INDIAN INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH INTO TRUE HISTORY

Newsletter No 22 of 16 February 1993

1 News and current affairs

1.1 Around London in Ten Hours

In 1992 two trips were organised by Mr Arun Kankani, an Engineer from Mahindra and Mahindra of Bombay.

The first one was on 10th May - the day on which the Indian war of Independence 1857, started. Seventeen people took part and Mr Godbole explained the activities of Savarkar and other revolutionaries in London and where those activities took place. The participents travelled by car, but still ten hours were required.

The second trip was on 17 October. Those who attended included six engineers from Mahindra and Mahindra at present working for British Telecom, Dr Acharya the priest of Arya Samaj, Ealing, London and an accountant from Surrey.

1.2 Mr Oak's book withdrawn from library

Mr Oak's book Some Blunders of Indian Historical Research was withdrawn from the library of Indian Parliament on 11 March 1992, after some Muslim MPs complained that it hurts their sentiments. The book was published about 25 years ago. It is astonishing that when the matter was discussed in the Indian Parliament even the BJP members of parliament kept quiet. They should have defended freedom of thinking. If Muslim MPs did not like the book, they should not read it. But why should they prevent others from reading it.

( The India Times published in America, April 1-15 1992 )

We feel that the ban would at least arouse curiosity about the book.

1.3 Taj Mahal

On 8 May 1992 a slide show by Mr Godbole was arranged at the Imperial College, London, by Dr Shyamsunder of Banglore, who was on a post Doctorate scholarship at that college. Twelve people attended, seven of them were post Doctorate scholars.

Miss Chamin Martin is a qualified auditor and a Member of the Institute of Quality Assurance. When Mr Godbole met her as an auditee, he said to her, " Principles of Quality Assurance auditing can be applied to Taj Mahal." and gave her a copy of his book on Taj Mahal. Miss Martin read it and was very pleased.

1.4 Taj Mahal and the Great British Conspiracy

Mr Godbole is in the final stages of completing this series. It is expected that about 40 pages will be added to the original text.

1.5 Back to the Vedas in U.P.

Our friend Group Captain Valavade, sent us a paper cutting from Times of India ( Sunday edition ) of 2 August 1992. Mr Ambikanand Sahay reports from Lucknow. He says, " The new secondary school syllabus in U.P. reveals the extent to which Kalyan Singh ministry has gone to ensure that both teachers and students in this state of Ram and Krishna draw inspiration from Vedas and other Hindu scriptures. The textbooks of mathematics, history and Hindi have been given new chapters glorifying Indian and ancient cultural heritage dating back to the Vedas.

The mathematics syllabus for class IX includes preliminary principles and practices of Vedic mathematics dating back to 1000 B.C.

The objective, says the education director in the preface of the mathematics textbook, is to appraise students of the glorious tradition of maths in India.

A 296-page tabloid size teacher's guide for teaching Vedic maths in high school classes is full of diagrams, illustrations and a brilliantly written prose on the virtues of vedic maths.

VEDIC MATHS : Quoting jagat guru Shankaracharya Swami Bharti Krishna Tirath ji maharaj, a spokesman of the government says; present research has brought to light the perfect mathematical structure of the Vedic texts. The 16 Vedic sutras provide a structural system which is applicable in, and hence, is capable of explaining almost any facet of cosmos both at abstract as well as applied levels. These sutras in their philosophical interpretation even explain the functioning of human psychology.

" Sanskrit is a rich language and for deeper meaning, one has to dive deep into the original sutras. The first Vedic sutra, ekadhiken purvena in simple English means "by one more than the previous one" and a couple of very interesting applications are presented in Pusp-I."

Almost all the sutras have been incorporated in the new maths syllabus for secondary level students.

In April, a special workshop was held by the U.P state council for education research and training (SCERT) in Allahabad on development of Vedic maths syllabus wherein the Vedic approach of bindu mein sindhu was explained. "In Vedic thought we always think of a large number of possibilities and we consider that each small drop represents an ocean. Further, both negative and positive forces co-exist to make the play go on. Perfectly in tune with we find that in Vedic maths we have both positive and negative digits and a number consisting of them is called vinkulam number," went the explanation.

HINDI BOOKS : New Hindi textbooks for secondary school students also have some fundamental changes. A conscious effort has been made to include chapters glorifying India's ancient past.

A five-page long poem eulogising the bravery of King Maharana Pratap in the battle of Haldighat written by Shyam Narayan Pande has been included in the recognised book Kavya Sankalan for high school.

The back covers of all the recognised textbooks mandatorily carry Vande Mataram, the anthem by Bankim Chandra Chatterji.

Changes that have come about in History books are not fully known as they have not yet come out of the government Press. However, the government has decided that history books will portray the full Indian glory. The books lay stress on reiterating that the Aryans were the original inhabitants of India and not immigrants from across the seas.

1.6 Events in Madhya Pradesh

However, our enemy INDIA TODAY is furious by such moves. Our friend Mr Paithankar noted an article entitled " Injecting Propaganda " in the August 15 issue of the monthly. Their reporter Mr N K Singh says:- " Have you heard this one ? If 15 kar sevaks demolish the Babri Masjid in 300 days, how many kar sevaks will it take to demolish the Masjid in 15 days ? There is no punchline, however, because this is no joke. It is one of the questions to be introduced in a mathematics textbook for primary school students in Madhya Pradesh - part of RSS's grand design to etch its Hindutva ideology on impressionable minds in the state."

" Undoubtedly, the subversion of the educational system by the RSS has the state BJP Government's backing. To give education a saffron hue, entire textbooks from nursery to the postgraduate level are being rewritten with a Hindu emphasis. More alarming is Government's decision to give the Vidya Bhatari, an RSS-run educational organisation, permission to set up a parallel education board conducting class five and eight exams. Till now, these exams were conducted by the Education Department."

" As the BJP's efforts to subvert history acquire serious proportions, the Opposition is beginning to stir. Last fortnight the Congress (I), the CPI and the Janata Dal formed a common forum, the Sampradayik Sadbhavana Manch, to fight RSS infiltration into the state Government. Says MPCC (I) chief Digvijay Singh : " The recent example of RSS infiltration was the Government decision to permit Vidya Bharati to conduct examinations."

" His concern is legitimate. The decision has far-reaching ramifications. With around 1,600 Vidya Bharati schools catering to 1.95 lakhs ( i.e. 195,000 ) students in the state, the RSS-run institution now enjoys a carte blanche to steer students' minds in the "right" direction. The organisation's Hindutva leanings are proclaimed in its official brochure : " Our goal is to develop a national education system which can create a generation loyal to Hindutva and the nation." As Vinayak Shendey, an RSS worker in charge of the state Vidya Bharati, says : " A silent revolution is taking place in Madhya Pradesh."

[ Our comment :- The congress party had tampered with our history long enough. It is high time a correction was made.]

