By Aparna Pande
This article appeared in Indolink on September 2, 2009
India’s major opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been in internal turmoil since the elections of May 2009. These tensions have once again come to the fore. In mid-August former Foreign Minister and Finance Minister Jaswant Singh released his book on Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan’s founding father. Considering how most right-wing parties in India, including the BJP, blame Mr. Jinnah, and his party the Muslim League, for Partition which led to the ‘vivisection’ of ‘Mother India’ Mr Singh’s book created a furore. Not only was Mr. Singh expelled from the party but the state of Gujarat, led by a BJP Chief Minister even banned the book. What this incident reflects is the extent to which Partition still frames the discourse in India and Pakistan.
In 670 odd pages of his book Mr. Jaswant Singh attempts to give his version of what happened in the last 30 years of British rule and to find the ‘real true’ answer to a question which has plagued almost every Indian/Pakistani social scientist: Who was responsible for Partition? Was it the Congress and its leaders like Gandhi, Nehru, Patel and Azad? Was it the Muslim League and her key leader Jinnah? Or were the British too responsible, especially Prime Minister Atlee and Viceroy Mountbatten?
Most social scientists agree that while the blame can be apportioned on all three players, the British bear the lion share. By the 1940s as things stood, if the Congress desired independence as quickly as possible they had little political choice but to accept Partition as the price to pay for Independence. Similarly, Congress intransigence and British maneuvering left Jinnah and the Muslim League with few options besides Partition if the League hoped for a homeland for Muslims.
Jaswant Singh’s book is not new in championing the idea that Jinnah and the Muslim League were not the only ones responsible and that the Congress leaders too had a role to play. Mr. Singh is also not the only Indian to call Jinnah a secular ‘Indian nationalist.’ Bearing this in mind the reaction of the BJP of expelling one of their senior leaders for writing something that is not novel needs a deeper analysis.
Soon after the May elections Jaswant Singh was amongst the few BJP leaders who had sent a letter to the party leadership requesting a deep-rooted analysis of ‘what went wrong.’ The letter was leaked to the media and Jaswant Singh’s actions were seen as a challenge to the existing leadership of BJP Party President Rajnath Singh and Leader of Opposition Lal Krishna Advani.
Most analysts agree that Jaswant Singh’s dismissal from the BJP had less to do with the book he wrote and more to do with internal party politics of BJP. The fact that he wrote a book praising Jinnah came in handy as the reason for his dismissal. If that were the sole reason why was no action taken against L.K. Advani when during his trip to Pakistan in 2005, he called Jinnah a ‘secular’ individual.
That the Congress party used Jaswant Singh’s book to attack BJP was an added reason for why the BJP expelled Jaswant Singh. For the Congress party blaming Congress stalwarts like Nehru, Patel and Azad was reason enough to be upset with Jaswant Singh’s book.
Instead of allowing Partition and the events around Partition to act as a shadow over India-Pakistan relations and rather than harping on what Jinnah and Nehru said before Partition why do we not focus on their speeches after Partition for an idea of their vision for the future.
Jinnah hoped for good relations between India and Pakistan and stated, “Our own paramount interests demand that the Dominion of Pakistan and the Dominion of India should co-ordinate for the purpose of playing their part in international affairs. It is of vital importance to Pakistan and India as independent sovereign states to collaborate in a friendly way to jointly defend their frontiers both on land and sea against any aggression. But this depends entirely on whether Pakistan and India can resolve their own differences.” Nehru too said, “It is to India’s advantage that Pakistan should be a secure and prosperous State with which we can develop close and friendly relations … Any closer association must come out of a normal process and in a friendly way which does not end Pakistan as a state but which makes it an equal part of a larger union in which several countries might be associated.”
Fighting or quibbling about the past will not change what happened. Partition took place, India and Pakistan were created, and it is time they moved on. Whether or not Partition should have taken place, who were the people who were responsible for Partition are questions that should be left to historians to deal with. Just as the American Revolution, French Revolution or Russian Revolution are issues which are dealt with at a historical level, without the players – United States, United Kingdom, France or Russia- holding other countries or people responsible for them.
What everyone seems to have forgotten in the heat of the debate is that till August 14, 1947 Jinnah and the remaining Muslim Leaguers were Indians and nationalists. What this controversy also shows is that India and Pakistan will not be able to move on unless and until we learn to look ahead and move beyond Partition. India and Indians need to accept and acknowledge Jinnah not only as Pakistan’s founding father but also as an Indian nationalist and Pakistan and Pakistanis need to do the same for Nehru, Patel and Azad along with Gandhi. Harping on the past hurts everyone and helps solve nothing.
India’s major opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been in internal turmoil since the elections of May 2009. These tensions have once again come to the fore. In mid-August former Foreign Minister and Finance Minister Jaswant Singh released his book on Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan’s founding father. Considering how most right-wing parties in India, including the BJP, blame Mr. Jinnah, and his party the Muslim League, for Partition which led to the ‘vivisection’ of ‘Mother India’ Mr Singh’s book created a furore. Not only was Mr. Singh expelled from the party but the state of Gujarat, led by a BJP Chief Minister even banned the book. What this incident reflects is the extent to which Partition still frames the discourse in India and Pakistan.
