Deganga Intifada?

by Dr. Richard L. Benkin (October 2010)

For three days in September, anti-Hindu violence wracked the Deganga area in North 24 Parganas, only 40 kilometers from the West Bengal capital of Kolkata. Though the violence has subsided, Hindu residents fear renewed attacks, which could have been the attackers’ intention all along. West Bengal BJP member Tathagata Roy visited the area twice since the violence began and noted, “What struck me about the pogrom (not riot, because no Hindu hit a Muslim) is that no Hindu was physically hurt, and no Hindu woman was molested, a regular feature in all Muslim attacks. But destruction of property and threats were both rampant.” From that Roy concludes that “this was a well-thought-out, well-executed pogrom whose objective was to terrorize the Hindus no end without committing any major crime beyond arson. The ultimate intention can only be to cleanse the area of Hindus with a view to totally Islamize the area.” That the matter is now fodder for political bickering instead of effective counter action only furthers the attackers’ objectives.

Bimal Pramanik, Director of the Kolkata-based Centre for Research in Indo-Bangladesh Relations, has noted a steady and deliberate effort to change Hindu-Muslim demographics in West Bengal. Since the emergence of Bangladesh (East Bengal) as an independent nation in 1971, Hindus in that country have fallen from a little less than one in five to between seven and eight percent today. At the same time, the Muslim proportion of West Bengal’s population has risen by 25 percent compared to an almost nine percent decline in the proportion of its Hindu population. Between 1981 and 1991, moreover, Muslim population growth in West Bengal was nearly 35 percent compared to only 25 percent in Bangladesh. “How can there be such a wide difference in growth rates between the two countries?” Pramanik asked South Asia Forum’s Amitabh Tripathi and me in his Kolkata office. His conclusion: “Illegal immigration from across the border.”

The current political infighting is reminiscent of similar wrangling in the United States. America reacted to the September 11, 2001 terror attacks by radical Muslims with a wave of patriotism and unity, bringing with it a collective will to defeat those who attacked America. Over time, however, the initial fervor died down and the same sort of political bickering now taking place in India replaced it. Democrats blamed the attacks on Republican President George Bush; Republicans blamed his Democrat predecessor, President Bill Clinton. That the widely praised “9/11 Commission” found largely equal fault with both did not stop the charges and counter charges. As a result, support for resolutely fighting the Islamists has been plagued by disunity and political jockeying; which also muddies the signal Americans get about their enemies and their intention. Is this happening in India?

Almost 2000 years ago, ancient Israel was at war with its Roman occupiers. With most of the country in enemy hands and Roman legions approaching the gates of the Hebrew capital, Jerusalem; defenders holed up in the Jewish Temple, located on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. But instead of forming a united front against the enemy, they fell into three factions and spent more time attacking one another than the Romans. When they eventually united, it was too late and Jerusalem fell. The Jewish state was destroyed, not to be re-established until 1948. Is this happening in India?

While the victims of yesterday and today expend their resources fighting one another, their Islamist enemies proceed in a united, strategic, and resolute manner. The Deganga pogrom makes sense when viewed in parallel with another planned, jihadist event with similar goals: the 2000 Palestinian intifada. It also helps to note that Muslims today are given a free pass to express their individual or collective anger however they wish. If Hindus do it, they are Hindu fanatics; Jews, Zionist oppressors; Christians, Islamaphobic. If any of these groups attack Muslims, it is their fault. If Muslims attack them, it is still their fault. Arab terror attacks on Israel murdered over 1000 Israelis in the first few years of this century but were justified as anger over the so-called occupation. The September 11th attacks on the United States were deemed expressions of Muslim anger for which Americans must atone. When Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad recently accused the United States of being the real 9/11 killers, many at the UN applauded enthusiastically. Finally, virtually every international body and media outlet has determined that the 26/11 terror in Mumbai is insufficient cause to bring anyone to justice. As American author and analyst Michelle Malkin wrote, “The eternal flame of Muslim outrage was lit a long, long time ago.” Woe to any people it burns because the world’s elites will blame them for it. The pattern is tediously familiar.

	Deganga Pogram	Arab Intifada
The Context	Hindus stopped Muslim activists from tunneling between the Deganga Mosque and a nearby Hindu Temple.	Then private citizen Ariel Sharon visited Jerusalem’s Temple Mount
Back Ground	As the area’s Muslim population has grown, they have tried to stop Durga Puja there and claim the land for their mosque	Although it is the site of Judaism’s Ancient Temple, Muslims claim that the Temple did not exist and that the Mount is a holy site for Muslims
What happened	Angry Muslims gathered at the Mosque after Iftar (giving it religious significance) and began attacking Hindus, their temples, homes and shops. When troops arrived to restore calm, they moved against defenseless Hindu villages in the interior.	Angry Muslims gathered on the Temple Mount by al Aqsa mosque (giving it religious significance) and began attacking Jewish worshippers below. When troops responded to restore calm, they launched a terror war against Israel that included suicide bombings and other terror.
Government	While it stopped the immediate violence, it has not made any arrests, defended Hindu religious sentiments, or defined the actions or claims as illegitimate.	While it defeated the uprising, it allowed the enemy’s claims to be given legitimacy. It has not pressed the case for Jewish rights and even released arrested terrorists as “goodwill gestures.”
Media	Events have been under reported domestically and blacked out internationally. No media has discussed the rights of the Hindu victims.	Media took the case of the Muslim attackers as a cause célèbre and did not mention the rights of the Jewish victims.
The Result	The Muslim attackers and their instigators see that they can attack Hindus in India without consequences. Their claim to Hindu lands remains active and stronger, and they can press it further.	Arab claims to Jewish land are seen as more legitimate than before the terror; i.e., terror works. Their false claim that the ancient Temples did not exist and that Jews have no title to the Temple Mount remains; and both are ongoing Arab demands for a cessation of violence.

The attackers and their backers frequently object that identifying the pogromists as Muslim and the victims as Hindu violates principles of secularism and unfairly smears an entire faith. To the extent that religion should not be an important issue, they are correct. But to the extent that the attackers have made religion important, it needs to be identified. As noted above, there was a deliberate effort to give the Deganga and Palestinian violence a religious overtone. It was also on full view in 2004 when Yassir Arafat personally apologized to the father of a 20 year old murdered in a terror attack as a case of “mistaken identity.” The terrorists were gunning for Jews, and the victim was Christian. In 2006, there were deadly riots worldwide over cartoons that depicted the prophet Mohammed. The rioters were not Hindus, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, or anyone else—but Muslims who called the cartoons blasphemous; that is, Muslims, not Jews or Hindus, have made this a religious fight. More frightening, the rioters were not Al Qaeda; neither were the Deganga pogromists. They were just Muslims. Draw what conclusions you may, but the religious component injected by Muslims is a fact.

The Deganga riots might appear to be a blip on the radar screen of life in India; but they are far more than that. The violence and the decades-long demographic change speak of a deliberate effort to reduce India piece by piece, no less so than Islamist effort to do the same to Israel. If India does not awaken soon, they might find that the international elites have defined Bengal in the same way they have Kashmir.

Minority vote bank politics and RSS

By R.L Francis*

Politics in India has divided the society more than uniting the people. Politicians have fragmented the society in various castes, classes, religious groups in order to solidify their vote banks.

Slogans of communalism and secularism have been invented by them. And those parties are in power over the society who have proved themselves as saviour of minorities. The result is out in the open to see. Hatred among communities has increased and it has reached to the level of animosity. The situation is now explosive.

Minorities (Muslim and Christian) have threatened it implement Rangnath Misra Commission Report with immediate effect otherwise they will show their strength in the next parliamentary elections.

On the other hand, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) alleged that the UPA government of adopting policy of appeasement towards minorities. All other parties which include communists and Congress have labeled RSS as anti-minority.

Due to growing threat and activities of terrorists in the country thousands of people have lost their lives. A particular section of people have been caught in large numbers engaged in Pakistan sponsored proxy-war. Due to strict measures of security forces; secular parties sometimes feel threatened. Then, these parties raise questions on the functioning of security forces. And irony is that security forces are governed by these same parties.

Minorities played pivotal role in bringing Congress to power again. After a long time Muslims have returned to the Congress fold. Congress is trying every trick so that Muslims’ votes stay with it. However, only spoiler in the game is continued arrests of Muslim youths in related to terrorist activities. Batla house encounter exposed the desperation of Congress High command. Digvijay Singh, party general-secretary and close aide of Rahul Gandhi blatantly came in support of popular Muslim stand.

The Congress cannot take risk of alienation of Muslims at this juncture. Digvijay Singh, in order to appease Muslims, is continuously hitting at RSS. He even compared RSS to Laskar.

