By Justice Markandey Katju–
(Justice Markandey Katju is a former Judge, Supreme Court of India, and former Chairman, Press Council of India. The views expressed are his own)
I had not heard of Husnara Salim until recently when someone informed me about her, and sent me her number. I then had long conversations with her on WhatsApp, and found she is a remarkable woman.
Husnara is the grandniece of Maulana Azad (who was her father’s maternal aunt’s husband), one of my heroes, who, while being a practising Muslim, staunchly opposed Partition of India, even at the risk of his life.
Partition of India in 1947, on the basis of the bogus Two Nation Theory, was a British swindle, and in my opinion, the greatest tragedy in our nation’s 5000-year history. It resulted in half a million brutal deaths and the displacement of millions, not to speak of many other horrors.
India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are really one nation, sharing the same culture, were one since Mughal times, and are sure to reunite one day under a secular government.
Maulana Azad consistently and resolutely, opposed Partition, at a time when it was dangerous for Muslims to do so. His famous speech to Muslims on October 23, 1947 at Jama Masjid, Delhi, was straight from his heart:
“Do you remember? I called you, you cut off my tongue; I picked my pen, you cut off my hand; I wanted to walk, you broke my legs; I tried to turn on my bed, and you broke my back. When the bitter political games of the last seven years were at their peak, I tried to wake you up at every danger signal. You not only ignored my call but revived all the past neglect and denial. As a result the same perils surround you today,
For years before Independence, Maulana Azad kept warning Indian Muslims that the path of Jinnah and the Muslim League would be disastrous. Today, his prediction has come true. Indian Muslims are almost totally politically sidelined, and atrocities are often committed on them.
As for Pakistan, it has gone to hell, with a collapsed economy and a fascist regime of generals unleashing a reign of terror.
It is lamentable that a few years back, on his birth anniversary, only three members were present in the Indian Parliament to pay tribute to Maulana Azad.
Husnara, who lives in Kolkata, is keeping the torch lit by Maulana Azad burning. She has set up the Maulana Azad Foundation for Education and Social Amity. She has also revealed details of Maulana Azad’s personal life, which very few people know of.
I told Husnara about the incident when the argument between C. Rajagopalchari (known as Rajaji, who later became Governor General of India) who strongly supported Partition, and Maulana Azad, who equally strongly opposed it, became so bitter that they were not prepared to remain under the same roof at Anand Bhawan, Allahabad, and Pt Nehru had to ask my grandfather Dr Katju to accommodate Rajaji for the night.
I will be requesting Husnara to join Indian Reunification Association (of which I am the patron) as its vice-chairperson. I later also sent Husnara this picture (see left) taken in Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi of me standing before the portrait of my hero.
