Shakti-Chiti

Shakti-Chiti

Param Shiva is pure consciousness and massive bliss, omniscience, omnipotent and omnipresent. He is self shining illumination, full and independent himself. He is beyond thought construct, beyond grasp of mind, incapable of being described in words.

He manifests, transform himself into the universe out of his own free will and project the universe on the canvas formed by the divine illumination by displaying his nature as the Shakti. Like a picture reflects in mirror, the universe is manifested in the pure self. He is the Supreme Lord manifests himself without intervention of a second separate entity, by the operation of his ever vibrating divine Shakti-Chiti, his very nature.

He is Shambhu, an ocean of nectar, from which the massive current of the play of the Shakti-Chiti assuming the form of the waves of differences and shapes, thereby revealing the Supreme consciousness in gradual shapes. The knowledge becomes the object of knowledge. His trident is his Shakti, the power of will, knowledge and action hold in perfect equilibrium.

His Shakti takes five different expressions: Chiti Shakti (consciousness), Ananda Shakti (bliss), Iccha Shakti (volition), Jnana Shakti (knowledge) and Kriya Shakti (action).

Chiti Shakti, the divine Shakti that enables the Supreme Lord to reveal himself. By its power, he shines forth alone, experiencing himself as the pure ‘I’.

Ananda Shakti by which the Supreme Lord is full in himself, always satisfied and resting in himself.

Iccha Shakti through which the Supreme Lord has unlimited will to create.

Jnana Shakti by which the objects of the universe, manifestations of his self, are made conscious.

Kriya Shakti by which the Supreme Lord is able to manifest all of his intentions, manifest himself as each and every form during his creative activity.

The cycle of divine play of Shiva through his divine Shakti, moves by self limitation (nigraha), creation (sristi), sustenance (sthiti), absorption-cosmic destruction (samhara) and bestowal of grace (anugraha) putting an end to manifestation. Shiva + Shakti = manifestation.

There are 36 constituents, steps of descent into creation. Each higher is the cause of lower. Each higher is relatively more subtle than its next lower. The first 5 constituents are divine Shakti in pure form called Mahamaya and remaining 31 are called Maya (impure-manifestation). The first five are: Shiva, Shakti, Sadashiva, Ishvara, Shuddh Vidhya. The 8 are: Maya, kala kancuka, vidhya kancuka, raga, kala kancuka, niyati kancuka, Purusha, Prakriti. And the 23 are: buddhi (intellect), ahamkara (ego), manas (mind), five organs of knowledge, five motor organs, five subtle elements (शब्द, स्पर्श, रूप, रस, गंध), five gross elements (आकाश, वायु, अग्नि, जल, पृथ्वी).

Thus the universe, with its infinite variety of subjects and objects, is in reality it is the manifestation of Supreme Lord as the universe in his self expansion of his Shakti. Shakti-Durga opens herself out in creation. When she closes herself up or withdraws the universe disappears.

In short, the Supreme Lord manifests himself as universe by means of his free and independent will using his own Shakti as the material and himself as the screen on which he manifests. Everything manifest is a self manifestation of Supreme Lord and no different from him.

And what is liberation? To attain Supreme ‘I’ ness. To search and restore. He is You, the pure ‘I’, can conceal in bondage or liberate. Before body turns into dead body, till Shakti (life light) is present, one can make a choice. To bond or to liberate through the trident : will, knowledge and action.

Punamchand
3 June 2019

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Hangzhou, a beautiful Elegancy of the World

Hangzhou, a beautiful Elegancy of the World

Venetian merchant and travel adventurer Marco Polo came to China with his father and uncle in 1278. It took 7 years for them to voyage to China.  They stayed in China for 17 years and left in around 1292. It took them 8 years to returned to Italy. Marco stayed in Hangzhou for a year. In his book, ‘Il Milione’ - ‘The Travels of Marco Polo’, he described Hangzhou as the most beautiful elegancy of the world. Somebody asked him, is it so beautiful as you have described? What I wrote is not even the 1/10 of the actual beauty of Hangzhou, he replied. He recorded it the city greater than any in the world as it was a great centre of trade and commerce. Ibn Battuta, Moroccan explorer visited Hangzhau in 1345 described it as the biggest city he had ever seen. He was particularly impressed by the large number of well-crafted and well-painted Chinese wooden ships with colored sails and silk awnings in the canals. Hangzhou was three times a capital of China, one of the seven capitals of China. It is believed that Hangzhou was the largest city in the world from 1180 to 1315 and from 1348 to 1358.

Hangzhou, the capital of China’s Zhejiang province, is the southern terminus of the ancient Grand Canal waterway, which originates in Beijing. It sits at the head of Hangzhou Bay. Its beautiful West Lake (Xihu), is the most popular sight, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated by poets and artists since 9th Century. It encompasses islands, temples, pavilions, gardens, arched bridges and at southern side the ancient Lyngyin Pagoda. It’s perimeter is 15 km perimeter and the depth is around 1.5 to 2.7, and the Cultural Landscape covers an area of 3,323 hectares. There are two causeway across the lake. Buddhism gift of India to China, the Lotus flowers in the lake blossom in July in pink and white colours. People eat stems of lotus plant as vegetables and use leaves for cooking rice. Though not really broken but the ‘Broken Bridge’ in the middle of the lake is an attraction centre for the tourist. It is in east-west direction, therefore, when the snow melt due to Sunlight from the east, the western part of the bridge remains white with the snow cover, the Sun light creates an illusion of break of the bridge, therefore, called the broken bridge. The walkways were built with the dragged mud of the lake. On walk ways, there are beautiful Sigamo trees, expand their leaves in Summer to provide sheds and drop their leaves in winter to pass Sunshine over the walkers. They make the streets colourful in autumn when the leaves change colours. Adjacent to the lake includes historical pagodas, cultural sites, and hills, including Phoenix Mountain.

