The Army is the Biggest Stake Holder in India's Unity
India became free in 1947. It was a gift from the English and thus one can say that that freedom came to India without a fight. One should have no illusions, that the satyagraha and non-cooperagion movement launched by Gandhi brought freedom. Probably if the Second World War and Hitler had not appeared on the scene, Indians would have still been singing "God save the Queen".
The Second World War so emaciated England and with the main instrument of power, the army suspect, England lost the will to hold India. Gandhi and his harmless movements were never a factor. From 200 years of English rule, one can learn that one factor by which they controlled not only India, but far away possessions like Zanzibar, Shanghai and Singapore was the British Indian army. This was a mercenary force, but a voluntary force staffed by so called martial races like Sikhs, Dogras, Rajputs, Jats, Gurkha and others. The British Indian army was the biggest factor in their spread of the British Empire and subsequent rule. Its loyality to the king and England was without doubt. The British Indian army was used to quell the Boxer Rebellion in China and police Hongkong. It was also used in the invasion of Tibet and the campaign against the Turks during World War I.
The Indian army was also a factor in India and the British controlled India through a string of cantonments. The army was used as and when required to scare Indians like the action in Jallianwala Bagh by General Dyer. Thus the one factor that perpetuated English rule was the British Indian army.
India inherited the British structure after 1947. Nehru became prime minister, but sadly he had no concept of economics or the potent use of military power. One wishes he had read Mao and his Red Book.
In 1947, India was a relatively peaceful place. Nehru should have strengthened the army, but fearing a military coup like in Burma and Pakistan, he neglected the army. Thus the very instrument by which the English ruled India was allowed to go to seed. He is guilty of having reduced the finest fighting machine in Asia to a paper tiger.
Nehru also failed to comprehend the importance of integration of the North East with areas like Nagaland, Manipur and in the North Aksai Chin and Kashmir with India. These areas on the peripheri of India were neglected. China occupied Aksai Chin and in 1955 the Naga leader AZ Phizo raised the banner of independence. He started an armed revolt that continues till today. The insurrection spread to other areas of the North East and Nehru had no choice but to deploy the army. The Indian army is now battling insurgency in all the North Eastern states, who want to secede from India. One reason is the failure to open up these areas and lack of economic development. Also obnoxious regulations like inner line permits for Indians to visit these areas created an insular feeling among the locals, who began to see themselves as different from Indians.
The situation now has reached the nadir. The army is now deployed in the entire North East and Kashmir. It is the biggest stake holder in the unity of India. Its a sobering thought that a withdrawal from these areas may well mean a break up of India. How long will this continue? Its a guess that I cant hazard.
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