In History's Presence

A word of caution: those looking for secrets and scandals will be disappointed-though there are a few juicy tid bits to encourage the persevering reader. The first few chapters constitute a personal memoir of growing up in Kashmir-an absorbing and very readable account of the author's family, school and the Kashmiri Pandit community in the Maharaja's time. The core of the book comprises the chapter about the great events of the time, prime among which was war with Pakistan and the emergence of Bangladesh. This was Mrs Gandhi's finest hour. Prof Dhar gives an uniquely perceptive portrait of her leadership in handling the crisis. What Prof Dhar shows is that India's aim was limited to the return of the enormous number of refugees who came flooding in after Pakistan started the genocide. War became an option only at a very late stage. This was not an India waiting malevolently for an opportunity to dismember Pakistan. It was, rather, a country beset with unmanageable problems, determined not to succumb. When Pakistan finally fired the first shot, India's military campaign was swift. It was a comprehensive Indian triumph. The Pakistani army crumbled, Dr Kissinger was outwitted and Bangladesh emerged from the flames, Mrs Gandhi was supreme.

On then to Shimla, where according to some, the gains of the battlefield were frittered away at the negotiating table. Is there any truth in this? Some years ago, Prof Dhar had written a newspaper article indicating there was an unwritten agreement at Shimla between Mrs Gandhi and Z.A. Bhutto whereby the line of control would be converted by stages into an international border. This caused a stir in both countries. The present account elaborates the earlier one, and details the divided view in the Indian camp on how to manage the accord. Prof Dhar was among those who wanted a step-by-step return of captured Pakistani territory linked to implementation of the unwritten accord. The view that ultimately prevailed drew the lesson from the Versailles treaty after World War I-that an imposed settlement would only buy trouble down the line. Such a debate can never be resolved but it gave Pakistan a settlement it felt was in its favour. In any case, as the author rather sadly reflects, the deep-rooted hostility between the two countries could damage any solution.

A good portion of the book deals with the Emergency declared by Mrs Gandhi in 1975. Prof Dhar sees a prelude to this step in the progressive undermining of legal governments and state structures by movements like the Nav Nirman in Gujarat and its JP-inspired follow-up in Bihar. These brought together a motley group of activists, students and politicians with no vision beyond the desire for power. When Mrs Gandhi's election was quashed by the Allahabad High Court, the JP movement turned into a rush to unseat her, not leaving it to the courts to do their work. Mrs Gandhi's stringent reaction is seen against this background. Some will regard this as special pleading. However, the Emergency was a complex matter and an enquiry as provided by Prof Dhar is welcome.

During this period, the PM's secretariat, long used to outflanking the rest of the government, was itself outflanked by the PM's household, where Sanjay Gandhi reigned, much to his mother's detriment. But Mrs Gandhi never entirely yielded her judgment to him. It was this backdrop that led to the engrossing drama of the elections of 1977, Mrs Gandhi's debacle and the extinction of the secretariat headed by Prof Dhar. She was to come back less than three years later, but not he: his course led elsewhere.

The book does not end at this point. In an epilogue of great insight the author takes a look at the problems of democracy in India. He favours constitutional reform to provide a more stable executive without stifling democracy. And, perhaps fortuitously, these views emerge as the constitutional review panel is about to start its work. Prof Dhar's book does exactly what it sets out to: it gives a portrait of Indira Gandhi, her style of governance, of the Emergency and the practice of democracy in India. That it does so with wit and elegance adds immeasurably to its value. It is a major contribution and should be read by all those interested in India's recent history.