THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY August 15, 1952 On Bengal: A Post-Mortem "N a r a d"

EOPLE keep on asking: What identifying themselves with the Congress had the unfortunate effect P has happened to Bengal? But Indian National Congress. The of isolating Bengal from the rest of my question is: Does Bengal exist Gandhian credo of non-violence was, India. What is more, it accentuat­ today? There are, of course, East however, an object of ridicule to ed the anti-Bengalee feeling that Bengal and West Bengal. But, them . It was the mass-character of was brewing all over India because alas! Bengal is no more. This, in the movement that appealed to of a number of historic causes. 'a nutshell, is what has happened to their pragmatic mind. C. R. Das Naturally, it was the Congress orga­ Bengal. with his call of l Swaraj for the nisation in Bengal that received the L need not go into the causes or masses' captured the imagination severest jolt from Subhas's secession the rationale of Partition-politics. of these revolutionaries even more from it. Indeed, Congress in Ben­ It is the reaction of the Partition than Gandhiji with his innocuous gal was - threatened with complete with which I am concerned at the charka. However, they decided to extinction. moment. give Gandhian leadership a chance. True, there were the orthodox One thing is sure: Partition After his resignation from the ICS khadi elements. But they were seems to have caught us quite Subhas found himself in close asso­ neither united enough nor organi­ a wares., If our leaders had any ciation with these" revolutionaries, sationally competent to shoulder notion about its possible effects, also. Inevitably, the: British Gov­ the burden of Congress leadership their pre-partition activities and ernment and its indigenous allies in Bengal. The khadi elements utterances furnish little proof of sensed a danger in this new com­ were divided into three groups with their prescience. This dismal failure bine. So the top-ranking among little or no co-ordination among on their part to anticipate the the Jugantar revolutionaries, Bhu- them. The Khadi Pratisthan of results of the Partition as also their pen Datta, A run Cuha, Suren Satish Das Gupta was far too aloof failure to prepare the public mind Ghosh, Jiban Ghatterjee, Suresh and isolated to be in the thick of for those results show a mental Das were placed under arrest along active1 politics while the Abhay lacuna that is almost incredible. with Subhas and were deported to Ashram group of Dr Prafulla Ghosh Our leaders seem to have staked Burma to be kept under detention and Arambag group of Prafulla everything on the hope that the there. After the death of C. R. Sen (the present Supply Minister therapeutics of freedom would do Das, with Jugantar leaders along in West Bengal Cabinet) were too the trick and all would be well in with Subhas in detention, the poli­ limited in their outlook to take the end. But that hope has proved tical situation in Bengal drifted to upon themselves the leadership of a chimera. True, the end is yet factional feuds over the Calcutta the Congress. At that juncture of to be. But that, again, is little Corporation affairs which have our national life it. was the jugantar consolation in our present predica­ continued to dominate Bengal poli­ group winch stepped in and stood ment. tics eve: since. The " Big five ' by the Congress. But like what Bengal, like Prance, is a party- Cabal of Bengal which came into had happened at Calvary, the savi­ striken country, where, if anywhere being then, in the late 'twenties, ours could not save- themselves. in India, people try and make an have in varying degrees wielded an The new BPCC that was formed intellectual approach to every issue. influence over Bengal politics not began to function with vigour and But this intellectualism draws its always wholesome nor entirely determination for its General Secre­ inner sustenance from a unique healthy for it. Of the Big Five, tary Arun Guha Believed in activis- emotionalism inherent in the genius Sarat Bose is no more. Of the ing the organisation down to its of the Bengalee people. remaining four, Tulsi Goswamy has lowest units. It was going ahead The intellect is at a discount virtually faded out from public life and getting into its stride when now-a-days. The fashion is to while Ninnal Chandra Ch under British Government struck again as decry an intellectual. So an intel­ seems to have staged a come-back it had done in the past at all psy- lectual of intellectuals, Jean Paul to politics this year as the Mayor etiological movements. And Arun Sartre says, an intellectual is never of the Calcutta Corporation. Of Guha found himself .in detention a true revolutionary; he is just good course, NaJini-Bidhau partnership again along with a number of his enough to be an assassin. This is (between NaliniRanjan Sarkar and close associates. only an obiter dictum that one need Dr B. C. Roy) is still going strong From now on the situation in not accept. The revolutionary Sarat Bose's historic indictment Bengal was one of confusion and movement in Bengal was not mere of Naliniraajan notwithstanding. chaos because of the war and fire-works as staid politicians may To take up the thread of my famine on the one hand and riot- imagine. Both in its initial and narrative, the long absence of the psychosis on the other. evolutional .stages, it reveals an Jugantar leaders behind prison bars, The Communist Party, as is very intellectual leadership rare in the —some of them could have cele­ natural for it, sought to rish in the history of revolutionary