Skip to content Skip to navigation

The First Indian Leader trying to Prevent Partition of India

Please look at the 1946 photo from the London Parliamentary Archive --- the individual standing, with left face seen in the photograph, with clenched fists on the table, is Gopinath Bardoloi. Please look at the scare on the face of the Member of the British Cabinet Mission.


Partition of India in August 1947 is an unforgettable tragedy where a million innocent people lost their lives and belongings.


British Administration put up two plans, one after the other, for Partition of India. The first plan, known as "Cabinet Mission Plan" (AKA "Grouping Plan") was presented by a British Cabinet Mission in March 1946. One Indian leader, Gopinath Bardoloi, known as "Gopinath of Assam", thwarted that plan with help from Mahatma Gandhi. Some Indian leaders, led by Jawaharlal Nehru (who became very angry at "Gopinath of Assam") did not mind partition of India in order to grab political power.


A second plan to partition India was forwarded by Bengali leaders in April 1947 who wanted to dissect India to carve out an independent Bengal --- this ignonimous plan was known as "Suhrawardy-Sarat Bose Plan".


One year after the British Cabinet Mission Plan, the British Viceroy Lord Mountbatten, arrived India with the third proposal known as "Mountbatten Plan" in June -July 1947. Fully supported by Nehru, India was partioned on August 15, 1947 by the Mountbatten Plan. Subsequent communal riots claimed millions of lives and unimaginable, unforgettable suffering.


If this matter is discussed with a verified time-line, the truth will come out that "Gopinath of Assam" was the only Indian leader besides Mahatma Gandhi who stopped Partition of India ---- proving the true "Assamese Grit" that is needed by the Assamese again today for the survival of Assam.


Himendra Thakur
Boston, USA


Photo has been taken from this page.

Comments

Pallavi Barua's picture

Today, Assam has Nehru Stadium, Nehru Park, etc. These have been named after a person who didn't provide any helping hand to Gopinath Bordoloi when he was fighting against Assam being clubbed with erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)in 1947. The only thing which mattered to Pt. Nehru was the Prime Minister's chair. On assumption of the office of the PM, Nehru thought of using Assam as a dumping yard for refugees from erstwhile East Bengal (now Bangladesh). Here is an excerpt from a letter which Nehru wrote to Gopinath Bordoloi, "...If Assam adopts an attitude of incapacity to solve the refugee problem, then the claims of Assam for financial help obviously suffer."
Ajoy Warisa's picture

How is assam different from bangladesh now? 38 years of infiltration - what is left of assam? when will New Delhi awake from its slumber?
Anwar A. Ansari's picture