More intellectual and scholarly P Chidambaram even popularised “saffron terror” and is moving two step further from Rahul Gandhi in comparing the RSS to banned SIMI.

The Sangh is being attacked from all corners. Their game plan did not bear satisfactory fruit; they have tried to portray Sangh as terrorist organisation. Those indulged in a politics of a particular section could not tolerate an organised, aware and dutiful society. It is important for them that society continues to be divided. They have started vicious propaganda war against Sangh and it is being propagated that Sangh is root cause of all evils in the country be it violence, anarchy, confrontation, terrorism and even natural calamity.

However, the Sangh has again presented its cultural legacy of more than eight decades. Millions of Sangh activists peacefully protested against “irresponsible statements” made by various Congress leaders. No violence was reported at any place in this protest. In between former Sarsanghachalak made a personal accusation on Mrs. Sonia Gandhi that made Congress leader sulking. So called secular Congress activists vandalized Sangh offices at various places. Though, Sangh regretted on this statement but the issue was raised at various platforms earlier. Congress should stand that Mrs. Sonia Gandhi is not beyond question and that they are not running a company called ‘India’.

Those who allege the Sangh of perpetrating communalism have failed to explain which section does Sangh represent. Yes! Sangh talks about Hindus and is this evil? If Christians can be faithful to Holy Vatican and Muslim can be faithful to Mecca; then why Hindus cannot do the same. Church realises that Sangh is the biggest threat that is why Sangh is on the target of church establishment. Church wants to cut the umbilical cord of Hindus from its cultural roots. Only then it will be successful to establish its dominance in the country. What is unfortunate that greedy politicians have not tried to contain the vested interest of church for their own selfish reasons? Sangh is not against any community. It is highly disciplined. Its work is visible to world every day. Patriotism is its identity and to serve the human kind is its main objective. There is no place for hatred in Sangh ideology. Those who make false allegations have their own interests.

*About the author: R.L Francis is the president of Poor Christian Liberation Movement. You may contact him atpclmfrancis@gmail.com

Courtesy http://mizoramexpress.com/

History of MIM - Muslim men and women undergoing military Razakar training to kill their Hindu neighbours in Telangana (1940s)

Muslim men and women undergoing military Razakar training to kill their Hindu neighbours in Telangana (1940s)

Five times a day, the Muezzin climbs atop the mosque minaret and mocks the Telugu Hindus with the screaming taunt: "Allah is the Only God " (La Ilaha illAllah)


Muslim Razakars pack their bags and guns to go "Hindu-hunting". Anyone who spoke Telugu, Marathi or Hindi was an open target for these "soldiers of Allah".


Well-armed Lashkars of the Hyderabad army


Razakar units being trained from Muslim volunteers









A Razakar officer reviewing the Women's Legion, a volunteer militia for Hyderabadi Muslim women who volunteered to kill Hindus.


Women's Legion Commander Capt. Mrs. Yunus Mahboob Unnisa, talking to her fanatical female squad.





Kasim Rizvi, the Majlis leader, is known as the "Himmler of Hyderabad".

The Razakar Movement:

In 1947, the first State which posed the problem to the newly formed Union Government was the State of Hyderabad-, which had more Hindu population (93%) than the Muslim population but was ruled by the Nizam, who was a Muslim.

Till Independence, the Nizam enjoyed the power. Independence was a bolt from the blue to him. He wanted to be independent and he chose Dominion Status to the State of Hyderabad. He requested British Commonwealth to this extend and when failed made pleas to the Union Government of India and as well as to the Pakistan that he would send representative to the respective assemblies but would not become part of either country. He issued a firman stating that till United Nations would take up the issue he wanted to maintain status quo. But, the Government of India refused his plea on the ground that this is domestic issue and international organizations and laws would no way concerned with the issue.

The Nizam had faced problems with the Hindus in the State also. Along with the patriotic Muslims, they started “Join India” Movement. As the State Congress under the leadership of Swami Ramananda Tirtha supported this movement, the Nizam had banned the Party in his State. Desperate Nizam took the help of Khasim Razvi of the Ittehadul Muslimeen and its troopers to oppress his opponents. This had resulted in Communists helping the villagers by constitution of village squads to help the villagers who vehemently fought against the Nizam's Police and Razakars.

Unable to withstand the pressures from all the sides Nizam finally signed “Stand Still Agreement” in November 1947 with Government of India so for one year to maintain the status quo. In spite of the agreement the Nizam smuggled weapons into the State. The Indian Army, led by Major-General J.N.Chaudhuri entered the State from five directions and the military action was a brilliant success. On 18th September 1948, Nizam's forces surrendered to the Indian army and Mir Laik Ali, the Prime Minister of the Nizam, and Kasim Razvi were arrested. But, neither of the incidents was without the loss of life.

The Hindus of the Hyderabad State accounted for 93 per cent of its population, due to fierce, armed Hindu resistance to Islamic conversion during the medieval ages. During the two-year-period of the Razakar movement, many families suffered injustice in the hands of Muslims who wanted their own state and desperately used any means to rid of Hindus. A series of mayhem and riots took thousands of lives of Hindus. This barbaric Islamisation entailed indigenous Hindus being slaughtered, raped, forced to convert or leave the state. The Nizam wanted to completely remove Hindu culture and language from his state. Incidents of terrorism against non-Muslim Indians included their agenda and the Razakars were the chief opponents of the Indian Army during Operation Polo, which would eventually include Hyderabad into the Nation of India.

The Nizam of Hyderabad was under the influence of a fanatical body called Ittehadul Muslimeen under Kasim Razvi, declared his intention to remain as independent state.

The Nizam was very anxious to become independent and it had been Nizam's ambition to secure Dominion Status for his State. He tried to achieve this ambitious desire with the help of Kasim Razvi of the Ittehadul Muslimeen and its storm troopers, the Razakars.

By the mid-1940s, the Majlis had come to represent a remarkably aggressive and violent face of Muslim communal politics as it organised the Razakars ("volunteers") to defend the “independence” of this “Muslim” State from merger with the Indian Union.

According to historians, over 1,50,000 such `volunteers’ were organised by the Majlis for the Nizam State’s defence but they are remembered for unleashing unparalleled violence against the Hindus and all those who opposed the Nizam’s “go it alone” policy. It is estimated that during the height of the Razakar carnage, over 30,000 Hindu civilians had taken shelter in the Secunderabad cantonment alone to protect themselves from these `Muslim volunteers’.

Hyderabad witnessed large-scale communal rioting in 1979. The Majlis came to the forefront in murdering Hindu civilians and looting Hindu property. Well-armed Majlis workers could be seen at these moments raiding the properties of Hindus in the wake of riots and these workers were extremely violent, even for the police to control them. Even today, in Hyderabad city, it is a known fact that there are nearly about 2500 Majlis cells , each comprised of 100 zealots.


Courtesy: http://andhrajihad.blogspot.com/

Has Telangana forgotten the Jihadi Razakar atrocities?

Heroic Hindu resistance to Islamic terror in Hyderabad (1310 - 1948) - A compilation


Muslim Razakars pose with captured Hindu civilians before killing them in cold blood (Telangana, 1948)
(Picture Source: Wagner, Heather Lehr. People at odds. U.S.A: Chelsea House Publishers, 2002.)


Brief History:

Approximately seven centuries of slavery under the Muslim autocracy and 50 years of democracy have influenced the culture of the Hyderabad City and the State. In the North India, the Muslim rule started with the defeat of the last Hindu and Buddhist empires in Afghanistan in early 7th century, while Vijayanagar (1336-1678) was the last Hindu empire to fall in the South. It took approximately 7 centuries for Islamic marauders to reach the south from the north-west.

Telangana, the core of Hyderabad State, came under Muslim rule briefly when Alauddin Khilji from Delhi defeated the emperor Prataparudra of Kakatiya Dynasty that ruled from Warangal as Capitol, on March 19, 1310. The huge booty carried to Delhi by one thousand camels included the famous Kohinoor Diamaond. (Yes, this is the same Allauddin who plundered Chittorgarh for material and carnal booty, including queen Padmini. After a heroic resistance against his brutal Muslim onslaught for about eight months, valiant Rajputs were defeated and on the 26th of August 1303, under the leadership of Rani Padmini, the Rajput women plunged themselves into the fire to escape rape and slavery .)

