Towering Intellectual, Visionary

Martyrdom of Patriot Shyama Prasad Mookerjee

Perspective

GV CHELVAPILLA

Earlier this week, June 23, was the day an eminent son of India, a prominent and fearless parliamentarian and free India’s first Leader of Opposition, a man of towering intellect and intense patriotism who should have been Prime Minister of India, Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, attained martyrdom in free India.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of India’s independence, it is important to ask why the country continued to demand such sacrifices even after emerging into freedom. Can anyone think of Nelson Mandela going back to jail in today’s post-apartheid South Africa? But Nehru’s Government had Veer Savarkar, who spent more time in prison in solitary confinement than Mandela, once again thrown into prison in free India on charges that were later quashed by courts--the which were not yet ‘committed.’

Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, who took Nehru’s Government to task on the floor of Parliament in the best traditions of democracy, was dealt with even worse fate in the hands of Nehru and his crony Sheikh Abdullah.

The ill traditions established by those people continue to plague India and cause problems keeping India down and out instead of being a major player in world arena. And that is what happens when puny men and women on whom greatness is thrust somehow come to adore high positions. The fall was even more precipitous from them to subsequent men. That is why India with all the assets and great people remains a laggard instead of a leader. During all the years of the dynasty to which a great country was handed over with a surplus of Rs. 1600 crores in 1947 in pound sterling (a big sum then), the country’s economy deteriorated to such an extent, that every child born in India in 1990 carried a debt of Rs 2500 on the head. In 1947, instead a child born in India had a balance of Rs 52 in credit. The situation is worse now with India as one of the largest debtor nations in the world.

And politically the role of India is slightly better than that of Bangladesh or Pakistan. The Prime Minister of India is now reduced to sit as equal with a Pakistan or a Bangladesh still giving them one concession after another as if India is a defeated nation.

India by all means would have avoided this fate had the brilliant men like Shyama Prasad Mookerjee were given the chance to lead the nation. Instead, recognizing the capacity of such men or strength of such organizations like RSS, no attempt was spared to vilify, smear, kill or ban to rid any opposition or competition by puny men and women.

In contrast, men like Sardar Patel or Mookerjee were a class by themselves, not just slogan mongers but self sacrificing patriots, thinkers and doers, idealists and pragmatists.

Nehru had to confess when his bogus leadership was exposed and destroyed by the Chinese in 1962. "We were living in a make-believe world." He could speak for himself. He never heeded warnings by such men as Mookerjee or Golwalkar. Instead he the PM, was off on a foreign jaunt, and his leftist confidant Krishna Menon, the Defense Minister, on another with both pleading all over the world for China’s entry into the United Nations, at the very moment the Chinese troops were entering India.

Unlike this irresponsible and nearsighted duo, Mookerjee was alert to the Chinese threat. In Parliament, December 6, 1950, participating in foreign policy debate, he said: "Along with China we have to take up the question of Tibet because both are inter-linked. Now the Prime Minister naturally reminded the House of the part which India had played progressively in the matter of recognition of the legitimate rights of the present Chinese regime. How has China reciprocated? When it comes to Tibet, there may or may not be some sort of loose suzerainty of China over Tibet, but historically this is not so easy matter, and yet what is the reply that China sent to India when India asked China not to proceed on the path of violence in the matter of Tibet? The reply that China has sent shocked and surprised and has given sorrow to the Government of India. I don’t know whether it has made any difference to China’s settled policy in respect of Tibet, but here again what is the definite policy of the Government of India with regard to Tibet? The Prime Minister just glossed over it. The Prime Minister said the other day that we stand by the MacMohan line but the maps of China which are in circulation even now include portions of Assam, Ladakh and Leh and territories in which India is vitally interested..."

Full 12 years later the ‘cartographic invasion’ mentioned by Mookerjee in the above speech, was followed by actual one by China. Thus 12 years were wasted by Nehru regime, instead of preparing the country to give a fitting reply to Maoist China. Even now such a sell-out is still evident with Communists of India who form part of the ruling coalition. They don’t recognize Aksai Chin, and some areas nearby under occupation by China, as parts of India. Thanks to such people, today the pilgrims of India require permission from Chinese authorities to visit such holy spots as Mansarovar and Kailash mountain in Himalayas which were parts of India from ages unknown.

