Appeasement rewinded

Author: K R Phanda
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: March 3, 2004

If there is any community in the world that appears reluctant to learn from the lessons of the past, it is the Hindus. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's appeal at the BJP's Convention for Development of Minorities on February 25, is a perfect example of this mindset. The BJP's appeal reminds me of the efforts made by Mahatma Gandhi to bring about Hindu-Muslim unity during the freedom struggle. Gandhi introduced the policy of Muslim appeasement. On being asked by the Press in 1946, as to what concessions the Congress had given to the Muslims, Dr Pattabhi Sitaramayya answered: "In 1906, the Congress agreed in principle to separate electorate; in 1916, weightage was provided to Muslim community; (for example, Madras with seven per cent Muslim population, got 15 elected seats); in 1931, the Congress Working Committee agreed to the Muslim demand for giving residual powers to the provinces; in 1945, under the Liaqat-Bhulabhai pact, the Congress agreed to accord parity to Muslim League in the Interim Government; and, in 1946, double majority on communal questions raised in Central Legislative Council, as insisted upon by the Muslim League, was agreed to (p 26, History in Questions and Answers, Automatic Printers, Calcutta, 1946).

As if this was not enough, Nehru provided for special rights for Muslims in the Objectives Resolution introduced by him in the Constituent Assembly in 1946. Despite all these concessions, the Congress was not able to dissuade the Muslim League from insisting on Partition. In the election held in 1945-46, Muslims overwhelmingly voted for the creation of Pakistan. With the best of intentions, both Gandhi and Nehru failed. It would be a miracle if Mr Vajpayee succeeds where the icons of India failed. In this context, Ambedkar in his well- known book, Thoughts On Pakistan, pointed out that in dealing with Muslim demands. the Congress failed to realise the difference between appeasement and settlement. Appeasement sets no limit to the demands of the aggressor, while settlement does. The Congress failed to realise this difference and the policy of concessions increased Muslims' political aggressiveness. Had the Congress pursued the path of settlement, there would not have been any "Great Calcutta Killing" and no subsequent spread of communal riots in different parts of the country? In his talks with Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Gandhi asked him about the raison d' etre for Pakistan. Jinnah told Gandhi to go through Ambedkar's book, which had, in most rational terms, made out a case for Pakistan and transfer of population. Thereafter, Gandhi gave his blessings to Rajaji's formula for the creation of Pakistan. This was the settlement, once and for all, of Hindu-Muslim problems. The present overtures to Muslims by the BJP smacks of a policy of appeasement. Any dilution of the earlier stand taken by the BJP on issues relating to the mandir, masjid, Uniform Civil Code and Kashmir would not find favour with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. As of now, these organisations have achieved nothing which is dear to Hindus. The RSS and the VHP have only helped the BJP to come to power in the Centre and in the states. Their one-point programme to construct a Ram temple on a few acres of land is yet to be realised. Their credibility is at an all-time low and it is time they closed shop. Contrast this with what the Muslim League achieved. It was founded in 1906, and in 1940 it asked for the creation of Pakistan. Over the next seven years, Pakistan emerged on the world map as a separate homeland for the Indian ummah.
 

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