THE JEWEL OF INDIA AND THE BATTENBERGS
It was a warm evening in the March 1946 in Singapore. After the day’s work at the SEAC headquarters, Louis went to his residence. He had a shower and changed into a new uniform, put his legs up in a cane lounge chair and has his evening drink.
Edwina’s maid came in –‘Your lordship. Lady Edwina is not feeling well and is not having dinner. She sends her apologies and asks to have your dinner’.
Louis- ‘Thank you Susan. Could you tell VeeraswamyK, not to lay the dinner but get me a beef sandwich and another drink? Tell her Ladyship I will join her shortly.’
Louis went back over his career. The shock of his father having to step down from down the post of the First Lord of the Admiralty because of his German connection still rankled. His having to change his name to Mountbatten was another sore point. He got over these by joining the navy and clawed his way up with the help of Winston. His ambition was to be the First Sea Lord and Admiral of the Fleet. This should have happened in the normal course of events except for the cocksure Winston losing the elections after the war. He had to dump the conservatives for the labour party and play power games again to get ahead. Another agenda was to place his nephew Phillip near the throne. He had made two attempts with Edwina to produce a male heir. Two nice girls and he could not make another attempt against his nature with Edwina having turned into a play girl. By god she was the female version of Rubiroso. Morning to night, by god how did she do it. Louis had to take Mistresses to avoid being called a cuckold, much against his nature. The World War 2 seemed to have changed her and she was into relief and care work and very good at it. He got up and went to Edwina’s room.
Louis-‘Edwina. Nehru of India is coming to Singapore. I am myself go
Edwina-‘From our prisoner for years to treatment like prince apparent! By god Dickie- You are a schemer.’
Louis-‘I am planning for the future. If this work out you will have regal life in New Delhi. You will be living in Luyten’s palace.’
Edwina-‘I am not bothered about that. Nehru has a sad look and looks a dignified man. I would like to certainly meet him and take him around.’
Louis-‘You might also talk to him about what he thinks about Indian independence and tell me any comments he makes.’
Edwina-‘Certainly not DIckie. I refuse to be your Mata Hari.’
Louis-‘If that is what you feel so be it. I was just trying smoothen matters for our nation and India. Thanks for your help in looking after him. Good Night Edwina.’
Edwina-‘ Dickie , why are you in your uniform even in this late hour ‘
Louis- ‘You should know. Without the fancy dress and medals kings, nobility, and generals will not get respect’.
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Back in England Louis became friendly with Labour minsters and made known his close empathy with India through his wife’s relief work for the wounded Indian sepoys in south East Asian sector and Singapore. His rapport with Nehru during his visit to Singapore was an important matter in getting things moving. Atlee and his ministers were not happy with Wavell. Britain was broke and could not carry the burden of governing India. The Cabinet decided to leave India in the shortest possible time after partioning India into two dominions. And Louis wangled the job giving an assurance to complete the job in less than eight months. He would also ensure that the British influence in the subcontinent would not disappear overnight.
As soon as he got the official confirmation on his appointment as Viceroy of India, after the customary visit the sovereign Louis drove to Broadlands to inform Edwina. Edwina was surprised to see him.
“What brings you here Dickie and out of uniform in suit?’- Edwina
“Can’t a husband visit his wife? We are still very much married. And I –‘- Louis.
‘Sorry Dickie. I did not mean anything. You were telling me ‘–Edwina
‘I have kept my promise to you when I proposed to you in the Viceroy’s lodge in New Delhi twenty five years back .You will be Vicerene of India .So pack your bags. We will have to leave as soon as possible’-Louis
‘Oh. How exciting Dickie. And thanks for the dream coming true.’-Edwina.
They flew to India and Louis took charge as Viceroy. He immediately started his round of talks with the leaders. Lord Ismay who came with him to assist him, being an old India hand was able to give valuable inputs. They should try to the British influence intact after hand over, as a bulwark against the Soviet influence. Ismay having seen service in India knew the country well and was good support and fund of information to Louis. Pug Ismay was the chief staff officer to Winston Churchill during World War 2. Louis and Ismay were an ideal combination to carry out the transfer of power. Louis with charm and determination to get things done to time frame and Ismay whose deep knowledge of India and organising ability was able to give vital assessment and inputs. Louis had demanded plenipotentiary powers to carry out negotiations. The Cabinet had reluctantly agreed in view of desperate financial situation. Each extra hour in India more drain on the empty coffers.
Louis told Edwina that for a few months she would be like a queen. He would be involving her in social meetings with Indian leaders. He was not asking her to be a Mata Hari but to ease the process of transfer to help her country out of bankruptcy.