Warangal was taken back from Delhi sultanate in 1336 by Vijayanagar dynasty, which fell to Muslims later in 1678 and became part of Golconda state under Mughals. Nizam gifted away coastal Andhra to French in 1752. East India Company acquired Andhra from the French in 1766, which became part of Madras province of the British Empire. However, Hyderabad (Golconda) remained part of various Muslim dynasties for 7 centuries uninterrupted: Delhi sultanate (1310-1336), independent Bahmani sultanate - a major Muslim dynasty that ruled central and south India (1345-1512), Turkman Qutub Shahi dynasty of Golconda kingdom (1512-1687), Mughal Dynasty of Delhi (1687- 1724) and Nizam dynasty of Hyderabad (1724-1948).

Liberation:

There was an increase in political and cultural awareness among peoples of Hindu religions of Hyderabad State at the end of 19 th century. As part of Nizam's grand design to counter the growing cultural and political awareness among Hindus (~90% of the total population at the time) in the state, the Telugu names of districts, for example, Elagandala, Palamuru, Induru, and Metuku were changed to Karim Nagar, Mahaboob Nagar, Nizamabad, and Medak respectively, and towns like Manukota and Bhuvanagir were renamed as Mahaboobnagar and Bhongir respectively in 1905. Village names ending in padu were changed to pahad. At the same time a proclamation was issued making Hyderabad State an Islamic state.

In 1911, Mir Osman Ali Khan succeeded to the dynasty. During his rule Islamization of Hyderabad State was intensified. With the encouragement of the Nizam government a blatant communal organization Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen was formed. This organization along with "Anjuman Tabli Gulistan" inaugurated Tablig movement to convert Hindus to Islam. In August 1919, Osmania University was founded to impart higher education in Urdu medium to Muslims and Urdu speaking Hindus in Telangana. This was the first ever University in the last millennium in the Telugu land! The second university established was Andhra University in Andhra region of Madras province under the British raj in 1925.

Of course, the Nizam dynasty’s intentions were to annihilate the Hindu languages and cultures. Hindu students had to face many hardships and restrictions at the University. The Hindu cultures and religions were openly ridiculed, e.g., during Milad-un-Nabi celebrations of 1937, Prof. Maulvi Nazarul Hassan Gilani openly admonished the Muslims for their failure to convert Hindus to Islam by saying, " I am pained to see the inertness amongst Muslims, when there exist still 22 million of ‘Dung Worshippers’ in this country (Hyderabad State)."

Similarly, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, father of Islamic State of Pakistan (Islamic Pure State), addressed the students of Osmania University as "my Muslim students," ignoring Hindus among the students.

Kasim Razvi, the president of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen in erstwhile Hyderabad State, believed that he was destined to plant Asafia flag on the Red Fort in Delhi and make the waves of the Bay of Bengal wash the feet of Nizam. He was successful in intoxicating thousands of Muslims of Hyderabad State to enroll as razakars and take pledge to maintain the Muslim supremacy in Deccan and Hyderabad State. When the British left the Indian Continent in 1947, the Nizam wished to remain independent, while Hindus wanted to join the democratic Indian Union. A series of riots and mayhem, known as Razakar movement were instigated by the Nizam and Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen party against popular demand "Join India" to join the Indian Union and overthrow the Muslim autocracy.

Finally, the Hyderabad State joined the Indian Union with the help of the Union army in 1948, in an action popularly known as the police action. However, communal riots between Muslims and Hindus continued due to communal ‘divide and rule policy’ and minority-vote-bank politics of Congress party until saffron clad Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao (NTR) became Chief Minister.



Towards Freedom: Final days of the Nizam Raj

- Panduranga Rao Kulkarni

On 15 August, 1947, well ahead by ten months British left India after partitioning it into India and Pakistan . The numerous princely states were given option to either accede to India or to Pakistan . Poor Hindus of Deccan ! They dreamt that Independence meant freedom to them also. But it was not to be on 15th August, 1947 as rest of India was shouting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', in the Nizam's state of Hyderabad , slogans of ''Azad Hyderabad Paindabad' rent the air. The Hyderabadi Hindu was doomed! There was a large scale of migration of Hindus across the border of Hyderabad into the neighbouring Indian provinces.

The terror unleashed by the Razakars was coupled with the migration [exodus] of Hindus. There was also immigration of thousands of Muslim families from other parts of the country. They were eagerly welcomed by the Volunteers of Ittehadul - Musalmin, and also the state's machinery. Within two months of declaring Azad Hyderabad, the state's Muslim population rose by one lakh. Immediate attempts were made to absorb these immigrants into jobs in various departments like irrigation, railway, electricity, public works etc. The state's Child Welfare Association under Nizam's princess daughter-in-law, released funds for immediately providing blankets to these immigrants as the winter was fast approaching. The new Government of India was very much concerned with this development. Yet it acted with forbearance because the Nizam's plea to give an extension of two months to sign the instrument of accession was granted.

In the meanwhile the 'Razakar' force of Ittehadul Musalmin swelled to three lakhs members and there were clashes between them and the Swayamsevaks of 'Janata Fouz' formed in the rural side by the Hindus mostly in the border areas. Even after the lapse of two months, the Nizam dodged signing the accession instrument on one pretext or the other. In the meanwhile he sent his men all over the world seeking military and moral assistance for the independent Hyderabad State .

There were rumours that Nizam would accede to Pakistan and Pakistan would readily accept it. To pre-empt such an eventuality, the Indian Government offered a standstill agreement to Hyderabad without accession, which seemingly was its climbdown. To Nizam and Ittahed the offer looked as an indicator of growing weakness of Indian Government, which was staggering with shock of post-position riots and bloodshed. For several weeks there was bargaining in New Delhi over the contents of the standstill agreement, after which ultimately it was signed. According to the agreement, K.M. Munshi would be stationed in Hyderabad as agent-general of India , and Zain Yarzung would be in New Delhi as the agent general of Hyderabad .

This period was used by the hooligans of Ittehedul Musalmin to systematically terrorise the Hindus by arson and looting of their shops, houses, and standing crops, robbing the gold and silver from their women-folk and also their abduction and rape.

In an incident in Errapalem village of Warangal district, under the lead of sub-Inspector Chand Khan, thirty five policemen with eighty Razakars of Ittehadul Musalmin looted each and every household including the huts. They dragged the women folk along the streets to the centre place of the village. They had forcible copulation first with twelve of them and there after shot them dead, despite the pleadings of their kith and kin. The other group of women had the same fate. Total number of women thus killed on that day in the village was seventy. In fact, it had become the order of the day for the lecherous Nizam’s police and the barbaric vagabonds of Ittehedul - Musalmin known as Razakars.

The predominantly Hindu population of the state was not to be allowed to pause and recap incessant terrorizing. At that time Mir Layak Ali was appointed as the new Prime Minister of Hyderabad at the insistence of Itthehead. He was a Civil Engineer turned Businessman and Industrialist and totally new to political office. His inexperience and the overbearing influence of Ittehadul Musalmin upon him, quickened the pace of events. Nizam was totally besieged by the Ittehad, and power and initiative shifted from Kingkoti completely. Qasim Razvi was the sole performer now. For the battle hardened leaders like Patel, Nehru, Rajaji and Munshi sitting with novices of street urchin mentality and to talk about the affairs of a state larger than many of the European countries was a new but exasperating experience. Yet in the interest of the innocent public of Hyderabad State they underwent this harrowing experience for months together

The nation was recovering from the trauma of Gandhiji's death. News on the other hand of Hyderabad steadily building up the potential of its Army and other ancillary forces was regularly reaching Delhi . A British Arms dealer named Sydney Cotton was transporting arms from abroad. Stocks of petrol and sulphur were built up. And several factories owned by the Muslims were said to have started producing rifles and Bren guns. Power alcohol was being produced at the rate of 3,500 gallons per day. The provincial governments around Hyderabad were getting nervous and sending frantic requests to Patel to take action against Hyderabad 's bellicosity.

On 23rd March, 1948 the Home Secretary V.P. Menon sent a formal letter pointing out various violations by Hyderabad of the stand still Agreement and asked Prime Minister Layaq Ali to take steps to rectify the situation or be prepared for consequences. This ultimatum is said to have rattled him making him to blurt, ''What was led to this sudden change?'”.In fact Layaq Ali was facing embarrassments everywhere due to irresponsible and arbitrary acts and utterings of Qasim Razvi and Razakars of Itthedul Muslamin.

Few weeks earlier to that on 1st February 1948, one hundred armed personnel raided the branch of State Bank of Hyderabad in a small town Umri, killed at least seven persons and decamped with more than 22 lakhs rupees in hard cash. Later enquiry revealed that the raiders were Razakars of Ittehadul Musalmin who were supposed to protect the Bank from the imaginary attack of the Indian Armed Forces. This itself proves the extent of lawlessness created by the Razakars of Ittehadul Muslamin during that time.

