August 2020 Independence Day
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Contents From the Desk of the General Secretary 1 India Independent : Gandhi In Beliaghata,Calcutta : 15 August 1947-- Weaving New History 2 Suparna Gooptu Professor, Department of History, University of Calcutta Re-visualising of the Future 7 Arunendu Banerjee Life Member, The Asiatic Society Self-reliance Personified 10 Sabyasachi Chatterjee Department of History, University of Kalyani A Big History for a Long Lockdown 13 T C A Raghavan Former High Commissioner to Pakistan and Singapore Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Future Population Growth in India 15 Saswata Ghosh Institute of Development Studies Kolkata Arup Kumar Das WISH Foundation, New Delhi Kakoli Das Institute of Development Studies Kolkata Epidemic and Ancient Indian Wisdom 20 Anjalika Mukhopadhay Research Consultant, Seacon Skills University, Bolpur Concept of Disaster Management in Early India: Reflections in the Inscriptions 23 Debanjan Maity Assistant Professor, Deptartment of Sanskrit, Siddhinath Mahavidyalaya The Role of Library in Higher Education against a Background of Pandemic-Sick Global Scenario 26 Tapati Mukherjee Library Secretary, The Asiatic Society Names of the Recipients of different Lectureships , Medals and Plaques of the Asiatic Society for the year 2019 27 Vaccines and COVID-19: A Snapshot of the Global Race 30 Suman Hazra Research Fellow, The Asiatic Society New Books from Reader's Choice 35 ¤%îûOly ö‹þï™%îû# প্রকাশনা বিভাগ, বি এবশয়াবিক স�া�াইবি From the Desk of the General Secretary Dear Members and Well-Wishers, Nearly five months have rolled down since the declaration of the Lockdown to combat the massive onslaught of COVID-19 in our country. Birthday Mark of the This is continuing in various phased manner with restricted relaxations Luminaries in the in between. Month of August We will observe our 74th Independence Day this year amidst such pandemic situation. Under these circumstances new areas of challenges have opened up before the nation. We have to evolve our innovative steps in the areas of our priority programmes to follow. The month of August stands for many significant events in the world at large. Many pioneering thinkers and visionaries were born in this Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray month. To cite a few instances, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray (02.08.1861), Sri Aurobindo (15.08.1872), William Carey (17.08.1761), Mother Teresa (26.08.1910), Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (27.08.1770) and Leo Tolstoy (28.08.1828) made immense impact in the world of philosophy, science, literature and human welfare through their valuable contributions. The grave human killing in Hiroshima (06.08.1945) and Nagasaki (09.08.1945) Sri Aurobindo marked the cruel use of atom bomb for the first time in world history. Rabi- ndranath Tagore laid the foundation stone of Mahajati Sadan (19.08.1939) which symbolised the creation of a centre of integration of human culture and civilization. Friends, you are aware that during recent period, apart from our online publication of Monthly Bulletins, the Society organised a number of panel William Carey discussions through the webinar and also launched virtual exhibitions. For example, 'Treasures of Museum' and 'Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray and His Endearing Relationship with The Asiatic Society' were organised as virtual exhibitions. Panel discussions were held on Library in Higher Education against a Background of Pandemic Sick Global Scenario; Print Books versus E-Books; Rabindranath Tagore and Patrick Geddes on Envi- Mother Teresa ronment : Confluence of Minds. All these events are available on modern mode of dissemination. Many other such programmes are being planned for next phase of execution. Let me conclude with a note of concern for the Senior Citizens of the country. The 8th of August is observed as the World Senior Citizens' Day. The recent pandemic situation and its resultant compulsion have been Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel a limiting factor for the participation of Senior Citizens in various activi- ties. Our senior citizens should come out of such imposed limitations by their own imagination and initiative as far as practicable even remaining at home. Please keep well and keep safe. Leo Tolstoy Independence Day India Independent : Gandhi In Beliaghata, Calcutta : 15 August 1947 Weaving New History 1 Suparna Gooptu Professor, Department of History, University of Calcutta Source: Amrita Bazar Patrika, 14 August 1947 At the stroke of the midnight of 14th The Hydari Manzil was located in a sur- August 1947 when India awoke to freedom rounding where abandoned huts, charred Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the Father of roofs, broken domestic materials were a the Nation, was in Calcutta to stem the tide mute witness to the communal violence. of communal strife that had been plaguing Upon their arrival Gandhi and his colleagues the city for the last one year. Gandhiji shifted received a hostile reception from an angry on the afternoon of 13 August (Wednesday) mob of youth, dissatisfied with the outbreak from Sodepur Ashram to Hydari Manzil, the of communal violence in the city. But the garden house of Nawab Abdul Gani. He was 78-year-old ‘pilgrim of peace’ remained unde- accompanied by Professor Nirmal Kumar terred, ‘refusing to go back alive.’ The crowd Bose, his Acting Secretary, his granddaugh- was ultimately persuaded to give Gandhi a ter Manu Gandhi, his granddaughter-in-law hearing and he responded to an avalanche Abha Gandhi and H.S. Suhrawardy, who was of questions. Gandhi stressed the futility widely believed to have masterminded the of avenging what had happened one year Great Calcutta Killings of August 1946. earlier, affirming that he had come to the city Monthly Bulletin 2 August 2020 Independence Day Source: Amrita Bazar Patrika, 14 August 1947 to serve Hindus and Muslims alike. Amrita the country’s poor and the rich together in Bazar Patrika vividly reported the 'ugly' and their struggle for independence. 'unseemly’ scenes at the Hydari Manzil on 14 After the prayer meeting a large crowd August 1947. followed Gandhiji and assembled in front Throughout the day on 14 August 1947 of his room. They demanded to see Mr. H. S. Gandhi had a stream of visitors, which in- Suhrawardy, and hear an explanation from cluded leaders of the two communities. At him, for all that had happened. Gandhiji 6 p.m. he addressed a large prayer meeting appeared at the window and addressed the where Muslims were present in good num- crowd, advising them not to lose patience. bers. Addressing a packed audience, which He once more explained to them that listened to him without slightest disturbance, Hindu-Muslim unity was one mission of his he reminded that the next day (15 August, life for which he would not hesitate to die. Friday) is the day of deliverance from foreign Gandhiji then explained to the people that yoke, and it needs to be celebrated. But he his visit to Noakhali has been postponed to reminded those present, that from that day contain communal violence in Calcutta, and both the dominions will have to shoulder mentioned how Saheed Sahib had prom- heavy burden of responsibilities. He thus ised to accompany him to tour the city’s urged everyone to fast on that day for 24 affected areas and stay with him under the hours, hold prayer for the well-being of the same roof till communal amity is restored. sub-continent as a whole, and organise spin- Gandhiji stressed that if Calcutta returned to ning since it was hand-spinning that had knit sanity and mutual friendship, Noakhali and Monthly Bulletin 3 August 2020 Independence Day the rest of India would be safe. He insisted, Gandhiji was particularly happy that at that it would be best to live unprotected the Chittaranjan Seva Sadan the tri-colour by police or military, approach the people was hoisted by an elderly Harijan Methrani in a brotherly fashion, argue with them and (sweeper woman), who was faithfully serv- convince them that since the Partition had already taken place by agreement, there was no longer any reason why they should quarrel. Addressing the gathering, Suhrawardy reiterated that he would devote his life to the cause of Hindu-Muslim unity, remarking: Now is the time that we Hindus and Muslims begin to live again side by side as brothers, in the same spirit of mutual friendship towards one another as we used to have before this mutual strife. Gandhi spent 15 August fasting, spinning and pray- Source: Amrita Bazar Patrika, 16 August 1947 ing for communal peace. When Manubehn asked ing the institution. Similarly, when he heard him: “Bapuji, people will celebrate in a differ- that in one of the celebrations organised by ent manner, while you ask us to observe fast- a district Congress Committee, a Harijan girl ing and silence and to spin yarn. Is not today had hoisted the tri-colour, he felt, it reflected a day of rejoicing?” Bapu replied: the fraternal spirit of Calcutta, cutting across … You know that I ask people to observe class, caste, religion and gender. He was a fast even on occasions of marriage and confident that if this spirit spread throughout child-birth. Today we have to consider with India there would be no fear of disturbance a calm mind how far our responsibility has in Noakhali or in Punjab. When the newly increased. It is the Charka which has given us appointed ministers of West Bengal came to freedom. How can we forget it? And when see him, he told them: we fast we purify our bodies..2 The seat of power is a nasty thing… You have This remark of Gandhi demonstrated to be more truthful, more humble and more how spinning and fasting, symbolising self- forebearing…Do not fall a prey to the lure of reliance and self-purification, was integral to wealth… You are there to serve the villages his notion of freedom of the individual and and the poor.3 of the nation.