A cartoon in the Amrita Bazar Patrika published in May 1947, graphically captured the doubts and confusion in people’s minds.5 Titled, ‘Who is Right?’ it showed four key public and political figures, H. S. Suhrawardy, Shyamaprasad Mookerjee (the leader of the Hindu Mahasabha), M. A. Jinnah and M. K. Gandhi each with a placard with their supposed propositions. Thus Suhrawardy holds ‘United Bengal in Divided India’, Mookerjee ‘Divided Bengal in United India’, Jinnah ‘Divided Bengal in Divided India’ and Gandhi holds up a sign with ‘United Bengal in United India’ (Cartoon Source - journals.cambridge.org. Attribution - Figure 1. ‘Who Is Right?’Source: Cartoon in the Hindustan Standard, 17 May 1947, 5.)
Did not know that Suhrawardy wanted the whole of Bengal to divide from India. Anyone knows the demographics of Bengal before independence ? How popular was that stance?
The demography of bengal was similar to present times,Lord Curzon divided claiming it as administrative division,not only congress but many movements like young bengal movement whose slogan Amar Shonar Bangla later became National Anthem of Bangladesh. the other addition was Assam, the distiricts like Karimganj,Silchar are still bengali dominated. the overall provincial government was headed by League. Calcutta had strong hindu community in terms of number and well equipped because of Marwadi and baniya bussinessman of Calcutta.
How do you see Soharwardi’s (United Bengal in Divided India) and Mukerji’s (Divided Bengal in United India) slogans? What could be the reason and justification for these slogans from there point of view?
