A controversial book on the partition of India in 1947

`Jinnah India-Partition Independence': A BOOK BY JASWANT SINGH

(EX-BJP LEADER)

(Saturday, August 29, 2009)

In his controversial book, Singh has been effusive in his praise of Jinnah, even perhaps, at the expense of Gandhi.

Jinnah India-Partition IndependenceJaswant SinghRupa & Co,2009, pp 669, Rs 695“This is that account of Jinnah, the man and his heroic endeavours and of the others, too. And of these is a story written: but (then) Allah alone knoweth all?” Thus spake Jaswant Singh at the end of his book, Jinnah India–Partition Independence, the controversial tome which apparently earned him his expulsion from the party of which he was a founder over 30 years ago. There are wheels within wheels in the current episode involving his forced departure from the party as well as the historic saga of Partition 62 years ago that he seeks ‘to reveal’. Political life is layered and so is history.

Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s transformation from a modern-liberal persona (three–piece suits, cigars, cigarette holder, rebellious eating habits and King’s English etc) to a politician fiercely committed to a Muslim nation could be subject to many interpretations — depending on which side of the fence one is sitting on. At what point of time in history Jinnah muted a change in his personality (thinking and outward appearance — Sherwani and Jinnah cap) has been written umpteenth times by several historians as well as those participating in the freedom movement — a majority of the accounts, rightly or wrongly, blaming Jinnah for the tragic Partition.

Singh has joined ‘the minority of the writers’ in blaming Sardar Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress party for causing the Partition.Singh says the seed of the idea to write a book on Jinnah sprouted during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s historical bus journey to Lahore in 1999 and a visit to Minar-e-Pakistan where Muslim League adopted a resolution for the creation of Pakistan on March 23, 1940.

Singh has been effusive in his praise of Jinnah even, perhaps, at the expense of Mahatma Gandhi. “The first meeting of Gandhi and Jinnah in January 1915 at the Gurjar Sabha was convened to felicitate Gandhi’s return from South Africa... Gandhi had somewhat accommodatingly said he was glad to find a Muslim not only belonging to his own region’s Sabha, but chairing it. Gandhi had singled out Jinnah as a Muslim, though, neither in appearance nor in conduct was Jinnah anywhere near to being any of the stereotypes of the religious identity ascribed by Gandhi. Jinnah, on the other hand, was far more fulsome in his praise.”

On another occasion, the writer refers to Gandhi’s support to the Islamic Khilafat movement which many saw as retrograde step in the freedom movement. “While Jinnah had remained aloof from any involvement in pan-Islamic activities, Gandhi a proto-typical Hindu, chose to ride this tiger of the Khilafat agitation,” says Singh, alluding to the early progressive persona of Jinnah “who recognised the political impress only of Dadabhai and Gokhle.”

From a casual votary of Islam to the one staunchly propagating the two-nation theory and that of Muslim identity, Jinnah’s transformation has been explained by Singh in terms of Nehru-Patel and the Congress refusal to accede to Muslim League’s demands, leading to the Lahore resolution of 1946 when ‘direct action’ for creation of Pakistan was mooted by the League.The portion of the book for which Singh courted controversy include Sardar Patel’s letter to Kanji Dwarkadas (March 4, 1947) where he, according to the author, for the first time, even if by implication, accepted Partition on condition of a division of the Punjab and Bengal by passing a resolution. Singh says the resolution was passed when Gandhi was away in his healing mission in Bihar, and Maulana Azad was ill and absent — the two could oppose the resolution. Singh says this resolution was a fundamental change in the Congress party’s stand and strategy. Mountbatten, who had by then assumed charge as Viceroy, jubilantly assessed that Patel by accepting the division of Punjab had implicitly recognised the principle of India’s Partition too. Within a month of Mountabatten’s arrival in India on March 20, 1947, Nehru, until then a vocal opponent of Partition, had become a committed advocate of it. The resolution amounted to an acceptance of Jinnah’s two-nation theory, concludes the author.In another indirect reference on the unification of the princely states, Singh quotes senior journalist M J Akbar from his yet to be published book The Major Minority, that the Muslims felt empowered in the princely state of Hyderabad with 84 per cent Hindu population as long as descendants of Nizam-ul Mulk, a Mughal governor, ruled the state. “In 1948, (as soon as) the Nizam was deposed and Hyderabad was absorbed in the new Union of India, the same Muslims suddenly began to think of themselves as a minority.” The writer broods that it is in this, a false minority syndrome that the dry rot of Partition first set in.

