The Leftist propaganda portal The Wire has once again exposed its grotesque disingenuousness by publishing a shamelessly revisionist article by Bangladeshi writer Ahmede Hussain, which distorts the bloody history of Partition and the genocide of Bengali Hindus under the fraudulent banner of “social justice” and “class struggle.”

Hussain’s piece is not just ahistorical; it is an insidious attempt to sanitize the religious fanaticism and ethnic cleansing that defined the creation of Pakistan, particularly in East Bengal. By framing the Pakistan Movement as some noble Marxist uprising against feudal oppression, he deliberately obscures the brutal reality: it was a movement steeped in Islamic majoritarianism, culminating in the mass slaughter of Hindus on Direct Action Day (16 August 1946) and the systemic extermination of Bengali Hindus during Partition.

The Big Lie: A “Class Struggle”?

Hussain’s argument hinges on the absurd claim that the demand for Pakistan in East Bengal was a “revolt” against zamindars and caste oppression, rather than a religiously motivated campaign for Muslim supremacy. This is Marxist sophistry at its worst.

The Nawab of Dhaka, Khwaja Nazimuddin, a feudal aristocrat and key architect of Partition, was no revolutionary fighting for the downtrodden. He was a wealthy elite who rallied Muslims under the banner of Islam to carve out a theocratic state.

Jogendra Nath Mandal, the Dalit leader Hussain selectively cites, was ultimately betrayed by the same Muslim League he supported. After Partition, Mandal fled Pakistan in 1950, disillusioned by the relentless persecution of Hindus and Dalits in the new Islamic state. His own experience demolishes Hussain’s fantasy of Pakistan as an egalitarian utopia.

Direct Action Day, orchestrated by Jinnah, was not a “class revolt” – it was a calculated pogrom where fanatic Muslim mobs, incited by the League, butchered Hindus in Calcutta and Noakhali. The violence was explicitly communal, not economic.

Even if we were to grant The Wire’s fantasy that Pakistan was born out of some egalitarian impulse, history laughs at the claim.

Land reforms collapsed.

Peasant poverty remained untouched.

Power was monopolized by the same feudal elites and religious aristocracy.

Minorities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Ahmadis, were persecuted, driven out, or reduced to second-class subjects.

What kind of “social justice” is it where minorities are slaughtered, and women are dishonored in the streets?

The Marxist Playbook: Weaponizing “Social Justice” to Erase Hindu Suffering

Partition was not a sterile chess game of classes. It was a blood-soaked jihad. Across Calcutta, Noakhali, Punjab, and Sindh, mobs marched under the Banner of the Prophet (rāyat al-`uqāb), shouting “Nara-e-Takbir, Allahu Akbar.” Hindus were forced at swordpoint to recite the kalma, eat beef, and watch their temples desecrated before being hacked down.

Direct Action Day (1946, Calcutta): Eyewitness Philip Talbot described bloated, mutilated bodies floating in the streets, women raped in front of families, children orphaned overnight. At least 4,000–10,000 were killed and 100,000 rendered homeless within 72 hours.

Noakhali (1946): Hindu homes looted, temples burnt, women abducted, mass forced conversions. At least 5,000 dead, thousands of women dishonored.

Moplah-led Massacre of Hindus (1921): Whitewashed as a “peasant revolt,” this was jihad in the rawest form. 2,500 Hindus butchered, tens of thousands displaced, women raped, temples razed. Mobs marched with the green Islamic flag, chanting Khilafat slogans, declaring jihad as their sacred duty. Gandhi called these jihadis “my brave Moplah brethren.”

Kashmir (1990): Echoes of the same slogans, “Raliv, Galiv, ya Chaliv” (convert, die, or flee), with Hindus driven out under threat of death and rape.

These were not “class wars.” These were religious pogroms, waged under the banner of faith, justified by promises of paradise for jihadists. To strip the violence of its religious character is to lie twice over: once about history, and again about the meaning of Hindu survival.

Hussain’s piece follows this sinister tradition, erasing Hindu victims while portraying their killers as oppressed revolutionaries. It is no coincidence that The Wire, a hub of Marxist-Leninist apologia, platformed this garbage. Their agenda is clear: demonize Hindu civilizational memory while absolving Islamist violence under the cover of “progressive” rhetoric.

Hypocrisy of Marxist Portals

The Wire and its ideological ilk never fail to expose their hypocrisy. They sermonise endlessly about “speaking truth to power,” yet they peddle narratives that excuse the worst atrocities against Hindus as “structural struggles.” They posture about “social justice” while justifying bloodshed carried out under religious banners. They weep crocodile tears for minorities everywhere, yet for the Hindu victims of Bengal, Malabar, or Kashmir, they have nothing but erasure and disdain.

When Hindus are slaughtered, the story becomes “class struggle.” When Hindus resist, the same portals deride it as “majoritarianism.” This double standard is not accidental. It is ideological warfare.

Civilizational Memory Cannot Be Erased

Sitaram Goel once warned of this very Marxist ploy: to recast Quran-ordained jihad as peasant uprising, to weaponize class struggle as a fig leaf for religious bigotry. That is exactly what Hussain’s essay attempts – and The Wire, ever eager to toe the Marxist line, happily amplifies it.

But history is not so easily rewritten. Civilizational memory runs deep. Hindus remember (and will continue to remember) the carnage of Direct Action Day. We remember the flight of millions of refugees from East Bengal. We remember the broken temples, the desecrated homes, the women who never came back.

