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FundamentalconflictsinIndiannationhood:Gandhivsrevolutionaries

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Fundamental conflicts in Indian nationhood:

Gandhi vs revolutionaries
The question then that remains to be answered is if the insistence on passive
submission to violent intrusion was somehow intrinsic to Indian ethos, or is
it that the revolutionaries internalised the essence of Indian nationhood.

POLITICS| Long-form| 03-03-2015

SASWATISARKAR @sarkar_swati

A.Questforprinciplednationhood
ThehistoryoffreedommovementinIndia,asdescribedin
standardtextbooks,canbesummarisedinonepithysentence:
"MahatmaGandhigaveusfreedomthroughnonviolence".This
narrativehasbeenentrencheddeepintoourconsciousnessby
everydignitaryduringhercustomarytributetoRajghat.Ithas
thereforebeenbutexpectedthatoneofthemostpopularprime
ministersIndiahaseverseen,PMNarendraModi,wouldmotivate
More from Saswati Sarkar

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hisflagshipSwachhBharatprogrammewiththepunchline
"Gandhijihasgivenusfreedom,whathavewegivenhimin
return?"Yet,anageoldwisdomtellsusthatanationisenslaved
forextendeddurationswhenthecontemporaryleadersfailher
andmassesexhibitinnateweaknessesofcharacter.Freedomis
thereforerarelygiven,itistakentakenbyrepayingthedebtof
failurethroughbloodandtearsoffuturegenerations.Doesthe
jewelinthecrownoftheempirewherethesunneversetthen
remainaneminentexceptionwhichwasawardedfreedomgratis?

Historyperhapstellsusotherwise.Thebestandthebravestmen
andwomenofanenslavednationhastenedthedemiseofthe
mightyBritishempirebyresistingthemtoothandnailinthe
trenchesofBengal,UP,Bihar,Punjab,OdishaandMaharashtra,
andmovingbeyondthebordersofIndia,fromEngland,USAand
SouthEastAsia.CrushedbytheRaj,theydidn'tlivetotelltheir
story.Yet,wemust,narratetheirtales,againandagain.Fora
nationthatdoesnotknowitshistory,doesnotmakeone.Itisalso
inthehistoryofIndianfreedomfight,orratherinthedenialof
theheroicrevolutionariestheirdue,thattheseedsofleft
movementsinIndiawouldbesown.But,aboveandbeyond,the
historyoffreedomstruggleinIndiaisofgreaterimportforthe
foundationalconflictsitrevealedbetweendifferent
understandingsofIndia'snationhoodthantheoutcomeitself,and
theattributionofduecreditsperse.
A.1Polaroppositeconceptsofnationhood
Acloserexaminationwouldrevealthattherevolutionaries'
comprehensionofIndiannationhoodwasinstarkcontrasttothat
ofMKGandhi's.Theconflictinthetwounderstandingswasnota
consequence,buttheprincipalmotivation,forthedivergencein
thepathsthetwopursuedforthecommongoaloffreedomfrom
foreignoccupationagoalthatMKGandhiacceptedaslateasin
1930asafaitaccompliunderintensepressurefromnationalist
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factionscomprisingofyoungerleaderslikeSubhasBoseanda
largesectionofCongresscadresagoalthatnationalistfactions
andrevolutionariesarticulatedaboutthirtyyearsbefore.Quoting
AurobindoGhosh:
"Politicalfreedomisthelifebreathofanation.Toattemptsocial
reform,educationalreform,industrialexpansion,themoral
improvementoftheracewithoutaimingfirstandforemostat
politicalfreedom,istheveryheightofignoranceandfutility.The
primaryrequisitefornationalprogress,nationalreform,isthe
habitoffreeandhealthynationalthoughtandactionwhichis
impossibleinastateofservitude."
ThisdelayisconfoundingbecauseMKGandhi,ifnothis
progenieslikeNehru,wasfullyawarethatIndiaexistedasone
nationfromtimesimmemorial.Inhisownwords,
"TheEnglishhavetaughtusthatwewerenotanationbefore
anditwillrequirecenturiesbeforewebecameonenation.Thisis
withoutfoundation.Wewereonenationbeforetheycameto
India.Onethoughtinspiredus.Ourmodeoflifewasthesame.It
wasbecausewewereonenationthattheywereabletoestablish
onekingdom."[16],Chapter9,p.56,[13].