" Although the Government insists the rewritten history will only be correcting a "distorted" history, its new version is tailored to perpetuate the RSS ideology. While many text-books are still being tampered with, the state University Grants Commission has already introduced a new book, Bharat Ki Sanskritik Virasat (Cultural Heritage of India) in the foundation courses. While commission Chairman Om Nagpal claims that the book lays emphasis on "projecting the past glory of India." It often borders on crude glorification of all things Indian. Consider these; " Indian culture is among the best in the world ..... The Vedas, which epitomise the height of Indian culture, were written at a time when western countries were not even civilised." "India is the original place of the Aryans. It is open to question that they migrated to other countries from India." [ There is nothing wrong with any of this ]

" The new book also reinterprets the freedom movement with a strong RSS bias. For instance, it is often critical of Gandhi : [ Why not ? The author is obviously afraid that Gandhi's work does not stand criticism and examination ]

" The Gandhi-Irwin Pact will always be looked down at with suspicion and criticism in the background of the hanging of Bharat Singh and his colleagues." In keeping with the party's rightist ideology, the communists who refused to participate in the Quit India movement have been described as "traitors." [ Perfectly right. Indian Communists were mentally bankrupt. In August 1939 they meekly accepted the pact between Stalin and Facist Hitler The pact was broken in June 1941 when it no longer suited Hitler. He invaded Russia, a god given opportunity for Churchill who supported Stalin. It was at this stage that the communists supported the British. Because, for them invasion of Russia was invasion of their land. They thought that once Allied won the war, Russia the Russians would help India achieve her independence. These are the facts. No point denying them.]

" The rewritten history subverts information by highlighting certain facts and omitting others. Some of the changes that have been agreed upon : a chapter on Karl Marx will be withdrawn from a class five textbook; history books will now project Maharana Pratap and Shivaji as heroes and Aurangzeb as a villain; other textbooks will include the biographies of RSS leaders such as Deendayal Upadhyay and Hedgewar; and courses of the freedom struggle will quote extensively from the writings of the original Hindutva hero, V.D.Savarkar." [ Nothing wrong with any of this. ]

" The Education Department has already withdrawn the supplementary readers used from class three to eight. The idea, as Education Minister Vikram Verma explained, was to "ligheten the load on the children." But the real reason behind scrapping the readers was that they included the biographies of certain national leaders who are anathema to the BJP."

" Not surprisingly, the issue has forced its way into Parliament, forcing Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh to declare : "I would only plead with Madhya Pradesh Government not to treat Gandhi, Mohammed, Buddha and Christ as a burden on children." [ Education in secondary schools, is responsibility of the state government, not the central government ]

" The state Government, of course, defends itself. According to the Education Department; "The books are being rewritten under the normal revision programme to update them." But ripping the veil off the Government's pious facade is the conversion of Vidya Bharati into a parallel examination board. It is no coincidence then that the number of Vidya Bharati schools in the state has shot up from 1,200 to 1,600 since the BJP came to power. The Government has also relaxed the rules for appointment of Vidya Bharati teachers; they do not need to undergo training at a government institution."

" There have been other examples of the BJP Government's largesse to Vidya Bharati. Although Vidya Bharati claims not to take any grant from the Government, in Bhopal its office is located in a government bungalow. Moreover, Vidya Bharati schools all over the state have been allotted about 200 plots, costing crores, free or for a nominal fee. Vidya Bharati is now close to achieving its goal of acquiring at least one plot of land in each of the 317 tehsils in the state. The state Housing Board Chairman, Rajendra Dharkar, a BJP politician, has announced in no uncertain terms that Vidya Bharati schools will be given priority over others in allocation of land."

" ....... There are other RSS-linked organisations that are also being promoted. The Government has given a grant of Rs 6 lakh to the Ujjain-based Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal to rewrite history from a Hindu point of view."

[ The author conveniently forgets that the congress party wrote history with an anti-Hindu point of view. ]

1.7 Visitors

Mr Govindacharya, General Secretary of BJP was invited by the Democratic Party of USA for their party convention. On his way back he stopped in London. Mr Godbole met him and gave him copies of our Newsletter No 21 and the booklet Around London in Ten Hours. It is hoped that Mr Govindacharya will keep in touch with Mr Godbole.

Mr Vishwas S Dhumal, an IAS officer came to England for a one year course of study. He met Mr Godbole in September 1992 and was pleased with our work.

1.8 Seminar on the " Aryan Problem "

We have learnt from Mr Arun Kankani that a National seminar on the " Aryan Problem " was held at Bangalore on 21-22 and 23 July 1991. It was convened by The Mythic Society of Bangalore and Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Samiti of Pune. The following resolution was passed unanimously.

" Resolved that the Government of India, various State Governments, Universities, Colleges, Schools and the bodies connected with framing the curicula should incorporate the results of new researches pertaining to ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology in the text-books at various levels in place of the old, incorrect and outmoded theories and views which unfortunately still continue to appear in our text-books such as the so-called migration and invasion of the Aryans, the concept of Aryan race, the supposed dichotomy between the Aryans and the others, etc."

" This gathering further resolved to impress upon the educational institutions and the Central and State Governments to at least incorporate the other side of the theories propounded by the Western scholars so that our students do not have to study incorrect history. This will help in developing a sound national outlook. "

[ Food for thought. The two main heroes of the Hindus Lord Raam and Krishna are both black. Raam is described as Savla Raam, while Krishna is as black as cloud Ghanashyam. However Seeta and Rukmni, their wifes are white. Vitthal, Balaji, Tirupati are all forms of Krishna, and naturally black and adored by millions. Pandavas, on the other hand are all white. But Draupadi is black.

Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva is worshipped in various forms, all over India. For example, she is Ambabai in Maharashtra, and is black, so is Durga. We cannot therefore say that the colour had anything to do with being Aryan or Dravidian. The world ARYA was used by Hindu women when referring to their husbands, just as today's Maratha women call them by AHO. It would be absurd to say that the women were Dravidians and men Aryans.

The concept of Aryan invasion was introduced by the British for political reasons. They wanted to show that foreigners have always ruled India. Hence the invasion by Alexander the Great. The fact his captured territories did nor stay in Greek hands even for two years was immaterial. The pathans invaded and established their rule in North India. But they settled in India and were defeated by Babar who came from outside. The Mughals too settled in India and were later defeated by Nadirshah of Iran. And hence it was quite natural that the British should rule India.

That was the history taught to Mr Godbole by his history teacher Mr N V Joshi in 1957. We do not have to accept it today. ]

1.9 Dhingra honoured

Our friend Mr Sonapatki informs us that in December 1992 The Government of India printed a postage stamp in honour of Madanlal Dhingra who went to the gallows in London in 1909, for assassinating Sir Curzon Wyllie, Political A.D.C to the Secretary of State for India.

1.10 Biography of Babarao Savarkar

The British have always despised the Indian revolutionaries Various public libraries do not keep any biographies of these heroes. Mr Godbole therefore donated copies of Marathi biography of Babarao Savarkar, elder brother of Veer Savarkar, by D N Gokhale to India Office Library and The School of Oriental and African Studies, London. Unfortunately the biography leaves many questions unanswered. However, it is the only biography of its kind.

2 Publicity and appreciation

2.1 Teaching staff of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India have recently started a magazine exploring India's scientific and technological progress in the past. In the October - December 1985 issue there is an article entitled " Distortion of Indian History " on pages 29/32, based on Mr Godbole's research. It would have been much nicer if Mr Godbole's name was mentioned at the beginning of the article, instead of being mentioned in the index.

2.2 Sangh Sandesh of Hale in Cheshire, in their issue of July/August 1992 mentioned two of Mr Godbole's activities namely Taj Mahal slide show and conducting the tour Around london in Ten Hours.

November/December 1992 issue of Sangh Sandesh carried an article by Alkesh Shah on the Around London tour conducted by Mr Godbole on 10 May 1992.

2.3 Dr More of Agricultural University, Rahuri, Maharashtra made two slide shows on the same subject, in India.in February/May 1992.( Around London in ten hours ) Many people were interested.

