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JENKINS CORRESPONDENCE WITH MOUNTBATTEN ON PUNJAB IN 1947

Abstract

Jenkins correspondence with Mountbatten is very important from the point of view of the topic of this research. In-depth analysis of the telegrams, fortnightly reports, letters and finally memoranda, help us in understanding the actual situation behind the scene. It clearly depicts the callous approach of the British towards the Indians. When actually they had to decide something, they shirked from their responsibilities. Mountbatten’s, Jenkins’s and Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck’s main concern was to send home safely their own forces and citizens. The British ranks and files were tired and exhausted after the Second World War and communal affairs had taxed their endurance level to the hilt. However, the British would not like to accept who actually brought India to this conflagration. They laid all blame on the shoulders of Muslim and non-Muslim communal groups. The other factor on which they had focused their attention was to keep the new states in the Commonwealth of Nations. Mountbatten was dealing with Nehru and Jinnah quite tactfully. Jinnah was adamant to secure separate homeland for the Muslims, but he was given a truncated Pakistan. Nehru demanded united India. Mountbatten showed him the glimpse of India after transfer of power in an early draft, which depicted India as fragmented. Nehru was flabbergasted. To cool him down V.P.Menon was invited at Mashobra (Kashmir) and the new plan was drafted. With hindsight, it seemed that Mountbatten was trying to keep the two leaders under his influence by showing them the bleaker side of the picture if they did not act on his advice.

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