About Soutik Biswas
Hi. I'm Soutik Biswas and I'm the BBC News online correspondent in India, based in Delhi. I have also worked with newspapers and magazines in India and Singapore and am a Reuters fellow from Green College, Oxford.
You may remember me from the BBC India Election Train blog (the entries of which are now archived here) which covered the 18-day, eight-city, 6000km tour of India I took along with colleagues during the general elections in April and May. This time, of course, I hope to go on a much longer journey with you.
I joined the BBC some six years ago, and have travelled around the subcontinent covering many stories. But, in the end, no story is more fascinating than India's and how the world's biggest and most raucous democracy is evolving and facing up to its many challenges. The blog is also an effort to try to make sense of the vast changes sweeping the country.
When I'm not working, I listen to a lot of music and watch a lot of cinema. First movie seen: Oliver Twist. First music heard and loved: Hit The Road Jack by Ray Charles. Last movies seen: Double Indemnity, M, and Miller's Crossing. Last music heard: Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood: Live at the Madison Square Garden.
My dream was once to work as a music journalist for Rolling Stone magazine. Or a writer on Mad magazine. Instead, I ended up covering the shenanigans of politicians and their ilk, among other things. But then, with apologies to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, you can't always get what you want.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~30~RS~)
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I am from Pakistan and I have just went through your writings about the current expulsion of Jaswant Singh from BJP. You have magnificently covered the whole scenario and the most important to me is that you have remained unbiased throughout this blog which is the essence of a professional journalist. I hope I'll continue to visit your blog in the future.
Regards
Muhammad Azeem Khalid
Email: [Personal details removed by Moderator]
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As a dispassionate academician I earnestly request you to peruse through, reflect and revert on the following extracts on Jinnah and Pakistan in ‘Roses in December’ - the celebrated autobiography of Justice MC Chagla, perhaps the only person of great eminence and stature who knew intimately & truly well.
Justice Chagla, with an Oxford background and Majlis nationalism, possessing a sharp intellect and sterling character, chose to practice at Mumbai under the then great leader of the Bar, M. A. Jinnah, as Junior and Secretary. He wrote thus:
"What attracted me to Jinnah was the force of his personality and more than that, his sterling nationalism and patriotism. If at that time anyone had told me that Jinnah would one day be responsible for the partition of our country, I would have thought him mad. I joined his chamber and remained with him for about six years. I read his briefs, went with him to court, and listened to his arguments. What impressed me most was the lucidity of his thought and expression. There were no obscure spots or ambiguities about what Jinnah had to tell the court. He was straight and forthright, and always left a strong impression whether his case was intrinsically good or bad. I remember sometimes at a conference he would tell the solicitor that his case was hopeless, but when he went to court he fought like a tiger, and almost made me believe that he had changed his opinion. Whenever I talked to him afterwards about it, he would say that it was the duty of an advocate, however bad the case might be, to do his best for his client. I have never come across any man who had less humanity in his character than Jinnah. He was cold and unemotional, and apart from law and politics he had no other interests. I do not think he ever read a serious book in all his life. His staple food was newspapers, briefs and law books. He did not even once raise his little finger to assist me at the Bar. But I owe a great deal to him because I learned in his chamber not only the art of advocacy, but how to maintain the highest traditions of the legal profession. Jinnah was absolutely impeccable in his professional etiquette..."
Inevitably, the question of curiosity and principle arises as to why and when Chagla bid farewell to his one time master at the Bar.
"My breach with Jinnah had been growing since the rejection of the Nehru Report by the Muslim League and my consequent resignation from that body. That breach became complete, when eventually Jinnah accepted the idea of Pakistan and the two nation theory. It was then clear to me that the time had come when we should have a political Muslim body which would counteract the vicious propaganda that Jinnah and his colleagues were carrying on in the country."
More extracts from Chagla's book 'Roses in December':
"I think it is wrong to equate religion with nationality. A nation has many more attributes than a religion has. The fact of worshipping in the same place, or believing in the same religious tenets, does not by itself go to create a sense of nationhood. .... Religion should never be allowed to intrude into public affairs. Public affairs are by definition affairs in which the public as a whole are interested."
