British Cabinet Mission, constituting 3 cabinet ministers, came to India on March 24, 1946, vested with the authority to hand over Power to Indians. The mission had meetings with the leaders of all parties for their opinion. Hindus were mainly represented by Congress, Muslims by Muslim League, and Sikhs by the Akalis. These were the Three Main parties, to whom the British rulers contended to hand over power.
The Sikh leaders met the Cabinet Mission on April 5, 1946. On the same day Jawahar Lal Nehru issued the statement, "The brave Sikhs of Punjab are entitled to special consideration. I see nothing wrong, in an area and a set up in the North wherein the Sikhs can experience the glow of freedom." This was to win the confidence of the Sikhs in Hindus and to befool them, so that they should not look elsewhere for the security of their rights.
The Cabinet Mission released their Plan of handing over of the Power to the Indians on May 16, 1946. The Plan envisaged formation of Indian Federation, which was to deal with Foreign Affairs, Defense and Communications, with provisions to raise necessary finances, as the Central subjects. The residual powers were to lay with the provinces, which were clubbed in Three Groups. Group A consisted of six Hindu majority provinces; Group B, included Punjab, NWFP, Sind and Baluchistan in the North West; while Group C was formed of Assam and Bengal in the East. The Groups would have their own constitution, and the provinces forming the Groups, could opt out after a period of 10 years. It provided PARITY in the Central Executive between 6 Hindu majority provinces forming Group A (population 190 million), and Muslim majority provinces of Groups B and C (population 90 million); which was greatly objected by the Hindu Congress leaders . As Muslim League was not having their ministries in Punjab and NWFP, they asked for confirmation from the Mission that the Group scheme will be compulsory. On May 25, 1946, the Mission confirmed that the Grouping scheme would be compulsory.
Muslim League saw their dream of formation of Pakistan a reality in this proposed United India, and accepted the Plan. .M.K. Gandhi on behalf of Cngress wrote to the Mission, "This is really worse than Pakistan". Instead he wanted the composition of the Central Legislature and Executive on the basis of the population. In the words of H.M. Seervai, "The Congress opposition to parity marks a watershed in the history of Congress and its fight for the independence of a united India."" Gandhi had now decided to break the unity of India, for he was not willing to allay the genuine fears of 90 million Muslims. Seervai avers that "after the 1945-46 elections, nationalist Muslims could play no effective part in the Congress." Even the staunch nationalist Muslim, like Maulana Azad commente that the Congress stand was injurious to the unity of India. MK Gandhi wrote to Azad, "I did not infer from your letter that you are writing about my Hindus. Whatever you have in your heart has not appeared in your writings. whatever you want to say about the communal problems should not be said without consulting me and the Working Committee." Gandhi was saying in other words to Azad, that he was merely a show boy Muslim in the Congress.
The Sikh community was completely upset to read the British Plan. Sikhs do not realize that all along it were Sikhs at the instance of the Hindus, who had ever been buying enmity with Muslims, right from the time of Banda Bairagi. Now, in this instance also the readers will appreciate that the cause of hatred and enmity solely generated by Hindus against Muslims, how cleverly it turned into enmity between Sikhs and Muslims, and the Hindus keeping themselves aside, gleefully watched Sikhs fighting with Muslims. In their fury, one and all Sikhs in the conference held on June 9, 1946 spoke real and imaginary inhuman deeds of Muslims of the past, and rejected the British Plan outright, as there was no mention of the Sikh rights in the Plan. The conference instituted a Pritinidhi Panthic Board, and set up a council of Action with Colonel Niranjan Singh Gill of the Indian National Army, a Trojan horse for the Congress, as DICTATOR. Gill had been introduced by General Mohan Singh of Indian National Army, another Trojan horse. What to say of taking of the Pahul, Gill did never wear Iron Bangle (Kada). It were Hinduised Sikhs, so called Congress Sikhs, who were instrumental in putting up Gill, though Master Tara Singh was no less a Hindu. Gill on the very first day said, "We shall explore all avenues before starting any direct action. This obviously means negotiations with the Congress and I have every hope that the Congress will stand by the Sikhs." While Master Tara Singh said, "The Panthic Board will, before launching any struggle, negotiate with political parties. The Congress and the Muslim League are the two parties concerned."
