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Divided opinions Punjab Politics-1 January
1944-3 March 1947. Last Years of the Ministries, Governor’s Fortnightly
Reports and other Key Documents
One such effort is by Lionel Carter through this book. This work edited and compiled by the author is different as it presents the fortnightly reports of the Governor of the Punjab to the Viceroy. This volume is the third in series, the earlier two covering the years from 1936-1939 and 1940-1943. The author clarifies that the reply by the Viceroy to the Governor are not included in the book though important documents have been enclosed. This personal correspondence between two very important officials of the Raj is an eye-opener. Punjab, especially, in the pre-partition India, was a very important state. The letters reflect that the Muslims were in majority in the State so the Hindus and the Sikhs were concerned about their future because of the demand of Pakistan by the Muslim League. This book is very important as the letters reflect the happenings of that time through the eyes of an administrator. These letters were to be kept confidential so the Governor expressed his views frankly. So genuine is the concern of the officials that sometimes the reader can actually feel their helplessness in maintaining law and order. One of the documents enclosed is a poster of the Muslim League exhorting the people to vote for the League in Allah’s name. The letters describe about the political, economic and social situations. The Governors, both Sir Bertrand Glancy and Sir Evan Jenkins, were great observer of leaders. Their noting regarding the different leaders at different times shed light on the hitherto unknown aspects of some leaders. The language used is correct and each word aptly describes each personality. For example, Glancy in a letter to Wavell the Viceroy, wrote about Mohammad Ali Jinnah and his demand for Pakistan: "He (Jinnah) has been preaching to all and sundry that ‘Pakistan’ is the panacea of all evils. But he has carefully avoided any reasoned explanation of where it begins and ends and what benefits it will confer. He might make an ideal leader of a Demolition Squad, but anything in the way of constructive suggestion seems foreign to his nature." It is phrasing of words like these that make the book interesting. The correspondence describes the different phases of human behaviour. The discussions between Jinnah and Malik Khizar Hayat Tiwana, the Premier of Punjab is interesting. Khizar did not believe in the idea of Pakistan and led the Unionist Party in Punjab. Jinnah wanted Khizar to merge with the League. When the latter dilly-dallied Jinnah said to Khizar that being a member of both the League and the Unionist party was akin to keeping a wife as well as a mistress. Khizar replied that being a Muslim he was entitled to a wife as well as a mistress. This compiled work is at its best in dealing with the Sikh Politics. This book is a must read for a student of Punjab Politics. The common thread running through all the letters regarding the Sikh politics is that, "Sikh politics are in the usual welter. Rival factions among the Akalis are still growling at each other or Sikh political leaders are, as usual, divided; their one unifying bond being opposition to Pakistan." The shortage of food grain, the increase in the prices of commodities and delayed monsoon all finds a mention in each letter. Though the correspondence is fortnightly, the letters follow a consistent pattern. In each letter, the economic situation is discussed foremost and then the essay on the political happenings. The letters just flow into each other. The author’s hard work is reflected in putting together these letters of great importance, as the information that you get from here is not available in the books that record history. This book by Manohar publishers can become the starting point of many discussions. The author and the publisher deserve appreciation for this.
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