2.4 Based on such tours conducted by Mr Godbole, an article by Dr Nene of Baroda, India was published on 12 June 1992 in Loksatta, a popular Marathi daily of Bombay.

2.5 Mr Kankani had distributed some copies of Mr Godbole's article " Around London in ten hours." After reading that article, one Mr Shreekant Joshi of Nagpur wrote to Mr Godbole and requested photographs of some important places like the Caxton hall. These were to be used for an article which Mr Joshi wanted to write for Vivek, a Marathi monthly from Bombay. These were sent on 8 August 1992.

3. History Today

3.1 Might is right ( Indo Japanese relations )

On 12 April 1991 David Housego reported in the Financial Times Hard-pressed India drops Japanese ban.

He says :- India is to end the blacklisting of five Japanese companies in order to secure emergency financial assistance from Japan to help tide it over its foreign exchange crisis.

The decision to remove the ban on Sumitomo and four other companies accused of making kickbacks to win an oil pipeline contract was taken by the cabinet on Tuesday. It came shortly before Mr Yaswant Sinha, the finance minister, flew to Tokyo seeking bilateral assistance to help avert the risk of India defaulting on its commercial debts.

India's deteriorating credit-worthiness was further demonstrated last week with an announcement by the Japanese Bond Research Institute ( JBRI ) - Japan's leading credit rating agency - that it had downgraded Indian paper to BBB. This rating is below investment grade - meaning that institutions lending to India do so at their own risk.

As a result of the downgrading, Japanese banks are unlikely to make further loans to India, Japanese banks account for about two thirds of India's commercial debt.

...... The government's decision to remove the blacklisting of Sumitomo and the four other companies depends on their accepting arbitration over allegations that they paid Rs 65 million in illegal commissions to Jtotsna, a company controlled by Mr Lalit Suri, an Indian businessman. The four other companies involved in the Sumitomo consortium are Mitsul, Mitsubishi Marubeni and C.Itoh.

All five are believed to have agreed to abide by arbitration in the dispute which involves a contract placed by the Oil and Natural Gas Commission and the Gas Authority of India.

The Japanese government had made clear that they were not prepared to consider financial assistance while the ban on Japanese companies in future oil and gas contracts remained. The ban was imposed last year by the former National Front government of Mr V P Singh.

The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have also insisted that Japanese companies be allowed to compete for oil and gas projects which they are helping to fund. India was downgraded from BBB to BBB minus by the US rating agency, Standard and Poor's on March on March 7.

3.2 What can we learn from the French ?

In January 1991 BBC2 produced a documentary in three parts entitled De Gaulle and France. Second part dealt with the problem of Algeria. De Gaulle wanted Algeria for possible oil and testing of Atom Bombs. In fact first atom bomb test was carried out in February 1960. But he realised that if Algerians were offered union with France, Muslims would have 80 M Ps in the French Assembly. They would form too powerful a group to be a threat to France. He therefore preferred Algerian independence in July 1962.

De Gaulle went to America during the Second World War. When he addressed the U S Congress, he spoke in English, because he needed American help. He addressed the same Congress 20 years later, but spoke in French. He did not need American help any more. When he visited mine workers of Rhur in 1962, he spoke in German, as he needed the co-operation of Germans for strengthening of the European Common Market.

Yes, we do have lot to learn from such programmes.

3.3 What can we learn from the Americans ?

The Earth Summit in Rio-De-Janiro, Brazil ( June 1992 )

The world is facing a serious pollution crisis. The ozone layer which saves us from the ultra violet rays of the Sun, and this would lead to rise in cases of skin cancer. Too much carbon- dioxide is being emitted into the atmosphere, which may lead to falling temperatures - another ice age. An international conference was therefore held in Brazil. America was pressed for action on reduction of Carbon Dioxide emission. But President Bush flatly rejected any such suggestion. He said, " I will not risk American jobs. I will not sign any treaty that will cost American jobs. If they don't understand that at Rio that is tough luck. I will stand up for America. If America is isolated in Rio, so be it." Once again the American stand is quite clear - American interest must come first. (Evening Standard 5 June 1992)

On 23 march 1940 Veer Savarkar said, " Any Muslim, be he Sikander Hayat Khan or Fazul Huq, takes part in Muslim League sessions quite openly. They do not feel the slightest hesitation. Look at the nationalist Muslim president of Congress (i.e. Maulana Azad). He said quite openly " I am going to ensure that Muslim interests are not harmed." Do you find any Hindu king, any Hindu minister, any Hindu leader, using this language ? " What a pity we never followed him! Will the Hindus ever learn to look after their interests ?

Some may argue that Bush being a right wing man behaved in the way he did, a liberal US President would have behaved differently. How wrong they are.

cuban missile crisis

Thirty years ago, the world faced Cuban Missile Crisis. BBC2 carried two programmes on that crisis in October 1992. The ITV carried a series of four programmes entitled " The Kennedys " (13 October to 4 November 1992)

Fiedel Castro overthrew the dictatorship of General Batista on 1 January 1959. He then visited America and explained to Vice President Nixon that he was only interested in the well being of his people, he was not anti-American. But as Castro's policy meant the stopping of exploitation of the Cuban people by American firms, Nixon simply marked Castro as a Communist. It must be emphasised that Castro's was a peoples' revolt. The Russians did not support him materially or physically at this stage.

J F Kennedy became US President in January 1961. But did it make any difference to American policy on Cuba ? NO. The Bay of Pigs operation organised by the CIA to overthrow Castro was not stopped by Kennedy. When things went wrong in April 1961 Kennedy could not openly support the CIA operation as it would have created a world uproar. But Kennedy wanted Castro to be killed. His younger brother Robert ( bobby ) was even more liberal minded, and Black Americans would be particularly grateful to him for his anti- discrimination laws. But he too supported elimination of Castro. Bobby wanted to take on the Mafia, but had no qualms in seeking their help to assassinate Castro.

After the Bay of Pigs disaster the Russians came to the rescue of Castro. They made trade agreements with him when Americans put an embargo on Cuban goods. Castro was afraid that Americans would invade his country again. The Soviet missiles were therefore secretly stationed in Cuba. Kennedy became furious. How dare they station missiles close to American border? He asked. The Cubans had no right to defend themselves against an American invasion! But he had no such reservations when American missiles were stationed in Turkey, right next to the Russian border. That was O.K. On 22 October 1962 Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of Cuba. In the aftermath of that crisis, Kennedy promised Krushchev that America would not invade Cuba. What a promise! But the trade sanctions would remain, and have remained even during the offices of liberal Presidents Johnson and Carter. Kennedy quietly removed missiles stationed in Turkey.

As an irony of fate both Kennedys were assassinated and Castro survived, he is alive even today.

u.s and the dictators

There were dictators throughout South America. They were alright for Kennedy. He made no moves towards democratic movements in those countries. He was least concerned about remaining two dictators in Western Europe. Franco of Spain remained in power till his death in 1975. Dr Salazar of Portugal who also ruled over African colonies of Angola and Mozambique, remained in power till his death in 1968. Salazar would not relinquish his power in Goa, Daman and Dieu, the three small pockets in western India. In the end peace loving Nehru had to send in the army to liberate Goa on 17 Decemnber 1961, Daman and Dieu were liberated by Indian youths. No thanks to Kennedy. We must remember that Kennedy also continued massive military aid to Pakistan! His sole concern was American interests! The earlier we realise the better.

flouting the international law

On 18 June 1992 came a startling revelation. From Washington Jeremy Campbell reported for Evening Standard, " 150 died on US spy fights over Russia."