Both Hindu and Muslim States had to gain very much in having the joint security of their respective states at the federal level. It is not understood in what way the interests of Hindu Group would have been jeopardized in giving parity of representation of the Groups at the Center; when option was there that any province could opt out of the Group after ten years.
While Muslim League had accepted the British Plan, the Congress did not. Muslim League in its resolution on June 6, 1946 sought "to impress upon the Congress to let bygone be bygone, and show a genuine willingness to share the power with Muslim community in a united India." The Congress on the other hand accepted the plan with reservations about the group provisions which struck at the integrity of the plan. Gandhi had gone to the extent of advising Bardoli, Chief Minister of Assam to reject the Plan to make it a dead letter. Gandhi wrote. "Assam must not lose its soul.", because of its Hindu character, he did not mind all Muslim provinces losing theirs.
On July 10, 1946, at a press conference in Bombay, now as President of the Congress, he stated that the Congress would enter the Constituent Assembly "completely unfettered by agreements and free to meet all situations as they arose." He stated, "that the Congress had agreed only to participate in the Constituent Assembly and regarded itself free to change or modify the British Plan."
Jinnah rightly argued that if the Hindus could change their position many times when the British were still there and power had not yet come into their hands, what assurance could the minorities have, once the British left. Muslim League adopted a resolution on July 27, 1946, revoking the acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan, and also drew up a plan for direct action. After adopting the resolution, Jinnah said, "This day we bid good bye to constitutional methods."" Referring to Congress and British holding pistols of authority and mass struggle, he said, "Today we have also forged a pistol and are in a position to use it." August 16 was fixed as "Direct Action Day."
Viceroy Wavell asked Nehru to give assurances to Jinnah on Groups, but nothing came out of the move as Nehru was only giving expression of guidelines laid by Gandhi.
The Panthic Board of Sikhs, presided by Niranjan Singh Gill on June 22, 1946 directed Baldev Singh not to accept the invitation from the viceroy to join the interim Government that was being set up in pursuant of the British Plan of May 16, 1946. Later, when Gill saw that Congress leaders were joining the interim government, he worked upon Hinduised Akalis led by Nagoke- Majhail and raked up old rivalries between the two groups to weaken the Akali Sikh stand for achievement of honorable position in the proposed independent India. On July 18, 1946, Gill wrote to Nehru of his intentions (a) to help Congress Sikhs openly against the Akalis, (b) to unite the Sikhs and bring them all to Congress thinking. Gill proved to the worst enemy of Sikh interests as an agent of the Brahmins, a snake in the grass. As a result of Congress accepting the British Plan with its own reservation of the grouping plan of provinces, and Muslim League's withdrawal of their acceptance of the Plan, Gill stated on August 8, 1946 that the Sikhs would along with Congress join the interim government and the Constituent Assembly.
Muslim League observed the Direct Action Day on August 16, 1946 at Calcutta, which led to a communal holocaust, when Muslim mobs went bersek. The following day Hindu mobs led by Sikh taxi drivers of Calcutta turned the tables and drew even. These killings resulted in 5,000 dead and 15,000 injured. The involvement of the Sikh Taxi Drivers on the side of Hindus, was totally the lack of Sikh leadership, a worst type of partisan act on the part of Sikhs, which they had to pay heavily , which resulted in mass killing of Sikhs in Rawalpindi Division by Muslims in March 1947.
Viceroy Wavell foresaw that if political agreement between the Congress and Muslim League was not reached, it would result in the civil war throughout the country. But MK Gandhi, strangely enough, was greatly enthused at the developments. Gandhi had a meeting with the viceroy Wavell on August 27, 1946. As per writings of Wavell, he described the meeting - "Gandhi thumped the table and said 'if India wants a bloodbath, she shall have it. If a bloodbath was necessary, it would come about inspite of non-violence'. Wavell was dumb-founded at these words coming from the mouth of the apostle of non-violence. Gandhi had by now grauated to full fledged violence and bloodbath at that, all over India, though being a hypocrite he continued to wear sheep's clothing."
