Published in 1986, ‘Facts are Facts’ by the late Wali Khan was an instant hit. ‘Facts are Facts’ is an attempt to contest text book versions of Pakistan’s history. In a bid to generate debate, the Viewpoint is serializing this text in its entirety
By proposing a communal rather than a national basis for politics, they forced the Hindus and Muslims into a position whereby if they wanted to enter municipal or community politics, their electioneering was limited to wooing their religious brethren, and fighting on religious rather than political issues.
The British were delighted with the success of this policy. In 1912, East and West Bengal were once again united as one province. The British realized that although the Hindus were in majority in India, their total population was concentrated only in this country; there were not too many of them anywhere else in the world. But the Muslims were spread all over from Afghanistan to Turkey, from the Balkan Provinces to Northern Africa. They became concerned about the strength of the Muslims, and the movement of Pan- Islamism. At the start of the First World War the British were bent upon wiping out the Ottoman Empire. How could they turn themselves round, and now side with the Muslims in India? Therefore, once again, they stopped their Muslim patronage.
During this time the second series of reforms were introduced, called the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms. These also used communalism as the basis for elections. During the First World War when the British attacked Turkey, the Indian Muslims united to oppose their move. What unnerved the British was Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress Party joining Maulana Mohamed Ali and Shaukat Ali in this movement. They realized that their two-nation theory was in danger.
The Khilafat Committee placed four proposals before the Muslims: (i) returning all official titles; (ii) resigning from the Government employment; (iii) resigning from the army and the police; and (iv) refusing to pay taxes.
The British focused their attention on the second and third proposals, since these were causing the greatest harm and disrepute to the Government. They twisted the facts and interpreted them as a Hindu plot to throw the Muslims out of Government organizations. This was one way to eliminate their chances for advancement. Thus the British successfully turned this exemplary national unity into communal politics.
To destroy the Hindu-Muslim unity the British relied upon their Muslim subjects. The Khilafat Movement was primarily a Muslim movement in which the Hindu participation was a matter of principle. The British encouraged the Muslims to break the unity fostered by Khilafat because they knew that this was the best manner of disillusioning the Hindus. The first anti-Khilafat announcement was made by the Nizam of Hyderabad on 22 May 1920. His "firman" stated that since the Khilafat was an anti-Muslim movement it was henceforth declared illegal. During the Khilafat Movement Gandhiji and the Ali Brothers had visited Aligarh Muslim University. To reduce the impact of their visit, the British incited the Muslims of Aligarh against the Hindus, on the pretext of protecting Muslim rights.
On the second of November 1921, Mohammad Shafi, a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council, presented a two- pronged scheme:
(i) To weaken the movement for a united India, it was essential to lure away the Muslims; this could only be done if the British signed the Peace Treaty with Turkey.
(ii) An Anglo-Mohammadan Union in the interest of the British Empire should be organized.
On 21 September 1922, Viceroy Lord Reading wrote to the Secretary of State for India:
“I have just sent you a telegram, which will show you, how near we have been to a complete break between Muslims and Hindus. I have been giving the greatest attention to this possibility, and I have had the greatest assistance from Shafi on my council, who is a highly respectable Mohammadan.”
As time passed the British realized that the success of their mission was dependant on the cooperation of the Muslims. They decided that first they should announce their willingness to surrender control provided the Hindus and the Muslims were ready to sink their differences. Then they should utilize their influence over the Muslims to make sure that the two parties never cooperated. This was a sure way of creating dependence upon themselves. On this subject the Secretary of State for India, Birkenhead wrote on 22 January 1925:
“The more it is made obvious that these antagonisms are profound, and affect an immense and irreconcilable section of the population, the more conspicuously is the fact illustrated that we and we alone can play the part of the composers.”
The British had to adopt several underhand tactics to reach their goals. But reach they did. On 1 January 1925, the Viceroy announced to the Secretary of State, "The bridge Gandhiji had built to span the gulf between the Hindus and Mohammadans has not only broken down, but, I think, it has completely disappeared." It worried them somewhat to see the Muslims divided into many factions. All factions, however, were prepared to accept the leadership of the British, while none was prepared to accept the leadership of anyone of their own people. In the same letter, the Viceroy wrote that although the Muslims were united in their support of the British Government but, "there is no outstanding man to compose the differences and head them."
During those days, in addition to all other movements, there were two factions of the Muslim League. The first faction was headed by Sir Mohammad Shafi and the second by Jinnah. The British were shocked when even Jinnah declared his support for joint electorates. Efforts began to swing him towards segregated elections. On 20 May 1929, the Viceroy wrote:
“I had a long talk with Jinnah a few days ago, which made it very clear to my mind that he and all the Bombay people, who are not disposed to Congress, are disposed to swing towards our direction if we can give them help later.”
After the meeting with Jinnah, the Viceroy was convinced that Jinnah could be won over. Therefore, he turned his attention towards the Muslim League. On 21 March 1929 he predicted:
“The two wings of the Muslim League are to meet in Delhi at the end of this month, with a rapprochement between Sir Mohammad Shafi and Jinnah. Jinnah may be expected to gain, before long, his former commanding influence in the Muslim League.”
Such clairvoyance! Even before the meeting was held the Viceroy knew that the two parties would make peace and that Sir Mohammad Shafi would clear the way for Jinnah. The next step was to organize the party and to raise funds. On 26th November 1929, the Viceroy wrote:
“I hear that suggestions are being put out that government should intervene in some way towards raising funds in order to organise proper Muslim representation, and, of course, we should like them to have the best advocacy they can find.”
The British spared no effort to help establish a well- funded and strong party. On 2 February 1931, the Viceroy wrote an account of his meeting with Sir Fazl-i-Hussain, "He [Fazl-i-Hussain] developed the view that the only chance of some progress was that a strong party should come into being which should devote itself to fighting the Congress.”
(To be continued)
The book in PDF form can be accessed at: http://www.awaminationalparty.org/books/factsarefacts.pdf