There is Buddhist Monastery Lyngyin, founded by an Indian Buddhist Monk Huili (Chinese name) in 328 AD during Eastern Jin Dynasty. It was reconstructed in 975 AD. The entry to the scenic area starts with a screen wall marked with inscription ‘the western heaven is within reach’. Entire area of Lingyin-Feilai is dotted with historic buildings and artwork, including pagodas, statues and centuries old trees. The largest Pagoda located near the entrance at the foot of Feilai Feng (Flying Peak) called Elder Li’s Pagoda houses the ashes of Huili. The peak is made of limestone and as per the legend, was brought from India, flew to Hangzhou overnight as a demonstration of the omnipotence of Buddhist law. In the cave of Bodhisatva Guanyin, one can see from a certain position ‘one thread of heaven’, a silver line of Sunlight comes from the crack of the ceiling upto the surface. Carved in the Song Dynasty (10-13 Century) with a length of 6.7 metres, the grotto contains relief sculptures depicting stories of eminent monks on their pilgrimages to India for Buddhist scriptures. The first features the story of ‘The White Horse Carrying the Buddhist Sutras” of the 1st Century about two Indian monks Matanga and Dharmaratha, the second features the story of Chinese Monk Zhu Shixing travelled to Western Asia in 3ed Century and the third features the pilgrimage of Master Xuanzang in 7th Century for Buddhist scriptures.

In the temple area, the first idol is of Veda the disciple of Buddha, made from one peace of camphor tree. The deity holds the Sword touching to the ground, suggests warm welcome to the temple but indicates no night stay! In the main temple, the 33.6 metre tall Mahavira Hall houses Statue of Shakyamuni (Buddha) carved from camphor wood is the largest wooden Buddhist statue in China. To the right and left of the Buddha four big size idols of four powerful deities of four directions are placed: to the right, east deity for knowledge and south deity for power; to the left west deity for water and north deity for the wind. There are twelve statues of Buddha’s twelve disciples, each representing twelve signs of zodiac and carries symbol of animal one each: horse, monkey, sheep, rooster dog, pig, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, ox, rat. Gyanyin, Bodhisatva Avalokitesvara and Medicine Buddha Bhsisajyaguru are important halls people visit and pray. The Hall of Five Hundred Arhats shaped like a Swastika, houses the bronze statues of 500 arahats, each carry different looks and seated on a unique ornate seat. At the centre, where the arms of the swastika join, stands a bronze canopy housing statues of four bodhisattvas.

And tired of a day walking, the tourists may relax with the on water live action spectacular show of 90 minutes “Enduring Memories of Hangzhou - Impression West Lake”, featuring a symphony orchestra and dazzling natural night scenes. It was firstly performed during the 2016 G20 Hangzhou Summit. The stage is 3 centimeters beneath the lake's surface. Tea-picking girls dressed in traditional folk clothes, dance of picking tea leaves trippingly in the tender night of the West Lake. Swan Lake appearing on the grand stage is an inventive creation. The ethereal ballet dancers and the miraculous projective images will offer a wonderful viewing experience. Unforgettable Jasmine Flower combines the famous Chinese folk song 'Jasmine Flower' with the Italian Puccini's opera 'Turandot', endowing the classical vocal musical with new western elements. When one Moon lit by electricity is in front of you and the real Moon is on the top of the head and a beautiful romantic dance play makes you feel like sitting in a heaven.

After the show, if you search for vegetarian meal, pick up HDL Restaurant for ‘Hotpot’ vegetarian delicious meal. Veggie may enjoy dishes of tofu, mashroom, fungi, soya stripes, corn, potatoes, etc, boiled in plain water or tomato soup. Rice plate with support dishes of peanuts, chilly sauce, fruits and green tea or barley tea make the meal delicious and complete. For non veggie, wider range of dishes are available. And if you are served by a Chinese host, you may taste many dishes as Chinese are known for ordering many dishes presenting their great hospitality. The food waste in Hangzhau alone may be 20 tones a day. Imagine how much they order, how much they eat and how much they waste! The quality of life of an average Chinese is no less than a rich of India in terms of food and clothing. You may pick up souvenir and other from the articles night market street that opens upto 10 pm. After a tired day, Sangrilla may be a Hotel for the VIPs but Hotel like Grand Wyndham can make the night restful.

