Oct
19
by Air Marshal (Retd.) Inam H. Khan
Jinnah’s story is Pakistan’s story.(Biography of Jinnah by Stanley Wolpert is a must read for all Pakistanis). Jinnah single handedly brought about Pakistan, one of the two ideological state of the world, other being Israel . After Liaquat there was no leader worth a name. Jagirdars, waderas, etc and later Maulvies like Maududi . who were against creation of Pakistan hijacked it. Jinnah wanted a secular state with equal rights and complete of freedom to all religions. Punjabis, being ghulamana, obedient and slave-like mentality had leaders like Tiwanas, who were also against Pakistan, Frontier being dominated by Congressite Ghaffar Khan aka Frontier Gandhi, naturally supporting Hindu Congress as it (Congress) claimed to represent Muslims as well. Ghaffar Khan’s son Wali Khan and family are still loyal to India. All Indian dignitaries visiting Pakistan go and meet them in Charsada. Ghaffar Khan refused to be buried in Pakistan. So he was interred in Jalalabad, Adil Khattak attended the burial. Ghaffar khan’s family has property at Bombay Baluchistan was the only province which whole heartedly accepted Pakistan and Urdu as official language. It was Jinnahs advocation which brought Punjab and Frontier to its fold. Jinnah was a highly successful Lawyer of Bombay, very logical, clear headed, great orator and articulator, strictly law abiding in actions, honest to the nth degree. He was initially not only a member of Congress Party, but even its President. He was known as the ambassador of Hindu Muslim unity. But he soon found that Indian Congress Party was basically a Hindu Party. United Province now known as Uttar Pradesh, Congress did not not give even a single seat to Muslims, while they deserved 30 % seats. Crafty, so called ‘Mahatama’ Gandhi, though claimed that for him Hindus and Muslims were alike, but when Nehru’s sister Vijay Lakhshmi Pandit wanted to marry Ali Imam of Patna, he opposed it tooth and nail.
Earlier in 1920 Jinnah was disgusted by the selfish behaviour of Muslim Leaders, so he left for UK. Later in early thirties Agha Khan and other leaders like Allama Iqbal, Ali Bros (Shoukat Ali and Mohd Ali), etc realizing his capability, qualities and worth, prevailed upon him to attend the Round Table conferences in UK, representing Muslims of India. He returned to India in around 1933 and organized Muslim League as the sole party representing Muslims, despite chagrins and protests by Hindu Congress.
Towards the end of WW 2 (!939-1945) Great Britain became weak and wanted to hand over power to Indians. Many British delegations led by capable persons like Sir Stafford Cripps etc came with solutions fair to both Hindus and Muslims. Mr Jinnah every time considered the proposals coolly with colleague’s and in couple of days gave a positive response. Nehru on the other hand impetuously discarded the solutions since Muslims were given due rights in these. Even when Mountbatten’s came as Viceroy in late 1946 with full powers to settle the issue, Mr. Jinnah accepted his proposal of India-Pakistan confederation, having common joint foreign affairs, currency and defense. Nehru rejected it outright, as he, considering that Pakistan will not last long, prevailed upon Mountbatten to offer a truncated Pakistan, without Firozepur. Pathankot Districts, etc. Boundary Demarcation Commission was headed by Mr. Radcliffe a noble Judge who came to India for the first time, in hot and humid (No ACs then) end Jul,y only 15 days before partition. He did not know or understand issues involved. So he signed on the dotted line as dictated to by Mountbatten, who in turn was guided by sly Nehru who had developed very good relations with Mountbatten. Nehru in turn was under the influence of Vallabbhai Patel, a very strong headed Home Minister longing for free India, a rabid Muslim hater but a great thinker. He violated all agreed rules and formuli, occupied Kashmir because ruler was a Hindu who was coaxed into accession with India, though Muslims had majority in Kashmir and should have joined Pakistan. In case of Hyderabad despite ruler being a Muslim willing to join Pakistan, was forcibly annexed by India since Hindus were in majority. Similarly he took over by force Pakistan bordering Junagarh and couple of other small states in Kathiawar Katch areas with Muslim Rulers who had acceded to Pakistan though these had Hindus in majority He interpreted rules according to “Head I win, tail you lose” whatever suited him. Patel also integrated all Princely States with main India despite Congress firm assurances to the contrary. On behest of Nehru and his coterie the Division of India was rushed without any proper planning/preparations for ensuring law and order during transition, or for establishing proper set up for a new government of a new country. Intentions were obvious, early collapse of Pakistan. Mr Jinnah once observed that you can trace the path of a fish in a fish bowl, but one cannot fathom the thinking of a Brahmin. When I was POW in India, almost every senior Indian Army officer would say that Pakistan has nothing to fear from India, and in the same breath would ask “wasn’t creation of Pakistan a mistake”. Indians are determined to turn whole of India into HINDUTVA sooner or later, and therefore have not and will never accept Pakistan despite all their chicanery and sweet publicity to the contrary.
