"Mutiny of the innocents" Author's name B.C. Dutt.
Published by Bhashya Prakashan, Price Rs. 399/-, pages 291
The royal Indian navy apprising, which was described by British historians as naval mutiny took place seventy years ago, on February 18, 1946, at the Mumbai port.
Memories of this historic event have almost faded but the second edition of the “Mutiny of Innocents “by B.C.Dutt will bring them back since with the release of the second edition of his book on February 18, 2016. The book written as an eye witness account by Dutt who was one of the heroes of the naval uprising, a young naval sailor who was stationed at a ship docked in the Mumbai port.
Former Indian chief of the naval staff, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat has written the forward to the second edition published by Bhashya Prakashan of Mahesh Bharatiya. Bhagwat has observed that though the uprising could not secure required support when it happened, all those sailors ignited the imagination of Indians who respect them as the uprising brought freedom at our doorstep. In his foreword, Vishnu Bhagwat has traced back origin of naval apprising to the first revolt against British rule in 1857.
Being a port city, we have seen how terrorists from across the borders entered city from seashore and wrecked havoc by killing innocents at CST, TAJ Mahal hotel and other places in the city.
Though British historians called it a mutiny it was a spontaneous uprising not only by naval officers but accompanied by sporadic incidents of revolt against the British Empire by armed forces as well. The uprising was crushed ruthlessly by authorities by using force.
The author of the book who was a junior officer in the navy, provides a first-person account of a forgotten episode in the history of India's long struggle against foreign rule. In the early months of 1946, low-ranking sailors in the Royal Indian Navy began supporting Indian independence movement without any external expression due to fear of navy’s strict discipline. It was a mute but passionate support, a kind of turmoil brewing within.
It cannot be described as a sudden change of heart, but a slow process which must have begun much earlier when political leaders of independence movement began reaching out to the common masses and liberated movement from the dining halls of few influential people.
The author has no bitterness against those naval officers who crushed the revolt by the sailors. The top British military leaders were aware that such an uprising was possible but were not prepared for such a spontaneous show of uprising which was not coordinated nor led by any particular leader. Nor did those who participated in it, have any links with the political leaders who were demanding freedom. The uprising not only surprised British Empire but also Indian politicians like Mahatma Gandhi who were not prepared for such a show of armed revolt.
Dutt and his fellow Indian sailors served the royal navy with commitment and loyalty throughout the Second World War but became restive and conscious of a subtle but obvious racism. At the end of the war, Dutt was stationed at the HMIS Talwar, stationed in Mumbai port. He along with other sailors were dismayed at the Navy offered very little advancement and there were no jobs on shore.
The book written as an eye witness account by Dutt who was one of the heroes of the naval uprising, a young naval sailor who was stationed at a ship docked in the Mumbai port.
In general, the people, too, also did not have much respect for sailors whom they considered as mercenaries supporting British Empire ignoring interests of the nation trying to oust British rule.
The disgruntled sailors who were influenced by freedom movement began their protest by merely writing revolutionary slogans on barrack walls and put up some hand written posters supporting freedom struggle.
These small act of revolt finally resulted in the armed uprising in February 1946.
Authorities caught Dutt in February 1946. He refused to name his fellow sailors and declared himself a political prisoner, rather than be charged of an insubordination. Dutt soon emerged as a hero for his fellow sailors across ships run by Royal Indian Navy, with a flash demonstration.
The authorities tried to treat it as a small incident, arising out of discontent among sailors over bad quality of food and other administrative complaints, but the fact remains that it was much more serious, an armed rebellion by naval sailors who took over charge of the ships, unfurled tricolor and announced liberation from the British.
According to conservative estimates more than 12,000 ratings, low-ranking sailors, openly revolted. They seized ships and shore establishments throughout Mumbai, Kolkata, Karachi, and other ports. Even ships sailing in the deep seas were seized and flags hoisted above, changed. The revolting sailors set up a committee to coordinate efforts, spoke the language of freedom fighters, they even wanted to hand over the navy to Indian National Congress and Muslim League , but the political leadership was bewildered and not ready to handle such a complex situation. In fact, the sailors were left to fend themselves and later the uprising was crushed by the authorities.
The signs of the uprising are still seen in docks and some other parts of the city where the gun battle took place and few sailors as well as innocent civilians also lost their lives. Within a very brief time, the Union Jack was replaced by the Tricolor on the mast head of 74 ships, 20 shore establishments.
In support of sailors, textile mills, factories, shops in Mumbai downed their shutters. Over 300 people lost their lives on the streets of Mumbai. Among Congress leaders, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, quickly organised a truce between the revolting sailors and the authorities to minimize damage. Signaler M S Khan was head of the coordination committee of sailors assisted by telegraphist Madan Singh and five others.
Though not many could visualize any great impact of the spontaneous naval uprising, those sitting in London and supervising Indian subcontinent had realized that the naval uprising was just a beginning. The British authorities who had crushed the 1857 revolt had always feared the possibility of another uprising and revolt by Indian army and the naval uprising had all the seeds of such revolt as the freedom movement had gained ground and affected every soldier and sailor serving under foreign rule. Those in uniform were also sons of farmers and workers who were totally swayed by the dream of independence and could hardly hide their aspiration despite the stern discipline of the army.
The naval uprising had shaken the British Empire already weakened by the Second World War. A year and a half later, India won its independence. In Pakistan, Prime Minister Jinnah allowed the Muslim sailors who participated in February 1946 uprising to assimilate into the Pakistan navy. In India, the situation was different. Dutt was quietly discharged without much fanfare, others could not rejoin the navy as they were not accepted. But they emerged as heroes in the eyes of free India.
Dutt later joined journalism and wrote a succinct eye witness account of the naval uprising. He actually became a reporter with the Free Press Journal which was the only newspaper in Mumbai that carried a detailed report about naval apprising.
Dutt has carefully chronicled the circumstances leading to the naval uprising of 1946. His account is a reminder of how Mumbai was always at the forefront of the freedom struggle. Dutt’s account makes a strong case for the revolting Indian sailors to be called patriots, not mutineers.
It is a first person account which began with Dutt joining the Academy; its reading becomes interesting and the author has charming way of narrating details, with a sense of humour that adds a special touch. He records the events without malice or resentment. He articulates the views of his enemies with remarkable generosity and restraint.
The author is also an astute observer of human nature. He also has the wisdom to reassess his actions since the book was written 25 years after the event. The book also throws light on how the political class failed to support the innocent sailors who had revolted against British Empire. The leaders believed in non-violent mode of transfer of power.