Initiated by the reformist policies of Deng Xiaoping of 1978, Hangzhou grew very fast in last 25 years taking advantage of being situated in the Yangtze River Delta, now is one of the most populous city with a population of 6.2 million, also known as the city of opportunities. With the rise of the economy, it has created more jobs, increased population of the city. Service/tourism industry became the largest contributor with more number of hotels, restaurants, shops, tourists. There are hotels where the world leaders come, stay and enjoy the scenic beauty and hospitality of Hangzhou. House of Chiang Kai Shek (Premier of Republic of China 1928-45) is now turned into restaurants of famous brands McDonald and KFC. Apart from tourism, the manufacturing units of the goods adds up the GDP. It is emerging technology hub and home to the e-commerce giant Alibaba (Chinese), also hosted the 11th G20 Sumit in 2016. The administration maintained the environment of the city dust free and clean. Roads are regularly washed with guns mounted under the tankers. It will host Asian Games in 2022. If get a chance, do visit the elegancy of the world to enjoy the scenic beauty, historical monuments, show and hospitality of China.

Punamchand
2 June 2019

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Param Shiva

Param Shiva, the Supreme Lord is called Pasupati Nath. Who is the Pasu? Pasu in general term refers to animals. But in Shaivism, it is the individual soul, the fettered being, concealed, limited being,imagines that he is material by nature bound by his actions, affected by the defilements, mineness, spiritual darkness, conditioned in birth, death, delusion, sufferings, happiness, etc; his experience of the Self in the not self, the physical body, objects, etc. Till he is ignorant of his true-real self and is living in this false experience of bondage, he is Pasu. And the Supreme Lord Param Shiva is his Nath as Pasupati.

And who is Param Shiva?

“I”, the pure consciousness, massive bliss and absolute freedom, the true nature as the Supreme Lord.

The bondage of the soul is imaginary, created by his own thought constructs. The journey from Pasu stage to Pasupati is the Sadhana. With divine grace, he liberates himself from the bondage by loosening his grip over the false self through the glory of knowledge of the true self, by experiencing himself as pure consciousness, the Param Shiva (omnipresent) endowed with Supreme Shakti (Durga-Chiti).

And all this world objects are his own glory, existing within himself. “I” is the soul of all that is manifested as the universe. From “me” (pure self), the entire universe with its infinite variety of subjects and objects emanates, manifests as somewhat different from the experiencing subject.

With the knowledge of true self, rope becomes rope, the snake doesn’t exist in a rope and can’t frighten of death.

Pasu can become the Pasupati. Jiva can become Shiva, Param Shiva.

ॐ नमः शिवाय।

Punamchand
31 May 2019

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Savarna

Savarna

Savarna and Avarna were identified as divisions of people in India. Some believe that there are four divisions of ‘four varnas’ of inequality by birth. Some believed that the term was brought by Aryans who migrated to India from Central Asia. Some believed that it was the colour of the skin (pigment) of the people as per their profession (working hours under the Sun), that was established as varna (colour) system in India. But there is one more belief, very different from above all and you may like it to know.

Sanskrit is an ancient language, described as the language of God. It’s grammar was composed by Panini in the 6th Century BC. Panini, Katyayan and Patanjali had created a grammatical platform of the language so well that today it is considered the most scientific language of the world. It is made of consonants and vowels. The base is the 14 Shiv Sutra, also called Maheshwar Sutra. 

नृतावसाने नटराजाराजो ननाद ढक्कां नवपन्चवारम्। 
उद्धर्तुकाम: सनकाद्सिद्धान् एकद्विमर्शे शिवसूत्रजालम्। 

Nataraj Shiva after completion of his Tandava (Cosmic) dance, sounded Damru 14 times and from which the 14 Shiv Sutras-Varnas created. These sounds create maintain regulate and destroy the Universe. These are:

अइउण्, ऋलृक्, एओड्, ऐऔच्, हयवरट्, लण्, ञमङणनम्, झभञ, घढधष्, जबगडदश्, खफछठथचटतव्, कपय्, शषसर्, हल। They are classified as per the places of the sound, as kanthya (अ, क, ख, ग, घ, ङ, ह, :), talu (इ, च, छ, ज, ज्ञ, ञ, य, श), murdha (ऋ, ट, ठ, ड, ढ, ण, र, ष), danta: (लृ, त, थ, द, ध, न, ल, स), oshthau (उ, प, फ, ब, भ, म), kanth-talu (ए, ऐ), kanth-austham (ओ, औ),  dant-austham (व), jihvamulam (~क, ~ख)and nasika (ञ, म, ङ, ण, न, ं).

There are three major vowels: अ, इ, उ, with three divisions हस्व, दीर्घ, प्लुत. Twinkle of an eye is one matra sounds vowel हस्व, two matra sound vowel दीर्घ and three sound प्लुत. The rooster crowing in the morning carry all these three sounds. The sound from above the palate area is called udatta, the sound from below the palate area is called anudatt and the mixture of the two is called swarit. These 3x3 makes 9 distinctions. Again there are further two divisions: nasal and non nasal sounds, makes it 18. There are 18 Varnas. 

And the Sutra is: तुल्यास्यप्रयत्नं सवर्णम्। While making the sound of two Varnas, when the place of the sound and efforts of the speaker are equal and similar, the Varnas are called Savarna. Ex. अ, आ. 

The Sabskritised society was very disciplined in using 18 Varnas in their correct form with right pronouncing because with the change of the sound the meaning changes. स्वजन (relative) can be श्वजन (dog) if not pronounced properly. Therefore, those followed the rules of the grammar properly and pronounced the Varnas well and spoke the language rightly, might had been identified as Savarna. Those carried variations in their pronunciations of varnas were divided into 18 categories and were identified as 18 Varnas (divisions) of the Society. And those who were not part of the Sanskritised language group might had been identified as Avarnas, that had divided the society into Savarnas and Avarnas. Folk language changes at every 36 kms (12 kos). Savarna or Avarna is a distinction of grammar, the sound of communication, depends upon how you hear the Damaru of Shiva. 

