Kashmir, a forgotten commentary from 1947

The story of Kashmir from the years that only a few remember... #tbt

Transcript

00:00Tribesmen from the Northwest had been advancing towards Srinagar from the mountainous frontier.

00:04Reinforcements had been sent up by the Hindustan government to fight them,

00:07and a number of engagements have since been reported.

00:10Peace in Kashmir, at any rate, had virtually been restored

00:13when the nearby town of Baramulla had been taken by Indian forces.

00:17In his address, Pandit Nehru paid tribute to small and grown-up soldiers,

00:21and to the people of Srinagar, for their defense of the city last October.

00:25Our latest film dispatches from India include this sidelight on the trouble in Kashmir.

00:32The pictures show a number of British civilians boarding RAF planes on the airfield at Srinagar.

00:38Arrangements had been made by the United Kingdom High Commissioner to fly out those who wish to leave,

00:43and Dakotas of No. 31 Squadron are seen on the job.

00:46A good many British, however, preferred to stay on in Kashmir, in spite of the situation developing there.

00:59Tribesmen from the Northwest had been advancing towards Srinagar from the mountainous frontier.

01:03Reinforcements had been sent up by the Hindustan government to fight them,

01:07and a number of engagements have since been reported.

01:09Kashmir used to be one of the chief health resorts for Europeans in India.

01:16Mr. Nehru, Prime Minister of India, was warmly welcomed by Sheikh Abdullah,

01:20Premier of Jammu and Kashmir, on his arrival at Srinagar.

01:24He had come to see for himself that the situation in Kashmir was now well in hand.

01:32He is seen inspecting the Guard of Honour formed by Kashmir state troops.

01:43When the Maharaja of Kashmir, better known to us perhaps as Sahari Singh, came over from Jammu,

01:48the meeting of the two men seemed friendly enough,

01:51though when Mr. Nehru went to the state last year, he had been arrested and forced to leave by the Maharaja.

01:56Peace in Kashmir, at any rate, had virtually been restored

01:59when the nearby town of Baramulla had been taken by Indian forces.

02:08And now, streaming in from Baramulla and the neighbourhood,

02:11thousands of people collected to give Pandit Nehru a tremendous welcome.

02:15He first addressed a large crowd in what is known as the Red Square in Srinagar.

02:25Afterwards, his ride through the streets of the town was obviously an impromptu triumphal procession.

02:39Kashmir has been celebrating its new independence

02:42with a whole week of festivities and ceremonies in which India's Prime Minister, Pandit Nehru, took part.

02:47A parade at Srinagar included units of the Women's National Guard,

02:51whose enthusiasm will no doubt soon perfect their drill.

02:58Mr. Nehru made a full inspection of the various militiamen

03:01who have joined up to help in clearing out raiders still coming in from Pakistan.

03:06And the keenness of all Kashmiris was well displayed by some extremely youthful soldiers on parade.

03:11In his address, Pandit Nehru paid tribute to small and grown-up soldiers

03:16and to the people of Srinagar for their defence of the city last October.

03:20The procession of boats down the river Jhelum, which was attended by India's Premier,

03:24was certainly the most picturesque of the week's festivities.