Aide recollects Netajis NE sojourn
SHILLONG, Feb 4 At the age of 88, businessman JN Bawri might forget many
things of the past. But he will never forget those three days he spent with
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose when he came here 70 years ago to stake claim for
first Congress Government in undivided Assam.
The Shillong sojourn of the Patriot of Patriots may be unknown to many but
one of his aides Bawri, will remember Boses visit to the North East in 1938
forever.
I was transfixed and elated at this life-time experience as I drove with
Subhash Babu sitting next to me. Contrary to my perception, he was
exceptionally humorous despite his serious countenance, recalled octogenarian
Bawri, who drove Netaji through the streets of Shillong in 1938.
Bose, then the president of Indian National Congress, had come to Shillong, the
capital of undivided Assam to form a Congress Government. There were no cars
here then. So I took out our familys made-in-England Wepat car to cater to
Netaji for three memorable days, Bawri said.
Getting fuel and a chauffeur in those days were a big hassle. I faced a lot of
trouble arranging for 4.5 litres of petrol at a cost of three anna because my
elder brothers did not approve it, Bawri chuckled.
They made arrangement for Subhas Babu to stay in a private house near Wards
Lake in the city. Along with some tribal friends we guarded him throughout the
night, Bawri said.
After addressing his first meeting at the Polo Market, which was hugely
attended by the public despite the threat of the British, Subhash Babu
addressed another meeting at the Durbar Hall at Mawkhar calling on the people
to gear up for Indias freedom, Bawri remembered.
Netaji met the British Governor of Assam here and put forth the claim to form a
Congress Government. Sensing the Governors unwillingness, he showed his true
capability and threatened him that if his demands were not met, Congress
Governments all over India would resign, Bawri recalled.
Finally, the Governor agreed to swear-in a Congress Government under the
premiership of Gopinath Bordoloi on November 18, 1938.
Recalling his historic drive with Bose, Bawri, said, I also took him on a
sight-seeing trip in Shillong. He was particularly interested in visiting the
house where Rabindranath Tagore stayed and I took him to Rilbong, where the
poet laureate composed some of his greatest literary pieces.
Bawri also recalled that Netaji did not mention that he had been to Shillong
before, especially during his fairly long stay at the salubrious pine city for
regaining health in 1927 after he was released from Mandalay Jail in Burma.
PTI
Subhas Chandra Bose and Assam
Dr Dipankar Banerjee
Assam was passing through an unprecedented political turmoil in the second
half of 1938. Sadullah was then heading the Muslim League coalition ministry in
Assam. On 12 September 1938 no confidence motions were tabled against him and
next day Sadullah had to submit his resignation.
The Congress, till then in opposition in the Provincial Assembly, put forward
its claim to form the government with the support of the Tribal League under
the leadership of Gopinath Bardoloi. However, Bardoloi was still in need of two
votes required for the formation of the ministry. The central Congress
leadership deputed Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to supervise the ministry formation.
After assessing the ground reality, Azad raised objections to formation of the
ministry as Bardoloi did not have the requisite number. After meeting the
Congressmen at Shillong, Azad made a public statement that Khali vitti mein
imarat nehi hota hain. (no building could be erected without a foundation).
Bardoloi and Bishnu Ram Medhi, then APCC president, were not happy with Azads
assessment and they desperately sought the intervention of Subhash Chandra
Bose, then president of Indian National Congress and appealed to him to visit
Assam immediately. Bose understood the urgency of the situation
and postponing all other official engagements for a week, he rushed to Assam
to save the situation.
Immediately after his arrival at Shillong and in contravention of Azads
decision, Bose strongly advocated the formation of the ministry under Bardoloi,
as that would strengthen the Congress base not only in Assam but in India as a
whole in the prevailing political back drop. However, the Assam Congress itself
was a divided house at that point of time with Surma Valley members alienating
themselves over the composition of the ministry. Bose set to the task, talked
to the dissident members, started a wild goose chase for those two votes and
succeeded in his mission. Bose played an important role in this respect with
his wise counsel and excellent whip which was badly needed... it was because
of him that Bardoloi could form the ministry wrote noted freedom fighter Md.
Tayebullah in Karagaror Chithi.