And we refuse to let their sacrifice be trivialised by the sophistry of “class struggle.”

Ahmede Hussain and The Wire are just apologists for religious extremism, repackaging the Pakistan Movement’s butchery of Hindus as some noble “class struggle.”

Try telling that to the millions of Bengali Hindus slaughtered on Direct Action Day, or the families wiped out during Partition, the victims not of “feudal oppression,” but of Islamic majoritarianism. No Marxist jargon can whitewash the bloodstains of Noakhali, Calcutta, or the systemic cleansing of Hindus from East Bengal.

Hussain even forgot how his own people from East Bengali were massacred during Operation Searchlight in 1971 when the Pakistan Army and its allies perpetrated genocide against East Pakistanis, targeting Bengalis especially Hindus and intellectuals through mass killings, rape, and village destruction. Estimates of deaths range from 300,000 to 3,000,000, and hundreds of thousands of women were sexually assaulted. While Bengali Hindus were disproportionately affected, many Bengali Muslims were also killed, particularly those supporting independence or suspected of pro-liberation sympathies. The violence stemmed from efforts to suppress Bengali nationalism and identity, not just religious differences, making it one of modern history’s worst atrocities.

Partition in East Bengal was not a Marxist revolution; it was religious majoritarianism unchained, with Hindus as its primary victims. To call it anything else is not just bad history – it is moral depravity.

When Leftists whitewash jihad as ‘class struggle,’ they don’t just lie about the past. They arm the oppressors of the future.”

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The post The Wire’s Marxist Whitewash: How Bangladeshi Writer Ahmede Hussain Justifies Hindu Genocide In Bengal Under The Guise Of “Class Struggle” & “Social Justice” appeared first on The Commune.

In a candid conversation with Abhinandan Sekhri of leftist portal Newslaundry, activist and author Shehla Rashid shed light on her new book, Role Models: Inspiring Stories of Indian Muslim Achievers, which aims to challenge stereotypes about the Muslim community and highlight their potential for success in India. The book features stories of icons like music composer AR Rahman, tennis star Sania Mirza, ISRO scientist Nigar Shaji, and paraplegic swimmer Shams Aalam. However, Rashid’s perspective on India’s Partition and her critiques of Islamic separatism stood out as the highlight of the discussion.

The Islamic Lines Of Partition

In the promo video, Rashid is seen asking Sekhri, if India was divided on religious lines. Abhinandan replies in the affirmative. Shehla tells him, “No, it wasn’t. It was divided on Islamic lines.” – which leaves Sekhri shocked.

Rashid rejected the notion that India’s Partition was based purely on religious lines. Instead, she argued that it was rooted in Islamic lines, shaped by separatist ideologies that prioritized religious exclusivity. She explained how these ideologies created divisions by promoting the idea that Muslims could only thrive under Sharia rule. “We reduced ourselves to a minority based on ideologies that claimed Muslims could flourish only under Sharia, while evidence shows the contrary,” Rashid asserted.

Towards the end of this promo, @Shehla_Rashid says a very pertinent truth about the Partition of India. pic.twitter.com/ZNtt3luPB2

— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) December 5, 2024

Under Muslim vs. Secular Rule

Drawing comparisons, she pointed to how Muslim-majority nations have grappled with internal sectarian conflicts. For instance, Pakistan’s persecution of Shias and Ahmadis, and Bangladesh’s crackdown on Sufi practices, illustrate the complexities of defining “who is a Muslim” in states governed by Islamic principles. In contrast, she highlighted India’s secular framework, which allows Muslims the freedom to pray, dress, and live as they choose, fostering an environment where they can thrive.

A Missed Opportunity For Dialogue

Rashid expressed disappointment with the interview’s fixation on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that while she acknowledges his position as a leader for all Indians, the focus on him overshadowed broader discussions about the themes in her book. “We spent 1.5 hours fixated on Modi, but missed the chance to discuss critical issues like the Islamic basis of Partition and its implications for modern-day India,“ she remarked.

https://twitter.com/Shehla_Rashid/status/1864668820201206265

Rashid emphasized the need for honest introspection within the Muslim community about the lingering influence of separatist ideologies. She urged Muslims to recognize the freedoms they enjoy in a secular democracy like India, contrasting it with the restrictions and sectarian strife seen under Islamic rule.

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Prashant Pole’s book “Those 15 Days” takes readers on an eye-opening journey through the final days before India’s independence. The book vividly captures the chaos, political manoeuvres, and everyday struggles leading up to August 15, 1947. It also highlights the critical role of the RSS during this turbulent time, from protecting leaders to aiding families caught in the violence of partition. With rare photos and gripping details, Pole uncovers shocking truths about leaders and the ground-level horrors of partition, offering a fresh perspective on this pivotal moment in history. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to learn about the real stories behind India’s fight for freedom.

Why Is It An Important Read?

One of the most controversial, yet revered figures from world history, Sir Winston Churchill, famously said, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. History serves as a living witness to the realities and brutalities of the past. As a country proceeds down the path of technological evolution and overall upliftment of the wide populace, it becomes imperative that we study our history and derive lessons from it. For if one fails to understand the psyche and psychological factors that impact a society, as Churchill said, we will repeat the same old story. Indian Independence is well documented by many luminaries, nationally and internationally.

However, one does grapple with a question: What exactly was happening on the ground in the run-up to the main day i.e. 15 August 1947? What were the country’s leaders, political or otherwise, involved in? What were the issues being faced by the common people?