"OurleadingmentraveledthroughoutIndiaeitheronfootorin
bullockcartswhatdoyouthinkcouldhavebeentheintentionof
thosefarseeingancestorsofourswhoestablishedSetuabandh
(Rameshwar)inthesouth,JagannathintheeastandHardwar
inthenorthasplacesofpilgrimage?Youwilladmittheywereno
fools.TheyknewthatworshipofGodcouldhavebeenperformed
justaswellathome.Theytaughtusthatthosewhoseheartswere
aglowwithrighteousnesshadtheGangaintheirownhomes.But
theysawthatIndiawasoneundividedlandsomadebynature.
They,therefore,arguedthatitmustbeonenation.Arguingthus,
theyestablishedholyplacesinvariouspartsofIndia,andfired
thepeoplewithideaofnationalityinamannerunknowninother
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partsoftheworld."[16],Chapter9,p.56,[13].
Thus,despitethecognisanceofexistenceofIndiaasanation,the
procrastinationintheproclamationofhernaturalrights,revealsa
lackofclarityinidentifyingtheinvadersandawarenessofnatural
rightsitselfonthepartofMKGandhi,whichiswhyitis
imperativetoexaminehowGandhirelatestoconceptsofIndian
nationhooditself.
WealsoobservethatGandhiadvocates,nayinsists,thatIndia
cannotandshouldnotattainindependencebydeviatingfromthe
pathofnonviolence.Inhisquestforfreedom,rathermoral
perfection,headvocatedperseveringwithnonviolenceevenwhen
hispeoplewerethreatenedwithmassexterminationthe
consistencyofhisperceptionofethicswithcivilizationalethos
anywhereintheworldincludingIndiamustthereforebecritically
examined:
"Thereisnothingbraveaboutdyingwhilekilling.Itisanillusion
ofbravery.Thetruemartyrisonewholaysdownhislifewithout
killing.YoumayturnaroundandaskwhetherallHindusand
Sikhsshoulddie.Yes,Iwouldsay.Suchmartyrdomwillnotbein
vain.Youmaycomplimentmeorcursemefortalkinginthis
mannerbutIshallonlysaywhatIfeelinmyheart."pp.5458,
[2].
"HindusshouldnotharborangerintheirheartsagainstMuslims
evenifthelatterwantedtodestroythem.EveniftheMuslims
wanttokillusallweshouldfacedeathbravely.Ifthey
establishedtheirruleafterkillingHinduswewouldbeushering
inanewworldbysacrificingourlives.Noneshouldfeardeath.
Birthanddeathareinevitableforeveryhumanbeing.Why
shouldwethenrejoiceorgrieve?Ifwediewithasmileweshall
enterintoanewlife,weshallbeusheringinanewIndia[6].
"IfallthePunjabweretodietothelastmanwithoutkilling,the
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Punjabwouldbecomeimmortal.Itismorevalianttogetkilled
thantokill.Ofcoursemyconditionisthatevenifwearefacing
deathwemustnottakeuparmsagainstthem.Butyoutakeup
armsandwhenyouaredefeatedyoucometome.Ofwhathelp
canIbetoyouinthesecircumstances?Ifyoucaredtolistento
me,IcouldrestorecalminthePunjabevenfromhere.One
thousandlosttheirlivesofcourse,butnotlikebravemen.I
wouldhavelikedthesixteenwhoescapedbyhidingtocomeinto
theopenandcourteddeath.Moreisthepity.Whatadifferenceit
wouldhavemadeiftheyhadbravelyofferedthemselvesasa
nonviolent,willingsacrifice!Opposewithahimsaifyoucan,but
godownfightingbyallmeansifyouhavenotthenonviolenceof
thebrave.Donotturncowards."pp.200201,[3].
"TodayaHindufromRawalpindinarratedthetragiceventsthat
hadtakenplacethere.ThevillagesaroundRawalpindihavebeen
reducedtoashes.TheHindusofthePunjabareseethingwith
anger.TheSikhssaytheyarefollowersofGuruGovindSingh
whohastaughtthemhowtowieldthesword.ButIwouldexhort
theHindusandSikhsagainandagainnottoretaliate.Imake
boldtosaythatifHindusandSikhssacrificetheirlivesathands
ofMuslimswithoutrancourorretaliationtheywillbecome
savioursnotonlyoftheirownreligionsbutalsoofIslamandthe
wholeworld."pp.225226,[4].
"ButJinnahSahebpresidesoveragreatorganisation.Oncehe
hasaffixedhissignaturetotheappeal,howcanevenoneHindu
bekilledatthehandsoftheMuslims?IwouldtelltheHindusto
facedeathcheerfullyiftheMuslimsareouttokillthem.Iwould
bearealsinnerifafterbeingstabbedIwishinmylastmoment
thatmysonshouldseekrevenge.Imustdiewithoutrancor."[5]
Therevolutionariesassumedapolaroppositeposition.MNRoy,a
revolutionary(wholaterturnedcommunist)wrote:
"BritishruleinIndiawasestablishedbyforceandismaintained
byforce,therefore,itcanandwillbeoverthrownonlybya
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violentrevolution.Wearenotinfavorofresortingtoviolenceif
itcanbehelpedbutforselfdefence,thepeopleofIndiamust
adoptviolentmeanswithoutwhichtheforeigndominationbased
uponviolencecannotbeended."p.24,[7].