Gopinath Bardoloi took the oath of office as the Premier of Assam on 20
September 1938. However, controversy over the issue started brewing at the
Congress High Command. Azad and some others accused Bardoloi of breaking the
party discipline by staking claim to form the government without the required
majority in the House. Azad even alleged that Bardoloi indulged in corrupt
practices to claim majority. But Subhas Chandra Bose stood like a pillar by
Bardolois side and said that formation of the Congress ministry in Assam was
the need of the hour. Bose refuted Azads allegation of corruption against
Bardoloi by saying that as Congress president he had absolutely no knowledge
about it. Azad wanted to resign from the Congress Parliamentary Committee on
the issue. However, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the chairman of the Committee
stood by Bose and endorsed Boses decision of forming a Congress Ministry in
Assam on consideration of the then prevailing international situation.
Patel also said that he has never heard any allegation of corruption against
Bardoloi. It is interesting to note that even Gandhiji, despite of his serious
differences of opinion on different issues with Bose at that time, endorsed the
decision of formation of Bardoloi Ministry.
Bose was very clear to his conscience that as Congress President he was
absolutely right to allow Bardoloi to form the ministry, depsite the opposition
from Azad and his group. In a letter dated 21 Dec 1938 to Mahatma Gandhi, Bose
wrote: ....There is a fundamental difference between Maulana Sahib and
myself... This became manifest when we were confronted with the ministerial
crisis in Assam. I can perhaps now claim that I was right and Maulana Sahib was
wrong. But if Sandar Patel had not providentially come to my rescue, Maulana
Sahib would never have given in at Shillong and perhaps you would not have
supported my view... In that case there would not have been a Congress ministry
in Assam. Bose expressed similar feelings in his later statements and
correspondences also.
Freedom fighter Lakshimdhar Bora in his memoirs wrote, Bose told the Congress
members about the importance of a Congress Ministry in Assam in the light of
political developments and suggested that in near future this North East India
would attract immense international importance. Bose was prophetic only
within four years the grouping plan came and it was Bordolois determination
that saved Assam. Boses role at that time had other implications too.
Historian HK Barpujari observed, Bose arrived in Shillong and played an
important role by assigning the party with his wise counsel... Bose not only
helped Bardoloi in forming the ministry but also helped him in ironing out the
differences with the Congressmen of the Surma Valley over the composition of
the ministry.
Subhas Bose was the most respected Congress leader and made a lasting
impression among the common masses and the younger generation in Assam. It was
he who was advocating an uncompromising struggle against imperialism. To the
youth, he was a legendary figure who was once rusticated from the Presidency
College for having challenged the English professor, who beat up Boses
classmates. This was the same National Congress leader who resigned from the
party presidents chair a few months later, refusing to be the rubber-stamp
Congress president. There was no surprise, therefore, that a booklet admiring
the great works of Subhas Bose was published by some enthusiastic students of
Cotton College in 1939. And the newly formed All Assam Progressive Youth
Association (AAPYA) decided to invite Bose to inaugurate the association, which
Bose gladly accepted, despite his very busy schedule.
When Subhas Chandra Bose arrived at Pandughat on October 6, 1939 during his
second visit to Guwahati, the town wore a festive look. Town dwellers welcomed
him with festoons, banners and welcome arches made of banana plants. Volunteers
lined up along the six mile stretch from Pandu to Panbazar, to welcome a
national hero.
On the same afternoon, the meeting of AAPYA was held at Guwahati, over which
Subhas Chandra Bose presided. Representatives of Left nationalists from
different parts of Assam assembled and the AAPYA was formally inaugurated with
Debendra Nath Sarma as president and Upendra Nath Sarma as general secretary.
At the meeting, Bose was welcomed with gamocha, a pair of endi, a sarai and
Japi that had Subhas Babu Zindabad written in Assamese. Debendra Nath Sarma,
chairman of the reception committee, welcomed the gathering and said class
differences should be removed from Assam and all efforts be made to spread
socialist ideas in the country. In his speech, Bose sought the support of
students especially the youth, along with the leftists, to thwart the Congress
policy of appeasement towards the British government in connection with the
War. At the meeting, Bos called Jai Prakash Narayan, a puppet of Nehru and
criticised MN Roy for his opportunism. Bose also spoke about the fate of Assam
oil company workers, where the Defence of India proclamation led to the end of
a six-month-long strike in Digboi. The condition of the plantation workers was
also discussed.
Did Bose have a special soft corner for Assam in his mind all through? Possibly
yes. This can be ascertained from a lesser known fact that i his ICS joining
form, Bose opted to serve in five provinces of India which included Bombay,
Madras, Bihar-Orissa along with Bengal and Assam.
(Published on the occasion of Netajis birth anniversary).
Assam Tribune Editorial 23.01.08
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