If keen to learn more, pick up Ashtadhyayi and follow Panini!😊

Punamchand
8 May 2019

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Closed System

Human body is a complex machine where the life blood moves into the arteries and the oxygen depleted blood return through veins from birth to death in a closed circulatory system. The pure blood pumped into the system by the heart reaches to all the parts of the body and return to it and after purification in the lungs, it is pumped through blood vessels of different size and thickness: the arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins.

As we age, narrowing occurs in many capillaries and venules in peripheral, heart and brain, and with the death of cells the death of the organ starts and finally writes the death of the individual. Therefore, it is essential to keep this system clean to make the life longer.

LDL Cholesterols and Diabetes are the two major challenges before the present generation to overcome to maintain blood flow in all the cells upto the last mile of all the body parts from the head to the toes.

God is miraculous but is very wise. He made a heart pump in the creatures to supply pure blood to all the cells but kept the veins in our command to bring back the depleted blood for purification in lungs by movements. Therefore, all the creatures keep walking and moving. The calf muscles in human body are called peripheral heart. Unless they are moved regularly, good functioning of the veins can’t be maintained. Blocked veins may cause thrombosis and may lead into serious health problems.

Keep walking daily, it extends life.

Good morning 😊

Punamchand
16 February 2019

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Medicity Amdavad, a Ray of Hope

Medicity Amdavad, a Ray of Hope

Last Saturday at 7 AM on 2 February 2019, I received a call from Mr. MB Parmar (IAS Rtd). In worry some voice he explained the serious health condition of Mr. RB Dave (IAS Rtd) for a month and the stress of the family, who couldn’t sleep for a fortnight and reached to the dead end of losing the right limb of Mr. Dave after spending ₹10 lakh in a private hospital in Amdavad. Within half an hour Shri Dave’s wife and son came to our house and explained the problem. They are our family friend for 28 years from our Junagadh days. 

Either to cut the right limb or to lose life if infection spread over the body were the options given by the vascular surgeon and they were directed to take decision in 15 minutes. They somehow asked for the time to think and managed to run away to home to think peacefully and reached to our door. 

Either to shift him to the hospital or to call the doctors at home were the options before us. They were upset with the fear of spreading of infections if the wound was opened at home for inspection. And they were not confident of going to Civil Hospital in such serious condition, where common men are going. I realised the dilemma of the family and called a General Surgeon and a Plastic Surgeon from the Civil Hospital Amdavad with a support staff to do dressing after wound was opened for checking. His limb was badly damaged by cutting of the larger portion of the muscles by the vascular surgeon of the private hospital. The arteries of the lower limbs had no flow of fresh blood. Only one bypass artery was saving the limb for awhile. In want of pure blood, the limb was dying. His second right toe developed dry gangrene made the doctors to lose hope but we sustained the ray of hope if the vascular surgeon of UN Mehta Cardiology Institute succeeds in opening the blocked arteries of the thigh and open the blood flow in the lower limb. The family trusted in our words and by evening, the patient was moved to Civil Hospital Amdavad and was admitted. 


Diabetic 68 years old Mr. Dave had developed acute on chronic critical right lower limb ischaemia with acute tenderness, swelling and the discolouration of the affected limb almost a month back. He developed cellulitis on 15 January 2019 and went to a private hospital in Amdavad. Arterial Doppler was done and 17th Jan and CT angio was done on 22nd Jan. CT angiogram of the lower limb vessels revealed acute cut of right distal superficial femoral artery (chronic thrombotic occlusion)till the trifurcation and minimal collateral fillings of posterior tibial and part of peronieal artery only. It was suggestive of complete block of distal superficial femoral and entire popliteal seen. Filling of trifurcation seen. He was treated for cellulitis and fasciotomy was done of the anterolateral compartment on 25th Jan, and further debridement was done on 28th January and negative wound therapy given. His 2nd toe was showing signs of dry gangrene.

Patient was admitted to Civil Hospital/UNM on 2nd February 2019, with open wound and critical lower ischaemia with dry gangrene of the second right toe. Though medicines to control infection were given, but passing 3rd and 4th Feb in a room of Civil Hospital, the patient and his family were waiting for the start of some procedure on the dying limb. But his CRP level was high, therefore, the vascular surgeon was waiting for the infection and inflammation of the arteries to come down by the fall of CRP level. The family was worrying for losing the leg or the life. 

The doctors discussed Two plans: (1)- balloon angioplasty of the affected segment of the artery and to put a stent in the above knee arterialsegment only. (2)- if plan one fails then do upper SFA to posterior tibial artery after wound stabilisation.

Fortunately, his CRP level came down and patient was moved to UNM on 7/2/19 for the execution of the plan 1. Dr. Chirag Doshi, the Vascular Surgeon and his team were able to execute plan first successfully. They have done POBA and inserted a stent in distal SFA opening up 20 cm long block in the thigh artery. To the great luck of Mr. Dave, the arteries of the limb opened up and antegrade flow has been established. With the start of new blood flow, the hope of saving his limb revived. Having done that there are two to three percent chances of reclotting and worsening of the symptoms. The patient is relatively more stable with less pain and is symptomatically better but condition of the wound is precarious at best. 

