Thread by @indmilitarynews

A revolt of Navy that would have stopped Partition of #India - A thread.

On the slight autumn day of 18 Feburary 1946 a revolt broke out in Royal Indian Navy by the Sailors. Britishers after World War 2 started to reduce the numbers of sailors. Again it’s simple use and throw policy used here. The numbers were to be reduced from 27, 650 to 11,000.

Reasons sailors revolted were:
• Wages were low.
• Food quality was terrible.
• Indian sailors were ill treated by the British officers.
• Britishers called Indian sailors who supported them in World War 2, colies, black bastards.
• Racism in the RNI was at it’s peak.

INA soldiers were captured and put in jails even though there were fighting the Britishers and were labelled as traitors.

This angered and added more spark to RNI sailors who were Indians and inspired them more for revolt.

In response to all the atrocious behaviour the the sailors of RNI revolted and started saluting the officers with left hand. They went on and painted walls with Quit India slogan.

Couple of days later this revolt spread like fire in the naval establishments in #Karachi, Madras, #Visakhapatnam, #Calcutta, #Delhi, #Cochin, #Jamnagar, #Andaman and many other.

78 War Ships and 20,000 sailors went on strike.

From the navy it spread in the common people and civillians were on street supporting the navy and footing tall against the British. A new rage and Josh of independence came alive which was brutally murdered in so called Ahinsa movements.

#Mumbai and #Karachi population were on streets in large number. Britishers asked police of respective cities to act but even the police officials turned their back to Britishers and supported the Navy and people.

Then in this picture British Indian Army was called. They were ordered to fire indiscriminately on the people of Mumbai. Offical records says only 200 people lost their lives but unofficial toll rises up 1K. It came to be known as #Bombay Massacre. This happened even in #Karachi

What were our political leaders doing by that time?

Well Gandhi and Jinnha condemned this revolt of Navy.

Here is why;
By that time Britishers already announced that they would leave the country. Gandhi and Nehru (boot lickers of Britishers) condemned it for power and position.

And Jinnha did it for the same reason for and in different country that was going to divided in coming year.

Congress sent Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel to talk to Navy personnel. He assured no action would be taken against them and none of them will be caused any harm, if they surrendered and gave a full stop to the revolt.

When the sailors saw no political support and suppression of civillan voice they had to eventually surrendered.

By the moment they ended thier revolt they were arrested, imprisoned and court marshalled and hence word given by Patel rotted in history.

They were even tortured and forced to go through henious-ily abuse in different ways.

After Independence given, they were denied to join the Indian Navy. How could they be allowed when our Naval Chief till 1958 were Britishers.

Anyway Wing Commander Arjun Subramanyam states in his book India’s war that Government of India in 1972 recognised all 476 sailors who were penalized in various ways after the revolt were eligible for the grant of a freedom fighters pension.

Mark only 476 out of 20,000.

We could have kicked the Britishers out on our terms instead of bloody partition. It pains when I see that historian quotes this revolt as mutiny and not freedom struggle.

India wouldn’t needed to divided if the revolt was supported by other armed forces and politician but the game of greed won.