SubhasBose:
"Freedomisnotgiven,itistaken.""Foranenslavedpeople,there
canbenogreaterpride,nohigherhonour,thantobethefirst
soldierinthearmyofliberation."[8]"Norealchangeinhistory
haseverbeenachievedbydiscussions."
Thebestexpositionofhowtherevolutionariesrespondedto
BritishinvasionwasperhapsprovidedbyMadanlalDhingra.
EnragedbytheexecutionsofrevolutionarieslikeKhudiramBose,
KanailalDutta,SatinderPal,PanditKanshiRam.Madanlal
DhingraexactedrevengeupontheBritishbyassassinatingCurzon
WylieonJuly1,1909.Inhistrial,hesaid:
"AndImaintainthatifitispatrioticinanEnglishmantofight
againsttheGermansiftheyweretooccupythiscountry,itis
muchmorejustifiableandpatrioticinmycasetofightagainst
theEnglish.IholdtheEnglishpeopleresponsibleforthemurder
of80millionsofIndianpeopleinthelast50years,andtheyare
alsoresponsiblefortakingaway100,000,000everyyearfrom
Indiatothiscountry.Ialsoholdthemresponsibleforthe
hanginganddeportationofmypatrioticcountrymen,whodid
justthesameastheEnglishpeoplehereareadvisingtheir
countrymentodo.AndtheEnglishmanwhogoesouttoIndia
andgets,say,100amonth,thatsimplymeansthathepassesa
sentenceofdeathonathousandofmypoorcountrymen,because
thesethousandpeoplecouldeasilyliveonthis?100,whichthe
Englishmanspendsmostlyonhisfrivolitiesandpleasures.Just
astheGermanshavenorighttooccupythiscountry,sothe
EnglishpeoplehavenorighttooccupyIndia,anditisperfectly
justifiableonourparttokilltheEnglishmanwhoispollutingour
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sacredland.Iamsurprisedattheterriblehypocrisy,thefarce,
andthemockeryoftheEnglishpeople.Theyposeasthe
championsofoppressedhumanitythepeoplesoftheCongoand
thepeopleofRussiawhenthereisterribleoppressionand
horribleatrocitiescommittedinIndiaforexample,thekillingof
twomillionsofpeopleeveryyearandtheoutragingofour
women.IncasethiscountryisoccupiedbyGermans,andthe
Englishman,notbearingtoseetheGermanswalkingwiththe
insolenceofconquerorsinthestreetsofLondon,goesandkills
oneortwoGermans,andthatEnglishmanisheldasapatriotby
thepeopleofthiscountry,thencertainlyIampreparedtowork
fortheemancipationofmyMotherland.WhateverelseIhaveto
sayisinthepaperbeforetheCourtImakethisstatement,not
becauseIwishtopleadformercyoranythingofthatkind.Iwish
thatEnglishpeopleshouldsentencemetodeath,forinthatcase
thevengeanceofmycountrymenwillbeallthemorekeen.Iput
forwardthisstatementtoshowthejusticeofmycausetothe
outsideworld,andespeciallytooursympathisersinAmerica
andGermany."[9]
Fromthegallows,hesaidthat:
"Ibelievethatanationhelddownbyforeignbayonetsisina
perpetualstateofwar.Sinceopenbattleisrenderedimpossible
toadisarmedrace,Iattackedbysurprise.Sincegunswere
deniedtomeIdrewforthmypistolandfired.Poorinwealthand
intellect,asonlikemyselfhasnothingelsetooffertothemother
buthisownblood.AndsoIhavesacrificedthesameonheraltar.
TheonlylessonrequiredinIndiaatpresentistolearnhowto
die,andtheonlywaytoteachitisbydyingourselves.Myonly
prayertoGodisthatImayberebornofthesamemotherandI
mayredieinthesamesacredcausetillthecauseissuccessful.
VandeMataram!"[10]
Alltheaboverevolutionarieswerethereforearticulatingwhata
nation'sresponseoughttobeinastateofwar,astatewhichevery
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subjugatednationisin.Anevencursorystudyofworldhistory
suggeststhattheirresponsehasnotmerelybeenhonorable,but
alsonaturalandorganic.WewillquotetheoaththatMazzini,
heldinthehighestvenerationallovertheworld,administeredto
themembersofhissecretleague:"Isweartodevotemyself
entirelyandalwaystothecommonobjectofcreatingonefree,
independentandrepublicanItalybyeverymeanswithinmy
power."p.230,[10].Itisworthwhilementioningthat"Lloyd
GeorgeexpressedtoWinstonChurchillhishighestadmirationof
Dhingra'sattitudeasapatriot.Churchillsharedthesameviews
andquotedwithadmirationDhingra'slastwordsasthefinest
evermadeinthenameofpatriotism.TheycomparedDhingra
withPlutarch'simmortalheroes.HugeplacardsfromIrish
paperspaidglowingtributestoDhingra:Irelandhonors
MadanlalDhingrawhowasproudtolaydownhislifeforthe
sakeofhiscountry."p.230,[10].Instarkcontrasttothose
whoseauthorityoverIndiaDhingrachallenged,hisillustrious
compatriotGandhihadonlywordsofcondemnationforDhingra
asforeveryotherrevolutionaryhecameacross.
Thequestionthenthatremainstobeansweredisiftheinsistence
onpassivesubmissiontoviolentintrusionwassomehowintrinsic
toIndianethos,orisitthattherevolutionariesinternalisedthe
essenceofIndiannationhood.Thedilemmaisfundamentalas
IndiaexistedasacivilisationalnationlongbeforetheBritish
arrived.Nooneman,orevenagroup,oughttothereforehavethe
libertytoredefineIndiannationhoodwithoutacriticalappraisal
oftheconsistencyoftheirchosendefinitionwithageold
civilisationalethosasalsotheadvantagesanddisadvantagesof
thesame.For,anationisbutdefinedbyitsculturalethos.Indeed,
"anationnevermeansalandassuch.Anationindicatesagroup
oracommunityofpeoplewhichhasbeentraditionallylivingina
particularland,whichhasitsowndistinctiveculture,andwhich
hasanidentityseparatefromotherpeoplesoftheworldby
virtueofthedistinctivenessofitsculture.Thecultural
distinctivenessofanationmaybebasedonitsrace,orreligion,
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orlanguage,oracombinationofsomeorallofthesefactors,but
allinalltherehastobeadistinctculturewhichwillmarkthe
nationoutfrompeoplesbelongingtootherlands.Third,there
maybeinternaldifferencesinseveralrespectsamongthepeople
belongingtothisculture,butinspiteofthesedifferencesthereis
anoverallsenseofharmonybornoutofthefundamental
elementsoftheirculture,andasenseofpridewhichinspiresin
themadesiretomaintaintheirseparateidentityfromtherestof
theworld.Finally,asaresultofthesefactors,thisgroupof
peoplehasitsownoutlooktowardsthehistoryofitstraditional
homelandithasitsownheroesandvillains,itsownviewof
gloryandshame,successandfailure,victoryanddefeat."p.3,
[11].
A.2Unresolvednationhoodbutwhynow?
Thoserootedinthepresentmaywellquestiontheneedtoponder
overthisdilemmaofcontrastingethosofnationhood,now,given
thatthelastidentifiedinvaderhasleftusabout70yearsback.My
answerwouldbemultifold.Wewouldnotknowwhichdirection
tomoveforwardunlessweidentifywhatkindofnationwewantto
becomeonethatabjectlysurrenderstoanyaggressionthatcares
tolookourwaycitingprinciplesofmoralitythattheopponent
doesnotobserve,oronethatdemonstratestheconfidenceto
respondanddefendinalanguagetheaggressorunderstands.To
citearecentexample,afterhismuchtoutedvisittoIndia,US
PresidentObamasuggestedthatIndiahasdeviatedfromthe
principlesofreligioustolerancethatMKGandhihadespoused.
USPresidentObamaisprobablyonsolidgroundshere,asMK
Gandhi'sideaofreligioustolerancewouldinvolveHindusand
Sikhstocourtdeathwhenconfrontedbypractitionersofother
religions.IndianeedstodeviatefromthatpathandperhapsIndia
indeedhasinpartswhereHindusandSikhsareinmajority.But,
Obamacouldnotbecounteredwithtruthaspostindependence
IndiahasvociferouslyidentifiedherselfwithGandhianprinciples
notwithstandingtheirmeritorrationalsupport.Thishas
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pervadedtotheextentthatRSSchiefMohanBhagwat,an
ideologicaldescendantofVeerSavarkar,oneoffewtohave
intellectuallyopposedGandhiduringhislifetime,profusely
elaboratedonthevirtuesofnonviolenceinarecentspeech[12].
