How Mahatma Gandhi celebrated Indian Independence

By Horace Alexander*

Where was Mahatma Gandhi on Indian Independence Day? Any one from the West would naturally say: Surely the man who had led the Indian movement for freedom, and who was still the acknowledged leader of India, would be in the British handed over to the Indians. He would surely take a leading part in the celebration. But that is just where he was not. Ask half a dozen Indians where Gandhi was, on August 15, 1947, and you may get half a dozen different replies. But all would agree that he was not in Delhi.

It happens that I was with him on that day, so I can tell the story and it is worth telling. For what Gandhi did on that day was one of the most extraordinary happenings in his evening life. He brought peace to that great city of Calcutta, and to the whole of Bengal, where Hindus and Muslims had been killing one another almost daily for over a year.

Here is the story.

First I suppose I must introduce myself, for any American reader will wonder how on earthan Englishman (as I am) could be Gandhi's personal guest on the day of India's freedom from British rule. Let me say, then, that I was a teacher at a Quaker college in England, and that in the mid-nineteen twenties I had spent most of a sabbatical year in India, with plentiful introductions from a remarkable Englishman named C.F. Andrews, who had gone from India to South Africa to help Gandhi, still a young man, in his non-violent struggle to assert the rights of the Indian, both in the demand for self-government, and no less with the growing demand for ending the exploitation of the "coolie" Indian laborers both in India and in many countries where Indians had been imported to provide cheap labor.

My own first visit to India ended with a weaker at Gandhi's "ashram" or community. It was the climax of a journey that led me to believe that it would be well for both India and Britain if the British would undertaken an orderly withdrawal. Two years later Gandhi came to London to take part in a Round Table Conference on the future government of India. In response to and appeal from Mr. Andrews, who was in London at the time, I was able to spend two days each weeks trying to be useful to Gandhi and his colleagues. Thus, I found myself fully involved in the effort to bring Gandhi and his colleagues in to an agreement with the British Government - which could only be if the British did in fact part with power. The Round Table conference did not bring any agreement. On the contrary. So there were still some years of conflict ahead.

Before Gandhi returned to India and to prison, the first steps had been taken that led to the formation of the India Conciliation Group - a group of Englishmen and women, all with some first-hand knowledge of India, who believed that the British should come to terms with the leaders of Indian's nationalist movement, and especially with its unique leader, Mahatma Gandhi. Miss Agatha Harrison was the secretary of this group, and she practically gave her whole life to India for the next ten years. I was a member of this group; and Miss Harrison and I kept in very close touch, as Gandhi had urgent us to do.

During part of the World War (1942 and 1943) I was in India with a section of the Friend's Ambulance Unit, trying to help Calcutta and other cities to prepare for possible Japanese air-raids. Happily there were few air raids; but a disastrous famine struck Bengal, and there was plenty of work to do. At the end of the war, I was able to return to India quickly as possible. The new secretary of the State for India, lord Pethick-Lawrence, made it easy for both Miss Harrison and me to return to India, and to the help in convincing the Indian leaders that the Government in London was determined to leave India as soon as terms could be worked out. Gandhi and other Indian's leaders welcomed us and made our work easy.

As far as I was concerned, Gandhi invited me to spend a few days with him, whenever I could, though my first responsibility was to the reconstruction work of the Friends's Ambulance Unit, which had now become Friend's Service Unit, and had support not only from Quakers in Britain but also American workers and the Americans Friend Service Committee.

We knew that the day of Indian Political freedom was to be August 15, 1947. A few weeks earlier, Gandhi had reminded me that he had not seen me for some weeks. When was I coming? I replied that I should like to be with him on Independence Day, wherever he was. I knew he would not be in Delhi. He replied that I would suit him well. He expected to be in Bihar until a few days before the well. He expected to be in Bihar until a few days before the 15th, 1947. A few weeks earlier, Gandhi had reminded me that he had not seen me for some weeks. When was I coming? I replied that I should like to be with him on Independence Day, wherever he was. I knew he would not be in Delhi. He replied that would suit him well. He expected to be in Bihar until a few days before the 15th: then he was planning to go to East Bengal. He hoped that I would join him in Bihar, and travel with him to East Bengal. So it was fixed. But why was he in Bihar? And why was the going to East Bengal?

The answer is that these were two areas that had suffered severely from communal strife during recent months. In East Bengal Muslims out-numbered Hindus; so, when Lord Mountbatten had reluctantly decided that partition could not be avoided, and a new state, Pakistan, was to be separated from India, East Bengal was to be separated as well as the north-western States and would become the eastern wing of Pakistan separated from West Pakistan by a thousand miles of India.