He says :- The Pentagon has astonished Americans by revealing that more than 150 US airmen died during the Cold War on spy flight missions over or near the Soviet Union.

The only spy flight that has been publicised until now was the U2 incident in 1960, in which Francis Gary Powers was shot down and taken prisoner by the Soviets.

At least 21 planes, according to the latest Pentagon information, reported by NBC, were lost, including as many as 17 crew members.

There will be considerable pressure on the Pentagon now to give details about the lost fliers, including their names and circumstances of their deaths. What is more, the 150 deaths acknowledged by the Pentagon are only service casualties. The number of CIA agents captured or killed during the Cold War is still a secret but thanks to the new candour shown by visiting Russian President Boris Yelstin, the CIA may soon feel obliged to release information on its own death toll.

" The CIA losses are probably substantial " said one official.

We just have one question. Why were those pilots flying over Soviet Union territory, in flagrant violation of the international law and conventions?

The answer is simple. They were spying for U.S. So, that was alright.

3.4 Britain honours " Bomber " Harris

A statue of Sir Arthur (" Bomber ") Harris was unveiled by Queen Mother ( i.e. mother of present Queen Elizabath II ) on Sunday 31 May 1992, outside the church of St Clement Danes in the Strand, London. It is very near the Indian High Commission.

The decision to erect the statue was strongly condemned in Germany. Germans had not objected to any other war memorial. So, why did they object to this particular one Let us see what the British writers themselves tell us

John Crossland and Tim Rayment reported in Sunday Times on 6 January 1991 - Revealed : Macmillan tried to censor war record. PM wanted air chief's feud over Dresden bombing kept quiet.

" HAROLD MACMILLAN, the former prime minister, tried to censor the official history of Britain's wartime bombing of Germany. Documents released last week by the Public Record Office show that he tried to suppress details of a top-level dispute over the mass bombing of German cities, in which hundreds of thousands of civilians and 35,000 British aircrew died.

The row was between Sir Arthur (" Bomber ") Harris, chief of Bomber Command, and Sir Charles Portal, his boss. Portal, chief of the air staff, wanted to attack Germany's war capability by bombing oil installations. Harris pressed on with an urban blitz. His raids were so intense that in Dresden, for example, one night's fires killed more people than the Hiroshima atom bomb.

.... the raids continued until Winston Churchill became uncomfortable about the scale of destruction.

....The dispute remained secret until 1960......According to the papers released last week, Macmillan, then prime minister, acted to prevent the full details being aired.

....When the four-volume, 1,600 page history was published the next year, there was an outcry. Many people had long felt uncomfortable about the " terror raids ", but now it was official according to government historians, they were a costly failure.

.... the raids caused civilian infernos. In one Hamburg raid on August 2, 1943, for example, more than 700 British planes dropped incendiary bombs and landmines, creating so many fires there was a whirlwind. The flames consumed oxygen, air from outside was sucked in at hurricane force, spreading the blaze; thousands died in areas of dense housing.

Many of the victims suffocated. The canals were packed with screaming mobs. In one large shelter, all that was left of 300 people was an ankle-deep layer of ash. An estimated 30,000 people were killed in the raids on Hamburg, nearly as many as the number of bombing deaths in Britain throughout the war. Other cities that suffered the same fate included Dresden, packed with refugees fleeing the Russians, but obliterated in the firestorms of one night's bombs.

During the war, even Churchill had become alarmed. After the Dresden raid in 1945, he wrote to his chiefs of staff " It seems to me that the moment has come when the question of bombing German cities simply for the sake of increasing terror, though under other pretexts, should be reviewed. Otherwise we shall come into control of an utterly ruined land. The destruction of Dresden remains a serious query against the conduct of Allied bombing."

We strongly recommend readers to study a book entitled Advance to Barbarism by F J P Veale, first published in England in 1948. The author says, " Dresden was a well known tourist city. It had no factories, no anti-aircraft defences. It was full of refugees fleeing from the Russian Front. They numbered between 300,000 and 500,000. Somewhere between 100,000 to 250,000 died."

He continues, " At the end of Churchill made no attempt to disguise the distaste which he had come to feel for the subject of terror bombing of which Air Marshal Aurthur Harris had been a fanatical advocate; his successor Clement Attlee naturally felt same distaste for the subject."

As a consequence a peerage was not conferred on the Air Marshal, he was not even awarded a special medal for his services, he was even prohibited from using official records when writing his account of his campaign.

Terror bombing costed 58,888 RAF air crews lives.

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Evening Standard reported on 1 June " Why I honour Bomber Harris, by Cheshire, VC "

As the Queen Mother unveiled the 9 ft bronze statue commissioned by the Bomber Command Association, she was heckled by demonstrators shouting " Harris was a mass murderer."

Harris's men blitzed German cities including Dresden, Cologne and Hamburg, killing more than 600,000 civilians.

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Evening Standard of 2 June 1992 claimed that Peerage was offered to Harris. But no proof was offered. In a letter to the editor, Ian Stirling writes, " Almost precisely 50 years ago, in April 1942, Sir Arthur " Bomber " Harris wrote to an Air Chief Marshal : " I'm always being pressed to concentrate entirely on incendiaries, but I do not agree with this policy. The morale effects of high explosives ( HE ) is vast. People can escape from fires and the casualties on a solely fire-raising raid would be as nothing.

" What we want to do in addition to the horrors of fire is to bring the masonry crashing down on top of the Boche, to kill Boche and terrify Boche - hence the proportion of high explosives " ( Public Records Office Air, 20/2795 )

" That is the kind of man honoured last Sunday with a statue unveiled by the Queen Mother."

" The heroic and often kindly men of the RAF Bomber Command who thought they were doing their duty during the Second World War would in many cases have been shocked to know the chief reason they were being slaughtered themselves - 55,000 of them. .....

...... A memorial to the heroic dead of the RAF would be quite another matter."

" Did the Queen Mother, whose family was German until the First World War, have to send such a message to our fellow Europeans ?"

On 22 October 1992 Evening Standard reported, " An angry crowd booed, whistled and threw eggs at the Queen today when she attended a service of reconciliation in Dresden."

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The unveiling of the statue of " Bomber " Harris coincided with the 50th anniversary of the V2 rockets. The Germans wanted to celebrate the occassion as it was the beginning of the space age, a milestone in progress of science. But the British objected strongly. " How dare they celebrate ? The rockets cost 2,500 British lives. So, it is immoral to celebrate " That was the tone of their remarks. The public celebration was therefore cancelled in Germany. Of course, if non-British lives were lost, things would have been viewed differently by the British.

( See British papers of 30 September 1992 )

4 Research Findings

4.1 Indian War of Independence 1857.

Veer Savarkar, in his book Inside the Enemy Camp (shatruchya shibirat) describes his activities in London during 1906-1910. He says on pages 192-4, " In India House, the hostel for Indian students in Highgate, London, I met one Mr Mukherjee who was the Manager of India house. Through him I obtained a copy of The Sepoy Mutiny in India

(part I) by Sir John William Kaye. I was bitterly disappointed. But there was a footnote on the last page. It stated that there are five more parts of this book edited by Mr Mallison. At my request Mr Mukherjee obtained for me all the six volumes of Sepoy Mutiny 1857 by Kaye and Mallison. These gave me an idea of how extensive the uprising was."