movements brated their Silver Jubilee of prison- troubled waters and it achieved a anywhere in the world. There were life-and a mysterious change in measure of success also for it could political realists in this movement Subhas's party-affiliation in the secure even Congress leaders of the who could set- beyond a slogan and mid-'thirties very adversely affected eminence of Mrs Sarojini Naidu could intelligently plan for the progressive movements in Bengal and Dr Bidhan Roy to identify Future. politics. So it was a dismal day themselves with certain aspects of Therefore, with Gandhiji's advent for Bengal when Subhas finally its activities. Dr Roy is reported in Indian polities, we find the broke away from the Gandhian to have sent a letter to Gandhiji at Jugantar group of revolutionaries leadership. Subhas's break with the about this time denouncing his 818 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY August 15, 1952 leadership, mand that nobody could offer him- Nalini Sankar and Dr Roy were Dr Shyamaprasad,: with his voce- self for election on the Congress Avoided during the general and ferous advocacy of national com- ticket from behind the prison bars. Constituent ' Assembly elections. immalism was, of course, playing An exception was made in the case Extremely touchy by nature, Dr Roy his usual role. And the only Con­ of only one jugantar Ieader. So by seems to have made a serious gress leader of status outside the the time Arun Guha, Bhupen Datta, grievance of it and his subsequent prison, Kiron Sankar Roy, was Manoranjan Gupta and others were break with the Jugantar is believed playing a good younger brother's released, things had begun to drift to have been at least partially due role to Shyamaprasad. The release and undesirables were more and to his pique over this issue. of Suren Ghosh did not bring any more being pushed to the forefront. Sarat Bose had again broken relief for with A run Guha, Bhupen Arun Guha was not reinstalled as away from the Congress and had Datta, Manoranjan Gupta still in the General Secretary of the been busy organising a party of his jail, he was completely overwhelm­ BPCC though according to the own on the scheme of Independent ed by the fast developing situation constitution and practice he should Bengal. The question of electing a in the country. Sarat Bose was have been. Indeed, coming events leader of the Congress Assembly also released at about the same time cast their shadows before. Party loomed large before the West and his spectacular return to Con­ On the eve of the Partition and Bengal Congress legislators. The gress in a blaze of glory robbed transfer of power, group alignments obvious choice was, of course, Suren Ghosh of much of his effec­ in Bengal politics were, as was Kiron Sankar Roy who had been tiveness even though he was reinstal­ perhaps natural before such cata­ functioning as the leader of the led as the President of the BPCC. clysmic changes, very fluid. It is Opposition for so long in the Ben­ So the Parliamentary Board that interesting to note that neither Dr gal Assembly. But Kiron Sankar was formed to run the general Bidhan Roy nor Nalini Sarkar sprang a surprise by refusing to elections was almost entirely domi­ was in the picture at all. Dr stand for the election. He made nated by Sarat Bose, though Dr Roy's stock was so low that he it clear that he had opted for East Ghosh and Prafulla Sen managed even failed to get himself elected Bengal in his own mind and could to snatch away quite a number of as an alderman of the Calcutta not therefore offer himself for elec­ seats for their respective groups. Corporation of which he was a tion. It was, I am sure, an act of The only group, and the dominant Mayor for so long. People in the great sacrifice, and few, I am equally group at that, whose case went by know of things are inclined to con­ sure, are capable of it. The fact default was the Jugantar. Arnar nect this defeat with Dr Roy's sup­ that he could not stick to this Ghosh's able advocacy failed to get pression of the Corporation later— noble resolve later does not take them their dues because of a new but that is quite another story. away from the greatness of his ukase of the Congress High Com- The significant fact was that both sacrifice. Kiron Sankar was a liv- THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY August 15, 1952 ing paradox in whom many Oppo­ change the completion of the Con- vincial was the programme of site qualities existed side by side. gress from a revolutionary organi­ action that the Memary conference With a little more dash and a little sation to a capitalist caucas was all adopted. Great organisations and less cliquishness, he would have too self-evident also. little minds go ill together. And been one of our foremost leaders. The majority of the Congress never in history perhaps—certainly It was, Indeed, most unfortunate legislators met at the residence of not in Bengal—had such small and that Jugantar leaders should have Kiron Sankar Roy which was the thoroughly unworthy men- ventured fallen out with him—for they 'had venue of many historic meetings and to shoulder the burden of leader­ to pay very dearly for it later. came to a unanimous decision that ship of so great an organisation. With Kiron Sankar out, the next a mandate in the form of an ulti­ Bengal, indeed, was no more. choice was Surendra Mohan Ghosh. matum should be sent to Dr Roy, The subsequent events are too But he took inordinately long, as is As the meeting was in progress, sordid to relate and not the least his wont, to take a decision and by there came a telephone call for sordid