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Syama Prasad Mookerjee- a life dedicated




By Dr Nirmal Kamal




It is extremely difficult to define and describe a missionary – Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, remembered by true nationalists and who is yet to find a place in the history books with the same honour as assigned to great freedom fighters and martyrs of India. One can compare him to the ranks of Mahatama Gandhi who revolted against Britishers to attain independence but Syama Prasad revolted against law framed against its own people of just liberated country by allowing a specialy distinguished distinct State to have different nomenclature, a separate constitution and a separate flag within the country- a cruel joke as a gift to the people of that state. Revolting against wrong done by own people indeed was more an arduous task , Syama Prasad Mookerjee did it. This daring attempt was like entering in a tunnel with dead end or one can compare with Jesus Christ allowing hands and feet nailed to be crucified. Chill flows down the spine at the very thought. That is how I understand a life who sacrificed himself for a great cause still not achieved completely.
Born on 6th july,1901, in a very well off elite family, this great son of the land could be any thing under the sun with all inherent qualities of head and heart and enjoy luxurious life style when mother nature chose Sir Ashutosh Mukerjee Judge of the High Court of Judicature and at Fort William and Lady Jogamaya Devi as his reverend parents. Young Syama Prasad Mookerjee followed his father’s profession and became advocate of Calcutta High Court after graduating in law in 1924. Before graduating in Law, Syama Prasad became proficient in Bangla and English languages- a perfect blend and combination of local and foreign dialect perhaps to understand country’ psyche more closely. Syama Prasad went to England for higher studies in law and returned to Kolkatta after becoming Barrister in law.When came back home, he became Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta but soon quit luxurious bureaucratic life to serve the Nation, by joining politics with sole objective to serve people.
This was the period when Syama Prasad Mookerjee understood the different political ideologies to form his own with conviction. To serve people it is important to have understanding of socio-cultural variants as well ethnicity of the pluralistic society with vast requirements in terms of socio- economic concerns. This was also the period when India was on the threshold of change to reconstruct the pillars of future growth and development. So the nationalist movements governed the ideological concerns of the people who jumped in freedom movement as saviours of the country. As against communal forces and separatists ideology, Syama Prasad Mookerjee found solution in Hinduism. He believed in Hinduism as a way of life, treating all communities alike on the humanitarian ground. Gradually, after becoming part of the interim Government as a minister under Jawahar Lal Nehru, he understood conflicting vicious political moves at the behest of Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru and other leaders particularly in context to division of Bengal, influx of refugees from east and west Pakistan and accession of J&K (according special status to J&K) , he was opposed to. To show resentment, he quit Government to form Bhartiya Jan Sangh in Oct, 1951. He became first President of Bhartiya Jan Sangh which lator in 1977, became ally of Janta Party and was reborn as Bhartiya Janta Party in 1980 after political debacle of Janta Party in 1979.
It is well known to all that rebelious Mookerjee opposed division of the country, division of Bengal,Nehru- Liaqat Pact of 1950, grant of special status to the J&K among others but it was protest against the last that took his life on 23rd june 1953.No one earlierdaringly opposed this political blunder. Only Syama Prasad- a great soul fought and died for the cause. Facts narrate that immediately after accession of J&K, late Maharaja who was ruler of this sovereign State before accession, was made to quit and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullaha was annointed as Prime Minister of this integrated State of India. Historical documents reveal that through Article 370 , specal status was accorded to this State as an appeasement policy without debating the matter in the public (Parliament) to allow the State to remain distinct from rest of the states of the country. Sheikh Mohamad Abdullaha became first Prime Minister of J&K state supposed to be integral part and one of the states of independent India with permission to hoist separate flag and separate insignia on the pattern of independent country. Syama Prasad opposed it. He opposed the permit system to enterthe State (as was the system under sovereign J&K prior to accession which should have become irrelevant with the accession). And now after the accession, no Indian could enter the State without this permit. According to Syama Prasad Mookerjee, it was a blunder committed in haste. Unfortunately, this blunder of special status is still being tolerated by the generations resulting in grave regional discrimination and confounded political confusion. He genuinly gave slogan “Ek desh mein do vidhaan, do pradhaan and do nishaan nahi chalenge..” Syama Prasad attempted to enter the State without the permission of the Prime Minister of the state on 11th May, 1953 but was arrested at Lakhanpur- the entry point of the State. He was taken to Srinagar to be kept under house arrest where he was ill-treated and was kept in dilapidated condition. His health deteriorated speedily due to wrong medical treatment. He also resorted to hunger strike while under house arrest. After mounting pressure and sever criticism from the Jan Sang and Hindu Sabha , he was shifted to hospital. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was fond dead under misterious circumstances on 23rd june 1953. Unfortunately , no successive government has ever attempted to clear mystery over his death so far.
While commemorting Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his death anniversary,whose life travelogue remained in search of the truth, ended abruptly on 23rd june 1953, to-day after 61 years , one can question why out of all, only Syama Prasad among the leaders felt the need to protest against the notoriety of permit system (permision to enter the State) even after the State of J&K became one of the States of India or the State of J&K became integral part of India.Why other leaders from Congress remained mute sectators? Why this question never became a national issue? Why no one dare fight for the truth? One may not get the satisfying answers but the fact remains that the battle begun by this brave legendry accomplished 1/3rd of the target, rest is yet to achieve. Jammu & Kashmir has to do away with separate constitution and the separate insignia. Ek Vidhaan and Ek Nishan under the Constitution of India is the remaining task. Achievement of the rest will be the true Tribute to that great soul who left Bengal his birth place behind, travelled far.. far off up to Lakhanpur to awake people and to die for the cause of the people of J&K. When will people of J&K pay off this debt?





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