An interim government was formed by the Congress party with their Sikh stooge Baldev Singh - Sikhs having gained no assurance of any kind in the future set up of the country. Muslim League, could visualize the harm that would be caused to them, by allowing Congress alone to wield power. Muslim League then accepted the British Cabinet Plan of Grouping according to their interpretation, and joined the interim government on October 26, 1948. Liakat Ali Khan became the Finance Minister , bringing a standstill the functioning of the government.
Since Congress Party had convened the Constituent Assembly for framing of the future constitution of the country and was to work unilaterally, the British Government in U.K. made the last bid to preserve the unity of India, asked the Indian leaders to come to U.K. to compose the differences among the Indian parties. As a result Nehru representing the Congress, Jinnah and Liakat representing Muslim League and Baldev Singh representing Sikhs met in London, December 3-6, 1946, when Britsh made earnest attempts to beidge the gap between the Congress and the League on the basis of 16 May 1946 British Plan. The attempt failed, solely due to the intransigent attitude of the Hindu Congress. The attempt failed. Nonetheless, Atlee, British Prime Minister on December 6, read out the statewment which in the words of Seevai was the last effective attempt to bring the Congress and the League together in framing a constitution of a United India. From Nehru's intransigence, it was obvious that the Congress and the League were on the parting ways, and Wavell's dream of a united India would flounder. The Congress had decided to divide India in case Muslims still refused to submit to their terms.
Late Winston Churchill had a message conveyed in confidence to Baldev Singh to stay behind for a couple of days in London, so as to evolve some way to enable the Sikhs to have a political feet on their own on which they may walk into the current of World History. According to George Abell, the British idea was to see how the Sikhs could be fitted in either of the two dominions with due safeguards, an idea spelled out by Cripps to Baldev Singh in the form of a question on April 5, 1946.
Private papers of Lord Wavell refer to British plan to have three way partition of the Punjab "between Muslims and non-Muslims, and between Hindu and non-Hindu areas to cater to the Sikh interests in central Punjab including the Sikh states." (Sangat Singh)
Baldev Singh, merely a son of a Sikh rich industrialist and no other qualifications, virtually a buffoon, disclosed the message of Churchill to Nehru. Nehru drafted a statement on behalf of Baldev Singh, to write, "the Sikhs had thrown their lot with the Congress and did not want anything from the British", and sent it to Churchill. Nehru also assured that Baldev Singh would leave London for India with him.
British Prime Minister, Atlee told the Cabinet Ministers on December 10, 1946 that 'Nehru's present policy seemed to be to secure complete domination by Congress throughout the Government of India, and the ultimate result of Congress policy might be the establishment of that Pakistan, which they so much dislike. )Atlee) wanted the cabinet that the situation might so develop as to result in civil war in India with all the bloodshed that would entail. There seemed little realization in Indian leaders of the risk that ordered government might collapse.
The Constituent Assembly for framing the constitution of India was inaugurated without participation of the Muslim League. Nehru in the Assembly paid tributes to Gandhi and called him, "The Father of our Nation."
The Congress on January 6, 1947, accepted total repudiation of the British Mission Plan of May 16, 1946. In other words, India was to be divided. This caused rude shock to the Sikhs, as the betrayal of Sikhs. Calcutta riots were followed were followed by the communal carnage in Bihar and Bombay against Musalims; and Muslims too took revenge in Noakhali (Bengal).
Viceroy Wavell was still for making another attempt to keep India united. Of the Congress leaders, Gandhi was the only one to foresee partition of India; while formerly he was the staunch protagonist of UNITED INDIA. Hindu Congress leaders showed extreme tenacity in the rigidity of their planned views, and did never practice spirit of any adjustment. Th events that immediately followed led to the hasty decision and partition of India, how Sikhs were hoodwinked by clever Hindu Congress leaders totally ignoring the interests of Sikhs, for which Sikhs themselves were also largely responsible. Sikhs cannot blame either British or Muslims for the sad plight they are in since August 15, 1947.