Prior to that, the government and armed forces of India , took steps to block all the supply routes to Hyderabad . Its effects started to be felt. There was shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene, sugar, cigarettes, food-grains, medicines and innumerable other things. The Hyderabad government now manned entirely by the Ittehad people was not inspiring much confidence among the business community resulting in hoarding and block marketing.

Indian government asked its army to be prepared to march to Hyderabad at a shortest notice if necessary.

Accordingly Major-Gen. Hiralal Atal, G.O.C. 1, Armoured Division submitted his plan to the southern Command on 16th April, 1948. In it he envisaged an advance of 30 miles per day and assessed to cover the distance from Sholapur to Hyderabad within a fortnight, in an East-West assaultEnd of July, 1948, I Armoured Division of Indian Army had built up enough rations for sixty days for an army 22,000 strong. Meanwhile Maj. Gen. J.N. Choudary had succeeded Maj. Gen. Hiralal Atal, as G.O.C. 1 Armoured Division. And Mountbatten the last link of Nizam with Government of India had gone back to his England

On 7th September, Home Secretary V.P. Menon formally wrote to the Prime Minister of Hyderabad requesting him to allow Indian troops to be restationed in Secunderabad in such strength as might be necessary for the prompt and effective restoration of Law and Order. Layaq Ali did not reply. Six days later, by the first of 13th September 1948, columns of Indian army entered Hyderabad state from various directions, on their journey to Secunderabad as per the forewarning of Home Secretary. Operation Polo, had begun. TIME Magazine's John Lubar described it as a 'Happy war'.

As the Indian troops marched on in the territory of Hyderabad , except at Naldurg, Tuljapu, Bidar, Zahirabad in the Western sector and at Kodad in the Eastern sector, there was no residence offered by the much publicised Hyderabad army. The Razakars of Ittehabul-Musalmin were driven mostly by their religious fanaticism. Then religious zeal is no substitute for the regular military training, which a soldier receives in his military camps. On 15th September, Qasim Razvi's home town Latur along with Osmanabad, Aurangabad and Jalna fell to Indian troops. In the after noon of fifth day, 17 September, Hyderabad 's resistance ended, when the Nizam ordered his troops to ceasefire. On 18th September, 1948, the news of Nizam's decision to surrender caused jubilation all over India and also among the people of Hyderabad

Qasim Razvi, and many other leaders of Ittehadul Musalmin were caught and tried. But by the time their trial concluded, the Congress Party came to power in Hyderabad . Sardar Patel was no more. In consonance with the Muslim appeasement policy of the Congress, these traitors were allowed the escape with lesser punishments. Later they went to Pakistan with great zeal and hope. What happened to them there is not known to many.

The remnants of the Ittehadul Musalmin changed the name of the Islamic Communal outfit to Majlis-e-Ittehad and later converted it into a political party called Majlis-e-Ittehadul -Musalmin which still garners enough votes from the Muslim ghettoes of the old city of Hyderabad to send a couple of members of the State Assembly and lone member to the nation's Parliament. But the irony is that the Ittehad's posterity is neither repentant nor abashed of the monstrosity of their predecessors. And the Hindu residents of the Old City are not yet sure whether the Police will be permitted to act swiftly to rescue them from Muslim attacks, as was done fifty years ago. Then that is being defined as secularism.

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Sufferings of Hindus in erstwhile Nizam State - as narrated by one Grandson

My grandfather, Ravinder Singi Reddy was born on January 25, 1933 in the village, Mandadi, which is located in the district, Mahaboobnagar, in the [present-day] state of Andhra Pradesh. Thatha, which means grandfather in Telugu, was only fourteen when India got its independence on August 15, 1947. Since his family was farmers in a rural village in South India, they were not directly impacted by the events leading up to the independence. However, they were impacted more by the Razakar Movement.

The [present-day] state of Andhra Pradesh [was once known] as the state of Hyderabad which was ruled by the Nizam, which means Muslim prince, Asaf Jah. The next seven Nizams, descendents from the Asaf Jah Dynasty, were the predominant rulers of Hyderabad from 1724 until 1948. In 1911, Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan began his reign and his goal was to have Hyderabad as an independent state, separate from India and the Indian Union just as Pakistan had separated from India. The Razakar Movement began in 1946, when the Nizam countered the cultural and political awareness that was rising among the Hindus around that time . The Hindus who started the “Join Indian” movement wanted the state of Hyderabad to join the rest of India in the Union. Since the Hindu population of the state was about 90%, the Nizam felt more threatened and began to intensify the Islamization that he had begun. This Islamization entailed Hindus being forced to convert or leave the state. The Nizam wanted to completely remove Hindu culture and language from his state. He built universities where students, mostly Muslims were taught the Muslims ways and Urdu, a language spoken predominantly by Muslims .

To further his cause, the Nizam employed storm troopers, the Razakars, and his own army to eliminate the Hindus. My grandfather was a teenager at that time and remembered the terror that the movement created in the minds and hearts of the Hindu people.

Violence erupted between the two peoples as Muslims began regular offense against the Hindus daily (Moslem attacks). Many peoples’ property was taken away, many were removed from their positions is various jobs, and many were beaten or killed. Thatha says he can remember his brother-in-law, a doctor, who was killed on his way to making a making a house call to see a patient.

My great grandfather passed away when my grandfather was only 11 years old. My grandfather’s eldest brother, Devanayak Reddy, became head of the family of 14 brothers and sisters. To escape the horrible conditions Devanayak decided to relocate the family to state of Karnool. (Karnool, a neighboring state under the Indian Union, did not experience the conditions that those in the Hyderabad state were going through.)

My grandfather’s family was the head of the village in Mandadi because they owned most of the land. They were well respected and liked. This land brought enough profits that despite the size of their family, they lived in comfort and luxury in comparison to the rest of the village. Thatha recalls the hardships he and his family faced after reaching Karnool. They had to leave all their belongings and most of their money back home because there were checks at different places where people were searched. Thatha [Grandfather] said that they put money in their shoes, and wherever else they thought they could conceal it. Whatever money he and his family did bring was somehow smuggled in their clothing.

After reaching Karnool, his family was very low on money and food because they didn’t have the income from farming from Mandadi. Therefore, they lived on little food which was quite a change from their former lifestyle. They adjusted, though, because they had to spend about two years there.

On September 10, 1948, the Indian government sent their army to take away the state from Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan and join it with the Indian Union, finally ending the Nizam rule. Thatha’s older brothers returned to the farm but the younger children and he remained in Karnool because Karnool had much better education. The schools in Mandadi were only sufficient for servants and a much lower level education. After finishing high school, the rest of the family slowly drifted back home where things were prosperous once again.

During the two-year-period of the Razakar movement, many families suffered injustice in the hands of Muslims who wanted their own state and desperately used any means to rid of Hindus. But many families, like my grandfather’s, were able to regain what they had lost.


For scholarly references, see: http://nhs.needham.k12.ma.us/cur/wwII/05/baker05/baker-nsp-p5-05/India_Independence.html

“Moslem Attacks Charged”. New York Times (1857-Current file); Aug 20, 1948. pg. 4. ProQuest Historical Newspapers. MetroWest Regional Library. January 18, 2005.

This NYT article talked about an incident when a group of Muslims surrounded a Hindu Market place and massacred 200 Hindu civilians. This is only more evidence that goes to show how far Muslims took they desire for their own country in Hyderabad.

Telangana was part of the then Hyderabad state, a princely state refusing to join the India Union. The Nizam had given free rein to a group called the Razakars. Their leader Kasim Razvi vowed that "if India invaded nothing but the bones and ashes of 10.5 million Hindus would be found". Hindus were openly killed in Marathwada (also part of the princely Hyderabad).

This was the gentleman with whom the Communists allied. It was said in Warangal and Nalgonda that "the Razakars rule by day and the Communists at night."

http://www.hvk.org/articles/1098/0077.html



The bad part is communists ( the so-called poor man's supporters ) aligned with Razakars. After that people and even the establishment hated the communists so much that no body dared to talk about communists. Belive it or not communists were killed by women folks of Telangana. Razakars of those days emerged into Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) of today.

http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewtopic.php?t=371&sid=191671946421363f6122c86adc739d4f

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The anti-Nizam movement in the Kannada- and Marathi-speaking parts of Hyderabad state is less well documented. It was the Arya Samaj under Swami Ramanand Tirth which came into the leadership of the anti-Nizam movement - most of the followers of the Arya Samaj joined the Congress by 1946-47. The leadership of the Arya Samaj gave a communal colouring to the struggle. In his doctoral thesis, titled "Integration of Hyderabad Karnataka (1946-56)", on the anti-Nizam and pro-merger movement in the Hyderabad Karnatak region, B.C.

