RE: Who is or was Lord Birdwood?

[Kartik Ramachandran <ramachan@grinnell.edu>]

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"Two Nations and Kashmir" was published in 1956 by Richard Clay & Company
Ltd., Bungay, Suffolk. I am not adequately informed regarding the background
of the author, Lord Birdwood, but I believe that he had lived in India for a
considerable period, and had been an observer to the events that took place
in
Kashmir before independence and till 1955.

     I don't think that the book is widely available, but it is a wealth of
information. It is of special value since it's primary objective is to be a
historical narrative of the issue, rather than an empirical attempt at
reaching a solution. Since it is a historical narrative, it would be
impossible to summarise the sequence of events, which is what is to be taken
away from it.

     I think it is imperative to be extremely cautious when examining the
circumstances surrounding the accession of Kashmir to India. While there is
considerable speculation regarding the extent of Pakistan's role in the
tribal
invasion in 1948, Birdwood is very clear in indicating that it is unlikely
that the Pakistan government had much to do with it. There definitely is no
credibility to the allegation that the tribesmen were pakistani regulars, or
under orders from the Pak government. In contrast, there is a wide array of
literature in India which makes that very allegation. And all the Pakistani
authors of Kashmir accounts that I have read go to great lengths to indicate
that there was never any involvement with the tribesmen. Pakistani authors
have also tended to obscure the entry of the Pakistan army into the valley
during the war, attempting to push the date of their involvement as far
forward as possible.

     To me, the purpose of this discussion on Kashmir is relevant to the
extent that India's policy in the valley should not presuppose the common
indian view of integrating a state which we may well have misgoverned to an
extent that denies us the moral authority to rule there. While this is not a
pro-plebiscite or pro-independence argument, I think that our consideration
of
Kashmir should not start with certain objectives in mind (of governance,
"integration", maintaining the Indian government's presence, etc), until we
are sure that we have the right to have those objectives.

     Kartik Ramachandran


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