Book Review of An Indian Spy in Pakistan by Mohanlal Bhaskar (Trans: Jai Ratan)
An Indian Spy in Pakistan is the true account of an Indian spy, Mohanlal Bhaskar, who was betrayed by one of his own agents and was arrested by the I. S. I. He was tortured for years before being released through a prisoner exchange program between India and Pakistan. Skip the preface and read the first chapter of An Indian Spy in Pakistan by Mohanlal Bhaskar and you’d think it’s a thriller. Well, it’s not. It’s a true story of an Indian Operative on a mission to find out about the Atomic Energy Commission of Pakistan. The book not only leads you through the risky and hapless life of a spy but also provides an accurate insider's view of Pakistan as a country.
In Indian Spy in Pakistan, Mohanlal Bhaskar writes in vivid details
of the sorry state of Pakistan under the clutches of Martial Law.
Near Adamkhel Pass and in the vicinity of Kair beyond Peshawar, they deal in the currencies of all countries. It is a straightforward business at rates varying from 25 to 50 percent. Pay with one hand and receive double the amount with the other. The forged notes look so genuine that even banks accept them without raising an eyebrow. One can get all currencies there – the Indian rupee, the American Dollar, the Russian rouble. You ask for it and they have it.
On the soil of Pakistan, Mohanlal Bhaskar was
betrayed by one of his own agents, Amrik Singh. He was instrumental in the
arrest of Mohanlal and some other Indian spies along with him. The
interrogation followed. The rest of the pages are filled with description of
that interrogation process that will send a chill to one’s spines. Sometimes he
was hung upside down and beaten with rod. Some other time they will lay him on
a slab of ice. There was no limit to the sadistic methods one was subjected to.
But there are good souls too. There are
wardens, high officials of Pakistani Army who was kind to Mohanlal. Chaudhir Nisar of Naulakha Police Station knew
Mohanlal’s father from the days before Partition. Chaudhri Sahab treated him
with great affection and took care of him while he was in his station.
I wished I could bring the Hindu fanatics to show them that even among the Muslims there are pious souls whom they do not know and do not hesitate even to regard them as their worst enemies. Such souls are even nobler than angels. Nobody knows how long these walls of hatred will stand between the Hindus and the Muslims. It is the doing of the Pandits and Mullahs who disgorge their venom through vicious propaganda. The leaders of RSS and the Muslim League inflame our passions in order to hold on to their seat of power.
He was kept in Naulakha Police Station for
about a fortnight. Then he was transferred to Lakhpat Jail at Lahore on the
order of the magistrate. While he was leaving Naulakha Police Station Chaudhuri
Nisar went to him and said, “May Allah be with you my boy. Don’t lose heart.
Allah will set everything right.” Then he fondled Mohanlal’s head. The incident
was quite touching.
There was also a mention of Raja Gul-Anar
Khan who was the first to give Mohanlal the news of his wife giving birth to
his son.
On 1st March, 1969 Raja Saheb came to me early in the morning “Congratulations, Bhaskar!” he said. “You have become the father of a son.”“Janab, who has given you this information?”“Our own man, who had been to Ferozpur. He brought me information. Don’t you believe it?”“Janab, there’s no question of not believing you. But your poor enemy has no means of regaling you on this occasion. I’ve no sweets to offer.”“But I’ve brought the sweets. Here, have them. You must celebrate the birth of my nephew.”I was deeply moved; it brought tears to my eyes.
He patted me on my back. “Be brave. Don’t cry. He may prove lucky for you. You may go back home.”Although he was trying to console me I saw tears in his own eyes. He left abruptly. I am not capable of describing my condition at that time.
Though theoretically no class difference is
acknowledged in Islam, there are several religious factions in Pakistan and
their relationship is often fraught with tension. Clashes between Shias and
Sunnis during Muharram are not uncommon. Sometimes things go out of control and
army has to be called. Sunnis express their disapproval by throwing stones at
the Muharram procession and immediately knives, lathis and guns come out.
Mirzai Musalmans are held with contempt by both Shia and Sunnis. In 1968
government was forced to proclaim that no Mirzai would be given a government
job, nor would be entitled to exercise his franchise. The condition of Deendar
Muslims is worse. They are the sweepers and water-carriers. Their children are
forced to follow their traditional vocation. Then there are Syyed Muslims
against whom any protest is regarded as a rebellion against the Holy Prophet
himself.
Creating beforethem the illusion of an imaginary Heaven they loot these illiterate people with both hands, making their lives worse than hell.
In An Indian Spy in Pakistan, Mohanlal Bhaskar also reveals the truth
about Kashmir conflict and how other countries are taking advantage of this
conflict to fulfil their own selfish needs.
They told us that the Azad Kashmir government had established secret cells in all important towns of India with the help of CIA. Every year the Azad Kashmir government spent millions of rupees to create political unrest in Kashmir, inciting people against the Indian forces stationed in Kashmir. Through Pakistani pockets they smuggled into Kashmir such material as firesarms, explosives, spying cameras, watchlike radio transmitters and propaganda material, including cassettes, calling Indians blood-suckers of the Kashmiris. These cassettes were sent from Pakistan along with tape-recorders. Some of these cassettes were in Urdu and others in Kashmiri. These tape-recorders were distributed free among Kashmiris.
For two and a half years Mohanlal Bhaskar
was tortured in various Pakistani prisons. He never changed his statement for
once. There was no incriminating evidence found against him. Before Court
Martial he wanted to contest his own case. He proved that testimonies given by
all the witnesses can’t be depended upon. Despite the lack of evidence against
him, the court sentenced him a 14 years. However, before completion of his
sentence they decided to free him and some other Indian prisoners through a
prisoner exchange program.
After returning to India another shock
awaited him.
I sought an interview with the then Prime Miister, Shri Morarji Desai and I met him accompanied by my elder son, Jhalkeshwar Bhaskar. I pleaded with Morarji Desai that the India Government should adequately compensate the Indian nationals who had rotted in Pakistani jails and had sacrificed their lives for their motherland.
And this was his reply:
Why should we suffer for your mistakes commited in Pakistan? Do you mean to say that if Pakistan government had kept you in jail for twenty years then our government should have compensated you for the same number of years?
As he had already taken a job as a school
teacher by then, he was in no dire need of money. But the insult he received
from Morarji Desai roused this man. It was also due to the fact that he had
personally known Mr. Desai who had written him scores of letters prior to 1967.
On his return, Mohanlal Bhaskar burnt all those letters.
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