Background –
When the freedom was in sight and the British government sent the Cabinet Mission to evolve consensus among Indian political parties to find a solution for united India. On 16th June 1946, Muslim League and Congress both had agreed to Cabinet Mission’s proposal of Congress led interim government for unified India. But, on 10th July 1946, out of blue Nehru made a statement that Congress could modify the Cabinet Mission’s plan in future. That did upset Jinnah and Muslim League. To press its demands, the Muslim League gave a call for Direct Action Day on 16th August 1946. On the face of it, it was a call for general Hartal supported by the provincial government of Bengal headed by Muslim League’s Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. The Muslim masses was fully charged by the clerics and fiery speeches by the leaders of the Muslim League. Some small incidents of violence had started even before Direct Action Day on 16th August 1946. But the Chief Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy had categorically instructed the police to be present but refrained from taking any action on protestors.
On 16th August 1946, approximately 1 Lakh Muslims attended the political rally of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and reportedly he told the public that he would ensure that the Police and military will not interfere. That was an open invitation to riots without any fear of police action. The riots were started by the Muslim crowd returning from his rally. Muslims returning from the rally killed Hindu shop owners and their Hindu staff who had kept their shops opened. Their shops were robbed, and properties were burnt. The worst happened on next day when around 10,000 Hindus massacred on same day in Calcutta (Kolkata) alone. That day, the police was conspicuously absent from the scene. Chief Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy had intimated his Muslim goons that they could be given free hand for two more days to ensure Hindus are decimated and reduced to minority in Calcutta (Kolkata) so that it becomes the part of East Pakistan.
Gopal Patha’s the saviour and his preparation –
Initially Hindus were stunned and unprepared by this sudden massive violence at this scale. By the night of 17th August, Hindus had started organizing themselves for strong resistance led by Gopal Chandra Mukhopadhyay alias Gopal Patha. He along with his family ran a mutton shop in Calcutta (Kolkata) and that was the reason that he was also called Patha. A follower of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, he had founded an organization ‘Bhartiya Jatiya Bahini’ of a strength of around 700-800 people including many wrestlers.
Having witnessed by the killings of Hindus by Muslims and deeply pained by inaction by the police, he gathered his followers and told them to fight tooth and nail. He felt that if this was the situation now then what would be the level of torture and repression if the whole area becomes East Pakistan. He motivated Hindus who were otherwise pushed to the corner to fight back by responding fire with fire and brutality with brutality without any regret or remorse. He instructed his followers to retaliate for one killing by 10 killings of others. He also had a cache of arms and ammunition like pistols, cartridge and, grenades etc; procured from American soldiers stationed in Calcutta (Kolkata) during the World War-2 also the arms gathered during Quit India Movement. He along with his followers chalked out a plan to retaliate. Migrant labours and milkmen etc. joined them with lathis, Hindu blacksmiths produced and supplied swords, knives in huge quantity and Marwari traders of Burrabazar supported them financially.
Gopal Patha’s Reaction –
The goons of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and the political leadership of the Muslim League had not even imagined such a ferocious retaliation by Hindus. They had misunderstood Hindus as cowards and submissive. Hindu reaction started on 18th August 1946 under the leadership of Gopal Patha. First Hindu majority areas were secured by attacking and mercilessly killing Muslim goons attacking Hindu areas. After that the fight was taken to Muslim majority areas where the members of a Muslim militia Muslim National Guards, associated with the Muslim League, were killed in large numbers. Over next three days, he and his men identified hunted and killed Muslim League cadre that participated in killing of Hindus. By 20th August 1946, the number of Muslim victims surpassed the Hindu victims.
Gopal Patha’s reaction had brought the Chief Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy down to his bended knees. He (Suhrawardy) had been showered with abuses and scorn by Indians and British both. For saving the face and his government both, a humiliated and defeated Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy sent his confidants to Gopal Patha to stop the killings. Gopal Patha imposed a counter condition that the Muslim League’s cadre and goons should stop the killings first. A helpless and unpopular Chief Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy had no option but to accept his condition. Next day on 21st August 1946 Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy’s government was dismissed. Later in an interview, he told a journalist that after independence on 15th August 1947, Gandhi’s secretary sent him the message to surrender his arms to Gandhi Ji. He retorted that where was Gandhi during Great Calcutta killings? He further said that he needed those arms to safeguard Hindus.
The brave heart also a Hindu lion Gopal Patha turned the tide against the Muslims and their Muslim League’s diabolic pogrom. Most of the muscular strength was provided by Bengali Dalits and non-Bengali migrants. He along with his fellows saved tens of thousands Hindu lives and the honour of Hindu girls and women.
He and his brave fellows along with many other brave hearts (Hindus) saved Hindus in Calcutta (Kolkata) from a certain annihilation and decimated Muslim League’s dream of capturing Calcutta (Kolkata) by wiping out Hindu population. Had he not been there in action the Hindus from Calcutta and adjoining districts might have been completely wiped out making it the part of East Pakistan.