Due to the failure of the British Prime Minister, Atlee to reach any decision on implementation of the British Plan of May 16, 1946 for handing over of Power to Indians, during the talks held in London during 3-6 December, 1946, it was MK Gandhi who was the source of Hindu Congress move to go for the partition of the country. Communal riots had occurred in Calcutta, and in reaction thereof in Bihar, Bombay and Noakhali (Bengal). India was fast heading toward chaos and anarchy.
On February 20, 1047 British Prime Minister, Atlee, issued a Policy Statement that Power would be handed over to Indians in accordance with the Cabinet Mission Plan of May 16, 1946 or would consider to whom Power should be handed over, by not later than June 1948, when British would leave the country.
Atlee, also sacked the Viceroy of India, Lord Wavell, at the instance of Hindu Congress leaders, and appointed Lord Louis Mount Batten in his place, to hasten handing over of the Power. Wavell was averse to the division of India.
Due to the nullification of the Cabinet Mission Plan of May 16, 1946, and the latest British declaration of handing over of Power before June 1948, the Punjab province ministry which was not of Muslim League, but composite ministry of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs (Unionist Party), it was dissolved on March 4, 1947. There was large gathering of Hindus and Sikhs outside the Secretariat at Lahore. It is a false story that Master Tara Singh unsheathed his sword, brandished it and shouted "Pakistan Murdabad", and cut the Muslim League Flag. The fact is that lot of sloganeering was going on outside the Assembly by Muslim mobs. Tara Singh, in the words of Justice G D Khosla, stood on the stairs facing the hostile crowd and said "cut ke dengay apni jan. Magar nahin degay Pakistan." Meaning - We shall give away our lives, but never concede Pakistan. These words though highly irresponsible, but were not incendiary in nature.
This resulted in communal riots in Lahore and Amritsar. Now began the added hostility between the Sikhs and Muslims also. During the next week savage communal riots causing rape, rapine, murder and arson of particularly of the Sikhs in western Punjab took place. The sins of Sikh Taxi Drivers of Calcutta, who took partisan role in Calcutta killings in favor of Hindus, were visited upon the Sikhs in West Punjab of Rawalpindi Division and NWFP. The whole affair of such happenings exhibited the total bankruptcy of any Sikh leadership.
The Akalis mooted out a plan for formation of a Hindu Sikh province between River Ravi and River Jumna, to avoid Muslim domination. Master Tara Singh told New York Times correspondent of his fear of civil war and said, "we cannot trust the Muslims under any circumstances." Tara Singh was born a Hindu, converted to Sikhism for reasons best known to him, as he was the least a religious man, who can be said to have understood a bit of Sikh Teachings. The Sikh history that exists, was written largely by Hindus and hinduised Sikhs, who completely distorted and twisted the facts to make them appear Hindu. It indeed requires lot of research work to clear depict what the Gurus taught, and how they lived according to the Divine preaching.
I may here be permitted to give here the correct Sikh Teachings, and the correct history of the revered Gurus, before I continue to give the happenings of 1946-47; to show how much we so called Sikhs have corrupted Sikhism, and we ourselves made it a part of Hinduism, and virtually behaved as much, rather much more fanatic Hindus, and least Sikhs during all these past three centuries, since the times of wily Banda Bairagi, when the Sikh Teachings were totally reversed, to this day.