He would now require plastic surgeon intervention for further management of the open wound either by flap/graft or by the wrap. Hopefully, the Plastic Surgeon Dr. Jayesh Sachade and the General Surgeon Dr. Gunvant Rathod of the Medicity will find out the right answer. Without the flow of fresh blood for long time, his limb nerves are damaged, therefore, it will take two-three months of treatment and physiotherapy for the healing of the nerves to bring them back near to the normal. 

After this traumatic experience of running from pillars to posts and finally reaching to the destination; where Dave family can heal, here are two clear takeaways as per them:

1) Prejudice: Many might have a prejudice for public amenities and particularly healthcare. However, we realized that we are on the path of recovery due to swift actions, proper medications and above all right diagnosis/treatment at Medicity Ahmedabad.

2) Economic: Spending more money does not bring our health on the right track but the proper treatment does. We observe the positive impact on our health due to care and treatment of Doctors of Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad and UN Mehta, Ahmedabad.

“All in One under One roof”, the Medicity Amdavad is going to be the single largest hospital campus of the world with a bed strength of 7100 with all specialities and super specialities, where the Code of Ethics for Doctors are followed the most. 

Punamchand 
9 February 2019
Medicity Amdavad 

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Crucial quarter of Indian History (16/5/1946 to 16/8/1946)

Crucial Quarter of Indian History (16/5/1946 to 16/8/1946)

Partition of India in 1947 became a dark chapter of human sufferings, displacement of 30 million people, death of more than a million innocent people in violence and loss of movable and immovable properties in billions. The division of Punjab and Bengal pushed the people from all the three groups to migrate out of their homelands. 50% of the Muslims of India preferred to stay in India but most of the Hindus and Shikhs of Pakistan chose to move to India. Punjab was the worst case of violence, in which except Malerkotla, no Muslim survived in East Punjab; and no Hindu or Shikh survived in West Punjab. The unity planned by Lucknow Pact (1916) was destroyed. 

Arab traders brought Islam in India in Malabar (Kerala) and built the first mosque in 629 AD, followed by settlements of trading communities on western coast. 17 years old Muhammad Bin Quasim with an army of Syrian cavalry and Iraqi Mawalis invaded and captured Sindh by capturing Port Debal (near Karachi) defeating the Hindu Raja Dahir at the battle of Aror (bank of Indus River) and established rule of Umayyad Caliphate in 712. He was executed by the successor Calipha in 715. Chachnama recorded his death by suffocation as he was caught, warped and stitched in oxen hides while sending to the Calipha. Thereafter it was the bloodiest part of 500 years of invasion by the Turk over Indian Subcontinent through the window of Khyber Pass. Muhammad Gazani invaded India for 17 times. Muhammad Ghori lost first battle but won second battle of Tarain against Prithviraj Chauhan by attacking them before dawn and laid the foundation of Muslim Rule in Delhi and ruled over the territory from Afghanistan to Bangladesh and was succeeded by his slaves. India was given to slave Qutbu I-Din Aibak. The Slave Dynasty rule was followed by Tughlaq, Khilji and the last by the Mughals. Allauddin Khilji, Akbar and Aurangzeb extended their power over the larger parts of Indian subcontinent. Area under Aurangzeb’s suzerainty was the biggest. During the invasions and rule of 1000 years, the inhabitants of Indian subcontinent were passed through many atrocities of the rulers and their forces, and in helplessness or understanding or under the force, thousands had changed their faith. With new faith, new customs the community consolidated into a force as the generations passed. In the name of Quran and oppose of idol worship many temples and sculptures created with the workmanship of hundreds of years by Hindu and Buddhist faiths were destroyed. To force conversion or suppression of non Muslim subjects, jizya tax was imposed. The atrocities of the rulers, destruction of temples and sculptures and jizya tax placed permanent mark of distrust and division in the minds and hearts of the Hindus against the Muslims. However, as most of the Muslims in India were Hindus or Buddhist before conversion, therefore, the blood of unity was flowing in thousands of veins. The fight of unity or division was going on all over the subcontinent for centuries. The events of atrocities didn’t allow them to merge like milk and sugar. 

1857 mutiny was fought by Hindu-Muslim together. But Census of India in 1871 first estimated the population of Hindu-Muslim majority areas and created a divide line. Then the seed of partition on religion line was planted by Viceroy Lord Curson on 16/10/1905 by dividing Bengal Presidency into Muslim Majority province of East Bengal and Assam and Hindu Majority province of West Bengal (with present day Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa). Swadeshi movement with slogan ‘Vande/Bande Mataram’ was started opposing the division of Bengal by the Hindus. That lead Muslim elite to meet the successor Viceroy Lord Minto and asked for separate electorates for Muslims and founded All India Muslim League in Dacca in December 1906. Morley Minto reforms in 1909 accepted the demand of separate electorate for Muslims. To safeguard Hindu interests a Punjab Hindu Sabha was established in Lahore in December 1909 and formally the All India Hindu Mahasabha was established in Haridwar Kumbh Mela on 13/2/1915. Gandhi was also present in the conference. The members of the League and the Mahasabha were the members of the Congress too. Congress was leading the freedom movement of all Indians against the British rule and the two religious organisations were working for safeguarding the interests of their communities. 