part of it was the role play­ the time he finally could take one, Kiron Sankar. In the absence of ed by the High Command in con­ the die had been cast in favour of any positive proof we are only left nection with them. For it was the the khadi group leader, Dr Ghosh. to guess as to who it was that gave High Command which helped the Both Dr Ghosh and Prafulla Sen the ring. Subsequent events, how­ forces of reaction in West Bengal were- members of the Constituent ever, leave very little room for con­ both to organise and to stabilise at Assembly then and they effected a jecture. Of the two emissaries sent the cost of those who had kept marriage of convenience over the to Dr Roy to convey to him the the Congress flag flying in those issue. And on Dr Ghosh fell the decision of the meeting, only one lean days when the organisation mantle of office when the Congress returned while the other remained had been threatened with complete took over the government. with Dr Roy to help him form a extinction in Bengal. But this is not to suggest that ministry. From that moment a The Jugantar leaders awoke to Dr Ghosh was not worthy of the new chapter began in West Bengal the folly of ousting the good man choice. Indeed, the brief period politics. We know of parting kicks Dr Ghosh when it was too late. for which Dr Ghosh was the pre­ pretty well, but Dr Roy had gone They tried once again the no-confi­ mier in West Bengal would remain one better, he had begun by start­ dence trick—but unlike the good recorded in letters of gold in our ing kicks. man, Dr Ghosh who had resigned history as a period of great ideal­ So a peculiar situation develop­ in a huff on the mere mention of ism and noble venture. It was like ed in West Bengal. Here was a no-confidence, Dr Roy stuck to his a dream coining true. The people Congress Government of non-Con­ post and very successfully strength­ were electrified by a new hope and gress men which had no relation to ened it by generous gifts of favours. even corrupt officials started behav­ the Congress organisation in the The number of ministers and par­ ing honestly. But such a spell province. The full impact of the liamentary secretaries was raised to could not last long. And then, Dr Partition soon began to be felt on a fabulous figure and thus the Ghosh's own handling of the refugee West Bengal's politics. It dealt a majority against him was converted problem was far from satisfactory. mortal blow to the Congress orga­ into a minority. 'The Preventive Detention Act and nisation -because in Bengal it was What would happen if Jawa- police-firings also marred to a great the East-Bengal people who ran the harlal could carry his day and extent the excellent effect of his organisation. And Jugantar parti­ make Dr Roy resign is only a matter earlier pronouncements. cularly was crippled because its for fascinating, albeit, idle specula­ Matters soon came to a head main support came from East tion. And why Jawaharlal let off and a motion of no-confidence was Bengal districts. Dr Roy and his ministry from those about to be passed. The talk of As it happens in a procession, if charges which he himself had found no-confidence was to make Dr the order is reversed the vanguard to be substantially true is a matter Ghosh quit office. The jugantar is at once turned into the rear­ upon which he alone can throw leader Amar Ghosh took the lead guard. So the Arambagh group light. Even though jawaharlal in this matter, and at the Delhi from its obscure back water was took the investigation so lightly, he end, Arun Guha, who was a whip suddenly hurled into the forefront found five of the twelve charges of the Central Congress Parliament­ by a fortuitous concord of circum­ brought against the Roy Ministry ary Party, played a significant part stances. What was death to the to be substantially true. Future in persuading the Congress High East Bengal Congress men became historians of the Congress and of Command to accept Dr B. C. Roy sports to the members of this very the nation would be hard put to it as the premier of West Bengal, parochial group who saw the to defend his action when the pas­ Dr Roy was booked for UP Gov­ chance of their life-time in the mis­ sions of the moment have died ernorship and was actually on his fortune of other fellow Congress down and the glamour of Jawa- way to Luc know when things took men. War money was still afloat harlal's vivid personality would not this dramatic turn. Dr Roy return­ in plenty and black marketeers in be there to influence a verdict. ed from the station to be elected their quest for licence and permits The intense hatred for the Con­ as the leader of the Congress Party soon entered into an unholy alliance gress that one finds everywhere in in West Bengal. The mailed fist with this group whose pull with West Bengal is due in no small underneath the velvetty gloves was, the Ministry placed it in a parti­ measure to actions of Jawaharlal however, soon visible when Dr cularly advantageous position. This like this. There is a wide spread Roy revealed to the Party the per­ combine soon met at Memary and feeling today that there is nobody sonnel of his prospective ministry. raised the slogan of dividing the to appeal to and there is no remedy His list contained names long in Congress organisation also. If for the wrongs committed by the the bad book of the Congress. His Partition had cut Bengal into twain high and mighty. But, we know, proposals very clearly revealed his physically, Memary sought to kill that is the "stuff revolutions are social sympathies and his anxiety to the soul of Bengal—so vilely pro­ made of. 820