In late 1946, in the Noakhali district of East Bengal, Muslims attacked their Hindu neighbors and burnt their houses. Gandhi immediately went there and did his utmost to bring the two communities together again. He tried especially to put courage into the hearts of the Hindus, so that they should returns to their villages. But almost immediately after this, in the neighboring State of Bihar, a large minority of Muslims was even more brutally attacked by their Hindu neighbors. After spending weeks, walking on foot from village to village in the Noakhali district, Gandhi went to Bihar, and did all that he could to give courage to the Muslims and a change of heart to the Bihar, and did all that he could to give courage to the Muslims and a change of heart to the Hindus. But he had promised the Noakhali Hindus that on this fateful day, when freedom and partition came, he would be with the frightened Hindus, who would find themselves living in the Muslim State of Pakistan.

I did join Gandhi in Bihar. We traveled together to Cacutta. There he was staying for a couple of nights in the ashram of one of his fellow -workers. I went to my Indian home with the members of the Friends' Service Unit, promising to meet Gandhi and his "family" on the 14th, in time to go on to East Bengal.

A few hours later, news came to me that all our plans were changed. Leading Muslims from Calcutta had visited Gandhi as soon as he reached the Sodepur ashram, and had begged him not to go to East Bengal ,but to stay in Calcutta, and to try to bring peace in that great city. They argued that if there was peace in Calcutta, there would be peace through all Bengal, both in the west which was still part of India, and in the east, which was now to be part of Pakistan.

Gandhi was not easily convinced. He had given a solemn pledge that he would stand by the Hindus of East Bengal on the day of the separation. He could not go back on that promise unless he had full assurance that the Muslim bosses in East Bengal would protect the Hindus, Gandhi knew that he knew, the names of the men who could give this assurance. Time was very short; but the essential men did give the promise, so Gandhi could stay in Calcutta. But where, and how?

At this point, we come across the name of an outstanding Muslim leader, Shaheed Suhrawardy. Suhrawardy was a Calcutta politician ,a man who had just been Chief Minister of undivided Bengal, a sharp critic of Gandhi, whom he described as "that old fraud" Gandhi now invited Suhrawardy to join him in the attempt to bring peace to Calcutta. First they would go to a deserted Muslim house, and persuade the local Hindus to invite the Muslims house. And persuade the local Hindus to invite the Muslims to returns to their homes. Then they would go to a predominately Muslim part of the city, and they would persuade the Muslims to invite their Hindu neighbors to return, and so on, till all over the city Hindus and Muslims were living in peace together Suhrawardy agreed.

A deserted Muslim house was found in the section of the city called Belighat and someone get the keys. Here I joined Mahatma Gandhi and his new partner, suhrawardy, on the afternoon of Augest 13th. An Indian friend, Hiralal Bose, kindly drove me there. When we arrived we were met by a crowd of shouting boys, and when Hiralal tried to pacify them by explaining that I was a fried of Gandhi, they shouted: "Gandhi go back". The Shouting and demonstration against Gandhi continued and stones were thrown the windows. Finally, some of the young men came into the house and began to talk things over with Gandhi.

The details of such a talk can be imagined. The young Hindus had been preparing for this day, when they might have a purely Hindus India and when all the Muslims would go to Pakistan. Eager Young Hindus Congressman had assured me a few days before that he thought it likely that there would be heavy slaughter of Muslims and Hindus Immediately after freedom. It certainly looked like it. But Gandhi hoped for something better. He told the young man that was no way to start India on her life of independence. The would should see that India was a land of tolerance and generosity. How could they accuse him of being anti-Hindus? Finally, he sent them home to think it all over.

The result was that saw how right he was, and next day, after a further talk, they saw how right hew was, and next day, after a further talk, they offered to replace the police, and support him in his efforts for peace so long as he remained in Calcutta. The next day saw a minor repetition of the events of the 13th. In the evening, many assembled for Gandhi's regular evening prayers. Towards the end of the prayer time, some of the young men realized that Suhrawardy was not at the prayers, and assumed, rightly, that he was in the house. So they came shouting for his blood. I was inside too, with young policemen. We closed the shutters again, and wondered how soon the angry young men would break in.

The prayers ended, and Gandhi went straight to his desk and began writing. However the noise outside continued. So he went to the windows, threw open the shutters and began talking in a low voice to the young men outside. Immediately there was silence, for all wanted to hear what Gandhi was saying. He upbraided them for showing hostility to Suhrawardy. What ever they thought of his past, he had now agreed to join with Gandhi himself in the effort to bring peace. If they accepted Gandhi they must also accept his colleague.

Then he brought Suhrawardy forward, and stood with one hand over his shoulder and the other resting on his granddaughter's shoulder. The critical moment came when a young man shouted at Suhrawardy : "Do you accept the blame for the great Calcutta killing of last year?" "Yes", replied Suhrawardy." I do accept that responsibility. I am ashamed of it".

"That" commented Gandhi a few minutes later, when he insisted on telling me exactly every thing that had just happened-"that was the critical moment .There is nothing more effective than public confession for clearing the atmosphere. In that moment he won them over".

Whilst Suhrawardy was speaking, some one from the police came with news of fraternizing in another part of the city. Some Muslims had joined the Hindus across one of the invisible but potent barriers to put up the Indian national flag. The crowd outside Gandhi's house cheered this announcement. Then Gandhi urged the crowd to disperse. He probably gave them good advice for the next day; but I do not know what it was.

