Kotu Ram

UNITED INDIA OR PAKISTAN

THE ONE ARGUMENT AGAINST UNITED INDIA
THE ONLY ARGUMENT FOR PAKISTAN

It is submitted to the Constituent Assembly and to all concerned for considering that in order to have and lay on firm foundation for a strong, durable, one and United Grand India, it is necessary to remove and abolish untouchability that exists in the land by the Iron Rod of Authority. It would not be removed by mere preaching. Times demand its abolition. The Congress is pledged to its removal. The Indian National Army has been and could be reared only on extinguishing untouchability from their midst. It is a doctrine of hatred, and is a cause of split and division among the people. It affords an easy ground for divide and rule. It is repugnant to all true religion and humanity. It is against true social democracy and is a block in the way of one and United India. Its observance is an ungodly act. It has been the cause of India’s downfall and impotency of her teeming millions. It is a reason for continuous future friction and trouble. It connotes superiority and inferiority complex. Thus it creates and keeps alive the burning of hearts. Without abolishing untouchability, one cannot wish or hope to have one and United India, or the Unity of heart. This irreligious religious imperialism must go. The state must not recognize it, where it provides for religious freedom and freedom of conscience to all. The Indian constitution must provide for its abolition to the extent that in free and Independent India there shall be no state or state-recognized provision for say, as Hindu-water and Muslim-water; Or separate Hindu and Muslim vegetable kitchens in any Government or Government-Aided Institutions and Departments. Separate meat kitchens may or shall, however, be provided for, allowed or recognized.

That in order to give effect to the above it is necessary to provide in the Constitution of Free India that no subject of the Free Indian State shall be taken or permitted to remain in Government service or employment, whoever acts in the spirit of such untouchability. In case of such common water and common kitchens, however, rules of hygiene and general cleanliness shall be observed in the interest of all.

That in case the Hindu India, does not as a whole agree to abolish untouchability to the extent stated above in the constitution of Free India, then the demand for separation must be recognized, as the most peaceful and democratic solution of the Hindu-Muslim question (in its wider sense), and this right of separation should then be given to all those people who would not like to live under or put up with such untouchability in Free India, being a proud and self-respecting people, however, hard and regrettable it may be. One must recognize that this untouchability is the basic, just and popular cause among the Muslim masses for the demand of Pakistan. This demand for Pakistan is a strong protest against this untouchability that exists in the land. Otherwise Pakistan is quite indefinable, impracticable and absurd. Its demand is un-Islamic and against democracy. Hindus cannot expect to have it both ways, their religious dominations under untouchability on the one hand, and United India on the other. Having so abolished untouchability under a Rule of law, we can go ahead with complete Independence of India, neglecting the League cry as also the Hindu cry, basing our constitution of Free India on adult Franchise and Joint Electorates. This will completely obviate any future chances of Civil War, or religious war that may be stirred up in the land by appealing to religious prejudices of the Muslim masses by reason of this untouchability. Abolition of untouchability is a pre-requisite to the successful launching of any national scheme, economic, political or social on the basis of United India.

KOTU RAM,
M.L.A. (N.-W. F. P.)

Some points of explanation or for consideration

1. By untouchability is meant untouchability as it is exercised by the Hindu masses of India (men and women) in their daily social inter-course with the Muslim and the other Non-Hindu masses of India, as also the Harijans.

2. But untouchability is not the same thing as the “Vern Ashram” of the Hindus, and that its abolition does not mean the abolition of the “Vern Ashram”. To me the “Vern Ashram”, is the natural division of human society all-over, into four classes (the priestly and the ruling classes; the trading and the labouring classes), as propounded by the Holy Vedas and the Gita. To confine it (Vern Ashram) to the Hindus of India, is to confine and limit the universal truth uttered by the holy Books. By having so confined it, has led to the unnatural division of the Hindus into the four castes.

3. It is only a traditional thing having arisen from racial or colour prejudices; where originally based on rules of hygiene and general cleanliness, has now been extended to masses of people owing different faiths, irrespective of these rules. It has developed into racial or religious hatred among the different peoples.

4. The present-day type of untouchability is against true Hindu religion (Braham Vidya). It is also un-Islamic.

5. This untouchability is the sole cause for the demand of Pakistan and the two nation theory. Its existence will justify the demand under all circumstances, and at all costs. The Hindus must recognize it so. But it does not necessarily follow that for its existence, Pakistan must be agreed to, or, for that matter, parity at the centre be conceded or a weak centre accepted, if by abolishing untouchability as suggested above, we can have one and united India, strong and lofty, built upon the basis of the Unity of hearts of the Indian Masses. This will happen on the day, when the Hindu workers will work among the Muslim masses and live among them convincing them that we are one people and one nation.

6. The Muslim League or Mr. Jinnah may die or disappear for their own short sightedness, short-comings or selfishnesses, but the demand for Pakistan, the cause for communal riots, civil or religious war, will ever be there, so long as this untouchability rules the land. It will create Jinnahs after Jinnahs and persons dreadlier than him as in the past. History will repeat itself.

