A Leaf from the Past , For the attention of Psedo Secularists24/01/2009 08:35:46
Pakistan First Law & Labour Minister, J.N. Mandal's Resignation Letter
Mr. J.N. Mandal,
Minister for Law and Labour,
Government of Pakistan
On 8th October, 1950
My Dear Prime Minister,
It is
with a heavy heart and a sense of utter frustration at the failure of
my life-long mission to uplift the backward Hindu masses of East Bengal
that I feel compelled to tender resignation of my membership of your
Cabinet. It is proper that I should set forth in detail the reasons,
which have prompted me to take this decision in this important juncture
of the history of Indo-Pakistan Sub-continent.
( 1 )
Before I narrate the remote and immediate causes of my resignation, it
may be useful to give a short background of important events that have
taken place during the period of my co-operation with the League,
Having been approached by a few prominent League leaders of Bengal in
February 1943, I agreed to work with them in the Bengal Legislative
Assembly. After the fall of the Fazlul Haque Ministry in March 1943,
with a party of 21 Scheduled Caste M.L.As, I agreed to co-operate with
Khwaja Nazimuddin, the then leader of the Muslim League Parliamentary
party who formed the Cabinet in April 1943. Our co-operation was
conditional on some specific terms in the such as the inclusion of
three Scheduled Caste Ministers in the Cabinet, sanctioning of a sum of
Rupees five lakhs (Rs. 500,000) as annual recurring grant for the
education of the Scheduled Castes, and
unqualified implementation of the communal ratio rules in the matter of
appointment to Government services.
( 2 )
Apart from those terms, the principal objectives that prompted me to
work in co-operation with Muslim League was, first that the economic
interests of the Muslim in Bengal generally were identical with those
of the Scheduled Castes. Muslims were mostly cultivators and labourers,
so were members of the Scheduled Castes. One section of Muslims was
fishermen, so was a section of Scheduled Castes as well and, secondly,
that the Scheduled Castes and Muslims were both educationally backward.
I was persuaded that my co-operation with the League and its Ministry
would lead to the undertaking on a wide scale of legislative and
administrative measures which, while promoting the mutual welfare of
the vast bulk of Bengal's population and undermining the foundations of
vested interest and privilege, would further the cause of communal
peace and harmony. It may be
mentioned here that Khwaja Nazimuddin took three Scheduled Caste
Ministers in this Cabinet and appointed three Parliamentary Secretaries
from amongst the members of my community.
SUHRAWARDY MINISTRY
( 3 )
After the general election held in March 1946, Mr. H.S. Suhrawardy
became the leader of the League Parliamentary Party and formed the
League Ministry in April 1946. I was the only Scheduled Caste member
returned to the Federation ticket. I was included in Mr. Suhrawardy's
cabinet. The 16th day of August of that year was observed as "The
Direct Action Day" by the Muslim League. It resulted, in a holocaust..
Hindus demanded my resignation from the League ministry. My life was in
peril. I began to receive threatening letters almost every day. But I
remained steadfast to my policy. Moreover, I issued an appeal through
our journal "Jagaran" to the Scheduled Caste people to keep themselves
aloof from the bloody feud between the Congress and the Muslim League
even at the risk of my life. I cannot but gratefully acknowledge the
fact that I was saved from the wrath of
infuriated Hindu mobs by my Caste Hindu neighbours. The "Noakhali Riot"
followed the Calcutta carnage in October 1946. There, Hindus including
Scheduled Castes were killed and hundreds were converted to Islam.
Hindu women were raped and abducted. Members of my community also
suffered loss of life and property. Immediately after these happenings,
I visited Tipperah and Feni and saw some riot-affected areas. The
terrible sufferings of Hindus overwhelmed me with grief, but still I
continued the policy of co-operation with the Muslim League.
Immediately after the massive Calcutta Killing, a no-confidence motion
was moved against the Suhrawardy Ministry. It was only due to my
efforts that the support of four Anglo-Indian Members and four
Scheduled Caste members of the Assembly who had hitherto been with the
Congress could be secured, but for which the Ministry would have been
defeated.
( 4 )
In October 1946, most unexpectedly came to me through Mr. Suhrawardy
the offer of a seat in the Interim Government of India. After a good
deal of hesitation and being given only one hour's time to take my
final decision, I consented to accept the offer subject to the
condition only that I should be permitted to resign if my leader, Dr.
B. R. Ambedkar disapproved of my action. Fortunately, however, I
received his approval in a telegram sent from London. Before I left for
Delhi to take over as Law Member, I persuaded Mr. Suhrawardy, the then
Chief Minister of Bengal, to agree to take two Ministers in his Cabinet
in my place and to appoint two Parliamentary Secretaries from the
Scheduled Caste Federation Group.
( 5 )
I joined the Interim Government on November 1, 1946. After about a
month when I paid a visit to Calcutta, Mr. Suhrawardy apprised me of
the communal tension in some parts of East Bengal, especially in
Gopalganj Sub-division, where the Namasudras were in majority, being
very high. He requested me to visit those areas and address meetings of
Muslims and Namasudras. The fact was that Namasudras in those areas had
made preparations for retaliation. I addressed about a dozen of largely
attended meetings. The result was that Namasudras gave up the idea of
retaliation. Thus an inevitable dangerous communal disturbance was
averted.
