While
prospect of attaining independence from the British after over two centuries of
struggle was heartening, the formidable partition of the country had agonized
several freedom fighters. On the eve of the 50 years of
independence, Ajit Bhattacharjea released his book titled "Countdown to
Partition: The Final Days" that gave a crisp account of details pertaining
to the last three months of events that steadily hardened the reality of
partition and brutally bruised an independent nation.
The book
clearly illustrates the ruthless division of India along religious
lines grossly undermining the repeated solicitations of Mahatma Gandhi. Lord
Mountbatten, designated with most prodigious job of facilitating the transition
of powers from the British Royalty to the Indian leaders hurried the whole
process impetuously leading to a colossal loss of men and
material. Moreover the shoddy demarcation of the international
border by Border Commission headed by Radcliffe, a novice to
Indian culture, history and landscape exacerbated the damages of partition. The
author succinctly outlines all the exalting twists and turns of freedom
fighters, Congressmen and Muslim League members. The unprecedented rush and
unceremonious decision of dividing the country and fool-hardiness of Congress
chieftains was lucidly explained. The author argues that through a
calibrated strategy of “speed and acceleration” in transferring powers to
India, the British successfully confused Indian leaders. In fact Indian
leaders were given just 73 days to sort out administration issues. As a result
the unprepared new administration had to bear the brunt of ruthless partition.
While
cautiously refraining from dwelling into esoteric details that
preceded India’s independence, the author was highly critical of the Congress
for yielding to the British precondition of partition. Sections of the book
harps on the deep anguish and agony endured by Mahatma Gandhi who indirectly
rebuked Congress leaders for falling cheaply to the British trap. Though
Partition was indispensable, Gandhi opined that Indian leaders shouldn’t have
accepted British terms of partition. All the sequence of events spanning
four months to the D-day and the underlying politics behind the
partition are highlighted in the book. With major leaders from Congress and
Muslim League complying with the idea of partition, the Princely states were
asked to join either India or Pakistan. While it was decided to divide
provinces of Punjab and Bengal along communal lines, the fate of provinces of
Baluchistan, Assam and North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) were decided by a
referendum. Among the long list of faux pas committed by the Congress
leadership, this book throws light on an incorrigible
blunder. The Muslim dominated province of NWFP and it leader Khan Abdul
Ghaffar Khan, a staunch disciple of Gandhi having emulated secular ideals were
desirous of joining India. But the region was claimed by Pakistan. Nehru has
stopped Congress (despite Congress being in power in that province) from
participating in referendum, as a result the outcome was in favor of Pakistan.
Indeed only 17% of the total population had exercised their franchise.
The impunity
of the British administration and the doltish decisions of Congress
leaders had inadvertently plunged a fledging independent nation
into chaos and confusion. A lucid description of sequences of the events
that eventually culminated in partition of the country makes it an
interesting read. The author unapologetically concludes that "partition
was a colossal tragedy, a man-made catastrophe brought about by
politicians who failed to understand the implications of dividing the country
along religious lines". An engaging read for people keen
on analyzing the dangerous repercussions that portended independent
India and the heavy cost paid by Indian masses to obtain
freedom.
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