This was also the fate of Jammu and Kashmir even though legally and constitutionally fully acceded to India. Any Indian wanting to go there required a passport or permit from Kashmir Government which had then a Prime Minister (Vazier-e-Azam), President (Sadar-e-Riyasat) and separate flag. Nehru institutionalized further such separatism with Article 370 so that not even the President or the Prime Minister of India even today, can own a house or buy a piece of land--even for a post office there. Mookerjee rebelled against such travesty. In Lok Sabha, August 7, 1952 he said:

"The Prime Minister said the other day that even if Kashmir had not acceded to India, when Kashmir was attacked by the raiders, on humanitarian grounds the Indian Army could have marched to Kashmir and protected the distressed and oppressed. I felt proud. But if I make a similar statement or even a similar suggestion for the purpose of saving the lives and honor of nine million of our fellow brethren and sisters -- through whose sacrifices to some extent at least freedom has been achieved, I am a communalist, I am a reactionary am a war monger... May I ask -- was not Sheikh Abdullah a party to this Constitution? He was a member of the Constituent Assembly, but he is asking for special treatment. Did he not agree to accept this Constitution in relation to the rest of India, including 497 States? If it is good enough for all of them, why should it not be good enough for him in Kashmir? What you are doing or going to do may lead to

‘balkanization’ of India, may lead to strengthening of those who do not want to see a strong united India, may lead to strengthening of those who don’t believe that India is a nation but a combination of separate nationalities. That is the danger...."

That is precisely the official position of the Left Front in the United Front, the ruling Government of India, today-- that India is not one nation but a combination of at least 20 or so. So even now the words of Mookerjee are still valid as to the danger from separatist elements. While the socialist tribe under Nehru and Communists of India were going around championing the cause of Palestinians, the continuing violations of human rights close to home stood ignored. Also ignored were the assurances given by the Congress leaders to the minorities left behind in Pakistan. Nehru made a solemn promise to them, the Hindus of such areas in West Punjab or East Bengal who sacrificed for the cause of freedom but still were caught among the enemies of such freedom for no fault of their own.

Jawaharlal Nehru in hisTryst with Destiny speech, August 15, 1947 at the dawn of freedom said: "We think also of our brothers and sisters who have been cut off from us by the political boundaries and who unhappily cannot share at present in the freedom that has come. They are of us and will remain of us whatever may happen in future and we shall be sharers in good and ill fortune alike."

Nice words. But even now such brothers and sisters thrown out by Islamists in Pakistan are languishing in Jammu with no citizenship rights or privileges whatsoever, all these 50 years. Whereas all sorts of ingrates, terrorists who waged war against India are given jobs in Government or seats in professional colleges, while none such areto the hapless Hindu refugees.

Mookerjee was in forefront in voicing the agony. He reminded the Parliament, November 15, 1952. "So far as East Pakistan is concerned at the time of partition the population of the Hindu community was about 14,000,000 according the census of Pakistan Government itself; the present Hindu population in East Bengal came down to 9,000,000. I would ask the representatives of 360 millions of free Indians to make up their minds once for all whether under the existing circumstances, it is possible for the minority to live in East Pakistan -- that is the fundamental issue -- and if they say it is not, then make up their minds whether it is possible for the free Government of India to take any effective steps for their protection."

To such well argued cause and case of Hindu minority, Nehru resorted to usual obfuscation with the words, "Now they are safe there." Mookerjee thundered, "Then you go there and live with your family to see for yourself how safe."

Even now outside India, in Bangladesh the largest Hindu population exists, but obviously not for long for even now the same genocide is in progress as it was when Mookerjee spoke. Soon Bangladesh too will be thoroughly ‘cleansed’ of ancient people of India, ancient civilization of India much like that of other Islamic state carved out of India -- Pakistan. There is more concern in the world when some rare species of fish or fowl are facing extinction. But being Hindus, the hapless minority, be it in Pakistan or Bangladesh, are excluded from any such concern. But then really why should any one in the world care when India’s very own secular governments, one after the other look the other way?

