04-15-2005, 09:38 PM
crosspost
SirâThis refers to the report, âLeft beats Gandhi with communal stickâ (April 17). Zahoor Siddiqui, Reader in the Department of History, in his book prescribed for BA Pass students has reportedly held Mahatma Gandhi responsible for failing to enthuse Muslims and selling the idea that Ram Rajya alone was ideal swaraj.<b> He has also blamed the Congress for not devising appropriate social, political and economic measures to bring the minority community into the Congress. This is complete distortion of historical facts. In this context, it will be pertinent to recall what Pattabhi Sitaramaiyya said in 1947 on being asked as to what concessions had the Congress made till then to Muslims. He replied, âIn 1906 separate electorates were carved out for Muslims and in 1916 weightage was given so that a State like Madras with seven per cent Muslims got 15 elected seats; in 1931, residual powers were given to provinces; and in 1945, parity in interim government was agreed to under Liaquat-Bhulabhai pact. As demanded by the Muslim League, in 1946 double majority in legislatures on Muslim questions was accepted by the Congress. In 1947, Congress agreed to the Muslim Leagueâs demand for Pakistan along religious lines (Current History by Dr Sitaramaiyya, Calcutta, 1947, p 26). Ultimately, Mahatma Gandhi went on fast to pressure Government to release Rs 55 crore to Pakistan despite the fact that the country had invaded Kashmir. This shows that it was not Gandhi who was responsible for Partition but Muslims of UP who were in the forefront, raising the demand for Dar-ul Islam. In the elections held in 1945-46, Muslims overwhelmingly voted for a separate nation. In spite of all this Muslims did not migrate to their new homeland. Was it the fault of Hindus? </b>
KR Phanda
SirâThis refers to the report, âLeft beats Gandhi with communal stickâ (April 17). Zahoor Siddiqui, Reader in the Department of History, in his book prescribed for BA Pass students has reportedly held Mahatma Gandhi responsible for failing to enthuse Muslims and selling the idea that Ram Rajya alone was ideal swaraj.<b> He has also blamed the Congress for not devising appropriate social, political and economic measures to bring the minority community into the Congress. This is complete distortion of historical facts. In this context, it will be pertinent to recall what Pattabhi Sitaramaiyya said in 1947 on being asked as to what concessions had the Congress made till then to Muslims. He replied, âIn 1906 separate electorates were carved out for Muslims and in 1916 weightage was given so that a State like Madras with seven per cent Muslims got 15 elected seats; in 1931, residual powers were given to provinces; and in 1945, parity in interim government was agreed to under Liaquat-Bhulabhai pact. As demanded by the Muslim League, in 1946 double majority in legislatures on Muslim questions was accepted by the Congress. In 1947, Congress agreed to the Muslim Leagueâs demand for Pakistan along religious lines (Current History by Dr Sitaramaiyya, Calcutta, 1947, p 26). Ultimately, Mahatma Gandhi went on fast to pressure Government to release Rs 55 crore to Pakistan despite the fact that the country had invaded Kashmir. This shows that it was not Gandhi who was responsible for Partition but Muslims of UP who were in the forefront, raising the demand for Dar-ul Islam. In the elections held in 1945-46, Muslims overwhelmingly voted for a separate nation. In spite of all this Muslims did not migrate to their new homeland. Was it the fault of Hindus? </b>
KR Phanda