Prashant Pole effectively answers such questions in “Those 15 Days.” It was originally written in Marathi as a series of articles (later published as a book titled Veh Pandrah Divas) and translated to English and nine other languages.

This book details the 15 days from the start of August, culminating with the declaration of Indian Independence on the 15th. It vividly describes the political machinations and shocking ground realities across the complete spectrum of undivided India.

Prashant Pole Highlights the Role of RSS During Partition

Prashant Pole has made a wonderful effort to provide a balanced perspective with a critical view of the incidents of those 15 days. This fulfils a need to rewrite history with strict objectivity, a requirement that is perhaps the need of the hour. Pole is a journalist, who is also associated with RSS. The book outlines the RSS’s efforts during the partition, and their response to those harsh ground realities.

His earlier book “Treasure Trove of Indian Knowledge” was a fantastic read with very deep insights into the rich cultural and scientific history of Bharatha. Considering such a rich background, this book had set some very high expectations, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that it achieves much more than what was set.

The book opens with a beautiful and illuminating foreword by Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe. His articulation of the subject and the author’s efforts in sketching out a picture in front of the reader is exemplary. Apart from the deeply researched and widely referenced materials, the book also benefits from rare photographs and news articles. These augment the reading experience by enabling the user to connect the dots with the incidents being described – definitely, one of the book’s highlights.

What Happened During Those 15 Days?

As the title suggests, the book outlines the events and incidents occurring from 1 to 15 August 1947. It details the critical events across the undivided country comprising Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. During this informative and sometimes disturbing journey, the author provides some fascinating information that provides a fresh understanding of modern geopolitical realities.

The handing over of Gilgit province to the Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, on 1 August 1947 is one such incident detailed in the book. The demographical make-up of these various military and paramilitary forces and the subsequent challenges multiple entities face during the coming days make for a horrifying read.

Pole’s keen eye for detail is reflected in a refined manner at various junctures of the book. In a specific scenario where the situation is turning grim considering the impact of Sir Cyril Radcliffe’s announcement on the line of partition, the author takes a moment to highlight that Mandi, a village that was caught in the crosshairs of the conflict, is actually named after Sage Manu.

The read becomes emotionally challenging and draining as we get closer to 15 August. The petrifying tales of women being carried out as trophies, multiple rapes, and murders do evoke deep pain within oneself. During these challenging times, the conduct of some of the leaders of international repute is quite startling.

Congress During The Partition

One of the astonishing incidents was Mahatma Gandhi’s refusal to visit the Wah refugee camp. One can only speculate on the future if he had visited the same.

Some other incidents make for interesting and, quite frankly, astonishing reads. Lahore being the base of Motilal Banarasidas (famous publisher), Jawaharlal Nehru’s acquiescence to Lord Mountbatten’s request to fly the Union Jack on specific days even after the independence are some of the thought-provoking incidents. However, a more surprising one is related to Jawaharlal Nehru’s rally in Hyderabad (within Pakistan). It is quite revealing to note that RSS provided security for the national leader at the behest of INC. Perhaps it is an incident that has washed away throughout history and time.

Adversity brings out the character of humans and, more specifically, the leaders. An ordinary man would look up to the leaders during turmoil and generational adversity. However, the book reveals some very shocking incidents. It will make us ponder: Do we really know the reality of the past?

An example would be the suggestion to “… face death along with dying Lahore rather than flee and save one’s lives”.  In another case, Sucheta Kripalani, wife of Congress president J. B. Kripalani, guilt trips the women by stating that “… they wear low neck blouses and transparent sarees that attracted the goons. Hence, they should consider the age-old Rajput practice of Jauhar”.

Reading such horrifying realities at various junctures in the book is mind-numbing. One can only wonder, what more is left to be discovered and brought in front of the world.

Secrets Unveiled By ‘Those 15 days’

The author reveals appeasement in the form of fear of retaliation to Direct Action Day. While Calcutta transitions from a raging fire to an uneasy calm, the underlying simmering anger is palpable with the slogans against Mahatma Gandhi. This is not a one-off incident but a part of a series of such episodes across history. The hatred towards Subash Chandra Bose’s INA is obvious as the government refused to release INA political prisoners on the eve of Independence.

The book highlights the selfless and courageous service rendered by Swayamsevaks across the borders during these tumultuous times. Whether it is to provide security to Nehru or Guruji during his visit to Sindh or to ensure the safety of every Hindu and Sikh family across the border, the Sangh’s dedication towards the nation and the common populace is quite well highlighted with relevant details and events.  The book ends with the August 14th and 15th events in the two new nations carved out of undivided India. T

The picture of the Times of India article is stimulating.

The book also brings out some of the darkest times of our past. The mass murders of people arriving on trains, the rapes and taking away women as ‘war trophies’, the murders of Nihang Sikhs guarding a Gurudwara make for a blood-curling, deeply drenching read. When the reader envisions these incidents, the horrifying nature of the same is definite to shake the core fundamentals of a being.

To summarise the book review, Prashant Pole’s ‘Those 15 Days’ is a disconcerting read about one of the darkest episodes of our history. It is highly recommended.

Gee Vee is an engineer and avid fan of itihasas, puranas and books.

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The post Book Review: “Those 15 Days” By Prashant Pole – A Revealing Look At India’s Path To Independence appeared first on The Commune.