Louis got to work right from the word go and started meetings with leaders. The only leader to have met Mountbatten was NEHRU and he gave a glowing account of the man. The congress leaders did not take this assessment seriously. In this situation of distrust Louis Used his charm to convey the British government’s irrevocable decision to hand over India back to them and that a consensus among the leaders will speed up the process. He started the process of consultation right from the time of his arrival first by having informal social tea meetings with the leaders individually.
The meeting with Gandhi was cordial and the old man charmed Edwina. Gandhi wanted a unified India and would oppose partition tooth and nail. The saint was a dictator and used to getting his ways by threats of fasting to death. He had complete control over the Congress and could twist Nehru round his finger. The old man cut no ice with Jinnah for all his offers. Jinnah, outwardly anglophile in his manners, minced no words in his views. Could there be a concealed contempt for the old man? The only thing in common between the two was impeccable tea manners.Edwina was take up with their charming manners.
Then there was Nehru with his Harrow education and his Fabian socialism but with no real ideas. He could charm with his manners and Edwina took to him and how!Nehru certainly was all eyes for her and his looks and laughter when talking to Pamela was obvious. Louis made a mental note of it for future use. Nehru was Gandhi man. Louis met all the major leaders of various communities and the Princes to apprise them of Britain’s intention to leave India. The two who most impressed him was Sardar Patel and Rajagopalachari.
After seeing all the leaders, Louis and Ismay sat down to discuss the strategy. The only two that mattered was Jinnah and Gandhi and they held exactly opposite views and were unshakable. Louis told Ismay to work on the division of the armed forces and the government and finances. They thought of a solution for an equitable division of the country and started drawing up a plan for the approval of the British government.
Edwina meanwhile thoroughly enjoyed her status and charmed every one by her manners and concern for them – quite different from the previous Vicernes . And she somehow felt elated and happy for the first time in all her life. Some thing was adding to the spring in her steps. That short Harrovian with his singing voice and smile made her heart beat faster when ever he was around. Oh well It is time I have this at least now after the mess I have made of early life
Jinnah sat with his leg up, with glass of Johnny Walker, as the golden Sun set over Luyten’s Delhi. His sister was siting with him and asking him about his meeting with the Viceroy. Jinnah with a broad smile on his face said ‘Pakistan is round the corner dear inspite of the Fathead Hun who thinks he can out smart me. He thinks he can persuavade me to accept him as the Governer General for Pakistan also. He will find out. The old man Gandhi is sulking. I suppose he will threaten to fast. Let him. Nothing will come of it ‘.
Fatima-‘Have you discussed with Liaquat and others?’
Jinnah-‘No need. I decide Fatima. I will tell them in due course.’
Louis and Ismay were having a late evening discussion and looked dejected.
Louis –‘ This partition is going to be a mess I think I can manage to be Governer Generarl of both countires for a short time to look after our interest and see they remain in the commonwealth.’
Ismay-‘Will the old man go on fast?’
Louis-‘I have talked to Patel and Rajagopalachari and told them that unless they want the freedom prolonged it is better to persuade the old man’.
Ismay-‘what about Nehru?’
Louis-‘I don’t think he matters. He can be easily brought round when the old man is fixed.’
Pug set to work with a heavy heart to work out a proposal with the help of a few trusted hands for presenting to the cabinet. Pug as an old India hand knew that it was going to be mess. The army given to the new Muslim state would lose its character. He could at least see that the tradition were kept on for some years longer on the Indian state which would have a composite army of all Indians. While admiring the military precision with which Dickie went about the job, he did not admire the man much- a man who had got ahead with his royal connections. Who could forget his Dieppe disaster?
Louis sat down with a scotch and said to himself –‘What a mess this is going to be. The only silver lining is Edwina’s attraction to the Jewel of India. He should nudge it on so that he can control the besotted Kashmiri pundit. The sooner the mess is over and the transfer is affected he should be able to get on with his career
When a plan was drawn up, Ismay was sent to London to present it to the cabinet and get their approval. The cabinet approved with some clarification. The date of transfer was fixed as 15th august. Radcliffe was appointed to draw up the boundaries. Jinnah had a broad smile. Gandhi was glum. The princes were dismayed. Congress started getting its act together to govern. Louis went to Simla for a break before the oncoming storm. One night Edwina has a serious talk with Louis.
‘Dickie, you know you have opened the Pandora’s Box. There is going to a tragedy.’
Louis-‘I am just implementing the cabinet’s decision. Our government is broke and we have to quit as soon as possible. In the long term we will be doing the Indians something we should have done a long time ago but for people like Winne.’
Edwina-‘I suppose you are right, but I cannot but feel sad that we are involved in the coming tragedy. I am fond of the Indians.’
Louis- ‘So am I Edwina. I am carrying out orders and doing a job. I have a lot of sympathy for the Indians. I think Jawaharlal is a perfect gentleman in the British tradition. I will do whatever I can to ease matters and help him. I am even prepared to stay on for some more time as Governor General if the Indians want it to help them’.
