Hindu Muslim Unity on Ram Navami led to Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
By Saquib
Salim
17-04-2022
Gholam
Jilani, A Prayer Leader (Imam) At A Local Mosque, Was Tortured For The Crime Of
Organising Ram Navami, A Hindu Festival?
An artists vision of the Jallianwala Bagh
massacre
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“They (British Police) drove a stick into his
(Gholam Jilani’s) anus. Also, he was in a most pitiable condition. I saw his
urine and excreta coming out. All of us, who were outside, were told by the
police that those who did not give evidence, would be treated like that.” This
was the statement recorded by Haji Shamshuddin of Amritsar in 1919 after the
Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Can one
believe that Gholam Jilani, a prayer leader (Imam) at a local mosque, was
tortured for the crime of organising Ram Navami, a Hindu festival?
While our
country has always commemorated the Jallianwala Bagh massacre carried out on 13
April 1919, by the British soldiers, the reasons behind the massacre have
largely been erased from public memory. History books have comfortably silenced
the immediate threat in front of the mighty British Empire to counter which
Colonel Dyer fired upon unarmed Indians at Jallianwala Bagh. The empire was terrified
at the prospects of Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh unity against their oppressive
rule. The fear seemed to become a reality on 9 April 1919, when Ram Navami was
celebrated by Muslims of Punjab.
The report
that was tabled in the British Parliament after the massacre remarked, “on the
9th (April) the annual Ram Navami procession was held, the authorities deciding
that it was inadvisable to interfere with it. It was made the scene of public
fraternization between Hindus and Muhammadans. The Commission speaks of the
temper of the populace as still being in a dangerous condition; and suggests
that the cause of Hindu-Muhammadan unity, otherwise laudable, can on this
occasion only have been preached as meaning unity against Government. Elsewhere
it speaks of the procession as being of a "highly seditious and
inflammatory character." The report further said, “Though it is a purely
Hindu festival, it was on this occasion here (as elsewhere) celebrated by
Hindus and Muhammadans alike. There was much public fraternization. Hindus
drinking out of vessels held by Muhammadans; for the usual cries in honour of
Hindu deities, the crowd substituted shouts for Hindi-Mohammedan unity.”
How grave
was Hindu Muslim unity a threat to the empire can be gauged from what the
Hunter Committee Report, formed after Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, had to say
about Ram Navami that year. The report said, “We think it clear that in
Amritsar as elsewhere efforts towards “ unity ” had been made largely and
indeed frankly in political interest. That the disturbing state of political
feeling in Amritsar would assist and did assist to throw the two warring creeds
into a common camp vis-a-vis the Government is intelligible enough. Dr.
Kitchlew’s influence in particular was and had consistently been, in the
direction of unity and doubtless, in Amritsar, this fact accounts for more than
does the general movement, which has for at least two years been well marked
all over India.” It further stated that, “contrary to previous practice, the
festival (Ram Navami) was very largely participated in by Muhammadans, and
along with the usual shouts political cries were freely raised “Mahatma Gandhi Ki
Jai,” “Hindu-Mussalman Ki Jai” The effect of the evidence before us is that the
festival became a striking demonstration in furtherance of Hindu-Muhammadan
unity — people of the different creeds drinking out of the same cups publicly
and by way of a demonstration.”
The
Government of Punjab, in another report, wrote, “on the (Ram Navami) 9th April,
in pursuance of the conspiracy to excite disaffection and feelings of enmity
against Government, and on the occasion of the Ram Navami procession, the
accused, Rambhaj Datt, Gokal Chand, Dharra Das Suri, and Duni Chand, and others
encouraged the fraternization of Hindus and Muhammadans against the Government
as by law established.” Just imagine that the British had thrown away all the pretence
of being secular and came out open with their divide and rule policy where the
‘fraternization of Hindus and Muslims’ was called a threat to the ‘peace’ and
‘order’.
The Ram
Navami processions across Punjab where Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs rallied
together shook up the foundations of the empire. It could not risk a repeat of
Ram Navami on Baisakhi Day three days later, hence Martial Law was declared and
hundreds of unarmed Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs were shot dead in cold blood at
Jallianwala Bagh.
Indians
should learn that their strength lies in unity. Our unity terrified the mighty
British empire and when we were divided they ruled over us.
Source: Awaz,
The Voice
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