Sarvapalli Radhakrishna and Lal Bahadur Shashtri : Most Understated Partnership

Mr Lal Bahadur Shashtri and President Dr Mr Sarvapalli Radhakrishna 

Sarvapalli Radhakrishna and Lal Bahadur Shashtri : Most Understated Partnership

What India faces to day and what India sees as to where it stands today, exactly India did see these things way back in 1962 and saw it thern from 1962 to 1965 and then DID NOT SEE those dark day’s because the two PRIME LEADER and the TWO TOPPERS of their respective Ministries and department played such a brilliant game and engaged themselves in such a brilliant partnership that everything went under the guise of DOUSE

Today the position is exactly the same and today the Hon’ble Prime Minsiter and the Hon’ble President too have to play and engage themselves in the same way.Sarvapalli Radhakrishna- becomes a       “ KRISHNA” for Mr Lal Bahadur ShashtriThe President of India is the FIRST HONOURABLE CITIZEN of this country. The Supreme Court and the entire defense as well as the LAW under the constitution that runs the country are his “ BABY ” and his domain.It is the President that allows the Defense to run under the Ministry of the Prime Minister in this country but the President is responsible for any under performance or any stigma that the defense system suffers in this country.

One such incident that occurred and that STIGMATISED the entire defense was the DUST-LICKING-SMASH that the Indian defense received at the hand of China in 1962. The President then Sarvapalli Radhakrishna thereafter took the situation of the country to that extent that he came out of his shell and he started advising Nehru for many a things.However the President Mr Radhakrishna was ai his brilliant best when after the demise of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru , in tandem with Mr Lal Bahadur Shashtri completely mingled with him and the DUO came out with such a sterling performance that FRANKLY-AND-TRULY the much superior Pakistan with that kind of ammunition that they had like the Patton Tank and the Sabre Jet which were the  MOST-ADVANCED ARMS that Pakistan had – those were SWEPT and SWIPED of the TOES and Pakistan was left in a TOTAL state of DISSAPOINMENT and utter DISGUST after the result of the war.

“ Narratives often understate Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s significant contribution to the handling of the 1965 conflict ”

Reading through the archives of The Hindu from September 23, 1965, you get a sense of the relief and euphoria of a nation, then united around a leader who braved immense criticism and led from the front in its time of crises. An excerpt reads: “ Tributes to Shastri’s leadership ”. The Prime Minister’s announcement in Parliament  on  those days of a cease-fire in the fighting between India and Pakistan had an electrifying effect on the Members of Parliament and on the people.Members belonging to all political parties , FROM “A” TO “ Z ”  praised the PM then Mr Lal Bahadur Shashtri,  for the firm, determined and able manner in which he handled the worsening India-Pakistan relations, which finally erupted in an undeclared war.”

That war would not have been won by India ifd the President then, Mr Sarvapalli Radhakrishna  DID NOT SPEND ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF EVERYDAY WITH SHASHTRIJI DISCUSSING EVERY GAMUIT AND METHOD OF HOW TO USE THE MILITARY PERSONNEL’S AND THE ARMS TO TAKE ON THAT MIGHT OF PAKISTAN THEN, WHICH WAS CONSIFDERED TO  BE THE SECOND POWERFUL AND THE BEST DEFENCE OF ASIA AFTER CHINAIt is  so intriguing and so interesting  to read and not to believe but  bit to DIGEST- then ,  that narratives often understate the tragically short-lived Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s significant contribution to the handling of the 1965 conflict.

Ironic and Intriguing ::

It is ironic that he’s often accused of “ losing the war on the diplomatic table at Tashkent ” or remembered for the intrigue surrounding his death. Apart from political appropriation, very little ink seems to have been spent on examining his diplomatic and political acumen which made India stronger domestically and helped regain its international stature post the 1965 crises.

Quiet strength
The very easy, soft and the FRAGILE in HEALTH looking Shashriji, infact was very STRONG and AS-HARD-AS-IRON within and he possessed not only a BALANCED brain but a STOUT HEART of a LION.

Mandate : Hard Made Easy
Shastri’s mandate was not an easy one. There was a fractured consensus within the Congress party around his ability to lead the nation after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s demise. India was demoralised after the 1962 defeat and battling an acute food crisis.

Looking into the situation Pakistan really wanted to take away the UTMOST advantage of this situation.They felt the REBELLION inside the Congress and the so called the MEEK-AND-THE-WEAK-looking Shashtriji will collapse to the situation.Pakistan’s adventurism in 1965, historians argue,  that Pakistan wanted to take advantage of this alleged “ weakness in leadership ”.