The cure, Jinnah said, was Partition and Nehru-Patel and others of the Congress also finally agreed. Singh quotes, among others, Ram Manohar Lohia, an arch critic of Nehru, saying that Nehru and Patel between themselves decided on Partition and sought not to scare Gandhi away before the deed was definitely resolved upon. As it turns out, Gandhi himself openly confessed that he represented nobody and at best could use his influence on the Congress. As against this, Jinnah saw none but himself as the sole leader and spokesman of the Muslims.

Gandhi and Jinnah — both born into Kathiawaris trading communities in Gujarat, ironically failed and succeeded in their missions. Gandhi could not prevent Partition, though he remained wedded to a united India until his death, and Jinnah (described as an ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity by Gopal Krishna Gokhle) ‘achieved’ Pakistan, but possibly failed in his original avtar of Hindu-Muslim oneness. Singh retells the epic story of the Partition in a scholarly and disciplined manner — a reflection of his own persona. But it does not breaks any new grounds. Who caused the Partition? There may be yet another book digging the layers of history to reach the bottom. But the best is to draw again from the concluding wisdom of Singh’s book: “And of these is a story written: but (then) Allah alone knoweth all?”

62nd Indian Independence-Day: 'Reaching out to moon'

Saturday, August 15, 2009

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Looking back is an exercise to rummage through the myriad happy and sad memories of the past and to squeeze out ''substance'' for the future course correction. Individuals undergo the process as much as nations.

As India celebrates its 62nd birthday, the highs and lows of its journey to this date, the fade-in and fade-out of its history evokes palpable hopes and despondency in equal measure. The country went through the mammoth electoral process and constituted the 15th Lok Sabha barely two months ago. The successive conduct of elections (barring the hiatus of Emergency) is seen as a high point of Indian nation, particularly in the light of “the interrupted democracy” in the neighbourhood Pakistan which celebrated its Independence Day on August 14 amid little signs of military loosening its control over the fragile democracy. “The owner’s pride, neighbour’s envy” syndrome, however, takes a beating when judged from the point of view of the developed democracies which could usher in a politically, socially and economically more equitable and just society than what we have in our country in the 62nd year of Independence. As India (already a nuclear-powered nation) in July launched the first nuclear-powered submarine “Arihant” built on its soil, asserting itself as a world power by joining just five other countries that can design and construct such vessels, the country continued to grapple with the gigantic task of abysmal poverty.

By the admission of the current dispensation at the Centre, nearly half of Indian population earns less than Rs 20 per day. Similarly, close to 50 per cent of children’s population in the country remain malnourished.There are contradictions galore. The country experiences starvation deaths but, at the same time, remains an exporter of food items. And while India has one of the largest population of unemployed and uneducated, it also has one of the largest talent pools. Though fancied by the developed world as having potential of being the future super power, India has yet to come to terms with insurgency, left wing extremism, separatism and growing terrorist attacks. It may be an odd statement to make but the country with the second largest population in the world could, so far, produce only one gold medallist in its long history of Olympic participation.

The march from the Nehruvian mixed-economy model to the globalisation clock set by the Narsimha Rao government has unwittingly unleashed forces which have created islands of prosperity along with sprawling slums and rural areas where, as a rule, farmers commit suicide on account failure of crops and indebtedness.