We have not been able to find any British scholar/ author who uses the phrase "Sepoy Mutiny." They either call it the Indian Mutiny meaning that the whole of India rose against the British, or the " Sepoy War." Here are titles of some of the books used by Savarkar himself :-

Anon - Narrative of the Indian Revolt.

Ball, Charles - The History of Indian Mutiny.

Duff, Dr Alexander - The Indian Rebellion.

Forbes-Mitchell, William - Reminiscences of the Great Mutiny.

Grant, Sir James Hope - Incidents in the Sepoy War 1857-58.

Holloway - Essays on the Indian Mutiny.

Holmes - History of the Indian Mutiny.

Kaye, Sir John William - A History of the Sepoy War in India.

Kaye and Malleson - A History of the Indian Mutiny.

( This book devotes 2030 pages to actual fighting, in addition there are many maps of battlefields, and an index of 267 pages.)

Mead, Henry - The Sepoy Revolt, Its causes and consequences.

White - Complete History of the Great Sepoy War.

Thus, even our former enemy the British, had recognised the extent and importance of this episode. It seems that Indians themselves had coined the phrase " Sepoy Mutiny " for example Savarkar's bibliography includes a book in Marathi by one Mr Oak Vinayak Kondadev entitled Shipayanche Bund.

What a pity we should be so ignorant about our own history. Savarkar wrote above mentioned book when he was 80 and falling in health. Nobody noticed such a glaring mistake in his book.

*** *** ***

On 31 January 1991 Channel 4 showed an hour long documentary made by Pratap Sharma, of Mumbai ( Bombay ) on this war. It had some good and some bad points.

good points

1 It is the only documentary of this kind.

2 We were told that coating of cartridges with fats of cows and pigs was only an excuse. The same cartridges were used by Indian Soldiers to fight the English!

3 We were told that even the prostitutes of Kanpur goaded the Indian soldiers to overthrow the British rule

However, the fact that there was a general desire to overthrow the foreign rule of the English was not emphasised.

4 The message of revolt was passed by spread of chapatis and lotus flowers.

5 For the first time Sharma mentions that Mainavali - Nanasaheb's daughter was burned alive by the English soldiers.

6 Forcible conversion to Christianity was one of the major contributory factors for the uprising.

bad points

1 No reference to Veer Savarkar - the first Indian who rejected British version of events and publish his research work in 1909.

2 No reference to the centenary celebration of this war by Veer Savarkar, in Delhi in 1957. There was publicity to Nehru's meeting in the same year. Nehru emphasised the importance of Hindu Muslim unity, instead admiring the desire to overthrow the British rule.

3 No glimpse of barbarity of British forces. Not even a passing remark.

4 Dry narrative by Major G Mohan.

5 Poor uninspiring end. Sharma ends the film with the couplet

Hai jafar tuze do gaz jameen na mili

Oh poor Jafar you did not get even two yards of earth in India for your burial!

Savarkar says, " At the end of this war, someone said to Bahadur Shah, The sword of Hindustan has lost its shine. Oh Jafar, you now better beg for your life."

Dumdumaye dam nahi aba khair mango janaki

Aai Jafar aba thandi hui samsher Hinduthanki

On hearing this Bahadur Shah replied

Gaziome boo rahegi jabtalak imanki

Tabtak to London tak chalegi

Teg Hindusthanki.

As long as there is a spark of self respect in the hearts of our youth, our fight for freedom will be carried even to the gates of London.

Quite a difference in ending!

6 The producer asked for opinions of British historians, such as Philip Mason, Michael Edwardes and C A Bayly - reader in modern history, Cambridge University. That was quite unnecessary. We should not care less what they say.

7 There was no reference to attempts of uprisings in other parts of India.

8 Nehru was forced by public opinion to celebrate the centenary of this war. This fact was not told. An impression was created that Nehru addressed a gathering on his own accord. Nehru made no reference to the fact that it was a fight for freedom. He simply spoke childishly on importance of Hindu Muslim unity.

9 There was no reference to public meeting arranged by Savarkar and his followers.

10 The discussion on why the attempt to overthrow failed was not necessary. It was irrelevant that the fighters had no plans for future. India had survived and prospered for centuries without such plans. Various forms of governments would have taken the place of the British rule.

11 Annexation of states

This was the most important factor behind increase in the power of the East India Company (E.I Co). But it was poorly handled. We were simply told that the E.I.Co simply strictly interpreted the treaties with the Indian rulers. No maps were shown how Dalhousie increased the E.I.Co's rule in rapid succession. This is what happened

11.1 On the death of a ruler the company would say to the new ruler, " our treaty was only with the old ruler. Now you must have a new treaty." This invariably meant ceding away more territory and agreeing to more tribute to the E.I.Co, and more restrictions on the activities of the ruler, and reduction in his own army.

11.2 When a new Governor General would arrive, the E.I.Co would play the same game.

11.3 The E.I.Co made false accusations against the rulers and forced them to make them more and more concessions, in some instances the rulers were overthrowed. For example, Pratapsingh of Satara state was overthrown and deported to North India and his brother Appasaheb was crowned in his place. So disgraceful was the conduct of E.I.Co, that Mr Arnold in his book Dalhousie's Administration says, " It is not pleasant to dwell upon the circumstances of the dethronement - so discreditable they were.

11.4 The E.I.Co flouted the treaties with the rulers when it suited them. It was MIGHT IS RIGHT policy. This arrogance was bound to lead to war. Savarkar gives some examples :-

In the 1825 treaty of E.I.Co with Maharaja of Kotah we find, " The princes of Kotah must be considered to possess the right, in concern with all other...... of adopting a son and a successor on conformity with the rules of the shastrs."

In the Treaty with Raja of Orchha, the E.I.Co admitted,

" Hindu sovereigns have a right to adopt to the exclusion of collateral heirs and British Government is bound to acknowledge the adoption provided it is regular and not in violation of the Hindu Law.

If a ruler dies without a son his wife does have a right to adopt a son. It had been a Hindu tradition for centuries and the E.I.Co had accepted the principle. Following cases were quoted by Savarkar.

1826 Daulatrao Shinde's widow

1834 Raja of Dhar's widow

1836 Janakoji Shinde's widow

1841 Kishangad ruler's widow

In all these cases the widows adopted sons on the death of their husbands and this was accepted by the E.I.Co.

But Dalhousie found it convenient to deny recognition to such adoptions so that he could grab the territories. It is called " Give the dog a bad name and kill him." The Nagpur State alone occupied 76,432 square miles. For comparison, we should note the areas of three countries

England 50,362 sq miles

Italy 131,000 sq miles

France 213,000 sq miles

5 Behaviour of Christians and Muslims today

5.1 Christian Bigotry

The 11th December 1991 issue of the TIMES carried an interesting editorial entitled tolerating christians.

The editor says :- Pope John Paul II is not often ranged with ecclesiastical liberals against conservatives. But that is how it looks in the context of the debate now dividing the Church of England. Can a good Christian pray with members of other faiths, or is there nothing to be done but shun them or convert them?

The Pope in his annual peace massage published today puts his weight behind tolerance and acceptance. Considering how religious differences often seem to make ethnic and national wars and conflicts worse, that is indeed to be on the side of angels.

Anglicanism was once synonymous with doctrinal breadth of mind. But so far this year more than 2,000 English clergy have signed an open letter deploring interfaith services in church. They insist such events compromise the " uniqueness " of Christianity. Christians should pray on their own. What has produced this reaction ?