Prashant Pole is a man of fascinating contrasts – an engineer by training who harbours a deep passion for history. His journey from leading research and development in electronics to becoming a successful IT consultant might seem far removed from the world of historical research. Yet, precisely this unique background brings a fresh perspective to his exploration of India’s past.

Pole’s approach to history is marked by an unwavering commitment to uncovering the “real history” – events and narratives that have been overlooked or misrepresented in mainstream accounts. His most notable work, “Those 15 Days,” delves into the critical period leading up to India’s independence with meticulous detail and a quest for factual accuracy that borders on obsession.

As we delve into Pole’s thoughts on history, technology, and India’s future, we get a glimpse of a mind that constantly seeks connections between the past and the present, always with an eye towards building a stronger future for his beloved Bharat. Read on.

The Commune: Could you share a bit about your professional background?

Prashant Pole: Certainly! I started as an engineer and have held various positions across multiple sectors. Early in my career, I led research and development at Maharashtra Electronics Development Corporation (Meltron). Afterward, I worked with several corporate and multinational companies. At one point, I served as Vice President of an Indo-American joint project. Eventually, I ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing my own IT consultancy and company. Today, I primarily focus on consulting for telecom and IT companies, as well as providing IT solutions for several cooperative banks.

The Commune: As a technologist, what sparked your interest in history?

Prashant Pole: History has always been a passion of mine, even from a young age. I grew up reading a lot of historical books, mainly in Marathi and Hindi. While my career is rooted in technology, my fascination with history never waned. When I began writing, I realized many aspects of history haven’t been fully revealed or understood—what I call the “real history.” My interest lies in uncovering what truly happened, supported by references and actual facts. This quest for truth has heavily influenced the content of most of the books I’ve written, which are largely based on historical events.

The Commune: What inspired you to focus on “Those 15 Days” as a topic?

Prashant Pole: It all began around 1990 or 1991 when I started writing a small piece about the partition of India during Independence Day. As I delved into it, I realized there was so much about the partition that I didn’t know, which was surprising given the magnitude of the event. It’s a unique and tragic moment in world history—1.5 million people lost their lives, and over 120 million were displaced, leaving behind their homes, fields, and everything they knew. The lack of detailed information about such a significant event intrigued me, so I started researching more deeply. I discovered that by focusing on the last 15 days leading up to independence, from 1 August to 15 August 1947, we could truly understand the decisions and actions of the leaders of that time. Capturing those crucial days, factually and pictorially without injecting personal opinions, would allow readers to see the reality of who we entrusted with our nation. That’s how the concept of “Those 15 Days” was born.

The Commune: You initially published “Those 15 Days” as a series of articles. What made you decide to turn it into a book?

Prashant Pole: The series originally appeared in a Marathi magazine called Ekata, which was published in Pune. Every month, a new episode covering one day from those 15 critical days leading up to Independence was published, and the readers began to engage with it. Their positive feedback encouraged me to explore the idea further.

Some friends suggested releasing the series on social media during the first half of August, and the response was overwhelming—it went viral quickly. I shared it in both Marathi and Hindi, which expanded its reach even further. Seeing its success, my publisher, who had previously published my book Treasure Trove of Indian Knowledge (Bharatiya Gyan Ka Khajana), proposed turning the series into a full book. That’s how the book Veh Pandra Din came to be in Hindi, Those 15 Days in English, and Veh Pandra Divas in Marathi. Initially, it was published in these three languages, and today, it’s available in nine languages.

The Commune: In India, where there is no shortage of secular sources, how challenging was it to conduct research for your book?

Prashant Pole: That’s a very insightful question. When I had the concept for the book in mind, I knew the research would be challenging, but I didn’t anticipate just how difficult it would be to find reliable references. Most of the sources I encountered were either heavily biased, written with a non-historical, secular perspective, or overly emotional, lacking in factual accuracy. This made it incredibly hard to find authentic, factual references.

As I delved deeper into my research, I realized that many references available online, even on reputable platforms like Google, were incorrect. This meant that every single reference I used in the book had to be meticulously cross-checked. I can confidently say that every event and incident mentioned in the book is based on fact—there is absolutely no fiction involved. The process was long and painstaking; it took me over 10 to 15 years of research to write this book. In the final two years before I began writing, I immersed myself completely in that era. I even started thinking in terms of miles instead of kilometers, and I consulted historical records like the Panchang to ensure every detail was accurate. For example, if I mention that the sunrise on a particular day was at 6:17 AM, you can be certain that it was exactly at that time on that day. I took all possible precautions to ensure the historical accuracy of every detail in the book.

The Commune: You’ve provided a very vivid description of events in “Those 15 Days.” Can you elaborate on how you gathered and verified the details?

Prashant Pole: Absolutely. I made it a point to gather all the relevant information to accurately describe each incident or event in the book. Everything I’ve written is backed by solid proof, whether it’s testimonials or reliable references. For example, one significant event I highlighted was the visit of Lakshmibai Kelkar, the then Pramukh Sanchalika of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, to Karachi on the very day Pakistan was born. This event hasn’t been properly acknowledged in our history.

Today, we often discuss women’s empowerment but imagine the courage it took 78 years ago for a woman to visit Karachi, which had just become the capital of Pakistan amidst widespread riots. It was an incredibly dangerous time, especially for women, given the circumstances we’re all aware of. Yet, Lakshmibai Kelkar had the bravery and confidence to go there, hold a meeting, and inspire the women of that time. This kind of courage should be highlighted and celebrated.