The minimum wages in the country remain in the pathetic range of Rs 65 (Meghalaya) to the maximum140 (Chandigarh). Ironically, the left-ruled West-Bengal has one of the lowest minimum wages.The futuristic planning for India by the second UPA dispensation is rather ambitious. Progressing from the “politically successful” National Rural Employment Guarantee Act that ensured 100 days of work for unskilled labourers per family, the Manmohan Singh government is set to bring the Right to Food Bill that proposes a national food security law under which every poor family would get 25 kg of food grain per month at Rs 3 per kg.During the last 62 years, the country has moved away from the domination of a single party to the increasing influence of the smaller parties based on caste and region. The profile of the Lok Sabha has changed with even representation from the subaltern class of Indian society. The Women’s Reservation Bill, if passed this year, may hopefully induce “a progressive churning” in the male-dominated polity. “Antodaya” (uplift of the last man) should be a precursor to the proposed setting of foot by an Indian on the far-off moon in 2025. All Indians are, undoubtedly, `trying to reach out to the full moon`-allbeit in their dreams.

Journey to Amsterdam

Journey to Amsterdam:

Poll rambling...2009:
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(Varanasi,Azamgarh, Gorakhpur, Ayodhya (UP) & Rajkot, Surendra Nagar, Junagarh, Porbandar & Bhavnagar (Gujarat))
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“ They just want a spectacle and a story..” is a wry comment from a high profile Lok Sabha candidate and political leader about the voters in India. Indian voters are ostensibly praised by political leaders but seldom genuinely empathized with . Once the cyclical polls end, the ubiquitous “Namaste politician” escapes from the dust and grime of “kaccha-Pakka roads” and retreats to victory in his salubrious surroundings. “Jai ho” !

I am in Varanasi in the eastern Uttar Pradesh to cover the first phase of polling, due on April 16/09 and staying in a hotel on the Lahura Bir road which is couple of kms away from the place where “Sant Kabir” once lived, penned and sang what we know now as “Kabir Vani”. Almost each corner , road and street in the ancient city is laced with history. But that is a different story. People are now grappling with the titanic fight between a former Professor Murli Manohar Joshi, a BJP candidate, and mafia don- turned-BSP candidate Mokhtar Abbas Ansari, controlling his election from his jail premises. Mayawati’s rally is scheduled in ‘Benia Park” under a hot summer sun. Charted buses ferrying people to the venue. “ They are not local, brought from outside”, comes a pithy comment from one in cyber café. There will not be any power cut today as Mayawati is in town, I am assured. But that was an over simplification.

Power cut visits Lahura Bir – the desktop winks and the body of the story typed for past one hour vanishes, leaving only its “Atma” with me. I carry on with it in another cyber café with back up facilities.

Another sweltering day passes and evening progresses with “Paan chewing” inhabitants emerge out on the roads. There is little sign of electioneering and
Life close to Ganga river and the innumerable Ghats dotting it continues uninterrupted .
A silently sobbing old woman with bandages around her head. “ Sara saman chala gaya…” (Everything stolen) , she says and mumbles. Accepts some money. Within minutes she is gone.

A city where centuries co-exist has seen much more than a passing election contest.

Road to Azamgarh is a well mettled road. Azamgarh has been intellectually fertile producing many creative people including writers and poets Ayodhya Prasad ‘Hari Oudh’ Rahul Sanshkrityayan Shyam Narian Pandey Laxmi Narain Misra, Soond Faizabadi, Allama Shibli Nomani and Kaifi Azmi . The Muslims in the area are apprehensive of publicity given by “Batala-terrorist encounter” to Azamgarh as “ a terror breeding ground”. One interacts with Abu Mohammad, Principal of “Sibili-Inter-college”. He talks about the progressive ideas of the founder Nomani “who encouraged girl education” over hundred years ago. Meandering through Azamgarh streets, I recollect Anand Khuswaha, a native of Azamgarh, who left the town over 30 years ago “to discover” .. ..
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A number of medical doctors are campaigning for the Ulema council candidate Dr Javed Akhtar in Deoli village (in Azamgarh) known for silk saris. Doctors offer me cane juice to beat the oppressive Sun. It is a door-to-door electioneering with campaign cars making a whistle stop tour and meandering through “Kaccha lanes”. Time is short and candidate has to catch up with many areas. A police guard is keeping a watch on the candidate as the news floats in that the candidate of Justice Party in the adjacent Jaunpur constituency has been killed.

