Writer Mod Date & Time PARTITION: Tape 14 255MODEM 255MODEM Jul 11 08:28 TAPE 14 Manmohan M. KHANNA: interviewed 11 July 1996 mainly about experiences in Kashmir. D 410 Defence Colony, Delhi Born 1915 into a wealthy Hindu Pathan family in Peshawar. Family inter-married with Muslims. Officer in pre-war British-run army. On walls of study, a fading group photo of officers (mostly Brits, but inc one Sikh and Khanna) of '1st Battallion, Beds and Herts, 1936'. Probably taken in Dehra Dun. Regiments now amalgamanted. In war, with 15th Punjabi Regiment, in Singapore. Later with 4th Kumaoni. In Middle East at end of war. Came back to Lucknow in July 1946 or 7 (check on tape). In October 1947, sent to Kashmir in charge of an army battallion which spearheaded advance from Srinagar. In winter, sent cigs over to his adversary, who'd been in same Punjabi regiment. In c May 1948, ambushed and almost all his men killed - discovered this had been carried out by former comrades in the Punjabi Regiment. Retired at Lt-General. Never been to Pakistan. Says among old officers, Indian and Pakistani, great deal of camaraderie cos of shared roots in British-style army - but probably no longer the case. [died - February 1997] Side A 8 > personal details 15 - a Hindu Pathan from Peshawar; family there c200 years; some of family inter-married with Muslims; most of friends were Muslim Pathans; brought up in RC school - in Delhi 50 - ended WW2 as a Major on one of British Indian brigades; just before that was 2i/c of a Punjabi regiment which had gone to Pak 70 - jawans in Punjabi regiment were Pathans, Punjabi Ms, jats and sikhs - all 4 'got on v well'; 'we had the old British spirit which is still in the I army that you go by the regiment ...' 82 - ended war in M East, returned to India in mid-47, to Lucknow; in eJuly 47, opted for India, cos half a dozen houses owned by family in Muryee burnt down - family had been v wealthy and pol influential in NWFP 102 - later first Indian commander of 4th Kumaon battalion, which moved to Kashmir in last week of Oct 47 119 - majority in army not happy in partition, 'not happy at all; most people favoured Lord Wavell's plan' 135 - 'in K when I was ambushed, I only came to know a'wards that the people who ambushed me was my own reg't ... trained them; I came to kjnow the officer comm the