"Thoseforceswhichfocusonlyatachievingtheeconomic
interestsoftheirowngroupsinthenameofglobalisationwant
toexpandtheirownempiresinthenameofestablishingpeace
orcompellingallothercountriestoremainweakandhelplessin
thenameofnonproliferationofweapons,canneverandshall
neverletthedreamofahappyandbeautifulworldbecomea
reality.Inthehistoryofpastonethousandyears,Bharathas
beentheonlyexamplewhichhasmadegenuineeffortsinthis
directionthroughthepathoftruthandnonviolence.With
Bharat'sdeepfaithinthemantraof'VasudhaivKutumbakam'(ie
entireworldisonefamily),awiderangeofherRishis,Munis,
Bhikshus,Shramanas,Saints,scholarsandexpertstravelled
acrosstheworldfromMexicotoSiberiainoldeneras.Without
attemptingtoconqueranyempireorwithoutdestroyingwayof
lifeofanysociety,prayersystemsornationalandcultural
identity,theysharedwiththemtheBharatiyaethosoflove,
affectionanduniversalwelfare."
MohanBhagwatwouldsurelyknowabouttheHindumonastic
traditionofcarryingarmsgiventhatthearmedrebellionof
Sanyasis(monks)inspiredAnandamaththeliterarymasterpiece
ofBankimChandraChatterjeewhichinturngaveIndiaher
nationalsongVandeMataram(itisafterallRSSthathas
preservedthissonglongafterithasbeenobliteratedfromthe
culturalmemoryoftheprovincewhereitoriginatedfrom).Also,if
nottherishisandscholars,theCholakingsofIndiacertainlydid
seektoestablishanempirebeyondtheprecinctsofIndiaexample,
infarEast,throughmilitaryconquest.But,thehistoricalaccuracy
ofBhagwat'sstatementconstitutesonlyasidenoteinthis
discussion.ThevaluesthatBhagwatandPresidentObamachose
toemphasiseonaremorepertinent.For,"anationnotonlyhas
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itsownheroesandvillains,itsownviewofgloryandshame,
successandfailure,victoryanddefeat,"butitisalsothechoiceof
theseveryheroesandvillains,understandingofgloryandshame,
successandfailure,victoryanddefeatthatdefineanation.
Gandhiisnolongeranindividual,butaschoolofthought1)
onethatespousespassivesubmissionasaresponsetoblatant
aggressionand2)onethatprioritisesmoralityofmeansoverthe
necessityofend.Itisthisschoolthatisrapidlybecoming
representativeofIndiannationhood.IfthisschooldefinesIndia,
theworldwouldberighttoexpectadocilesubmissionwhenever
Indiaisconfrontedwithexternalorinternalaggression.We
thereforeatleastneedtoexamineiftheotherendofthe
spectrum,namelyvalor,purposiveactions,nationalgoalsover
moralisticegosandselfrighteousnesseverhadaplaceinthe
ancientcivilisationthatIndiais,andhowfartheysucceeded.If
GandhianismdoesindeeddefineIndiannationhood,itis
imperativetoexploreiftheproponentadheredtothelofty
standardsthatheenforcedonothers,ordidheapplythem
selectivelyforhisownpeoplewhileprovidingsubstantialleeway
totheiraggressors(BritishorMuslimsseekingpartitionofIndia
asthecasemaybe)inotherwordswasGandhiacommitted
GandhianhimselforGandhianismwasalsoforhimameans
towardstheendofthehaloofsainthood?
Afundamentalquestioninthisquestoughttobeiftheconflict
betweentheGandhianschoolandonethatseeksarobustcounter
tointrusionthroughthemostefficaciousmeansregardlessofits
moralbasisemergedduringfreedomstruggleagainsttheBritish.
Orisitthattheprotagonistsmerelychosedifferentsidesinan
eternalconflictofvaluesthathasbeenrecurringovertheages.If
itisthelatter,thenweneedtoexaminehowdidthetwosidesfare
overages?Toresolvethisquery,letusretraceourpathsthrough
thesandsoftimeto713AD,theyearinwhichArabsestablished
theirfirstfootholdinIndiainSindh,whichwasthenapartof
India.
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MuhammadBinKasimwhoconqueredSindhin713ADfromthe
HindukingDaharhadjustarrivedatoneofitsprincipalities,
Siwistan,withthegoalofannexingit.Thekingandmanyofhis
chieftainswereHindus,butBuddhismwasadominantreligion
thereinthe7thcenturypp.910[1].Samanis(originally
ShramansorBuddhistmonks)werealsorulersofseveralcities.
