Gandhiji's advise on the eve of the 1947 kashmir war

[Manas]

I'm quoting from Lt Gen L P Sen's book where he mentions his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi on 1 Nov 1947 as he was about leave for Kashmir.

As I was leaving General Russell's house, I received a message to the effect that Brigadier Thapar would be awaiting me at the southern entrance to South Block of the Secretariat. When I arrived he informed me that Mahatma Gandhi wished to see me and be given an Intelligence briefing. We drove to his residence and I told him everything that was known to us. He listened most intently and when I finished and asked whether he had any questions he would like answered, he replied "No, no questions". After a few seconds of silence, he continued: "Wars are a curse to humanity. They are so utterly senseless. They bring nothing but suffering and destruction". As a soldier, and one about to the engaged in battle in a matter of hours, I was at a loss to know what to say, and eventually asked him: "What do I do in Kashmir?" Mahatma Gandhi smiled and said: "You are going in to protect innocent people, and to save them from suffering and their property from destruction. To achieve that you must naturally make full use of every means at your disposal." It was the last time that I was to see him alive.

 

[DrSomnath999]

As I was leaving General Russell's house, I received a message to the effect that Brigadier Thapar would be awaiting me at the southern entrance to South Block of the Secretariat. When I arrived he informed me that Mahatma Gandhi wished to see me and be given an Intelligence briefing. We drove to his residence and I told him everything that was known to us. He listened most intently and when I finished and asked whether he had any questions he would like answered, he replied "No, no questions". After a few seconds of silence, he continued: "Wars are a curse to humanity. They are so utterly senseless. They bring nothing but suffering and destruction". As a soldier, and one about to the engaged in battle in a matter of hours, I was at a loss to know what to say, and eventually asked him: "What do I do in Kashmir?" Mahatma Gandhi smiled and said: "You are going in to protect innocent people, and to save them from suffering and their property from destruction. To achieve that you must naturally make full use of every means at your disposal." It was the last time that I was to see him alive.

i think gandhiji told him to do what is the interest of people of india & unity of country & they did it .SO gandhiji himself indirectly
want to convey that "sometimes violence is the only answer to maintain peace & stabilty & nonviolence wont work everywhere"

 

[Bl[i]tZ]

Indian air force carried Indian army to the Srinagar airfield securing the valley from the raiders.

 

[Manas]

i think gandhiji told him to do what is the interest of people of india & unity of country & they did it .SO gandhiji himself indirectly
want to convey that "sometimes violence is the only answer to maintain peace & stabilty & nonviolence wont work everywhere"

Gandhiji could neither convince himself nor others against the necessity of violence for the purpose of self deference.

His principle of using of non violent methods of agitation to secure political rights were on much firmer ground and still has universal appeal.

 

[DrSomnath999]

Gandhiji could neither convince himself nor others against the necessity of violence for the purpose of self deference.

His principle of using of non violent methods of agitation to secure political rights were on much firmer ground and still has universal appeal.

well u cannot preach nonviolence sermon to ur enemy & expect he would accept it , while ur enemy has delibrately planned out attack agaisnt u for the purpose of invasion

 

[Manas]

well u cannot preach nonviolence sermon to ur enemy & expect he would accept it , while ur enemy has delibrately planned out attack agaisnt u for the purpose of invasion

I mean use violence to protect what you have . Non violence means to secure what is legitimately urs.
Gandhi surely was much pragmatic than we credit him with.

 

[boris]

Just a fact:the officer mentioned as Brigadier Thapar is Gen Thapar who would be the COAS in 1962 and is the father of popular journalist and host Karan Thapar(love this guy).