Some argue that this demand for partitioning India into two political entities under separate national states staggers their imagination; others are so choked with a sense of righteous indignation at this wanton attempt to break the unity of a country, which, it is claimed, has stood as one for centuries, that their rage prevents them from giving expression to their thoughts. Others think it need not be taken seriously. They treat it as a trifle and ty to destroy it by shooting into it smiles and metaphors. “You don’t cut your head to cure your Headache,” “you don’t cut a baby into two because two women are engaged in fighting out a Glam a5 to who is mother is,” are some of the analogies which are used to prove the absurdity Gf Pakistan In a controversy carried on the plane of pure sentiment, there is nothing surprising if a Gispassionate student finds more stupefaction and less understanding more heat and less light, more ridicule and less seriousness….. I do not think the demand for Pakistan is Hie result of mere political distemper, which will pass away with the efflux of time. As I read in Situation, it seems to me that it is a characteristic in the biological sense of the term, which the Muslim body politic has developed in the same manner as an organism develops a Characteristic. Wither it will survive or not, in the process of natural selection, must depend upon the force’s fiat may become operative in the struggle for existence between Hindus and Musalmans. 1 aim mot staggered by Pakistan; I am not indignant about it; nor do I believe that it can be smashed by shooting into it smiles and metaphors. I believe that it would be neither wise nor possible to reject summarily a scheme if it has behind it the sentiment, if not the passionate support, of 90 p.c. Muslims of India. I have no doubt that the only proper attitude to Pakistan is to study it in all its aspects, to understand its implications and to form an intelligent judgment about it (p.8). Now that India the “Sleeping Beauty” of Prof. Toynbee is awake, what is the view of the Indians about her? On this. question; there can be no manner of doubt that those who have observed this Sleeping Beauty behave in recent years, feel she is a strange being quite different from the angelic princes that she was supposed to be. She is a mad maiden having a dual personality, half human, half animal, always in convulsions because of her two natures in perpetual conflict. If there is any doubt about her dual personality, it has now been dispelled by the Resolution of the Muslim League demanding the cutting up of India into two, Pakistan and Hindustan, so that these conflicts and convulsions due to a dual personality having been bound im one may cease forever, and.so freed Fermanagh other, may dwell in separate homes congenial to their respective ‘cultures, Hindu: and Muslim. It is beyond question that Pakistan is a scheme which will have to be taken into account. The Muslims will insist upon the scheme being considered. The British will insist upon the scheme being considered. The British will insist upon some ko settlement being reached between the Hindus and the Muslims before they consent to devolution of political power. There is no use blaming the British fer insisting upon such a settlement as a condition precedent to the transfer of power. The British Cannot consent to settle power upon an aggressive Hindu majority and make it its heir, leaving it to deal with the minorities at its sweet pleasure. That would not be ending imperialism. It would be creating another imperialism. The Hindus, therefore, cannot avoid coming to grips with Pakistan, much as they would like to do (p.9).
(Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings & Speeches, Volume VII 1990 Rs.40, Govt. of Maharashtra, Bombay). The book may be had from Director, Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Netaji Subhash Road, Bombay – 400 004.
