On Hinduism, Buddhism, Tibet and the Dalai Lama

Friday, December 11, 2009 Posted by blogger
Apparently, almost all Hindus firmly and unwaveringly support the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Buddhists, even though doing so costs India dearly by drawing the ire of the hegemonistic Chinese regime, because India/Hindus and Tibet have deep spiritual ties, and also because it's "the right thing to do" (Dharma). If it were Muslims running India (as in Paksitan), they would never have given shelter and home to the Lama and the Buddhists, and even if they did, most of the those Buddhists would either have been converted or killed by now (the fate met with by Buddhists in Afghanistan and the ongoing attacks against them in Bangladesh illustrate that in the case of Islam's Jihad against Buddhism).

The smears of Hinduism of ascribing the extinction of Buddhism in India to suppression by Hindus is apparently an activist Marxist historian concoction. See this expose by Arun Shourie (trained-Economist, famed journalist and former Union minister of India): To Undo the Scandal, Undo the Control

The Dalai Lama says at his official website http://www.dalailama.com/:
I'm Messenger of India's Ancient Thoughts: Dalai Lama http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:http://www.dalailama.com/news.479.htm

Published: Sunday, 15 November, 2009

The Tibetan monk said he considered India as a master and Tibet its disciple as great scholars like Nagarjuna went from Nalanda to Tibet to preach Buddhism in the eighth century.
---

Dalai Lama Thanks India as Home For 50 Years http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:http://www.dalailama.com/news.351.htm

Published: Wednesday, 1 April, 2009

New Delhi, India, 1 April 2009 (By Namgyal Kunga, phayul.com) - His Holiness the Dalai lama visited various religious sites here in the Indian capital and prayed with members from other religious faiths yesterday on the 50th anniversary of his setting foot on the Indian soil which was commemorated by the exile Tibetan government as "thank you India day".
..
Speaking about India at the event, His Holiness said, "I always describe our relation as guru (teacher) and chela (disciple),so sometimes I jokingly tell my Indian friends when chela facing difficulties, guru has some more responsibilities to take care, so for the last 50 years year's experience I think guru really take serious, sincere, care of us."
Labels:

The Kashmiri Pandit Plight

Sunday, December 6, 2009 Posted by blogger
From: http://www.kashmir-information.com/Kilam/index.html




History of Kashmiri Pandits by Jia Lal Kilam


Preface

Chapter 1.   A survey of the Ancient Hindu Rule

Chapter 2.   Advent of Islam

Chapter 3.   Spread of Islam 

Chapter 4.   The Pandit Reborn

Chapter 5.   Pandits during the latter Salatins

Chapter 6.   Civil War

Chapter 7.   Emperor Akbar and the Pandits

Chapter 8.   Pandits and the latter Moguls 

Chapter 9.   Pandits after Aurangzeb

Chapter 10. A Survey of Mogul Rule in Kashmir 

Chapter 11. Afghans appear on the scene

Chapter 12. Sukh Jiwan's Meteoric career

Chapter 13. Kailas Dar comes to power

Chapter 14. Kailas Dar and Conquest of Kashmir 

Chapter 15. Murder of Kailas Dar 

Chapter 16. Rise of Pandit Dila Ram

Chapter 17. Dila Ram the Madarulmiham

Chapter 18. Dila Ram wins fresh Laurels

Chapter 19. Dila Ram's Murder and After

Chapter 20. Pandit becomes Dewan at Kabul

Chapter 21. Pandit Sahaj Ram - The Diwan

Chapter 22. Pandits after the Sikh Retreat

Chapter 23. Pandits and End of Afghan Rule

Chapter 24. A Survey of Afghan Rule in Kashmir

Chapter 25. Sikh Rule and the Kashmiri Pandits

Chapter 26. Pandits and the later Sikh Rule

Chapter 27. Kashmiri Pandits at Ranjit Singh's Durbar

Published by:

S. N. Dar

Secretary
Gandhi Memorial College, Managing
Committee

SRINAGAR, KASHMIR




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Typesetting of this segment will be corrected soon. --gnu)

