As I awoke this morning, the 27th October, that I greeted Honourable Hameed Haroon, the former CEO, Dawn Media Group over his 72th Birthday. Dawn has many feats under his capable leadership, one was his series of interview with historic personalities for his City FM 89.
It was through his courtesy that I had the honour to meet Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, both second generation stalwarts of Kashmiri cause. Incidentally, both knew my family on that side of the divide but many will not know the relevance of this date and the family to Kashmir and its struggle for independence.
Maharaja Heera Singh, the then ruler used to trust his Muslim family friend Prince Sardar Abdur Rehman Khan Effendi, who was settled in Srinagar and treated as a King in waiting by the British to replace his cousin King Aman Ullah Khan in Afghanistan something he declined by recommending his other cousin Sardar Nadir Shah father of last King Of Afghanistan Zahir Shah, then serving in France as Afghanistan’s ambassador.
Maharaja Heera Singh, having secured stand still agreement with both India and Pakistan, dispatched my grandfather Prince Sardar Abdur Rehman Khan Effendi, as his special envoy to negotiate the terms of accession with Pakistan. While on way from Srinagar to Rawalpindi, he was greeted by groups of armed tribals at Bara Mulla . On inquiry, he was informed by his driver that they were Mijahideen on way to liberate Kashmir.
As luck will have it, one of his sons Capt Arham Khan Effendi (7FF) had opted for Pakistan Army and was leading one of the Mijahideen groups while his other brother Capt Akram Khan Effendi stationed at Srinagar offered the Mijahideen help with bullock carts to block the airfield, in case the British General Gracey under Lord Mount batten decides to intervene. Unfortunately, my uncle was arrested on suspicion of being a spy and brought to Pakistan, where on my grandfather’s verification, he was released .
Meanwhile, my grandfather tried in vain to reach the concerned at the power corridors to be discouraged by late Liaquat Ali Khan, who believed Kashmir issue could be solved through military intervention which unfortunately was not to be the case. Meanwhile, the Indian troops arrived air borne the only route connecting mainland India with Kashmir and sadly Kashmir was lost this day, 27th October 1947.
Not only Kashmir was lost but our large estate including the palatial house of my grandfather confiscated and declared as enemy’s property leaving him homeless on this side of the divide. Karan Singh, the former Indian President and son of Mahraja Heera Singh, made a reference to my grandfather in his book Heir Apparent about his villainous role of winning over his father( Mahraja Heera Singh) to accede to Pakistan . Long Live Pakistan For Whose Birth Many Sacrificed Their Homes To Build Separate Homes For The Muslims 🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰
