Comment of the Editor

Comment of Kashi Nath Pandita, made in Asian Age and reproduced on this blog:

Bombay, June 28, 2005 – Sir, With reference to Mukund B. Kunte’s Seafarer: A different take on Nehru (June 26), though Nehru had a keen interest in history, at best he was only a

commentator of historical events and not a historian. Naturally, his views on many great events, except of course the history of Indian National Congress’ struggle for freedom, were, unfortunately, only subjective. He was a poor evaluator of political personalities because he judged them from his own Utopian standards that did not work in realpolitik. His unsubstantiated belief that the US would not have forgotten its own war of independence against British colonial power had prompted him to take the Kashmir issue to the Security Council in 1948. No Prime Minister worth his salt would have pocketed the insult hurled on his delegation at Lake Success and would have right away withdrawn his application. This was precisely what the deposed Maharaja of Kashmir, the late Hari Singh had written about to Sardar Patel. Nehru’s myopic and conservative evaluation of Maharaja Hari Singh in 1947-1948 lies at the root of all the complications India is facing today in Kashmir. Read the letter which the late Maharaja had written to Sardar Patel in regard to the detention of Nehru at Domel and you will find Nehru totally unrealistic in his perception of the Kashmir situation in 1947 and thereafter. It shows him vengeful and far from having conquered hatred and anger, something one must do to be an outstanding statesman.