Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed that we all share in the sorrow felt by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the horrors of the country's partition. He described the partition as one of the most tragic and unfortunate events of the 20th century, a reality so painful that many survivors prefer not to speak of it.
However, Yadav emphasized that for a nation to progress and secure its future, it must learn from the wounds and mistakes of its past; otherwise, its future remains at risk.
Yadav was addressing the program organized at Sarojini Naidu Government Girls College, Bhopal on the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. He visited the exhibition focusing on Partition and paid tributes by observing a 2-minute silence. A short film focusing on the horrors of Partition and a film depicting Prime Minister Modi’s thinking on this horror were also screened. Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Vishwas Sarang, Minister of State for Culture Dharmendra Singh Lodhi, Mayor Smt. Malti Rai and MLA Bhagwandas Sabnani were present in the program.
Yadav noted that there are many relevant examples in this context. He pointed to the struggles of Israel, Iraq, and Iran for their identity and nationality as sources of inspiration. Dr. Yadav highlighted that while Indians are known for their noble sentiments and inclusive nature, they often suffer due to the deceitful actions of others. He referenced historical figures and events, such as Prithviraj Chauhan, the Ghulam dynasty, Mohammad Ghazni, and Mohammad Bin Qasim, to illustrate how deceit led to numerous victories and prolonged periods of subjugation for the country. Additionally, he mentioned how religious conversions were accelerated through various deceptions. The British, who initially came for trade, employed the ‘Divide and Rule’ strategy to secure their position in India after the 1857 Revolution, leading to the 1906 Muslim League formula. This policy granted voting and electoral rights exclusively to Muslims in Muslim-majority constituencies.
The Chief Minister remarked that despite the British divisive policies, the strength of Indian society was evident when, in 1906, the Muslim League's candidates failed to win elections. The Indian electorate recognized the British conspiracy and rejected the League's candidates in 1906, 1911, 1916, and 1923, with continued losses until 1936. However, the Indian political parties of that time failed to grasp the full extent of the British strategy and instead supported the Khalifa movement in Turkey based on religious grounds.
This misstep allowed separatist sentiments to take root, ultimately leading to the Muslim League's sweeping victory in the 1940 elections and the rise of divisive forces.
Yadav noted that leaders like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose opposed the divisive conspiracy but were not given the opportunity to lead. Patriots such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who initiated Ganesh Utsav, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, Chandrashekhar Azad, and Bhagat Singh, who helped establish Banaras Hindu University, were sidelined. The political party committed to preventing the country's division failed to uphold its pledge, leading to the swift creation of the principle of partition, which was approved by Lord Mountbatten. This resulted in the nation enduring the horrors of partition, including widespread violence and genocide. Nationalist Muslims were disrespected, and the country's disregard for its cultural unity led to tragic outcomes, including brutal train massacres, widespread abuse of women, and the division of Punjab and Sindh, with the latter's name still reflected in the national anthem.