When the established church organises national events with a religious character, such as the Commonwealth Day observance in Westminster Abbey each spring, it has become customary to include leaders of other faiths in the worship. To some conservative churchmen such occasions are a trendy betrayal of their Christian birthright, tending to encourage the synchronistic view that all religions are really equal. But such fastidiousness can easily look like intolerance; at the extreme, like bigotry.

Recent years have seen a strengthening of Conservative Evangelicalism in the Church of England, and it is from that side of the church the open letter originated. The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, is also of that background, which shows that to be an Evangelical it is not necessarily to be tolerant. But while all Evangelicals stress Jesus Christ as " the way, the truth and the life ", the fundamentalists among them take that literally and exclusively; all religions which do not name that Name are at least technically, idolatrous.

Dr Carey has disowned the open letter. Is he therefore just being trendy? And what has happened to this conservative Pope, head of "the one true church" which is supposed to believe in "outside the church, no salvation" The answer is that history is on the side of both church leaders. Tolerance of and respect for other religions is traditional, but in a much older tradition than Protestant fundamentalism, older than the Inquisition too.

The Second Vatican Council breathed new life into the spirit of Christian tolerance in 1965. In its Declaration on Non-Christian Religions, all peoples of the world are described as having their own perception of " a hidden power that hovers over the course of things and over the events of human life." These are perceptions of the Supreme Being which Christian worship too. " The Catholic Church " says the declaration, rejects nothing which is true and holy in these religions." Nor should the Church of England.

The spirit in which the Pope has now spoken is the spirit of his interfaith pilgrimage to pray for world peace at Assisi in 1986 ( in which Dr Carey's predecessor, Lord Runcie, was a prominent participant). Its roots go back far. In the early church, Justin Martyr attributed all truths to be found in non-Christian religions to the Word of God who enlightens all. The faithful of all theistic religions could join in the prayer of St Augustine of Hippo; " Our hearts are restless and will not rest until they rest in Thee." Those who approach God according to the tenets of their own need not be dismissed by faithful Christians as heathens or devil-worshippers.

Ruth Gledhill, religious correspondent of the TIMES adds

Pope Paul II said that inter-religious contacts were

" obligatory paths " to avoid repetition of the painful wounds inflicted over the centuries.

..... Leading members of the open letter in the Church of England are concerned that the Pope's message could contribute to an increase in gatherings for inter-faith worship. The Rev Tony Higton, an evangelical and a signatory of the open letter, said, " Christ is not one diety in a pantheon. He is the unique son of God and the only saviour. For Christians to be worshipping together with those of other faiths is effectively making Jesus one deity among many."

The Rev Charles Henderson, chairman of the Catholic bishops' conference committee for other faiths, said that the Pope was not advocating joint worship. " The simplest way to explain is that we come together to pray. We do not come to pray together."

5.2 Abortion

Tracy Harrison reported for Daily Mail on 11 February 1992

" Have your rapist's baby judge tells girl of 14."

A 14 year old Irish girl was raped by her father's friend. Disgusted and ashamed, she wanted to seek an abortion in Britain as abortion is illegal in the Irish Republic. She was prevented from even leaving her country. Mr Justice Costello, the High Court judge decided to ban the abortion based on Article 40.3.3 which created equal right to life for the unborn and was accepted into the Constitution in 1983 after a referendum.

[Thus the culprit, the rapist gets away with his crime while the poor girl is left with a scar for life! ]

The Irish Times compared the republic to Romania under the Ceausescu regime. Foreign journalists described the country as "barbaric" and "mediaeval."

There was obviously an appeal against the judgement. Irish Supreme Court ruled that the girl can travel to Britain for an abortion. But on what grounds? under an excuse that the girl may commit suicide. Republic's biggest anti-abortion group, the Society for Protection of the unborn child, attacked the decision. " I would say that abortion was not the answer " said Dr Mary Lucey.

[ She did not say what she would do if she was raped. ]

( TODAY 27 February 1992.)

Note :- We accept that abortion is a controversial and emotive issue. But one must realise the thick headedness and blinkered view if the Roman Catholics. We know of Indian doctors who have refused to help in abortions when the only reason was that the couple forgot to use contraceptives.

5.3 Treatment of Prisoners of War during the Gulf War

Sean Poulter reported for Daily Mail on 30 December 1991

Parents horrified by airmen's torture tale.

Gulf war captives tell of suicide pact and beatings

" The parents of two British airmen captured during the Gulf War were yesterday shocked to discover thay had considered suicide rather than face Saddam's torturers."

" Flight Leiutenants John Peters and Adrian Nichols decided against taking their own lives after they were shot down in the desert. But their worst fears about Saddam's evil forces proved true as they were subjected to horrific beatings and even a mock execution, it is revealed in a book to be published shortly."

"... The two men were paraded on Iraqi television with severe facial bruising which at the time was put down to ejection injuries. In fact, they had been whipped, kicked, punched and starved in an attempt to make divulge secret battle plans."

".... Nichols ate the route map for their combat mission and they buried other sensitive material before being captured. The Iraqis ignored the rules of the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention which lays down that captives must be protected from acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity."

" At one point Peters, a father of two had a loaded pistol put in his mouth and the hammer was pulled back. His injured right knee was repeatedly stamped on until he could barely walk while his gashed left eye was also punched."

" Nichol's head was smashed by boots and fists until his clothes were soaked in blood. Tissue paper was stuffed down his neck and set alight."

On 9 September 1992 Channel 4 showed a programme entitled TORNADO DOWN. Flight Lt John Peters and John Nihlols revealed for the first time the grim story of their incarceration in Baghdad after their RAF Tornado bomber was shot down over Iraqi territory.

*** *** ***

This poses a dilemna for us. Muslims are our brothers. Is it possible that they could have committed such atrocities? On the other hand why should two white, European officers tell lies?

We must also think that if today Muslims can mistreat even officers of militarily powerful nation like Britain how will they behave with us Hindus? And how barbaric would their behaviour must have been in the past.

5.4 Position of Women

The Guardian of 19 January 1991 carried an advertisement. It read where can a young mother go to escape the brazil death squads ?

Joselita is 14. She knows she is "worthless." At the age of 9 she was thrown on to the streets. She has a year old baby. In Recife, Brazil, Joselita can either sell herself, become a thief, or starve.

She already knows what it's like to be beaten up, raped, knife-slashed and robbed. That's life. But Joselita also lives in nightly terror of the death squads who " clean up " her district - and that her corpse will be dumped one morning with the garbage.

If you were Joselita, you could have one slim chance of escape - the Passage House run by Ana Vasconcelos. This refuge, sponsored by WOMANKIND ( worldwide ) and Childhope UK has already given some 300 girls respite from the violence you may have seen in recent television reports. The girls learn to respect themselves and gain the simple practical and social skills that help them take their place back in the community.

There are about 30,000 more young girls like Joselita on the streets of Recife alone.

We want to give Ana Vasconcelos the financial support to open a second Pasage House. Please will you help us give these girls hope?

How can such a thing happen in a Christian country like Brazil ?

6 Book review

BANNED : Controvertial Literature and Political Control in British India 1907-1947 by

N Gerald Barrier, University of Missouri Press, 1973

During the Raj British authorities banned various articles, songs, speeches, specific issues of certain periodicals, fined or shut down newspapers. How was this censorship administered ? Prof Barrier tries to answer this question in his book.

However, he only covers the period 1907-1947 and restricts his work to publications in Hindi, Punjabi and English. The book contains some interesting information and as may be expected, some blunders of a white man.

