"India had barely become independent, in 1947, when Pakistan invaded Kashmir, which at the time was ruled by a maharajah. The maharajah fled, and the people of Kashmir, led by Sheikh Abdullah, asked for Indian help. Lord Mountbatten, who was still governor general, replied that he wouldn’t be able to supply aid to Kashmir unless Pakistan declared war, and he didn’t seem bothered by the fact that the Pakistanis were slaughtering the population. So our leaders decided to sign a document by which they bound themselves to go to war with Pakistan. And Mahatma Gandhi, apostle of nonviolence, signed along with them. Yes, he chose war. He said there was nothing else to do. War is inevitable when one must defend somebody or defend oneself."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Murdered peopleBritish peersMilitary leaders from EnglandViceroys of IndiaChairmen of the NATO Military Committee
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Indira Gandhi, quoted by Oriana Fallaci. (2011). Interview with Indira Gandhi, in : Interviews with history and conversations with power. New York: Rizzoli.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Louis_Mountbatten%2C_1st_Earl_Mountbatten_of_Burma
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC (25 June 1900 – 27 August 1979) was a British admiral and statesman. After serving in the Royal Navy during World War II, he became the final Viceroy of the British Raj before decolonization and oversaw the Partition of India. He then served various roles in the British Armed Forces and NATO. He was assassinated by the Provisional Irish Republican Army while on a yachting
3 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma →
Related Quotes
"As a military man who has given half a century of active service I say in all sincerity that the nuclear arms race ha…"
"We do not know why Mr. Ghulam Mohammad thought it his duty to anticipate the verdict of history regarding the respons…"
"The liberal conception of economic matters is indeed untenable, as there is a need for regulation in line with a more…"
"Decentralisation in the management of common interests, the establishment of more local and controllable centres, and…"
"The party seeks to engage with reality, to guide and shape it according to its intuition, in the light of its human i…"
"Nehru is undoubtedly one of humanity’s great figures and had already secured his place in history during his lifetime…"
"To get things done, one needs all the time that is required."
"There must be no scapegoats, no human sacrifices... The Christian Democrats are closing ranks around their own... You…"
"Race is the biological element which, by creating particular affinities, determines the identification of the specifi…"
"When one speaks the truth, one must not regret having spoken it: the truth is always enlightening."