In 670 odd pages of his book Mr. Jaswant Singh attempts to give his version of what happened in the last 30 years of British rule and to find the ‘real true’ answer to a question which has plagued almost every Indian/Pakistani social scientist: Who was responsible for Partition? Was it the Congress and its leaders like Gandhi, Nehru, Patel and Azad? Was it the Muslim League and her key leader Jinnah? Or were the British too responsible, especially Prime Minister Atlee and Viceroy Mountbatten?
Most social scientists agree that while the blame can be apportioned on all three players, the British bear the lion share. By the 1940s as things stood, if the Congress desired independence as quickly as possible they had little political choice but to accept Partition as the price to pay for Independence. Similarly, Congress intransigence and British maneuvering left Jinnah and the Muslim League with few options besides Partition if the League hoped for a homeland for Muslims.
Jaswant Singh’s book is not new in championing the idea that Jinnah and the Muslim League were not the only ones responsible and that the Congress leaders too had a role to play. Mr. Singh is also not the only Indian to call Jinnah a secular ‘Indian nationalist.’ Bearing this in mind the reaction of the BJP of expelling one of their senior leaders for writing something that is not novel needs a deeper analysis.
Soon after the May elections Jaswant Singh was amongst the few BJP leaders who had sent a letter to the party leadership requesting a deep-rooted analysis of ‘what went wrong.’ The letter was leaked to the media and Jaswant Singh’s actions were seen as a challenge to the existing leadership of BJP Party President Rajnath Singh and Leader of Opposition Lal Krishna Advani.
Most analysts agree that Jaswant Singh’s dismissal from the BJP had less to do with the book he wrote and more to do with internal party politics of BJP. The fact that he wrote a book praising Jinnah came in handy as the reason for his dismissal. If that were the sole reason why was no action taken against L.K. Advani when during his trip to Pakistan in 2005, he called Jinnah a ‘secular’ individual.
That the Congress party used Jaswant Singh’s book to attack BJP was an added reason for why the BJP expelled Jaswant Singh. For the Congress party blaming Congress stalwarts like Nehru, Patel and Azad was reason enough to be upset with Jaswant Singh’s book.
Instead of allowing Partition and the events around Partition to act as a shadow over India-Pakistan relations and rather than harping on what Jinnah and Nehru said before Partition why do we not focus on their speeches after Partition for an idea of their vision for the future.
Jinnah hoped for good relations between India and Pakistan and stated, “Our own paramount interests demand that the Dominion of Pakistan and the Dominion of India should co-ordinate for the purpose of playing their part in international affairs. It is of vital importance to Pakistan and India as independent sovereign states to collaborate in a friendly way to jointly defend their frontiers both on land and sea against any aggression. But this depends entirely on whether Pakistan and India can resolve their own differences.” Nehru too said, “It is to India’s advantage that Pakistan should be a secure and prosperous State with which we can develop close and friendly relations … Any closer association must come out of a normal process and in a friendly way which does not end Pakistan as a state but which makes it an equal part of a larger union in which several countries might be associated.”
Fighting or quibbling about the past will not change what happened. Partition took place, India and Pakistan were created, and it is time they moved on. Whether or not Partition should have taken place, who were the people who were responsible for Partition are questions that should be left to historians to deal with. Just as the American Revolution, French Revolution or Russian Revolution are issues which are dealt with at a historical level, without the players – United States, United Kingdom, France or Russia- holding other countries or people responsible for them.
What everyone seems to have forgotten in the heat of the debate is that till August 14, 1947 Jinnah and the remaining Muslim Leaguers were Indians and nationalists. What this controversy also shows is that India and Pakistan will not be able to move on unless and until we learn to look ahead and move beyond Partition. India and Indians need to accept and acknowledge Jinnah not only as Pakistan’s founding father but also as an Indian nationalist and Pakistan and Pakistanis need to do the same for Nehru, Patel and Azad along with Gandhi. Harping on the past hurts everyone and helps solve nothing.
September 23, 2009 at 4:29 pm
The country is towards the dark abyss but why our prayers are going in vain? The following theme which was meant for
Jaswant saga but the relevant blog is closed due to some realistic remarks that the press could not tolerate and that is why our country has remained blind for ever…………………..(this matter provides food for thought for the present blog)
How Great a bundle of lies,falsehood,fiction,imagination and self produced convictions has been created by Jaswant Singh through the directions of some invisible sectarian hands, since the Free Masionaries have no better profession than to stir the dirty waters. The two vivid examples of his blatant lies are enough to understand for the sensible persons that what the unwanted mass would have been!!.
