CALCUTTA RIOT:- 16/08/1946

On Memory of the Hindus died in the RIOT, and

WITH A SALUTE TO GOPAL PATHA

SARASIJ MAJUMDER

The Muslim League Council proclaimed 16^th August 1946 as ‘Direct Action Day’ in order to accentuate their demand for a separate Muslim homeland after the CABINET COMMISSION FAILED. MUSLIM LEAGUE, and its leader M.A. JINNAH’s only one aim was to divide INDIA, and attain a new MUSLIM country called PAKISTAN.

In 1946, Suhrawardy led the BPML to decisively win the provincial general election. He served as Bengal's last premier until the Partition of India. His premiership was infamous for his fiery speeches to ignite Muslims, and create a Free State of Bengal which led to the Great Calcutta Killings, on call of “DIRECT ACTION DAY” by Jinnah.

Here, we have to understand the POLITICAL DYNAMICS in INDIA, of that period: -

1.0   BRITISHERS decided to leave INDIA at any COST. And they were not keen to invest time, and resources in administrating the country.

2.0   There were only TWO LEADERS with considerable mass appeal—-one: Netaji, and the other: - Gandhiji.

3.0   Netaji left INDIA, and his fight with BRITISH using INA couldn’t meet the primary objective, and his whereabout is unknown. Gandhiji, is pursuing a personal path to glorify himself as a SAINT of that century—later proved to be in vain.

4.0   Mr. Nehru was ambitious, and wanted to be PRIME MINISTER of- even SEGMENTED INDIA, at any cost, and start his Dynastic Rule.

5.0   JINNAH was an equally ambitious man, and wanted PAKISTAN, even at the cost of LARGE-SCALE HINDU-MUSLIM RIOT, for which the preparation was complete with ARMS, and MUSLIM Volunteers. Arms were stored in MOSQUES, and MADRASAS.

6.0   NON-VIOLENCE path of GANDHIJI mostly reduced HINDUS’ martial spirit, and they are fit for GOATS to be slaughtered, which was partly correct- and MUSLIM leaders banked on this.

Muslim League’s most evil action plan for CALCUTTA: --

Bengal’s eastern part had a majority of the Muslim population, but this area was industrially backward, as most of the factories were located in and around Calcutta, Howrah, and nearby areas in western part of Bengal. All Jute mills were located near Calcutta, and whole of this area was Hindu-majority. People from neighbouring regions like Odisha and Bihar worked as work force in these factories.

Jinnah and Muslim League understood the importance of this area and they knew that if Pakistan had to become a powerful nation, it could not have done so without assimilating these industries. It was decided to make these areas Muslim majority by a Jihadi action calling a ‘Direct Action Day’.

Muslim League and Jinnah have decided to create mayhem in the name of religion, they stoked the religious sentiments of Muslims in the name of Islam. It was the month of Ramzan and the wars of early Muslims against non-Muslims were used to draw a parallel with prevalent conditions. The 13 August 1946 issue of Muslim League mouthpiece The Star of India, said “Muslims must remember that … it was in Ramazan that the permission for jehad was granted by Allah. It was in Ramazan that the Battle of Badr, the first open conflict between Islam and Heathenism, was fought and won by 313 Muslims and again it was in Ramazan that 10,000 Muslims under the Holy Prophet conquered Mecca and established the kingdom of Heaven and the commonwealth of Islam in Arabia. The Muslim League is fortunate that it is starting its action in this holy month.”

The plan was to re-enact the Battle of Badr, which has taken place on the 18th of Ramzan. Syed Muhammad Usman, the then-mayor of Calcutta, published a leaflet that said: Kafer! Toder bodher air Deri nei! Sarbic hotya hobe! (Hindus! Your destruction is not far away! You will be massacred!).

What happened on Direct Action Day?

The violence erupted even before 16th August, and several incidents of manhandling, killing, and loot against Hindus were reported. On 16th August Muslims gathered at Ochterlony Monument to hear their leader Suhrawardy. That was a massive gathering and as per few sources, several lakhs of Muslims joined that rally. Suhrawardy declared that he will not let police and military interfere and ensure a free hand will be given to the Muslim Jihadis.

This was an open invitation to riot without any fear of police action and any sort of legal action. Several other Muslim clerics also gave fiery speeches against Hindus, which encouraged the Muslims to orchestrate the riots and killing of Hindus in the name of Islam.

The riots started immediately after the meeting was over. Muslims returning from the meeting killed Hindu shop owners who had kept the shops open, burnt properties of Hindus, and started a reign of terror in Calcutta. The worst killings happened on the 17th of August when thousands of Hindus were massacred and their properties worth several Crores were demolished or looted.

If this mayhem would continue and millions of Hindus may have killed, but a brave warrior came and ensured no further losses to Hindus and countered this evil Direct Action Day, and that person was Gopal Patha.

Who was Gopal Patha?

His complete name was Gopal Chandra Mukhopadhyay and he was born in a Bengali Hindu family of Malanga Lane in the Bowbazar of Kolkata.

He was the nephew of revolutionary Anukul Chandra Mukhopadhyay. He earned the nickname ‘Patha’ (goat in Bengali) because his family used to run a renowned meat shop. When he grew up, he took the responsibility for running the family-owned meat shop. As a part of his business, he had to regularly interact with Muslim traders.

