Ram Chandra Kak
Encyclopedia
Ram Chandra Kak was Prime Minister
of Jammu and Kashmir
during 1945–47. He was also a pioneering archaeologist who excavated the leading sites of antiquities in Kashmir
and wrote the definitive text on them.
He served at various keys positions in Maharaja
Hari Singh
's administration. Beginning as the superintendent of archaeology, he was appointed to the post of chief secretary in 1937. He was made minister of military affairs in 1941 and became chief minister in Hari Singh's government during the key transitional period of 1946-7 when the British prepared for departure from India.
In 1946, the National Conference began the 'Quit Kashmir' movement against the Maharaja to take advantage of the developing power vacuum. Shaikh Abdullah was arrested on 15 May, and Jawaharlal Nehru
came to Kashmir as his defence counsel, but he was arrested and ordered to leave the State. Kak now met Congress leaders in India in July and Nehru was permitted to revisit Srinagar, and he met Abdullah in jail.
This was a difficult time owing to Nehru's blind support for Abdullah, without a proper understanding of how a majority of Muslims in the State (who resided in the province of Jammu) did not consider Abdullah their leader. Abdullah was jockeying for power and he used Nehru to strengthen his case, but Nehru's position made Kak's and the Maharaja's options limited. Nehru's support for Abdullah was driven by his desire to strengthen his hand in his contest with Vallabhbhai Patel for the leadership of the Congress Party.
With pressure building up from forces sympathetic to Pakistan on Kashmir and with Nehru allied too closely to Shaikh Abdullah who represented only the interests of the Valley and not those of Muslims or Hindus of Jammu or the Ladakhis, Kak thought it most prudent to buy time and improve Kashmir's bargaining position. He recommended that Kashmir remain independent of both India and Pakistan for a transitional period of at least one year, and then take a decision on accession to India or Pakistan. But Mountbatten
- after asking for and receiving a note from Nehru - visited the Maharaja on 19 June and urged him to take a decision on accession to India or Pakistan before 15 August, the date set for the end of British rule. The Maharaja made clear his resolve not to accede to Pakistan "on any account". Mountbatten assured him that, in that case, a division of the Indian army will be quickly stationed in Kashmir to prevent any incursion from Pakistan.
On 19 July, the convention of the Muslim Conference urged accession to Pakistan. On 1 August, Mahatma Gandhi
visited the Maharaja and suggested removal of Kak as chief minister. Gandhi was assured by a lieutenant of Abdullah that if Kak was ousted, a plebiscite will return a vote in favour of India. Kak was dismissed as Chief Minister on 11 August. The British Indian government returned Gilgit, leased to it in 1934, to the Maharaja.
When Shaikh Abdullah became chief minister of Kashmir, he imprisoned Kak for a long time and then he was externed. After this, Kak retired from public life.
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
during 1945–47. He was also a pioneering archaeologist who excavated the leading sites of antiquities in Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
and wrote the definitive text on them.
He served at various keys positions in Maharaja
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
Hari Singh
Hari Singh
Maharaja Hari Singh was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in India.He was married four times...
's administration. Beginning as the superintendent of archaeology, he was appointed to the post of chief secretary in 1937. He was made minister of military affairs in 1941 and became chief minister in Hari Singh's government during the key transitional period of 1946-7 when the British prepared for departure from India.
In 1946, the National Conference began the 'Quit Kashmir' movement against the Maharaja to take advantage of the developing power vacuum. Shaikh Abdullah was arrested on 15 May, and Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
came to Kashmir as his defence counsel, but he was arrested and ordered to leave the State. Kak now met Congress leaders in India in July and Nehru was permitted to revisit Srinagar, and he met Abdullah in jail.
This was a difficult time owing to Nehru's blind support for Abdullah, without a proper understanding of how a majority of Muslims in the State (who resided in the province of Jammu) did not consider Abdullah their leader. Abdullah was jockeying for power and he used Nehru to strengthen his case, but Nehru's position made Kak's and the Maharaja's options limited. Nehru's support for Abdullah was driven by his desire to strengthen his hand in his contest with Vallabhbhai Patel for the leadership of the Congress Party.
With pressure building up from forces sympathetic to Pakistan on Kashmir and with Nehru allied too closely to Shaikh Abdullah who represented only the interests of the Valley and not those of Muslims or Hindus of Jammu or the Ladakhis, Kak thought it most prudent to buy time and improve Kashmir's bargaining position. He recommended that Kashmir remain independent of both India and Pakistan for a transitional period of at least one year, and then take a decision on accession to India or Pakistan. But Mountbatten
Mountbatten
Mountbatten is the family name originally adopted by a branch of the Battenberg family due to rising anti-German sentiment among the British public during World War I...
- after asking for and receiving a note from Nehru - visited the Maharaja on 19 June and urged him to take a decision on accession to India or Pakistan before 15 August, the date set for the end of British rule. The Maharaja made clear his resolve not to accede to Pakistan "on any account". Mountbatten assured him that, in that case, a division of the Indian army will be quickly stationed in Kashmir to prevent any incursion from Pakistan.
On 19 July, the convention of the Muslim Conference urged accession to Pakistan. On 1 August, Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
visited the Maharaja and suggested removal of Kak as chief minister. Gandhi was assured by a lieutenant of Abdullah that if Kak was ousted, a plebiscite will return a vote in favour of India. Kak was dismissed as Chief Minister on 11 August. The British Indian government returned Gilgit, leased to it in 1934, to the Maharaja.
When Shaikh Abdullah became chief minister of Kashmir, he imprisoned Kak for a long time and then he was externed. After this, Kak retired from public life.
Books
- Ancient Monuments of Kashmir (1933)
- A Handbook of SPS Museum Srinagar
- Memoirs of the archaeological survey of Kashmir
External links
- Geography of Jammu and Kashmir http://ikashmir.net/geography/chapter5.1.html