From: http://www.kashmiri-pandit.org/sundry/genocide.html
Islamic Terrorism and Genocide of Kashmiri Pandits
Genocide in Kashmir
  • 400,000 Kashmiri Pandits, constituting 99% of the total population of Hindus living in Muslim majority area of the Kashmir Valley, were forcibly pushed out of the Valley by Muslim terrorists, trained in Pakistan, since the end of 1989. They have been forced to live the life of exiles in their own country, outside their homeland, by unleashing a systematic campaign of terror, murder, loot and arson.
  • Genocide of Kashmiri Pandits has reached its climax with Muslim terrorism succeeding in 'CLEANSING' the valley of this ancient ethno-religious community.
  • With the completion of 11th year of their forced exile, this peace loving, culturally rich community with a history of more than 5000 years, is fighting a grim battle to save itself from becoming extinct as a distinct race and culture.
Main Camp Sites in Jammu
  • Muthi Camp, Jammu
  • Transport Nagar, Jammu
  • Purkhoo Camp, Jammu
  • Stadium Camp, Jammu
  • Jhiri Camp, Jammu
  • Nagrota Camp, Jammu
  • Mishriwala Camp, Jammu
  • Battalbalian Camp, Udhampur
Main Camp Sites in Delhi
  • Nandnagri
  • Sultanpuri, Kailash Colony
  • Maviya Nagar
  • South Extension
  • Palika Dham
  • Lajpat Nagar
  • Aliganj
  • Bapu Dham
  • Amar Colony
  • Mangol Puri
  • Patel Nagar
  • Sultanpuri
  • Moti Nagar
  • Begampura
Kashmiri Pandits in Exile
 
 

Terrorist Violence against Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir - Role of Pakistan

* Terrorism in Kashmir is an ideological struggle with specified political commitments which are fundamentalist and communal in character.
* Terrorist violence is aimed at achieving the disengagement of the state of Jammu and Kashmir from India and its annexation to Pakistan. It is, the continuation of the Islamic fundamentalist struggle for the homeland of Pakistan which claims Jammu and Kashmir state on account of its Muslim majority character.
* The major dimension of the terrorist violence in Kashmir is the terrorists' commitment to the extermination and subjugation of the Hindus in the state because Hindus do not subscribe to the idea of separation from India, nor do they expect to be governed by the authority of the state which derives its sanction from the law and precedent of Islam. Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus) have always been in the forefront of the struggle against secessionism, communalism and fundamentalism. Hence this peace loving minority with a modern outlook became the main victim of terrorist violence. The strategies involved in the terrorists' operation against the Hindus in Kashmir include:
o The extermination of Hindus
o Subjecting Hindus to brutal torture to instill fear among them in order to achieve their submission.
o To engineer a forced mass exodus of Hindus from the land of their ancestors and birth by way of issuing threatening letters, kidnappings and torture deaths on non-compliance of the terrorists' dictates and ensure the destruction of the secular and pluralistic character of the socio-political fabric of the Kashmiri Society.
o Attacks, molestations, kidnappings, gang rapes of the women folk of the Hindus in order to instill fear and humiliation in them.
o Destruction and burning of the residential houses of the Hindus who leave their homes in look out for safety. Looting of their properties and appropriation of their business establishments to ensure that they do not return.
o Attachment of their landed property.
o Destruction of the social base of the Hindus by the desecration and destruction of their places of worship.
o Appropriation of the property of the Hindu shrines and its attachment to Muslim religious endowments.

Fact sheet On Atrocities On Kashmiri Pandits

Educational Institutions burnt, damaged forcefully occupied : 105

Religious & Cultural Institutions Destroyed/burnt, damaged : 103

Shops, Factories looted/burnt/occupied : 14,430

Agriculture dependent families deprived of their land and source of income : 20,000

Horticulture dependent families deprived of their resource : 12,500

Houses Burnt : more than 20,000

Houses looted : 95%

Torture killings of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley : more than 1,100

Religious Sadism At Its Peak

* Killing of Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists clearly depicts extreme sadism. All victims have been subjected to extreme torture and terror.
* Torture deaths have been brought about by such inhuman practices as:
o Strangulation by using steel wires
o Hanging
o Impailing
o Branding with hot irons
o Burning alive
o Lynching
o Bleeding to death
o Gouging out of vital organs
o Dismemberment of Human bodies
o Drowning alive.
* Terrorists have frequently indulged in barbaric acts like performing 'death dances' after killing their target.
* Many a time, dead bodies were not even allowed to be properly cremated.

Universal Apathy

Failure of Government of India:

* The Jammu and Kashmir Government and Government of India have failed squarely to protect the Kashmiri Pandits against Islamic terrorism.
* Jammu and Kashmir being the only Muslim majority state in whole of India, the protection of minorities and their living peacefully, in their homeland, is crucial for India to remain as a Secular Democratic State.
* Ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus) from Kashmir valley is the crucial failure of Indian state to uphold its commitments to people of India as enshrined in Indian constitution which provides right to live with dignity and honour to every citizen irrespective of caste, creed, religion or colour.