Then came the Radcliffe award and the tragedy that followed. Fear and rumours played its part. Nehru did his best to allay the fears of the Muslim community and to preserve the secular image of India but to no avail. Louis gave him full support seeing that it was strategic danger to Britain with the soviets just across the border. What happened in east Europe was fresh in every one’s mind. Pug Ismay was dismayed that he had not seen the extent of the tragedy and the possibility of the Indian army also braking up along religious lines but the fortunately the discipline held.
Jawaharlal was heartbroken at migration and murder and arson that was taking place and was running round to talk sense into his people even threatening to use strong measures to control the situation. He needed the support of a kindly woman to hold his hands. This was the start of a platonic love affair with Edwina that was to last till her death.
Jinnah had a surprise for Louis when he decided the Governor General of the new state of Pakistan. So Louis had goo to Karachi a day earlier on 14th August to create the Dominion of Pakistan On behalf of the King Emperor. The next day the Indian dominan came into existence on 15th August. What should have b been an occasion of great joy, was tragedy by the of migration across the border.
Then there was the incursion into Kashmir by Pakistani tribesmen and finally the accession of Kashmir to India by the maharaja when cornered. Jawaharlal was just into his affair with Edwina and at a besotted early state. Louis handled the matter and involved UN leaving a festering problem. The other ministers especially Patel was aghast at Jawarhal’s inaction and his dreamlike smile all the time.
Falling in love, at any age, makes you besotted and have single minded obsession with the object of your love. Men develop a glazed look and a silly smile on their face. This is alright with youngsters and they grow out of it soon. But with a man in his late fifties carrying the responsibility of Prime Minister the results can be disastrous for the country. Fortunately there were able administrators to carry on, but Louis made full use of it to cover the British backside and extend India’s ties with Britain for a few more years. The Kashmir problem and the reference to U.N have left a festering sore.
The effect of this platonic love affair on Edwina was on the other hand was an uplifting. The toll that her earlier wild life had a left her a wreck mentally and morally and she was able to put it way and gain a sense of purpose in life. She was happy as she never had been. She became a mature calmer, caring person and certainly did not behave like a school. Though she never gave any advice she listened and that helped Jawhar.
Gandhi with his ability to read people must have guessed. He himself had worked out how to control his emotions by using very unorthodox methods. So he kept quite as long as he thought that no damage was done. He had every confidence in the Sardar’s ability to pull up Jawaharlal when the situation arose. Then the tragedy of his assassination took him away from the scene. Jawarlal was heartbroken and the help and support he received from Louis and Edwina carried him through. Relations with Edwina became more intimate on a mental level and the rose of love bloomed. Edwina became very popular in India and the Indians accepted her as one of their own. The Mont battens left in June ’48. Jawahar was heartbroken but came to terms and carried on. The love letters carried on till Edwina’s death and were preserved by her. Jawhar visited and stayed with her in her house Broadlands when he went to England. On her burial at sea, Jawarhar sent two Indian navy Frigates to pay homage. The affair with Jawarhar gave a great mental solace to Edwina after her stormy youth.
Jawaharlal was however a changed man after Edwina’s departure. Though he visited Edwina and stayed with her when he visited England it was never the same.
The death of Sardar Patel in, 1950 removed the only man who could stand up to Jawarhar and control him. His socialist leaning became more pronounced and became the centre of his policies. His judgement became poor and his country paid for it. The healing presence of Edwina was not there. The country paid for it in the Chinese debacle and Jawaharlal paid for it by the loss of his authority. In 1964 he passed away after a stroke a broken man
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Louis getting back after his stint in India got to work on his career and achieved what he wanted. With the birth of Prince Charles he had the satisfaction of having a Battenberg as heir apparent to the throne of Great Britain.
The affair was under wraps thanks to Nehru family. Edwina’s daughters were honest about it and recognised the good it did their mother. Louis’s thoughts were not aired but he must have been aware about it. He must have realised the good it did Edwina. It fitted in with his aims and worked very well. He had a Battenberg as the heir to the British Throne. He achieved his ambition in his career. He was the most popular British Viceroy and Governor General of India and the Indians loved him.
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Raja Ramakrishnan
15th March 2015
A most interesting read! History as it should be presented. Bravo!
Posted by: Kamini | March 15, 2015 at 08:36 PM
This was very interesting. Thanks.
Posted by: Ava | March 16, 2015 at 11:57 AM
Thanks Raja.
As we know, history may have been different had Sardar Patel lived longer; but Nehru's progeny have reduced Congress and the Country to the Lowest Common Denominator, with corruption and lack of governance, which has now become endemic in the country and across all the political parties.
The BJP has promised the moon but so far the RSS is calling the shots with it's own agenda.
Posted by: Ness Pesikaka | March 18, 2015 at 02:55 AM