Bengal Files, 1940–47: From Killings to Gandhi's Miracle of Peace

India Today

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At the dawn of the 1940s, Calcutta was a cauldron of communal tension and political rivalry, marked by fragile alliances in a society increasingly shaped by the Muslim League.THE LAHORE RESOLUTIONOn March 23, 1940, Fazlul Huq, the 'Lion of Bengal,' arrived at the Muslim League's annual meeting in Lahore to a thunderous welcome. Muhammad Ali Jinnah greeted him respectfully: 'When the tiger appears, the lamb must give way.'advertisementFormer League president and founder of the Krishak Samaj Party, Huq gave his defining performance that day by presenting the Lahore Resolution. It called for autonomous and sovereign states in Muslim-majority regions of British India, laying the foundation for what would later be interpreted as the demand for Pakistan.
In December 1941, Huq formed the Progressive Coalition government in Bengal with the Hindu Mahasabha's support, Syama Prasad Mookerjee becoming finance minister.THE QUIT INDIA MOVEMENTWhen Congress launched the Quit India Movement in 1942, the Bengal ministry opposed it. On July 26, 1942, Mookerjee wrote to the Governor:'The question is how to combat this movement (Quit India) in Bengal?...It should be possible for us, especially responsible Ministers, to be able to tell the public that the freedom for which the Congress has started the movement, already belongs to the representatives of the peopleIndians have to trust the British, not for the sake for Britain, not for any advantage that the British might gain, but for the maintenance of the defence and freedom of the province itself.'The 'Huq-Syama' government, as it was popularly known, maintained 'adherence to office' by enforcing the Defence of India Rules and opposing Congress calls for mass protest or resignation, prioritising maintenance of order and cooperation with British wartime administration.But the government soon collapsed under the burden of Bengal's political contradictions, making way for the dominance of the Muslim League.THE DIRECT ACTION DAYOn August 16, 1946, the Muslim League, led by Jinnah, called for "Direct Action" to demand the creation of Pakistan after talks with the Indian National Congress and the British government broke down over the issue of separate Muslim representation and sovereignty.The movement was intended as a show of solidarity and strength by Muslims, but in Calcutta (now Kolkata), it led to a massive shutdown, citywide rallies, and quickly descended into unprecedented communal violence.THE GREAT CALCUTTA KILLINGSMuslims were a majority in the Bengal province overall, but Calcutta itself was a Hindu-majority city (73% Hindu, 23% Muslim in the 1941 census). These demographics and historic tensions contributed to the scale and speed of violence.HV Hodson, a member of the Viceroy's staff and (later) editor of The Sunday Times, has written a detailed account of the partition in his book The Great Divide. The book provides detailed commentary on the Calcutta Killings of August 1946.advertisement'In Calcutta the League Ministry under Mr Suhrawardy, who had adopted a much more bellicose attitude than Mr. Jinnah, declared 16th August a public holiday, an extremely dangerous thing to do when communal passions were inflamed, Satan would find work for idle hands to do, and any gathering or group in a crowded city might invite reactions from hostile bystanders.'Hodson records that huge crowds gathered by midday, mainly Muslims from all over Calcutta, many armed with iron bars and bamboo sticks. Speeches delivered by leaders like Khawaja Nazimuddin and Chief Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy added to the tension. While there were calls for peace, some remarks highlighted community grievances and calls for self-defense, intensifying communal antagonism.'What happened was more than anyone could have foreseen. In the next three days some 20,000 people were killed or seriously injured in Calcutta. Whole streets were strewn with corpses-men, women and children of all communities,' writes Hodson.The Muslims instigated the violence, but they were also its worst victims because they were in the minority in Calcutta. '...the Sikhs in particular, a comparatively small community in Calcutta but tough and armed and largely motorised, being the mechanics and drivers of Bengal as of so many places, swept furiously through the Muslim quarters slaying mercilessly as they went,' according to Hodson.advertisementAccording to the Statesman, the city was completely paralysed. The trains did not move. Newspapers were not published. Civic amenities were disrupted.'The estimated number of people killed ranged from 4000 to 10000.'A detailed military report from the Eastern Command, archived in the UK (WO 216/662), written by an officer assessed the riots. The report describes the escalation from the morning of August 16:'By late in the afternoon, the situation had changed, and the persons involved on both sides were gwallahs, rickshaw pullers, teashop wallahs, pan berri (beedi) wallahs, cart pullers, cart men, goondas of the worst type. Soon after midnight on the 16/17th these gangs fought out the most desperate battles. Murder and butchery of the worst type were carried