( 6 )
After a few months, the British Government made their June 3 Statement
(1947) embodying certain proposals for the partition of India. The
whole country, especially the entire non-Muslim India, was startled.
For the sake of truth I must admit that I had always considered the
demand of Pakistan by the Muslim League as a bargaining counter.
Although I honestly felt that in the context India as a whole Muslims
had legitimate cause for grievance against upper class Hindu
chauvinism, I held the view very strongly indeed that the creation of
Pakistan would never solve the communal problem. On the contrary, it
would aggravate communal hatred and bitterness. Besides, I maintained
that it would not ameliorate the condition of Muslims in Pakistan. The
inevitable result of the partition of the country would be to prolong,
if not perpetuate, the poverty, illiteracy and
miserable condition of the toiling masses of both the States. I further
apprehended that Pakistan might turn to be one of the most backward and
undeveloped countries of the South East Asia region.
LAHORE RESOLLUTION
( 7 )
I must make it clear that I have thought that an attempt would be made,
as is being done at present, to develop Pakistan as a purely 'Islamic'
State based on the Shariat and the injunctions and formularies of
Islam. I presumed that it would be set up in all essentials after the
pattern contemplated in the Muslim League resolution adopted at Lahore
on March 23, 1940. That resolution stated inter alia that (1)
"geographically contiguous areas are demarcated into regions which
should be constituted with such territorial readjustments as may be
necessary, that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in
majority as in the north- Western and eastern zones of India, should be
grouped to constitute independent States in which the Constituent units
shall be autonomous and sovereign " and (2) " adequate, effective and
mandatory safeguards should be specifically
provided in the Constitution for minorities in these units and in these
regions for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic,
political, administrative and other rights and interests in
consultation with them." Implicit in this formula were (a) that North
western and eastern Muslim zones should be constituted into two
Independent States, (b) that the constituent units of these States
should be autonomous and sovereign, (c) that minorities guarantee
should be in respect of rights as well as of interest and extend to
every sphere of their lives, and (d) that Constitutional provisions
should be made in these regards in consultation with the minorities
themselves. I was fortified in my faith in this resolution and the
professions of the League Leadership by the statement Quaid-e-Azam
Mohammed Ali Jonah was pleased to make on the 11th August 1947 as the
President of the Constituent Assembly giving solemn assurance of equal
treatment for Hindus
& Muslims alike and calling upon them to remember that they were
all Pakistanis. There was then no question of dividing the people on
the basis of religion into full- fledged Muslim citizens and gummies
being under the perpetual custody of the Islamic State and its Muslim
citizens. Every one of these pledges is being flagrantly violated
apparently to your knowledge and with your approval in complete
disregard of the Quaid-e-Azam' s wishes and sentiments and to the
detriment and humiliation of the minorities.
PARTITION OF BENGAL
( 8 )
It may also be mentioned in this connection that I was opposed to the
partition of Bengal. In launching a campaign in this regard I had to
face not only tremendous resistance from all quarters but also
unspeakable abuse, insult and dishonour. With great regret, I recollect
those days when 32 crores of Hinduism opposed my cations, but I
remained undaunted and unmoved in my loyalty to Pakistan. It is a
matter of gratitude that my appeal to 7 million Scheduled Caste people
of Pakistan evoked a ready and enthusiastic response from them. They
lent me their unstinted support sympathy and encouragement.
( 9 )
After the establishment of Pakistan on August 14, 1947 you formed the
Cabinet, in which I was included and Khwaja Nazimuddin formed a
provisional Cabinet for East Bengal. On August 10, I had spoken to
Khwaja Nazimuddin at Karachi and requested him to take 2 Scheduled
Caste Ministers in the East Bengal Cabinet. He promised to do the same
sometime later.
What
happened subsequently in this regard was a record of unpleasant and
disappointing negotiations with you, Khwaja Nazimuddin and Mr. Nurul
Amin, the present Chief Minister of East Bengal. When I realised that
Khwaja Nazimuddin was avoiding the issue on this or that excuse, I
became almost impatient and exasperated, I further discussed the matter
with the Presidents of the Pakistan Muslim League and its East Bengal
Branch. Ultimately, I brought the matter to your notice. You were
pleased to discuss the subject with Khwaja Nazimuddin in my presence at
your residence. Khwaja Nazimuddin agreed to take one Scheduled Caste
Minister on his return to Dacca. As I had already become skeptic about
the assurance of Khwaja Nazimuddin, I wanted to be definite about the
time limit. I insisted that he must act in this regard within a month,
failing which I should be at liberty to
resign. Both you and Khwaja Nazimuddin agreed to the condition. But,
alas! You did not perhaps mean what you said. Khwaja Nazimuddin did not
keep his promise. After Mr. Nurul Amin had become the Chief Minister of
East Bengal, I again took up the matter with him. He also followed the
same old familiar tactics of evasion. When I again called your
attention to his matter prior to your visit to Dance in 1949, you were
pleased to assure me that a Minority Minister would be appointed in
East Bengal, and you asked 2-3 names from me for consideration. In stat
deference to your wish, I sent you a note stating the Federation Group
in the East Bengal Assembly and suggesting three names. When I made
enquiries as to what had happened on your return from Dacca, you
appeared to be very cold and only remarked: "Let Nurul Amin return from
Delhi". After a few days I again pressed the matter.