Pakistan’s Loss in 1965 : Lesson of Management for the Indian Leaders

In hindsight, Shastri’s handling of the war has many lessons for contemporary leaders. His biographer C.P. Srivastava, in “ A Life of Truth in Politics”, recalls that Shastri’s slight build was often mistaken for a lack of ability, but really concealed a very sharp mind.

This plays out from the first meeting between Prime Minister Shastri and Pakistani President Ayub Khan, says former ambassador M. K. Rasgotra, who was a war book officer at that time. The former diplomat recalled a conversation between Gen. Khan and his Foreign Minister Z.A. Bhutto soon after meeting Shastri in Karachi in October 1964. Gen. Khan had reportedly remarked, “ This little man. What will I speak to him? ” This was “ a total miscalculation as time would prove,”

Mr. Rasgotra says. Shastri’s observations, however, were quite astute. He assessed Khan as practical, but described Bhutto as “ someone who could throw the spanner in the works for Indo-Pak relations,” records his biographer. A prophetic observation given how 1965 played out.

Firm stand : The “DUO” shared the partnership TRUTHFULLY

Contrary to expectations, Shastri had responded to Pakistani provocations on the border through speeches in Parliament from the very beginning, making India’s red lines clear, says Srivastava. He was determined to convince President Khan that ‘ India had no desire whatsoever to acquire even one square inch of Pakistani territory , but , would never allow any interference by Pakistan in Kashmir which was an integral part of India.’

There were round of talks between the leaders and the Pakistani Defense personnles too often and too much between 1964 to the start and the end of Februray 1965

While India would talk on any subject it would COMPLETELY make it clear to Pakistan that- NOTING WOULD BE HEARD AT ALL ABOUT KASHMIR, NOT AT ALL-NOT IN ANY CASE

Talks after talks and meeting after meeting failed to come to any conclusion.Mr radhakrishna always met Mr Shashtri personally and would know about the happennings. When the last talks with them on February 1965 failed and when the Pakistani left in disgust, immediately Mr radhakrishna on hearing it from the mouth of Mr Shashtri , advised to him- DO NOT WASTE TIME, GET THE ARMS READY FOR THE FIGHT

Talks and Ideas Fails: Mr Radhakrishna advises Mr Shashtri to acquire ARMS from Britain

During the Rann of Kutch incident, a probing exercise by the Pakistani forces in early 1965, Shastri withstood immense pressure from the opposition to resolving the issue through an international tribunal. Having agreed to the ceasefire, his government survived a no-confidence motion to defend the decision of arbitration. Very few knew, reveals Srivastava, that Army Chief J.N. Chaudhuri and Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh were against escalating the conflict, as the terrain was unsuitable for large-scale operations by India.

However as advised by Mr Radhakrishna Mr Shashtri send Mr Subroto Mukherjee the SECOND in the line in the Air Force then after Mr Arjun Singh and Mr Choudhury to see the arms at Britain and they came out with the “ KNAT  ” and the “ HUNTERS ”

These two were on the “ THROW-IN-THE-DRAINS ” list of Great Britain and when India started bargaining for the same, Britain was laughing at India saying that SPARROW IS BEING CHOSEN BY INDIA TO FIGHT THE VULTURES AND EAGLE AGAINST PAKISTAN IN THE AIR.

This statement of Great Britain had caused a FURORE in the circle of the Indian Defense services but when the Keeler Brothers asserted that  THIS WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR THEM TO TAKE THE PAKISTANI’S IN THE AND N THE AIR Mr Radhakrishna just asserted Shashtriji- YOU HAVE WON THE BATTLE.

Battles are won by the BRAIN and by the HEART that possesses the GUTS to FIGHT and the Indians it seems have it in plenty . DON’T WORRY he said- THIS WILL NOT BE A CHINA OF 1962 AGAIN remarked Mr Radhakrishna and that instilled a LOT of confidence in Shashtriji.

Politically, arbitration was seen as capitulation and many demanded its rollback. Shastri stood his ground, arguing India would not be a ‘ irresponsible nation ”, reneging on an “international commitment”, records Srivastava — a stance that would later bolster India’s position in the UNSC ceasefire dialogues.

Ability To Lead :: Terrific Defense Stand

Shastri’s ability to lead and carry the nation in the face of surprise attacks was exemplified during the failed attempt by Pakistan to stir an uprising in Kashmir in August 1965.