Failure of Human Rights Organisations:

* Leading International Human Rights Organisations like Amnesty International, Asia Watch and others have yet to take proper cognisance of the genocide perpetrated on Kashmiri Pandits.
* Their representatives have so far failed to visit the camps in Jammu, Delhi and other parts of India were thousands of families are putting up for the last five years.
* Gradual extinction of a civilised community with an ancient culture is yet to shake the conscience of the world.

After The Exodus

* More than 5000 persons have died in camps and elsewhere after their forced exodus from the valley. They died of sunstrokes (more than 1000) as most of them were used to cold climate of Kashmir and could not acclimitize to extremely hot temperatures in rest of India.
* Heart attacks and accidents which have been mainly attributed to extreme psychological trau ma and mental pressures by the doctors.
* Gastroentritis and typhoid epidemics, snake bites etc.
* The cohesiveness of the displaced families has broken as they were to undergo diaspora for finding livelihood in various parts of country.
* Cultural Dilution - The whole displaced community with a distinct culture is facing the threat of extinction after loosing its natural habitat.

Kashmiri Pandits

- Representatives of Glorious Heritage And Legacy of Kashmir
- Symbols of Brotherhood and Peace

* Kashmiri Pandits have always been devoted to spritual and academic pursuits.
* They have during their history of more than 5000 years nurtured values of peace, co-existence and tolerance.
* They are the original inhabitants of Kashmir.
* Kashmiri Pandits are progenitors of Kashmir Shaivism the philosophy of oneness of mankind.
* Hinyan and Sarvastivadin sects of Budhism found highest expression in Kashmir and Kashmiri Pandits spread their message to China and Central Asia.
* Kashmiri Pandits have contributed immensely to the evolution of human thought by contributing to almost all fields of creative human endeavour like literature (mainly Sanskrit), language, science and philosophy from times immemorial.
* Since the advent of Islam in 14th century, Kashmiri Hindus have been subjected to extreme persecution. To escape religious fanaticism in the form of forced conversions to Islam they had either to embrace death or leave Kashmir more than once during the last six hundred years.
* Present exodus of Kashmiri Pandits is fourth mass exodus in the history of Kashmir since the advent of Islam in this part.

Kashmiri Pandit: A Rare Pocket Of Tolerance

* Inspite of repeated rejection of co-existence and pluralism by Muslim society for the last six hundred years, Kashmiri Pandit has not given up his faith in these values.
* He has not reciprocated fanaticism with fanaticism and violence with violence.
* In a world threatened with ethnic and religious strifes where various parties have invariably resorted to violence and force, to further their claims, Kashmiri Pandit isthe only example who has totally rejected the violence as a means to fulfill socio-political aspirations.

World therefore has a stake in protecting this culturally rich, educated and peace loving community, from becoming extinct, if it has to move towards a Modern World Order of Peace and Universal brotherhood.

Terrorist violence cannot be justified on the ground of its political and ideological motivations or value basis. Terrorist violence in the valley is not a Freedom Struggle at all. Cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir is a clear testimony of this fact. There is no freedom which impringes upon freedom. There can be no equality which leads to inequality.

Killings of Kashmiri Pandits

Mrs. Ganju - Banamohalla, Srinagar


Prem Nath Bhat - Anantnag


Sushil Kotru - Rainawari, Srinagar


Mrs. Roopawati - Pulwama


Labels:

Kashmir Timeline

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 Posted by blogger


A 4500 year timeline of Kashmir:

