Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the Hindu Dissent and the Partition of Bengal, 1932-1947

Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the Hindu Dissent and the Partition of Bengal, 1932-1947

Author: Chhanda Chatterjee

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2020-06-14

Total Pages: 565

ISBN-13: 1000163784

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This study on Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee will help the readers understand the circumstances under which he assumed the leading role in the carving out the province of West Bengal from the littoral that was soon to become the province of East Pakistan. The role of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee in demanding the separation of the Hindu majority districts in the western half of Bengal from the proposed East Pakistan has not been studied so far or documented. The ‘Right’ historians today try to view it as a great triumph for the Hindus while ‘Secular’ ones try to paint Syama Prasad as an ‘arch communalist’. Underlying both versions of the story is an assumption that the partition of Bengal was a much sought after goal pursued by Syama Prasad. Yet an impassioned examination of the actual documents show that Syama Prasad tried to work out a formula for the co-existence of the Hindus and the Muslims till the very last. Only when all attempts, including that of Mahatma Gandhi in the dark days of the Noakhali riots, failed to dissuade the Muslim League from trying to push the subcontinent towards partition that Syama Prasad launched his drive for the separation of the western districts of Bengal from East Pakistan. Partition was the bane of the Hindu Mahasabha. They had called a hartal on 3 July 1947 to register their disapproval of the idea. But once partition gained acceptance at all levels, beginning from the Congress to the Viceroy Lord Mountbatten, Syama Prasad saw no alternative to making the best of a bad bargain and pushed for partition. The bloodbath of 16 August 1946 in Calcutta and the reprehensible violation of Hindu women in Noakhali the following October cast the die. He took a leaf out of Master Tara Singh's plans in the Punjab for the regrouping of the provinces by isolating the non-Muslim population from the Muslim majority zones. The Congress Working Committee took the same line passing a resolution on 8 March 1947 in favour of the isolation of the non-Muslim areas in the Punjab from the predominantly Muslim ones. This strengthened Syama Prasad’s case for the partition of Bengal. However, this was a last resort measure failing all other options. Please note: This title is co-published with Manohar Publishers, Delhi. Taylor & Francis does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.


The Life and Times of Lokmanya Tilak

The Life and Times of Lokmanya Tilak

Author: Nandini Saraf

Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan

Published: 2012-01-01

Total Pages: 434

ISBN-13: 8184301529

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The word ‘lok’ means public and ‘manya’ means accepted. Thus lokmanya means a person who has been accepted by people. In his context it means accepted by people as their leader. ‘Lokmanya’ Keshav Bal Gangadhar Tilak was recognized by the British as the Father of the Indian National Movement because of activities that stirred feelings of nationalism in the hearts of every Indian. Though his ideals often differed from Mahatma Gandhi; his views regarding crucial matters were sometimes accepted many times by Gandhiji. A revolutionary and social reformer in the true sense of the word; he was a freedom fighter who elicited esteem from all; even his enemies. His indomitable spirit was appreciated by people. He voiced his opinions in speeches and through the newspaper; and everyone especially the British feared his speeches as well as editorials for they provoked Indians to fight for freedom. The British tried to put a ban on them; but did they succeed? The book observes Tilak’s multifaceted personality through the eyes of people. It is a beneficial book for students; scholars and historians alike. Selected Stories of Honoré de Balzac by Honoré de Balzac: In this collection, Honoré de Balzac presents a selection of his acclaimed short stories, showcasing his incredible talent for vivid storytelling and character development. With its rich language and engaging narratives, this book is a must-read for fans of classical literature. Key Aspects of the Book "Selected Stories of Honoré de Balzac": Collection of Short Stories: The book features a collection of acclaimed short stories by Honoré de Balzac. Vivid Storytelling and Character Development: The stories showcase Balzac's incredible talent for vivid storytelling and character development. Useful for Literature Enthusiasts: The book is useful for fans of classical literature and those interested in the works of Balzac. Honoré de Balzac was a French novelist and playwright who is regarded as one of the greatest writers of Western literature. His book, Selected Stories of Honoré de Balzac, is highly regarded for its captivating storytelling and rich language.