Time is running out and one takes the road to Gorakhpur. Barring a lone jeep draped with candidate’s picture with a speaker blaring out usual sing-song messages , any signs of electioneering are almost lost in the routine road traffic. But as I enter Gorakhpur at about 830 PM, road side rallies are on with Bhojpuri song and dance progressing through the night. Close to Gorakhpur is Chauri-Chaura - a village where on 4 February 1922 a nationalist mob set afire a police station killing 23 of the police occupants , forcing Mahatma Gandhi suspending his non-cooperation movement. Famous Hindi writer Prem Chand wrote “Idgah” near Gorakhpur Railway station. The district is now infamous for Japanese encephalitis and gall bladder stones . I make a hurried visit to “Gita Prakashan” building which has a record for publishing the largest number of religious books.

Journalistic job entails talking to people and eliciting their views. Most of time it is skin deep- extracting a quote or two and fitting them in a type case.I am talking with Dr Moh. Arif Farooqi, an orthopedic, who is visiting me at my hotel. I enquire about the Muslim-mind-set, their voting preferences etc. Farooqi did his MBBS from King George Medical college in Allahabad. Educated in a Madrasa in Mau from the first standards to third standards, the doctor tells in bits and pieces .

“ This Madrasa was unaided but regulated by the government. One can get education in government school and college by showing Transfer certificate from Madrasa. I went to government school from 4th to 5th. From 6th to 7th studied in “Jeevan Ram Inter-college at Mau. In Ninth I was in Muslim Inter-college , Mau and for 10th class I went to village “Tarun Inter college. There was no Biology so I shifted to “Shaheed Inter-college” .

He speaks in defence of Madrasa education. “ Madrasa is a kind of refuse- food, education and shelter”, he says and seeks to protest against the image “rendered” to Madrasa education. Most Madrasas have English and scientific education. Are you a ‘a Namazi’ ? I ask. “ Yes, I am a Namazi. I was a communist and an atheist in my college days. I changed after I studied Islam”, he informs me in a matter of fact manner. What does Islam say about vegetarianism ? , one odd query from my side “ I myself do not prefer meat unless ….”, Dr Farooqi tells me and invites me to ask any question on Islam.
He is gone. I have many questions but have to move on to the next station.

Ayodhya is in Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency with the controversial legacy of disputed Mandir-Majid site. All is calm here with “karyashala” (workshop) where parts of the proposed temple are kept, is lying idle. Ram temple is not an election agenda in the heart of Ramjnmbhoomi movement !. Times have changed. I meet a sub-inspector in “karsevakpuram” (where a model of the proposed temple is kept). He abuses Rikshaw puller (taking me round the city) for not taking me first to “karyashala” . The sub-inspector is in leisurely mood and offers cold drink to me and talks about his family problems. A visit to the disputed “Mandir-Majid” site is a must. A young lad takes me round and gives me his version of the old and the recent history of the dispute. He is a school drop out. His Father died of cancer so he has taken a full time profession of a guide. He has a brother who , he says, is mentally challenged.

Despite occupying an important place in the political schemes of many a politicians, train “Kaifiyat Express” from Azamgarh to New Delhi stops here only for two-minutes with palpable uncertainty about platform number. Would it come on platform number one or two ? There are no easy answers. One of the station officer confides : if the engine continues to shunt on platform no. 1 than the “Kaifiyat Express” would arrive at platform no. 2 but if it moves away in time , the train may enter platform no.1. What is life without challenges ? I gear up for the task and manage to board it in time.

