MUMBAI, Aug 13: Has any historian ever told you that Sardar Patel had sought help of RSS chief M S Golwalkar to prevail upon Maharaja of Kashmir to sign accession treaty with India? Did you know that RSS shakhas had ``flourished'' in Kashmir Valley by mid 1946 ? or, how about this one - the Indian Army had asked Swayam Sevaks to rescue boxes of ammunition from within the Pakistan's firing range on Indo-Pak border.

If the answer to these questions is in the negative, visit the home page of RSS on the Internet. The RSS version of history promises that you will have second thoughts about your history teacher.

Feeling left out in the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of India's independence, the Sangh Parivar has literally invaded the cyberspace, propagating their version of history, which may turn out to be `revelation' for many historians and academicians.

Referring to an almost unknown book ``Converted Kashmir: A Litany of Mistakes'' by N Sehgal, the RSS propaganda machine sought to rewrite the history of India's independence. The cyber page also has an article on RSS and the independence movement.

About the RSS role in Kashmir's accession to India, the RSS home page says when Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel both failed convincing Maharaja of Kashmir, the latter ``sent a message to RSS chief M S Golewalkar (sic), through Mahar Chand Mahajan, requesting him to use his influence to prevail upon the Maharaja to accede to India.

Guruji cancelled all his engagements and rushed to Shrinagar from Nagpur by air via Delhi...''

The narration continues - ``The Maharaja who remained unmoved by by many national leaders bowed his head in front of a simple-clad staunch nationalist. He understood the importance of protection of his religion and nation.

The Maharaja sent the accession proposal to Delhi and Guruji directed RSS workers in Jammu and Kashmir to shed last drop of their blood for the security of Jammu and Kashmir.'' However, no such references are available in authoritative books on Kashmir's accession to India, The Indian Express referred to.

The first of 10 volumes of Sardar Patel's correspondence, compiled by Durga Das, is exclusively on Kashmir. Patel has never written a word, which may suggest whether he had any inclination of using the RSS for convincing the Maharaja of Kashmir.

An exhaustive volume by Rajmohan Gandhi, ``Patel, A life'' or the ``Kashmir Towards Insurgency'' by Balraj Puri also do not say a word which may substantiate the RSS version of history.

A historian Yashwant Doshi who is in the process of compiling a volume on Sardar Patel, was shocked when told him about the RSS propaganda. It is illogical even to think that Patel would ask RSS to intervene or the RSS can have any influence over Maharaja of Kashmir, said Doshi.

If the RSS had so much of influence over Maharaja why could not it scuttle the provisions of Article 370 then, asked a historian on condition of anonymity.

The RSS is aware that there are no records to substantiate its claims and hence they have a built-in safeguard. The home page claims one of the reasons for these `facts' not getting a place in the pages of history is the deliberate destruction of records soon after the accession by Shaikh Abdullah who wanted to take a full credit for the accession of J&K to India.

Giving a benefit of doubt to RSS here does not help because former J&K Governor, Jagmohan (My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir) and another pro-RSS historian Sheshrao More have also drawn a blank on this version of history.

The RSS net also talks about how Indian Army had sought RSS help. According to the RSS historian, the Indian Air Force had dropped, by mistake, the boxes of ammunition on the other side of a nullah which was within firing range of Pakistani troops.

An unnamed Army commander, who apparently did not want his troops to get killed, the RSS history says, reached to the RSS headquarters at Kotli and asked Chander Prakash, who was the manager of Punjab National Bank and an organiser of the Sangh, to give him eight youth for the supreme sacrifice.

Within half an hour eight RSS workers including Chander Prakash were ready to go. Four of them died retrieving the ammunition boxes, the article claims.The cyber document goes on about the RSS contribution towards repairing crucial airfields in the valley and many other instances of ``bravery and sacrifice''.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.