Atish-i-Chinar  Autobiography of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah An Analysis-XI  

K L Swarup

Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah has devoted Chapter LII of his autobiography to the narration of his own version of events preceding his dismissal as Prime Minister and arrest in August 1953. As usual, he puts the blame on others, to project himself as an innocent victim of conspiracies hatched by one and all in India, including the respected Muslim leader of the time, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Some excerpts:

Chapter LII entitled "From the Jail window" is also important for it contains narration of such events as had preceded Sheikh Abdullah's dismissal and arrest in August 1953. The narration is, naturally, subjective and therefore assumes the complexion of being controversial The Sheikh tries to convince the reader that his dismissal and arrest in August 1953 were unwarranted and unconstitutional. Verbatim translation of controversial excerpts is as follows- The Sheikh writes

"Maulana Azad was the second person whose personality had proved attractive to us for throwing our lot with India. His knowledge, crusading personality and deep insight into the religion of Islam had deeply influenced me. But for various tangible factors he had to face defeat on the political front. The Muslims had refused to accept his leadership which had its own psychological impact on him. He was elderly and shrewd. There was a stylish refinement in his temperament. All these things had left him somewhat isolated from the public. Thus he had taken refuge in an Ivory Tower. I used to discuss my problems with him and seek instructions from him; but because of his style and psychologically defeatist tendencies, he could not afford a helping hand to us. Generally, so far as constitutional and other differences between Kashmir and the Centre were concerned, he would be near our point of view. He used to advise us to stick to our principles. Once I summoned courage and enquired from him: As far as possible we put forth our claim boldly. But what is your contribution in the Centre? There appeared a wave of anguish on the lustrous and thoughtful face of the Maulana. He said: My brother, my cry is a cry in the wilderness now. The nation did not follow my path. I am here as a man who has no weight of popular opinion at his back. I am sitting here burning incense only with some purpose. Sometimes because of some regard for me, I succeed in getting some reasonable demand fulfilled. But much cannot be expected from me."

Referring to late Zakir Hussain, the Sheikh writes, "Some years later the then President of India Zakir Hussain also spoke in the same vein. He said: My position is like an honourable prisoner. Nobody pays attention to what I say".

Referring to the part played by Maulana Azad in July 1953, on the eve of his dismissal and arrest, the Sheikh writes. "He (Maulana Azad) paid a visit to Kashmir in July 1953, perhaps at the instance of Jawaharlal and stayed in the Bungalow at Chashma Shahi which is now housing Raj Bhawan. I explained my predicament quite in detail to him. I told him that the attitude adopted by the Centre vis-a-vis us and the manner in which every matter in the Centre was seen through the lense of Hindus and Muslims, has led us to lose faith in their secularism. I talked to him once in presence of my comrades, Bakhshi Sahib, Sadiq Sahib, Beg Sahib and Maulana Sayeed Festival of Eid-ul Fitr also fell during those days. Maulana Azad accompanied me to Id- gah to offer prayers. He was to address the Id congregation also. Before Eid-prayers I explained to the congregation that after Id-prayers they should hear the Maulana with patience and should not create any disturbance. When Id-prayers were over, some people started leaving the place, but the majority of them left their lines and went near Maulana so that they could see him from a close range.

Within minutes there was a commotion. It was misunderstood by the Maulana. He felt that the people did not want to hear him. He spoke a few words and sat down. On return we went to the residence of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad where he had arranged a lunch for us. I expressed my inability to join lunch because I wanted to join the members of my family at the meals for it was the day of Id. Perhaps Maulana felt it and later it was put into his ears that whatever happened at Idgah, I was responsible for that....

According to the book of B.N. Malik when Maulana reached Delhi, he suggested to Jawaharlal "to arrest me immediately" "Another event which was very much played up against me in support of the so-called imperialistic conspiracy was my meeting with Adlai Stevenson. He was an important personality of America and was Democratic Party's candidate against President Eisenhover. He on a tour to India and Kashmir was also included in his programme. The Ministry of External Affairs informed us by a telegram that he should be received as a very respectable guest and entertained well. But Stevenson had made arrangements of his lodging himself. He had stayed in a House Boat named Keller Mount at Naseem Bagh. On the day of arrival he called on me and left my place after a chat. Then I invited him to lunch. Besides him, there were other Government officers also invited to the lunch. We discussed a number of subjects in a cursory manner including the role of America in international politics.

I apprised him of the situation of Kashmir and the meeting came to an end. He had to return to Delhi on that very day, but the flight could not take off because of inclement weather. The Protocol Officer informed me that the flight might take off later in the day. I instructed him that the guest should be brought over to my residence so that he would not feel any difficulty at the time of departure. Accordingly, he arrived at my residence. In order to avoid boredom to him, I arranged a Shikara-ride for him in Jhelum so that he could have a view of the city. In the meantime the prospects of the flight's take-off improved and Mr. Stevenson left for the Airport. When he alighted from the plane at Delhi Airport somebody enquired of him whether he had a meeting with me. In a humorous way, typical of an American, he said that he met me not once but thrice. This caused a sensation. The press particularly of the left wing raised a hue and cry that Adlai Stevenson had possibly come to hatch a conspiracy in Kashmir with me.

The communists wanted a pretext. So they gave it wide publicity. It was the time when the cold war between Russia and America was at its height. The communists and Russia gave too much importance to my meeting with Adlai Stevenson........... Adlai Stevenson clarified that his meeting with me was not of political nature; but who listens to a "sane person in this world of insanity." Later Jawaharlal Nehru had written to his sister, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, that he did not believe that Adlai Stevenson was to blame in any way. Be that, as it may, the conditions were such that anything could be used against me.

The episode relating to Louis Anderson also became the subject of adverse comments against me. The details of this episode are like this: Louis Anderson was the Ambassador for America in India. He along with his wife used to come on holiday to Kashmir during summer months. Occasionally they would come and meet me. As a matter of courtesy I would invite them to feasts when various matters would come under discussion cursorily. In those days Kashmir Question was debated in the U.N.O. and different solutions used to be put forth which even the Government of India would consider seriously. Once while talking on the subject it was felt that in case Kashmir was turned into a Buffer State, a great cause of discord between India and Pakistan would die down. But for this the condition precedent was that both India and Pakistan should guarantee the existence of such a Buffer State. Obviously it was only an academic discussion reflecting the conditions prevailing then.

In those very days an incident though unfortunate but interesting in nature took place. Anderson's wife was not mentally sound. Somebody complained that she was acting as a spy. When she came to know. about this allegation, it added fuel to fire and she got terribly enraged. Once when she was at my residence she said: "You Indians are under our debt like anything and are living on our charity. Despite this you call us spies". Upon this I lost my temper and gave her a bit of my mind. I told her that had she not been in my house as a guest, I would have paid her in the same coin. Poor Anderson's plight became pitiable and pointing to his wife, he craved for forgiveness.In Russia it was propagated that I am pro-America. It was my practice to address the nation on the festival of Id from Radio Kashmir which was under the administrative control of the State Government then. The Id also fell in the month of August 1953. I had for the purpose prepared a text of my speech. A typed copy of the text was sent to Maulana Sayeed for publishing the same from Delhi. But I was arrested before Id. My opponents created a hell that through this speech I was to declare independence of Kashmir and alongwith that I was going to secede from India and request the United Nations and America to send Armed Forces to Kashmir. What element of truth was in it can be well guessed from the text of the speech itself which was later published a number of times."

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Courtesy:- K.L. Swarup and June 1995, Kosher Samachar