App. 3000 B.C.:
Kashmir clan is named in Mahabharata.
2629-2564 B.C.:
Rule by King Sandiman.
2082-2041 B.C.:
Rule by King Sunder Sen rules Kashmir.
1048-1008 B.C.:
King Nara rules Kashmir.
250 B.C.:
Shrinagari (today’s Srinagar is located about three miles from Shrinagari) near the ancient capital Pandhrenatha is founded by Ashoka the Great.
7th century:
King Lalitaditya builds the famous Sun temple and formed the city of Pharihaspura.
813-850:
Pampore was founded by Padma, during the rule of King Ajatapida
855-883:
King Avantivarman builds the town of Avantipur and the famous Sun temple.
883-902:
King Shankaravarman builds Shankarapura-pattan (now known as Pattan).
1128-1149:
Reign of King Jayasim.
mid-12th:
Muslim invasion of Kashmir.
1322
Turks, under ferocious Zulkadur Khan, first invade Kashmir.
1394-1416:
Central Asian ruler, Sikander invades Kashmir and brings about mass conversion to Islam. After the tyranny of Sikander was over, only eleven Kashmiri Hindu families survive.
1540:
Mirz Haidar, a relative of Humayun (of the Moghul invader dynasty) conquers Kashmir. Kashmir gradually absorbed into Moghul Empire.
1810-1820:
Maharajah Ranjit Singh, one of the greatest rulers of India, regains Jammu and appointed his Dogra feudatory Gulab Singh to rule the State.
Mar 16, 1846:
The present State is created by a treaty between the British East India Company acting on behalf of the British Government and Maharajah Gulab Singh in Amritsar.
1931:
One of the worst communal riots led by Sheikh Abdullah and his Muslim Conference.
1939:
Muslim Conference becomes the National Conference.
Aug 15, 1947:
India gains independence. The ruler of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh yet to make up his mind regarding accession.
Oct 22, 1947:
Pakistan violates the Standstill Agreement by preventing essential supplies to the State, then hoards of armed Pakistani tribesman entered Kashmir.
Oct 26, 1947:
Hari Singh signs the instrument of accession, it is no different than the one signed by over 500 other rulers. The accession of Kashmir was accepted by the Governor General of India Lord Mountbatten.
Oct 27, 1947:
The first Indian forces arrived in Kashmir to defend against Pakistani troops.
Dec 31, 1947:
A highly unconstitutional offer of plebiscite was made by Prime Minister Nehru in the U.N.
Jan 1, 1948:
India under Nehru declares a unilateral cease-fire and under Article 35 of the U.N. Charter, India files a complaint with the U.N. Security Council. Pakistan still controls 2/5 of the State.
Jan 20, 1948:
The U.N. Security Council in its resolution of establishes the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP).
Jul 1948:
Mohd. Zafrulla Khan, then the Foreign Minister of Pakistan and principal Delegate of Pakistan in the U.N. admits to the U.N. Commission for India and Pakistan that the Pakistani Army had been in Kashmir.
Aug 13, 1948:
UNCIP adopts a resolution on Kashmir accepted by both India and Pakistan. Pakistan is blamed for the invasion of Kashmir and is instructed to withdraw its forces from Kashmir.
Jan 1, 1949:
Amidst great tension, one minute before midnight, India and Pakistan concluded a formal cease fire agreement.
Jan 5, 1949:
Almost a year after Nehru’s offer of plebiscite, the UNCIP passes a resolution that states that, “The question of accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan will be decided through the democratic method of free and impartial plebiscite”. However, Pakistan has yet to comply with the earlier resolution and withdraw from the State. Also, Pakistan is now busy changing the demographic composition of the State.
1949:
Not withstanding the opposition by several authors of the Indian Constitution, including Dr. Ambedkar, its chief architect, Article 370 was inserted in the constitution of India. This article is meant as a temporary measure, to be in effect until the formal constitution of Jammu and Kashmir is drafted.
Jun 1948:
Sheikh Abdullah declares, “We the people of Jammu and Kashmir, have thrown our lot with Indian people not in the heat of passion or a moment of despair, but by a deliberate choice. The union of our people has been fused by the community of ideals and common sufferings in the cause of freedom”.
1949:
Following the cabinet decision taken by the Abdullah Government, Hari Singh steps down. Hari Singh’s son, Karan Singh is named his successor.
Apr 1950
UN Security Council appoints Sir Owen Dixon as the UN representative in place of UNCIP to find expeditious and enduring solution to the India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir.
Oct 1950:
General Council of the National Conference demands elections to create a Constituent Assembly.
Sep 1951:
Elections for the Constituent Assembly are held The National Conference wins all 45 seats unopposed.
Oct 1951:
Constituent Assembly of the State of Jammu and Kashmir is inaugurated.
Nov 5, 1951:
The Constituent Assembly is given four tasks by Sheikh Abdullah which including the accession to India.
Nov-Dec 1951:
Karan Singh steps down as the ruler, and is elected by the Constituent Assembly of the Jammu and Kashmir State as Sardar- i-Riyasat (Governor).
1952:
Jana Sangh begins campaign called “Ek Vidhan Ek Pradhan” (One Constitution, one leader) and demands that the State of Jammu and Kashmir be totally integrated into India and that the people from the other States be able to visit Jammu and Kashmir without a passport.
1952:
Jana Sang leader Shyamaprasad Mukherjee dies in a Kashmiri Jail under mysterious circumstances.
Aug 9, 1953:
Sheikh Abdullah is arrested. He had turned corrupt and autocrat. He tried to hold India for ransom by giving increasingly anti-India speeches and preserve his power.
Feb 1954:
Under the leadership of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED Constituent Assembly of the State of Jammu and Kashmir ratified the State’s accession to India.
May 14, 1954:
The President of India promulgates the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order placing on a final footing the applicability of the other provisions of the Indian Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir.
1956:
Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act 1956, the category of Part B State was aboilished and Jammu and Kashmir was included as one of the States of India under Article I. However, Article 370 of the Indian constitution is still retained.
Jan 26, 1957:
After the formal inauguration of its constitution, the Constituent Assembly dissolves itself.
1958:
All-India services extended to J and K through an amendment in Article 312.
1964:
Sheikh Abdullah released from the prison.
1965:
Pakistan attacks India, in operation code named, Gibraltar. The defeat of Pakistan results in the Tashkent Agreement between the two countries.
Mar 30, 1965:
Article 249 of Indian Constitution extended to Jammu and Kashmir whereby the center could legislate on any matter enumerated in state list (just like in any other State in the Union). Designations like Prime Minister and President of the State are replace by Chief Minister and Governor.
1971:
Pakistani attack on India results in the third war between the two countries. Pakistan is completely defeated, over 90,000 of its men surrendered.
1972:
India and Pakistan sign the Shimla Pact. Two agree to respect the line of control until the issue is finally resolved.
Feb 24-25, 1975:
Following an accord signed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Abdullah on February 24, 1975, Jammu and Kashmir is made a “Constituent Unit” of India on February 25, 1975. Through this accord Indian Parliament reaffirms its right to legislate on any matter concerning the territory of the State.
1977:
National Conference wins the first post-Emergency elctions.
1982:
Sheikh Abdullah nominates his son, Farooq Abdullah as his successor setting up a political rivalry between Farooq Abdullah and his brother-in-law G. M. Shah.
1986:
In one of the most shameful acts of religious massacre, several ancient historical Hindu temples are destroyed and scores of Hindus were killed in the city of Anantnag. Chief Minister G. M. Shah looses power to his brother-in-law Farooq Abdullah.
1990-2007:
In a spate of terrorist violence, 35000 minorty kashmiri hindus have been killed by Islamic fundamanetalist and 700,000 Kashmiri Hindus have been driven out of their homes. Pakistan’s involvement in this carnage of violence is beyond doubt.
From: Facts & News About Kashmir . By Pawan Durani: http://thekashmir.wordpress.com/

