Book Review: Fallacies and Realties An Analysis of Lt. Gen Gul Hassan Memoir

Maj. Gen. Aboobaker Osman Mitha has a provided a very brief account of Lt. Gen. Gul Hassan’s memoir. To make it more understandable, I will segregate it into following.

1.     Introduction

a.      About Book

Maj. Gen. Mitha’s book Fallacies and realities is a rejoinder to Lt. Gen. Gul Hasssan’s Memoir termed as plethora of stories by Mitha himself. Fallacies and Realities provide a brief account for the instances made by Gul Hassan in his Memoir against the then C-in-C, other seniors and Mitha. Since, many of the accused in Gul Hassan’s book are dead or no one to corroborate or refute Gul Hassan’s versions, Maj. Gen. Mitha takes the task to produce this book and drown the ‘one-up-man-ship’ of Gul Hassan.

Gul Hassan effort to wriggle out of his share – A major share at that – of the mistakes in ’65 & 71’ wars and the accusations made against him of inefficiency as CGS and DMO, disloyalty and utter immaturity is greatly defeated by Mitha’s rejoinder ‘Fallacies and Realities’.

b.      About Author

Maj. Gen. Aboobaker Osama Mitha usually shortened to AO Mitha, born in 1923, was a legendary two-star rank general who was the pioneer of the "stay behind" concept and founder of Pakistan's Special Service Group (SSG). Mitha served in World War II and commanded a platoon and a Motor Battalion later. He remained a company commander in Burma with 2/4 Bombay Grenadiers and 14/7 Rajputs. He was the only Muslim officer to serve with the paratroops of Indian Parachute Regiment in WWII. Mitha remained GSO 3 and GSO 2 to the Directorate of Weapons and Equipment in the Supreme Headquarters in Delhi and was in charge of the Division of the Airborne Equipment between India and Pakistan partition. He passed his staff college in 1951 and was posted as Quarter Master General in GHQ. He commanded Baluch Regimental Center and was commandant of Pakistan Military Academy for two years. He was Deputy to Gen. Tikka for the first four weeks of the East Pakistan operation. Mitha laid into eternal rest in 1999.

2.     AIM Of The Book

The purpose of this book is to produce a rejoinder to Gul Hassan’s plethora of stories and personal tales with no one to corroborate, refute or testify. Mitha attempts this booklet to counter Gul Hassan’s accusations and blunt and belligerent style of writing.

This book also provides an excellent account of the past events for all ages and ranks of officers misled to think  that not doing ones duty because one dislikes his seniors or colleagues is right under any circumstances. It also discusses the duties of senior officers and responsibility to maintain discipline of all kinds that Gul Hassan seems to spare himself off.

The booklet also serves as a reminder to Gul Hassan of his unfulfilled duties and inefficiency to do so and an excellent overview of historic events by the eyewitness himself.

3.        Main Body

Lt. Gen. Gull Hassan, being the then DMO, who was responsible for the defense plans and the issue of operation orders, has composed his Memoirs in which he has dealt with the planning for the 1965 war at some length. Maj. Gen. Mitha has produced a rejoinder to Gull Hassan’s book.

Since, Maj. Gen. Mitha has a better experience of war time soldiering and post war staff appointments, he has more credibility in his pockets to be trusted and testify the events in its true spirits narrated in Gul Hassan’s Memoir. Gull Hassan had the misfortune of spending nearly the entire period of war as ADC to his very senior Army Commanders, more like a tale of personal services. These postings kept him far from regimental and command encounters, which give a specific shape to an officer character. Gull Hassan as ADC was denied this opportunity, bringing about his unconventional conduct design when stood up to with talking about exceptionally key inquiries with his seniors. Gull Hassan never liked feedback and contrast of feeling.

Gull Hassan's criticism of his CGS Maj. Gen. Sher Bahadur, amid the 1965 war is a glaring case. Mitha had close contacts with Gen. Sher Bahadur, who was a proficient senior officer and a man of few words who could get a handle on the circumstance obviously. Mitha see him as exceptionally cool and quiet identity in all circumstances. Gull Hassan feedback of Sher Bahadur seems ridiculous. Mitha credits Gull Hassans feedback to his long experience as an ADC, where vicinity to great commanders gave him the sentiment vainglory. Mitha says, he stayed near to them yet not amid their planning meetings rather to personal services.

Mitha has rightly answered the Gul Hassan’s criticism of infantry officers being posted as Armour commander, while he himself happened to be a convertee like those he has criticized.

4.        Analysis/Lessons Learnt

This rejoinder provides a very good historical view of the events and functioning of the certain divisions and armed forces. I have learnt the following lessons.

• One should keep country and his duties above personal grudge and ego.
• One should put forward his opinion and plans without disrespecting seniors in case not accepted.
• If someone is senior to you he must have done something extraordinary to have that positions – though not necessarily.
• I have learnt a great deal of how GHQ functioned at that time and the advancement since then.
• I have grasped the knowledge about GHQ sub-divisions and how they function in both war and peace time.
• Anybody would have fallen for the plethora of stories by Gull Hassan, Mitha’s booklet provided me an opportunity to learn about the other side of the story.
• I have learnt about Gull Hassan inefficiencies and ‘could not care less attitude’ as DMO during 1965 war and as Chief of General Staff in 1971 war.
• I have also learnt how the brilliant achievement of armour were nullified at Khem Kharan because Gull Hassan failed as DMO to provide infantry cover to the armour and it had to abandon ground captured on two successive days.
• I have learnt a great deal of knowledge about Khem Karan and East Pakistan and Gull Hassan’s contributions.

  5.        Recommendations

Gull Hassan Memoir is a record of individual stories and accomplishments. Maj. Gen. Mitha reply to Gull Hassan's record is simply proficient treatise on the working of an Arm of the Defense Services whose systems for working is not generally known, not open. This booklet has lifted the drapery to some degree. Mitha's reply should be read.

  6.        Conclusion

The positions that Gull Hassan held in 1965 and 1971 were such that he can't escape from the obligation and liability he had on his shoulders. Gull Hassan did his best to stick it on others, with whom he neglected to make a working relationship.

Armed force anticipates that each man will do his duty regardless of individual likes and aversions. One ought not to compose such aggressive comments against his seniors and partners with nobody to affirm and no ethical ground to hold.

From Mitha’s booklet it seems Gull Hassan were just making sensational headlines to sell his plethora of stories by making false accusations and adopting a blunt and belligerent style of writing while presenting himself as a sacred cow. 

If Gull Hassan was so critical of his seniors and planning of 1965, he should have resigned in protest. Then he would have been in a better position to comment or criticize them now. He didn’t do so and that makes him part of that planning, so he cannot simply wriggle out of his share or responsibility in the action at that time.