Mahabaleswarappa, a reader in Gulbarga University, has traced the growth of the Arya Samaj in this region. "The message of the Arya Samaj - India for Indians. Except Hindus, all are foreigners on the soil of Hindustan - gave needed courage to the Hindus to oust the alien rule of Nizam and face the atrocities of the Razakars." (page 60)

The autocracy of the Nizam undoubtedly had a pro-Muslim, anti-Hindu aspect to it. The Nizam's administration was largely Muslim, Urdu was imposed on his subjects, and the Razakars' actions were targeted against Hindus. The Arya Samaj, which took up cudgels for the 'Hindu masses' against 'Muslim oppressors', took over the leadership of the anti-Nizam movement partly owing to the late arrival of the Congress; until 1940 the Indian National Congress did not take up the people's struggle in the princely state.


Majlis plan to glorify the anti-national Razakar movement in Telangana

HYDERABAD - An attempt seems to be afoot to glorify and extend support to the notorious anti-national Razakar movement that left a trail of blood in Telangana in the early years of independence.

The Majlis Bachao Tehreek, under the leadership of legislator Mohammad Amanullah Khan, is organising a massive public meeting here to pay homage to the friend of Deccan, Qasim Razvi.

The party is observing Friday as "Yaum-e-Siddiq-e-Deccan' (the day of Siddiq-e-Deccan), as Razvi is known among the old city Muslims. Mr Khan will preside over the meeting.

The anti-national Razvi was given a number of honorifics in advertisements issued by the organising committee in various Urdu newspapers on thursday.

This is the first time an outlawed person like Razvi is being honoured like this. The Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), of which the Tehreek is an offshoot, had never organized public meetings in honour of Qasim.

Razvi had led the infamous Razakar movement in 1947-48 against the Indian Army and let loose a reign of terror in Telengana, killing innocent men and women. The movement aimed at merger of the then Hyderabad State with Pakistan.

The Razakar movement he started in 1944 became a strong paramilitary force which crushed anyone who raised a voice in favour of the then Hyderabad state merging with Indian Union.

Though the MIM discarded the leadership of Qasim Razvi, who since led it, ever since the party was revived in 1957, the newly formed Tehreek holds him in high esteem and his portraits adorn the walls of its office at Mogalpura in the city.

According to Tehreek sources, the public meeting has been planned to revive the old glory and honour of the community under the leadership of Qasim Razvi.

The newspaper advertisements carrying photographs of Mr Khan and Razvi appealed to the people to participate in large numbers and pay homage to the warrior of Islam (Mujahid-e-millat). One advertisement featured Mr Khan with Mr Bahadur Yar Jung, the MIM founder and Jihadi zealo



Late Qaaid-e-Millat Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung
http://www.hindunet.org/alt_hindu/1995_Jan/msg00104.html



It is a fact that all ex-serviceman from the Nizam's state forces were treated on par with ex-servicemen from the Indian army. They are all allowed to draw ration and avail of medical facilities in the Indian army like other ex-servicemen. It is really sad that these [killers] have been allowed stay in Indian soil. I know of one MIM activist in Houston who got a Green card in Houston (USA) pleading political asylum from Indian persecution in Hyderabad, India. For this state of affairs I hold each and every Indian responsible who voted for the Congress in the last fifty years.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=33546&sid=61f0ea9dd2fa40b59f1f897a00991f59




Courtesy: http://andhrajihad.blogspot.com/

Was Nehru about to make Telangana Another Kashmir?

There is an interesting piece of Information how Nehru was on the verge of making Telangana another Kashmir by going to UN while Indian Army wiped out any resistance of Nizam's forces and took over Telangana. As we all know how Nehru made Kashmir a spit fire with rather idiotic wisdom, stopping the war while our Indian forces are about to walk into the territory of occupied Kashmir and into Pakistan. Without him entire Kashmir would have been with India and would have been peaceful without 371 article. He unnecessarily went to UN in the midway while India was about to win that war with Pakistan and gain the Kashmir without any problem. Why was Nehru kept on doing such historic blunders despite the noble counsel like Sardar Patel and others. Even Rajgopalachari who succeeded Patel showed better wisdom than Nehru.

Here is an account of Sri TVR Shenoy in his words


Ladder of lies - by TVR Shenoy on Rediff on net

Two recent statements from Communist Party of India-Marxist general
secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet deserve our attention. He wondered why
the Left had not stuck roots outside Kerala, West Bengal, and Tripura
"despite its glorious role in the freedom struggle." And he slandered
the Bharatiya Janata Party as "the men who killed Mahatma Gandhi."

A man's memory is the first faculty to start withering. But I suspect
Surjeet's speeches sprang from malice rather than age. They are, in any
case, easily disproved.

"I have kept myself almost in daily touch with the progress of Bapu's
assassination," Sardar Patel wrote to Jawaharlal Nehru on February 27,
1948, "It emerges clearly that the RSS was not involved in it at all."

Whom would you rather believe, Surjeet or the Sardar?

Why was the Iron Man's statement ignored? Simple, Sardar Patel was
feared and hated by Nehru-Gandhis and Communists alike, and they joined
to bury his memory. Surjeet, however, may recall the Sardar as the man
who vowed to uproot Marxism from the soil of his Gujarat.

The Sardar has a right to be wary. The Communists spewed poison against
everyone else in the late 1920s and early 1930s. (Even the Congress
Socialists, a group within the Indian National Congress, were described
as "social fascists.") This wasn't original; the Communists were simply
parroting the line laid down by Stalin at the sixth congress of the
Communist International.

This changed abruptly after the seventh congress was held in Moscow in
1935. Stalin decided to infiltrate socialists into the country. The
Sardar wasn't fooled. He acidly described the Socialists as nothing but
"the sappers and miners of Communism" and did his best to keep them out.

Simply put, Sardar Patel didn't trust Indians who owed allegiance to
foreigners. His suspicions were well founded. When Hitler invaded Russia
in June 1941, the Communists abruptly reversed themselves, even acting
as British informers during the Quit India Movement.

Yet at the CPI-M's Calcutta session, Surjeet accused BJP leaders of not
participating in the freedom struggle! Not only is this demonstrably
wrong, it is a blatant method of hiding the Left's own horrible record.

Communist hostility continued even after 1947. Vijayalakshmi Pandit,
India's first envoy to Moscow, recorded Stalin's refusal to believe that
India was truly free. And not a single Russian bureaucrat signed the
condolence book after the Mahatma's death.

Their Soviet masters' attitude was echoed in the 'Calcutta Thesis'
formulated by the Communists in February 1948. Repeating the charge that
India was still a British colony, it vowed to continue the ''liberation
struggle''. The practical expression of this philosophy came in the form
of the Telangana peasant struggle (a fancy name for guerrilla warfare).

Telangana was part of the then Hyderabad state, a princely state
refusing to join the India Union. The Nizam had given free rein to a
group called the Razakars. Their leader Kasim Razvi vowed that "if India
invaded nothing but the bones and ashes of 10.5 million Hindus would be
found". Hindus were openly killed in Marathwada (also part of the
princely Hyderabad).

This was the gentleman with whom the Communists allied. It was said in
Warangal and Nalgonda that "the Razakars rule by day and the Communists
at night." But Nehru's government didn't react, a stance encouraged by
Lord Mountbatten (India's governor-general at Nehru's invitation).

Hyderabad took advantage of this idiocy. It loaned 200 million rupees to
a Pakistan teetering on bankruptcy. It appealed to the Americans and
sent a delegation to the United Nations. Nehru's response was to send a
counter-memorandum, but Sardar Patel's patience was exhausted.

"You referred Kashmir to the UN when victory was at hand," he said,
"What happened?"

On June 21, 1948, Mountbatten finally left, and Chakravarti
Rajagopalachari took over as governor-general. Nehru continued to plead
for a softline as late as September 8, 1948. However on September 13,
'Operation Polo' began. It took just 108 hours before Hyderabad was
forced to lay down arms on September 17.

The Communists, however, fought on for three more years. The Sardar died
in December 1950, but his work was continued by Rajaji who succeeded him
as Union home minister. (He described the Communists as "Public Enemy
Number One.")

I wouldn't normally use this column to talk about events that took place
half a century ago and more, but comrade Surjeet is trying to rewrite
history six hundred and one months after the Nizam's fall.

You cannot ascend the pinnacles of power by standing on a ladder of
lies.

Netaji, the patriot among patriots

The greatest curse for a man is to remain a slave. The grossest crime is to compromise with injustice and wrong. The highest virtue is to battle against inequity, no matter what the cost may be."
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

Lakhs of people pin their faith on the existence of a person who has not been heard since 1945. Not a few of them cherish a hope that , that man may yet return to lead them - this is all about the immortal revolutionary patriot - Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Freedom of our nation is the result of sacrifices made by so many patriots.