April 23/09. I am flying to Saurashtra in Gujarat to get a feel of “Modidtva”. Rajkot is land of Goldsmiths as also a production centre of automobile parts (say Nano parts). Auto-driver, a Muslim, takes me to a hotel and talks about “dandho” (business) and development. He is a congress voter but is averse to criticize Modi Just bang opposite my hotel on the Ashapura road is an old school building where Mahatama Gandhi once studied.

Close to Municipality Chowk is historic Karanpara Chowk . BJP has organized a road show in support of their candidate Kiran Bhai Patel. “ He has done well in education”, says Piush kumar, a BJP worker, and reels off the educational institutions owned by Patel. Rajkot is a BJP stronghold and the party is confident of a win (The BJP eventually lost). In the evenings the Rajkot middle-class gathers round the Race Course park and stadium for an evening relaxation. Ice-creams, spicy and oily Gujarati food, `masala Paan` and the routine night walk and talk go hand-in-hand . Life is not interrupted by “Chutni Mahasangram” (election battle).

Narendra Modi seems to be popular leader credited with “can-do” spirit. Roads are fine and there are rare power cuts. But These are the impressions of a fast-track visitor.

I am on my way to Surendra Nagagar where I meet one of the richest LS candidate Khiji Bhai Patadia, an independent candidate. He has a documentary film about himself where he is promising free housing although he himself is a big Mumbai realtor. In A hotel room, he is interacting with many locals. Prior to my meeting with him, he is offering currency notes to one of the person-identified as a headman of a village. Minutes later, I start my interview with him. “ I don not know these people. They have come for my campaigning on their own”, he tells me and reels off his plan of development….. He is not doing or saying anything unexpected. So am I.

Like several other historical buildings , Junagarh fort in the city heights takes you back in time. Leader of opposition L K Advani is fond of talking about the last of the Junagarh Nawab who had “a special affection” towards dogs. “ He would even celebrate birth-days of his dogs”, the BJP leader is often quoted saying so jocularly in his public addresses while touching the topic of unification of princely states within India. Well, one can not find fault with Nawab’s behaviour. Dogs have, time and again , proved themselves to be far better then their masters . Saint poet Narsimh Mehta’s statue is standing under the punishing afternoon Sun. Drive down to Porbandar.

Cutting short visits to “Chutni party offices” , I move to Kirti Mandir- Mahatma Gandhi’s birth place and the home which was purchased in 1777 AD by his Great Grand father Harjivanji Radhidasji Gandhi form local lady Man Bhavi. Gandhiji’s grand father Uttamchodji carried out some changes and mad it two storey buildings . Gandhiji was born on October 2, 1869. Now it is three storey building with 22 rooms. It is all written their. Old time architecture. Wooden staircase takes one up with a rope to help. Several Small rooms and one more staircase and a rope to help. Study room of Gandhiji-it opens out ..well ventilated. It was 119 years ago. Few minutes eye and feet contact with the Arabian sea and one drives back to Rajkot.

Another day, am on way to Bhavnagar where lakhs of Diamond workers have been rendered unemployed by the recession in the Europe and the US. Belgium is one of the key buyers of polished diamonds from Bhavnagar. Diamonds are not for ever.

The election festival has seemingly gained only a furtive , half-baked or at best a business-like attention from the City dwellers. Driving through Surendra Nagar, Junagarh, Bhavnagar or Porbandar, one had a feeling that the cyclical election drill has not carried much conviction with the voters.



After all just 58.43 per cent India voted and almost a half stayed back home.

The election campaign, in fact, is seen to be happening more on the freshly done-up television sets and studios with the high decibel anchors hammering on celebrity campaigners be they Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Amar Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Mahima Choudhray ,Salman Khan and many of those from televisions and regional cinema. And now they all taken have a long and “a well-deserved holiday break”. It may again be “a five-year break” for the politicians before they return “to another spectacle and a story”…

Post script (16/05/09) : Congress-led UPA has won Indian elections. Council of ministers is in place. And team Manmohan gets down to “business”. jai ho. eom

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