Frankly, in strictly historical terms, Bose emerges as primarily responsible for Indian independence — even more perhaps than Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru. This is borne out by the testimony of the-then British Prime Minister Clement Attlee. Despite this, to fight the ghost of the INA and its legendary founder, Nehru created the contrived myth about how soft power alone had single handedly got India its freedom. He actually believed his own myth and this led him to virtually despise the military and he did his best to emasculate it. As a trained lawyer, he had great faith in his oratory to move the UN and other international bodies. This new legal paradigm, he felt, would rule the discourse between nations and the use of force would be eliminated. Hence, his soft power alone would suffice and India needed no standing armed forces, only police forces. The J&K war in 1947-48 and the Hyderabad operations made it impossible for him to have his way and realists like Vallabhbhai Patel were able to dissuade him. After Patels demise, Nehrus pathological dislike for the army came to the fore, especially after the military coup in Pakistan. He set about emasculating the military leadership, starving the military of resources and set in train the tragic events that would bring about the humiliation of 1962. He could not live it down and died a broken man. Fortunately, his successors, especially his daughter, turned realist with a vengeance and saved the Republic. Courtesy The Sunday Guardian
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 12:38:24 +0000
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