Essays on Indian Freedom Movement

Essays on Indian Freedom Movement

Author: Raj Kumar

Publisher: Discovery Publishing House

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 9788171417056

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Contents: Introduction, The Nationalist Ideas Behind the Revolt of 1857, Nationalism Takes Root: The Moderates, The Indian Struggle for Independence 1885 to 1909, Politics of Indian Revolutionaries 1905-1910, Armed Struggle for the South-East, The Indian Self-Government as Advocated by Annie Besant, Quit India Movement, Tribals and Freedom Struggle, Muslim Nationalism and Freedom Struggle, Subhash Chandra Bose his Role in India s Freedom Struggle, The Last Phase of the Freedom Struggle the R.I.N. Mutiny.


Sources of Indian Traditions

Sources of Indian Traditions

Author: Rachel Fell McDermott

Publisher: Columbia University Press

Published: 2014-04-08

Total Pages: 1025

ISBN-13: 0231510926

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For more than fifty years, students and teachers have made the two-volume resource Sources of Indian Traditions their top pick for an accessible yet thorough introduction to Indian and South Asian civilizations. Volume 2 contains an essential selection of primary readings on the social, intellectual, and religious history of India from the decline of Mughal rule in the eighteenth century to today. It details the advent of the East India Company, British colonization, the struggle for liberation, the partition of 1947, and the creation of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and contemporary India. This third edition now begins earlier than the first and second, featuring a new chapter on eighteenth-century intellectual and religious trends that set the stage for India's modern development. The editors have added material on Gandhi and his reception both nationally and abroad and include different perspectives on and approaches to Partition and its aftermath. They expand their portrait of post-1947 India and Pakistan and add perspectives on Bangladesh. The collection continues to be divided thematically, with a section devoted to the drafting of the Indian constitution, the rise of nationalism, the influence of Western thought, the conflict in Kashmir, nuclear proliferation, minority religions, secularism, and the role of the Indian political left. A phenomenal text, Sources of Indian Traditions is more indispensable than ever for courses in philosophy, religion, literature, and intellectual and cultural history.


Pakistan As A Peasant Utopia

Pakistan As A Peasant Utopia

Author: Taj Ul-islam Hashmi

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2019-07-11

Total Pages: 328

ISBN-13: 1000238490

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This study is an attempt to show how religious, kinship and factional ties cut across class alignments, leading to the communalization of class struggle between the peasants and the exploiting classes in East Bengal during 1920-1947. "During a substantial stay in some East Bengal villages in the summer of 1971, when East Pakistan was in the traumatic process of being transformed into Bangladesh, it first dawned upon me that peasants were not stupid, devoid of political consciousness. Discussions with different types of peasants revealed that at least the upper echelons were aware of the implications of the liberation struggle for Bangladesh and the superpower involvement in it. Richard Nixon and Indira Gandhi were familiar names. Ordinary peasants often quoted the Bengali news readers and commentators of the BBC world service and the Voice of America. Well-to-do peasants who owned transistor radio sets regularly tuned into the British, American and Indian radio stations. Many inquisitive and worried peasants asked me (then a fresh graduate from Dhaka University) how their cherished Sonar Bangla (golden Bengal) would improve their socio-economic conditions. Many peasants also took part in the liberation struggle as members of the Mukti Bahini or freedom fighters. Almost everyone, with a few exceptions who collaborated with the Pakistan armed forces, was a keen supporter of Bangladesh. After the emergence of Bangladesh, things did not change to the expectations of the masses, but rather deteriorated so much that Henry Kissinger is said to have coined the phrase ''bottomless basket"" as a denotation for Bangladesh, because of the rampant corruption of a big section of the Bengali bourgeoisie at that time. I was provoked to write the history of the peasants' glorious role in the Liberation Struggle which was being overshadowed by claims and counter-claims of heroism and sacrifice by members of the privileged, parasitical urban elites. This work may be regarded as a prelude to the history of the freedom struggle that eventually led to the creation of Bangladesh. This is an attempt to shed light on the peasant politics, almost synonymous with Muslim politics in the region, during the significant period between 1920 and 194 7 when East Bengal was going through the political process that culminated in the creation of East Pakistan in 194 7."