Similarly, the work that the RSS did during the partition was remarkable. Many RSS swayamsevaks sacrificed their lives to save others, and yet, this is not widely known. The RSS never seeks credit for these actions, but that doesn’t mean others shouldn’t recognize and talk about these sacrifices. The contributions made during those unstable days deserve acknowledgment and appreciation.

The Commune: What are your favorite topics to research and write about, and why?

Prashant Pole: As I mentioned earlier, I’m passionate about uncovering the actual history that often gets overlooked or misrepresented. One of my favorite areas of study is the Bhartiya Gyana Parampara – the Indian Knowledge System (IKS), as it’s commonly called these days. I spend a lot of time working on this because it represents a vast and rich tradition that’s crucial to understanding our heritage.

Additionally, I focus on various historical topics where the real story hasn’t been fully told. Much of what we’ve learned in schools and colleges has been distorted. I believe it’s essential for people to know the true history, backed by proper facts and figures. This drive to bring the authentic narrative to light is what I find most fulfilling and what I consider my favorite subject to explore.

The Commune: What lessons should modern-day Bharat learn from the events described in Those 15 Days, especially considering the current situation in Bangladesh?

Prashant Pole: This is an important question. When we reflect on the partition, we must ask if it was truly necessary. The answer is no. The partition was not inevitable but was largely the result of the Congress leadership surrendering to the demands of the Muslim League, particularly after the Direct Action Day and the horrific massacres that followed in Bengal and Noakhali in August 1946. Congress, at that time, failed to stand firm against these violent tactics, leading to the eventual partition.

Looking at today’s scenario, Pakistan is a fragile state, teetering on the edge of dysfunction. If it weren’t for China’s support, regions like Balochistan might already have gained independence. The creation of Pakistan was fundamentally flawed because it was not a country born out of logical reasoning but rather out of religious division. The fact that Bangladesh broke away from Pakistan in 1971 further underscores that religion alone cannot hold a nation together.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar argued that partition might be necessary because he believed Hindus and Muslims were too different to coexist peacefully. However, he also insisted that if partition were to happen, all Hindus should migrate to India, and all Muslims should move to Pakistan. This migration did not occur as envisioned, leading to the ongoing persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, as seen historically in 1947, during the 1971 war, and even now in 2024.

Today, we see that while the Hindu population in Pakistan and Bangladesh has dwindled drastically, the Muslim population in India has increased. This raises questions about the long-term stability of these regions. The lesson for Bharat today is clear: those who prioritize the nation must unite strongly. For India to remain strong and stable, Hindus must come together, ensuring that the country is fortified against internal and external challenges.

The Commune: What’s next on your agenda? What are you working on now?

Prashant Pole: I’m currently working on two books. The first is the second part of the Treasure Trove of Indian Knowledge (Bhartiya Gyan Ka Khajana). The first part of this book has been quite popular and is available in Marathi, Gujarati, Hindi, and English. The second part will also be released in these four languages soon.

My other project is a book titled Changing Bharat – Badalta Bharat. This book will also be available in the same four languages. In Badalta Bharat, I’m exploring the journey of India, from its glorious past to the challenges it faced due to invasions by Muslims and British colonizers. Despite the setbacks post-independence, we missed many opportunities, but in the last five to ten years, our country has been progressing rapidly. India is rediscovering its identity, and if we continue on this path, we’ll become a very strong nation in the world. That’s the essence of Badalta Bharat.

The Tamil translation of Vo Pandrah Din, Andha 15 Naatkal is available for purchase at the Vijayabharatham Prasuram website.

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The post Forging A United Future: Prashant Pole Speaks To The Commune On Why India’s Strength & Stability Depends On Hindu Unity appeared first on The Commune.

Andha 15 Naatkal – the Tamil translation of author Prashant Pole’s significant historical work, “Those 15 Days,” will be officially launched at a special event hosted by the Vigil Forum in Chennai on Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.

The book, titled “அந்த 15 நாட்கள்” in Tamil, sheds light on the dark and bloody days leading up to India’s independence, particularly focusing on the atrocities faced by Hindus and Sikhs during partition.

The launch event is scheduled for 7:00 PM on 14 August 2024 at the KRS Auditorium, Meenakshi College for Women, Kodambakkam High Road, Chennai. Former Rajya Sabha MP and senior journalist Balbir Punj will attend.

Prashant Pole’s book vividly brings to life the horrors experienced in regions like Hyderabad, often overshadowed by the brutalities in East and West Pakistan. The book is available for Hindi readers as ‘Ve Pandraha Din’.

‘Andha 15 Naatkal’ serves not only as a historical account but also as a cautionary tale, reminding readers of the continuing relevance of these events in light of current developments in neighbouring countries like Bangladesh.

Focus of ‘Andha 15 Naatkal’

The book sheds light on the crucial period leading up to India’s independence on August 15, 1947. It reveals lesser-known events and the actions of leaders from 1 August to 15 August 1947, focusing on the joy of independence intertwined with the sorrow and fear of partition. ‘Andha 15 Naatkal’ highlights the intense atmosphere in regions like Lahore and Karachi, where Hindus and Sikhs faced severe persecution, with no political party stepping in to protect them.

The author emphasises the role of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), particularly its leader Guru Golwalkar, who visited Sindh in early August to support and organise Hindus and Sikhs amidst widespread violence. Despite the Congress’s surrender to the Muslim League, Golwalkar encouraged unity and resilience among Hindus.