Earlier in the day Gandhi had found a moment to tell me personally how he intended to spend Independence Day. He said nothing about the division of the country into India and Pakistan. Nor did he, at that moment, suggest that the independence was unreal. But he was concerned that the people of India should put first things first and not turn the day into a mere jollification. Those who were with him at that moment would join him in prayer and fasting At every decisive moment in the national life, the appropriate thing was to turn first to God, in thanks giving that he had brought the country this far on the road, and to pray for the courage and wisdom to continue in the paths of justice and right action.

Fasting was also appropriate, as a reminder that the "semi-starved millions" in the villages could not celebrate by eating more food on that day, however much they might wish to. So, fasting was a reminder that the primary purpose of freedom from foreign rule was to over-come the country's vast poverty. "On this first day of our freedom, we may not forget the poor and the hungry". Then he added, characteristically, "You are my guest. If you want food tomorrow, I will see that you get it". I am not accustomed to fasting; but I naturally said that I should wish to do what he was doing.

At an unusually late hour, we got to bed. Prayers, we were told, would begin at 3 a.m. (I think it was) instead of the usual 4 a.m.

We started prayers punctually. Gandhi was always punctual. While we were at the prayers, we heard the voices of girls singing. Some girls from a school were coming to greet the Mahatma with songs of freedom composed by their great Bengali poet, Rabindranath Tagore. When they found that we were chanting prayers they joined us; then took a blessing from the Mahatma, and departed. Rather later, a second group of girls singing to the dawn of freedom, Then we all settled to our singing to the dawn of feedom. Then we all settled to our various jobs, as if it was any other day, and we wondered: What was happening all over the city. Were some of the young Hindus out slaughtering the Muslims? Or were they all fraternizing? Or what?

I suppose it was about 3 or 10o'clock when some of my friends from the Service Unit (Glan Davies and his wife, Sujata, If I remember rightly) appeared, and called me to come. "You must not sit here all day. Come and see". So they took me, and I saw . The miracle had happened. It was as if, after a year of darkness, suddenly the sun was shining again in its full glory. If were whole city was intoxicated. With joy, it was Calcutta on the 15th of August, 1947.

Still, thirty-five years later, as I think of that day, I am ready to shed tears of joy and wonder. Every one spoke f the "miracle of Calcutta", and the East Bengal bosses had done their part too. All Bengal celebrated in peace. Harmony prevailed. Lord Moutbatten, who had joined in the celebrations in Delhi, when he heard of it, spoke of the effective "one man boundary the importance of Suharwardy's contribution, and called it the "two-men boundary force".

Gandhi was not a man to be carried away in an emotional outburst. HE insisted that there had been no miracle. The change was too sudden. He had been aware that not all the political parties and groups that were active in Bengal had been near him. The absent ones might yet be heard form. Meanwhile, for a week or so, peace and goodwill prevailed. Not a single incident of violence was reported on the 15th, nor in the next few days. The Muslim festival of Id came. Many Calcutta Muslims invited their. Hindu, Sikh, Christian or other non-Muslim neighbors to take part.

Then the blows struck. The dissatisfied groups of young Hindu Mahasabha (a radical groups that objected to any non-Hindu claming full Indian citizenship), as was supposed, manufactured and incident, and some of them attacked Gandhi's camp, and he was in some danger. Gandhi started a fast; the responsible Leaders of the Mahasabha took a strong line against their young members; the Hindu general public gave no support to the violence and fear during the past twelve months. This time, all the important party leaders met together, and resolved that they would act together, whenever there was danger to see that the goodwill that Gandhi's presence in Bengal had brought to the surface, should remain.

Whether it is right to speak of the total change that came upon Calcutta on the morning of August 15,1947 as a miracle depends perhaps chiefly on the meaning attached to the word "miracle". It was certainly and extraordinary event, quite unforgettable to those who experience it. There can also be varying opinions about the extent to which it was due to Gandhi. But it is difficult to believe that the year of mutual hatred and distrust between that the year of mutual hatred and distrust between the two great religious communities of Calcutta would so suddenly have turned to goodwill and trust without the example of the extraordinary pact of friendship made by Mahatma Gandhi with his bitter critic Shaheed Suhrawardy.

Source: Darshan, New York, February, 1983.

* Horace Alexander was one of a group of English Quakers who were closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi. He first met Gandhi in 1928 when he spent a week at his ashram near Ahmedabad. It was the, beginning of a close friendship which some of he most significant episodes in Gandhi's later life, episodes in Gandhi's later life, such as the days of the Round Table Conference in London, the Cabinet mission in India, and the final withdrawal of the British from India.

Horace Alexander's biography of Gandhi - entitled "Gandhi through western eyes" was published in 1969. For the last few years he has been in the United States. In this special article, he dwells on some little-known facts of Gandhi's life at the when independence came to India in August, 1947