Protesting Dalit Hindu Persecution:
Pakistan's First Law & Labour
Minister's Resignation Letter
May 2, 2002
Full TEXT OF THE RESIGNATION LETTER
BY:
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
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