Election Manifesto of Hindu Mahasabha- 1946
“COMING ELECTION AND THE DUTY OF THE HINDUS”
The general election to the Legislative Assemblies of India is impending. Two main issues that will be raised before the countrymen are–– national unity of India and complete freedom. The ideology of the Hindu Mahasabha is very clear. Hindu Mahasabha has clearly announced to the countrymen that it would follow the same policy towards both the Hindus and the Muslims, even if they are in minority in any province in India. No scientific procedure has been followed in defining the existing provincial boundaries. On the contrary, the self-interested imperialists have drawn them in such a way that the people of the country are forced to indulge in suicidal quarrel amongst themselves; so there is no one to point out the flaws and injustices in defining the present boundaries. We have to solve the problem by redefining the boundaries on a scientific basis. Ideally and justifiably, the provinces should be defined on the basis of language and culture. Unless this policy is followed, dissatisfaction and loss of interest among a large section of population enhance the administrative complexities perennially and endangers the peace and well-being of the country.
Nowadays, quite a few, swayed by the bluff of self-determination, are being attracted to unrealistic plan. I hope people will not be deceived by these unrealistic promises. In fact, it is the aim of a group of communal and selfish people to strengthen the imperialist role by dividing the country in the name of self determination. Their real intention is to create national disunity and separation. But the majority community of India cannot let their fatherland, their holy land, disintegrate to serve the interests of a group of narrow minded communal opportunists. Those, who want to divide the country and the nation unnecessarily and unjustifiably would be considered as anti-national in the eyes of international justice and they should be treated likewise. The communal award has created the wall of disunity and separation among the concerned communities. Until this award is repealed and joint electorate established, no fair election is possible. The really independent wishes and feelings of the people of the country cannot be properly reflected in an election based on seperate electorate. A genuinly democratic election cannot be held without a joint electorate comprising every adult citizen of the country. So, the so-called demand for self-determination cannot be proved by hastily and spuriously held election. Here, till now communal obstinacy is stronger than reason. The influence of a middle-aged fanaticism is more effective than political or economic reasons. So, is it possible to know the real wishes of the people if this situation prevails? In India there was never any obstruction in celebrating religious rites by different communities. India has always been famous for liberality and tolerance to other faith. So religion has never been a problematic issue in India.
If 35 crore people of India raised their demand in unison, in spite of their different religious beliefs, then no nation in the world, however strong, would dare to dismember India. Our neighbouring countries, i.e., Russia and China, are the glaring examples of it. Now our common people also know it. There is no doubt that the death toll would have been much higher in the great famine of 1943 if assistance had not come from the other provinces. In Bengal, Muslims are relatively poorer, so it was possible, due to a higher death toll among them, to get reduced to minority from majority. Those Muslim League slyboot, stupefied with the daydream of forming a seperate independent state do not even remember the tragic lesson of the great famine of Bengal. Moreover if India disintegrates, the neighbouring countries will become tempted to attack India. Such examples are frequent in Indian history. Especially, the aggressors will become more daring with the belief that the different communities of India would not or could not unite and resist them. There is no hope for India from self-interested and unsympathetic communities––under the circumstances it will be cause for greater danger to link the fate of independent state with the interest of such a community.
These apart, Hindus will have even more important religious reasons. Hindustan is their motherland, their holy land and their divine land. Hindus must see that their ever worshipped motherland is not destroyed. Hindus will not hesitate to make sacrifices to preserve the unity and integrity of the holy motherland. For the Hindus, India is not only their motherland but also the holy place to worship. Hindus will never tolerate the dismemberment of their motherland until the last. So their aim is clear, duties are clearly defined––united India and complete freedom. In this crusade, the Hindu Mahasabha will never be deprived of the Hindu’s sympathy.
Vande Mataram
Sri Haridas Haldar
Secretary, Parliamentary Board,
Bengal Provincial Hindu Mahasabha Bengal
Book: 1946 : THE GREAT CALCUTTA KILLINGS AND NOAKHALI GENOCIDE DINESH CHANDRA SINHA : ASHOK DASGUPTA
Source: Provincial Hindu Mahasabha election manifesto, S.P.Mukherjee papers. S.F.74
Translated from Bangla by the author of ‘Communalism in Bengal’