar; Gandhi's 2 days visit (stayed in Raja's palace) to Raja Harisingh in end of July 1947 followed by change of PM of Kashmir (Ram Chander Kak was replaced by Janak Singh, JS was replaced by Mehr Chand Mahajan), etc. can be noted in favour of the argument. However, it is also to note that Nehru the PM was not permitted by the GG Mountbatten to visit Kashmir.

Lord Mountbatten tried to satisfy all the parties (British, Congress, Muslim League) and resolve maximum possible problems of the subcontinent. He fullfilled the dream of Congress for India's

Independence (though divided), dream of Jinnah for Pakistan and also wish of Britishers to keep the two new nations under check so that they may not be a threat to supremacy of White Power over the world.

He returned England with winning confidence of Indians and giving a Ramadan Gift of Pakistan to Jinnah and his Muslims. Freedom came in the month of Ramadan, a blessed month for Muslims, during which the gates of heaven are open. The Last Friday of Ramadan (Jum'a-tul-widda) fall with India, a day of charity and wishing for others. Freedom at Midnight on 14-15 August was achieved on a Laylatul -Qad'r (Night of Power), a night (one of the last 10 nights of Ramadan) which is better than a thousand month. And Pakistan, because of it demand for creation of Pakistan 24 hours prior to India, left Pakistan with last Thursday, 27 Ramadan 1366 AH.

Punamchand
13 November 2013

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