Punjab Hindu ‘Maha Sabha’

 

Punjab Hindu ‘Maha Sabha’

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The Punjab Hindu ‘Sabha’ was founded in 1907 and it prepared the ground for the establishment of the All India Hindu ‘Maha Sabha’. The All India Hindu ‘Maha Sabha’ was born out of it in December, 1913. The Hindu consciousness led to the formation of local Hindu organizations at various places in North India in the starting of the twentieth century in the Punjab.

The middle class comprising of merchants, professionals, service persons etc., came under the influence of Arya Samaj, played an important role in the provincial Hindu Hindu ‘Maha Sabha’.

The Hindu ‘Maha Sabha’ arranged about twenty public meetings in the Punjab. Hindu ‘Maha Sabha’ leaders explained the reasons in these meetings, why to oppose the Indian National Congress (INC). But these meetings were poorly attended by the people. During the Elections of 1946, the Hindu ‘Maha Sabha’ was not a well organized body. It lacked resources and its influence was waning. The Hindu ‘Maha Sabha’ suffered from dissensions in the provinces and its leaders at the local level failed to give a coherent ideological programme which could attract people.

As the formation of Pakistan had become a reality, the Hindu ‘Maha Sabha’ raised the issue of Hindu ‘Rashtravad’ in a militant manner in order to consolidate the Hindus against the Muslims.

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‘Kirti Kisan’ Party of the Punjab

 

‘Kirti Kisan’ Party of the Punjab

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The Communist Party in the Punjab was originally known as ‘Kirti’ group. It was founded in 1922. The ‘Kirtis’ were deadly enemies of Capitalism and wanted to install a movement of workers and Peasants in India. The origin of the Communist Movement in Punjab can be seen in the beginning of the twentieth century when anti-Imperialist Patriotic feelings were high in the Punjab in the wake of the ‘Ghadar’ Movement and the activities of the ‘Muhajirs’. ‘Muhajirs’ returned to India from Kabul and Tashkant with Marxist ideas and founded a Communist group of Lahore. These anti Imperialist movements created atmosphere for establishment of the Communist Movement in the Punjab.

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Unionist Party of Punjab

 

Unionist Party of Punjab

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Fazl-i-Hussain and Chhotu Ram worked together to form the Unionist Party of Punjab in 1923. They issued an election manifesto and it defined its aim as being to assist and encourage the backward classes and communities of the province. The Unionist Party of the Punjab was a party of land holders comprising of Hindu and Sikh landlords and agriculturists.

The landowners apprehended their extinction in competition with the commercial class had united to form a party to defend their privileges initially as Rural Party and then renamed as Unionist Party in 1923. The Unionist Party was supported by the British.

The Unionist Party of the Punjab got support from the big landowners and peasant proprietors and appealed to the Hindu ‘Jats’ of the Ambala division and the Muslim tribes of the Western Punjab. Chaudhary Chhotu Ram played a leading role in the development of the Punjab Unionist Party. The Unionist Party emerged as a big political power in the Punjab, in 1937 elections.

There was a decline in the social base of the Unionist Party from 1942 to 1946, among the military personnel, the rich landowners, the official and non official revenue agency and other Government officials. By the elections of 1946, the Punjab no longer stood in splendid isolation of the rest of India.

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Punjab Muslim League

 

Punjab Muslim League

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The Punjab Muslim League did not have a proper office until 1938. In the first fortnightly to Viceroy Lord Linlithgow on October 19, 1936, Governor Emerson mentions neither the Muslims League (ML) nor the Congress as important political parties in the Punjab. They receive only cursory mention.

Some of the leading all-India level figures of the Muslim League were from the Punjab. Sir Muhammad Shafi died in 1932, a big landowner and a leading barrister, was a leader of the stature of Jinnah.  

In March 1938, the All India Muslim League Council (AIMLC) appointed a committee under Nawab Ismail Khan’s presidency to decide on the applications for reaffirmation of its provincial organizations. It refused to reaffiliate the Punjab Muslim League on the grounds that its constitution was irregular. At the special Shahidgunj Muslim League (ML) Session held at Calcutta in April, 1938, an Organizing Committee was formed under the chairmanship of Sikander Hayat Khan with the task of creating of a new Muslim League (ML) organization in the Punjab.

According to the terms of the Jinnah-Sikander Pact, “In future elections and by-elections for the Legislature after the adoption of this arrangement, the groups constituting the present Unionist Party will jointly support the candidates put by their respective groups.” By 1946, the ‘Pir’ had reconciled himself to being dragged into the mire of partition politics and not only openly campaigned for the Muslim League (ML) but influenced other ‘Pirs’ in the locality to follow suit.

The Parliamentary board of Muslim League (ML) had ostensible control over the selection of the candidates and this in turn had something to do with its success, but in a somewhat indirect way. Only those candidates were selected whose local support was strong.

 The Muslim League’s famous Pakistan Resolution was passed in an Annual Session at Lahore in April 1940.  The British Government found it in this resolve of the Muslim League (ML) a fresh sign of the perpetuation of the communal rift in India.

The British Government could not contemplate transfer of their responsibilities for the peace and welfare of India. The Princes, The Muslim League (ML) and any others might come along. It was meant as an acceptance by the British Government and the Muslim League (ML) worked hand in hand till the August 15, 1947 to make Pakistan a reality.