East India Company came for trading in India started building Cantonments near the seashore and established suzerainty over them and slowly reading the political division of the country established their direct and indirect rule over the Indian subcontinent. They started shaping India by their model of administration. The Acts of 1773 and 1784 were designed to establish a regular system of administration and justice under the East India Company. The Act of 1833 opened the door for Indians to public office and employment. When the execution of the policy of doctrine of lapse of the EIC by Lord Dalhousie created rebellion of 1857, the Act of 1858 transferred the administration from the Company to the Crown and laid the foundations of public administration on which India exist today. The Act of 1861 sowed the seed of representative institutions, and the seed was quickened into life by the Act of 1909. Separate electorate for Muslims were given in electing representatives to the Imperial and Provincial Councils. 

For combined movement of freedom of India and Hindu-Muslim unity, and to demand together the reforms and home rule; INC (headed by Bal Gangadhar Tilak) signed Lucknow Pact of 1916 with League (headed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah), accepted separate electorates for Muslims, 1/3 seats for the Muslims in the council and also agreed that that no act affecting a community should be passed unless three-quarters of that community's members on the council supported it. Jinnah earn the title of ‘the best Ambassdor of Hindu-Muslim unity’ from Gopal Krishna Gokhale. It was later considered Himalayan blunder, sown the seeds of division of minds. 

The Act of 1919 provided a dual form of government (a diarchy) for the major provinces. The control of some areas (transferred list) of government (agriculture, health, education and supervision of local government) were given to a Government of Ministers answerable to the Provincial Council. The Provincial Councils were enlarged but voting rights were given to the limited people who were paying tax to the government. UPSC was established. Motilal Nehru gave a draft constitution rejecting separate electorates for Muslims (Motilal Nehru Report-1928) created unrest amongst the Muslims and Jinnah, a nationalist felt frustrated. It was U turn of Congress from the agreement of Lucknow Pact. Jinnah demanded 14 points (the major one was demand of 33% representation against the Muslim population of 23%), Simon Commission came in 1929, Three round table conferences were held in London. Jinnah participated in the conferences but settled in England for five years (1930-35) to practice before the Privy Council, might had governed the terms of Communal Award. Gandhi and Congress were expecting dominion status like Canada and Australia but British declared Communal Award with separate electorates for Muslims and Depressed. Gandhi went on fast until death and somehow with the broad minded approach of Dr Ambedkar and with grant of reservations to the depressed, one more division was avoided. The Act of 1935 (commencement from 1/4/1937) was introduced as a step forward towards dominion status, widened the voting rights, formed Provincial Assemblies through direct elections and Central Assemblies through indirect elections. Separate electorates continued for Muslims and depressed were given reservations. Autonomy was introduced but the important reserve powers including suspension of responsible government were wasted with the British Authorities. The Federation of India with Deed of Accession was proposed for the Princely States but was not materialised due to WW-II. Sindh was separated from Bombay, new provinces of Bihar and Orissa were created, and Burma was separated from India. Federal Court was established. They started downsizing of British Bureaucrats and slowdown the process of recruitment of new ICS officers. 

In the elections of 1937, Congress emerged as the largest party in seven of the 11 provinces with a clear majority in five (Madras, UP, Central Province, Bihar, Orissa). The League secured 4.8% of the total Muslim votes (winning 25% of the seats allotted for Muslims) and did not acquire majority in any of the four Muslim predominant provinces (Punjab, Sind, NWF, Bengal). Unionist Party formed the Govt in Punjab and in Bengal, Congress formed coalition Govt. It didn’t include the League in formation Provincial Governments. To regain their importance, Muslim League and Jinnah took U Turn and propagated it as insecurity of Muslim interests and the Muslim way of life in the hands of Hindu majority. All their actions thereafter were for unifying Muslims as “one unified force” leading towards creating independent nation of Pakistan for Muslims. 

On 3rd September 1939, without consulting people’s representatives, the Viceroy Linlithgow announced India at war with Germany. In protest, Congress Ministries resigned from the Provincial Ministries in 1939. Jinnah extended his support to the British in war time and celebrated 22 December 1939 as “Day of Deliverance” from Congress. League was the happiest party passed Lahore resolution in March 1940, calling for an independent Muslim Nation carved out of British India. Viceroy Linlithgow made August Offer on 8/8/1940 to include more Indians in Viceroy Executive Council. Governors ran the administration during the war time. British Indian army was dominated by Muslims and Sikhs. Gandhi declared Jawaharlal Nehru as his successor on 15/1/1942. On 22/7/1941, Viceroy Executive Council was expanded to 12 members and again on 2/7/1942, in the enlarged Council of 15 members, Dr Ambedkar was inducted as Member Labour. 

The demand for Pakstan (land of the Pure) was coined in 1933 referring to the names of the five northern regions of British India: Punjab, Afghania (NWFP), Kashmir, Sindh and Baluchistan. Bengal and East were not in demand. But after losing provincial elections of 1937, and premature registrations from Provincial Governments by Congress, League moved for ‘Lahore Resolution’ in March 1940 and demanded: “That geographically contiguous units are demarcated regions which should be constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North Western and Eastern Zones of (British) India should be grouped to constitute ‘independent states’ in which the constituent units should be autonomous and sovereign.” It was a demand of autonomous and sovereign States of Muslim Majority areas within the umbrella of India. 