The Gurus taught about the existence of the ONE ETERNAL REALITY CALLED GOD, AND WE ALL ARE AND WHATEVER WE FIND IN THE VAST CREATION, IT IS ALL HIS MANIFESTATION - HE HIMSELF IS PRESENT IN ALL CREATURES EQUALLY IN HIS LIGHT OR JOT FORM (CALLED SOUL). THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE - ALSO IT IS HE, WHO HAS CREATED MATTER OF FIVE ELEMENTS (SPACE, AIR, ENERGY (HEAT), WATER AND MUD (EARTHLY MATTER), WHICH IS CALLED MAYA OR SATAN OR THE GREAT ILLUSION. THIS MATTER OF FIVE ELEMENTS CONSTITUTES THE BODIES WHICH COVERS THE LIFE GIVING ALL PERVADING ALL PERFECTION DIVINE LIGHT (JOT). THE MATERIAL BODY COMES INTO LIFE BY THE PRESENCE OF THE DIVINE LIGHT; WHEREAS THIS MATERIAL BODY CREATES IN US VARIED PASSIONS AND INSTINCTS OF OTS OWN, APART FROM THE ALL PERFECTION DIVINE IN US. THUS DUALITY IS CREATED IN ALL CREATURES. THE SUM TOTAL OF ALL PASSIONS AND INSTINCTS IN US IS CALLED "MIND". THE CHIEF INSTINCTS IN US ARE - EGOISM (SELFISHNESS), SEX LUST, GREED, ANGER AND ATTACHMENT. THESE FIVE INSTINCTS HAVE NUMEROUS TYPES OF PASSIONS, WHICH THE CREATURES ARE PRONE TO. THE HUMAN PROBLEM IS THAT MAN IS COMPOSED OF TWO OPPOSING ENTITIES IN HIM - (a) DIVINE, THE ALL PERFECTION (b) MIND - THE ANIMAL PASSIONS, WHICH IN NATURE ARE OF DUAL NATURE. IF DEPLOYED MERELY FOR SENSUAL PLEASURE S OF BODY, ULTIMATELY PROVE SINFUL AND DESTRUCTIVE. BUT IF DEPLOYED UNDER THE DIVINE GUIDANCE, PROVE LIFE GIVING AND MEANS FOR ULTIMATE UNION WITH THE DIVINE AS HUMAN SALVATION. THERE IS THEREOF THE ETERNAL TUSSLE IN EVERY ONE CAUSING UNREST AND REPENTENCE OVER OUR DOINGS.
The Basic Sikh Teachings are to accept the Oneness of Creator Lord present in us all, and to live with Him, revere Him, and ever act in strict obedience of His Commands.
This Basic Teaching entails -
- EQUAQLITY OF ALL, AS THE LIFE GIVING LORD IS EQUALLY PRESENT IN ALL BEING EQUALLY THE CHILDREN OF ONE GOD ONLY.
-
NEVER TO HURT OR AGGRESS ANY ONE, BUT ONLY TO DEFEND OURSELVES IN UNISON
WITH THE LORD. NEVER BEAR ANY FEELING OF REVENGE , BUT EVER CHERISH LOVE
FOR ALL.
PRACTICE FORGIVENESS IS DIVINE OF ALL TRESSPASSES OF OTHERS, AS PART OF LOVE OF THE DIVINE. - NEVER TO LEAD OF SELFISHNESS OR EXPLOITATION OF OTHERS. EVER LIVE A LIFE OF ADJUSTMENT ON THE BASIS OF TRUTH WITH OTHERS. EXERCISE OF "CHANKYA KUTAL NITI" HAS NO PLACE IN TRULY SIKH LIFE.
All these Basic Teachings were blown to the winds by perverted Sikhs, from the time of Banda Bairagi to this day, and the so called Sikhs adopted Brahmanic traits in their greed for acquisition of Power and conquest of lands, and destroyed themselves. What to say of the Universal Brotherhood in them, the Hindu Caste stratification is in the worst form in them; they have been and are fighting among themselves like mad dogs. In the atmosphere, what to state of the poor low caste Sikhs, who were attracted by the Divine Teachings of Equality. How do the so called Sikh treat the scheduled caste and untouchable Sikhs, whom they call "Mazbi Sikhs". Is their social status better than their counterparts in Hindus? The answer is NO, rather worse. Had we at least observed the Teachings of Equality of All in the real sense, not only fate of the Mazbi Sikhs, but Sikhs position today would have been different. All the Schedule Caste and Untouchable Hindus and other low caste Jats, would have been not only Sikhs, but others would have been Sikhs.
