Ram Chandra Kak
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Ram Chandra Kak (5 June 1893 – 10 February 1983) was the
prime minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
of Jammu and Kashmir during 1945–1947. One of the very few Kashmiri Pandits to ever hold that post, Kak had the intractable job of navigating the troubled waters of the transfer of power from British Raj to the independent dominions of
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
and
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
. He handled the activism of the state's political parties, the National Conference and Muslim Conference, and warded off pressure from the new dominions for the accession of the state. He advised the Maharaja to stay independent for at least a year before making the final decision. His actions were highly unpopular with the state's activist Muslims, and he was dismissed from the post of prime minister shortly before the independence of India and Pakistan in August 1947. Kak was also a pioneering
archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...
who excavated the major sites of antiquities in
Kashmir Valley The Kashmir Valley, also known as the ''Vale of Kashmir'', is an intermontane valley concentrated in the Kashmir Division of the Indian- union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The valley is bounded on the southwest by the Pir Panjal Range and ...
and wrote a definitive treatise on them.


Early life

Ram Chandra Kak was the second among seven children (four sons and three daughters) of Keshav Lal Kak (b. 1873) —a money-lender and part time trader— and Bhageshwari Devi. He spent his early life in the Gurguri Mohalla of Srinagar. Kak graduated from
Sri Pratap College Sri Pratap College, commonly known as SP College, is an academic and professional college in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The college has been accredited by NAAC with an 'A' Grade. It is the oldest institute of higher education in the ...
in 1913 and enrolled for a M. A., before being selected for training in archaeology. From 1914 to 1919, Kak trained under
John Marshall John Marshall (September 24, 1755July 6, 1835) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the fourth Chief Justice of the United States from 1801 until his death in 1835. He remains the longest-serving chief justice and fourth-longes ...
.


Career

After training, Kak was appointed as the superintendent of the newly established Department of Archaeology, before being promoted to the Director. He also served as the curator of
SPS Museum The Shri Pratap Singh Museum, commonly known as the SPS Museum, is a museum in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Established in 1898, the museum houses a collection of over 80,000 objects from various regions in Northern India. Description ...
, and Librarian of Maharaja Hari Singh's private library.


Political administration

Kak was appointed to the post of Chief Secretary in 1934, followed by Inspector General of Customs & Excise in 1935. In 1938, he was inducted as the "Political Advisor" to the Maharaja, and then as the Minister of Military Affairs in 1941. He held the role of "minister-in-waiting" for the Maharaja Hari Singh during 1942–1945. He served as the prime minister of Jammu and Kashmir from June 1945 until 11 August 1947, during the key transitional period when the British were preparing for departure from India.


1946

In 1946, as the National Conference (NC) began the Quit Kashmir movement against the Maharaja, Kak declared martial law and had all leaders arrested on 20 May.
Sheikh Abdullah Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah (5 December 1905 – 8 September 1982) was an Indian politician who played a central role in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir Abdullah was the founding leader of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (later rena ...
was soon sentenced to imprisonment for three years.
Jawaharlal Nehru Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (; ; ; 14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964) was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist, social democrat— * * * * and author who was a central figure in India during the middle of the 20t ...
attempted to appear as his defence counsel but his entry to Srinagar was blocked by Kak on 21 July. Kak remained defiant despite multiple Congress leaders requesting him to have Abdullah released. Kak, in an unpublished memoir on the accession-disputes, claims to have been ill-disposed to these pleas because the Indian National Congress (INC) had lent its "great weight of authority" to Abdullah's misplaced agitation; INC is castigated for publishing "highly coloured, inaccurate and vituperative statements" and passing resolutions against Singh's government. These unfavorable views about INC would guide his (and Maharaja's) decision to not accede to India —rather than any fundamental objection to the accession itself—, next month. In late July, Kak met with Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel (; ; 31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950), commonly known as Sardar, was an Indian lawyer, influential political leader, barrister and statesman who served as the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of I ...
—who was to become the home minister of the
Interim Government of India The Interim Government of India, also known as the Provisional Government of India, formed on 2 September 1946 from the newly elected Constituent Assembly of India, had the task of assisting the transition of British India to independence. It ...
— but discussions did not get very far. Patel advised that Sheikh Abdullah be released from prison and steps taken to improve relations between the ruler and the people much to the displeasure of Kak, who rejected Patel's authority and jurisdiction. Patel took offence at what he called the "cold, official touch-me-not attitude" and rejected supporting any plan involving complete independence for Kashmir. Kak's initiative having ended in failure, the British Resident in Kashmir reported in November that Kashmir was likely to stay out of the Indian Union — the cited reason was "antagonism ..displayed by a Congress Central Government".