In their difficult time of war, INC launched Quit India movement on 8/8/1942 and had annoyed the British authorities.  British Authorities put all the INC major leaders in Jail.  C Ragopalachari proposed resolution in INC supporting the proposal of Pakistan, was opposed and had resigned from Congress. He didn’t participate in Quit india movement. Gandhi was placed in Agakhan Palace Pune, where he lost his two manoj companions: Mahadev Desai (15/8/42) and Kasturba (22/2/44). Nehru, Sardar Patel, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Azad were placed in Ahmednagar Fort. British utilised the vacuum in promoting Jinnah and Muslim League. Nehru and Sardar Patel were in jail away from the mainstream politics for three years (1942-45). Viceroy Linlithgow retired in 1943, was replaced by Lord Wavell. He had four challenges: Bengal famine of 1943, Quit India Movement of Gandhi, Jinnah’s demand for independent state for the Muslims and Subhas Chandra Bose befriended with Japan was knocking doors of India from India’s eastern border. 

On medical grounds, Gandhi was released before the expiry of imprisonment on 5/5/1944. Gandhi held the talk with Jinnah 9-10 September 1944 to break the deadlock and proposed CR Formula of partition deferring it till after partition.  Their correspondence on 11-14, 24-26 September 1944 didn’t resolve the issue. Jinnah remained firm on his demand of new Country of six provinces resolved by Muslim League in 1940 before the British departure. Gandhi wanted Independence first and Jinnah wanted settlement of communal problem first and thereafter independence. 

Little Boy and Fat Man nuclear bombs were dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki cities of Japan by USA on 6th and 8th of August 1945. Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945. The Allies won over the Axis. but the victorious PM of UK Sir Winston Churchill lost the Parliament Elections of July 1945. UK suffered heavy loss of human life (449,700) and financial resources ($120 billion) in WW-II. 

In June 1945, all members of Congress Working Committee were released from the Jain. In Shimla Conference of 25 June 1945, Viceroy Lord Wavell offered Wavell Pan for India’s Self Government (dominion status), all members excluding the Viceroy and Commander in Chief (defence) would be Indian. But he offered the seats on religion and caste lines. Jinnah wanted Muslim members of the council proposed by the league, as he believed League’s sole right to representative of Muslims of India. He considered Congress’s Muslim representatives as ‘show boys’. Jinnah rejected the plan by calling it a trap of the Government and the Hindus and a death warrant of the Muslims. Wavell Plan failed. Meanwhile, general elections were held in UK in July 1945, Churchill’s Conservative Party lost and Labour Party came in power.

British exploited India in terms of food, timber, raw materials and soldiers but on budget records, Indian was a debtor country to UK. Under the new PM of Labour Party, Clement Attlee British decided to Quit India in 1946. He sent a Cabinet Mission to India. The Cabinet Mission Plan (Lord Pethick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and AV Alexander) tried to transfer the power with an aim of maintaining India’s unity by formation of Union of India comprising both the British India and the Princely States but failed. 

On 16/5/1946, the Cabinet Mission proposed three tier system: the provinces, provincial groupings and the centre. The centre's power was to be confined to foreign affairs, defence, currency and communications. The provinces would keep all the other powers and were allowed to establish three groups. Two groups would be constituted by the mainly Muslim western and eastern provinces. Group B would comprise Sind, Punjab, Northwest Frontier and Baluchistan. Bengal and Assam would make up Group C. The third Group A would comprise the mostly Hindu areas in the south and the centre, such as UP, CP, Bombay, Bihar and Madras. The Union would remain in charge of only foreign affairs, defence and communications leaving the residuary powers to be vested in the provinces. A proposal was envisaged for setting up an Interim Government, which would remain in office till a new government was elected on the basis of the new Constitution framed by the Constituent Assembly.

Jinnah was demanding parity between the two: Muslim India (group B&C) and Hindu India (group A). Muslim League accepted the proposal on 6/6/1946. Provincial Elections of Assemblies were held in January 1946. Separate electorates gave 90% of seats for Muslim to Muslim League in 1946 elections. INC won 90% of non-Muslim seats. Elections were held for the Constituent Assembly in July 1946. The members were elected by the provincial assemblies by a single, transferable vote system of proportional representation. Constituent Assembly was founded on 6/7/1946.

INC initially accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan of 16/5/1946, but had raised queries on interpretation of some of its provisions. The major one was regarding Assam. It had Congress rule and it was believed that it will be optional for Assam to join group C or not. Jinnah saw it mandatory. Weak Centre was not acceptable to Nehru, therefore, he held a Press Conference in Mumbai on 10/7/1946 declaring that although the Congress had agreed to participate in the Constituent Assembly, it reserved the right to modify the Cabinet Mission Plan as it saw fit. That created doubts in the minds of Muslim League that had withdrawn their approval of the Cabinet Plan on 29/7/1946. Jinnah declared Direct Action Day on 16/8/1946 with an aim of divided India or destroyed India to make his demand for Pakistan. On that day Great Culcutta killings took place, followed by riots in Noakhali, Bihar, United Provinces (UP), Punjab and North Western Frontier province. Master Tara Singh’s kirpan calling for “Death of Pakistan” outside the Punjab Assembly on 3/3/1947 turned out to be the death warrant of thousands of innocents in Punjab in communal violences. 