The book argues that partition, driven by religious division, led to the tragic dismemberment of India. It calls attention to the ongoing decline of Hindu populations in Pakistan and Bangladesh, urging Indians to remain vigilant about the lessons of partition to protect the nation’s unity and sovereignty.

This translation will allow Tamil readers to engage with a critical part of India’s history, ensuring that the lessons from those harrowing 15 days are not forgotten.

The event will also hear a first-hand account of the horrors of partition by Balbir Punj. This event offers a rare glimpse into the trauma and resilience of that time.

Pre-registration for the event is mandatory and interested people can register to attend using the link – https://tinyurl.com/46862we9

VIGIL

VIGIL, a public forum for discussions and public dialogue, was an initiative of various public-spirited citizens of Chennai and was active from the 1990s until 2010. Various intellectuals and luminaries, like Swami Dayananda Saraswati, have graced VIGIL occasions.

Partition Horrors Remembrance Day

In 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the 14th of August will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. This day is dedicated in memory of the millions of people who were displaced and killed due to mindless hate and violence during the partition of India in 1947.

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We got our freedom in midnight. It has taken seven long decades for the dawn to arrive. All along we had been kept in the dark on many vital events in our history. We had been fed with cock and bull stories in our books and were ineluctably tutored to treat them as true! One such incident is the most important event that occurred in the midnight of 15th August 1947.

What Our Books Say

Our textbooks are designed to make us believe that we got freedom without a single drop of blood, through the unique weapon of ‘Ahimsa’ of Mahatma Gandhi and that the British gracefully left our land with lot of benefits like transport, communication, administrative structure, everything in tact with full of bonhomie feelings, analogous to some Chandamama story. Nehru made his famous speech, ‘Tryst with destiny’. Constituent Assembly was formed. A brief mention will be made about partition. The student will be under the impression that Mahatma Gandhi and Chacha Nehru were the main architects who got us freedom and some passing mention will also be made about Patel, Rajaji and a few other leaders as minor characters.

But is it so? Let us look deeper and find out the real face of the British, how we actually got our freedom and who were the forgotten heroes deserving major portion of credit.

The True Face Of The British

It is an elementary fact that, in history, no country would voluntarily cede control of another one, especially when it is looting our entire wealth in broad daylight without any limit. And, looking into bitter past experience, to credit that notorious British aggressor with any modicum of magnanimity in abnegating power and pulling out will be absolutely farcical.

Here are a few exegetical facts exposing their true colours:

The primary purpose of their onslaught was plunder and pillage of prodigious precious resources, making the natives poorer by the day as also to destroy our hoary heritage and surreptitiously spread their Abrahamic faith on the innocent masses. Historical data reveal that India was the richest nation two millennia ago. During 1st CE, it was peaking around 30% of world GDP with China as the second and the western nations at the extreme bottom. Even after the advent of the Moghuls, it continued to be an economic giant with as high as 25% till 1700 CE. But, the British wiped out the entire riches of our nation, as a result of which, when they left, it drastically dropped to a dismal, decimal percentage in a span of 200 years. They literally killed all our indigenous industries, took raw materials from us free of cost and forced their inferior finished products on us at extremely exorbitant prices.

A grisly gruesome instance indelibly imprinted in history was their creation and mishandling of the Bengal famine in 1943.

It is said that during the Second World War, Hitler killed as many as seven million Jews and he is regarded as the most devilish person of the twentieth century. But the ghastly genocide by the British government in India due to hunger and starvation claiming about thirty million lives is no match for Hitler in barbarism and brutality. The British always adopted a ruthless economic policy towards India. Under the British Raj, India suffered countless famines. The first of these famines started in 1770, followed by severe ones in 1783, 1866, 1873, 1892, 1897 and lastly, the biggest in 1943-44. Instead of taking efforts to alleviate the distress, they aggravated it further by diverting food grains to Britain’s war front and preventing supply from outside through their ‘Boat denial policy’.

A specious argument put forth by their protagonists is that they built infrastructure like railways, communication, administrative machinery etc. and left them in tact for our benefit. Also, they modernised our education system, taught us English language and sciences. The plain fact is that the infrastructure built by them was essentially and exclusively for facilitating their brazen loot and dumping their inferior products on us.

As regards education, it is nothing else than a myth, an outright lie. The existence of a splendid system of our native education, catering to all sections of the society, prior to the advent of colonial rule has been, after thorough research, discovered and recorded in the book, ‘The Beautiful Tree’ by the great Gandhian thinker, historian and political philosopher, Dharampal. That system was demolished by Macaulay, with the connivance of his native coteries, to hasten the process of imposing their language and culture on us and instill in us a lifelong inferiority feeling.

Now, comes the crucial moment. They had decided to give freedom. Or, to put it in the right perspective, they were forced to flee from the fury of the entire nation. But, they did not want us to live peacefully after their exit. Their sinister idea was to create chaos, conflict, confrontation, creating several tiny dominions which will always be fighting with each other, stifling progress, resulting in stagnation and starvation. What a crooked, crafty, criminal mentality! Accordingly, in May 1947, Mountbatten proposed one ‘Dickie Bird Plan’, which envisaged in effect balkanisation of the country into many independent successor states, providing them a choice to join the constituent assembly or remain a separate sovereign unit. Since it was vehemently objected to ab initio, he modified it in June, with the creation of two nations, India and Pakistan. Before leaving our soil, as a Parthian shot, they planted their stooges in every field of governance who continued their abominable agenda for several decades, a few remnants of which are still lingering even today, stifling our progress and putting spokes at every step of development. This had been their regular loathsome pattern in history wherever they have ruled.

