Ram Chandra Kak

Kak was appointed to the post of Chief Secretary in 1934, followed by Inspector General of Customs & Excise in 1935.[3] In 1938, he was inducted as the "Political Advisor" to the Maharaja, and then as the Minister of Military Affairs in 1941.[3] He held the role of "minister-in-waiting" for the Maharaja Hari Singh during 1942–1945.[3] He served as the prime minister of Jammu and Kashmir from June 1945 until 11 August 1947, during the key transitional period when the British were preparing for departure from India.[6]

In 1946, as the National Conference (NC) began the Quit Kashmir movement against the Maharaja, Kak declared martial law and had all leaders arrested on 20 May.[7] Sheikh Abdullah was soon sentenced to imprisonment for three years. Jawaharlal Nehru attempted to appear as his defence counsel but his entry to Srinagar was blocked by Kak on 21 July.[lower-alpha 1] Kak remained defiant despite multiple Congress leaders requesting him to have Abdullah released.[8][9][lower-alpha 2]

Kak, in an unpublished memoir on the accession-disputes, claims to have been ill-disposed to these pleas because the Indian National Congress (INC) had lent its "great weight of authority" to Abdullah's misplaced agitation; INC is castigated for publishing "highly coloured, inaccurate and vituperative statements" and passing resolutions against Singh's government.[9][lower-alpha 3] These unfavorable views about INC would guide his (and Maharaja's) decision to not accede to India —rather than any fundamental objection to the accession itself—, next month.[9][12] In late July, Kak met with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel —who was to become the home minister of the Interim Government of India— but discussions did not get very far. Patel advised that Sheikh Abdullah be released from prison and steps taken to improve relations between the ruler and the people much to the displeasure of Kak, who rejected Patel's authority and jurisdiction.[lower-alpha 4] Patel took offence at what he called the "cold, official touch-me-not attitude" and rejected supporting any plan involving complete independence for Kashmir.[13]

Kak's initiative having ended in failure, the British Resident in Kashmir reported in November that Kashmir was likely to stay out of the Indian Union — the cited reason was "antagonism [...] displayed by a Congress Central Government".[13]

After the Partition of India was decided in June 1947, a decision on accession became imminent. Lord Mountbatten visited Kashmir in June (19–23 June) and coaxed Kak as well as Singh into choosing a side while guaranteeing the continuance of constitutional monarchy; on being asked by Kak about the "right choice", he hinted in favor of Pakistan.[14][12] However, accession to Pakistan did not appeal to Kak and he concluded that "since Kashmir would not accede to Pakistan, it could not accede to India".[12][lower-alpha 5] Kak advised the Maharaja of Kashmir to remain independent for at least a year, before deciding on the issue of accession.

In July, Kak met the leaders of INC and Muslim League at New Delhi.[12] Jinnah, coordinating the accession of princely states to Pakistan, promised lucrative terms on an immediate deal but Kak stood by his earlier position.[12] Jinnah did not mind as long as Kashmir did not accede to India.[15][12] Kak also met V. P. Menon, the secretary in charge of princely states for India, and would later claim to have had him convinced about Kashmir's reasons for not acceding on an immediate basis; India was also apparently requested to help with the state's 'security arrangements'.[16][lower-alpha 6] In contrast, Menon would hold Kak's replies to be evasive and note that "he could neither understand the man [Kak] nor fathom his game". General Henry Scott, the Chief of Staff of State Forces, in his last report opined that Kak favored independence but closer ties with Pakistan.[6][lower-alpha 7]

On 1 August 1947, Gandhi visited Kashmir and pointed out to Kak how unpopular he was among the people. In response, Kak offered to resign.[17][lower-alpha 8] However, the Maharaja —who was increasingly against joining Pakistan due to a variety of reasons[lower-alpha 9] and trying to repair relationships with INC— is believed to have already decided, a few weeks earlier, to dismiss Kak for being an impediment in the process, and declare general amnesty to political prisoners.[18]

Kak was dismissed as Prime Minister on 11 August 1947 in open-court and put under house arrest; he was replaced with Janak Singh. All senior officials such as the Chief Secretary, the Chief of the Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police were also replaced by less experienced people from the Maharaja's own community, in what Kak would describe as the "decapitation" of State administration.[15] According to Scott, the Maharaja acted under influence of the Deputy Prime Minister M L. Batra, a Hindu swami, and the Maharani's brother Nachint Chand, all of whom wanted Kashmir to join India at the earliest.[19]

Kak would return to the Maharaja's service a few weeks later, though not as the prime minister.[20] On September 14, Singh informed Kak about forming a committee to enquire into his actions as the erstwhile Prime-Minister of the state; Kak declined to participate.[21] On 16 September, Kak attempted to leave the state along with his family, having arranged a flight with help from Scott.[22] But his departure was blocked by the Maharaja, and he was put under house arrest.[22] However, with Scott's support, his family was allowed to leave on 22 September.[21][lower-alpha 10]

After the tribal invasion in October, the Maharaja had moved to Jammu and finally released Sheikh Adbdullah, who was appointed as the Head of Emergency Administration in Srinagar. Kak's detention was continued and he was moved to the Badami Bagh. Kak's wife, Margaret Kak, lobbied with the Mountbattens arguing for Kak's release and even Stafford Cripps in London raised it with Jawaharlal Nehru. Sheikh Abdullah's administration maintained that they had evidence that Kak was hobnobbing with the Pakistani raiders and agents.[25] In his autobiography, Sheikh Abdullah held that Kak believed Kashmir, being a Muslim majority state, was bound to accede to Pakistan and prepared to be in its service; nonetheless, he praised Kak for maintaining good relations with the ruling circles in Pakistan.[26]

Kak was tied to hay-ropes and paraded through the streets, as NC aligned Kashmiris heckled him.[27] In April 1948, he was tried for three criminal offenses — he was acquitted on two counts but convicted of the third, and jailed.[28] He was pardoned (and released), arguably under pressure from Delhi, but on the condition that he may never enter Kashmir without permission of the state.[22][28] Kak retired from public life, and migrated to Kasauli.[22]

On 3 December 1959, the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court —Syed Murtaza Fazl Ali— voided the externment order upon an appeal from Kak but rejected his petition to be paid due pension (with arrears) since termination, amounting to Rs. 91466.[28] The court held that the Government had exercised reasonable discretion in withholding pensions from someone, convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude.[28] Kak returned back to Kashmir, but alternated between Srinagar and Kasauli.[3]