Mookerjee recognized this disease and the malaise that is still affecting, even way back then. He said participating in the debate on Hindu Code Bill, September 17,1951: "Parliament under the new Constitution has really been called upon to pass a Code which is to be applied to all citizens -- an all India Civil Code....it is a matter of regret that new Government even after the Constitution has been passed should proceed with a measure of this description applicable only to one section of the community. It is said we are a secular state. In fact, we suffer very often from a new disease which may be called "Secularitis."

Men like Mookerjee don’t have an iota of hypocrisy in their make up unlike Communists who poured venom over all such nationalists, be they Subhas Chandra Bose or Shyama Prasad Mookerjee. Mookerjee opposed Preventive Detention Bill tooth and nail when it was introduced in Parliament, February 13, 1951 using the excuse of violent Communist threat to overthrow the lawfully formed Government of India. He said: "Many people outside who are supporters of strong policy to be pursued by Government get bewildered at the fact that the very people who were sufferers in the hands of a (British) regime which resorted to detention without trial and the very people who opposed such measures ruthlessly and relentlessly should now find it necessary to enact a measure of this description. Which Indian can forget the agitation that convulsed this vast country of ours when the Rowlatt Bill was on the anvil? Who can forget that the great tragedy at Jallianwala Bagh was one of the consequences of the nation wide protest which was launched by Gandhiji against the principle of detention without trial?....the Home Minister referred specifically to the Communists. If there is evidence that the Communists, not as individuals but as a party are wedded to this line of action, then why not ban the Communist Party for the whole of India? Many of these men today who are Communists, I dare say are known to many Members of this House, as I also claim to know a number of them, brilliant men, women, educated, who have suffered in the country’s cause, men who were companions in arms with those in position of power today. None would be happier than the honorable Members here to see the day when India can be governed without any Preventive Detention Act."

It is irony of fate that under this very act which as a man of principle, as a true democrat he opposed, that Mookerjee should fall a victim. Sheikh Abdullah imprisoned him when Shyama Prasad Mookerjee refused to take any special permit or passport to go from one part of India to another, in this case Kashmir, under the very act. He never came out alive. Even when a common under-trial under such circumstances dies he gets a judicial investigation but not the first Leader of the opposition of free India. No inquiry, no investigation and ‘Home They Brought The Warrior Dead’ from Kashmir jail.

A brilliant man of letters who became the youngest Vice Chancellor at the age of 33, of Calcutta University and held it for two terms, whose parliamentary career was spread over 20 years had to breath his last in some dingy prison under Sheikh Abdullah, the man who enjoyed power only due to the sacrifices of many unknown soldiers of India.

While alive Shyama Prasad remained as ardent champion of civil liberties and fundamental rights of the citizens. But he himself was held without a trial. He passed away, June 23, 1953 under circumstances that to date remain mysterious, to say the least. He was born, July 6, 1901. Mere 52 years old he was when his life was snuffed out by men of highly doubtful integrity who could not stand his brilliance. Small minded they were, they could exist or look tall only when surrounded by even smaller men or women given to sycophancy and servile supine attitude.

Lamenting over this tragic death, Jogmaya Devi, mother of Mookerjee, said: "With what words on his lips, in whose presence and under whose care and treatment did he depart; even this mother, it seems, shall never know. I am filled with horror to think of that last night!"

Still like Yagnas of yore, the sacrifices of such selfless men as Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, shall not go waste. Try as they may, no one could succeed on both sides of Radcliff Line in separating Kashmir from India even to date. Not only that it will not be too long some one among the men who were followers of Shyama Prasad will unfurl the National Flag on Red Fort, the ceremony dedicated to Mookerjee, a privilege denied to him due to actions of conspirators. Ideas and ideals of the selfless are deathless. There never was failure in their actions either, of men like Shyama Prasad Mookerjee for, they continue to live long after they are gone to guide the nation toward strength and success.

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