"Patriotism should always be territorial and not communal or religious. One loves one's country, one loves one's motherland, and that is the essence of patriotism. One may love one's religion, but that cannot override the love that one has for the land of one's birth."
"I have always taken the view that the partition was a tragedy and a calamity, I also hold the view that it was not unavoidable. Partition has solved no problems; on the contrary it has created more problems and very serious ones too. I remember once asking Jinnah: "You are fighting for Pakistan mainly in the interest of the Muslim majority states. But what happens to the Muslims in the States particularly like Uttar Pradesh, where they are in a minority?"
"I will never forget the answer he gave me. He looked at me for a while & said: "They will look after themselves. I am not interested in their fate" ".
"Of course, we on our side also made many mistakes. I do not know whether we were in a hurry to take power, or whether we were genuinely convinced that it was impossible to work with the Muslim League in governing a free country. I do not think Jinnah really expected that the Congress would ever concede Pakistan. To him it was more of a bargaining counter, and if we had bargained properly, he would have given up the idea of Pakistan and accepted a United India."
"At least as far as Punjab was concerned, it could be said that we presented the province to him on a platter because of our wrong policy. We also did not play our cards well in the NWFP. There too Jinnah had a formidable opponent in Khan Abdul Ghaffar Kahn, better known as the Frontier Gandhi. There was also the press interview that Jawaharlal Nehru gave after Jinnah had practically agreed to the proposals of the parliamentary delegation. In the interview Jawaharlal suggested that the proposals were not binding and conclusive. After that interview Jinnah backed out of his agreement, and we missed the last chance of settlement."
"I also think that the alliance between Mahatma Gandhi and the Khilafatists considerably accentuated the communal and religious aspects of Indian public life. Gandhiji was essentially a religious man and it is very natural that he should feel that he could bring about unity on the basis of religion. As I have already stated, as soon as the Khilafat cause disappeared from the picture, the Khilafatists went back to their original fanatical and religious outlook on life. It also resulted in a great set-back both for Jinnah and men like him and for the Muslim League, which was working on secular lines."
"To my mind, however, one of the most potent causes which ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan was what happened in Uttar Pradesh. If Jawaharlal Nehru had agreed to a coalition ministry and not insisted on the representative of the Muslim League signing the Congress pledge, perhaps Pakistan would never have come about. .... Uttar Pradesh was the cultural home of the Muslims. Although they were in a minority in that State, if Uttar Pradesh had not gone over to the cause of separation, Pakistan would never have become a reality."
"But all that is past history. Whatever may be the causes, whatever may be the reasons, whatever may be the mistakes committed on either side, partition did come about and India was divided. I myself think that Jinnah never expected that the Congress would accept Pakistan. I also think that if we had held out and refused to surrender on the issue of unity, perhaps India today would be a united country."
"As I am writing this, Bangladesh has come into existence. The emergence of this nation not only means a great victory for democracy and the right of the people to determine their own future, but it is also final & conclusive proof that the evil doctrine of two nations was false and had no relevance either to a rational conception of citizenship or to any enlightened standards of public life."
(The Pakistani Claim on J&K falls through on the same premise)
" .. If dead mean turn in their graves, Jinnah could not but have turned violently in his grave at the events that have taken place. His dream of a homeland for the Muslims has been shattered and now lies in ruins. Far from there being a Pakistan which is a home of the Muslims, Home of the Muslims [referring to the fact that there were more Muslims in Bangladesh than in Pakistan] now is Bangladesh which does not believe in religion as the basis of nationhood; and the other home is India which obviously and patently is a secular country."
When writing of secularism or the status of minorities in the same chapter on Politics, he says:
"... Every public question must be judged from the point of view of national interest. It always felt, therefore, that the Muslims, or a large majority of them, were making a great mistake in continuously emphasizing their minority status. They should join the mainstream of national life. They should not forget that they are as much Indians as their Hindu fellow citizens; that they have as much right to be proud of India as the Hindus; that they have inherited the same traditions and the same legacy from common ancestors going back to hundreds of years."