By accepting the Cabinet Mission Plan unanimously and unconditionally, Jinnah and his Muslim League had drawn a curtain to all that had gone before. Then Indian National Congress gave its approval, not unanimous, And then, according to Abul Kalam Azad, happened something that changed the course of history - Nehru's repudiation of the agreement by declaring "we are unfettered by any agreement". By unanimously approving the Cabinet Mission Plan, Jinnah and his Muslim League had put a lid on everything past. I have read a lot of books and articles on the subject of 'Partition of India'. None, repeat none, carries this episode of Nehru's 10 July press conference. And all books and articles give quotations from Abul Kalam Mazda's 'India Wins Freedom'. Again, none, repeat none, gives the passages that I have given in my article, below. Why? Abul Kalam Azad, giving account of the A.I.C.C.'s passing the resolution to approve the Cabinet Mission Plan, says: "Now happened one of those unfortunate events which changed the course of history. On 10 July, Jawaharlal held a Press Conference in Bombay in which he made a statement which in normal circumstances might have passed almost unnoticed, but in the existing atmosphere of suspicion and hatred, set in train a most unfortunate series of consequences. Some Press representatives asked him whether with the passing of the Resolution by A.I.C.C., the Congress had accepted the Plan in toto, including the composition of the interim Government. "Jawaharlal stated in reply that Congress would enter the Constituent Assembly 'completely unfettered by agreements and free to meet all situations as they arise.' (Inverted comas of the author) "Press representatives further asked if this meant that the Cabinet Mission Plan could be modified. "Jawaharlal replied emphatically that the Congress had agreed only to participate in the Constituent Assembly and regarded itself free to change or modify the Cabinet Mission Plan as it thought best. "I must place on record that Jawaharlal's statement was wrong. It was not correct to say that Congress was free to modify the Plan as it pleased. ................................................................. These matters could not be changed unilaterally by Congress without the consent of other parties to the agreement. "The Working Committee felt that it faced a dilemma. On the one side, the prestige of the Congress President was at stake. On the other, the settlement ....... was in danger. To repudiate the President's statement would weaken the organization but to give up the Cabinet Mission Plan would ruin the country. Finally, we drafted a Resolution which made no reference to the Press Conference but reaffirmed the decision of the A.I.C.C. "His Excellency the Viceroy, with the approval of His Majesty's Government, has invited the President of the Congress to take proposals for the immediate formation of an interim Government and the President of the Congress has accepted the invitation. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru will shortly visit New Delhi to discuss this proposal with His Excellency the Viceroy." A few passages further, Abul Kalam Azad says: My comments: Lord Wavell, the Viceroy, had earlier declared that whichever party first accepted the plan, would be invited to form the Interim Government. That gutless Viceroy went back on his promise and bypassing Jinnah in blatant deceit invited the President of the Congress instead to form the Interim Government, who had already repudiated the Cabinet Mission Plan and whose catalogue of mistakes had ruined the unity of India. The gutless, supine and myopic leadership of the Indian National Congress could not see woods from the trees and, in all lunacy, went on to pass a resolution which begins unashamedly by shoving all the blame on the Muslim League. They were so blinded by their selfish interest that they could not see the impending catastrophe by not calling a spade a spade and, as Abul Kalam Azad has recorded, completely omitted even the mention of the bone of contention: the notorious 10 July Nehru Press Conference. The imbecile leadership of Indian National Congress came out in full force to cover up the Himalayan blunder of Nehru rather than rectifying it, which blunder according to Azad changed the course of history (of India). What a farce! What a farce!! The display of lunacy did not stop there. Lord Wavell, in utter insanity, called upon Jawaharlal Nehru, who had repudiated the Cabinet Mission Plan agreement, to form the Interim Government of India. And then all those lunatics, Congress leadership, Wavell and all, went on to blame Mr. Jinnah for the partition. What hypocrisy! What hypocrisy!! It is not Jinnah who brought about the partition of India; it is the duo of the gutless, spineless, unashamed Jawaharlal Nehru and the self-opinionated, egoistic Lord Mountbatten (now in control) who brought about the partition and the destruction upon India. These two demagogues, Nehru and Mountbatten, preferred the ruination of the country over the false prestige of the Congress President. (It still remains an enigma that Nehru had earlier gone to Malaysia and met Mountbatten, the Supreme Commander. Mountbatten, a soldier in uniform on active war service, then made a momentous political statement of great significance by calling Nehru “the future Prime Minister of India”.) Going by the account of events given by Azad that changed the course of history, there is only one single reason of the disastrous partition of India: The display of Nehru's obnoxious & foul diplomacy at the time!!! And the Indian National Congress going along with it. Thus, united India was sacrificed at the altar of false prestige of the President of Indian National Congress. Events have proved Gopinath was a shortsighted man. Anwar Ansari, Harrow, Middlesex, England.
Himjyoti Talukdar's picture

Is somewhere mentioned that the person addressing the meeting is Gopinath Bordoloi? According to few sources He's Baba Saheb Ambedkar. Request author to clarify the issue with sources. 

Pages

Add new comment

Random Stories

ASDC flayed Government

8 May 2012 - 10:45pm | Anup Biswas
Expressing a strong discontent and great concern over the way the Government treated Dima Hasao district on socio-economic development and other on other spheres, the Autonomous State Demand...

End deadlock: Bodos to Rajnath

22 Sep 2014 - 9:04pm | AT News
The Bodos want peace. The Bodoland issue needs to be settled at the earliest. The talks with the insurgent groups should resume.These were the main demands Union home minister Rajnath Singh listened...

Goswami’s death shrouded in mystery

14 Jan 2014 - 11:21pm | AT News
Dr Bhagawan Goswami’s death seems to have shrouded in mystery a day after the lifeless professor of the Cotton College was recovered on the Brahmaputra in Panbazar on Monday.After the post mortem,...

Court reserves ruling on ACS-APS officers' bail plea

23 Nov 2017 - 5:09pm | AT News
GUWAHATI:A special court in Guwahati on Thursday reserved the ruling on a set of bail pleas moved by over 20 ACS, APS and allied service officers who have been arrested in the APSC job scam....

