Kashmir Issue - M. K. Gandhi
(Speech at the Prayer Meeting on 4th January 1948)
Today there is talk of war everywhere. Everyone fears a war breaking out between the two
countries. If that happens it will be a calamity both for India and for Pakistan. India has written to the
U.N. because whenever there is a fear of conflict anywhere the U.N. is asked to promote a
settlement and to stop fighting from breaking out. India therefore wrote to the U. N. O. however
trivial the issue may appear to be, it could lead to a war between the two countries. It is a long
memorandum and it has been cabled. Pakistan’s leaders Zafrullah Khan and Liaquat Ali Khan
have since issued long statements. I would take leave to say that their argument does not appeal
to me. You may ask if I approve of the Union Government approaching the UNO I may say that I
both approve and do not approve of what they did. I approve of it, because after all what else are
they to do? They are convinced that what they are doing is right. If there are raids from outside the
frontier of Kashmir, the obvious
conclusion is that it must be with the connivance of Pakistan.
Pakistan can deny it. But the denial does not settle the matter. Kashmir has acceded the
accession upon certain conditions. If Pakistan harasses Kashmir and if Sheikh Abdullah who is
the leader of Kashmir asks the Indian Union for help, the latter is bound to send help. Such help
therefore was sent to Kashmir. At the same time Pakistan is being requested to get out of
Kashmir and to arrive at a settlement with India over the question through bilateral negotiations. If
no settlement can be reached in this way then a war is inevitable. It is to avoid the possibility of war
that the Union Government has taken the step it did. Whether they are right in doing so or not God
alone knows. Whatever might have been the attitude of Pakistan, if I had my way I would have
invited Pakistan’s representatives to India and we could have met, discussed the matter and
worked out some settlement. They keep saying that they want an amicable settlement but they do
nothing to create the conditions for such a settlement. I shall therefore humbly say to the
responsible leaders of Pakistan that though we are now two countries – which is a thing I never
wanted – we should at least try to arrive at an agreement so that we could live as peaceful
neighbors. Let us grant for the sake of argument that all Indians are bad, but Pakistan at least is a
new-born nation which has more ever come into being in the name of religion and it should at least
keep itself clean. But they themselves make no such claim. It is not their argument that Muslims
have committed no atrocities in Pakistan. I shall therefore suggest that it is now their duty, as far as
possible, to arrive at an amicable understanding with India and live in harmony with her. Mistakes
where made on both sides. Of this o have no doubt. But this does not mean that we should persist
in those mistakes, for then in the end we shall only destroy ourselves in a war and the whole of the
sub-continent will pass into the hands of some third power. That will be the worst imaginable fate
for us. I shudder to think of it. Therefore the two Dominions should come together with God as
witness and find a settlement. The matter is now before the UNO. It cannot be withdrawn from
there. But if India and Pakistan come to a settlement the big powers in the UNO will have to
endorse that settlement. They will not object to the settlement. They themselves can only say that
they will do their best to see that the two countries arrive at an understanding through mutual
discussions. Let us pray to God is to grant that we may either learn to live in amity with each other
or if we must light to let us fight to the very end. That may be folly but sooner or later it will purify us.
Now a few words about Delhi. I came to know of the incidents which took place last evening
through Brijkishan. I had gone to the Camp for the evening prayer. I came away after the prayer but
he had stayed over to talk to the people in the Camp. There are some Muslim houses at as little
distance from the Camp. About four or five hundred inmates of the Camp mostly women and
children but also some men – issued out of the Camp to take possession of the houses. I am told
they did not indulge in any kind of violence. Some of the houses were vacant. Some were occupied
by the owners. They tried to take possession even of the latter. The police were near at hand. They
immediately went to the spot and brought the situation under control at about 9 O’ clock according
to the information I have. The police have stayed on there. I understand they had to use tear gas.
Tear gas does not kill but it can be pretty painful. I am told that something has happened today
again.All I can say is that is a matter of great shame for us. Have not the refugees learnt even from
their immense suffering that they have to exercise some restraint? It is highly improper to go and
occupy other people’s houses. It is for the Government to find them shelter or whatever else their
need. Today the Government is our own. But if we defy our own Government and defy the police
and forcibly occupy houses the Government is not likely to continue for long. It is still worse that
such things should happen in the capital city of India where there are so many ambassadors from
all over the world. Do we want to show them the spectacle of people occupying what-ever they
can? It is all the more regrettable that women and children were used as a shield. It is inhuman. It is
like Muslim rulers keeping a herd of cows in the anguard of their armies to make sure that the
Hindus would not fight. It is uncivilized, barbaric behavior. It is still more barbaric to put women and
children in front to provide against the police making a lathi charge. It is abuse of womanhood. I
must humbly ask all the refugees - women and children – not to behave in this way. Let them settle
down. If they don’t, then apart from a war between Indian and Pakistan, we may kill ourselves in
mutual strife. We may lose Delhi and make ourselves the laughing-stock of the world. If we want to
keep India a free country, we must stop the things that are at present going on.
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