How Bharat Was Partitioned Into India and Pakistan

In fact, the seeds of partition were sown by the British, immediately after the 1857 revolt itself, when, to their shock and dismay, they discovered the solid rock-like unity between the Hindus and Muslims during that crucial time. They vowed that this would not happen again. “Divide et impera” [Divide and Rule] was an old Roman maxim, and it shall be ours”, wrote Lord Elphinstone. A systematic policy of fomenting separate consciousness among the two communities was launched, with overt British sponsorship. When restricted franchise was grudgingly granted to Indians, the British created separate communal electorates, so that Muslim voters could vote for Muslim candidates for Muslim seats. The seeds of division were thus sown quite early which grew into a tumultuous behemoth in 1947.

The climax of the tragedy was that, Mountbatten, got the assistance of one Radcliffe who has never set foot in India earlier, to prepare the map of demarcation of Bengal and Punjab. Worse still, the map was deliberately kept secret till two days before partition, as a result of which, there was a mayhem of hindus and muslims crossing the border in a frantic, frenzied fashion, with furious masses from each side pouncing brutally on each other like beasts of prey killing around twenty lacs of people on both sides. The bloodbath of partition also left the two nations deeply scarred by anguish, angst, alienation and animus.

Historian Stanley Wolpert writes in “Shameful Flight,” Mountbatten kept the partition maps a closely guarded secret, as he did not want the festivities of British transfer of power to be marred or distracted.
“What a glorious charade of British Imperial largesse and power ‘peacefully’ transferred,” laments Wolpert as he commented the possible implications of Mountbatten’s hubris. By botching the administration of partition in 1947 and leaving critical elements unfinished, including, most disastrously, the still unfinished resolution to Jammu and Kashmir, Mountbatten’s partition plan left the fate of Kashmir undecided.

He thus bestowed a legacy of acrimony on India and Pakistan.

What Made The British Withdraw

Before the World War II, they had no idea of granting independence even in their dreams, since they had all along been liberally looting us and were able to suppress any sporadic struggle in many parts of the country by various chieftains. The first war of independence in1857 was on a larger scale which was also managed by them successfully. The 1942 Quit India Movement did not result in any significant impact, necessitating their exit. But, after the Second World War, the situation changed drastically.

The British were exhausted at the sheer cost and energy expended during the six years of war, when they were terrorised by German bombings, with sporadic defeats at various fronts and large number of their soldiers taken as prisoners. Britain was crippled by power cuts and factory closures and their economy was broken. They were no longer the indomitable giants, capable of dictating the world.

The mutiny of the Royal Indian Navy on 18th February 1946 was a momentous event. It spread rapidly and could not be contained easily. The INA trials, the stories of Subhas Chandra Bose as well as the stories of INA’s fight during the Siege of Imphal and in Burma were seeping into the glaring public-eye at the time. These, received through the wireless sets and the media, fed discontent and ultimately inspired the sailors to strike. The aggressor learnt the bitterest truth that they can no longer continue to enforce their authority over us. They were waiting for the earliest opportunity to leave the country with some semblance of dignity.

The Forgotten Heroes

Here are a few random names. We can find out how many of them and how much of each of them are known to us when juxtaposed with the familiar frequent names that our history books repeatedly force on us:

Puli Thevar, Alagumuthukone, Maruthu Pandiyar, Rani Velu Nachiar, Vennikkaladi, Ondiveeran, Pazhassi Raja, Matangini Hazra, Aruna Asaf Ali, Bhikaji Cama, Peer Ali Khan, Master Da’ Surya Sen, The Trio Of Benoy, Badal & Dinesh, Tirupur Kumaran, Subramania Siva, Vanchinathan, Tirot Sing, Parbati Giri, Surendra Sai, MNR Subbaraman, Khudiram Bose, Madanlal Dhinghra, Baji Rout.

The above are only a few names. If we scan through this link, we can see hundreds and hundreds of unsung heroes, most of them hailing from the lower strata of the society, who have rendered selfless sacrifices, losing in the holy pursuit, their livelihood, life and limb.

Many of them are youngsters, bread-winners for their respective families. Most of their episodes will be awesome, astonishing to the extent of being unbelievable.

For instance, here are a few facts about the last two in the list. Madanlal Dhinghra had the guts to go to Britain and shoot dead Curzon Wyllie an anti-Indian officer of the British regime. Madanlal said, “I wish that English people should sentence me to death, for in that case the vengeance of my countrymen will be all the more keen.” While he was being removed from the court, he said to the Chief Justice, “Thank you, my Lord. I don’t care. I am proud to have the honour of laying down my life for the cause of my motherland.”

The last mentioned Baji Rout was the youngest freedom fighter. He was shot by the Britishers when he was only 12 years old. And the crime he committed was that, believe it or not, he refused to ferry boats for British police across the Brahmani River back in 1938! What barbarous, brutal beasts!

Our Duty

Is it not our bounden duty to remember and pay our respects to all those martyrs? The most fitting way to honour them is only to dedicate ourselves and strive for restoring the glory and grandeur of our motherland for which goal they relentlessly toiled and sacrificed everything in their life. In fact, earlier, we had only one enemy but today, we are burdened with number of anti-national elements, locally and abroad, in different hues, manifest as well as masked. They are dispersed in multifarious fields like politics, media, administration, charity, social service, public activism, arts etc. Now, when we are trying to correct the past errors and proceed towards progress, they block every step and create bottlenecks, by spreading false propaganda and inciting people to fight. Our earnest efforts, therefore should be to expose their sinister designs, enlighten the masses, erase their influence and eliminate them from entering into public domain so that our nation marches forward towards eminence and excellence.

