Naval Revolt (1946) and Congress's great betrayal

Naval Revolt was one of the greatest revolts in Indian history, inspired directly by the INA saga. Our history books are silent about the great sacrifices borne by the revolutionaries and the price that they had to pay. The books are also silent about another fact - the great betrayal of the politicians, esp. of Indian National Congress leaders which included Gandhi, Nehru and Patel. Jinnah's communal betrayal is anyway legendary but of Gandhi, Nehru? Of Sardar Patel - the iron man who has now the tallest statue? Well, history was written by favour seekers, not by truth seekers. That is the reason why naval revolt has been relegated to the darkest corner and we do not even remember one of the greatest events of our nation. Does Indian Navy celebrate it? Don't think so - to Navy the mutineers are traitors, just as for a long time INA was just an army of traitors to the Indian Army leadership who had to seek favour from their own political bosses.

Let us now recollect what happened during the Naval Revolt and its aftermath. Let us once again soak ourselves in the saga of many betrayals that Congress subjected us to - the political party that has been credited in all history book for bringing us independence - how that party actually worked against the national interest at each and every step and still, surprisingly, got the honor of being responsible for bringing us freedom. 

The Naval revolt had begun in February 1946. Although first triggered by substandard food and treatment meted out by British officers to the Indian Ratings in one ship HMIS Talwar, led by MS Khan and Madan Singh. Soon the news of the mutiny spread to the others ports of Calcutta, Kochi, Vizag, Karachi and also to the barracks. In Karachi the revolt broke out on the board of HMIS Hindustan. The mutineers brought down the Union Jack, got hold of the guns and had a well coordinated attack. Guns were trained on the Taj Mahal Hotel. Thousands joined the protests from across the ranks. Bristish officers were forced to shout Jai Hind. The mutineers had been inspired by INA and carried the posters of Subhas Chandra Bose. Their demand included releasing on INA prisoners of war. Royal Air force joined them in solidarity. The Gurkhas in Karachi and Mumbai refused to fire on the mutineers. It was one of the most well coordinated revolt. Tricolors were hoisted on the ships by the ratings. 

They pleaded with Congress leaders to support their movement, only to be cold shouldered. Gandhi opposed them and advised them to surrender. Muslim League was alarmed by such solidarity shown by Hindus and Muslims and Jinnah denied any support. So did other leaders of the Congress, including Nehru and Patel. All of them had one piece of advise for the mutineers - "surrender and we'll help you." Some support came from Socialist party but it was mild. By then British had mustered their support and were in a position to attack. Hindustan had set up spirited defense but how long could they hold back against a well armed British navy and airforce which was joined by other allied forces! Moreover their political leadership was not supporting them. Both Muslim League and Congress felt threatened that their ground were being taken away by INA inspired revolts and they actively backstabbed the revolutionaries. Naturally the revolt was dealt with ruthlessly. Several ratings were killed. Most were dismissed from service. But this revolt shook the British Government. Years later Clement Attlee confessed that British could not hold back in India on account of the army and the navy revolt. The military support from India was the base of the British empire and that support base had crumbled on account of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and INA. They could not trust the military any more. So they had to quit India. When asked about Gandhi's impact on the decision to leave India, Attlee responded, "minimal". - So much about the "Sawarmati ke sant" who gave us "azadi bin kharga bin dhal" as per the propaganda that we have heard since independence.

So next time when you are going to vote for the Congress, think of their betrayals to the nation, if you have any conscience. Think of their mastery in propaganda and how they had hijacked an entire country's history for 70 years to fill it with garbage and to relegate the real heroes to the dustbin of memory. And remember, you will share their sins and the blood of our revolutionaries an mutineers will be in your hand too!