ANTI-HINDU POLICY
( 10 )
When the question of partition of Bengal arose, the Scheduled Caste
people were alarmed at the anticipated dangerous result of partition.
Representation on their behalf were made to Mr. Suhrawardy, the then
Chief Minister of Bengal who was pleased to issue a statement to the
press declaring that none of the rights and privileges hitherto enjoyed
by the Scheduled Caste people would be curtailed after partition and
that they would not only continue to enjoy the existing rights and
privileges but also receive additional advantages. This assurance was
given by Mr. Suhrawardy not only in his personal capacity but also in
his capacity as a Chief Minister of the League Ministry. To my utter
regret it is to be stated that after partition, particularly after the
death of Quaid-e-Azam, the Scheduled Castes have not received a fair
deal in any matter. You will
recollect that from time to time I brought the grievances of the
Scheduled Castes to your notice. I explained to you on several
occasions the nature of inefficient administration in East Bengal. I
made serious charges against the police administration. I brought to
your notice incidents of barbarous atrocities perpetrated by the police
on frivolous grounds. I did not hesitate to bring to your notice the
anti-Hindu policy pursued by the East Bengal government especially the
police administration and a section of Muslim League leaders.
SOME INCIDENTS
( 11 )
The first incident that shocked me took place at a village called
Digharkul near Gopalganj where on the false complaint of a Muslim,
brutal atrocities were committed on the local Namasudras. The fact was
that a Muslim who was going in a boat attempted to throw his net to
catch fish. A Namasudra who was already there for the same purpose
opposed to throwing of the net in his front. This was followed by some
altercations and the Muslim got annoyed who went to a nearby Muslim
village and made a false complaint that he and a woman in his boat had
been assaulted by the Namasudras. At the time, the S.D.O. of Gopalganj
was passing in a boat through the canal who without making any enquiry
accepted the complaint as true and sent armed police to the spot to
punish the Namasudra. The armed police came and the local Muslims also
joined them. They not only raided some
houses of the Namasudras but mercilessly beat both men and women,
destroyed their properties and took away valuables. The merciless
beating of a pregnant woman resulted in abortion on the spot. This
brutal action on the part of the local authority created panic over a
large area.
( 12 )
The second incident of police repression took place in early part of
1949 under P.S. Gournadi in the district of Barisal. Here a quarrel
took place between two groups of members of a Union Board. One Group
which was in the good book of the Police conspired to punish the
opponents on the plea of attack on the Police Station, the O.C.,
Gournadi requisitioned armed forces from headquarters. The Police,
helped by the armed forces, then raided a large number of houses in the
area, took away valuable properties, even from the houses of
absentee-owners who were never in politics, far less in the Communist
Party. A large number of students of many High English Schools were
Communist suspects and unnecessarily harassed. This area being very
near to my native village, I was informed of the incident. I wrote to
the District Magistrate and the S.P. for an enquiry. A
section of the local people also prayed for an enquiry by the S.D.O.
But no enquiry was held. Even my letters to the District authorities
were not acknowledged. I then brought this matter to the notice of the
highest Authority in Pakistan, including yourself but to no avail.
WOMEN FOR MILITARY
( 13 )
The atrocities perpetrated by the police and military on the innocent
Hindus, especially the Scheduled Caste of Harbinger in the Dist. of
Sleet deserve description. Innocent men and women were brutally
tortured, some women ravished, their houses raided and properties
looted by the police and the local Muslims. Military pickets were
posted in the area. The military not only oppressed these people and
took away stuffs forcibly from Hindus houses, but also forced Hindus to
send their women-folk at night to the camp to satisfy the carnal desire
of the military. This fact also I brought to your notice. You assured
me of a report on the matter, but unfortunately no report was
forthcoming.
( 14 )
Then occurred the incident at Nachole in the District of Rajshahi where
in the name of suppression of Communists not only the police but also
the local Muslims in collaboration with the police oppressed the Hindus
and looted their properties. The Santhals then crossed the border and
came over to West Bengal. They narrated the stories of atrocities
wantonly committed by the Muslims and the police.
( 15 )
An instance of callous and cold-blooded brutality is furnished by the
incident that took place on December 20, 1949 in Kalshira under P.S.