Meantime, Viceroy Wavell moves for forming the interim Government. Nehru’s Cabinet was installed on 2/9/1946. Nehru became the Vice President of Executive Council, Home Ministry was kept with Sardar Patel, Jinnah didn’t join but placed Liaquat Ali Khan on 29/10/1946 to hold Finance Ministry. Two more ministers of Muslim League were inducted. But during those 9 months of government (29/10/1946 to 15/8/1947) Liaquat Ali Khan as Finance Minister made the functioning of the Single Govt of United India difficult. In December 1946, Nehru, Jinnah and Wavell went to London to revive the Cabinet Mission scheme but the attempt failed. Wavell commenced Constituent Assembly on 9/12/1946. Muslim League joined the government but boycotted the Constituent Assembly. Wavell drew up a plan for gradual exit of British but he was replaced by Lord Mountbatten on 20 February 1947 with an aim to  overseeing transition of British India to Independence, no later than 30 June 1948. He preferred quick transfer instead of gradual transfer to avoid civil was as per his belief. He was comfortable with Gandhi, Nehru and Sardar Patel but couldn’t persuade Jinnah for united India. In his words, “if it could be said that any single man held the future of India in the palm of his hand in 1947, that man was Mohammad Ali Jinnah." He then concluded to form independent nations of India and Pakistan, declared 3rd June Plan (Mountbatten Plan) and brought the date forward for transfer of power on 15/8/1947, 10.5 months before the deadline of 30/6/1948. India Independence Act 1947 was enacted on 18 July 1947. Jinnah failed in getting whole of Punjab and Bengal and Assam. The division of these provinces and uncertainty of the borders causes migration of people to move towards their majority area. Boundary Committee chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe mandated to draw boundaries to leave as many Hindus and Sikhs in India and as many Muslims in Pakistan as possible. Punjab and Bengal were divided. He submitted his map on 9/8/1947 and the new boundaries were formally announced on 14/8/1947. This left 14 million people on the "wrong" side of the border, and very many of them fled to "safety" on the other side when the new lines were announced. High scale rioting and violence broke out in Punjab. One man army Gandhi was holding Bengal for maintaining peace. Thousands were killed and millions were injured. The number of humans saved by Gandhi’s non violent freedom movement were sacrificed in the fire of communal violence. Migration made the innocent people refugees. After a month of independence, both the Govt signed the agreement of exchange of minorities from east and west Punjab. Central Emergency Committee was formed under the chair of Mountbatten to deal with the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the refugees. 

On eastern border communal violence broke out in Noakhali and Kolkata but one man army Gandhi was holding them in peace. Gandhi returned to Delhi in September 1947 and wished to go to Punjab to bring peace but had to stop in Delhi because of communal violence broke out in the city. Gandhi went on fast on 13/1/1948 for communal peace. ₹ 55 crore payment to Pakistan was included in the list of demands. The Cabinet changed it earlier decision and passed the payment on 14/1/1948, though Sardar Patel’s will was against the decision. Gandhi continued his fast to bring peace in Delhi and ended the fast on 18/1/1948 after being given a pledge of harmony by leaders of different communities. A bomb was thrown on him on 20/1/1948 but was saved. Sardar Patel was in Mumbai that day, returned to Delhi on 23/1/1948, made arrangements of his protection. But Gandhi didn’t allow checking of visitors. On 30/1/48, Gandhi was assassinated. 

Sindhi Hindu migration from Sindh to India had low scale rioting but at Dargah Bazzar of Ajmer the arguments between Sindhi refugees and local Muslims on 6/12/1947 lead into riots, sparkled riots in Karachi, Hyderabad of Pakistan. It had forced the Sindhis of Karachi to migrate to Gujarat-Godhra where riots took place in March 1948, that led to emigration of Godhra Muslims to Pakistan. Nehru planned to go to Ajmer to review the ground reality but due to death of his nephew had sent his personal secretary Ayangar in December 1947. The Chief Commissioner of Ajmer Shankar Prasad objected to the review by MR Ayangar and complained to Sardar Patel. Sardar Patel too felt bad and that led into no-confidence correspondences between Nehru and Sardar. However, Gandhi’s assassination on 30/1/1948 bonded them together again. Riots and refugees had created the stress over the governments and their executives.

When Maulana Abdul Kalam expressed his concern over the likelihood of violent riots due to partition of India, Lord Mountbatten gave assurance that there would no bloodshed or riots and if there should be the slightest agitation, he should adopt the sternest measures to nip the trouble in the bud. He couldn’t meet his assurance. Government machinery failed. 

British came to India for trading but ruled and governed the country for 190 years and formed bigger India under central power, gave us organised administration and slowly brought the country under the democratic system of governance, whereby the revolutionary changes in economic and social life are brought about without bloodshed. But their departure took a toll on lives of thousands and displacement of millions. 

The failure of leaders in managing those three months of 16/5/1946 to 16/8/47 brought miseries and placed permanent wet scars over the hearts of millions to remind the darkness of those days for centuries. 

Punamchand

9 February 2019

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