Netaji, the prince of patriots, is an integral part of Indian freedom movement.

In 1956 Clement Atlee (British PM in 1947) visited India, AP Chakrabarthi the then Governor

Atlee said that, there were so many reasons, but the most important reason was the activities of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Dr R C Mazumdar explained this fact in his book 'Struggle for Independence'. These words of the former British PM shows the significance of Netaji in our independence struggle.

Netaji was born on Jan 23, 1897, in Cuttack the then capital of Orissa. During his younger days he was inspired by the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda.

Subhas had the belief that without spiritual upliftment human life had little or no value. Subhas had been very active in the Neo-Vivekananda group of Calcutta.

In 1919 he got a Bachelors degree in Philosophy. In the same year he went to England for ICS and cleared it with fourth rank in 1920. But Bose's unbounded love for his motherland forced him to throw away his ICS career.

The year 1921 witnessed the dawn of Netaji Bose as a young vibrant political figure in Bengal. Bose had found his political Guru in Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das.

At the beginning of his political career, Bose had followed the path of Mahatma Gandhi. But later he deviated from Gandhi's path of non-violence and decided to fight against British with arms in his hands.

In 1939 he formed a political organisation called Forward Bloc. The objective of Forward Bloc would be the capture of political power by Indian masses as early as possible, and the reconstruction of India's economy on a socialist basis.

Netaji's ultimate aim was the freedom of his motherland. To achieve his aim he had joined with Axis powers Germany, Italy and Japan. Though he was a worshiper of shakthi, he seemed to have entertained an admiration for Hitler and Mussolini. But Netaji's ideolgy was neither Nazism nor Fascism.

The of West Bengal asked a question to him, why the British left India so soon after the allied victory in the world second world war.Congress and the Communists had criticised Bose for his attitude. For the communists Netaji was a fascist, a Quisling, a Nazi stooge and a puppet of Japan.

Netaji defended all his criticisms with these words,"Any man or state who fight against British imperialism can offer us his aid. Any man or state which marches with British is our foe.

Before one fighting against German Nazism or Italian Fascism or Japanese Expansionism, there must be an end for British Imperialism. After all nothing would be greater and nobler than trying to regain a nation's freedom."

In 1943 he reorganised Indian National Army (INA) and assumed the supreme command of the army. He had also set up a provisional Government of free India. INA became a symbol of India fighting for independence.

Later it was the INA which indirectly sparked the revolts in the Royal Indian Air Force and the Royal Indian Navy.

With the defeat of Japan and its allies in the second World war, the very foundation on which the provisional Government and the INA had built their edifice had crumbled.

According to the official reports, Netaji was killed in an aircrash on18 August,1945, in TaiHoku near Taiwan. It is believed that the ashes kept on Rankoji temple in Japan is of Netaji. There were many stories spread about Netaji's death.

Some people believed that he was in an asylum in Russia. But the most held belief was that Swami Sharda Nandji of Shoulmari Ashram, on the West Bengal- Assam border, was none other than Bose.

Bose was a man of destiny. By his struggle for freedom in the face of overwhelming odds, he has incribed his name in shining letters in the scrolls of Indian history.

He has taken his place with Rana Pratap and Chatrapati Shivaji as a national figure in the heroic tradition. Bose deserves equal credit with Gandhi in Indian Freedom struggle. Bose's great saga is an inspiration to all Indians as Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan observed, " Future generations would read the amazing story of Netaji's life with pride and reverence and salute him as one of the great heroes who heralded India's dawn."

Courtesy " Dipin Damodaran. Oneindia.in

The contribution of the RSS in the field of Kashmir's accession to India

The contribution of the RSS in the field of Kashmir's accession to India and in its one Head, one symbol and one constitution is now an honourable page of history.





The courtiers of the Maharaja, his associates and members of the council of ministers exerted their full pressure for Kashmir's accession to India. Sardar Patel and Mahatama Gandhi too tried but the Maharaja was not prepared. He was not ready to accept the domination of Nehru. On the other side Pakistani troops had reached the borders of Kashmir.

Meeting between the Maharaja and Sh. Guruji

The efforts of political leaders had failed. Time was getting delicate. In these conditions Sardar Patel sent a message to the RSS Chief, Sh. M. S. Golewalker, through Mehar Chand Mahajan, requesting him to use his influence to prevail upon the Maharaja to accede to India. Sh. Guruji cancelled all his engagements and rushed to Srinagar from Nagpur by air via Delhi to resolve the ticklish and delicate question. Through the efforts of Mehar Chand Mahajan and Pt. Premnath Dogra a meeting between Sh. Guruji and Maharaja Hari Singh was arranged.

It was not a personal meeting. It was not a discussion on house, land, property or on the politics of votes. It was a historical meeting on the question of integrity of the nation. The Maharaja who remained unmoved by many national leaders bowed his head in front of a simple-clad staunch nationalist. He understood the importance of protection of his religion and nation. The Maharaja sent the accession proposal to Delhi and Sh. Guruji directed the RSS workers in Jammu and Kashmir to shed last drop of their blood for the security of Jammu and Kashmir. After issuing these directions he returned to Delhi.

It may be recalled that prior to it, the Punjab provincial chief of RSS, Rai Bahadur Badri Das, had also met the Maharaja in July 1947 but his efforts to prevail upon Hari Singh to accede to India had failed.

Sh. Madhav Rao Mulle, has given information about this historical fact in the book "Shri Guruji Samagra Darshan". Sh. Madhav Rao was Praant Pracharak of RSS in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Madhav Rao, "the union Home Minister, Sardar Patel, had told Mehar Chand Mahajan, Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, to prepare Maharaja Hari Singh for accession of the state to India. Mehar Chand Mahajan conveyed the message to Sh. Guruji requesting him to meet the Maharaja and prepare him for the accession. Mr. Mahajan had arranged the meeting between Guruji and the Maharaja".

"Guruji reached Srinagar by air from Delhi on October 17, 1947. The meeting took place on the morning of October 18. During the meeting prince Karan Singh, with his plastered fractured leg, was present while lying on the bed. Maharaja's contentian was that 'my state is fully dependent on Pakistan. All routes passed through Sialkot and Rawalpindi. Lahore is my airport. How can I have relations with India ?' Sh Guruji made him to understand saying 'you are a Hindu king'. By acceding to Pakistan your Hindu people will have to struggle against grave difficulties. It is correct that there is no road, rail or air link with India but it can be set right quickly. In your interest and in the interest of Jammu and Kashmir state it is better for you to accede to India."

"Sh. Mehar Chand Mahajan told the Maharaja 'Guruji is saying the right thing. You should accede to India'. In the end the Maharaja presented a "Tosa" (superfine pashmina) shawl to Guruji. In the accession of Jammu and Kashmir with India Guruji has made an important contribution."

There is no mention of this important event in any recognised book of history. Nobody knows about it, none has turned the page of history, nobody reads the event regarding the State's accession to India. There are three reasons for it.

First, the men of the RSS know how to serve the country. The RSS activists are away from propagating it and they have no interest in publicising it through their writings. Guruji hated self-praise and self-publicity. Therefore, there is very scanty material written on the nationalist activities of the RSS. It is natural for the Sangh to remain aloof from the pages of history. Like many political leaders, Guruji did not write his autobiography.

Secondly, it was the nature of the Congress to get history written. Afer achieving independence whatever books of history have been written on the freedom struggle, place has been given only to the Congress revolution. Subash Chander Bose, Savarkar, Bhagat Singh, Dr. Hedgewar and others have been sidelined. Under this trend the above mentioned national contribution of Guruji has not found any mention in the books of history. The above historical event has been lost in the self-praise of the ruling congress leaders and in their political intrigues of undermining the nationalism of others.

Thirdly, the installation of Sheikh Abdullah as Prime Minister soon after the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India. In order to take the credit for the State's accession to India the Sheikh lied, changed his stance many times and got many historical documents and files destroyed. It is said that the Sheikh even got destroyed Maharaja Hari Singh's historical documents and his memoirs.

Initial security of Kashmir by RSS activists

By the middle of 1946 the RSS Shakhas had flourished in the Kashmir valley. Educated youths came in contact with the Shakhas. And the majority of the Sangh activists in the Shakhas used to be Kashmiri Hindus. Guruji was on tour of north India and a plan had been prepared for organising a massive public meeting in Srinagar.