Mollarhat in the District of Khulna. What happened was that late at
night four constables raided the house of one Joydev Brahma in village
Kalshira in search of some alleged Communists. At the scent of the
police, half a dozen of young men, some of whom might have been
Communists, escaped from the house. The police constable entered into
the house and assaulted the wife of Joydev Brahma whose cry attracted
her husband and a few companions who escaped from the house. They
became desperate, re-entered the house, found 4 constables with one gun
only. That perhaps might have encouraged the young men who struck a
blow on an armed constable who died on the spot. The young men then
attacked another constable when the other two
ran away and raised alarm which attracted some neighbouring people who
came to their rescue. As the incident took place before sunrise when it
was dark, the assailants fled with dead body before the villagers could
come. The S.P. of Khulna with a contingent of military and armed police
appeared on the scene in the afternoon of the following day. In the
meantime, the assailants fled and the intelligent neighbours also fled
away. But the bulk of the villagers remained in their houses, as they
were absolutely innocent and failed to realise the consequence of the
happening. Subsequently the innocents of the entire village encouraged
the neighbouring Muslims to take away their properties. A number of
persons were killed and men and women were forcibly converted. House-
hold deities were broken and places of worship desecrated and
destroyed. Several women were raped by the police, military and local
Muslims. Thus a veritable hell was let loose not only in the
village of Kalshira which is half miles in length with a large
population, but also in a number of neighbouring Namasudra villages.
The village Kalshira was never suspected by the authority to be a place
of Communist activities. Another village called Jhalardanga, which was
at a distance of 3 miles from Kalshira, was known to be a centre of
Communist activities. This village was raided by a large contingent of
police on that day for hunt of the alleged Communists, a number of whom
fled away and took shelter in the aforesaid house of village Kalshira
which was considered to be a safe place for them.
( 16 )
I visited Kalashira and one or two neighboring villages on the 28th
February 1950. The S.P., Khulna and some of the prominent League
leaders of the district were with me. When I came to the village
Kalshira, I found the place desolate and in ruins. I was told in the
presence of S.P.that there were 350 homesteads in this village; of
these, only three had been spared and the rest had been demolished.
Country boats and heads of cattle belonging to the Namasudras had been
all taken away. I reported these facts to the Chief Minster, Chief
Secretary and Inspector General of Police of East Bengal and to you.
( 17 )
It may be mentioned in this connection that the news of this incident
was published in West Bengal Press and this created some unrest among
the Hindus there. A number of sufferers of Kalshira, both men and
women, homeless and destitute had also come to Calcutta and narrated
the stories of their sufferings which resulted in some communal
disturbances in West Bengal in the last part of January.
CAUSES OF THE FEBRUARY DISTURBANCE
( 18 )
It must be noted that stories of a few incidents of communal
disturbance that took place in West Bengal as a sort of repercussion of
the incidents at Kalshira were published in exaggerated form in the
east Bengal press. In the second week of February 1950 when the Budget
Session of the East Bengal Assembly commenced, the Congress Members
sought permission to move two-adjournment motion to discuss the
situation created at Kalshira and Nachole. But the motions were
disallowed. The congress Member walked out of the Assembly in protest.
This action of the Hindu Members of the Assembly annoyed and enraged
not only the Ministers but also the Muslim leaders and officials of the
Province. This was perhaps one of the principal reasons for Dacca and
East Bengal riots in February 1950.
( 19 )
It is significant that on February 10, 1950 at about 10 O'clock in the
morning a woman was painted with red to show that her breast was cut
off in Calcutta riot, and was taken round that East Bengal Secretariat
at Dacca. Immediately, the Government servants of the Secretariat
struck work and came out in procession raising slogans of revenge
against the Hindus. The procession began to swell as it passed over a
distance of more than a mile. It ended in a meeting at Victoria Park at
about 12O'clock in the noon where violent speeches against the Hindus
were delivered by several speakers, including officials. The fun of the
whole show was that while the employees of the Secretariat went out in
procession, the chief Secretary of the East Bengal Government was
holding a conference with his West Bengal counterpart in the same
building to find out ways and means to
stop communal disturbances in the two Bengals.
OFFICIALS HELPED LOOTERS
( 20 )
The riot started at about 1 p.m. simultaneously all over the city.
Arson, looting of Hindu shops and houses and killing of Hindus,
wherever they were found, commenced in full swing in all parts of the
city. I got evidence even from the Muslims that arson and looting were
committed even in the presence of high police officials. Jewellery
shops belonging to the Hindus were looted in the presence of police
officers. They not only did not attempt to stop loot, but also helped
the looters with advice and direction. Unfortunately for me, I reached
Dacca at 5 O'clock in the afternoon on the same day, in Feb.10,1950. To
my utter dismay, I had occasion to see and know things from close
quarters. What I saw and learnt from first hand information was simply
staggering and heart-rending.
BACKGROUND OF THE RIOT
( 21 ) The reasons for the Dacca riot were mainly five:
(i) To punish
the Hindus for the daring action of their representatives in the
Assembly in their expression of protest by walking out of the Assembly
when two adjournment motions on Kashira and Nachole affairs were
disallowed;
(ii) Dissensions and difference between the Suhrawardy Group and the Nazimuddin in the Parliamentary Party were becoming acute;
(iii)
Apprehension of launching of a movement for re-union of East and West
Bengal by both Hindu and Muslim leaders made the East Bengal Ministry
and the Muslim League nervous. They wanted to prevent such a move. They
thought that any large scale communal riot in East Bengal was sure to
produce reactions in West Bengal were Muslims might be killed. The
result of such riot in both East and East Bengal, it was believed,
would prevent any movement for re-union of Bengals.
