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SYAMA PRASAD MOOKERJEE

24th June, 2023

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Context

  • June 23 was the 70th death anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
  • He had resigned from Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet due to Liaquat-Nehru pact of 1950.

Syama Prasad Mookerjee (1901 – 1953)

  • He was an Indian who founded Bharatiya Jan Sangh in 1951. It won 3 seats in 1952 elections.
  • Bharatiya jan Sangh is considered to be a predecessor of Bharatiya Janta Party.
  • He opposed Article 370, and the associated special status to Kashmir.
  • Despite being in opposition of Nehru and congress, he was a part of first Union Cabinet.
  • He said “ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan aur Do Nishan nahi challenge”.
    • It implied that one country should have one constitution, one prime minister and one flag.
  • He was also a firm supporter of Uniform Civil Code in India.
  • He also emphasised on banning cow slaughter.
  • He was not allowed to enter the state of Jammu and Kashmir for protesting against Nehru and congress.
  • While in the custody of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, he is believed to be died of a heart attack, on June 23, 1953.
  • However the conditions of his death were suspicious and some believe it was not a natural death.

Background and Reason behind resign

  • Partition of India was bitter and saw bloodshed.
  • India was envisaged as a secular which would recognize and value the diversity of communities.
  • On the same lines Nehru also wanted his cabinet to be diverse and hence Syama Prasad Mookerjee found a place in Union cabinet along with Dr BR Ambedkar.
  • On the Independence Day, August 15, 1947, itself he became a part of interim government.
  • Initially the supported notion of United India, later he advocating for a divided Bengal for Hindu Bengalis.
  • According to his belief, Nehru – Liaquat pact was against the logical outcome of the Partition – a religion based states.
  • He wanted the India to be modelled on principles of Hinduism.
  • He proposed a systemic and government led and religion based exchange of population and property between two countries.
  • However he resigned in April 1950 over the disagreement and displeasure over the controversial Nehru-Liaquat Pact.

Nehru-Liaquat Pact

  • It was also known as Delhi pact.
  • It was a bilateral agreement signed by PM Jawaharlal Nehru and Liaquat Ali Khan.
  • It was signed in order to set guidelines and framework for protection of minority in two newly formed states of India and Pakistan.

Need for this Pact

  • After partition it was felt that minorities of both countries should be protected against the aggression of majority community.
  • Bad experience of partition, which saw massive communal rioting, led to firm resolve for such protection.
  • Even in 1950 there were millions of Hindus and Muslims migration from East Pakistan to India and from India to East Pakistan.

Agreement in the Delhi pact

  • Both countries agreed to protect minority communities throughout its territory.
  • It had provisions for -
    • Complete equality of citizenship.
    • Security of property, life, customs and dignity.
    • Freedom of movement and occupation.
    • Freedom of speech and worship.
      • These freedoms was not unlimited but with reasonable restrictions like law and morality.
    • Equal opportunity for participation in the public life.
    • Equal eligibility for holding political offices and other military and civil positions.
    • Minority commissions to be set up in both countries.

Must read Article:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/dr-syama-prasad-mookerjee

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements about Syama Prasad Mookerjee:

1. In 1951 he founded Bharatiya Jan Sangha, a predecessor to Bharatiya Janata Party.

2. He was a firm supporter of secularism in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (A)

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/liaquat-nehru-pact-syama-prasad-mookerjee-resigned-8682347/