this is the resignation leter of J.N.Mondol
Pakistan's first law minister.
Protesting Dalit Hindu Persecution:
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
Write to: mayerdak@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2004, Nikhil Banga Nagarik Sangha
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