Col J P Singh
Last century as a whole was the bloodiest century of the recorded history in which both the World Wars were fought killing hundreds of thousands, also causing territorial divisions and partitions altering map of the world many times, all events leading to violence and immence ethnic cleansing. Unfortunate division of India and unsavoury transfer of population that accompanied the partition, are the epoch making and unforgettable events of the century. We have been carrying this this baggage far too long. Thus let there be no other war, division or partition in the 21st century. That, if happens, may be more painful than the last one.
When the nation is at the threshold of all times grand ‘Platinum Jubilee of Indian Independence’ celebration, a unique and onerous moment, once in millennium event for India, the meories of freedom struggle and the partiton which accompanied independence must be compiled as ‘independence memorabilia’ before the celebrations begins for next year’s independence day to enable posterity to know how Mahatma Gandhi led a ‘Jan Andolan’ compelling mighty British to quit India and how they partitoned India as part of their game plan to control strategic Northwestern areas of the divided India. But to my mind, the glory of monumental independence lies in everlasting painful story of partition. Hence historic perspective of both the contrasting events, happening simultaneously, be put on the table and compiled for the posterity.
Reports of proposed partition of the country into Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan sparked off communal riots all over. Riots first broke out in Calcutta a year before the partition and within months the death toll rose to thousands. Muslims blamed Hindus for starting the killings whereas Hindus blamed Muslims. The fact is that both sides had their pound of flesh. Both killed, tortured, raped, looted and committed crimes aginst the other. Everyone felt that his neighbor’s hand was at his throat. From Calcutta, the riots spread to East, North and West. In East Bengal and Rawalpindi Muslims killed Hindus, in Bihar Hindus killed Muslims. In Punjab and NWFPs, Muslims and Hindus who had lived peacefully for centuries became each-others prey. Hindus fled towards East in the areas dominated by Hindus whereas Muslims fled to the West where Muslims were in majority. They travelled on foot, on bullock-carts, crammed in lorries, in the trains clinging to the sides and roofs. At crossroads & railway stations they met panicky swarms of humanity fleeing to safety in the opposite direction. The riots became a rout. By the summer of 1947 when the formation of new nations was formally announced, around one Crore people were in flight. By the time partition materialised, India was up in arms, terror and flames. In Northern India the brunt of the partition was borne by Punjab. Trains and Convoys of corpses came from the areas which became part of Pakistan. Sikhs retaliated by attacking trains and convoys carrying Muslim refugees. In one case a train crossing over to Pakistan carried corpses with the writing on the engine ‘Gift to Pakistan’. In another incident Muslim mobs attacked Sheikhupura and Gujranwala. Pakistan army and police took part in the attack. Women veils were taken off, they were stripped and marched down crowded streets to be raped in the market place. Some gentlewomen eluded their would be ravishers by killing themselves. To save their honor, women killed own children and jumped into the wells piling over each other. None remained alive in some villages after which Sikhs became Muslims’ blood thirsty.
Pak soldiers, who were to escort the refugees going to Lahore from Amritsar in trucks, looted and bayoneted them enroute. Pakistani magistrates and police inspectors became millionaire overnight. Muslim League, which had accepted Cabinet Mission plan of transfer of power, withdrew and announced a general strike on 16 August 1946, terming it as ‘Direct Action Day’, to assert its demand for a separate Muslim State. The protest triggered massive riots in Calcutta. More than 4000 people lost their lives and more than 1 Lakh were left homeless in Calcutta within 72 hours. This violence sparked off further religious riots causing more deaths and destruction. While this was happening, those who were to ensure their safety and security were making eloquent speeches in Delhi drawing applauses from foreign rulers. while some rejoiced, far too many suffered and perished and those who lived, for them independence was a doom and gloom. Luckily J&K was not directly hit by communal riots but the entry of thousands of beleaguered immigrants from the West enraged the onlookers thus giving rise to sporadic incidences of violence. Therafter the attrocities engineered by Pak invaders on innocent Kashmiris was a also the dark secrets of the partition.
At the conclusion of World War II, British Labour Party came to power. Prime Minister Clement Attlee led Labour Party was largely sympathetic towards Indian freedom. A Cabinet Mission was sent to India in March 1946, which after a careful study of the Indian political scenario, proposed the formation of an interim Government. It was led by Pt. Nehru. However, the Muslim League didn’t join the interim Govt and pressed for the separate state of Pakistan. Lord Mountbatten, the Viceroy of India, presented a plan for the division of India into India and Pakistan, and the Indian leaders had no choice but to accept the division because Muslim League was adamant. Thus, India became free at the stroke of midnight, on August 14, 1947. It was a unique and an onerous moments in history of India. Pt. Nehru became the first Prime Minister of free India. In an emotionally charged atmosphere, Pt Nehru said, “A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. We end today a period of ill fortune and India discovers herself again”.
The unpleasent story of partiton has the following take aways:- (i) Simultaneous show of compassion of ‘hate and love’, ‘kill and save’ and ‘pardon and revenge’ was distinct. (ii) Tremendous sense of belonging to a village community and at the same time fear of being killed by the neighbor lurked in every mind. (iii) Urge to persue Muslims/Hindus not to migrate and at the same time there was greed to grab their vacated properties also lurked. (iv) Amongst the killers there were saviour. (v) Those who survived, their struggle did not end. It took years for them to find their bearings and settle down at one place. (vi) What is exemplary is that many never complained about their miseries and were thankful to their new nation for having given them shelter despite indignities. (Refugees of West Pakistan have just been honourably settled in J&K last year after the abrogation of Article 370). (vii) Internally displaced persons also continue to suffer and the plight of those living on the LoC needs no description. (viii) Partition colours Kashmir politics. Kashmir imbroglio is the legacy of partition. Youth of Kashmir need to be apprised of it.
It is therfore necessary to collect public amnesia around greatest upheaval of sub-continental heritage to commemorate it during the platinum jubilee celebrations in 2021 at the Red Fort. Even before the bloodshed of the havoc of partition had gone dry, Pakistan, driven by its ideology of two nation theory, spilled more blood in the Valley by attacking Kashmir on 22 October 1947. Tell tale marks of loot, plunder, killings, rape and terror are still visible on the psyche of elderly Kashmiris. And for those who have redeemed their pledges for ever, lest we forget, let us dedicate ’75th Independence Day’ to the martyrs such as Maqbool Sherwani and Brig Rajinder Singh as Remembrance Day.To commemorate legacy of the partition, the govt of J&K UT should create a ‘Memoir of Partition’ in Srinagar. It should portray divergent facets of the great upheaval that accompanied the creation of Pakistan alongwith the killings, loot, arson and rape perpetrated by Pakistani invaders on the people of Kashmir to annex it militarily and the way state forces stalled their nefarious designs.
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