Part: 1.
Even before the Direct Action resolution was passed on 29th July 1946 in Bombay Conference of All Indian Muslim League under the stewardship of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Bengal Muslim leaders were sharpening their weapons for Jehad in Bengal. Abul Hashim, Bengal Muslim League leader, had declared at a date quite prior to 29th July 1946, that,
‘Where justice and equity failed, shining steel would decide the issue.1
Nazimuddin, the ex-Prime Minister of Bengal (Muslim League) stated, that,
‘There are 150 different ways to cause trouble particularly as the Muslim League is not restricted to non-violence’. 2
The Prime Minister of Bengal, H.S.Suhrawardy expressed to the journalists in Delhi, well before a week of 29th July, 1946, that,
‘he considered it would be difficult to control the disturbances at Calcutta if something like a Direct Action Day is observed.’3
Well before the 16th August, 1946, on 4th August 1946 an well schemed meeting was held at Calcutta wherein Mahalla Sadars (local Muslim leaders), Muslim trade union leaders and activists, and others congregated to plan how and in what manner the impending Direct Action Day would be executed.4
In accordance to such schematic approach, it was seen before one week of 16th August 1946, that League had already instructed the inmates of all Muslim hostels, how they would act on 16th August, 1946. How they would have knives, kerosene oil, methylated spirit etc. And how they would set tram cars and military vehicles ablazed
having taken strategic position on 16th August, 1946.5
Habib-ur-Rahman was a Leaguer, he had turned to be a Congressman and revealed in public such circulars that, even advocated measures to anaminate nationalist Muslims (read non-leaguers) and Congressmen, if necessary.6
The Pakistan Ambulance Corps (as if Pakistan was already established before 16th August 1946!) was mobilised, a First Aid Centre was established near the Monument where a few days after, on 16th August 1946, the Jehad rally would be organised.7 League Volunteers were placed in the city’s major hospitals. Why?Obviously to attend Muslims injured, if any. It shows, well before 16th August, preparation was elaborately made for massacre in Calcutta on 16th August, 1946.8
THREE IMPORTANT AND ALARMING STATEMENTS
- Mr. Jinnah on two-nation theory :
“We maintain and hold that Muslims and Hindus are two major nations by definition or test of a nation. We are a nation with our own distinctive culture and civilisation, language and literature, art and architecture, customs, history and traditions, aptitudes and ambitions. In short, we have our distinctive outlook on life and of life.”9 - Mr. Suhrawardy on bloody politics for achieving Pakistan :
“Bloodshed and disorder are not necessary evil in themselves, if resorted to for a noble cause. Among Muslims today, no cause is dearer or nobler than Pakistan,”10 - Sir Sikander Hyat Khan foretold the future of Hindus in Pakistan :
“How can you talk like this? You have been long enough in Western Punjab
to know the Muslims there. Surely you can see that Pakistan would be an
imitation to them to cut the throat of every Hindu Bania––Pakistan would
mean a massacre.”11
JINNAH’S STATEMENT
“What we have done today (the day when the League Council passed the Direct Action resolution) is the heroic act in our history. Never have we…done anything except…by constitutionalism. But now…we bid goodbye to constitutional methods.”
“Now the time has come for the Muslim Nation to resort to direct action. I am not prepared to discuss ethics. We have a pistol and are in a position to use it.”
“Jinnah said he did not restrict Direct Action to non-violence, we have also forged a pistol that is non-violent. We mean every word of it. We do not believe in equivocation.”
MUSLIMS KNOW WHAT IS DIRECT ACTION
Mr. Nazimuddin, ex-CM. of Bengal and one of the most prominent members of the Muslim League said in course of a speech :
“There are a hundred and one ways in which we can create difficulties, specially when we are not restricted to non-violence. The Muslim population of Bengal know very well what “Direct Action” would mean and so we need not bother to give them any lead.”12
Mr. Gazdar (President, Sind Muslim League)– “But I regret that certain top-ranking Congress leaders are out to make the earliest opportunity to crush the League by turning British guns and police bayonets on Muslims. I warn them that they will have to pay for Muslim lives thus lost by Hindu Blood with compound interest.”13
Sources-
- Abul Hashim’s speech in the Legislators’ Convention, New Delhi, 10 April, 1946.
reported in Star of India. - Military Report p.1, para 4 as quoted by Suranjan Das, Communal Riots in Bengal,
1905-1947, Oxford University Press, 1993
3 Suranjan Das, Communal Riots in Bengal, Oxford University Press, 1993, p/177 - ibid
- ibid
- ibid
- ibid
- ibid
- Jinnah-Gandhi Talks, 17 Sept. 1944
- Suhrawardy, in an article in the Statesman, Calcutta, 5 August, 1946.
- Sir Sikander Hyat Khan to Penderal Moon, Divide and Quit.
- Azad, Morning News, 11 August, 1946
- ibid, 12 August, 1946
Book: 1946 : THE GREAT CALCUTTA KILLINGS AND NOAKHALI GENOCIDE by DINESH CHANDRA SINHA : ASHOK DASGUPTA