"I have always resented the suggestion that because I am a Muslim I am less of an Indian than a Hindu. To me, Pakistan is as much a foreign country as Turkey or Iran or the United Kingdom or the United States. ... I have, therefore, often strongly disagreed with the government policy of constantly harping upon minorities, minority status and minority rights. It comes in the way of national unity, and emphasizes the differences between the majority community and the minority. Of course, it may well serve as a vote-catching device to win Muslim votes, but I do not believe in sacrificing national interests in order to get temporary party benefits such as getting a few more seats in certain constituencies."
But one grievance about which I felt deeply arose from the indifference shown by the Congress and even Mahatma Gandhi to the Muslim nationalists. Jinnah and his communalist following seemed all important. In comparison we counted for nothing. It was Gandhi who gave Jinnah the appellation of Quaid-e-Azam -- one which Jinnah gratefully and proudly accepted. It was then assumed -- and I do not know what the basis of the assumption was -- that the Muslim masses were behind Jinnah. I knew the affairs of the Muslim League well and I knew that its membership did not number more than a few hundred, or at most a few thousand. Its leaders, apart from Jinnah, were reactionary Nawabs and Zamindars whose only interest was to preserve their position and status in public life."
I rest my Case.
Regarding Justice M. C. Chagla, eminent Jurist Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer said thus:
"M. C. Chagla was more than a great jurist, brilliant judge, impressive ambassador or successful minister. A versatile personality, uniquely secular, talented in many dimensions, a patriotic statesman and compassionate human, among the rarest of the rare we come across in our sordid planet. As a judge he illumined justice and humanised the law. His burning passion or perennial empathy was inimitable on the bench and outside in public life."
Hence, Chagla's comments on Jinnah invite sincere deliberation and serious discussion.
Professor Kumaraguru Bhagavatula
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Why is it that Indians and especially Hindus go out of the way to prove their secular credentials? I would like to know a single country in the history or in the present world where a mob of 1500 people can burn a train full of pilgrims belonging to a majority community and expect nothing to happen. A saint and his four accomplices are killed in front of the children in an orphanage.
Media and GOI downplays the incidents to prevent a backlash. When people retaliate, it is attack on minorities.
I would like to know if there is any country in the world, where minorities can carry out their vicious attacks and in the case of retaliation, portray themselves as victims and hide under the garb of minority cloak.
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On going through the BBC reporting courtsey Soutik Biswas, it appears as though the BBC reporter Mr. Biswas is a politician
rather than Mr. Singh of BJP, the author of the Book on Jinnah.
What is the purpose of trying to focus on author's motive about writing such a book than analysing about it's contents? For
example, it is as good as saying about BBC's motive behind facilitating such blogging, rather than participating in blogging
itself. Mr. Biswas's scope of analysis is appearing ill-conceived.
The reporting should have been about, not why the author is writting so and now; than whether the matter has been published
is fact or not; ..or author's assessment of history is based on his sound judgement, or not; is more of impartial reporting.
Next, Mr. Biswas's presumption of Congress as a secular party, is more pre-emptive than having a sound reasoning unless he
decided to act as mouthpiece of congress. Congress's credibility is in question mark on the count of secularism as a broader
look can find that Congress's approach to administration has been sectarian to different communities; with the matters and
issues of community importance rather than national or social importance. Congress policies serve the community interest,
at times, sacrificing the cohesive interests of the society, which many view as vote bank culture.
In regards to the book, the central character Mr. Jinnah; a westernised muslim had established himself politically, while
practicing law contemporary to Motilal Nehru; had displayed enough traits of secularism of early decades being associated
with congress. As one can judge based on the mind and so the personality of a person, a leader is evolving over the years
and decades facing the public of change; so with their leadership.
