DR SYAMA PRASAD MOOKERJEE: SIX FACTS WE MUST KNOW ABOUT HIS PATRIOTISM
Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee (1901-1953) is the second most prominent Hindutva icon after 'Veer' Savarkar for the RSS/BJP brigade. He was second-in-command of Hindu Mahasabha after 'Veer' Savarkar. He was president of the Hindu Mahasabha in the year 1944. He served as Minister for Industry and Supply in the interim government of Jawaharlal Nehru and resigned in April 1950 over differences with Congress about the 1950 Delhi Pact with Pakistan. He joined RSS and on the advice of M.S. Golwalkar, the second chief of RSS and its most prominent ideologue, founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), precursor of present BJP, in 1951 and became the first president of the political arm of the RSS. He died in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on 23 June 1953, when he was under arrest. Till 2015 his death was mourned by RSS as a leader who fought for integration of Jammu & Kashmir and died for it; his death anniversary observed as 'End Article 370 Day' and 'Save Kashmir Day'.
But this year (2016) Dr. Mookerjee's status has been elevated to the national level and declared to be 'A Selfless Patriot' of India. The Hindutva rhetoric about patriotism of Dr. Mookerjee needs to be compared with the following 6 FACTS:
- THERE IS NO RECORD OF HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT
If patriotism meant being part of the anti-colonial freedom struggle and making sacrifices, Dr Mookerjee never-never participated in any capacity in the Indian freedom struggle. Nowhere in the writings of Dr. Mookerji, contemporary narratives of the freedom struggle both official and un-official and contemporary Hindutva archives, his participation in the freedom struggle is acknowledged. In fact, his subservience to the British masters is thoroughly recorded. He openly collaborated with the British
- HE WAS DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER IN THE BENGAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF MUSLIM LEAGUE & HINDU MAHASABHA IN 1942
When in 1942 Congress gave a call to the British rulers to leave India immediately by launching Quit India Movement, the rulers responded to this mass movement by unleashing a reign of terror. Congress was banned, its provincial governments were dismissed, whole India was turned into a jail and thousands died in the repression unleashed by armed forces of the British and native rulers. The crime of many of those who were killed was that they were carrying a Tricolour. Hindu nationalist organizations namely, Hindu Mahasabha and RSS with Muslim nationalist organization, Muslim League not only boycotted Quit India Movement but also decided to support the British government in its repressive campaign. The Hindu Mahasabha president 'Veer' Savarkar chronicled this ganging up of Hindu Mahasabha with the Muslim League in his presidential speech to the 24th session of the Hindu Mahasabha at Kanpur in 1942 in the following words:
“Witness the fact that only recently in Sind, the Sind-Hindu-Sabha on invitation had taken the responsibility of joining hands with the League itself in running coalition Government. The case of Bengal is well known. Wild Leaguers whom even the Congress with all its submissiveness could not placate grew quite reasonably compromising and sociable as soon as they came in contact with the Hindu Mahasabha and the Coalition Government, under the premiership of Mr. Fazlul Huq and the able lead of our esteemed Mahasabha leader Dr Syama Prasad Mookerji, functioned successfully for a year or so to the benefit of both the communities.”
(3) HE OFFERED FULL SUPPORT TO THE BRITISH IN SUPPRESSING ANY ANTI-BRITISH MOVEMENT
Dr. Mookerjee assured the British masters through a letter dated July 26, 1942. Shockingly, it read:
“Let me now refer to the situation that may be created in the province as a result of any widespread movement launched by the Congress. Anybody, who during the war, plans to stir up mass feeling, resulting internal disturbances or insecurity, must be resisted by any Government that may function for the time being”
(4) HE JUSTIFIED CRUSHING OF QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT AND DECLARED BRITISH RULERS AS SAVIOURS OF INDIA
His letter to Bengal governor on behalf of Hindu Mahasabha and Muslim League made it clear that both these parties looked at the British rulers as saviours of Bengal against Quit India Movement launched by Congress. In this letter he mentioned item wise the steps to be taken for dealing with the situation. It read:
“The question is how to combat this movement (Quit India) in Bengal? The administration of the province should be carried on in such a manner that in spite of the best efforts of the Congress, this movement will fail to take root in the province. It should be possible for us, especially responsible Ministers, to be able to tell the public that the freedom for which the Congress has started the movement, already belongs to the representatives of the people. In some spheres it might be limited during the emergency. Indian have to trust the British, not for the sake for Britain, not for any advantage that the British might gain, but for the maintenance of the defense and freedom of the province itself.
(5) AS A PROMINENT HINDU MAHASABHA LEADER HE ORGANIZED RECRUITMENT CAMPS FOR THE BRITISH ARMY WHEN NETAJI WAS TRYING TO LIBERATE INDIA MILITARILY.
In a more shocking development, the Hindu Mahasabha of Dr Mookerjee decided to help the British rulers in World War II. It was the time when Subhash Chandra Bose, known as Netaji, was organizing the INA (Azad Hind Fauj) in a military campaign to force the British out. The extent to which the Hindu Mahasabha was willing to help the British masters is clear from the following directive issued by Savarkar as President of the Mahasabha:
“So far as India's defence is concerned, Hindudom must ally unhesitatingly, in a spirit of responsive co-operation, with the war effort of the Indian government in so far as it is consistent with the Hindu interests, by joining the Army, Navy and the Aerial forces in as large a number as possible and by securing an entry into all ordnance, ammunition and war craft factories... whether we like it or not, we shall have to defend our own hearth and home against the ravages of the war and this can only be done by intensifying the government's war effort to defend India. Hindu Mahasabhaites must, therefore, rouse Hindus especially in the provinces of Bengal and Assam as effectively as possible to enter the military forces of all arms without losing a single minute.”
(6) He supported grant of special status to Jammu & Kashmir
On Jammu & Kashmir he was in prolonged correspondence with Prime Minister Nehru. In a letter to Nehru on February 17, 1953, he suggested: “Both parties reiterate that the unity of the State will be maintained and that the principle of autonomy will apply to the province of Jammu and also to Ladakh and Kashmir Valley."
Shamsul Islam
July 3,2016 10:10
This 'Veer' submitted five mercy petitions (1911, 1913, 1914, 1918 and 1920). He was awarded two life sentences (for 50 years) but got remission of 37 years from the colonial masters.
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