The Jammu massacre of 1947, in which the Hindu extremist group, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), played a pivotal role, is a mostly unexplored episode that took place immediately after the Partition. Covered by the dust of history, politics and selective narrative, the Jammu massacre of 1947 and the subsequent events present a telling story that helps to understand the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in its true historical perspective.
RSS and the Jammu Massacre
At the time of Independence, there were between 562 – 584 princely states, with the State of Jammu and Kashmir being the largest.[1]As per the Partition Plan, the rulers of these princely states were advised to accede to one of the two dominions (India or Pakistan), considering the popular sentiment of their subjects, geographical contiguity, and religious affinity of their population. In the case of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Maharaja was a Hindu, whereas the population was predominantly Muslim. For the Hindu Maharaja, the idea of joining Pakistan was an anathema. On the other hand, he knew well that the decision to join India would not be acceptable for the Muslim majority state subjects. The Maharaja, therefore, remained in a flux. The peculiar situation of Jammu and Kashmir, with majority Muslim population and a Hindu Maharaja, was of particular concern for Governor General Lord Mountbatten who visited the state in the third week of June 1947.[2] Despite Lord Mountbatten’s visit and his advice to ascertain the will of the people before deciding, the Maharaja remained indecisive and did not make a prudent choice consistent with the Partition principles.
