There was lot of discussion in the recent times regarding India's immediate pre-independence history. It was triggered by the controversy which followed Jaswant Singh's book. The references in the book which suggested that Patel and Nehru supported the partition created lot of dogma saving operations by the media and top political parties. They vehemently denied any role of Congressmen in the partition. Entire blame game centered on Qaid-e-Azam of Pakistan.
Why sweep the truth under the mat? I believe Patel and Nehru were equally responsible for partition if not more and they supported it for a very good reason.
Nehru, Patel and other Congress biggies like Moulana Abdul Kalam Azad believed in a strong, democratic and modern nation. Moreover Congress believed itself to be a party representing all Indians by giving equal representation for all.Congress wanted a strong central government to preserve united India. However, Jinnah claimed to be the sole representative of Muslims across India, though his support base was concentrated in Punjab and Sind. He proposed equal representation for his party to that of Congress at the centre. Jinnah also demanded complete autonomy at the provincial level with each province having their own constitution. The centre's jurisdiction was limited to defence and foreign affairs.
Only way to prevent the partition was to give in to the demands made by Jinnah. But Congress felt that cost to keep India united was too much to bear. Moreover, Congress was already reeling under the unsavoury experience of 1946 interim government, which it shared with the league. Liaqat Ali Khan, the finance minister of 1946 interim government, a representative of the league had tried to put spanner in the works of all Congress ministries. Also 1930 onwards, Jinnah had in fact never participated in the freedom struggle. He had concentrated all his energy to oppose the Congress, to demand communal electorates and towards separate nation for himself from the Congress. Jinnah was a man who had not spent a single day in jail.
With so much stake in their hands, Nehru and Patel decided to do away with the gangrenous hand ,rather than allow it to spread all through the body. They agreed to the partition only when they got assurances from British that no other part of the country will be allowed to secede. At the same time, they also saw to that Sikh and Hindu dominated regions of Punjab and Bengal remained with the mother country.
Partition was a necessity, though horrors that followed it could have been averted. However it’s futile to bring out these issues out today. It is best buried in history.
Why sweep the truth under the mat? I believe Patel and Nehru were equally responsible for partition if not more and they supported it for a very good reason.
Nehru, Patel and other Congress biggies like Moulana Abdul Kalam Azad believed in a strong, democratic and modern nation. Moreover Congress believed itself to be a party representing all Indians by giving equal representation for all.Congress wanted a strong central government to preserve united India. However, Jinnah claimed to be the sole representative of Muslims across India, though his support base was concentrated in Punjab and Sind. He proposed equal representation for his party to that of Congress at the centre. Jinnah also demanded complete autonomy at the provincial level with each province having their own constitution. The centre's jurisdiction was limited to defence and foreign affairs.
Only way to prevent the partition was to give in to the demands made by Jinnah. But Congress felt that cost to keep India united was too much to bear. Moreover, Congress was already reeling under the unsavoury experience of 1946 interim government, which it shared with the league. Liaqat Ali Khan, the finance minister of 1946 interim government, a representative of the league had tried to put spanner in the works of all Congress ministries. Also 1930 onwards, Jinnah had in fact never participated in the freedom struggle. He had concentrated all his energy to oppose the Congress, to demand communal electorates and towards separate nation for himself from the Congress. Jinnah was a man who had not spent a single day in jail.
With so much stake in their hands, Nehru and Patel decided to do away with the gangrenous hand ,rather than allow it to spread all through the body. They agreed to the partition only when they got assurances from British that no other part of the country will be allowed to secede. At the same time, they also saw to that Sikh and Hindu dominated regions of Punjab and Bengal remained with the mother country.
Partition was a necessity, though horrors that followed it could have been averted. However it’s futile to bring out these issues out today. It is best buried in history.