(iv) Feeling of
Antagonism between the Bengalee Muslim and non-Bengalee Muslim in East
Bengal was gaining ground. This could only be prevented by creating
hatred between Hindus and Muslims of East Bengal. The language question
was also connected with it and
(v) The
consequences of non-devaluation and Indo-Pakistan trade deadlock to the
economy of East Bengal were being felt most acutely first in urban and
rural areas and the Muslim League members and officials wanted to
divert the attention of the Muslim masses from the impending economic
breakdown by some sort of jehad against Hindus.
STAGGERING DETAILS - NEARLY 10,000 KILLED
( 22 )
During my nine days' stay at Dacca , I visited most of the
riot-affected areas of the city and suburbs. I visited Mirpur also
under P.S.Tejgaon. The news of the killing of hundreds of innocent
Hindus in trains, on railway lines between Dacca and Narayanganj, and
Dacca and Chittagong gave me the rudest shock. on the second day of
Dacca riot, I met the Chief Minister of east Bengal and requested him
to issue immediate instructions to the District authorities to take all
precautionary measures to prevent spreading of the riot in district
towns and rural areas. On the 20th February 1950, I reached Barisal
town and was astounded to know of the happenings in Barisal. In the
District of Hindus killed. I visited almost all riot-affected areas in
the District. I was simply puzzled to find the havoc wrought by the
Muslim rioters even at places like Kasipur,
Madhabpasha and Lakutia, which were within a radius of six miles from
the District town and were connected with motor able roads. At the
Madhabpasha Zaminder's house, about 200 people were killed and 40
injured. A Place, called Muladi, witnessed a dreadful hell. At Muladi
Bandar alone, the number killed would total more than three hundred, as
was reported tome by the local Muslims including some officers. I
visited Muladi village also, where I found skeletons of dead bodies at
some places. I found dogs and vultures eating corpses on the riverside.
I got the information there that after the whole-scale killing of all
adult males, all the young girls were distributed among the ringleaders
of the miscreants. At a place told Kaibartakhali under P.S. Rajapur, 63
persons were killed. Hindu houses within a stone's throw distance from
the said Thana office were looted, burnt and inmates killed. All Hindu
shops of Babuganj Bazar were looted and then burnt and a
large number of Hindus were killed. From detailed information received,
the conservative estimate of casualties was placed at 2,500 killed in
the District of Barisal alone. Total casualties of Dacca and East
Bengal riot were estimated to be in the neighbourhood of 10,000 killed.
I was really overwhelmed with grief. The lamentation of women and
children who had lost their all including near and dear ones melted my
hearts. I only asked myself. "What was coming to Pakistan in the name
of lslam".
NO EARNEST DESIRE TO IMPLEMENT DELHI PACT
( 23 )
The large-scale exodus of Hindus from Bengal commenced in the latter
part of March. It appeared that within a short time all the Hindus
would migrate to India. Aware cry was raised in India. The situation
became extremely critical. A national calamity appeared to be
inevitable. The apprehended disaster, however, was avoided by the Delhi
Agreement of April 8. With a view to reviving the already lost morale
of the panicky Hindus, I undertook an extensive tour of East Bengal. I
visited a number of places in the districts of Dacca, Barisal,
Faridpur, Khulna and Jessore. I addressed dozens of largely attended
meeting and asked the Hindus to take courage and not to leave their
ancestral hearths and homes. I had this expectation that the East
Bengal Govt. and Muslim League leaders would implement the terms of the
Delhi Agreement. But with the lapse of time, I began
to realise that neither the East Bengal Govt. nor the Muslim League
leaders were really earnest in the matter of implementation of the
Delhi Agreement. The East Bengal Govt. was not only much to set up a
machinery as envisaged in the Delhi Agreement, but also was not willing
it take effective steps for the purpose. A number of Hindus who
returned to native village immediately after the Delhi Agreement were
not given possession of their homes and lands, which were occupied in
the meantime by the Muslims.
MOULANA AKRAM KHAN'S INCITATIONS
( 24 )
My suspicion about the intention of League leaders was confirmed when I
read editorial comments by Moulana Akram Khan, the President of the
Provincial Muslim League in the "Baisak" issue of a monthly journal
called Mahammadi. In commenting on the first radio-broadcast of Dr.
