Latest news with #JanSangh
The Wire
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Wire
In Gopal Patha, BJP's Latest Effort at Establishing an Icon in Bengal Fails Again
The narrative propagated by the trailer of an upcoming film fails to grasp this multifaceted identity, or perhaps, it wilfully ignores it Gopal Mukherjee's grandson Shantanu with photos of his grandfather in his house in Kolkata. Photo: Joydeep Sarkar. Kolkata: The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) long quest for a resonant Hindutva icon in West Bengal has a new candidate – but not if his family has anything to do about it. For the last few years, the party has attempted to co-opt a wide range of historical figures. From nationalist hero Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda to the ancient king Shashanka, alongside its traditional icon in Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, BJP has never stopped trying to find its local hero in Bengal. But these efforts have yielded little in terms of electoral gains. Now, their focus has turned to Gopal Mukherjee, better known as 'Gopal Patha', a figure many scholars identify as a local strongman who fiercely defended Hindus during the brutal Calcutta riots of 1946. This latest experiment at historical appropriation, however, appears to be collapsing even before it could fully be forged, primarily because Mukherjee's family has expressed strong objection to how he has been shown in the trailer of director Vivek Agnihotri's upcoming film The Bengal Files. The film by the director, who has earlier made communally charged films, has been mired in controversy since it was announced. BJP workers and sympathisers quickly rallied behind the project, hoping it would serve as a cultural weapon in Bengal's electoral battlefield. Bengal is set to go to polls next year. In the trailer, Gopal Mukherjee is introduced with the words "there was a butcher" in Hindi, against a saffron backdrop. Mukherjee's family has now had a first information report filed against Agnihotri's film, accusing it of malicious distortion. 'This is a twisted portrayal that paints my grandfather as a leader of communal riots. It's true that during the 1946 riots, my grandfather, Gopal Mukherjee, took up arms to resist the attackers. But he protected people of all faiths, Hindus and Muslims alike,' said Shantanu Mukherjee, Gopal Mukherjee's grandson. Gopal Mukherjee's house in Kolkata. Photo: Joydeep Sarkar. Shantanu provides a counter-narrative that is far more complex and nuanced than the one-dimensional hero the Hindutva ecosystem seeks. He points to living memory, citing Muslim families in central Kolkata who still remember his grandfather fondly for protecting their families and properties. Mukherjee's political lineage further complicates the BJP's narrative. 'My grandfather was a companion of Mahatma Gandhi, and the revolutionary Anukul Mukherjee was his uncle. Inspired by their ideals, he initially joined the Congress party. Although he later had differences with their non-violent policies, he never became a leader of a communal party,' Mukherjee said. Books like Suranjan Das and Jayanta K. Ray's The Goondas: Towards a Reconstruction of the Calcutta Underworld offer a glimpse into who Mukherjee was. A goat-meat trader by trade – something which is conjectured to have given him his nickname ' patha ', which means goat – he was led into politics by Congress leader Bijay Singh Nahar during the 1946 riots in Kolkata. Mukherjee formed a private militia, the 'Bharat Jatiya Bahani,' to defend Hindu areas. This group, skilled in combat, was funded by wealthy Hindus during the crisis but is understood to have been abandoned afterward. Facing a lack of support and social stigma, Patha and his followers reportedly turned to organised crime, including robberies and smuggling. The Lalbazar Detective Department's record from 1950 lists Gopal Chandra Mukherjee with the number CRO-HS-K23865 identifying him as the mastermind behind a number of organised crimes, including a kidnapping in 1950 and several bank and mill robberies. Gopal Mukherjee. Photo: By arrangement. Mukherjee's story highlights the many layers of the 1946 riots. While his militia resisted violence, Mukherjee's mentor, Bijay Singh Nahar, also conducted peace marches with a local Imam. This duality of resistance against sectarian violence and simultaneous efforts towards communal harmony was the reality of 1946 that is often overlooked in modern political narratives. Kolkata-based journalist Sourav Guha, whose book on the underworld of Kolkata – Kolkatar Tolpet: Mastanir Ekal Sekal – featured a chapter on Gopal Mukherjee, contextualises his actions within the state's role. 