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Our local heros

Dear Editor,

I would like to share the fascinating story of one of our local Chitral heros for the interest of readers.

In the struggle for freedom from colonial rule, few Pakistanis are aware of the heroic efforts of Chitrali patriots. This is all the more disappointing in some members of our younger generation of Chitralis. By celebrating and highlighting the contributions of our heros, we safeguard our well deserved reputation as being amongst the most loyal of Pakistan’s citizens. Educated Pakistanis will have come across the name of Colonel Muta ul Mulk and his role in the Kashmir struggle. His title as liberator of Baltistan or “Fateh i Skardu” was earned after his singular effort in helping locals wrest control from Indian forces. The occupying Indian forces were intent on denying the wishes of the peoples of the Northern Areas who agitated in support of joining Pakistan at the end of the British Raj. While Colonel Muta ul Mulk’s legacy is forever etched in the annals of history, the role of his cousin Colonel Burhanuddin is less appreciated.

In fact Colonel Burhanuddin distinguishes himself as a pioneer in his own right. From his inauspicious origin in Dolomus Village close to Balach, he rose to become commander of the then outlawed Indian National Army in Burma fighting British colonial rule. At that time there were many freedom movements in colonial South Asia, including the Muslim League, Indian Congress and the Khaksars. A growing sense of nationalism came slowly to the peoples of modern day Pakistan who were perhaps the most isolated in South Asia The lands which would form the future Pakistan saw the least development under colonial rule. Much of future Pakistan was added to the British Indian Empire more than two centuries after the British had conquered Calcutta. They remained part of a largely agrarian and feudal society which the British exploited. The Muslim peoples about the Indus or River Sind could foresee the end of the artificial entity of British India but had varying views on how to achieve this goal.

Given this historical background, the exploits of Colonel Burhanuddin of Chitral appear all the more remarkable. From his isolated village, he went on to study at the premier educational institutions of the day, including Islamia College in Peshawar and the Military College at Dehra Dun. The just commissioned Lieutenant Burhanuddin was soon chosen as a pilot officer. As was the practice of the day, the newly formed Indian Air Force would transfer competent officers from the army. It should be remembered that most European nations created Air Forces in the First World War. The famed Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, was an aristocratic German cavalry officer before going on to become the highest scoring ace of the Great War. The Indian Air Force was established in 1932 and not surprisingly the initial pilots were called Hawaie Sepoys reflecting their origins as army sepoys. That Burhanuddin of Chitral was among the earliest native pilots to fly remains a source of pride to Chitrali aviation enthusiasts. At a time when only Europeans were considered fit to operate such complex technology, Burhanuddin of Chitral excelled at handling the signature biplanes of the time, the Westland Wapiti and the Tiger Moth. The 1st squadron with which he served was based on Drigh Road Karachi. He was rightfully proud of his achievements which he narrated to my father on a visit to the Mauripur Air Base at Karachi in 1966. In the base guest book, he signed, “Lieutenant Shahzada Burhanuddin, 1st Squadron, Indian Air Force”. At the time my father was concerned that people might question the origins of his visitor given that it had been hardly a year since hostilities between Pakistan and India. My father feared having to explain the history of Pakistani aviation to his comrades but the aged Colonel Burhanuddin laughed and displayed the good humour with which he is remembered. He related the events that lead to his capture by the Japanese during the Second World War. Many natives from South Asia were sent in the service of the British colonial army to fight the Japanese. Out of the tens of thousands of native soldiers captured at Malaya and Singapore, some 20 000 joined the rebel Indian National Army or INA. Unlike other groups struggling to liberate South Asia from colonial rule, the INA was unapologetically militant. It believed in an armed struggle to oust the colonial British and accepted the tutelage of the Japanese and the Germans to achieve their cherished goal of freedom. The leader of the INA was a Bengali by the name of Subash Chander Bose. Recognizing the character and qualities of Burhanuddin of Chitral, the leader of the INA soon appointed Colonel Burhanuddin their Commander in Chief in Burma. At the time Burma was also part of British India. Burma was the main front of operations for the INA supported by the advancing Japanese. It is not known that Colonel Burhanuddin convinced fellow prisoner Colonel Muta ul Mulk to join the nascent INA. Their trials fighting under the most difficult of conditions with little support from the Japanese created an enduring bond born of shared misery in the jungles of South East Asia. How the two Chitralis struggling in the humid jungles must have longed for the alpine climate of Chitral! As the tide of war turned against the Japanese and Germans, members of the INA were captured. With the conclusion of the Second World War, the British were intent on executing all the members of the outlawed INA as traitors to the British Crown. These prisoners were initially incarcerated at Bahaurghargh camp. A number of concocted crimes were added to a charge sheet against INA nationalists. In the case of Colonel Burhanuddin, he was falsely accused of torturing and killing native soldiers who refused to fight against the British. Protests erupted across all of British India when the accused were brought to trial. Due to public sympathy and unrest, Colonel Burhanuddin was released from prison along with other Muslim officers including his cousin Colonel Muta ul Mulk. Interestingly, both Jinnah and Nehru worked to defend the members of the INA. However former members of the INA were subsequently refused entry into either the Pakistani or Indian military. That both militaries were lead by British officers at the time of the partition no doubt influenced this decision. Colonel Burhanuddin would go on to serve in many roles including an active political life. Fortunately for Pakistan, the intrepid Colonel Burhanuddin distinguished himself by helping to liberate Chilas, earning him the deserved honour of “Fateh i Chilas”.

In an odd historical footnote, the former political agent of the Northern Areas, Habib ur Rehman was a Brigadier in the INA. That the leader of the INA Subash Chander Bose died in mysterious circumstances in a plane crash in East Asia has been the subject of much intrigue. Brigadier Habib ur Rehman stated that he accompanied Subash Chander Bose on that fateful flight. Along with three others he survived but despite his best efforts, he could not save the leader of the INA in the wreckage. Brigadier Habib ur Rehman would show his burned right hand and scarred face as evidence of the crash.

I would like to thank my father Wg. Cdr. (Rtd) Shahzada Iqbal Baig for sharing his personal memories of Colonel Burhanuddin and Brigadier Habib ur Rehman

Sofia Elahi
on email