7. The Nationalist Muslim as his National and Islamic duty, fights as he must, for the freedom and independence of India, the land of his birth; but he will be a traitor to Islam, his faith, if he does not call on the Hindus to abolish this untouchability, which is a denial of God or say, Truth and Justice. The Muslim League thinking untouchability to be a part of Hindu religion, peacefully wants to separate. Being a self-respecting people, they do not make it an open and direct cause of complaint.

8.The Pathan of the N.W.F.P. is fighting for Independence, as he is 93 per cent here, and the Hindu untouchability is not much felt, being negligible. In the rest of India things are different. If Islam urges him to fight for Independence, the overwhelming Hindu untouchability makes him murmur and pulls him back thus killing the urge within.

9. But to me, it is no part of true Hindu religion, as Mahatma Ji says “Hindu religion will perish, if this untouchability continues.” It derogates from the greatness of the Grand universal religion of the Hindus. But Mahatma Ji! this untouchability will not go by mere preaching, even, if you live up to 125. It is flourishing despite the rigorous preaching of Swami Dayanand Ji, the sweet and highly elevating spiritual preachings of the Ten Gurus of the Sikhs, Bhagat Kabir and a host of other reformers, of the past. It is keeping the country in slavery; will continue to keep it so, unless abolished by the rule of Law as “Sati” was abolished. The persistent demand for Pakistan is the call from Heaven on “Bharat Mata” to remove this demon, this false religion from the land, otherwise the fair Goddess of freedom will not land on this land, made unholy by the presence of this untouchability.

10. Your persistence (Mahatma Ji) on the use of absolute non-violence, even of the highest order to stop and allay the horrible communal riots breaking out now and again, will produce no results, when minds of persons are ruled by hatred, the river of untouchability flowing all round all the 24 hours of life among the masses.

11. Centre created by the Mughal or the British sword in the present or in the past (and now the one under the British Plan), is not the one, the Congress or the truly Democratic India may wish to have arising out of the unity of hearts of her people. The former may not last long. Untouchability will break it up sooner rather than later.

12. The most eminent jurists in the land will fail to create a constitution of Free India, that will endure and bring peace to the land, if this untouchability is not abolished by an article of the constitution, or under its provision by an act of the State

13. The Harijan Movement led by Mahatma Ji, however right, laudable and the need of the hour, is still being looked upon with suspicion as aiming at strengthening the Hindu majority rather than seeking to abolish untouchability all round. The Harijans simple and oppressed as they are of ages, cannot assert themselves, as the Muslims or the Sikhs do. If their untouchability is to continue in free India and is not abolished by law, and is left to the mere preaching of the sweet reformers, they will be no more than mere dupes in the hands of the Hindus of the vested interests-type people.

14. No safe-guards for the minorities will meet the point. The test is if the Muslim and the other Non-Hindu members of the free Indian Government initiate a measure in the Central legislature seeking to abolish this untouchability in the land, will they succeed in getting it through? If not, this being considered as interference in the religious matter, it means Hindu religious domination at the centre, and a dishonourable life for such members. If Malviya Ji dominates at the centre, and Malviya Ji refuses to drink simple water at the hands of Maulana Azad, will it constitute a happy family? Can we hope for then a grand and united India?

15. By abolishing untouchability you cut away all the ground from underneath the Muslim League for the Muslim masses gathering under its flag, and thus expose League as the league of the Nawabs and Rajas. Before doing that, you cannot stop the Nawabs from calling on the Muslim masses in the name of Islam, however false and interested, you call it.

16. By abolishing untouchability, you bring a great victory to Islam in India, as it will no less mean a return of the great Universal religion of the Braham Vidya shine to the land of the holy Rishis, thus restoring, the universal brotherhood of mankind.

17. You, men of light Hindus, Muslims and all members of the Constituent Assembly combine and put an end to this untouchability under the constitution of Free India so far as the government of the country will be concerned, and thus lay deep and strong foundation of a new united India on firm ground,

18. “Democracy and untouchability cannot go together. Hindus must decide.

19. The Britishers cannot be held responsible for the presence of this untouchability among us. They may have exploited this nicely. Let us remove this inherent cause of our own national and perpetual weakness.

20. Without abolishing untouchability as urged, mere joint Electorates would not produce healthy results. It will mean coercion of the minorities by the majorities. Separate Electorates are as much the product of this untouchability in the land, as is the demand for Pakistan.

21. The Socialism of J. P. Narain means and implies wiping out of all Hindu untouchability, as we find it, but if it is not so, I predict no ultimate success for J. P’s. Socialism in India. I hope creating of the classless society at least means abolition of untouchability. I have urged for. I claim to be a socialist. But my socialism and spiritualism are not antagonistic. I am a socialist, because, God is one, His Universe is one, His Humanity is one, because all are one.

22. If it were not my firm conviction that this untouchability among us is the cause of inherent weakness of our masses, is the cause of our divisions, is the cause of the downfall of India, in its presence it is impossible to obtain independence or to retain it, I would never have come out with this at this juncture. In doing so I discharge my duty to my faith and my country.

23. Hence the urgent need to abolish this untouchability.

24. I am open to conviction. Anybody is welcome to convince me that it is all foolish and nonsense, what I have said or written.