A.M. Malik, Minister for Minority Affairs of Pakistan, from Dacca Radio
Station, wherein he said, "Even Prophet Mahammed had given religious
freedom to the Jews in Arabia", Moulana Akram Khan said, "Dr. Malik
would have done well had he not made any reference in his speech to the
Jews of Arabia. It is true that Jews in Arabia had been given religious
freedom by Prophet Mahammed; but it was the first chapter of the
history. The last chapter contains the definite direction of prophet
Mahammed which runs as follows :-"Drive away all the Jews out of
Arabia". Even despite this editorial
comment of a person who held a very high position in the political,
social and spiritual life of the Muslim community, I entertained some
expectation that the Nurul Amin Ministry might not be so insincere. But
that expectation of mine was totally shattered when Mr. Nurul Amin
selected D.N. Barari as a Minister to represent the minorities in terms
of the Delhi Agreement which clearly states that to restore confidence
in the mind of the minorities one of their representatives will be
taken in the Ministry of East Bengal and West Bengal Govt.
NURUL AMIN GOVT'S. INSINCERITY
( 25 )
In one of my public statement , I expressed the view that appointment
of D.N. Barari as a Minister representing the minorities not only did
not help restore any confidence, but, on the contrary, destroyed all
expectations or illusion, if there was any in the minds of the
minorities about the sincerity of Mr. Nurul Amin Govt. my own reaction
was that Mr. Nurul Amin's Govt. was not only insincere but also wanted
to defeat the principal objectives of the Delhi Agreement. I again
repeat that D.N. Barari does not represent anybody except himself. He
was returned to the Bengal Legislative Assembly on the Congress ticket
with the money and organisation of the Congress. He opposed the
Scheduled Caste Federation candidates. Some time after his election, he
betrayed the Congress and joined the Federation. When he was appointed
a Minister he had ceased to be a member
of the Federation too. I know that East Bengal Hindus agree with me
that by antecedents, character and intellectual attainments Barari is
not qualified to hold the position of a Minister as envisaged in the
Delhi Agreement.
( 26 )
I recommended three names to Mr. Nurul Amin for this office. One of the
persons I recommended was an M.A., LL.B., Advocate, Dacca High Court.
He was Minister for more than 4 years in the first Fazlul Huq Ministry
in Bengal. He was chairman of the Coal Mines Stowing Board, Calcutta,
for about 6 years. He was the senior Vice-President of the Scheduled
Caste Federation. My second nominee was a B.A.,LL.B. He was a member of
the Legislative Council for 7 years in the pre-reform regime. I would
like to know what earthly reasons there might be for Mr. Nurul Amin in
not selecting any of these two gentlemen and appointing instead a
person whose appointment as Minister I strongly objected to for very
rightly considerations. Without any fear of contradiction I can say
that this action of Mr. Nurul Amin in selecting Barari as a Minister in
terms of the Delhi Agreement
is conclusive proof that East Bengal Govt. was neither serious nor
sincere in its profession about the terms of the Delhi Agreement whose
main purpose is to create such conditions as would enable the Hindus to
continue to live in East Bengal with a sense of security to their life,
property, honour and religion.
GOVT. PLAN TO SOUEEZE OUT HINDUS
( 27 )
I would like to reiterate in this connection my firm conviction that
East Bengal Govt. is still following the well-planned policy of
squeezing Hindus out of the Province. In my discussion with you on more
than one occasion, I gave expression to this view of mine. I must say
that this policy of driving out Hindus from Pakistan has succeeded
completely in West Pakistan and is nearing completion in East Pakistan
too. The appointment of D.N. Barari as a Minister and the East Bengal
Government's unceremonious objection to my recommendation in this
regard strictly conform to name of what they call an Islamic State.
Pakistan has not given the Hindus entire satisfaction and a full sense
of security. They now want to get rid of the Hindu intelligentsia so
that the political, economic and social life of Pakistan may not in any
way be influenced by them.
EVASIVE TACTICS TO SHELVE JOINT ELECTORATE
( 28 )
I have failed to understand why the question of electorate has not yet
been decided. It is now three years that the minority Sub-Committee has
been appointed. It sat on three occasions. The question of having joint
or separate electorate came up for consideration at a meeting of the
Committee held in December last when all the representatives of
recognised minorities in Pakistan expressed their view in support of
joint Electorate with reservation of seats for backward minorities. We,
on behalf of the Scheduled Castes think this matter again came up for
consideration at a meeting called in August last. But without any
discussion whatsoever on this point, the meeting was adjourned sine
die. It is not difficult to understand what the motive is behind this
kind of evasive tactics in regard to such a vital matter on the part of
Pakistan's rulers.
DISMAL FUTURE FOR HINDUS
( 29 )
Coming now to the present condition and the future of Hindus in East
Bengal as a result of the Delhi Agreement, I should say that the
present condition is not only unsatisfactory but absolutely hopeless
and that the future completely dark and dismal Confidence of Hindus in
East Bengal has not been restored in the least. The Agreement is
treated as a mere scrap of paper alike by the East Bengal Government
and the Muslim League.
That a pretty large number of
Hindu migrants, mostly Scheduled Caste cultivators are returning to
East Bengal is no indication that confidence has been restored. It only
indicates that their stay and rehabilitation in West Bengal, or
elsewhere in the Indian Union have not been possible. The sufferings of
refugee life are compelling them to go back to their homes. Besides,
many of them are going
back to bring movable articles and settle or dispose of immovable
properties. That no serious communal disturbance has recently taken
place in East Bengal is not to be attributed to the Delhi Agreement. It
could not simply continue even if there were no Agreement or Pact.
