Gilgit Rebellion by Brown William A

Author:Brown, William A.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bisac Code 1: HIS015000; Bic Code 1: BM; HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain
ISBN: 9781473841123
Publisher: Casemate Publishers & Book Distributors, LLC
Published: 2014-11-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4

The Coup D’état (October to November 1947)

1. The Gilgit Agency Joins Pakistan

The Indian [that is to say locally recruited non-British] Officers rose to their feet and saluted as I entered and stood on the threshold until my eyes had become accustomed to the glare of the unshaded pressure lamp.

I motioned to the Indian Officers to sit down and sat down myself. They were all looking extremely worried. Baber gazed glumly at the floor muttering, “bara mushkil. Sahib, mushkil” which means “very difficult, Sir, very difficult.”

“What, may I ask, is very difficult?” I said.

“Well Sahib,” Baber began, “earlier in the evening, just as it was getting dark, I received a message from the Personal Assistant asking me to go and see the Governor. This seemed rather suspicious so I sent my orderly on ahead to spy out the land. You know the little lane leading off the main road to the Old Polo Ground? Well, he returned with the report that three Sikhs armed with swords were lying in ambush there. Their intention obviously was to cut me down as soon as I approached. So I did not leave the lines. Shortly before this, the disturbance had started in the bazaar. We had all gathered here, Haider Sahib was with us and he volunteered to go up to your bungalow, and explain the position.”

I believed Baber’s story about the attempt on his life. My belief was justified later when the incident fitted into the sequence of events correctly. I knew that the time had come for me to put my cards on the table. I explained to them that I was just as much in favour of the Province joining Pakistan as they obviously were. I explained to them that in my opinion the only way to prevent a blood bath in Gilgit, such as was taking place down-country, was for the Province to accede to Pakistan. And I concluded by stating that my immediate intention was to do everything in our power, but with minimum force and bloodshed, to ensure that the Province did become an integral part of Pakistan. No one showed surprise.

Haider said, “I thought so.”

“Now that there are no doubts regarding my sentiments and intentions, I want to ask a few questions,” I said looking at Baber. “Just how far are you people responsible for what is going on in the bazaar and what action do you propose taking now?”

“We are more or less responsible for the present situation,” Baber replied. “Our intention is to stage a revolution in Gilgit in favour of Pakistan. We have not told you up till now, as we were not sure what side you would take. Tonight is the night fixed for the revolt. Our plan of action …”

And here Baber’s speech was interrupted by a sudden outburst of babble by the other Indian Officers. Each was shouting in his own language but I gathered through the din that there was considerable disagreement as to the plan of action.

“Shut up, all of you!” I bellowed.

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