1947

After the Partition of India was decided in June 1947, a decision on accession became imminent.
Lord Mountbatten Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (25 June 1900 – 27 August 1979) was a British naval officer, colonial administrator and close relative of the British royal family. Mountbatten, who was of German ...
visited Kashmir in June (19–23 June) and coaxed Kak as well as Singh into choosing a side while guaranteeing the continuance of constitutional monarchy; on being asked by Kak about the "right choice", he hinted in favor of Pakistan. However, accession to Pakistan did not appeal to Kak and he concluded that "since Kashmir ''would'' not accede to Pakistan, it ''could'' not accede to India". Kak advised the Maharaja of Kashmir to remain independent for at least a year, before deciding on the issue of accession. In July, Kak met the leaders of INC and Muslim League at New Delhi.
Jinnah Muhammad Ali Jinnah (, ; born Mahomedali Jinnahbhai; 25 December 1876 – 11 September 1948) was a barrister, politician, and the founder of Pakistan. Jinnah served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until the ...
, coordinating the accession of princely states to Pakistan, promised lucrative terms on an immediate deal but Kak stood by his earlier position. Jinnah did not mind as long as Kashmir did not accede to India. Kak also met V. P. Menon, the secretary in charge of princely states for India, and would later claim to have had him convinced about Kashmir's reasons for not acceding on an immediate basis; India was also apparently requested to help with the state's 'security arrangements'. In contrast, Menon would hold Kak's replies to be evasive and note that "he could neither understand the man aknor fathom his game". General Henry Scott, the Chief of Staff of State Forces, in his last report opined that Kak favored independence but closer ties with Pakistan. On 1 August 1947, Gandhi visited Kashmir and pointed out to Kak how unpopular he was among the people. In response, Kak offered to resign. However, the Maharaja —who was increasingly against joining Pakistan due to a variety of reasons and trying to repair relationships with INC— is believed to have already decided, a few weeks earlier, to dismiss Kak for being an impediment in the process, and declare general amnesty to political prisoners.


= Dismissal

= Kak was dismissed as Prime Minister on 11 August 1947 in open-court and put under house arrest; he was replaced with Janak Singh. All senior officials such as the Chief Secretary, the Chief of the Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police were also replaced by less experienced people from the Maharaja's own community, in what Kak would describe as the "decapitation" of State administration. According to Scott, the Maharaja acted under influence of the Deputy Prime Minister M L. Batra, a Hindu
swami Swami ( ; sometimes abbreviated sw.) in Hinduism is an honorific title given to a male or female ascetic who has chosen the path of renunciation (''sanyāsa''), or has been initiated into a religious monastic order of Vaishnavas. It is used eith ...
, and the Maharani's brother Nachint Chand, all of whom wanted Kashmir to join India at the earliest. Kak would return to the Maharaja's service a few weeks later, though not as the prime minister. On September 14, Singh informed Kak about forming a committee to enquire into his actions as the erstwhile Prime-Minister of the state; Kak declined to participate. On 16 September, Kak attempted to leave the state along with his family, having arranged a flight with help from Scott.Mahajan, Mehr Chand (1963), Looking Back: The Autobiography of Mehr Chand Mahajan, Former Chief Justice of India, Asia Publishing House, pp. 124–125 But his departure was blocked by the Maharaja, and he was put under house arrest. However, with Scott's support, his family was allowed to leave on 22 September.