'The government wanted riots to happen at that time. Many people, like Gopal Mukherjee, took to the streets to prevent those riots. Therefore, calling him a 'butcher' would be suppressing the real truth and distorting his role in maintaining communal harmony during that time,' Guha explained. The physical space of Gopal Mukherjee's central Kolkata home, a near 200-year-old landmark, stands as a testament to this complexity. Adorned with photos of freedom fighters, the walls feature Ram Mohan Roy, the Muslim poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Mother Teresa, and Congress stalwart Bidhan Chandra Roy. The presence of Bidhan Roy's photo is significant as Mukherjee was known to be a strongman for the Congress leader. He was also allegedly tasked with disrupting leftist processions and was accused of electoral rigging by the left parties. Gopal Mukherjee in his old age. Photo: By arrangement. The BJP's narrative fails to grasp this multifaceted identity, or perhaps, it wilfully ignores it. By trying to fit a complex Bengali figure in the narrow mould of a Hindutva icon, the party has once again misread the history and character of Bengal. Perhaps the party can learn a lesson from West Bengal's electoral history. The parties that worked to prevent the 1946 riots fared much better in the state's first assembly election. The Indian National Congress formed the government with 150 seats, while the Left emerged as the main opposition. In contrast, the Jana Sangh of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, won only nine seats, and the Hindu Mahasabha secured just four. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Advertisement
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Dy CM book to release on Atal anniv
Lucknow: A book focusing on the life, thoughts, and legacy of Atal Bihari Vajpayee , authored by Dy CM Brajesh Pathak, will be released at an event to mark the death anniversary of former Prime Minister on Saturday. Titled, 'Atulniya Atalji (Vyaktitva, Vichar aur Virasat)', the work includes three of Vajpayee's articles written in the 1960s on nationalism, Indian identity, and the promotion of Indian languages. It also compiles three of his notable speeches, including his first address in Hindi at the United Nations as External Affairs Minister, his first speech from the Red Fort as Prime Minister, and his inaugural address as president of the Jan Sangh. Additionally, the book features select poems by Vajpayee, often quoted by him during significant occasions. Pathak stated that the aim of the book is to acquaint the younger generation with Vajpayee's ideas and legacy, highlighting his roles as a poet, writer, thinker, mass leader, and freedom fighter. He noted that Vajpayee's life story reflects the journey of contemporary Indian politics, public struggles, and nation-building, and is valuable reading for those connected to politics, literature, and journalism. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kashmir integral part of India because of Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that Syama Prasad Mookerjee's movement ensured Kashmir and West Bengal remained integral parts of India. Speaking on Mookerjee's birth anniversary, Shah credited him and Swami Pranabananda for West Bengal's continued association with India. He also highlighted the government's initiatives in the cooperative sector over the past four years. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that it was the movement launched by Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee that led to India retaining Kashmir and West Bengal. Speaking in Anand on Sunday on Mookerjee's birth anniversary, he said: "Without Syama Prasad, Kashmir would have never been an integral part of India." "He was the only leader who said that two prime ministers, two constitutions, two flags cannot be in the country and with that sacrificed himself for Kashmir," Shah said."The entire credit for West Bengal being with India today goes to Syama Prasad and Swami Pranabanad," Shah said. "Unhone door dristi ke swath pure Bangal main ek Andolan chalaya, our jis Bang bhang ko Lord Curzon ne kya tha usko rokne ke liye pura desh ekatrit hua tha, wohi Bangal ka bibhajan hua aur Paschim Bangal bankar woh aaj Bharat ke saath juda hua hain. Yeh Dr Shyamaprasad Mukherjee ka uplabdhi hain," (He launched a movement across entire Bengal with farsightedness and the same Bengal Partition that Lord Curzon did, against which the entire country had come together, that Bengal was divided and it is now attached to India as West Bengal today. This is the achievement of Syama Prasad Mookerjee), he on the completion of four years of the union cooperative ministry, Shah said the central government has taken more than 60 initiatives in the past four years. "All these initiatives are based on the five Ps -- people, PACS, platform, policy and prosperity."Shah also launched the Multi State Co-operative body, Sardar Patel Cooperative Dairy Federation Limited.