All activists and workers of the RSS felt happy. It was natural. It was a great event to have a top leader of a top Hindu organisation in Kashmir where 90 per cent population was that of the Muslims, where the Hindu society has remained supportless for centuries, where the sanctity of religious places had been destroyed and where the Hindu society was existing without any respect. The meeting was organised in the premises of D.A.V. College, Srinagar. Over 1,000 RSS activists were present in the meeting. Prominent citizens of the city too were invited. they attended the meeting with faith. While emphasising the need for unity in the Hindu society, respected Guruji called for vigilance against the activities of the antinational elements and urged people to defeat these elements unitedly. This function brought about encouragement in the Valley which was evident during the Pakistani aggression on Kashmir.

The sacrifices rendered by the RSS activists for protecting Kashmir at the time of the Partition deserve a special treatment and mention in the history of India. Right on the morning August 15, 1947 pro-pak elements had started creating disturbances in Srinagar. Pakistani green flags were hoisted on all Government buildings. The RSS activists accepted the challenge and finalised a scheme in the headquarters of RSS. By 10 o'clock thousands of RSS workers and Hindus assembled near Amirakadal bridge. Their patriotism was worth seeing. Even those who dubbed Kashmiri Pandits as cowards had to keep their fingers crossed when within a short time Pakistani flags were removed and a big procession was taken out in major streets of Srinagar. Pro-Pak elements were challenged. The entire atmosphere reverberated with the slogan of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai". The Hindu society felt encouraged and the Maharaja too realised the strength and devotion of the Sangh.

Two prominent Sangh Pracharaks, Mr. Harish Bhanot and Mr. Mangal Sen, established contact with Pakistani officers and, in the disguise of Muslims, collected all the information about the military activities of Pakistan and of the possible invasion, for one month, which was given to Prof. Balraj Madhok. They even gave the information about the date of the aggression and the routes the invaders were to follow. The Maharaja summoned Mr. Madhok. The meeting took place in the Palace in Srinagar. After getting all the information the Maharaja demanded 200 RSS workers so that they could be given arms for protecting the city. Realising the gravity of the situation, Mr. Madhok promised to bring 200 RSS activists the next morning.

The RSS workers were given information at midnight directing them to report at Arya Samaj temple at six in the morning. In the morning 200 RSS workers were present and everyone of them was a student and had come out of their houses to render sacrifices for the country. A prayer meeting was held and later were carried to Badami Bagh cantonment in an Army truck where some soldiers were ready. They quickly taught the young students how to handle the gun. By the evening these youths had reached the battle front. For two days these RSS soldiers stopped the Pakistani troops till the arrival of the Indian Army. Everybody knows about this historical sacrifice but none speaks about it. The Sheikh too knew about it. The same Sheikh who had left behind the people on hearing the news about the Pakistani invasion and fled, alongwith his family members, to Bombay. The Valley was saved first by the RSS workers and then by the Indian Army, not by the fugitive Sheikh.

Martyrs of Kotli

By a mistake on the part of the Indian Airforce, boxes of ammunition were dropped on the other side of the Nallah which was within the firing range of Pakistani troops. How to evacuate those boxes ? Who will get them ? If the troops were asked to do it, it would have meant death for them. Who would then fight later ? If the ammunition boxes were not evacuated, the Indian troops could be killed. What to do ?

There was need for a great sacrifice for evacuating these boxes. The Army commander hit on a plan. He thought that only the RSS youths could do it and accordingly he reached the RSS headquarters at Kotli. Mr. Chander Prakash, Manager of Punjab National Bank, Kotli branch, was the organiser of the Sangh at that time. He listened attentively to the Army commander and told hilm "How many youths are needed" ?

The Army officer said "eight will do". Chander Prakash had become emotional out of his eagerness to render sacrifice and told the Army officer that he should wait in the office without any worry because he would bring seven youths, eighth being himself, within half an hour.

Chander Prakashji immediately rushed to the town and Sought names of those who were ready to render sacrifice. More than 30 youths came forward. It was a problem for Mr. Chander Prakash to make a selection out of the 30 youths. He lined all of them and picked up seven youths. It was difficult to make others agree to stay back and ultimately he had to issue his command. For an RSS activist command from his leader is like the command from God. The rest stopped. They bid tearful farewell to their eight comrades. They knew the meaning of this farewell and as such it was a mute farewell.

Mr. Chander Prakash reached the Army officer with the seven youths within less than half an hour. The eight youths reached the battlefront with the commander. They were informed about the work they had to carry out in evacuating the ammunition boxes without allowing the Pakistani troops to have any idea of it and in bringing those boxes upto the Indian troops. After understanding their job, the eight youths marched forward to their destination.

While crawling, slipping and stumbling, the eight youths reached the Nallah on whose other bank lay the boxes. The Nallah was full of water with sharp flow. These youths swam fast across the Nallah to reach the goal.

Each youth picked up one box. One carrying it on the head and the other on his back. Gradually they re-entered the Nallah but could not maintain silence in the water. The sound of their movement reached the Pakistani troops. The result was indiscriminate firing from the machine-guns on them. They were not scared of death because they had come out of their houses in the guise of martyrs. But they had one worry: they wanted to see the boxes reach the hands of the Indian soldiers before the youths were killed. Under the rain of fire, the youths crossed the Nallah and were marching towards the Army camp.

The rain of bullets turned into torrents. Chander Prakash and Ved Prakash, the two youths, were hit by bullets. Both of them were injured and fell down but there was no time for others to take care of the two. After leaving the two wounded youths there, the six youths marched ahead with boxes on their backs. These youths succeeded in their mission and handed over the ammunition boxes to the Army. They were worried about their two colleagues whom they had left behind. These six youths left for the spot for carrying back the wounded comrades and followed the same route under the rain of bullets. How hazardous it was ? But they were determined as they had great affection for their comrades. They had fulfilled their mission and now their task was to evacuate their two injured comrades. Where shall such an example of mutual love be found ?

When the six youths left for evacuating their two comrades, the rain of bullets further intensified. They crawled to the place where the two wounded comrades had been left. But they got the bodies of the two comrades. They had achieved martyrdom in the service of their motherland. There was no time to wail and weep. They carried the two bodies on their back and started their trek on the rockey and bushy paths to reach the Army camp.

But it had become difficult to escape easily from the continuous firing from behind. They had travelled a small distance when one more comrade received two bullets in his ear and became a martyr there and then. His body too was carried by them and marched forward. It was a terrible test for these nationalists: they had to crawl with dead bodies on their back on difficult path and that too under the heavy rain of bullets. They kept on moving and the Army camp was nearby. But nature needed more blood. One more comrade was silenced with a bullet that hit him. His body too was carried by the surviving youths with courage and fortitude.

It was heart rending scene. The youths returned to their camp. Four returned out of the eight. Each carried a body of the martyrs. All the RSS workers, citizens, mothers and sisters of the Kotli town had waited in tension for the full day. Slogans of "Shaheedoon ki Jai" (respects to Martyrs) and "Bharat Mata ki Jai" (respects to Mother India) rent the sky. People decorated the four bodies with flowers and arrangements for their cremation were made by people weeping and wailing over the loss.

A big pyre was built outside the town. The four bodies were placed on the pyre with the Army salute and amid the wails, tears and sobs of the people. Women showered flowers on the pyre. The flames of the pyre started kissing the sky. The four, who had carried the bodies to the town, burst into tears. They cried, they wept. The Army authorities directed all to return to their houses immediately. It was getting dark. The Pakistani troops continued firing from the mountain in front.

The ammunition boxes were opened. The soldier was equipped with ammunition and now our troops too had the ammunition. The Indian troops launched a fierce attack on the Pakistani soldiers like a hungry lion. The heavy attack shook the Pakistani troops. Our soldiers fought chivalrously throughout the night. With the advent of the pink dawn the Indian troops had captured the hillock. Here the pyre of the martyrs was silent and tLere on the hillock the tricolour fluttered.

Repairs of airfields

There were no airfields for facilitating the landing of Indian Airforce men. Wherever they existed, they were in a pitiable condition. Not to speak of the planes even people could not walk on those runways. There was need for their quick repair and renovation. But it was not possible to arrange a big force of labourers. Even if thousands of labourers could be arranged it was not possible to pay them their wages in those conditions. There was need for such devoted labourers who would work free of cost for repairing the airfields. Therefore, the eyes of the Army officers and citizens fell on the RSS activists. They knew that the RSS activists were dedicated and sacrificing.

The matter was discussed with Sangh leaders. Everyone was ready. On receiving the directions, thousands of RSS workers jumped into the field. The repair and the renovation of the airstrips in Srinagar, at Poonch and in Jammu were taken in hand. The work on these airfields was carried out round the clock. Everyday the RSS activists would come out in their shorts to work on the airfields for which the Sangh made arrangement for the tools. The workers would carry food from their houses. After working continuously for several hours these RSS workers would sit together to partake their food and it was lovely sight of love and affection.