The author tells us of many suppressive acts passed by British Administration -

(1) 1889 Official Secrets Act prohibited unauthorised entry into government offices, divulgence of confidential information and publication of such material.

(2) Section 26 of Indian Post Office Act empowered the Governor General to order interception of postal services.

(3) section 19 of the 1878 Sea Customs Act extended similar authority to intercept items imported into India ( This act was used to ban Savarkar's book Indian War of Independence 1857 )

(4) In 1914 Indian government empowered secretariats to proscribe publications without prior examination.

(5) Defence of India Act was promulgated during both world wars.

*** *** ***

There is useful and interesting information and statistics. For example -

(i) In 1905 a total of 1359 newspapers and journals reached an estimated 2 million subscribers (This includes English papers) several newspapers such as the Bengalee, Kesari and Hitavadi reached very large audiences.

(ii) The paper Punjabee was started in Lahore in 1904

( Savarkar mentions this paper in his newsletters of 1906-1909.)

(iii) There is an extensive bibliography, which throws light on extent of the activities of the revolutionaries.

(iv) There are some glimpses of arguments between Secretary of State for India and the Governor General (for example between Morley and Minto), between the Governor General and Governors of provinces.

(v) Justice the British newspaper of Mr Hyndman, a socialist, was banned in India in September 1907.

(vi) Efforts of Indian revolutionaries in America, France, Germany, Japan and other countries are given, as are the difficulties faced in those countries. The difficulties are not generally known. Foreign countries did co-operate with Britain. They were not a safe heaven for Indian revolutionaries. ( e.g. Revolutionaries in U.S are mentioned on pp 64, 67/68, 79 )

(vii) p 46 " Risley introduced Indian Press Bill on 4 February 1910. He argued that mythology, reverence to foreign radicals such as Mazzini, and particularly, dissemination of literature had led unsophisticated youths on the path of murder and treason." The bill provided that a deposit of Rs 5,000 may be forfeited if objectionable matter was printed.

[ We must remember that Rs 5,000 was five years salary of Mr Godbole's grandfather in 1910. Savarkar wrote Mazzini's biography in Marathi in September 1906. It was published in June 1907. All the 2,000 copies were sold in one month. British authorities proscribed the book before a second edition could be published. So, even though the biography could only be read by Marathas it was important enough to be banned. The authorities did not go to court to prove sedition. In fact, they always relied on action by the executive rather than judiciary.]

(viii) p 48 " The governor general released Bengali deportees the day after enactment of the press bill and salved the feelings of moderate politicians."

[ Madanlal Dhingra shot and killed Sir Curzon Wyllie on 1 July 1909. At that time British authorities had deported some Bengali patriots. The British wanted to pass this repressive bill. They were therefore forced to release the deportees.]

(ix) p 49 " Education officials were expected to monitor history texts and classroom instructions to prevent crude teachings on the negative aspects of British rule."

[ So, education did matter.]

(x) p 55 " during 1910-1913, a total of 272 securities were demanded from proprietors of printing presses, 158 deposits from owners of newspapers. During the same time, local governments proscribed approximately 200 tracts, books, handbills and posters and about 100 individual issues of newspapers. .. Most securities were minimal (Rs 200-500) and of the 1341 presses and 1068 newspapers began less than 15 per cent were required to deposit any amount. Moreover, the government forfeited a total of 15 deposits and did not seize a single press.

(xi) p 160 " The bureaucracy did manage to exert legal restraint on approximately 2,000 newspapers between 1907 and 1947 and seized 8,000 to 10,000 individual titles."

Where are they kept ? The author does not say.

(xii) p 162 " The British action against Indian publications produced two final legacies. First the formerly banned literature remains a source of bureaucratic controversy. According to the Indian Home Department's interpretation, the responsibility for deproscription resides with the provinces ( now states ) government that initially banned the work. The local administrations have not pursued that course, largely because of complicated procedure and lack of information on what actually has been banned and why. The works outlawed for colonial reasons therefore are technically proscribed even today."

blunders

(a) The 1857 war of Independence is referred to as a Mutiny (pp 4, 12)

p 62 " The British automatically banned printed matter that incited violence and disruption of order. This category included calls to revolution ( Har Dayal's Shabash ), eulogic biographies of extremists ( V D Savarkar, Daniel Breen, Madanlal Dhingra ), histories of revolution, and poetry or drama referring to the assassination of the British. The mounting number of works on the 1857 Mutiny as a freedom struggle ( for example, Savarkar's classic, The First Indian War of Independence ) received special attention."

(b) Abhinav Bharat, Savarkar's secret revolutionary organisation is called a terrorist organisation.

(c) The author does not do justice to Savarkar. He does not realise the importance of assassination of Sir Curzon Wyllie.

p 63 Choose, oh Indian Princes a leaflet is mentioned but not the fact that it was written and published by Savarkar.

(d) On page 82 The author mentions shooting of over 400 unarmed Punjabis at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, but not the fact the crowd contained men, women and children, who were trapped, they had no means of escape.

The Indemnity Bill passed by Government of India, after the incident, is also not mentioned. That law protected military and civilian officers who exceeded their authority even under the Martial Law!

(e) The Congress Party was in power in seven provinces under the Government of India Act 1935, during 1937-39 This period is not properly covered. ( pp 140/141/142 )

It is true that they removed restrictions etc, but not on Savarkar's books, his property was not returned to him like those of Congress workers. Criticism of Congress policies by non Congress papers / publications was not tolerated.

(f) The movement for rights of Hindus of Hyderabad state is not properly mentioned. The movement was successfully conducted by Veer Savarkar. The Congress governments in various provinces tried to suppress support for this movement, using oppressive acts passed by the British. There was even a move by the Central government to proclaim States Protection Act. These facts are not mentioned. The author creates an impression that it was a movement by the Congress Party.

The author says on page 142 " .. satisfied that provincial authorities reasonably maintained order, the central government tended to avoid meddling in local affairs. In fact, the British were prepared to go far in preventing a schism with Congress ministries. During the Congress agitation in 1938 over conduction in Hyderabad, for example, the Governor General agreed to Bombay's contention that the Indian States Protection Act should not be used so long as nationalists used only non-violent techniques."

(g) When it comes to Hindu Muslim conflict the author places explicit faith in the British.

p 92 " ... One reason for the renewal of hostilities was the Moplah uprising in 1921, which resulted in the killing and forced conversion to Islam of thousands of Hindus. The Hindu attempt to reconvert through shuddhi

( purification ceremonies sponsored primarily by the reformist Arya Samaj ) had a similar effect."

The author sees no difference between forced conversion and voluntary and peaceful reconversion!

pp 92/93 " .... This competition became institutionalised in new or revived organisations. The Hindu Mahasabha and the Shuddhi sabhas preached a doctrine of militant self-defence and self-strengthening, sangathan. Muslims counterd with defence associations, such as the Jam'iat-i-Tabligh-ul-Islam, extensions of the organisational structure and zeal once focused on the Khilafate issue."

