Bharat Kesri: Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee with Modern Implications

Closely on the heels of famine and epidemic killing about 50 lakhs of Bangalees in the year 1943, came the curse of partition, placing 2.5 crores of East Pakistan Hindus in the doldrums with their life and liberty tom asunder. In those darkest days of Bengal’s misery. Bharat Kesri Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee came forward as the saviour and through incessant efforts, he was able to carve out the state of West Bengal and make it a part of the great Indian Nation. Thus he saved the priceless heritage of the Bengali society. Finding that the then Prime Minister of India Pandit Nehru was not taking proper steps to save the East Bengali Hindus in consonance with his solemn assurance given to them in his famous ‘tryst with destiny’ speech to the midnight parliament in 15th August, 1947, he resigned from the central cabinet on the 8th of April, 1950. In the Lok Sabha debate on 10th August, 1951, he reminded Pandit Nehru of his promise to the minorities of Pakistan on the dawn of India’s freedom and thundered, "Also, do not forget, Sir, that one Kalapahar destroyed Konark. Believe me, thousands and thousands of Kalapahars will be born in that part of the world and will destroy the peace which many of us think they can quietly enjoy ignoring that basic problem. Thereafter, Dr. Syama Prasad, for the purpose of finalsing Kashmir’s accession to India, went to Kashmir without permit and was arrested two miles inside the Kashmir border on 11th May, 1953. At the time of arrest, he sent back one of his companions Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, the present Prime Minister of India, to inform the people of India that he had entered Kashmir without permit. While in detention in Kashmir, he was forced to breathe his last on 23rd June, 1953 at an early age of 52 only. His death, ‘Balidan’ rather has remained shrouded in mystery for about half a century. In this book the author has made an attempt to unravel that mystery and as such he has made a valuable contribution to our country. In the 12th Lok Sabha election held in March, 1998, the BJP, the successor party of Jan Sangh founded by Bharat Kesri Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, was returned as the largest party and his followers. Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee and Shri Lal Krishna Advani, were at the helm of the Central Government. During the short period of 13 months from 19.3.98 to 17.4.99, the remarkable achievements of that government, highlighted by Pokhran-II, Agni-II and the victory at Kargil, have been duly described in chapter II of this book. Because of the orders of ‘shoot at sight’ and the threat of hot pursuit issued by Shri L.K. Advani, the Hon’ble Home Minister, peace has returned to Kashmir. Let us hope that the efforts of the government will be crowned with success, and Kashmir, the Crown Jewel of India, will again be a heaven on earth in spite of Pakistan’s stabbing in our back and its faux pas at Kargil.