This rushed decision, attributed to NH and Patel for not letting Pakistan to stabilize, caused massive loss of lives and property on either sides. To destabilize they further withheld Pakistan’s share of treasury, military equipment, ordnance all other assets. I know junk IAF aircraft were passed on to Pakistan Air Force as its share. Even Tiger Moth light training aircraft, when being flown to Karachi from Jodhpur, sugar was put in fuel tanks, engines ceasing after a while thus forcing them to crash land. Crafty Gandhi being far sighted and for continued influence over Pakistan and Muslims, insisted upon Nehru Government to transfer its share of treasury to Pakistan. He was shot and killed by a Hindu Marahatta Godse.( My first flying instructor at Karachi Flying Club was also a Hindu Marhatta Gogte) Hindu leaders being far sighted, started war like preparations well before partition to cater for all eventualities, including violent means to achieve their aims. One could then see the RSS (Rashtria Sevak Sang) being the Military wing of BJP (Bharatia Janata Party – Janata means people, whose goal is Hindutva – India for Hindus only) youth in Patiala and other cities, drilling and practicing military acts dressed in white shirts and khaki shorts. In Bassi they were conducting this training at dawn (when the Muslims were still asleep) less than a mile from our Ashraf Manzil at a large temple called Bhun next to a big pond meant for holy bath. Thus a rushed division suited Congress who were sure of an early collapse of Pakistan hence they not only accepted but insisted upon immediate partition with this hope. I must however relate that at Bombay Mr Jinnah was under the treatment of Dr Patel a Hindu Dr who diagnosed TB of Mr Jinnah and had predicted that he would not last more than a year. Had he revealed this info, Nehru would have dilly dallied and there would have been no Pakistan.
When Pakistan realized that Patel is usurping Kashmir and flying in troops, Patiala providing the first lot, Pathans from Frontier were the first to rush to Srinagar. Being indisciplined, instead of securing airfield so as not to let Indian troops fly in, they wasted time and indulged in looting. Indian troops soon managed to push them out. Pakistan Army was independent now and had a British General Gracey in command. Mr Jinnah ordered him to rush troops to Srinagar, instead he contacted his old boss Field Marshal Auchinlack in Delhi for instructions, who naturally did not agree to send Pak Army to Kashmir. Though Gracey was removed soon but the damage had been done. I know we had RAF officers as CinC and on other high posts in PAF. Barring first CinC Air Vice Marshal Atcherley, rest were all passengers only trying to help Brtish economy by making us buy obsolescent UK aircraft and equipment at exorbitant prices and much more than we needed. For example British CinC Air Marshal Cannon, bought 110 crude looking and full of bugs Bristol Freighters as against our requirement of only ten to twelve aircraft. That is why Air Marshal Asghar Khan having only 17 years of service was much better Chief than experienced but foxy Britishers.
Indian Congress party despite their claim of being secular. Abul Kalam Azad, born in Madina fully versed in Arabic, having full grasps of Islam, having translated and providing explanation of Quran first 18 Chaptes in 4 volumes, first volume covering Sura Fateha only, he did this while in prison, but could not complete as as he was released after he had translated first 18 Chapters. His translation and explanation is the best in my opinion despite of his being Azad and self opinionated. I got best consolation and comfort from it. Towards the end of his life he wrote a book titled “India Wins Freedom”. Though he had been President of Congress Party for several years and President of India, he is very critical of Nehru and coterie of Vallabhai Patel, Krishna Menon, etc. In the book he willed that I have written another 30 pages which should be published 30 years after his death. He died in mid fifties, but those pages are yet to be published. Intellectual Dishonesty. Recently a stalwart of BJP and ex Foreign Minister under Prime Minister Vajpai, Jaswant Singh, a Rajput, has written a book on Jinnah denying the Indian myth of Jinnah to be blamed for division of India. He has correctly blamed Nehru and Congress. There has been violent protest in India against this book and its author, it is being burnt at many places. Jaswant Singh’s book is the first one in above mentioned Wikipedia. Not released for general sale yet. Wikipedia also refers to many books on the subject even Urdu ones.