on in the side lanes and byways of North Calcutta. Round Vivekananda Road/Central Ave., crossing about 50 Hindu Behari rickshaw pullers were caught in a cul-de-sac and butchered. Further up Central Ave., round the temple which stands in the middle, a party of some 30 Mohamedans were killed.'advertisementTHE AFTERMATH OF RIOTSSuhrawardy, Bengal's Chief Minister, faced widespread criticism for his role in the riots. The military report labelled him 'the king of the goondas,' suggesting he incited violence.Hodson notes administrative failure: 'I am confident that if all ranks had known that they would be supported to the hilt, nothing like the state of affairs which occurred would have taken place.' (The Great Divide, p. 168).The Calcutta killings triggered retaliatory violence in Noakhali, East Bengal, where Muslim mobs attacked Hindus, killing 5,000 and displacing thousands. Mahatma Gandhi arrived on November 19, 1946, to mediate, staying until January 1947, as detailed in Freedom at Midnight (p. 210).THE MIRACLE OF CALCUTTAIn August 1947, renewed riots broke out in Calcutta. Mahatma Gandhi stepped into this searing divide, setting the stage for what is called the 'Miracle of Calcutta.'Gandhi had spent 1946-1947 touring riot-affected areas like Noakhali (East Bengal) and Bihar, consoling victims and promoting reconciliation.Arriving in Calcutta on August 9, 1947, he initially planned to return to Noakhali. However, local leaders, including Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy—the Muslim League's former Chief Minister of Bengal, often blamed for inaction during the 1946 riots—urged him to stay and prevent violence.advertisementThe Mahatma's secretary Pyarelal recounts: 'Gandhiji arrived in Calcutta on August 9th, 1947... A delegation of Muslims, led by Mohammad Usman, urged him to stay in Calcutta to protect Muslims. Gandhiji agreed, but on condition they guarantee Hindu safety in Noakhali. He met Suhrawardy, who expressed fears for Muslims. Gandhiji said: 'I will stay if we live together and work until every Hindu and Muslim can return safely home.' Suhrawardy agreed." (Mahatma Gandhi: The Last Phase, Vol. X).On August 13, Gandhi moved into Hydari Manzil, a dilapidated house in the Muslim-majority Beliaghata slum, surrounded by Hindu neighborhoods—a deliberate choice to symbolize unity in a riot-prone 'no-man's land.'Angry Hindu crowds protested Suhrawardy's presence, throwing bricks and shouting, 'Go back, Gandhi!'
Gandhi Bhawan or Hyderi Manzil in Beleghata, Kolkata (Photo: AFP)
Pyarelal records Gandhi's response: 'Gandhiji addressed them from the roof: 'I have come to serve Hindus and Muslims alike. I place myself under your protection. If you go mad again, I will not witness it alive.''Gandhi's speech, vowing to fast unto death if violence erupted, calmed the mob. Suhrawardy publicly apologised for the 1946 riots, fostering initial reconciliation. Gandhi held daily interfaith prayer meetings at Hydari Manzil, reading from the Quran, Gita, and Bible, as for unity.'On August 15, 1947, while Delhi celebrated, Calcutta experienced a miracle. Violence halted abruptly. Crowds of Hindus and Muslims visited Hydari Manzil, chanting 'Jai Hind' together. Muslims shared meals with Gandhi; children sang nationalist songs. The press called it the 'Miracle of Calcutta.' Gandhi, however, warned it might not last: 'This is no miracle; it is the result of moral persuasion, but we must remain vigilant.'' (Freedom at Midnight).Gandhi's frail presence in a danger zone, coupled with his symbolic cohabitation with Suhrawardy, shamed potential rioters and inspired goodwill, saving thousands of lives in a city of millions.THE MAHATMA'S SACRIFICEPeace held for about two weeks, but on August 31, 1947, violence erupted again after a Hindu youth was reportedly stabbed by Muslims, sparking retaliatory attacks. Armed thugs resumed killings, looting, and arson, with reports of bombs and acid attacks.On September 1, Gandhi announced a fast unto death until peace was restored.Pyarelal quotes him: 'I shall terminate the fast only when peace has returned to Calcutta. If it is restored, I shall live to serve.'Gandhi, already weakened by age and prior fasts, consumed only water with lime at Hydari Manzil. His health deteriorated rapidly over 73 hours.Pyarelal details the response: 'His health declined rapidly. Thousands visited; rioters surrendered arms—swords, guns, bombs. Hindu Mahasabha, Muslim League, Sikhs pledged: 'We will protect minorities at personal cost.' On September 4th, convinced by assurances, he broke the fast with orange juice from Suhrawardy.'Gandhi left for Delhi on September 7, 1947. 'Calcutta remained peaceful thereafter. Mountbatten called Gandhi a 'one-man boundary force.' His fast saved thousands, proving non-violence's power, but he despaired: 'Freedom has come stained with blood.'' (Freedom at Midnight).Gandhi's Calcutta efforts saved thousands, contrasting with Punjab's massacres. However, his despair over partition persisted, leading to another fast in Delhi in January 1948, before his assassination on January 30, 1948.Hydari Manzil is now Gandhi Bhavan, a museum preserving his spinning wheel and surrendered weapons. The 'Miracle of Calcutta' and subsequent fast remind the world of moral leadership in crisis.- Ends