By: Ashok Singhal
Going by the words of the ‘Iron Man of India,’ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who said, “The first requirement of a nation is security, both internal and external. Without security, you can never have a plan.” Our motherland, India, as an independent nation since 1947, has consistently worked towards combating numerous internal rebellions and resisting extremism and terrorism at all levels. The stained history of our partition still lingers in the minds of Indians. Looking back at the past, when the hunger for power embroiled Japan and Russia in a war that led to the annexation of Korea and the rise of two nations trapped in a cycle of conflicts, parallels can be drawn to the British policy of “Divide and Rule,” which made India’s division based on factors like caste, religion, language, and culture a reality.
After the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, the regional awakening that followed shook the very roots of British rule. While the shadow of British control expanded across the nation, India also witnessed the rise of nationalist ideas. Communities from various regions that had remained untouched by political resistance underwent transformation, joining hands in the fight for independence led by the “Azad Hind Fauj.” On one hand, Indian forces united against the British; on the other, World War II drained British resources, painting a clear picture of their impending downfall. The British could neither accept defeat nor suppress the Indian voice. On the midnight of August 14-15, 1947, India was declared independent. What followed was the devastating shattering of the “Akhand Bharat” dream-a dream in which thousands of freedom fighters who laid down their lives believed, and a dream that remained unfulfilled in the hearts of millions of Indians. The partition was now a reality, and the ideologies of an unbreakable Bharat, an Akhand Bharat, were reduced to dust.
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The British knew that the deep-rooted determination of Indians could undoubtedly unite the entire nation, breaking the barriers of Brahmin-Shudra and Hindu-Muslim divisions, and march together toward independence. As time passed, with the relentless efforts of every Indian and under the pressure of the Muslim League and Congress, the British agreed to quit our nation, even abandoning the need for an agreement. They began to focus on protecting and fulfilling their own economic and political needs. Jinnah, the leader of the Muslim League, with encouragement from the British, initiated his political maneuvering.
Until 1940, even mere 25 percent of the Muslims in our country did not support the Muslim League. The 1945 elections were a testament to this. Husain Tyabji, in 1946, clearly stated that the demand for Pakistan was baseless. He also spoke to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel about how the Muslims of Delhi could lend their support to the Congress, which would aid in suppressing the demands of the Muslim League. However, the Congress’s indecisive and hesitant approach, coupled with the excessive priority given to the Muslim League, ignited the dream of a separate Pakistan. At that moment, Congress had the opportunity to lead a strong voice in favor of an Akhand Bharat, rejecting the demand for Pakistan with clarity and conviction. Perhaps then, even the Muslim League might have reconsidered their demands. Our leaders had the chance to stand firmly against the combined forces of the British and the Muslim League, but alas, Congress sacrificed their core ideology of Swaraj, paving the way for partition. The leaders failed to navigate a middle ground where Hindus and Muslims could share power, instead staining our unbreakable Bharat with the blood of partition.
The end of India’s independence struggle in 1947 marked the beginning of a new era in the making of a new India. Assam, too, played a pivotal role in this process of nation-building. Prominent leaders like Gopinath Bordoloi, Tarun Ram Phukan, and Ambikagiri Rai Choudhury led protests against the oppressive policies and exploitation of regional resources. The efforts of these leaders laid the foundation for a significant movement. Post-independence, in 1952, Assam witnessed another wave of protests demanding that the Assamese language be declared the official language and used as the medium of education in all institutions. The States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which reformed India’s state boundaries along linguistic lines, further strengthened these demands. The Assam Sahitya Sabha also joined the cause, advocating for Assamese to be the sole official language of the state. Under the guidance of Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee, who traveled across the state and championed the cause, Assamese was successfully introduced as a subject in Calcutta University for the first time.
In order to rule this nation, it was evident that dividing people in the name of religion and fostering caste differences among people of the same religion benefited those in power. The events of 1947 reflected this strategy. Since its inception, the Bharatiya Janata Party, with its core value of “Ek Desh, Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan,” has put in efforts to build Bharat as a powerful nation on the global stage. On the other hand, opposition leaders, with their divisive mindset, continue to surface even today, with their unnecessary intentions of weakening Bharat.
India’s independence struggle was a journey marked by wars and protests, where countless lives were sacrificed, thousands endured unbearable pain, and patience was tested-all to keep this nation intact, free, and unbreakable. As a tribute to the lives lost during the heinous partition, the Bharatiya Janata Party, under the leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, declared August 14th as “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day” as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav since 2021. As a worshipper of this land and a responsible citizen of Bharat, I extend my utmost respect and tribute to all those who laid down their lives for the safety of this nation. On the occasion of Independence Day, my only goal is to do my part in keeping this nation united, singing songs of its glory and victory—Bharat Mata Ki Jai! (The author is a Cabinet Minister of Govt. of Assam)