( 30 )
It must be admitted that the Delhi Pact was not an end in itself. It
was intended that such conditions would be created as might effectively
help resolve so many disputes and conflict existing between India and
Pakistan. But during this period of six months after the Agreement, no
dispute or conflict has readily been resolved. On the contrary,
communal propaganda and anti-India propaganda by Pakistan both at home
and abroad are continuing in full swing. The observance of Kashmir Day
by the Muslim League all over Pakistan is an eloquent proof of communal
anti-India propaganda by Pakistan. The recent speech of the Governor of
Punjab (Pak) saying that Pakistan needed a strong Army for the security
of Indian Muslims has betrayed the real attitude of Pakistan towards
India. It will only increase the tensions between the two countries.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN E. BENGAL TODAY
( 31 )
What is to the condition in East Bengal? About fifty lakhs of Hindus
have left since the partition of the country. Apart from the East
Bengal riot of last February, the reasons for such a large-scale exodus
of Hindus are many. The boycott by the Muslims of Hindu lawyers,
medical practitioners, shopkeepers, traders and merchants has compelled
Hindus to migrate to West Bengal in search of their means of
livelihood. Wholesale requisition of Hindu houses even without
following due process of law in many and non-payment of any rent
whatsoever to the owners have compelled them to seek for Indian
Shelter, Payments rent to Hindu landlords was stopped long before.
Beside, the Ansars against whom I received complaints all over are a
standing menace to the safety and security of Hindus. Interference in
matters of education and methods adopted by the Educational
Authority for Islamisation frightened the teaching staff of Secondary
Schools and Colleges out of their old familiar moorings. They have left
East Bengal. As a result, most of the educational institutions ago the
Educational Authority issued circular to Secondary Schools enjoining
compulsory participation of teachers and student of all communities in
recitation from the Holy Koran before the school work commenced,
Another circular requires Headmasters of schools to name the different
blocks of the premises after 12 distinguished Muslims, such as, Jinnah,
Iqbal, Liaquat Ali, Nazimuddin, etc. Only very recently in an
educational conference held at Dacca, the President disclosed that out
of 1,500 High English Schools in East Bengal, only 500 were working.
Owing to the migration of medical practitioners there is hardly any
means of proper treatment of patients. Almost all the priests who used
to worship the household deities at Hindu houses have left.
Important places of worship have been abandoned. The result is that the
Hindus of East Bengal have got now hardly any means to follow religious
pursuits and perform social ceremonies like marriage where the services
of a priest are essential. Artisans who made images of goddesses have
also left. Muslims have replaced Hindu Presidents of Union Boards by
coercive measures with the active help and connivance of the police and
Circle Officers. Muslims have replaced Hindu Headmasters and
Secretaries of Schools. The life of the few Hindu Govt. servants has
been made extremely miserable as many of them have either been
superseded by junior Muslims or dismissed without sufficient or any
cause. Only very recently a Hindu Public Prosecutor of Chittagong was
arbitrarily removed from service as has been made clear in a statement
made by Srijukta Nellie Sengupta against whom at least no charge of
anti-Muslim bias prejudice or malice can be leveled.
HINDUS VIRTUALLY OUTLAWED
( 32 )
Commission of thefts and dacoities even with murder is going on as
before. Thana office seldom record half the complaints made by the
Hindus. That the abduction and rape of Hindu girls have been reduced to
a certain extent is due only to the fact that there is no Caste Hindu
girl between the ages of 12 and 30 living in East Bengal at present.
The few depressed class girls who live in rural areas with their
parents are not even spared by Muslim goondas. I have received
information about a number of incidents of rape of Scheduled Castes
Girls by Muslims.
Full payment is seldom made by Muslim
buyers for the price of jute and other agricultural commodities sold by
Hindus in market places. As a matter of fact, there is no operation of
law, justice or fair play in Pakistan, so far as Hindus are concerned.
FORCED CONVERSIONS IN WEST PAKISTAN
( 33 )
Leaving aside the question of East Pakistan, let me now refer to west
Pakistan, especially Sind. The West Punjab had after partition about a
lakh of Scheduled Castes people. It may be noted that a large number of
them were converted to Islam. Only 4 out of a dozen Scheduled Castes
girls abducted by Muslims have yet been recovered in spite of repeated
petitions to the Authority. Names of those girls with names of their
abductors were supplied to the government. The last reply recently
given by the office-in-Charge of recovery of abducted girls said that
"his function was to recover Hindu girls and stat "Achuts" (Scheduled
Castes) were not Hindus". The condition of the small number of Hindus
that are still living in Sind and Karachi, the capital of Pakistan, is
simply deplorable. I have got a list of 363 Hindu temples and
gurudwaras of Karachi and Sind (which
is by no means an exhaustive list) which are still in possession of
Muslims. Some of the temples have been converted into cobbler's shops,
slaughterhouses and hotels. None of the Hindus has got back.