It is well known that BJP, as an extrimist party, is unpopular among the Indian Muslims so to earn the vote bank of Muslims for BJP he has shamefully tried to distort the Historical Truth and give the misimpression that muslims in India are in more deplorable condition than those in Pkistan.Jaswant is from the Maratha Faction who have always been the enemies of muslims and also of Gandhijee who started Fatal Fasting to relieve 117 mosques occupied by hindus and clearance of the assets of 550 millions of Pakistan’s share which the Congressies were not willing to clear.This was the main reson that the Mahatma was assassinated by a Maratha Pig..So Jaswant is out with his old illness by diminishing the image of the Great Personality.The Indian youths are warned against such Black Sheep among them.By playing such the dejectable practice he has played the part of a TRAITOR.He must be kicked out from every field for ever.
First,as regards the Indian muslims,we have hundreds of relatives and acquaintances there who are living as prestigeous citizens in the Rule of Law and Order.Mostly,they enjoy the full rights of respectable civilians in a bettetr way than we have experienced here .The present example of the discounted prices upto 40 to 60 percent of utility items for Muslims for the month of Ramzan,like on many other occassions in the past, is the explicit proof. Now, it is on the press record what is the tragic plight of people in Pakistan.Also, what is the rate of the deaths of the muslims that are going to be continuously killed here after partition which was the PLANNED GAME.
Secondly, it is the undebatable historical truth that has now been accepted as the Universal Truth that the dignitary like Gandhijee is NOT and NEVER comparable with anyone however great in Asia, at least for the last three hundred years(probably after Aurangzeb Alamgir) and centuries will wait for such the Creation.This great man emerged through quite humble and conservative circumstances against highly modern, arrogantly luxurious and ruling forces whose concept was that all the black people were their slaves and only they were born to rule for ever.He was Gandhijee,the really great, that opened their eyes and shattered their whims for ever.How can any showman, proud to imitate such rulers can be ranked before the Mahatma?Also,he was not addicted to wine and pork dishes.He strictly practised what he preached.He never stupefied his people by only ideal and ambiguous table statements. India as the country and the nation is the great proof as to what Gandhijee was.His spirituality still prevails over the nation.
It should also be noted that Gandhijee was NOT the multi-purpose man.He was only and only pure,sincere,true and devoted LEADER.He was not at a time Governor General,Party President,Public Leader,Constitution Assembly Head,Cabinet Head and so on & so forth..(let it go on so long as the Fools into Stupids are there…..) He had supernatural abilities to fight against any forces through his inborn Iron Will Power which was NOT AT ALL empowered by the backing of US-UK who were highly powerful and definite to divide India and create permanant enmity between the two parts (through KASHMIR saga) and bring into effect the partirion of their own choice and will where they may conspire and rule invisibly. The Time Truth which is the Divine Machine has automatically declassified all the facts through the syndrome in this country. The will-power of Gandhijee can be assessed by the fact that sometimes high level British officials had to sit on the floor carpets before Gandhijee who did not prefer elevated seats.He never worked with the assured backing of the conspiring powers to implement the policies of Divide and Rule. Gandhijee was not at all hypocrite to change colours according to the dictation from the western masters from behind the scene to become the Governor General,Founder of western planned nation and then all in all to install the civil and military bureaucracy from all the controversial sects (who have nothing to do with human values)with the blessings of the intriguing powers whose aim is to bring into power as the leaders and heads who must be liers,cheaters,hypocrites,blackmailers,drunkards,killers addicted to wine,pork-dishes,adultry etc. All these are the hidden evil hands who are in the way to stop the nation from all the moral,spiritual and ethical values which are the main pillars for peace, prosperity and security.
After Gandhi’s death, Albert Einstein said of Gandhijee: “Generations to come will scarcely believe that such a one as this walked the earth in flesh and blood.” He also once said,” I believe that Gandhi’s views were the most enlightened of all the political men in our time. We should strive to do things in his spirit: not to use violence in fighting for our cause, but by non-participation in anything you believe is evil.”
It is to be alert for the CUSTODIANS of International Historical parameters that those who distort the historical truth and facts are misguiding the generations who will be on the path of deterioration like Pakistanies.
December 15, 2009 at 11:12 am
I do share some of arif’s views.
I think we should view jaswant singh’s attempt at his book as separate from jaswant singh the BJP leader.
Jaswant’s book also brings to the fore the fact that many muslims were actually dragged into the dungeon of partition as reluctant accomplices since they suddenly found themselves on the wrong side of the line of vivisection.
Jinnah neither represented all muslim opinion in India nor in my opinion believed in such as concept as a muslim nation separate from that of a Hindu nation. The other leaders simply could not address his concerns in straight language.
Pakistan in spite of all this could have been a successful country but unfortunately the leaders it produced later ruined it.
Gandhi has been portrayed actually as a very honest and patient negotiator by Jaswant Singh. Although Jaswant Singh has at some instances pointed out mistakes or shortcomings of the Mahatma and Nehru but I do not think that Jaswant Singh has diminished Gandhiji’s image in fact he has shown that Gandhiji is not just a mahatma but weilded tremendous power over people whether it is the invitation by lord wavell at simla or the jinnah – gandhi meeting at bombay. Gandhiji’s true power was seen in the book. We all know Gandhi as the “father of the nation” or pakistanis know jinnah as the “quaid e azam”. But the book answers why ?