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

Bodoland vasity on throes of crisis

13 Jul 2016 - 3:12pm | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
Bodoland University(BU) authority alleged that the university has been deprived from 12(B) status from University Grants Commission(UGC) due to non-appointment of Professors in the univeristy from...

NDFB (S) cadre arrested

18 Apr 2015 - 7:09pm | Hantigiri Narzary
In a major success in the fight against terror, Army troops in  a joint operation with Kokrajhar police apprehended one of the close aide of self styled deputy commander-in-chief(c-i-c) Batha of...

Abahoni Limited lift Bordoloi trophy

16 Sep 2010 - 4:45am | editor
Abahoni Limited of Bangladesh lift the presitgious Bordoloi Trophy at the end of a thrlling clash with 3 Star Club from Nepal on Wednesday in Guwahati. The 3 Star Club, Nepal was defeated by 3-0...

File Photo: Dr Temsula Ao

Ao and Latour

10 Oct 2022 - 4:08pm | Kazu Ahmed
Helsinki, October 9, 2022: I was at our terrace this afternoon. My partner Salla opened the back door, and with a combination of shock, bewilderment and sadness told me, "Bruno Latour has died." Very...

Other Contents by Author

Assam defeated Tripura by 10 wickets in their opening group league match in Ronji trophy at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Monday. The victory gave the host team a bonus point as they got seven points from the encounter. Ratra from Tripura gleaned 124 run before he was adjudged leg before wicket off pacer Arup Das and any hopes of saving the match was gone for Tripura. Ratra hit 18 boundaries during his 255-ball stay at the crease. He added 77 runs to his overnight score before becoming the ninth wicket to fall.
Encouraging news. A huge fund is in the pipeline to uplift the state’s roads and bridges. Courtesy World Bank. The Centre has signed the Loan and Project Agreements in New Delhi on Monday. The agreement was signed Prabodh Saxena, Joint Secretary with economic affairs department and Onno Ruhl, Country Director of World Bank. The Project Agreement was signed by Mohan Chandra Boro, Commissioner & Special Secretary, Public Works Road Department on behalf of the Government of Assam. The objective of the project is to enhance the road connectivity in Assam by assisting the Public Works Road Department to improve and effectively manage its road network.
Bhupen Hazarika's song is out in English and Bengali translation. This was what the maestro’s younger brother Bolen Hazarika in Shillong on Monday. Hazarika said that the last song of his life had been translated into English by his UK-based brother Probin Hazarika. The song is yet to be out in the market.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday said that Bhupen Hazarika's music will keep living as long as the mighty Brahmaputra flows. In a brief address at a function in Latasheel playground organize to remember the cultural doyen, Gogoi said that his works would inspire the youths to come through his rich legacy. Dr Amarjyoti Chaudhury recited a poem in presence of Dr Hazarika’s estrange wife Priyam and his son Tez.
Dr Bhupen Hazarika is still living in the hearts of millions of people across the north east if the rich tributes paid to the maestro on Monday is any indication. The Asom Ratna was remembered in the state on his first death anniversary with all-religion prayers, cultural shows and processions. From early in the morning his evergreen songs started filling the air. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi led the state to pay tribute to the legendary musician in several functions after he arrived in Guwahati from Delhi. Dr Hazarika’s family members organised a day-long event at their Nizarapar residence. The main function took place at Jalukbari. The All Assam Students' Union held lit 10,000...
Good news for Assam cricketers. Captain Dheeraj Jadhav led from the front with an unbeaten ton taking the host to 220 for five at stumps on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Group C match against Tripura in Guwahati on Friday. Jadhav held Assam`s innings together with a patient 127 off 280 balls. He claimed 17 boundaries during his knock. Assam: 220 for five in 90 overs.
Dr Bhupen Hazarika Cultural and Literary Forum is organizing a human chain and pledge t mark the first death anniversary of the music maestro in presence of Tez Hazarika. Tez will lead the human chain with members of the forum and people on November 5. The mother will also accompany him. The event will be led by Amarjyoti Choudhury, who is the president of the forum. The human chain will commence at Latasil.
In a major relief for the tourists, the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary opened on Friday. Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain flagged off the first batch of more than 100 tourists, including nine foreigners for the jeep and elephant safari. Hussain said the state government was committed to providing improved facilities in the sanctuary in Morigaon district three months are it was severely affected by flood waves. Hussian further launched the eco-friendly solar cycle to enable people to move around the sanctuary. Manas National Park will open on November four.
Yet another blow awaits the common people. The state’s power distribution company is preparing to levy an extra charge of 27 paise per unit for the next three months. The new tariff has come into force from Thursday and it is expected to stay till January 31. The additional burden will be levied as Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment will by Rs 1.03 per unit. The Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) had wanted a hike of 36 paise per unit in FPPA, which was rejected by Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission and settled at 27 paise per unit.
Tension is simmering along the Assam-Bangladesh border in Cachar district following reports of entering extremists from entering the district for creating law and order problem. The district administration has promulgated prohibitory orders to restrict extremist elements. The prohibitory orders have been enforced as a preventive measure. The district magistrate has directed that no person shall move within one km radius of the Indo-Bangladesh border between 8 pm and 5 in the morning.