The Great Unity
A historical investigation into the Hindu-Muslim unity of Bharat
Despite my categorical disagreements with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on several matters, I find his work, Pakistan or The Partition of India to be bold, incisive and instructive. Given the worship of Dr. Ambedkar across political hues in Bharat, I thought it would be worthwhile to present his less quoted and discussed work with the hope that it would counter asinine yet dangerous notions and conclusions that have arisen thanks to the utter neglect of history. What is (not) surprising is that this work was written eighty years ago and it appears that sufficient lessons have not been drawn from it. It is hoped that the reader would take a serious and detailed look at the arguments being presented here. I will divide the content over subsequent articles for the ease of the reader.
“The Muslim Case for Pakistan is sought to be justified on the following grounds :—
(i) What the Muslims are asking for is the creation of administrative areas which are ethnically more homogeneous.
(ii) The Muslims want these homogeneous administrative areas which are predominantly Muslim to be constituted into separate States,
(a) because the Muslims by themselves constitute a separate nation and desire to have a national home, and
(b) because experience shows that the Hindus want to use their majority to treat the Muslims as though they were second-class citizens in an alien State.”1
Is it not shocking to see that (ii) (b) is being sung even today after the creation of Pakistan? Are there not arguments identical to (i) and (ii) being made even today? Is it unreasonable to expect that this would lead to a repeat of history? Are we prepared for another round of bloodshed?
“Before the Hindus complain of the destruction of the unity of India, let them make certain that the unity they are harping upon does exist. What unity is there between Pakistan and Hindustan?…
The most important thing that has happened is the invasion of India by the Muslim hordes from the north-west…
These Muslim invasions were not undertaken merely out of lust for loot or conquest. There was another object behind them. The expedition against Sind by Mahommad bin Qasim was of a punitive character and was undertaken to punish Raja Dahir of Sind who had refused to make restitution for the seizure of an Arab ship at Debul, one of the sea-port towns of Sind. But, there is no doubt that striking a blow at the idolatry and polytheism of Hindus and establishing Islam in India was also one of the aims of this expedition. In one of his despatches to Hajjaj, Mahommad bin Qasim is quoted to have said:
“The nephew of Raja Dahir, his warriors and principal officers have been dispatched, and the infidels converted to Islam or destroyed. Instead of idol-temples, mosques and other places of worship have been created, the Kutbah is read, the call to prayers is raised, so that devotions are performed at stated hours. The Takbir and praise to the Almighty God are offered every morning and evening.” Indian Islam by Dr. Titus, p. 10.
After receiving the above despatch, which had been forwarded with the head of the Raja, Hajjaj sent the following reply to his general:
“Except that you give protection to all, great and small alike, make no difference between enemy and friend. God, says, ‘Give no quarter to infidels but cut their throats’. Then know that this is the command of the great God. You shall not be too ready to grant protection, because it will prolong your work. After this give no quarter to any enemy except those who are of rank.” Quoted by Dr. Titus—Ibid., p. 10.
Muhammad of Ghazni also looked upon his numerous invasions of India as the waging of a holy war. Al’ Utbi, the historian of Muhammad, describing his raids writes:
“He demolished idol temples and established Islam. He captured…… cities, killed the polluted wretches, destroying the idolators, and gratifying Muslims. ‘He then returned home and promulgated accounts of the victories obtained for Islam……….and vowed that every year he would undertake a holy war against Hind’.” Ibid., p. 11.
Mahommed Ghori was actuated by the same holy zeal in his invasions of India. Hasan Nizami, the historian, describes his work in the following terms:
“He purged by his sword the land of Hind from the filth of infidelity and vice, and freed the whole of that country from the thorn of God-plurality and the impurity of idolworship, and by his royal vigour and intrepidity left not one temple standing. ” Ibid., p. 11.
Taimur has in his Memoir explained what led him to invade India. He says:
“My object in the invasions of Hindustan is to lead a campaign against the infidels, to convert them to the true faith according to the command of Muhammad (on whom and his family be the blessing and peace of God), to purify the land from the defilement of misbelief and polytheism, and overthrow the temples and idols, whereby we shall be Ghazis and Mujahids, companions and soldiers of the faith before God.” Quoted by Lane Poole in Medieval India, p. 155.
…In invading India, the Afghan was out to destroy the Tartar and the Mongol was out to destroy the Tartar as well as the Afghan. They were not a loving family cemented by the feeling of Islamic brotherhood. They were deadly rivals of one another and their wars were often wars of mutual extermination. What is, however, important to bear in mind is that with all their internecine conflicts they were all united by one common objective and that was to destroy the Hindu faith.”2
References
Pakistan or The Partition of India by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, p.19
Pakistan or The Partition of India by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, p.53-57