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Punjab Provincial Congress Party

 

Punjab Provincial Congress Party

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The Congress Party in Punjab is a branch of the Indian National Congress (INC), it was established in 1885 by the educated upper middle class elite of Indians. Its first Secretary was a Britisher, Lord Allen Octavian Hume.  Its aim was to obtain greater privileges from the British Colonial Government. It spearheaded a prolonged mass movement for the attainment of freedom.  The Congress Party in Punjab first shot into prominence with the ‘Jallianwala Bagh’ tragedy in 1919.

The Congress Party had come to be identified with the urban people of the state who constituted only ten percent of the total population. During 1930s, though agitations in the towns did continue and there was also a spurt in the terrorist activity against the British officials but the rural population, constituting nearly ninety percent of the total population, by and large, remained unaffected by these events. The dominant feature of Punjab politics till mid forties remained one of co-operation with the British. 

During the elections of 1946, the Congress Party emerged as a major force and was destined to dominate the political scene of the Punjab for the next twenty years. As the Congress Party was already in power as a partner in the Coalition in the Punjab, it took over the reins of administration in the post Partition Punjab also.

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Akali Dal Party

 

Akali Dal Party

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The Akali Dal was founded in 1920. The word 'Akali', meaning, immortal, was first used Guru Govind Singh for those of his select followers who were prepared to risk their all for the protection of their places of religion. They also came to be known as ‘Nihangs’. They were known for the purity of character and sincerity of purpose and commanded great respect among the Sikh Community. 

As the ‘Akalis’ had for a long period of time been the custodians of the Sikh temples and were known for the sacrifices they made to preserve the ceremonial purity, the word ‘Akali’ came to be regarded as a symbol of purity and strict morality.

Emergence of the ‘Shiromani Akali Dal’ has claimed itself to be the sole spokesman of the ‘Sikh interests’ and has been launching powerful political agitations in the name of the Sikh Community. Use of religious slogans and religious places for the attainment of political goals has been its greatest asset as well as liability. 

A Sikh Conference took place at Lahore on July 24, 1932 representing the ‘Akali Dal’ and Central Sikh League in strength. The Conference rejected the proportion of seats allocated to the Sikhs. The Akali Dal decided not to support either the Congress or the Unionist Party and opted to contest elections on its own. They rejected the Congress because of its predominantly anti-Sikh, Hindu ‘Arya Samaj’ leadership. The ‘Akali Dal’ came out victorius in the ‘Gurdwara’ elections of 1939.

In order to counter creation of a sovereign Muslim State of Pakistan, the ‘Akali Dal’ raised a demand for Azad Punjab. It was opposed by the Nationalist Sikhs besides the leaders of the Hindu community. Baba Kharak Singh criticized the demand for ‘Azad’ Punjab and asked the Sikh community to support the Congress. 

The Sikh demand became more radicalized. It now took the shape of a sovereign Sikh state. In August, 1944 Master Tara Singh declared, “The Sikhs were a nation, if the country was going to be split, they should not be left on the mercy of either Pakistan or Hindustan.”  The Cabinet Mission Proposals were unacceptable to the Sikhs as they provided no guarantees to the Sikhs and the Muslim minority. 

The ‘Akali Dal’ President, Giani Kartar Singh, reasserted on June 17, 1947, “The plan of Partition of Punjab was unacceptable to the Sikhs and they wanted a separate Sikh homeland where they could develop their culture and preserve their entity.” The ‘Akali’ leaders abandoned the idea of “separate Sikh state” and decided to stay in India. Akali-Congress co-operation resulted in some ‘Akali’ functionaries getting high position in the Congress set up at the provincial and National levels, including Master Tara Singh being taken as a member of the AICC Working Committee. 

It was this bond of friendship and a strong sense of nationalism which was greatly responsible for the Sikh leadership generally supporting the Congress stand during various parleys for transfer of power and the Sikhs casting their lot with Independent India at the time of Partition on August 15, 1947.

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Cabinet Mission Plan

 

Cabinet Mission Plan

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The Cabinet Mission came to India on March 23, 1946, consisting of the three Cabinet Ministers of the British Parliament, Lord Pethic-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and Mr. A.V. Alexander. They conducted extensive discussions and negotiations about the transfer of power, preferably to a united India. The Cabinet Mission announced its own scheme on May 15, 1947. It rejected the demand for Pakistan. 

The Cabinet Mission Plan offered the following solutios: There should be a Union of India, embracing both British India and the princely states, which should deal with foreign affairs, Defense, and Communications, and have the power to raise finances required for those three areas of government activity. All other areas of policy would be delegated to the provinces, The Princely States would retain all powers other than those ceded to the Union. Provinces would be free to form groups with executive and legislatures and each group could determine the provincial subjects to be taken up in common.

The protracted negotiations that ensured the formula was evolved of having three groups in the country. First was to consist of the Hindu majority provinces of Bihar, Orissa, the Utter Pradesh, Central Provinces, Bombay and Madras, the second of Assam and Bengal, and the third of the Punjab, the North West Frontier Province and Sind. These three groups were each to frame its own constitution in their respective Assemblies to be elected on the basis of one member for one million of population. There was to be a weak and loose centre, which was to control a limited number of subjects.

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