How Gopal Patha thwarted the Direct Action Day and saved Millions of Hindu lives: --

Gopal Patha was an ardent follower of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, he established an organization named Bharat Jatiya Vahini (Bhartiya People’s Army), which included many Hindu wrestlers, who were trained in akharas. The total strength of this organization was around 800.

Patha was seething in anger when he witnessed the killings by Muslims, and the inaction of the police. He gathered the members of his Bharat Jatiya Vahini and instructed them to fight fire by fire and brutality with brutality.

Gopal Patha understood the fact that this was a very critical time for the HINDUS of the country, and if nothing is done then the whole area will become Pakistan, which will result in the killing of millions of Hindus further and repression. He called all his boys and told them that this is the time to retaliate. Hindus must kill 10 Muslims if Muslims kill 1 Hindu.

He had procured some pistols, cartridges, and grenades from the American soldiers stationed in Calcutta after the second World War. He chalked out a robust and detailed plan to retaliate. He even collaborated with the Marwaris, traders of Burrabazar to get financial backing. Several Hindu blacksmiths produced knives, swords, spears, and other weapons in huge quantities working overnight. Gopal was instrumental in bringing migrant people like milkmen, vegetable sellers, laborers, and others to join this movement.

Gopal Patha asked his men to start the counterattack on the early 18th of August. Suhrawardy gave a free hand to his jihadis for 2 more days and his sole objective was to convert Calcutta into a Muslim majority city. However, they had no idea about the plans of Hindu retaliation.

Hindus under the able leadership of Patha started killing the Muslim League goons and gradually they started attacking the Muslim majority areas. Gopal’s group created havoc for Muslim National Guard (a Jihadi militia associated with the Muslim League) and killed thousands of their members, however, no women or children were harmed.

Over the next three days, Gopal Patha and other Hindu leaders identified, hunted and killed Muslims who had taken part in killings of Hindus. Other leaders involved were Jugal Chandra Ghosh who ran an akhara and Basanta, a famous wrestler. All the leaders were connected to either Marwari traders and Hindu Mahasabha or some Bengali Hindu FREEDOM FIGHTERS’ group. Majority of the muscle was provided by Bengali Dalits as well as non-Bengali migrant population with people from PUNGUB, UP, Bihar and Odisha.

This counter action led to a massive panic amongst the ranks and files of Muslim League and Jinnah. By 20th August the total death toll of Muslims had surpassed that of Hindus. Suhrawardy got a shock of his lifetime, when he visited Lalbazar area, which witnessed massive killings of Muslims.

To save himself and his government, Suhrawardy deputed G G Ajmiri and Sheikh Muzib Ur Rehman to request a truce with Gopal.   G.G.Ajmiri was the leader of the student’s wing of the Muslim League and Mujibur Rahman was a member of the Muslim National Guard. They went to Gopal Patha and requested an end the killings. Patha agreed on the condition that the Muslim League would stop attacks on Hindus first, and retreat.

Suhrawardy had no option left and had to accept all the conditions of Gopal Patha. On 21st August, the British dismissed the Suhrawardy government and the British Army flag marched in riot impacted areas and pacified the situation.

The Calcutta Killings spread to other areas of Bengal and Bharat. Indeed, until well after the partition, the riots continued. So, Gopal Patha retained his organization as a shield for Hindus against Muslims. In 1947, Gandhiji was touring Bengal to stop the riots. Several Hindu leaders surrendered their arms, but Gopal Patha dismissed the suggestions of Gandhiji.

He said that “Gandhi called me twice, I didn’t go. The third time, some local Congress leaders requested me that I should at least deposit some of my arms. I went there. I saw people coming and depositing weapons which were of no use to anyone: - out-of-order pistols, and that sort of things. Then Gandhi’s secretary said to me: ‘Gopal, why don’t you surrender your arms to Gandhiji?’ I replied, `With these arms, I saved the women of my country, I saved my people. I will not surrender them. Where was Gandhiji, during the infamous Calcutta Killing? Where was he then?? Even if I’ve used a nail to kill someone, I won’t surrender even that nail.” Gandhiji was speechless, and could not win over Gopal Patha.

Gopal Patha –IS THE Forgotten Savior of BENGALI Hindus.

No wonder, in the Nation which is on very high doze of pseudo-secularism and Gandhian principles, Gopal Patha was easily buried and forgotten in the annals of history. Today, even HINDU BENGALIS don’t remember him, they don’t understand the importance of Gopal Patha, how he saved millions of Hindus by his timely act.

He died in 2005, however, few Bengalis like Tapan Ghose and his Hindu Samhita started celebrating his actions and spread the word about his heroics. We must share his story with our generations, to make them aware of the unsung hero Gopal Patha, who has such a massive contribution towards the welfare of Hindus and India.

Acknowledgements:-

1.0 Top PHOTO: -- Margaret Bourke-White, the photographer

2.0 Reports from old newspapers.

3.0 Diary of my uncle, who was an active member of the action team.

Additional Reading:-https://sarasij1majumder.blogspot.com/2023/10/chuknagar-hindu-genocide-khulna-east.html