kobiraaz
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Jinnah shaheb called for a meeting of All India Muslim League Council on 29 July in Bombay. I could not go there due to financial crisis. Jinnah shaheb declared 16th August as Direct Action Day. He announced through a statement to observe the day peacefully. He wanted to show the British Government and Cabinet Mission that 10 crore Indian Muslims are committed to the Pakistan cause. They won't accept any obstacle. Congress and Hindu Mahashava leaders started to give statement that This day was announced against them.
We were asked to observe the day accordingly. Hashim shaheb (General secretary of the Bengal Provincial Muslim League) arranged a meeting. He asked us to go to every locality including Hindu areas. He asked us to tell them " This day is not against Hindus, Its against British Government. Come join us to observe the day irrespective of religion" . We attached mikes to hired cars and started our propaganda in Hindu and Muslim areas saying " Only Pakistan, Nothing Else. This demand is not against Hindus but against Britain" Forward Bloc leaders ( left-wing nationalist political party in India) came to us and agreed to observe the day peacefully. We agreed. However They couldn't withstand Hindu Mahasava and Congress propaganda who successfully established it as Anti Hindu Program.
Suhrawardi was the Prime Minister of Bengal by then. He also asked to observe the day peacefully otherwise It would give a bad name to his Muslim League Government. He declared 16th August as Holiday.This made Hindu Mahasava and Congress angry.
There was a meeting scheduled to take place in Gorer Math Kolkata on 16th August. People were to come from different part of the city with rally. Muslim students of Kolkata were to gather in Islamia College at 10 am, I was assigned in Islamia college. At 7 am we went to Kolkata University to hoist Muslim league Flag. After we left the flag was torn down. I with Nuruddin returned to Islamia college via Bou Bazar. If we were half an hour late in Bou Bazar no one would have found our dead body.
Only a few of the Muslim students from Baker Hostel ( hostel for Muslim students Calcutta University) reached the place. A few of the female students also reached Islamia college from Munnuzan Hostel. They were all Muslim Student League activists. After some time a group of injured students reached Islamia college. Some were stabbed, some had head injury. We were not prepared for something like this. The female students came forward and bandaged them with pieces from their sharee. Then we sent them to a nearby doctor.
One student informed us The Hindus are not attacking in large groups. They are attacking lone Muslim travelers. Then we heard that Hindu Mob attacked Muslim students when they tried to hoist flag in Ripon college.
Suren Bannerji road was close to Islamia college followed by Dharmatala and Wellington square. These were all hindu majority area. We heard that Hindu Mob attacked Mosque in Wellington square and they were coming to Islamia College next. Hearing that we 50 students went forward to Dharmatala in empty hands. I hadnt seen communal riots before. When we reached the mosque We saw hundreds of hindus were attacking the mosque and The Imam was running towards us followed by a group of people with sticks and swords in their hands. Fortunately there were few Muslim shops near us. Seeing us a group of muslims came forward with sticks. We started chanting " Pakistan Zindabad" We were only 150 people and hindus were very close to us. We started throwing bricks and stones. Then suddenly a huge group of muslims reached there with sticks. Hindus went back. We came back too.Police started patroling roads and there were clashes in all over Kolkata. Muslims were not ready for the riot I can vouch that......
Suhrawardi Shaheb asked everyone to back to their home. But those who live in Hindu areas where would they go? Park circus wellesly Park Benia Bazar were Muslim areas. Many injured people gathered in those areas. We were receiving phone calls every minute requesting us to escort Muslim families from Hindu areas. We were also requested by Hindu families to help them leave Muslim areas. We managed to escort few hindu families living near Baker hostel to Suren Bannerji road.
There were dead bodies all over kolkata. Area after area were burnt. We had to rescue muslim families and i was attacked in some of the places. I felt that Men had turned into bloodthirsty animal. On 16th August Muslims were beaten heavily but they managed to pay it back in the next two days. We learned it from Hospital Record......
Source : Unfinished Memoirs of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
We were asked to observe the day accordingly. Hashim shaheb (General secretary of the Bengal Provincial Muslim League) arranged a meeting. He asked us to go to every locality including Hindu areas. He asked us to tell them " This day is not against Hindus, Its against British Government. Come join us to observe the day irrespective of religion" . We attached mikes to hired cars and started our propaganda in Hindu and Muslim areas saying " Only Pakistan, Nothing Else. This demand is not against Hindus but against Britain" Forward Bloc leaders ( left-wing nationalist political party in India) came to us and agreed to observe the day peacefully. We agreed. However They couldn't withstand Hindu Mahasava and Congress propaganda who successfully established it as Anti Hindu Program.
Suhrawardi was the Prime Minister of Bengal by then. He also asked to observe the day peacefully otherwise It would give a bad name to his Muslim League Government. He declared 16th August as Holiday.This made Hindu Mahasava and Congress angry.
There was a meeting scheduled to take place in Gorer Math Kolkata on 16th August. People were to come from different part of the city with rally. Muslim students of Kolkata were to gather in Islamia College at 10 am, I was assigned in Islamia college. At 7 am we went to Kolkata University to hoist Muslim league Flag. After we left the flag was torn down. I with Nuruddin returned to Islamia college via Bou Bazar. If we were half an hour late in Bou Bazar no one would have found our dead body.
Only a few of the Muslim students from Baker Hostel ( hostel for Muslim students Calcutta University) reached the place. A few of the female students also reached Islamia college from Munnuzan Hostel. They were all Muslim Student League activists. After some time a group of injured students reached Islamia college. Some were stabbed, some had head injury. We were not prepared for something like this. The female students came forward and bandaged them with pieces from their sharee. Then we sent them to a nearby doctor.
One student informed us The Hindus are not attacking in large groups. They are attacking lone Muslim travelers. Then we heard that Hindu Mob attacked Muslim students when they tried to hoist flag in Ripon college.
Suren Bannerji road was close to Islamia college followed by Dharmatala and Wellington square. These were all hindu majority area. We heard that Hindu Mob attacked Mosque in Wellington square and they were coming to Islamia College next. Hearing that we 50 students went forward to Dharmatala in empty hands. I hadnt seen communal riots before. When we reached the mosque We saw hundreds of hindus were attacking the mosque and The Imam was running towards us followed by a group of people with sticks and swords in their hands. Fortunately there were few Muslim shops near us. Seeing us a group of muslims came forward with sticks. We started chanting " Pakistan Zindabad" We were only 150 people and hindus were very close to us. We started throwing bricks and stones. Then suddenly a huge group of muslims reached there with sticks. Hindus went back. We came back too.Police started patroling roads and there were clashes in all over Kolkata. Muslims were not ready for the riot I can vouch that......
Suhrawardi Shaheb asked everyone to back to their home. But those who live in Hindu areas where would they go? Park circus wellesly Park Benia Bazar were Muslim areas. Many injured people gathered in those areas. We were receiving phone calls every minute requesting us to escort Muslim families from Hindu areas. We were also requested by Hindu families to help them leave Muslim areas. We managed to escort few hindu families living near Baker hostel to Suren Bannerji road.
There were dead bodies all over kolkata. Area after area were burnt. We had to rescue muslim families and i was attacked in some of the places. I felt that Men had turned into bloodthirsty animal. On 16th August Muslims were beaten heavily but they managed to pay it back in the next two days. We learned it from Hospital Record......
Source : Unfinished Memoirs of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