TheearliestaccountoftheinvasionofSindh,Chachnama,
recountsthefollowingstorypp9192[1]:
UponKasim'sarrival,theSamaniatSiwistan,whowasachief
ofthepeople,sentthefollowingmessagetoBachehra(theruler
ofSiwistanandacousinofKingDaharofSindh),saying:"We
peopleareapriestlyclass(Nasiks),ourreligionispeaceandour
creedisgoodwill(toall).Accordingtoourfaith,fightingand
slaughteringarenotallowable.Wewillneverbeinfavorof
sheddingblood.Youaresittingquitesafeinaloftypalacewe
areafraidthatthishordewillcomeand,takingustobeyour
followersanddependents,willdepriveusofourlifeand
property.WehavecometoknowthatAmirHajajhas,underthe
ordersoftheKhalifah,instructedthemtograntpardontothose
whoaskforit.Sowhenanopportunityoffers,andwhenwe
consideritexpedient,weshallenterintoasolemntreatyand
bindingcovenantwiththem.TheArabsaresaidtobefaithfulto
theirword.Whatevertheysaytheyactuptoanddonotdeviate
from."p.90,[1].Baccherarefusedtoacceptthisadviseandsome
residentsofSiwistanwerereadytofight.MuhammedKasim
attacked.TheSamanipartyreprimandedBaccheraandforbade
himtofight,saying"Thisarmyisverystrongandpowerfulyou
cannotstandagainstthem.Wedonotwishthat,throughyour
obstinacy,ourlifeandpropertywouldbeendangered."p.90,[1].
Baccherastillrefusedtheircounsel.ThentheSamanicliquesent
amessagetoKasimthat:"Allthepeople,whetheragriculturists,
artisans,orothercommonfolk,haveleftBacchera'ssideanddo
not(now)acknowledgeallegiancetohim,andBaccherahasnot
sufficientmenandmaterialsofwar,andcanneverstandagainst
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youinanopenfield,orinastrugglewithyou."p.91,[53].
Regardlessofwhetherthisinsideinformationwasaccurate,this
definitelyincreasedthezealoftheMuslimarmy.Kasimordered
theassaulttobecontinuednightandday.Theoccupantsofthe
fortceasedtofightafteraboutaweek."WhenBaccherafound
thatthefortwasingreatstraitsandthatcouldnotstandlong,he
determinedtoleaveit.Sowhentheworldwashidbehindthe
pitchdarkcurtainofnight,heissuedfromtheNortherngate,
andcrossingtheriver,fledaway."p.91,[1].
So,theconflictbetweenpacifistsurrenderandrobustresponseto
invasionsasalsothemoralityofmeansandthenecessityofthe
end(Samaniconsideredadefensethatreliesonforceasimmoral)
didexistasfarbackasearly8thcenturyAD.Ourquestthen
wouldletusdiscoverwhoemergedasheroesandwhoasvillains
acrosssuchideologicalandreallifeconflictsIndiafoughtoverthe
ages.Villainswouldnaturallyoccurdimeadozen,butwerethere
anyrealherointheend?Howdidthedifferentchoicesfareinthis
conflict?Whosucceeded,whofailed,andwhy?Thewinthatthe
Samaniregisteredwouldbeshortlivedasthedominantreligionin
thisregion,Buddhism,wouldbeobliteratedfromSindhunder
IslamicswordbutHinduswouldcontinuetocompriseuptoabout
25percentofSindhevenuntil1947.Bacheracouldnotdefend
Siwistaneither,butSiwistanlostitsindependencewithhisloss
too.Whilethechoiceoftheheroandthevillainisperhapsclearin
thiscontext,itisapparentboththeheroandthevillainlostjust
thattheherotriedandfailed,diminishedandunderminedbythe
villain.Yet,HinduswouldstartrecoveringlostgroundinSindhas
earlyas715AD,andby9thcenturyAD,theywouldregaincontrol
ofmostofSindh.Thus,Bacherafailed,butinspiredothersto
completepartofhisunfinishedagenda.
OurquestwouldrevealthatIndianhistoryhasdisplayedan
astonishingcontinuity.Indians,orHindusinparticular,have
shownsimilartraitsoverages,excelledinsimilarspheresand
committedsimilargraveerrors.Forinstance,resistancetoevery
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invasionwouldrevealtwoparallelstrandsoneofsublime
heroism,theotherofbasecollaborationwiththeinvader,overtor
covert.Heroeswouldinvariablynotlivetotelltheirtale,while
collaboratorswouldcontinuetoprosper.Next,Indiannationalism
upuntilearlytwentiethcenturywillbedeeplyrootedormayeven
besynonymouswithHindufaithandpractices.Faithandpridein
religionwouldconstitutepillarsofstrengthofIndiannationalism,
yetsimultaneouslyitsAchillesheeltoo.Wewillalsodiscoverthat
Hinduresponsetoinvasionwouldbeshapedbythedistinctive
featuresofthespecificschoolofHinduismtheadherents
subscribedtoinparticular,consideringBuddhismasaschoolof
Hinduism,wewillobservethatBuddhistpacifismwould
underminetheheroicresistancetheadherentsofSanatana
Dharmawouldlaunch(thecontrastbetweentheSamanidandthe
Bacherawouldbetypical).Buddhistpacifismisperhaps
intellectuallyclosesttothepassivesurrenderadvocatedbythe
Gandhianschool.