Shallowness of Nehru’s thinking and his impulsive nature is best seen in his stubborn and illogical handling of 1962 China border War with India where it cut a sorry figure with Chinese troops encircling NEFA Capital Tezpur. Chinese Commander asked for permission for arresting Indian General Commanding General Kaul. For permission Chinese Vice Chairman Standing Committee of Chinese Communist Party cum Vice Premier cum De fence Minister cum Chief of the General Staff commanding all the three services by the name Lo Ri Ching (known as Beria of China) wax contacted. A tall impressive soldier whom I met when he had a meeting with Air Marshal Nur Khan CinC PAF during his visit to Peking. In that meeting he criticized himself for not allowing General Kaul’s arrest. During Cultural Revolution later I saw his picture where Red Guards of Mao’ wife forced him onto a donkey with dunce cap on his head and facing backwards – indicating utter insult and condemnation. Similar treatment was meted to many other great leaders including Teng Shia Ping who later brought China to great prosperity and success. Soon after the war Chinese repatriated all captured Indian soldiers with their cleaned and polished weapons.(Had Mrs Indira Gandhi done the same to Pakistani POWs, Pakistan wold have collapsed). In this War Krishna Menon led Nehru up the garden path from where he never recovered till his death. It is best related in a book called “India’s China War” by Neville Maxwell, a British Times correspondent for umpteen years in Delhi prior to 1962. A must read book to understand India. Exposes very well how unreasonable and cunning are the Indians. When this Indo China war started, fearing an attack by Pakistan on Kashmir from where all Indian troops had been depleted, Nehru begged President Kennedy to assure Ayub Khan not take advantage as Nehru would definitely solve Kashmir issue after the war. Kennedy sent Averil Harriman who met Ayub at Peshawer Air Base for conveying assurance. Subsequently many meetings between Swaran Sigh and Z A Bhutto took place but to no avail till 1965 War commenced. An opportunity of the century for Pakistan was thus lost. Nehru never had the intentions of giving up Kashmir being a Kashmiri Pandit himself.
But Indians do have good qualities too. As compared to Muslims of the sub-continent, Hindus are better educated producing every year large number of scholars, scientists, philosophers, specialists in every filed. As compared to Pakistan, Indians are better disciplined, more civic sense, frugal in their habits have simpler life style, and of course far better and advanced acumen and discernment about trade , industry and commerce. Dedication of Indian diplomats in foreign missions have but to be admired. One episode to high light this point. In 1958 I was attending a Course in University of Southern California, Los Angeles. There were 3 Hussain brothers from Lahore also studying there. I was Squadron Leader in PAF then. On day they invited me to a meeting in Ambassador Hotel, Wilshire Blvd where Pakistani Ambassador will listen to problems faced by students in USA. I tagged along purely for curiosity sake. Every one reached the hotel at appointed time 5 PM, except the newly wedded (To his Secretary in DC, his second marriage, first wife at Bogra) His Excellency the Ambassador Mohd Ali Bogra, who later became Prime Minister of Pakistan. Eventually he turned up over one hour late. Before he could get into discussing students about their problem, Pakistani Counselor in San Francisco ex IAF Ex Wing Commander Shaffi, a Christian, rushed him through as HE had another engagement. Very frustrating for Hussain and others. One of Hussains told me then that his sister Razia is studying at Purdue University. A few weeks back Indian HE Jha visited the University. First thing on reaching there he inquired was whether there is any Pakistani student. On being told about Razia he asked to be taken to her first. HE Jha goes to her room and said to Razia, “Beti, I know you are from Pakistan but can I do anything for you”. Call it a PR Stunt, chicanery, or anything else but the impact of this gesture need no imagination. In other missions too Indians were dedicated as compared to Pakistani counterparts.
Before I conclude I must state, despite their other good features, Hindus suffer from a MAJOR flaw, they are small hearted which led to Partition, incapable of performing a gracious act (like release of POWs). That is why, as pointed out by British Historian Toynbee, Hindus have never in the past, barring a short period of about 200 years of rule by Gupta/Ashoka prior to birth of Christ, and will never in future govern INDIA. They would, however, perform well only as top administrators. AMEN
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