A law abiding professional turned politician could not see the basis of Gandhi's street demonstrations, however non-violent
could be, as means to achieve Swaraj in 20's; then Jinnah had long association with Motilal Nehru's liberal approach with
British administration, while dealing with the congress affaires.
With the flow of time, the political landscape evolving in the sub-continent; the leaders evolved with their ideas; so also,
Mr. Jinnah; who bed good-bye to constitutional politics at the 11th hour and resorted to street fight, this time with
violence. His call for direct action in June 1946 is only rivalling Gandhi's call for 'do or die' as part of Quit India movement.
What history judges between pork-eating muslim leader and becon-eating bramhin Jawaharlal as leader is that the former has
changed his leading path where as the later had rebelled with the leadership he(Jawahar) was following. The former has
proved with his stand whether bad or good; the later neither could follow nor could lead, he only inherited. That is how
congress has become a feudal field than a secular icon and Jinnah become an egoist leader from the spirit of statesman ability.
Mr. Biswas should not only learn character analysis from history, but should learn to become an unbiased reporter; thank you BBC.
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Hindus are as such secular for the very fact that they have accepted as many religions in their land of origin and synthesized the spiritual harmony by bringing out more sects and new religions. As a conceptulised Hindu myself, I mostly find the philosophy, also common to other religion(s) are there in Hinduism. That is how many Hindu spiritualists are also knowledgable about other religions. In a way it becomes responsibility, while appreciating treaties on Hinduism, to make others also aware while understanding them and their religion, better.
Torching a train of pilgrims is straight case of criminal offence and should be dealt with strict order of administration. Involving religious backlash under any pre-text, whether majority or minority, secular or communal, does not help solve the problem; rather aggravates the social disorder. Such taking of law into hand does never enhance image of Hinduism, rather means that Hindus are learning communalism from others. Also, it is like playing into the hands of criminal those who shunt the cause between communals and politicians. These communals and politicians should always be discouraged, by sensible public allowing law to take it's course. Whoever, torched the trains must be punished in fast process, but not by public throwing stones at criminals at market place, unlike of other religions. That only makes society more disturbed.
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Soutik:
Thanks, for the background information...
=D=
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India is not a democracy! It is a patriarchy. How is it possible that political power would remain in the hands of one family since independence? The Indian government is simply a extension of the hindu caste system which allows the upper class brahmins to control power absolutely, because the lower castes have been indoctrinated into this mythology, and condemned if they attempt to rise above their caste. Liberal jargon from scholars will do little to nothing to change this "religion". It is hard to take seriously a belief system which worships monkey and elephant gods, yet the sacredness of human life especially those of women and the lower classes, not to mention if you are a non-hindu living in India. India is run by fundamentalist hindus, their agenda is to exterminate all other religions, and cultures. As Buddhism was eradicated from India so will all other pious religions. You only need to look at the culprits of Anti-Sikh riots who have all been awarded ministerial positions after murdering thousands of men, women, and children. INdia should its name to hinduland, oh yes that is what is :hindustan". Although i don't think all Indians harbor ill feelings toward non-hindus, they are too uneducated to decipher the propaganda fed them through the cinema and organizations like RAW or the CID.
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Mr. Soutwik Biswas seems to be biased about Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Why he does not say a word about Nehru's role in the Chinese fiasco? I strongly believe that Mr. Nehru is responsible for the ills that have happened to India because of his nonaggressive policies and his bias towards UK.
Why only single out Mr. Krishna Menon?
Nehru's legacy continues. Rahul Gandhi, our future PM, by his seemingly unintentional recent outbursts at Pakistan or China are only part of a well orchestrated game plan to become a darling of the masses so that, in due time, he can become the PM of India.
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India's youngest English teacher
My 17 yrs old son who is perhaps India's youngest English professor {autodidact}. He had started teaching English to professionals when he was just 12. And he is not just an ordinary teacher, he is an extraordinary teacher. He has proved that our present education system is highly boring, burdensome and impractical. visit his blog at www.utkarshteacher.blogspot.com
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