Sardar Patel was accused of being anti-Muslim, but he said clearly: I am a true friend of Muslims.
Even during Iron Man Sardar Patel’s lifetime, his critics tried to show that he was communal and pro-Hindu. Even today doubts arise about his thoughts regarding Muslims. But Mahatma Gandhi said that calling Sardar anti-Muslim would be a mockery of the truth. Sardar’s heart is so big that it can contain everyone. On another occasion, Mahatma Gandhi had said: “Patel’s tongue is full of thorns. But he assured me that barking was more dangerous than biting. Sardar has a big heart beneath his dry exterior. “He has a very strong tongue.”
Patel, on the other hand, was always direct. In one of his speeches he said: “There is only one nationalist Muslim in India and that is Pandit Nehru! “This word spread quickly. Mahatma Gandhi was also concerned. He advised Patel not to allow presence of mind to dominate his consciousness. Patel did not forgive even Mahatma Gandhi. He said that “your soft attitude towards Muslims has completely turned you gentle”.
It is important to find hearts not on paper.
Actually, Sardar’s thinking on the issue of Hindu-Muslim relations was very clear. He did not accept the partition. However, out of obligation it had to be accepted. After being elected Congress President in 1931, while giving assurances to the Muslims, he had said: “As a Hindu, I accept the formula of my predecessor President and provide indigenous pen and paper to the minorities so that they can write their demands. I will approve them. I know this is the best way. But for this it is necessary for Hindus to have courage. We want unity of hearts. It is not the unity that is formed by joining pieces of paper that can break at the slightest effort. This unity can only occur when the majority gathers all its courage and is willing to take the place of the minority. “This would be the most sensible thing to do.”
He always considered the partition incorrect. He had said: “The waters of the sea and rivers cannot be divided. As far as Muslims are concerned, their roots are here. I don’t know what they will do in Pakistan?”
Gandhi asked him: which Muslim is with you?
Subsequent developments troubled Sardar on the issue of Hindu-Muslim relations. Due to the increasing aggression of the Muslim League, the situation had worsened by 1937. The attitude of the League towards the Congress governments in the states was hostile. The riots were increasing. At the same time, the inclination of Muslims towards the League was also increasing. The talks between Gandhi and Jinnah were increasing Jinnah’s stature among the Muslims.
Sardar was angry because the Muslims were persecuting a leader who was leading them down the wrong path. Jinnah repeatedly called Congress a Hindu organization and Gandhi the leader of Hindus. Patel was disappointed that Muslims did not repose their trust in Gandhi but in Jinnah. In Yerwada jail, Patel had asked Gandhi, “Who are the Muslims who listen to you?” Gandhi’s response was: “It does not matter if no Muslim trusts me, but we must not lose hope.” One day they will understand reality.” Of course, Gandhi was not desperate, but Sardar was disappointed.
Don’t convince the league, fight it.
Sardar had agreed that it was useless to convince the League. There is no response to goodwill efforts, so they should be abandoned. The league should be disputed. Rafiq Zakaria has written in his book “Sardar Patel and Indian Muslims”, “Mahatma Gandhi once told Patel that to understand the mind and brain of Muslims, one had to learn Urdu. Patel’s response was: It has been sixty-seven years. Now this clay pot is about to break. It’s too late to learn Urdu. I’ll still try. But there was no benefit in learning Urdu. “The more you try to get close to them, the more distant they become.” Patel was direct. According to Patel’s biographer Rajmohan Gandhi, author of “Patel A Life”, “Patel had no influence in the Muslim world, nor did Muslims enter his world. While Gandhi wanted to represent both Hindus and Muslims and said no He could speak as a Hindu but only as an Indian, Patel never claimed to represent Muslims. It seemed natural to him to speak as a Hindu.
Hindu heart but did not spare any troublemaker.
During partition, questions were raised about Patel’s stance towards Muslims. According to Rajmohan Gandhi, Ballabh Bhai’s heart was that of a Hindu, but he did not forgive the Hindu and Sikh troublemakers. It is true that he hated the Muslim League. He condemned Jinnah for spreading the poison of communalism. But he was against the two-nation theory and wanted Jinnah and his cause to be proven wrong. He also said: “There are seven million Muslims in India and it is our job to ensure that they remain safe and free.” Patel was a realist and was against hiding the truth.
Amid the horrors of partition, a meeting of the prime ministers of India and Pakistan took place on August 16, 1947. According to Mountbatten, at the meeting Patel, “a staunch realist”, suggested a planned population transfer in view of the migration taking place in both countries. But others did not agree with this.
That speech, that storm!
Patel’s speech that generated the most controversy was his speech in Lucknow on January 6, 1948. He then said: “I am a true friend of Muslims. However, I am considered his greatest enemy. I want to tell you that at this critical juncture, mere declaration of loyalty to the Indian Union is not enough. You have to prove it. It was in Lucknow that the foundation of the two-nation principle was laid.
The city’s Muslims have also contributed to spreading this principle. I want to ask a question. Why was nothing said about the Pakistani attack on Kashmir at the recent Muslim conference? I want to tell you straight. You can’t ride two horses. Choose the horse you like the most. We will have to learn to live in the same boat and swim or sink together.”
But why did Patel say this?
This speech by Patel was widely publicized. While his candor was widely praised, voices of discontent were raised among Muslims. Maulana Azad was angry. Nehru was worried. Mahatma Gandhi sad. Bapu wrote to him: “I have received many complaints against you. Your speeches will spread enthusiasm and incite emotions. You are teaching people to fight sword to sword. If this is true, it will cause a lot of damage. ,
In response, Patel expressed his respect for Mahatma Gandhi and tried to reassure him. But why did Patel say this? Rafiq Zakaria wrote in “Sardar Patel and the Indian Muslims”, “This speech by Patel was a reaction to the inflammatory speeches that were delivered at a conference of Muslims in Lucknow itself in December 1947. More than one lakh people attended that conference. Many leaders associated with the Congress, including Maulana Azad, also participated. The conference strongly criticized the government’s discriminatory policy towards Indian Muslims.
The Statesman correspondent had written that some of these speeches were satanic and provocative and it was surprising that such things were initiated by Congress leader Dr Syed Mahmood.
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