We Sikhs have learnt no lesson neither from the Sikh Teachings, nor from the world history. Sikhs have not realized how Christians and Muslims have been able to spread their respective creed, which enabled them to establish their empires on firm footings world over. Where Muslims made conquests of lands, they sent Muslim Pirs, divines And other preachers to spread Islamic creed there. Without have substantial local population of the believers in the creed of the rulers, no rule can ever be established. And the minority rule cannot last for long. In the case of Sikhs, Ranjit could hardly keep his rule for merely 40 years. Similarly, wherever Christian adventurers went they spread their creed to establish their lasting hold over the countries.
What do we read of the Sikh adventures, who started conquest of lands. It were these so called Sikh conquerors, who themselves abjured the Sikh Teachings and adopted Brahmanic ways. What could have been the results of such conquerors? Probably as yet we Sikhs have no understanding that political power cannot be established, unless the people in large number adopt the creed we profess. Guru Nank appeared in his Ten incarnations, and incessantly preached the above said Divine Creed of Gurmat. Guru Nanak spent most part of his life in visiting many countries, where he laid the foundations of the Divine Creed he preached, and this practice was strictly followed by the succeeding Nine Gurus. Sikhism is essentially the Creed for spreading it through educational tours world over. What do we find, that after the Gurus this educational wave has completely come to an halt, to our perilous present situation..
During the past three centuries since Banda Bairagi to this day, we have not created a single book on correct interpretation of Sikhism, and have been foolishly harping on repetition of Hindu creed, and still claiming that we are not Hindus!! We foolishly defied and reject the Divine Commands in Aad Granth that Books cannot be Guru, paid no regard to the Commands of Sri Guru Gobind Singh, and started idol worship of Aad Granth as Guru (All Pervading Divine). It is most shameful how the Sacred BookAad Granth is being dressed, worshipped in Sanctum Sanctorum, Sri Harmandir Sahib and Sri Akal Takhat at Amritsar. We foolishly dispute, and still follow wretched GS Kala Afghana, Guruteja, Kharka Sigh of IOSS Chandigarh, the slogan Guru Granth - Guru Panth. How can the Book be God, which is lifeless? How can the whole community, called Path be God, when most of them not even fit to be called humans Guru Gobind Singh mad Khalsa in collective form as Successor, whom the Guru defined as one who ever lives with the All Pervading God abiding in him, and he recognizes no other as His equal. In whom the Divine Light becomes Effulgent in Full Blaze, then only recognize him as the KHALSA.
SHAME ON SGPC ELECTED BY GIVING BRIBES OF WINE TO VOTERS ON HIGH PRIESTS WHO ARE NOMINATED BY THOSE WHO WIELD POWER ATTAINED THROUGH CORRUPT MEANS. WHAT GOOD CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THESE CORRUPT FELLOWS???
Hindu Congress leaders started working for partition of India so that they could grab as much area in Hindu India. On the basis of the Sikh demand for partition of Punjab to create Hindu Sikh majority area as a new province, the. Comgress working Committee on March 8, 1947 asked for partition of Punjab on Muslim and non-Muslim basis.
By March 23, 1947, Lord Mountbatten took over as Viceroy of India. It appears that decision to partition India had already been taken in London. Mountbatten known for his megalomania, forced the pace of events and aggravated the problem. In Nehru and Patel, he found power maniacs, who fell a prey to his evils. "Nehru also shared with Mountbatten in vanity, manupulation and chiccancry, and sligh of hand - cunning with intention to deceive apart from being taken into firm grasp by Lady Mountbatten. " (Sangat Singh)
Jinnah explained that the whole basis of Cabinet mission Plan rested on its being worked in a spirit of co-operation and mutual trust. But Patel would adamentally oppose to parity at the Center, and was for the PARTITION.
HM Seervai and Ayesha Jalal on the basis of the documents assert that - It was Congress that insisted on partition. It was Jinnah, who was against partition. Mountbatten failed to perceive that the real object of Jinnah was to secure a united India with parity in the Center.
SIKH FOLLIES
The meeting between Jinnah and Tara Singh was arranged in early May 47 at Lahore, did not take place, as Tara Singh did not want the meeting to take place. Maharaja Patiala met Jinnah on May 15 - matter discussed was a semi autonomous Sikh State aligned to Pakistan. The subject matter got revealed to Congress leaders in Delhi, and Jinnah came to know of it.