Under their principle of "we shall donate everything to the country and in return we shall not accept anything", these RSS workers gave up their trade. went on leave from the Government services and abandoned their domeotic happiness to work round the clock for making these three airstrips worthy for landing within the stipulated time.

Remained steadfast against bullets

In the meantime there was a report indicating that 1200 Hindus and Sikhs had been surrounded by the enemy at Palandhari, 20 kms north-west of Kotli, and.their lives were in danger. The Sangh people, under the leadership of Mr. Kedar Nath Sahni, met the Army authorities requesting them to evacuate 1200 Hindus and Sikhs who were counting the time of death at Palandhari. The Army authorities realised the gravity of the situation but refused to provide any help on the plea that the number of troops they had was even insufficient to protect the town and as such how could they send the soldiers out of the town. And when the Sangh workers insisted by informing the Army officers that a big number of Hindus were counting days of their life, the 'authorities were moved. They agreed to send 31 soldiers under the leadership of one Lieutenant Ishwari Singh and with them went one police inspector, Mr. Hari Singh, and about 100 RSS activists.

The report about the plan of evacuating people from Palandhari by the Army and the Sangh workers was sent by a Muslim Tehsildar to Zaildar and Nambardar of Sarsave who were Muslims. The twa passed the report to the tribals.

Next morning 30 Army jawans, 12-15 poiicemen and about 100 RSS activists left for Palandhari under the leadership of Lt. Ishwari Singh. The moment the caravan started climbing the ascent, it came under indiscriminate heavy fire. The enemy had fortified itself on the higher elevations. Since the enemy was equipped with machineguns, mortars and bombs, its attack became fierce.

Despite being surrounded unexpectedly from all the four sides, the battle lasted for several hours. Not a single Hindu soldier and RSS activists turned back even being in a smaller number than the enemy and despite having meagre weapons and ammunition. Their steps were not shaken despite the roar of the rain of bullets. While killing the enemy troops, they also met death one by one.

One feels a wave of sacrifice in one's mind while wishing to touch the blood-red soil of Palandhari where the soldiers and the RSS workers shed their blood. Repeated salutes to such brave sacrifices.

Sheikh's dictatorship and Praja Parishad's agitation

The pro-Pak and anti-India sentiments of the Sheikh had been exposed in front of the entire world. In the Congress, too, the mistrust against him was increasing. The people of India had become aware of his anti-national and treacherous attempts. But by accepting a plebiscite, Nehru had forged a dangerous agreement with Sheikh Abdullah which was dangerous not only for the integrity of India but had put a question mark on the future of 20 lakh people in Jammu and Ladakh. In comparison to the rest of the country, Kashmir was given a special status. The flag, the constitution etc were made separate for Kashmir. Dr. Shyamaprasad Mookherjee apprised the Parliament of the dangers of this agreement but Nehru did not agree. He even did not think it proper to talk to the peoples' representatives of Jammu and Ladakh.

When people of Jammu started feeling the impact of this agreement, it gave birth to the embers of a revolt. The RSS workers decided to oppose the Sheikh stoutly after visualising the anti-Hindu stance of the Sheikh. With the slogan of one constitution, one symbol and one leader a new party, named Praja Parished, was formed under the leadership of Pt. Prernnath Dogra to start a powerful but peaceful agitation. Thousands of Sangh activists took to the streets for a sacrifice for the country's integrity and unity. Many leaders and workers of Praja Parishad went to Delhi to apprise the Government of India, members of Parliament and leaders of different political parties of the separatist activities of Sheikh Abdullah. They met also Nehru. But it seemed that he was not prepared to listen to even a word against Sheikh Abdullah. Therefore, Dr. Shyama Prasad took the historical decision of supporting this struggle.

A powerful Satyagrah was launched in Delhi and Pathankot. RSS workers left their demostic worries and courted arrest. Dr. Shyamaprasad tried to mediate between the Government and leaders of Praja Parishad but failed. According to the words of Mr. A.B. Vajpaye, "Nehru's obduracy made all his (Dr. S. Prasad's) efforts completely unsuccessful. The man who prided in announcing that he would not give a needle-tip land without a fight reminded one of the story of Daryodhana and Nehru refused even to talk to Praja Parishad". And there was no other alternative left for Dr. Mookherjee except for blowing the conch of agitation. In the absence of any agreemnt taking shape he was committed to launch a peaceful satyagrah and agitation in support of the people of Jammu.

Martyrdom of Dr. Shyamaprasad

After ensuring peoples' support for the agitation, Dr. Prasad decided to test on the touchstone of Nehru's statement that Kashmir was 100 per cent part of India. In this context he decided to come to Jammu without a permit. While leaving Delhi for a two-day tour of Punjab on May 9, he issued a statement that his purpose of visiting Jammu was not to foment tension and trouble but his aim was to make another bid to resolve the discord through peaceful and honourable means. While commenting on his decision to enter Jammu without a permit he said that as a citizen of India he had the full right to visit any part of the country and since Nehru would say everyday that Kashmir was 100 per cent part of India he had decided to go there without any permit.

This step of Dr. Mookherjee received powerful appreciation in the entire country. Between Deihi and Pathanot thousands of men and women greeted him at many stations with the slogan "abolish permit system" and he was assured of their support. It was expected that Dr. Prasad would be arrested before reaching Pathankot. But out of the scare of the Supreme Court, the Government allowed him not only to reach Pathankot but also assured that it would not take any step aganist him when he would enter Jammu.

The Deputy Commissioner of Gurdaspur District, Mr. Vashisht, informed Dr. Prasad at Pathankot that he could visit Jammu without any permit and the Government of India will not create any hurdle in his way. He also informed him that in Jammu Bakshi Ghulam Mohd. would meet him. But when he entered into the Jammu border alongwith his associates, the Kashmir militiamen stopped him on the Ravi bridge. There, the Superintendent of Police, Kathua, directed him not to enter into the state border. Dr. Prasad refused to accept the order and was arrested under the Kashmir Security Act.

Prior to his arrest he told people, in a message, that "I have entered into Jammu and Kashmir, but in the capacity of a prisoner". His message spread like lightning in the entire country. Satyagrahis, from various corners, started entering into Jammu and Kashmir without permits. With one stroke of Dr. Prasad the artificial wall of permit system between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India crumbled and with it Nehru 's lie that Kashmir was 100 per cent part of India stood exposed.

After his arrest Dr. Mookherjee was taken to Srinagar where on the 43rd day of his detention he was declared dead in mysterious circumstances on June 23.

Letter of Dr. Shyama Prasad's mother to Nehru

".... I know he cannot be brought back to life. But I want to know what role your Government has played in this shocking event 60 that people can know the reasons behind this tragedy in this independent country. Allow justice to take its course while dealing with any crime of an individual, even if he is occupying a high post, so that people are allowed to remain alert against such criminals and there was no scope for any other mother like me to wail and weep over such a type of tragedy."

Nehru's reply

"... I have enquired from those people who know the reality. I can say only this much that I stand by truth and there is no mystery around this incident .."

Yogmaya Devi's reply

"... I do not want any clarification from you, I want an inquiry. Your arguments are hollow and you are afraid of facing the truth. Remember, you are answerable to the People and God. I treat the Kashmir Government guilty of the murder of my son and I charge it with having killed my son. I hold your Government guilty of concealing the matter and of attempts at manoeuvring ..."

As a result of the rejection of the demand for an enquiry, people of India raised one voice saying that Dr. Mookherjee was killed. The life of a national leader was finished for achieving hateful political goal.

Success of Satyagrah

The Satyagrah was suspended for 13 days after the death of Dr. Mookherjee. In the meantime, Nehru issued a direct appeal requesting people to call offthe Satyagrah. It was for the first time in the history that a direct appeal for calling off the Satyagrah was issued by a ruler. The result of the confabulations was that a decision was taken to end the Satyagrah. On July 7, the agitation was called off on the appeal of Sh. Premnath Dogra and the Government was given an opportunity for changing its policies in arder to ensure integration of Kashmir with India, for which assurance had been given by Nehru, Dr Katju and the Bakshi.

Whatever Dr. Prasad had said was achieved. The Sheikh was dismissed and arrested. Nehru, by accepting his mistake, expressed his regrets over the evil deeds of Sheikh Abdullah and held talks with the leaders of Praja Parishad. The Kashmir Constituent Assembly adopted a resolution announcing merger of Kashmir with India and the President of India issued a special notification on May 14, 1954 for the implementation of all the clauses of the Delhi Agreement.

Courtesy :http://www.kashmir-information.com/