NEHRU AND THE MILITARY

NEHRU AND THE MILITARY

By

Maj Gen VK Singh

One of the criticisms often levelled against our first prime minister is his perceived antipathy towards men in uniform, which was the natural result of the long years spent by him in incarceration during the freedom struggle, when the military was the instrument of power used by the British to sustain their rule over India. In fact, he wanted to downsize the Indian Army to about half its size. Thanks to the operations in Jammu & Kashmir that took place soon after Independence and the Hyderabad operations, this did not come about. However, Nehru’s aversion for the military did not affect the manner in which he interacted with men in uniform on a personal level.During his frequent visits to troops in forward areas during operations or training exercises, he was extremely warm and informal as the photographs given in this collection reveal.

Prime Minister Nehrumade several visits to Jammu and Kashmir during the operations in that sector in 1947-49. Given below are three photographs taken during one of his visits to Jammu and Kashmir during 1948.

Sitting on the ground, Nehru shares a meal with others during a visit to J&K during the operations. Also in the picture: Sardar Baldev Singh (extreme left), Sheikh Abdulla (on Nehru’s right) and Major General Kalwant Singh (extreme right).

Nehru enjoys smoke on the bank of a stream. Also in the picture (left to right):unknown officer, Sardar Baldev Singh and Major General Kalwant Singh (partially hidden).

 Nehru with officers of an infantry battalion during the Kashmir operations. Also in the picture: Daljit Singh (third from left), Sukhdev Singh (fourth from left), Atma Singh (on Nehru’s left), Sadar Baldev Singh (fourth from right), Colonel Harbaksh Singh (third from right), and Major General Kalwant Singh (second from right).

        Apart from his visits to Jammu and Kashmir during the operations, Nehru frequently visited troops during training exercises. Given below are some photographs taken during one of his visits in the period 1953-55, when General MaharajRajendraSinhji was the Chief of Army Staff.

Nehru is offered a snack by a jawan. Notice the enamel plate and the dungarees worn by the soldier, who is probably a langri (cook’s assistant).  The Army Chief, General Maharaj Rajendra Sinhji smiles at Nehru’s comments.

Nehru, wearing a jungle hat, is briefed by a brigade commander during an exercise. Also in the picture (from left to right); HM Patel, General Maharaj Rajendra Sinhji (COAS), an IAF officer and Lt Gen KS Thimayya (Army Commander).

Nehru is briefed by officers of 1 Armoured Division during an exercise. Also in the picture (from left to right): Major General SPP Thorat, Lt Gen KS Thimayya (partially hidden, General Maharaj Rajendra Sinhji and an IAF officer. 

Brigadier SHFJ Manekshaw briefs the Prime Minister on a map on the bonnet of a jeep. Also in the picture (from left to right); HM Patel, Lt Gen KS Thimayya, Lt Col Ranbir Bakshi (on Nehru’s left), Major General SPP Thorat, Air Marshal MM Engineer and General Maharaj Rajendra Sinhji. This photo was probably taken in 1953-54, when Sam was commanding 167 Infantry Brigade in Ferozepore.

 Nehru shares a joke during a briefing on a sand model. Also in the picture (from left to right): Lt Gen KS Thimayya (looking away),Maj Gen SD Verma, General Maharaj Rajendra Sinhji, Major General SPP Thorat and HM Patel.

        During Thimayya’s tenure as COAS, relations between him and Krishna Menon, the Defence Minister, were frosty. However, his relations with Nehru continued to warm at least upto the point when he resigned and later withdrew his resignation. The photographs below tell the story better than any written word.

Nehru is received by General Thimayya at a ceremonial parade. Also in the picture (left to right): Sardar Surjit Singh Majithia and young Sanjay Gandhi.

Nehru with Krishna Menon, Surjit Singh Majithia and General Thimayya. Note Thimayya’s look of disdain towards Krishna Menon and the sombre visages of Nehru and Majithia. 

Nehru with Krishna Menon and General Thimayya. Timmy has his hand on his heart and Nehru is all attention. Krishna Menon is obviously not relishing whatever Thimayya is saying.

These photographs have been obtained courtesy the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML). The captions have been written by the author himself, with the assistance of several veterans who served during the Nehru era, including Lt Gen SK Sinha. Several names, especially of civilians and IAF officers are missing and some may even be wrong. Readers are requested to correct these mistakes and fill in the missing names, if known.