The Sikh leaders always would talk all non-sense, in that more of Hindus and Congress interests, and least of their own. They were more Hindus than the Hindus. There were many hinduised beasts like Nagoke, Majhails, even Tara Singh, all Congress stooges and double crossers. Mangal Singh on April 24, warned the Sikhs against the tempting offers being made by Muslim League. Swaran Singh on May 10, stated that the Sikhs were determined not to remain under Muslim subjugation. Baldev Singh on May 25 warned against "innatural solicitude" of Jinnah for the Sikh and others also spoke in the similar tone. NONE OF THEM WARNED AGAINST THE HINDU DOMINATION AND SUBJUGATION, ARYA SAMAJ TIRADES AGAINST SIKHISM AND GANDHI'S WILES TO MAKE SIKHISM EXTINCT AND ABSORPTION OF SIKHS IN HINDUS IN TOTO.
MOST IMPORTANT
Hindus of Punjab and Hindu Congress Leaders were fully aware of the Sikh predicament, which Hindus had created in them. Sikh hatred of Muslims surpassed manifild than Hindu's hatred for Muslims. Hindus took full advantage of that, even went thus far to deny Sikhs any meaningful existence. The irony of fate is that still Hindus are dearest of dear to Sikhs!!! Are the Sikhs deranged people? The Sikh leaders had made the proposal to create the Punjabi Speaking State, Punjabi Suba, by exclusion of Haryana area from East Punjab. The proposal was negated by Congress leaders in May 1947 itself, when Mountbatten was hammering the Partition Plan down the throats of Indians. Baldev Singh saw the Viceroy by the end of May 47, and stated that there was no sign of either party making any concession to the Sikhs. This he said was the sad culmination of the failure of the Sikh leadership. Giani Kartar Singh on his own started serious negotiations with Jinnah for a possible understanding. This would have caused the Hindu leaders to accept the Sikh demand of Punjabi Suba at least , but his efforts were thwarted by Tara Singh and Baldev Singh.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT EVENT TO NOTE
Sir Edward Penderal Moon, Secretary, Development Board, Govt of India in a last ditch effort in his letter of June 27, 1947 to Chief of Viceroy's staff advocated exclusion of Gurgaon, Hissar, Rohtak and Karnal districts from East Punjab. He wrote, "The Sikhs have already put this deamand to the Congress who hesitate to accept it." He suggested that "this Sikh demand should be taken out of Hindu clutches as they want to be put in a more or less independent position of their own." He hinted at the creation of a Sikh buffer state between India and Pakistan by planned migration. Moutbatten wrote to Jinnahand Nehru. Jinnah sent no reply., while Nehru declined saying that the time was short. Mountbatten could not set on his own as he was angling to be Indep. India's Governor General.
Alas! Even Sikhs did not vigorously pursue this opportunity, while British were still in India.
GUILTY HINDU CONGRESS LEADERS CONSCIENCE SPEAKS
By May 1947, both Gandhi and Nehru were seized of guilt complex. On May 28, they asked Mountbattten to shelve the PARTITION PLAN and enforce the Cabinet Mission Plan as an "Award in letter and spirit."" After being badly mauled, they were now willing to accept what was available to them for about a year from May 16, 1946. Matters had gone far ahead, and it was not possible (probably for British Govt) to reverse the trends.
Even after partition as VP Menon pleaded in the Statesman of Oct 21, 1947, the Hindu Congress Leaders were asking for unity at the top in Defense, Foreign Affairs and Communications, between the two sovereign states of India and Pakistan on the basis of sovereign equality. THIS GIVES AN INSIGHT OF THE HINDU MIND.
Mountbatten on June 3, 1947 advanced the date of independence from June 1948 to August 15, 1947. He only precipated matters to the worse.
The Declaration of Indepence of India into Two Sovereign States was proclaimed by Mountbatten, followed by Nehru, Jinnah and Baldev Singh on June 3, 1947 on All India Radio - to be brought into reality on August 15, 1947.