Other Contents by Author

Assam Times recommends its contributors/citizen journalists the following resources:   BBC News Styleguide   Avoid clichés and improve your journalism with this PDF version of the BBC News Styleguide. The Guide gives practical suggestions on many aspects of journalism style, including abbreviations, clichés, reported speech - and how to avoid irritating your editor. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsstyleguide   The BBC Editorial Guidelines The BBC Editorial Guidelines outline the standards the BBC expects of all BBC content on TV, radio and online. They are designed for everyone who makes content for the BBC, to help them deal with difficult editorial...
In a bizarre incident on the new year’s day, a woman and her two children were hacked to death allegedly by her teenaged stepson on Tuesday in Koliabar of Nagaon district. Identified as Mohamad Ali hacked to death his step mother a sharp weapon after an argument at Kunduli village. He then attacked her minor daughter and son killing them on the spot. According to the neighbour, Mohamad and his step mother would often fight after his father married her and shifted to another house following the death of his mother. The deceased have been identified as Phulbano Khatun, Nazia Khatun and Rabiul Hussain. Ali was absconding.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday said that Maoists is a big menace and that measures are on to tackle it. Talking to reporters in Guwahati, Gogoi said that militancy was on the wane but Maoists are causing a big problem. He said that the matter had been taken up with the Centre which was convinced of the seriousness of the threat.
A Mass Jogging program was held on December 31, 2012 under the auspices of Assam Jogging Association (AJA) to welcome the New Year 2013. Mahadeb Deka noted body builder of international fame has flagged off the march at 6-45 AM from Janata Bhawan Play Ground, Dispur, Guwahati. The m march return from Zoo Road Tiniali and completed 7 kilometer round. A meeting was held after the Mass Jogging at the Janata Bhawan Play ground which was presided over by the President of the Association Geetartha Pathak.The Association felicitated Mahdeb Deka. Deka appealed to the younger generation to be fit by doing physical exercise and jogging. Deka also asked them not to resort to the extravaganza in the...
A 24 year old youth had a narrow escape when his vehicle caught fire at Demow in Sivasagar district on Monday.The incident took place early in the morning when his dumper touched a high voltage electric wire. The driver managed to escape death but he was injured. He was rushed to the hospital. 
Sorry, the requested page is not found.Here are few links to get back on track:HomepageAbout Us Search pageContact Us
A free fealth check-up and awareness camp was held December 30 at Parijat Academy, Pamohi, Guwahati. A team of about ten doctors comprising Dr Amiya Kumar Sarma, Heart Specialist and CMO of Guwahati Refinery Hospital, Dr Khaklary, Adnl Medical Officer of Guwahati Refinery and about ten Paramedical staff attended the camp. The camp helped the local people by providing free treatment of blood sugar (diabetes), gaestro problems, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases etc. Free dlood sugar tests, blood pressure measurement, etc. of the patients were done along with free medicines to the patients. Around hundred people attended the camp.The camp was organised by People’s Friend Foundation in...
Assam is gearing up to bid goodbye to 2012 and to welcome 2013. Guwahati wears a fresh look to dazzle in the evening. But bars and hotels in the city will have to close the functions by 12.30 AM on New Year's eve. On the other hand, the bars, hotels and restaurants must have special permission to stay open after 10 PM on Monday. Meanwhile, the Kamrup (Metro) district administration has made installation of close circuit television cameras in bars, pubs, discotheques, clubs and all the celebration venues a must for the New Year. The CCTVs must be installed at the gates, galleries and main halls of hotels, bars and restaurants where functions will be held and liquor served.
Police picked up a tea garden worker in connection with the Konapathar case where the owner of the tea estate and his wife were charred to death. DGP JN Chaudhury, who visited Tinsukia on Sunday said that a few more accused would be picked up within a day or two. According to information, nine workers have been accused and eight others would be arrested. The identity of the apprehended suspect has not been divulged so that the process is not hampered.
Amid mounting protest over repeated rapes and molestations, protestors in Guwahati on Sunday vowed to put the government under pressure to change the laws to punish the rapists and molesters. SUCI, Aam Aadmi Party, Marwari Yuva Manch activists staged protests in different parts of the city since Sunday morning. The activists demanded the Centre take urgent steps to amend the laws of the country to curb atrocities on women. Members of the AAP took out a candlelight procession on the banks of Dighalipukhuri in the heart of the city in the evening. AAP leaders said that all pending rape cases in the courts should be tried in fast-track courts and a special session of Parliament...