Once again the author sees no difference between need for Hindus to protect themselves against barbaric Muslim aggressions and forceful conversion to Islam and continued bullying by Muslims!

pp 93/94 "... By the mid-1920s riots occurred on an almost weekly basis. Between 1922 and 1926, over two hundred incidents were reported, the most noteworthy being the Kohat riots of 1924 ( leaving 36 dead and driving the Hindu population out of the town ) and the 1925 Calcutta riots ( 140 killed and much arson ). Sparked by local issues or concerns with symbols ( the cow, processional rights, music before religious buildings ), the affrays had a devastating cumulative effect on communal relations. To the dismay of officials and nationalists alike, the situation deteriorated with each passing year."

p 97 " ..... The Indian government did not know how to ease Hindu-Muslim tension. .... Renewed efforts focussed on conciliation boards and conferences at the provincial level. When coupled with acceleration of prosecutions for breach of peace and for publishing rumours, the improved communication among religious leaders, it was hoped, would lessen tension. Again a failure.

p 99 " ... a Muslim zealot, Rashid, assassinated a leader of the Hindu shuddhi movement, Swami Shraddhanand on December 23, 1926."

The author does not say why Rashid or any other Muslim should object to shuddhi. After all, Muslims want freedom to convert Hindus to Islam. Why should not Hindus have similar freedom to convert Muslims to Hinduism ? If he had raised this simple, straightforward question, he would have appreciated the problem at once. He simply says, " Rioting at the time of his execution dramatised the resentment among the Muslim population."

pp 99-102 The author deals with the Rangila Rasul episode, but for the background he simply refers to J & P 1927 file 1513 of India Office Library.

On 30 November 1929 Savarkar wrote, " A Muslim wrote a booklet entitled- Kishan Teri Geeta Jalani Padegi. It insulted Lord Krishna and thus angered the Hindus. ( the British took no action against the publisher.) Therefore, in May 1924 Rajpal published Rangila Rasul, a book exposing the sex life of prophet Muhammad, based on historical facts. And as such on 4 May 1927 Lahore High Court found him not guilty. If Muslims were hurt they should have proved falsity of statements in Rajpal's book. But logical arguments had never been the way of the Muslims. They wanted to settle the matter as usual by force, and murdered Rajpal."

The author continues on page 100 " Hoping to secure an opposite ruling from the Punjab High Court, Hailey, the Punjab governor wired Judge Broadway, then on vacation, to return to Punjab immediately. Broadway and a second English justice F W Kemp composed a special bench to hear arguments against another hostile essay on Muhammad, an article published in the Hindu Risala-i-Vartman. The article, " A trip to Hell " described the presence of Muhammad in hell and elaborated on his suffering and sins."

" Much to the relief of government, the judges ruled against the editor and publisher of the journal. The judgement denied the defence, accepted earlier by Justice Dalip Singh, that an attack on a founder of a religion could not be considered a slur on the religion itself....."

( Note :- So, that was how the British administered justice. If they did not like a court ruling, they appointed a bench from judges which will rule in their favour. And those judges were prepared to flout the common practice of not contradicting ruling of another court at the same level! )

p 101 " .... The Government of India accepted Hailey's arguments and drafted a bill that added a new section to the penal code 295A. ..... Home Member James Carer, introduced the legislation on August 24, 1927. A select Committee examined all aspects of measure and suggested modifications both in wording and procedure."

p 102 ".... Debate on the revised bill assumed a communal character. .... Few changes were made in the amended version, despite the rhetoric, and the Assembly voted 61 to 26 to pass it. A major reason for the relative easy passage was that some Hindu stalwarts, most notably Lajpat Rai, supported the bill on the grounds that communal writings had gotten entirely out of hand."

And still the Muslims murdered Rajpal! The author does not say why

*** *** ***

Mr T V Parvate, in his biography of Lokmanya Tilak exposes the partiality of the British. He says :-

pp 95-96 " Tilak declared that the Mussalmans, for a variety of reasons were uncontrollable and that the cause of their intractibility, in the main, was the softness of Government's policy towards them. ... What was wanted was stern action against unruly behaviour. Instead, Lord Harris, the then Governor addressed the Legislative Council - among whose members there was not a single Muslim - some words of wisdom and concilliation where they were least required. While dealing with the uneducated and rowdy people strict rule of law without any partiality and strict enforcement of punishment were the only remedies and if Government could not do this it was incompetent to govern said the Kesari of Tilak. If Government was unable or not disposed to do this, sections of people concerned were bound to take up their protection in their hands."

pp 100-101 " Tilak's diagnosis of Hindu-Muslim problem made on the occasion of the Bombay riots ( of 1893 ) was proved to the hilt by the happenings at Yeola in Nasik District within less than a month. The high-water mark of Government's partiality for Mussalmans was reached. The bone of contention there was whether the procession of Balaji ( Shiva ) should pass by the Patil Masjid to accompaniment of music as usual or not. The District Magistrate of Nasik had issued a notification to the effect that on that day Muslims should not congregate at the mosque for prayers or anything else and Hindus should not play music for fifteen steps before it reached the mosque and fifteen steps after it left the mosque. Muslims appealed. ... the High Court disallowed the appeal and confirmed the Magistrate's order. Even when Hindus had conformed to the terms of the order, Muslims threw brickbats at the palanquim in procession from inside the mosque and this led to a riot. ... the Assiatant Collector of Nasik set at naught the District Magistrate's notification and the Hindus had to abandon the procession altogether because Government would not enforce its own order."

p 101 " In January 1894 Government passed a resolution in regard to the Bombay riots ( of 1893 ). The hypothesis of Messers Ackworth ( Municipal Commissioner ) and Vincent ( Police Commissioner ) about the cow-protection movement being behind the Bombay riots as a cause was not accepted by the Government. The resolution itself showed that while the Police Commossioner knew three weeks ahead about the contemplated riot, no precautionary measures were taken by him."

p 102 " At Yeola the Hindus held in abeyance their procession for three years but the Muslims were as intransigent and turbulant as before. This was well realised by Mr Fleat, Commissioner of the Central Division at Yeola, but the officials as a rule took the view that the Muslims were religious bigots and intractable and therefore the Hindus should yield. Even Lord Harris joined this chorus of unilateral advice to Hindus only."

( Ref Bal Gangadhar Tilak by T V Parvate, India, 1972 )

*** *** *** *** ***

(h) p 145 Savarkar's encounter with Stafford Cripps is not mentioned by Mr Barrier. It was Savarkar who flatly rejected Cripps's plan at first, not the Congress Party.

The author does not point out that during World War II the British administration put restriction on Hindu Mahasabha meetings, conferences, and anti-Pakistan demonstrations.

(i) p 148 " Quit India " movement 1942. The author says,

" Most Congress leaders had been imprisoned by August 10, and a tight news cordon was imposed throughout India."

How did the news of Gandhi's fast appear on the front pages of Indian newspapers ? The author does not say.

(j) p 152 Footnote 169 mentions banning of Satyarth Prakash in Sind by a Muslim dominated legislature. But the author does not condemn British duplicity.

(k) p 153/4 Congress came to power after the Second World War. But once again the author does not mention misuse of British Laws by the Congress Partyto suppress activities of the Hindu Mahasabha, and its anti-Pakistan agitation.

On the whole, it is worth reading the book, but with a pinch of salt.

7 Acknowledgement

7.1 Dr Tanaji Acharya of West London donated £10 for our work

7.2 In September 1992 Dr Bambal, of University College, London took some slides for us, for our lectures on " Around London in Ten Hours." We are grateful to him.

7.3 Distribution of Newsletters

Copies of Newsletter 21 were posted by Mr Arvind Kulkarni, and Mr Dhumal in India, Dr Bambal and Squadron Leader Puntambekar in America.

8 Obituary

We regret to announce death of our well-wisher Mr Omprakash Sharma of Keele, Staffordshire. He died of heart attack on 13 July 1992. He was trying to get some space allocated for our work in the ORGANISER weekly of New Delhi.

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