Shastri responded with a clear policy response: India would not approach the UNSC and defend its territorial integrity; no interference from Pakistan would be tolerated; contingency plans — especially vis a vis China — would be prepared; and the nation would be kept abreast of all government decisions. He articulated this in a public address on August 13, 1965, which assured the nation that ‘ force will be met with force ’. There was no room for speculation.

It is to be noted over here that it was Mr Radhakrishna who after the China-Pakistan CAKETAIL party and NOT the COCKTAIL, who could assess the situation and he advised Mr Shashtri that even if China does not engages in the war whrn you fight the Pakistani’s but  keep your MODULES ready for China in case if they plunge into the war.That was the FAR-LOOKING-EFFECT-AND-REACH of the then President who advised Mr Shashtri to be ready with all options

It is here that looking into the HISTORY- I ADVICE THE PRESENT PRESIDENT TO PASS ON THE SAME ADVISE TO Mr NARENDRA MODI .That will HELP in the LONG RUN.

The Indian Forces were “ ASSURED ”  all backing and HELP then from the TWO “ SUPREMES ”

Indian forces had to capture the Haji Pir Pass and the Kishen Ganga bulge, the two supply routes for infiltration into the valley to thwart the attacks. This operation required crossing the Cease Fire Line. In another bold first for India, the forces were assured of the firm backing of the Prime Minister and told the government would handle the consequences, records Srivastava.

The boldest decision came in September 1965, when Pakistani Patton tanks rolled into Chambh in J&K, aiming to capture Amritsar and more. When advised that to defend Kashmir, a diversionary attack in West Pakistan was needed to push enemy forces on the defensive, Shastri’s iron will came into play.

Srivastava, then joint secretary to the Prime Minister, recalls Shastri pacing up and down in his office on September 1, 1965. He says “All I heard him say was: “ ab toh kuch karna hi hoga (now something has to be done) ”. He then convened an emergency cabinet meet “ to carry his colleagues with him in his decision ” and prepare for repercussions to India’s stand. On September 3, Shastri asked the Indian forces to march to Lahore, the first time that India would take the battle to the invader’s territory.

Through all of this, Mr Radhakrishna every day and every time on a PERSONAL note, gave many an advise to the Prime Minister then, and assured him of ALL THE CONSTITUTIONAL HELP to the extent of getting everything for the Indian Forces fighting the war to ensure a VICTORY for India.

 Shastri had ensured India’s able representation in the UNSC and convinced the big powers of India’s response as proportionate to Pakistani aggression, was briefed constantly by military commanders, consulted the opposition, and even organised regular press briefings to inform the people and instil confidence in the leadership.

Even his much-criticised decision to “ return Haji Pir pass ” during the Tashkent Conference, it is argued, was not done under pressure. His biography reveals that Shastri knew international opinion would shift if India refused, as it was a pre-requisite to the UNSC ceasefire resolution.

He was also aware that giving up Haji Pir would invite scathing accusations of betrayal domestically. Before Tashkent, records Srivastava, the military chiefs had told Shastri that while they would not want to vacate,  “ it could not come at the cost of peace in the subcontinent ”. Perhaps Prime Minister Shastri became the fall guy to circumstance.

1965 clearly has lessons for conduct of government and diplomacy for the present day establishment. We both found a leader and lost a statesman, perhaps a little too soon.

More so- the role played then by Mr Radhakrishna then ,  is what is REQUIRED in all measure now for Mr Ram Kovind to play it for India and play in TANDEM with Mr Narendra Modi.

The President Mr ram Kovind like Mr sarvapalli Radhakrishna has to have a FAR-REACHING-VIEW at this critical juncture to ADVISE and take all COURAGEOUS steps to keep the ENEMIES at bay 

Thanks

Regards

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Shyamal Bhattacharjee

Mr Shyamal Bhattacharjee, the author was born at West Chirimiri Colliery at District Surguja, Chattisgarh on July 6th 1959 He received his early education at Carmel Convent School Bishrampur and later at Christ Church Boys' Higher Secondary School at Jabalpur. He later joined Hislop College at Nagpur and completed his graduation in Science and he also added a degree in    B A thereafter. He joined the HITAVADA, a leading dailies of Central India at Nagpur as a      Sub-Editor ( Sports ) but gave up to complete his MBA in 1984 He thereafter added a Diploma In Export Management. He has authored THREE books namely Notable Quotes and Noble Thought published by Pustak Mahal in 2001 Indian Cricket : Faces That Changed It  published by Manas Publications in 2009 and Essential Of Office Management published by NBCA, Kolkatta  in 2012. He has a experience of about 35 years in Marketing .

Signature of Shyamal Bhattacharjee