New NCERT module on Partition horrors partly blames Congress, sparks row
The text refers to the 1940 Lahore Resolution, where Muhammad Ali Jinnah claimed that Hindus and Muslims belonged to 'two different villages, philosophy, social customs, and literature.'The module argues that the British initially sought to keep India united by offering dominion status, but Congress refused this proposal.GANDHI, PATEL AND NEHRU ON PARTITIONThe module quotes Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as saying that the situation in India had become explosive: 'India had become a battlefield and it was better to partition the country than to have a civil war.'It cites Gandhi's stance, noting that he opposed partition but would not resist Congress's decision through violence. The text states: 'He said that he could not be a party to the partition, but he would not stop Congress from accepting it with violence.'Eventually, Jawaharlal Nehru and Patel accepted partition. Gandhi later persuaded the Congress Working Committee on June 14, 1947, to also agree to partition.
BLAME PLACED ON MOUNTBATTENThe module strongly criticises Lord Mountbatten for preponing the transfer of power. It says: 'Mountbatten had announced June 1948 as the date of transfer of power but later preponed it to August 1947.'It points out that the hasty demarcation of boundaries caused chaos: 'In many places, people did not even know by August 15, whether they were in India or Pakistan.'
POLITICAL BACKLASHThe Congress has hit out at NCERT's interpretation. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera said: 'Burn this document as it doesn't tell the truth. Partition happened due to nexus between Hindu Mahasabha and Muslim League.""RSS is danger to this nation. Idea of partition was first propagated by Hindu Mahasabha in 1938. It was repeated by Jinnah in 1940," he said in a press conference.The clash over NCERT's partition module has now turned into a fresh political flashpoint, with competing narratives about who was responsible for India's division, and how India's history should be taught in classrooms.- Ends
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