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Father Jegath Gaspar Raj, a Catholic priest close to the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu has issued a clarion call instigating Muslims to demand a separate electorate and a separate sovereign territory apart from taking help from ‘external forces’ to protect themselves.

Speaking at a protest meeting organized against Agnipath scheme in Chennai under the banner of the Social Activists Forum (Samooga Seyarpattalargal Kootiyakkam), Jegath Gaspar said that Muslims and ‘Adikudis’ (referring to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) should send shivers to the Centre by demanding a separate electorate and sovereign land.

He said “India as a country was formed as a republic on the basis of the Constitution. Only till it functions as per the Constitution, we should show allegiance to it. Once it has gone into the hands of RSS, and if RSS will rule this country, we’re not ready to submit to them and we never will.”

Father Jagath Casper also instigated them to defy the Constitution and take the help of Muslim Brotherhood to save themselves.

“There is no mandate that we’ve to live by laws that has been framed by RSS people. We’ve to be strong in that. To defy them we can take help from anyone in the world. We should not take help from other countries as per the Indian Constitution. But if that Constitution is being attacked by RSS, it is not anti-national to take help from other countries. They will call you “desh droh, desh droh” (anti-national). Don’t believe that. To protect this country from these terrorists, you’ve to consider taking the help of anyone!”, he said.

This is being interpreted as Father Jagath Caspar asking Muslims to take the help of Pakistan and other Muslim countries like Turkey to bring the country to its knees.

Jegath Gasper also took a dig at the Congress party saying that the party used to be the ‘rental accommodation’ for the RSS who have now vacated it after they built an ‘own house’ (BJP) for themselves.

“Congress is necessary today and is a very important party to uphold democracy but there is no denying fact that it was the ‘rented house’ for RSS and even today there are people within the party who are renting it.”, he said.

Interestingly, Tamil Nadu Congress leader Sasikanth Senthi too was there in the meeting.

He also went on to call RSS as a ‘terrorist organization’ and urged people to call it so.

“RSS is a terrorist organization. Bajrang Dal is a terrorist organization. Vishwa Hindu Parishad is a terrorist organization. Keep calling them as terrorist organizations. There are 57 Islamic nations. Go to those 57 Islamic countries and take their help to raise the matter in the United Nations about this. These are ‘soft terror’ organizations. ‘Soft terror’ is more dangerous than ‘open terror’.”, the Christian evangelist said.

He also asked Muslims and Scheduled Caste (SC) people to join hands and ask for a separate electorate and a sovereign land.

“If both Muslims and ‘Adikudis’ join, you will make up 42% of the population. I am telling openly, I am neither an Adikudi nor a Muslim. If both these communities come together and tell the government, ‘We are 40%. For SC/ST, as a token you have given 10-11 ministers, but not a single cabinet minister. Just a token posting they have given. If you are 40%, you ask for a 40% of the land. There is nothing wrong. We’ll live peacefully. ” Jegath Gaspar Raj said.

“Even if Muslims demand 20% land, you will land to size of Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Telangana and Karnataka. We have no place in Parliament. We have no place in judiciary. So give us 20% land. If not any place, give us Sahara desert. You can tell them that.”, he said.

“Atleast as a bare minimum, demand for a separate electorate, they will start trembling. Every party will start trembling. I urge you to ask for separate electorate. Gandhi cheated Ambedkar back in the day. Had Ambedkar not yielded to the emotional blackmail of Gandhi, India’s story would have been different.”, the notorious Christian priest said.

Advocating a second Partition of India pic.twitter.com/rwuHTAImuO

— Suren (@zeneraalstuff) June 21, 2022

About Father Jegath Gasper Raj

Catholic priest Father Jegath Gaspar Raj is officially referred in US crime records as ‘Gaspar Raj Maria Paulian’ as per reports. He is charged for involving in multiple criminal activities in support of LTTE. He was reportedly arrested by the FBI in US on charges of fund-raising for LTTE and bribing a US State Official to remove LTTE from the list of blacklisted organisations in 2006.

Jegath Gasper Raj runs a dubious NGO called Tamil Maiyam which has been interfering in the Keezhadi excavations in a bid to establish the notion of “Dravidian civilization”, meant to serve as a fodder for separatism.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (14 August) declared that from here on forth, 14th August will now be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day in memory of the millions of people displaced and all those who lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence during the partition of India in 1947.

“Partition’s pains can never be forgotten. Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. In memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, 14th August will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day,” PM Modi said in a tweet.

Partition’s pains can never be forgotten. Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. In memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, 14th August will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 14, 2021

“May the #PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay keep reminding us of the need to remove the poison of social divisions, disharmony and further strengthen the spirit of oneness, social harmony and human empowerment,” he added.

According to historians, the partition of India along religious lines displaced some 20 million people when Pakistan was created for Muslims. This division of a nation purely based on religion, though India chose to remain pluralistic, created an overwhelming refugee crisis.

The partition led to large-scale violence and as per varying estimates, nearly two million lost their lives. Now by declaring 14 August as ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’ – the same day which the Islamic Republic of Pakistan celebrates as its Independence Day – India has sent a very strong message as to why a nation must never be divided.

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