Why and how did the Congress come to accept the partition of the country?
The partition of the country was accepted by the Congress only as the last resort. The Congress had successfully built a strong national consciousness to put pressure on the British, but failed to integrate Muslims into its fold.
However, Congress can not be blamed single handedly for partition. The long standing British policy of divide and rule and the Muslim leagues ideology of communalism and separateness contributed to the process.The divisive communal policies practiced by British and the communal politics of Muslim League effectively caused discord among the people and aroused hatred and suspicion.
The cry of 'Islam in danger' brought the Muslim masses under the banner of the league. Further, the demand of the league that only an immediate transfer of power could prevent the spread of 'direct action' and communal violence and the virtual collapse of the interim government also made the notion of Pakistan appear unavoidable.'
Moreover, MA Jinnah wanted a lose federation with stronger states. A strong federation was something both Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel tried to achieve after the conclusion of national movement. They were against the idea of a loose federation. They felt that fissiparous and secessionist tendencies might tear apart India at such an nascent stage.
The partition plan supported independence for the Princely States which could have been a greater danger to the Indian union, as it would have meant balkanisation of the country. So, the Indian leaders believed that a strong federation without the Muslim majority provinces would be better administrated and integrated than a lose federation pulling apart on all sides.
Hence, they conceded to the demand of partition of India. Apart from that, the Hindu fanatic elements, too damaged Hindu—Muslim unity beyond repair. The act of Omission and Commission on the part of Hindu Mahasabha further fanned the fanaticism of the Muslim league.
VD Savarkar, the President of Mahasabha, advocated 'an uncompromising doctrine of Hindu ascendency' and openly announced that "The only way to deal with the Hindu-Muslim schism was to insist that all India was Hindustan, and that Muslim must reconcile themselves to the status of a minority community." The Congress failed to suppress these communal elements.
Thus communalism triumphed in partitioning India on religious lines. It was not only the failure of Congress but the nation as a whole to have not been able to tackle the problem of communalism.
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Recently, His Holiness Dalai Lama commented that if perhaps JL Nehru as per Gandhiji's advice had forfeited the post of Prime Minister to MA Jinnah India would not have had to suffer the burnt of partition. Alternate historical possibilities of such dimensions could not be completely written off without proper introspection. Yet, it was perhaps too much of a sacrifice to expect from even a noble soul as Nehru.
However, unfortunately the history of partition has left us with not only a broken nation but broken homes and families.
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Recently, His Holiness Dalai Lama commented that if perhaps JL Nehru as per Gandhiji's advice had forfeited the post of Prime Minister to MA Jinnah India would not have had to suffer the burnt of partition. Alternate historical possibilities of such dimensions could not be completely written off without proper introspection. Yet, it was perhaps too much of a sacrifice to expect from even a noble soul as Nehru.
However, unfortunately the history of partition has left us with not only a broken nation but broken homes and families.