Trial

After the tribal invasion in October, the Maharaja had moved to Jammu and finally released Sheikh Adbdullah, who was appointed as the Head of Emergency Administration in Srinagar. Kak's detention was continued and he was moved to the Badami Bagh. Kak's wife, Margaret Kak, lobbied with the Mountbattens arguing for Kak's release and even
Stafford Cripps Sir Richard Stafford Cripps (24 April 1889 – 21 April 1952) was a British Labour Party politician, barrister, and diplomat. A wealthy lawyer by background, he first entered Parliament at a by-election in 1931, and was one of a handful of La ...
in London raised it with Jawaharlal Nehru. Sheikh Abdullah's administration maintained that they had evidence that Kak was hobnobbing with the Pakistani raiders and agents. In his autobiography,
Sheikh Abdullah Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah (5 December 1905 – 8 September 1982) was an Indian politician who played a central role in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir Abdullah was the founding leader of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (later rena ...
held that Kak believed Kashmir, being a Muslim majority state, was bound to accede to Pakistan and prepared to be in its service; nonetheless, he praised Kak for maintaining good relations with the ruling circles in Pakistan. Kak was tied to hay-ropes and paraded through the streets, as NC aligned Kashmiris heckled him. In April 1948, he was tried for three criminal offenses — he was acquitted on two counts but convicted of the third, and jailed. He was pardoned (and released), arguably under pressure from Delhi, but on the condition that he may never enter Kashmir without permission of the state. Kak retired from public life, and migrated to
Kasauli Kasauli is a town and cantonment, located in Solan district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The cantonment was established by the British Raj in 1842 as a Colonial hill station,Sharma, Ambika"Architecture of Kasauli churches" ''The Trib ...
. On 3 December 1959, the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court — Syed Murtaza Fazl Ali— voided the externment order upon an appeal from Kak but rejected his petition to be paid due pension (with arrears) since termination, amounting to Rs. 91466. The court held that the Government had exercised reasonable discretion in withholding pensions from someone, convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude. Kak returned back to Kashmir, but alternated between Srinagar and Kasauli.


Personal life

Ram Chandra Kak married Janaki Devi (b. 1894) in 1901. They had five sons —Shailendra, Narendra, Brijendra, Surendra, and Khemendra— and a daughter, who died in infancy. They had also adopted Kak's grand-niece Lila. Devi died in 1928, from
tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...
. In 1935, Kak married Margaret Mary. Khemendra, a pilot for the
Royal Indian Air Force The Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) was the aerial force of British India and later the Dominion of India. Along with the Indian Army, and Royal Indian Navy, it was one of the Armed Forces of British Indian Empire. The Indian Air Force was offi ...
, died in 1945 of a air-crash near
Risalpur Risalpur (Pashto/ ur, رسالپور) is a city in Nowshera District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, on the Nowshera-Mardan Road. It is nearly 45 km from Peshawar and 18 km from Mardan and is located at 34°4'52N 71°58'21E. In a basin so ...
; this affected Kak considerably.


Academics

Ram Chandra Kak was in possession of the two complete
Sharada script The Śāradā, Sarada or Sharada script is an abugida writing system of the Brahmic family of scripts. The script was widespread between the 8th and 12th centuries in the northwestern parts of Indian Subcontinent (in Kashmir and neighbourin ...
copies of the
Nilamata Purana The Nilamata Purana ( sa, नीलमत पुराण, translit=nīlamata purāṇa), also known as the ''Kasmira Mahatmya'', is an ancient text (6th to 8th century CE) from Kashmir which contains information on its history, geography, religio ...
, when a critical edition was being prepared by K. de Vreese. Kak wrote a treatise on Kashmiri archaeology titled ''Ancient monuments of Kashmir'' in 1933;
Francis Younghusband Lieutenant Colonel Sir Francis Edward Younghusband, (31 May 1863 – 31 July 1942) was a British Army officer, explorer, and spiritual writer. He is remembered for his travels in the Far East and Central Asia; especially the 1904 British ...
wrote the foreword to the book. The book focused on the destruction of temples by Muslim rulers to such an extent, that he was compelled by the publisher to expunge certain "irrelevant" passages lest communal harmony was affected; a chapter on political history of Kashmir portrayed the centuries of Islamic rule as "one of unmitigated plunder, barbarism, and iconoclasm." Historian Mridu Rai notes his work to fit into the usual scheme of the State Archaeological Department in privileging Hindus over the Muslims by various direct and indirect means; Ananya Jahanara Kabir reiterates such observations.


Books

* * *


Notes


References


Bibliography

* * * ** *


External links


Jammu and Kashmir Dilemma of Accession (A Historical Analysis and Lesson)
(Excerpts), Exotic India, 2018. {{DEFAULTSORT:Kak, Ram Chandra 1893 births 1983 deaths 20th-century Indian archaeologists Scientists from Jammu and Kashmir Kashmiri people Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) 20th-century Indian politicians Indian social sciences writers People of the 1947 Kashmir conflict