India Gazette
06-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Entire country appreciates his thoughts and ideas," N Ramchander Rao pays tribute to Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 6 (ANI): Telangana BJP President N Ramchander Rao on Sunday paid floral tributes to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his 125th birth anniversary at the central hall of Samvidhan Sadan in Hyderabad. Rao praised Syama Prasad Mookerjee as the founder of the Jan Sangh and the architect of the 'one nation, one law' vision. He said the abrogation of Article 370 is a significant tribute to Mookerjee's nationalist ideals, which continue to inspire BJP workers and people across India. Speaking to ANI, N Ramchander Rao said, 'Syama Prasad Mookerjee is the founder of the Jan Sangh and laid the roadmap for 'one nation, one law.' Today, the entire country appreciates his thoughts and ideas. Therefore, the abrogation of Article 370 is a great tribute to him. Today, the workers of the BJP and the people of this country remember Syama Prasad Mookerjee for his nationalist views and ideas.' Syama Prasad Mookerjee was the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the ideological parent organisation of the BJP. Born on July 6, 1901, in Calcutta, was a multifaceted personality, patriot, educationist, parliamentarian, statesman, and humanitarian. He inherited a legacy of erudition and nationalism from his father, Sir Ashutosh Mookerjee, an esteemed Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University and Judge of the Calcutta High Court. In 1940, he became the acting President of the Hindu Mahasabha and declared complete independence for India as its political goal. Mookerjee resigned from the Bengal Cabinet in November 1942, protesting against the Governor's interference in administration and criticising provincial autonomy as ineffective. His humanitarian efforts during the Bengal famine of 1943, including relief initiatives, highlighted his commitment to serving society. Post-Independence, he joined the interim government under Jawaharlal Nehru as Minister for Industry and Supply, where he laid the foundation for India's industrial growth by establishing iconic institutions like the Chittaranjan Locomotive Factory, Sindri Fertiliser Corporation and Hindustan. However, ideological differences led to his resignation, after which he founded the All-India Bharatiya Jan Sangh (1951) to champion nationalist ideals. According to the BJP's official website, on the issue of the Delhi pact with Liaquat Ali Khan, Mookerjee resigned from the Cabinet on April 6, 1950. Later, on October 21, 1951, Mookerjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in Delhi and became its first president. Mookerjee went to visit Kashmir in 1953 and was arrested on May 11. He died under detention on June 23, 1953. (ANI)
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Party cadre is our main strength: BJP president
BJP Telangana president N. Ramchander Rao, on Sunday said the party cadre is the main strength of the party and exhorted them to join hands with him in strengthening the party from the booth level and help the organisation for the political battles ahead. 'We are a cadre-based party. Our party workers are known for their dedication, commitment and sacrifices. With the help of the cadre, the party would be galvanised to try to bring it in power in the next elections,' he said talking to the media after meeting and having tea at the house of Lalapet booth committee president Amarnath. Mr. Rao also planted saplings to commemorate the birth anniversary of Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mukherjee. Later, at the party office, he garlanded the portrait of the founder in the presence of Union Minister for Coal & Mines G. Kishan Reddy, party vice president G. Manohar Reddy, general secretary G. Premender Reddy and others. The party's slogan of — One Country, One Law, One Ration and One Election — should be effectively propagated for the sake of country's unity and integrity, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid the ultimate tribute to the founder by abrogating Article 370, which provided special status to Jammu & Kashmir. The founder leader's name will be etched in history for having opposed the concept of two Prime Ministers and two Constitutions for the country with regard special provisions of Article 370, he said. 'The party has been following the path shown by Syama Prasad Mukherjee as his life and times has been an 'inspiration' for all of us. Though he has had a suspicious death, the founder been a symbol of courage and sacrifice,' he said. Later, he participated in the Golconda 'Bonalu' festivities.