Possession of their landed properties were taken away from them without
any notice and disturbed amongst refugees and local Muslims. I
personally know that the Custodian declared 200 to 300 Hindus
non-evacuees a pretty long time ago. But up till now properties have
not been restored to any one of them. Even the possession of Karachi
Pinjra Pole has not been restored to the trustees, although it was
declared non-evacuee property some time ago. In Karachi I had received
petitions from many unfortunate fathers and husbands of abducted Hindu
girls, mostly Scheduled Castes. I Drew the attention of the 2nd
Provisional Government to this fact. There was little or no effect. To
my extreme regret I received information that a large number of
Scheduled Castes who are still living in Sind have been forcibly
converted to Islam.
PAKISTAN 'ACCURSED' FOR HINDUS
( 34 )
Now this being in brief the overall picture of Pakistan so far as the
Hindus are concerned, I shall not be unjustified in stating that Hindus
of Pakistan have to all intents and purposes been rendered " Stateless
" in their own houses. They have no other fault than that they profess
Hindu religion. Muslim League leaders that Pakistan is and shall be an
Islamic State are repeatedly making declarations. Islam is being
offered as the sovereign remedy for all earthly evils. In the matchless
dialectics of capitalism and socialism you present the exhilarating
democratic synthesis of Islamic equality and fraternity. In that grand
setting of the Shariat Muslims alone are rulers while Hindus and other
minorities are jimmies who are entitled to protection at a price, and
you know more than anybody else Mr. Prime Minister, what that price is.
After anxious and
prolonged struggle I have come to the conclusion that Pakistan is no
place for Hindus to live in and that their future is darkened by the
ominous shadow of conversion or liquidation. The bulk of the upper
class Hindus and politically conscious scheduled castes have left East
Bengal. Those Hindus who will continue to stay accursed promise and for
that matter in Pakistan will, I am afraid, by gradual stages and in a
planned manner be either converted to Islam or completely exterminated.
It is really amazing that a man of your education, culture and
experience should be an exponent of a doctrine fraught with so great a
danger to humanity and subversive of all principles of equality and
good sense. I may tell you and your fellow workers that Hindus will
allow themselves, whatever the threat or temptation, to be treated as
Jimmies in the land of their birth. Today they may, as indeed many of
them have already done, abandon their hearths and home in sorrow
but in panic. Tomorrow they strive for their rightful place in the
economy of life. Who knows what is in the womb of the future? When I am
convinced that my continuance in office in the Pakistan Central
Government is not of any help to Hindus I should not with a clear
conscience, create the false impression in the minds of the Hindus of
Pakistan and peoples abroad that Hindus can live there with honour and
with a sense of security in respect of their life, property and
religion. This is about Hindus.
NO CIVIL LIBERTY EVEN FOR MUSLIMS
( 35 )
And what about the Muslims who are outside the charmed circle of the
League rulers and their corrupt and inefficient bureaucracy? There is
hardly anything called civil liberty in Pakistan. Witness for example,
the fate of Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan then whom a more devout Muslim had
not walked this earth for many years and of his gallant patriotic
brother Dr. Khan Sahib. A large number of erstwhile League leaders of
the Northwest and also of the Eastern belt of Pakistan are in detention
without trial. Mr. Suhrawardy to whom is due in a large measure the
League's triumph in Bengal is for practical purposes a Pakistan
prisoner who has to move under permit and can't open his lips under
orders. Mr. Fazzul Huq, that dearly loved grand old man of Bengal, who
was the author of that now famous Lahore resolution, is ploughing his
lonely furrow in the precincts of the
Dacca High Court of Judicature, and the so called Islamic planning is
as ruthless as it is complete. About the East Bengal Muslims generally,
the less said the better. They were promised at Lahore of an
independent State. They were promised of autonomous and sovereign units
of the independent State. What have they got instead? East Bengal has
been transformed into a colony of the western belt of Pakistan,
although it contained a population, which is larger than that of all
the units of Pakistan put together. It is a pale ineffective adjunct of
Karachi doing the latte's bidding and carrying out its orders. East
Bengal Muslims in their enthusiasm wanted bread and they have by the
mysterious working of the Islamic state and the Shariat got stone
instead from the arid deserts of Sind and the Punjab.
MY OWN SAD AND BITTER EXPERIENCE
( 36 )
Leaving aside the overall picture of Pakistan and the callous and cruel
injustice done to others, my own personal experience is no less sad,
bitter and revealing. You used your position as the Prime Minister and
leader of the Parliamentary Party to ask me to issue a statement, which
I did on the 8th September last. You know that I was not willing to
make a statement containing untruths and half-truths, which were worse
those untruths. It was not possible for me to reject your request so
long as I was there working as a Minister with you and under your
leadership. But I can no longer afford to carry this load of false
pretensions and untruth on my conscience and I have decided to offer my
resignation as your Minister, which I am hereby placing in your hands
and which, I hope, you will accept without delay. You are of course at
liberty to dispense with that
office or dispose of it in such a manner as may suit adequately and
effectively the objectives of your Islamic State.
8th Oct. 1950
Yours Sincerely,
J. N. Mandal