WITH HOPES OF A FUTURE UNION ... 1

We had fought for the complete independence of our motherland from British imperialism but what we got in return was a truncated landmass amidst the horrific chaos of Partition in which a million were massacred and tens of millions uprooted from their homeland overnight for which so many suffer even today. The effort for independence was a combined one in which all of India sank in their ploughshare and no one except the perfidious British had envisaged that it would lead to the eventuality of partitioning of the country. When in the thirties the concept of Pakistan was first voiced by adventurist Muslim students in British universities, few thought that it would actually materialise considering the vast popularity of Gandhi and the overwhelming public support the Congress enjoyed. However, the Indian leaders had discounted the secessionist forces that could be triggered by narrow religious nationalism and with the departing British fanning the flames of these secessionists, historical imperatives saw to India's doom in 1947 what has otherwise been but hailed as her liberation. Gandhi watched in stupefied silence the partition proceedings as Jinnah, Nehru and the British made common cause to destroy the body of the motherland. Nehru had, thus, managed to prevent the balkanisation of India and Jinnah triumphed in creating the first modern Islamic State which would be the source of all future trouble for the world and far more for India. What the British got out of the bargain was the creation of inimical neighbouring States which would keep the Anglo-American hold on the subcontinent post World War II. But what did India get in the bargain? Amputation of her limbs? Debilitation of her emerging sovereign power? Destruction of her integration? Impairment of her future progress? Self-oblivion of her future generations? Distortion of her history? I leave you to reflect on these before embarking on future deliberations on these contentious issues that so consume my mind. Jai Hind! Jai Akhanda Bharat!