Image Source: CIFJKINDIA.ORG
Labels:

Partition violence and games

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Posted by blogger
The British, Jinna and the Muslim League are to blame for the partition, as it emerges from the following collection of info excerpts.

Here is a recent report of possible shady dealings between the British and Jinnah:

Thinking Aloud

Jinnah was a creation of the British
By Dr Jay Dubashi

The British started looking for a man to suit their requirements. And zeroed on Jinnah.
..
Several papers about financial transaction between the British and Jinnah, which had remained sealed until 1995, were released a few years ago and are now available in British Library in London. According to Muzaffar Husein, a reputed journalist and columnist who has specialised on Pakistan and Muslim affairs in India, has now written an article in which he says, on the basis of papers in the British Library, that the British were secretly paying Jinnah Rs 30 lakh a year (or about 225,000 pounds sterling) from 1935 onwards. The British have always been in the habit of bribing Indian politicians with cash—the latést example, along with Jinnah, being comrade MN Roy, the so-called radical humanist who was paid Rs 18,000 a month during the Second World War through his trade unions.

Rs 30 lakh a year is equivalent to Rs 90 crore a year at today’s prices, and amount to Rs 1,000 crore during the twelve years between 1935 and 1947 during which the payment was made. This was the amount collected by Jinnah & Co. to work against India and to divide India to suit the purposes of the British. Mr Muzaffir Husein’s article appears in Saamana, dated September 21, 2009. Saamana is a Marathi daily published from Mumbai.
..
In fact, Pakistan is not a country any more and is referred to as Af-Pak, as if it was a tank regiment, not a nation. In fact, Pakistan is not so much a country as a mess. What do you expect for a measly 30 lakh a year!


