January 09, 2025 10:42 am (IST)
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Partition of Bengal was not inevitable, could have been stopped: Harun-or-Rashid
Kolkata, Sept 6 (IBNS) Harun-or-Rashid, Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Bangladesh, while speaking on the subject of Partition of Bengal in Kolkata, has said it could have been stopped.
He was speaking at an event hosted by Rotary Club in their Kolkata premises on Saturday, on the eve of freedom fighter Sarat Chandra Bose’s 126th birth anniversary.
Speaking on the subject ‘Was Partition Inevitable’, Rashid proposed a string of theories, based on which he wrote his thesis paper in the 80’s.
He said, “Even after sixty years, the subject is still very relevant to enquire about and would continue to be so.”
About the formation of Pakistan, he said, “Some hold (Mohammad Ali) Jinnah responsible, some hold the Congress High command responsible, while others argue it was religious communalism.”
He urged people to think otherwise, “There should not be a blame game, instead of pointing fingers at one another let’s try and understand the scenario.”
He added, “About the part of separation, well it could have been avoided.”
Rashid cited out the three main reasons for the separation. “Congress, Muslim League and the (British) Raj,” he said.
Taking a chip at the then British Government, he said, “There were uneven development between the Hindus and Muslims due to Raj. It created a ground for communalization.”
He said, “The idea of a Separate Electorate that the Raj started in the year 1909 was solely created to divide the two groups.”
Separate Electorate meant, Hindus chose a Hindu Leader and the same applied for their Muslim counterparts.
Looking at the major aspect, Rashid pointed out ‘demography’ as a key player aiding in the partition.
“The Muslim population in pre-independent India was concentrated. If only they were scattered, things would have certainly become different today,” said he.
He also took a hit at the ‘Zamindari System’, calling it a fertile breeding ground for communalism.
“The clash between Hindu Zamindars (land owners) and their Muslims pheasants often did not go well.”
Speaking at the Congress’ failure to cater to the Muslim people, the professor said, “Congress failed to appreciate and accommodate Muslim demands.”
“If only a leader could have understood Muslim demands better, things would have been better today.”
According to him, it was the non-coalition approach of the Congress that pushed the Muslims to have two separate states in the form of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
“Take a look at history; it is filled with examples where coalition governments have done much better than the ones who went solo.”
He also said, that the Muslim League and Jinnah benefitted due to Congress’ stand throughout the pre partition movement.
Heaping praise at Sarat Chandra Bose, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s elder brother, he said, “Sarat Bose wanted to have a coalition, Muslim League High command and the Congress High command did not allow it.”
Presenting his theory, Rashid mentioned ‘fear’ played an important part in the partition.
“It was fear that mobilized the Muslims, not Jinnah,” he said, adding “The Muslims were afraid of the Hindus; they feared that the British Raj would be replaced by Hindu Raj and that they would be perpetually suppressed by their Hindu rulers.”
Presenting a contrasting theory for the partition of Bengal, he said, “The Hindus were afraid of the Muslims, they were growing in power and the last decade (1937-47) saw them emerge as leaders. The Great Calcutta Killing put fear into the hearts of the Hindu community residing in Bengal and they wanted the Muslims to have a separate state.”
Former judge of the Supreme Court of India, Asok Kumar Ganguly presided over the discussion.
In his welcome address, he said, “Today is a very important day, Teacher’s Day. Education is the most precious of all the freedom, use it well.”
The evening also had performances by Muktodhara Shilpo Gosthi.
(Reporting By Sudipto Maity/ Images By Subhodeep Sardar/ IBNS)
Speaking on the subject ‘Was Partition Inevitable’, Rashid proposed a string of theories, based on which he wrote his thesis paper in the 80’s.
He said, “Even after sixty years, the subject is still very relevant to enquire about and would continue to be so.”
About the formation of Pakistan, he said, “Some hold (Mohammad Ali) Jinnah responsible, some hold the Congress High command responsible, while others argue it was religious communalism.”
He urged people to think otherwise, “There should not be a blame game, instead of pointing fingers at one another let’s try and understand the scenario.”
He added, “About the part of separation, well it could have been avoided.”
Rashid cited out the three main reasons for the separation. “Congress, Muslim League and the (British) Raj,” he said.
Taking a chip at the then British Government, he said, “There were uneven development between the Hindus and Muslims due to Raj. It created a ground for communalization.”
He said, “The idea of a Separate Electorate that the Raj started in the year 1909 was solely created to divide the two groups.”
Separate Electorate meant, Hindus chose a Hindu Leader and the same applied for their Muslim counterparts.
Looking at the major aspect, Rashid pointed out ‘demography’ as a key player aiding in the partition.
“The Muslim population in pre-independent India was concentrated. If only they were scattered, things would have certainly become different today,” said he.
He also took a hit at the ‘Zamindari System’, calling it a fertile breeding ground for communalism.
“The clash between Hindu Zamindars (land owners) and their Muslims pheasants often did not go well.”
Speaking at the Congress’ failure to cater to the Muslim people, the professor said, “Congress failed to appreciate and accommodate Muslim demands.”
“If only a leader could have understood Muslim demands better, things would have been better today.”
According to him, it was the non-coalition approach of the Congress that pushed the Muslims to have two separate states in the form of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
“Take a look at history; it is filled with examples where coalition governments have done much better than the ones who went solo.”
He also said, that the Muslim League and Jinnah benefitted due to Congress’ stand throughout the pre partition movement.
Heaping praise at Sarat Chandra Bose, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s elder brother, he said, “Sarat Bose wanted to have a coalition, Muslim League High command and the Congress High command did not allow it.”
Presenting his theory, Rashid mentioned ‘fear’ played an important part in the partition.
“It was fear that mobilized the Muslims, not Jinnah,” he said, adding “The Muslims were afraid of the Hindus; they feared that the British Raj would be replaced by Hindu Raj and that they would be perpetually suppressed by their Hindu rulers.”
Presenting a contrasting theory for the partition of Bengal, he said, “The Hindus were afraid of the Muslims, they were growing in power and the last decade (1937-47) saw them emerge as leaders. The Great Calcutta Killing put fear into the hearts of the Hindu community residing in Bengal and they wanted the Muslims to have a separate state.”
Former judge of the Supreme Court of India, Asok Kumar Ganguly presided over the discussion.
In his welcome address, he said, “Today is a very important day, Teacher’s Day. Education is the most precious of all the freedom, use it well.”
The evening also had performances by Muktodhara Shilpo Gosthi.
(Reporting By Sudipto Maity/ Images By Subhodeep Sardar/ IBNS)
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