Theremarkablecontinuityinhistorycompelsustoponderonif
historyrepeateditselfsoominouslybecausethefundamental
conflictsinournationhoodhadnotbeenresolved.Theunresolved
conflictbetweentheSamaniandBaccherawouldreappearata
criticaljunctureofIndia'sstruggleforinvasionbyanother
imperialistpower.Ifwemovefastforwardtoabout1,225years
later,theSamaniofSiwistan,Bacheraandanoccupier(albeita
differentone)reemergetoposeaquestionthatwouldhauntour
nationalconsciousnessyetagain.Thenewincarnationofthe
Samaniwouldcitethemoralityofnonviolencetojustify
cooperationwiththeoccupierinwartimewhentheoccupierwas
athisweakest.TheBacherawouldrejecthiscounselandseeka
fighttothefinish,andwouldenlistsomesupportfromwithinhis
ownSiwistantoo.Thesamaniwouldhoweverpersisttogradually
demoraliseanddiminishhissupport.Eventuallyrealisingthathe
cannomoredefendfromwithin,theBacherawouldleavehis
Siwistan,eerilyagain,whentheworldwashidbehindthepitch
darkcurtainofnight.In1940,startingfromhisancestralhomeat
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ElginroadinCalcutta,hewouldtakeatrekacrosscentralAsiato
reachfarWest,navigatebacktofarEasttostriketheblowhe
couldnotdeliverfromwithin.Therestastheysayishistory,one
thatweshallrevisitinduecourse.Thathistorywilltellusthe
Bacherawholeftusin1940didn'thimselfsucceedinhis
cherishedgoaloffreeingfromtheclutchesoftheoccupierthe
motherlandhesodearlyloved,buthisheroismwouldmotivate
otherstocarryhisbatontothegoalpost,halfwaytobespecific.If
theSamanieveraspiredtofreehismotherlandasonenationthat
shewas,hedidfailtoo,buthewouldsucceedinacquiringahalo
ofsainthoodperhapsattheexpenseofthewellbeingofhisown
people.Notwithstanding,againneitherofthetwowouldreach
theirstatedgoals.
A.3Theroadahead
ThelastwordinthehistoryofIndiahasnotyetbeensaid.India
wonfreedomin1947inapyrrhicvictoryafterapartitionwhich
involvedtheslaughterof2,00,0005,00,000inthePunjabregion
alone[14].Indiahassubsequentlytakentremendousstridesin
advancingknowledge,whichagainrepresentsacontinuityof
history(pursuitofknowledgecontinuedinIndiaevenduring
periodsofforeignoccupation).But,aswehavelearnedthehard
way,theworldrenownedcentersoflearninglikeNalandaand
VikramshilathemselvessuccumbedtotheswordsoftheTurkic
invaderBakhtiyarKhilji,andcouldnaturallynotprotectIndia
frominvasion.So,knowledgewillnotsufficebyitself.And,India
maynothaveseenthelastofitsforeigninvasionseither.Indeed,
evenafter1947wefoughtfourofficialwars.Inthefirst,in1947,
twomonthsafteritsbirth,PakistaninvadedKashmir.TheIndian
armyrepulsedtheattack,andwasabouttodrivethePakistani
armyoutofKashmir,whenherfirstprimeminister,JLNehru,the
ideologicaldescendantandthePMchoiceofMKGandhi,calleda
halttothefightingandbroughtthedisputebeforetheUnited
Nations.Kashmirremainsdivided,anditsPakistanoccupiedpart
iscontinuallybeenusedtofomentterrorismintheremainderthat
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isinIndia.Inthethirdwar,Chinainflictedahumiliatingdefeat
onIndia(1962)duetotheHimalayanblunderseffectedbythe
politicalleadershipofthesamePMNehru.Asoldierlamented
subsequently"Ourpeasantryhasalwaysfoughtgallantlybutitis
anundisputablefactthatseldomhasthisbraverybeenutilisedto
winbattlefieldvictoriesandthustoattainourpoliticalobjectives,
duetoineptpoliticalormilitaryleadership,orboth.Needwe
followthistragicpathinterminably."P.XVII[15].Inthelastthus
far,in1971,inyetanotherinstanceofineptpoliticalleadership,
welosttheterritorygainedongroundonnegotiationtable.
Nexttime,wheneverthatis,letIndia'sresponsebeconsistentto
hernationalcharacterthathasemergedfromherhoarypastand
evolvedwithimprintsoftime.Letusperhapsensurethatafuture
Baccheracanlodgeafiercecounterattackfromwithin,letthe
Samanisofhisgenerationstandby,ratherthanagainst,him.Let
IndianotmeeklyloseSiwistantoapersistentKasimnexttime.
Towardsthisend,inaseriesofarticles,wewillbeexploringthe
civilisationalethosthathaveshapedIndia'sresponsetoexternal
aggressionthroughoutherpast,andpositiontheideological
conflictbetweenGandhiandtherevolutionariesinthatcontext.
Acknowledgement:
Theseriesistheclosesttoajointlyauthoredpieceamongallmy
singleauthoredarticles.Manyoftheideasexploredherehave
emergedinextendeddiscussionswith@dikgaj.Thearguments
presentedherehavebeensharpenedowingtotheconstructive
criticismsofShanmukh(@maidros78).KausikGangopadhyay
(@kausikgy)hassuggestedsomeinsightfuldirectionsthatIhave
explored.Sushuptii(@sushuptii)hasprovidedmanyofthe
referencesIamusing.
Thisintellectualexplorationhasbeenstimulatedbyadogged
campaignlaunchedbyactivistandjournalistAnujDharand
authorChandrachurGhosefordeclassifyingarchivaldocuments
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concerningthedisappearanceofNetajiSubhasChandraBose.My
knowledgeofNetajihassubstantiallyenhancedthroughthe
researchconductedbytheirteam.Aboveandbeyond,theyare
showingusyetagainhowoneoughttopursueaworthycause
regardlessoftheoddsofsuccess.Last,butnottheleast,this
sequencewillbemyhomagetotheBaccheraof1940andallthose
likehimwhowouldneverdeigntoremindus:
Whenyougohome,tellthemofusandsayFortheirtomorrow,
wegaveourtoday.
Bibliography:
[1]AliKulfi,TheChachnamahanancienthistoryofSind,
TranslatedbyMirzaKalichbeg,1900,ReprintedbyRanaSaad,
2004
[2]PrarthanaPravachan:PartI,CWOMG,Vol.87,pp.3945
[3]"Talkwithrefugees,April4,1947"mahatmaGandhiTheLast
PhaseII,p.97,CWOMG,vol.87,
[4]Speechatprayermeeting,April7,1947,PrarthanaPravachan
PartIpp.3235,CWOMG,vol87
[5]May1,1947,PrarthanaPravachan:PartI,pp.548,CWOMG,
Vol.87,pp.3945
[6]Prayermeeting,April6,1947,NewDelhi,CWMGVol.94page
249
[7]IM.Sharma,RoleofRevolutionariesintheFreedomStruggle,
MarxistStudyforum,Hyderabad,1987
[8]SpeechatamilitaryreviewoftheIndianNationalArmy(5
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July1943)
[9]http://www.revivaloftrueindia.com/2012/10/madanlal
dhingra.html
[10]RameshChandraMajumdar``HistoryandCultureofthe
IndianpeopleVol.XITheStruggleForFreedom''
[11]AbhasChatterjee"TheConceptofHinduNation"Voiceof
India,1995
[12]http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/TextofRSSchief
MohanBhagwatsVijayadashami
speech/articleshow/44199148.cms
[13]M.K.Gandhi.HindSwaraj,HinduDharma,Ahmedabad1950
[14]PaulRBassThepartitionofIndiaandretributivegenocidein
thePunjab,194647:means,methods,andpurposes".Journalof
genocideResearch.p.75(5(1),71101,2003
[15]BrigJPDalvi,HimalayanBlunderThecurtainraisertothe
SinoIndianwarof1962
[16]https://dikgaj.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/counterthoughts
4bharatyanationhoodandyogendrayadavsneostracheyism/
#Jinnah,#Pakistan,#MohanBhagwat,#SubhasChandraBose

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Writer
SASWATI SARKAR @sarkar_swati
Feminist, agnostic, politically bipartisan,Indian,
Bengali, socially progressive, follows Hindu human
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& legal rights, student of Hindu history and

engineering acade.

COMMENT
PRALAY KUMAR TEWARY @10153176356152953
An eye opener for me. Hat's off Saswati Sarkar...
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