Here is a flashback Time archive report from Aug. 26, 1946 (about a year before the partition):

INDIA

Monday, Aug. 26, 1946

India suffered the biggest Moslem-Hindu riot in its history. Moslem League Boss Mohamed Ali Jinnah had picked the 18th day of Ramadan for "Direct Action Day" against Britain's plan for Indian independence (which does not satisfy the Moslems' old demand for a separate Pakistan). Though direct, the action was supposed to be peaceful. But before the disastrous day was over, blood soaked the melting asphalt of sweltering Calcutta's streets.

Rioting Moslems went after Hindus with guns, knives and clubs, looted shops, stoned newspaper offices, set fire to Calcutta's British business district. Hindus retaliated by firing Moslem mosques and miles of Moslem slums. Thousands of homeless families roamed the city in search of safety and food (most markets had been pilfered or closed). Police blotters were filled with stories of women raped, mutilated and burned alive. Indian police, backed by British Spitfire scouting planes and armored cars, battled mobs of both factions. Cried Hindu Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (who is trying to form an interim government despite the Moslems' refusal to enter it): "Either direct action knocks the Government over, or the Government knocks direct action over."

By the 21st day of Ramadan, direct action had killed some 3,000 people and wounded thousands more. Said one weary police officer: "All we can do is move the bodies to one side of the street." Vultures tore into the rapidly putrefying corpses (among them, the bodies of many women & children).

Like other Indian leaders, Jinnah denounced the "fratricidal war." But most observers wondered how Jinnah could fail to know what would happen when he called for "direct action." Shortly before the riots broke out, his own news agency (Orient Press) reported that Jinnah, anticipating violence, was sleeping on the floor these nights—to toughen up for a possible sojourn in jail.


A seemingly good description of Patel's thought process at the wiki paints a picture of what happened:

Sardar Patel

In the elections, the Congress won a large majority of the elected seats, dominating the Hindu electorate. But the Muslim League led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah won a large majority of Muslim electorate seats. The League had resolved in 1940 to demand Pakistan—an independent state for Muslims—and was a fierce critic of the Congress. The Congress formed governments in all provinces save Sindh, Punjab and Bengal, where it entered into coalitions with other parties.

Cabinet mission and partition
See also: Partition of India

When the British mission proposed two plans for transfer of power, there was considerable opposition within the Congress to both. The plan of 16 May 1946 proposed a loose federation with extensive provincial autonomy, and the "grouping" of provinces based on religious-majority. The plan of 16 June 1946 proposed the partition of India on religious lines, with over 600 princely states free to choose between independence or accession to either dominion. The League approved both plans, while the Congress flatly rejected the 16 June proposal. Gandhi criticised the 16 May proposal as being inherently divisive, but Patel, realizing that rejecting the proposal would mean that only the League would be invited to form a government, lobbied the Congress Working Committee hard to give its assent to the 16 May proposal. Patel engaged the British envoys Sir Stafford Cripps and Lord Pethick-Lawrence and obtained an assurance that the "grouping" clause would not be given practical force, Patel converted Nehru, Rajendra Prasad and Rajagopalachari to accept the plan. When the League retracted its approval of the 16 May plan, the viceroy Lord Wavell invited the Congress to form the government. Under Nehru, who was styled the "Vice President of the Viceroy's Executive Council," Patel took charge of the departments of home affairs and information and broadcasting. He moved into a government house on 1, Aurangzeb Road in Delhi—this would be his residence till his death in 1950.

Vallabhbhai Patel was one of the first Congress leaders to accept the partition of India as a solution to the rising Muslim separatist movement led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He had been outraged by Jinnah's Direct Action campaign, which had provoked communal violence across India and by the viceroy's vetoes of his home department's plans to stop the violence on the grounds of constitutionality. Patel severely criticised the viceroy's induction of League ministers into the government, and the revalidation of the grouping scheme by the British without Congress approval. Although further outraged at the League's boycott of the assembly and non-acceptance of the plan of 16 May despite entering government, he was also aware that Jinnah did enjoy popular support amongst Muslims, and that an open conflict between him and the nationalists could degenerate into a Hindu-Muslim civil war of disastrous consequences


Had the Viceroy not vetoed Patel's plan to stop the communal violence being stirred by Jinnah, the violence would have been cut short, thus taking the air out of separatist movement to break up India, most likely keeping it intact.
Labels: