The Great Calcutta Killings and Unfolding of Communal Tensions: An Invigorative Study to Uncover the Role and Outcome
of Propaganda
Literature and the Counter Propaganda. – Biman Samaddar
The Great Calcutta Killings and Unfolding of Communal Tensions: An
Invigorative Study to Uncover the Role and Outcome of Propaganda Literature
and the Counter Propaganda.
Biman Samaddar
Assistant Professor of History,
Santipur College.
Research Fellow, Department of History &
Guest Lecturer, Department of Islamic History & Culture,
University of Calcutta.
bimansamaddar@gmail.com
Abstract - During study & research of the history of partition of India in 1947, what appears to have been, a bit,
neglected so far is the investigation & analysis of ‘propaganda literature’ which had a significant role in organizing the horrific
riots, both before & after the partition process. For re-constructing a true history, an impassioned retrospection seems to be in
order. With the objective in view, we endeavor to examine the propaganda literature of that time & to analyze whether it
paved the way for the massive exodus & the much needed rehabilitation effort thereafter. There were some few isolated voices
of reason which were unfortunately inundated by the poignant stream of communal propaganda of the times. But the veracity
of Communist Party towards their anti communal propaganda was prominent enough, though ‘inadequate’ to stop the riots.
Very quickly after partition the prerogative of the people of West Bengal, particularly the refugees of Calcutta & suburb, had
been changed & they showed a steady disdain towards the communal hatred. It might not be too fashionable if we can give the
credit to the continuous counter propaganda of anti communalism by the Communist Party & their outfit.
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“unish sho satchollisher poneroi August hotat ese poreni. Amader opor dhire dhire egie
aschilo. Tari bochhor khanek ager kotha. Ek shanto sokale khabar table e bose achhi hotat ekta
bhoyaboho uttal gorjone chomke uthlam………. Ballygunge lake er dik theke rasta dhore chhute
asche ek jonosrot unmotto o hingsro. Tader hate lathi. Tader age age doure asche pranbhoy e
bhito ek manush. Konomote se ultodiker barir ektolay dhuke porlo……..Baba hat chepe dhore
achhen tai chhader opare ki hochchhe ar dekhte parchi na. Sudhu aowaj shunte pachchi kane.
Hurmur kore dorja bhenge porlo. Tarpor je aowaj ami khanikshon dhore shunlam ta amar
smritite chirodiner moto grothito hoe gechhe. Manusher mathar khulite lathir aghat kirokom
ekta dhopdhop shobdo. Amar abhignotay prothom samprodayik dangar boli……………. Se rate jor
elo, prochondo jorer ghore bhul boklam.” 1
This horrendous story was an act of a real communal murder performed at the time of
the Great Calcutta Killing (August, 1946) which was witnessed & felt badly by Mrs. Krishna Basu
in her childhood. Mrs. Basu was right when she pointed out the slow but steady progress of
partition of 1947 by using the means of communal violence. But the situation of pre partition
(1947) Bengal was not so easy to narrate & understand, specially when we unearth such
documents which are not only diametrically opposite but also very difficult to understand. One
of such findings was the great success of the historic General Strike to support the demands of
the staff of the postal & telegraph department on 29th July, 1946. It was a “General Strike by All
Communities” in which all people, irrespective of Hindu- Muslim divide, participated & made it
the biggest general strike in the history of two hundred years of British rule. 2 But just after
eighteen days, on 16th August, 1946, an appalling riot (The Great Calcutta Killing) started &
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The Great Calcutta Killings and Unfolding of Communal Tensions: An Invigorative Study to Uncover the Role and Outcome of Propaganda
Literature and the Counter Propaganda. – Biman Samaddar
simply showed disdain on the fraternity shown some days earlier. What were the causes behind
such a quick turn towards violence? What were the means of organizing such a deadly riot?
Was the riot an actually sound of treading for the forthcoming partition? Finally what was the
missing link between the fraternity shown in the general strike (29th July, 1946) & the paroxysm
shown in the riot? In our present research paper the researcher wants to search the missing
link as well as the covert tools or means of organizing such a bloody fratricidal killing which
extirpated the notion of united India completely & manifested the idea of two separate states.
During study & research of the history of partition of India in 1947, what appears to
have been ignored so far in the investigation & analysis of ‘propaganda literature’ which had a
significant role in organizing the horrific riots, both before & after the partition process. For re-
constructing a true history, an impassioned retrospection seems to be in order. With the
objective in view, we endeavor to examine the propaganda literature of that time & to analyze
whether it paved the way for the massive exodus & the much needed rehabilitation effort
thereafter.
As a matter of fact, along with the Muslim leadership openly demanding a separate
State, majority of the top Congress leadership of the time too accepted the partition as a
ground reality. Communal riot of 1946 & publicity of propaganda literature there on worked to
convince the middle & lower order of the Congress leadership & also the general mass of
people belonging to both the communities that partition & expatriation was inescapable.
The 1946 Calcutta massacre did not come up all of a sudden. A mindful study of the
relevant documents seeks to substantiate the proposition put forward by the eye witness that,
to start with, there was a well- knit design behind the pogrom.3 Dr. Suranjan Das (Communal
Riots in Bengal, 1905-1947) also underscores the importance of propaganda literature. In what
follows we propose to identify the political motive behind the propaganda, vis-à-vis the factors,
including the role of the then Communist Party of India, that contributed in constructing an
anti- pogrom publicity & in promoting an anti communal mindset within the refugee
community when the environment was thoroughly charged with communal underpinnings.
Nehru’s declaration on July 10th, 1946 that the Congress Party would participate only in
the Parliament & might change if necessary, the Cabinet Mission Planning, was taken by the
Muslim league as an act of uncharitable treachery. A call for ‘Direct Action’ was announced & a
two part propaganda in support followed. In the first part of the propaganda news media
played a dominant role while direct propaganda based on personal communications,
anonymous or pseudonymous leaflets, booklets etc. constituted the lion’s share of the covert
part.
Jinnah is on record to have declared that we are not going to fear either the British
Machineguns or the Congress Non-cooperation. He said - “Today we have also forged a pistol
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The Great Calcutta Killings and Unfolding of Communal Tensions: An Invigorative Study to Uncover the Role and Outcome of Propaganda
Literature and the Counter Propaganda. – Biman Samaddar
and are in a position to use it.” 4 In a call published in a news paper addressed to the Muslim
young people in the first week of August,1946, Mr. Surawardi, the Prime Minister of Bengal said
“Marshal all your forces under the banner of the Muslim League’.5
During the period July 31st to August 16th, propaganda was carried on steadily to unite
the Muslim community. These was a call for joining the Muslim National Guard on the one
hand, & Jinnah’s demand for keeping ‘ethics’ outside the circle of the struggle, on the other.6
Nazimuddin, in this context, uttered “we are not restricted to non-violence”.
The league leadership, who hailed violence openly from the very beginning, started
opposing it as the riot became imminent.7 At this point of time, major responsibility of
propaganda was taken over by the non-Government agencies. Character of propaganda also
changed thereafter. In a public communiqué, in the form of a leaflet Jinnah was depicted with a
sword in his hand along with the caption “ Asha chherona, talwar hate tule nao, ohe kafir,
tomar dhwongsher din beshi dure noy.” 8 Another pronounced “ Ei Ramjan masei Islam o kafir
der modhye prothom prokashyo juddho arombho hoy.” 9
Almost all the mosques at the same time were urged to make the declaration for ‘direct
action’. In an editorial note of a news paper (1st August, 1946), Muslims were inspired to active
their right to even at the sacrifice of their lives. 10 A pamphlet published “We are starting a
jehad in your (God’s) name…… we promise before you that we entirely depend on you. Make us
victorious over the kafirs, enable us to establish the kingdom of Islam in India”. 11 An Urdu
publicity/ propaganda document instructed every young man to wait inside their respective
camps until order from Quid-e Azam was received. 12 Another pamphlet announced Indian
Muslims would place their first step towards independence on 16th August.13 A pamphlet
declared “ We shall then see who will play with us, for rivers of blood will flow. We shall have
the swords in our hands and the noise of zikr. Tomorrow (16th August) will be the dooms day.” 14
Another pamphlet published “Golamir louha- srinkhol bhenge azadi anibe mugur, sholoi August
Direct Action Day” 15
Because of the consistent propaganda of this sort, the Muslim people involved were
convinced, according to Dr. Suranjan Das, that they were doing all this on behalf of the Muslim
Government of Bengal.16 No doubt this was precisely the much coveted desire of the
propaganda programme. In addition, Bengal Provincial League distributed 50000 copies of a
booklet authored by Humaun Akhtar. It sought to highlight the Hindu- Muslim difference in the
following manner:
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The Great Calcutta Killings and Unfolding of Communal Tensions: An Invigorative Study to Uncover the Role and Outcome of Propaganda
Literature and the Counter Propaganda. – Biman Samaddar
Orthodox Islam Orthodox Hinduism
Belief in the unity of God Belief in numerious inanimate and animate
representations of God incarnating on earth
Islam Stands for fraternity and Universal Hinduism perpetuates social distinctions and
Brotherhood upholds the caste system
Muslims: Abolishers of Idolatry Hindus build and worship idols
Muslims bury the corpse Hindus cremate the dead
Muslims eat beef Majority worship cow
General dress: pyjama and the-mad General dress: Saree and dhoti
Muslims perform the Haj at the Kaaba Hindus go for their tirth to Benaras, Gaya and
Mathura
Muslim believe in the existence of Paradise Hindus believe in life after death, and that
and Hell human soul, after achieving mukti will be
absorved into their God.
Etc. 17
Propaganda launched by the Hindus was not lagging either. In a circular drafted by the
Hindu Mahasabha it was appealed to give a befitting reply to the despotism of the Muslim
League & to defeat the strike call. 18 Circulars issued by the Bengal Provincial Hindu Students’
Federation also urged the same. 19 The Hindu Shakti Sabha also started to distribute heated
pamphlets.20 Even the Bengal Provincial Congress sent notice to all District Committees
requesting to oppose the strike call.21
Not that all the Hindu propaganda opposed partition of Bengal. Inevitability of partition
was upheld instead. Following is a synopsis of a question- answer type booklet confiscated by
the police during May, 1947.
Do you know who the minister is in the Suhrawardy
province?
Why is Suhrawardy the minister? Because the Muslim League is in power
Why is power in the hands of the Muslim On the ground that the Muslims have a
League? slender majority in the total head counts in
West & East Bengal together.
How long are the Muslim League ruling? 10 years
Who are controlling the District Boards at The Muslims
present?
Who are controlling the School Boards The Muslims
Do they belong to the Muslim League? Yes
What is the name of this country? Bharatvarsha or Hindustan
What do the Muslims want? Pakistan
Why were not the goondas brought to book in Because the Police and the Magistrates are
Noakhali? mostly Muslims.
To whom does this country belong? To us, Hindus
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The Great Calcutta Killings and Unfolding of Communal Tensions: An Invigorative Study to Uncover the Role and Outcome of Propaganda
Literature and the Counter Propaganda. – Biman Samaddar
Where did the Muslims originate? The Mughals and the Pathans Illegitimately
converted Hindus to Islam.
Who get the Government jobs? The Muslims.
What do we want now? To ensure that the Hindus get back the power
that is legitimately their due
Then what do you want to do? We want the Hindu majority areas to be
constituted into a separate Hindu province.
Only then would power come to the hands of
the Hindus.
Etc. 22
From the 2nd day of the Calcutta riot Muslims were being targeted in larger numbers & that
instigated the attack on Hindus in Noakhali. News of atrocities there was spread surreptitiously
through various media including personal letters. One such letter from ‘A Hindu sufferer’
written to Gandhiji who was stationed at Sodepur ashram contained “ Viceroy of India,
Governor of Bengal and Bengal Premier, Conjointly have done(sic) uncivilized behavior on
Hindus in such a way that they will fathom its intensity when the following things happen:
1. Let Viceroy’s wife be abducted and married to Muslim Leaguer.
2. Let Governor’s wife be abducted and married to a Pathan.
3. Let the Bengal Premier’s wife be abducted and married to a Hindu cobbler.
4. Let there be forcible conversion to Mohammadanism of wives of viceroy of India and
Governor of Bengal and a forcible conversion to Hinduism of the wife of Bengal Premier.
5. Let there be rapes on their wives.” 23
Undeniably, many such letters, awfully pervasive & utterly provocative in contents, reached
the targeted mass of people bypassing the postal network. Through hyperbolic transmission
and over- activism of a section of the press supported by political leadership, the
propaganda helped construct a chain reaction leading eventually to the Bihar massacre in
Patna, Munger, Bhagalpur, Gaya, Santal Parganas. From there it spread to Gar Mukteswar,
Meerat, Gaziabad , the fringes of Delhi & Allahabad. 24
Such publicity materials disseminating brisk communal venom were quite huge in
number. In the ‘Appeal to Colleagues’ a few staff members of the armed police force of
Dacca requested the Hindu members in November, 1946, to face the Muslim enemies in a
united way. 25 During the same time a press hand- out ‘Sangram’ published from Calcutta,
asked the young Hindu people to take revenge of the atrocities perpetrated upon their
mothers & sisters. 26 In yet another publication from Calcutta (January, 1947) Hindu ladies
were advised to carry a knife with them. Further the Hindus were instructed to prepare a
huge stock of weapons, to abduct young Muslim ladies, to marry them after conversion &
etc. 27 There were numerous pamphlets circulated at that time to spread the venom of
communalism. Some examples: ‘Noakhalite agun jwole, hindura jai rosatole’, ‘Noakhalir
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The Great Calcutta Killings and Unfolding of Communal Tensions: An Invigorative Study to Uncover the Role and Outcome of Propaganda
Literature and the Counter Propaganda. – Biman Samaddar
mormontud biboron o amader kortyobyo’, ‘Joboner rokto kothai?’, ‘ kukur Surawadir mundu
chai, sada chamrar rokto chai’ etc. 28 A pamphlet accusing Punjab Muslim Armed police for
capturing Hindus & handed them over to the Muslim goons for killing. The tone of Hindu
Mahasabha in this regard was typically the same.29
Apart from these pamphlets there were some Hindu news papers, along with Bengal
Congress, Marwari & Muslim traders all indulging in this propaganda campaign.
Anandobazar Patrika, Jugantar, Amritabazar Patrika, Hindustan Standard - all started to
collect the anti League opinion. According to the report of ‘probasi’, lakhs of abhorring Urdu
pamphlets were distributed among people. 30 Hindu Mahasabha was equally active to reply
in a currish manner. ‘Hindu Sevak Sangha’ appealed to the people to oppose the strike by
saying “sabdhan sholoi August”. According to Harun-or Rashid this propaganda also carried
another message: “The Hindus will have to give a clear reply to the highhandedness of the
Muslim League” 31 On the contrary Congress after giving the green signal to the partition
was compelled to initiate a movement questioning the validity of Surawardi Government.
As a result the house of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, office of the Congress State Committee,
office of Hindustan Standard & Anondabazar Patrika were attacked by the rioters. 32
A crass role was played by the Marwari businessmen in the Calcutta riot. They not only
supported partition, but also spent a huge sum to build a band of rioter. Sikh community of
Calcutta was equally active in rioting. They supplied huge stock of firearms & used their
vehicles in the rioting. Marwari Relief Society also played an important role by distributing
relief among the riot affected migrants coming from East Bengal.
At this point of discussion we should take a pause & rearrange some of the unique
questions. First of all how the communal & political identity of the East Bengal Refugees
was build & influenced by the riot? Secondly after supporting the partition what was the
role played by Congress towards the East Bengal refugees? Could they expound the attitude
towards the refugees? Thirdly whether the attitude & propaganda of the major political
parties were in the offing for the creation of post partition Bengalee refugee’s socio-political
identity or not?
Undoubtedly the usually docile trading community, after perfect calculations to secure
their financial future, supported their respective parties. Naturally Marwaris supported
Congress & Ispahani supported the League, which was not at all a naive affair. But here
arises the major question that why after the spreading of propaganda literature, the
migrants who crossed the border, who passed the riot phase of 50s & finally settled down in
West Bengal didn’t become the fodder of Hindu communalism? Most probably it happened
due to the anti communal activities of The Communist Party of India.
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The Great Calcutta Killings and Unfolding of Communal Tensions: An Invigorative Study to Uncover the Role and Outcome of Propaganda
Literature and the Counter Propaganda. – Biman Samaddar
We may slow down here for a while again to take note of some few isolated voices of
reason which were unfortunately inundated by the poignant stream of communal
propaganda of the times. The veracity of Communist Party towards their anti communal
attitude was prominent enough, but inadequate to stop the riots. After the great success of
the General Strike of 29th July the Communist leadership was caught almost unguarded to
face the bizarre killing. According to Mr. Kumud Biswas “ Sholoi Auguster age bujhte parini
je erokom hobe”. Mr. Samar Mukhopadhyay opines that “ jodio ager din Muslim elakai
prochar kori, boithok kori, kintu eto bibhotso danga hobe eta bhabini”. 33 But the smoke of
discordance was too filthy & heavy to ignore. So Communist Party was expecting a
“ ghoroa lorai ebong byapok danga” and appealed for a “ milito songram”. 34 In our present
research we can narrate these as an anti riot propaganda of a different style. Open anti riot
Communist propaganda was also not uncommon. The members of the Tram Workers’
union, an outfit of the C.P.I, fought valiantly against the rioters. It was a result of long anti
riot propaganda of Communist leaders among the tram workers. 35 A joint effort to stop riot
was launched by C.P.I, R.S.P, Forward Bloc & Democratic Vanguard party. 36 Mr. Jyoti Basu
led an anti riot procession with the Rail Workers at Narkeldanga on 18th August.37 Finally on
18th August Communist Party appealed in Swadhinota “ Bhaie bhaie lorai ekhoni bondho
korun…. Asun amra sokole ekotre amader sei purono Kolikata, Hindu- Musalmaner Kolikata,
British adhipotyer biruddhe oikyoboddho Kolikata firaia ani”. 38 Copies of a Bengali leaflet
‘Kolikatay abar Danga Hoite Diba na’ issued by the Communist Party were distributed in
Bhowanipore & Park Circus areas on 27th March,1947. 39 On 1st April, 1947 copies of a leaflet
‘Hindu Musalman Milita Bhabe Dangar Sarajantra Byartha Karun’ were distributed at
Khidirpur by Port workers’ Joint Council of Action. 40 ‘It urged citizens of Khidirpur &
Metiabruz to identify out rumour-mongers….’. Khidirpur Trade Union Peace Committee also
distributed a leaflet named ‘ Khidirpurer Hindu Musalman Majoor Bhai Sab’. 41 Though Dr.
Basudeb Chottopadhyay narrates these efforts as “hopelessly inadequate to stem the
tide” 42, yet in our present research work we beg to differ from this sort of narration. May be
at that point of time these efforts were not competent enough to stop the riot but the
leftover of these ground work did some effects on the human psyche and it was able to
tune the anti communal activities of C.P.I just before & after the partition. The final
outcome was most probably an increasing political acceptability among the refugees.
One weakness of Communist Party was also omitted by many historians; most probably
it’s the reason for being “hopelessly inadequate” Communist propaganda. It’s the untold
narration of Muslim League- C.P.I chemistry. We have to keep in mind one thing that C.P.I
didn’t oppose the strike of 16th. In a meeting at University Institute Hall Communist
leadership clearly hesitated to oppose the strike in fear of riot among the tram workers.43
But according to Tram Workers’ Union leader Mr. Gopal Acharya, this decision was not
unquestionable among party workers. 44 There were some political calculations & game
played by the League leaders to temporarily confuse and emasculate the Communist
resistance towards the riot. Earlier, C.P.I (1943) supported the claim of a separate Muslim
State & now on 15th August 1946, the League Government decided to free some arrested
revolutionaries. Among them were many important communist leaders. 45 In the present
research paper we think that this was not a case of collusion, but without these political
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The Great Calcutta Killings and Unfolding of Communal Tensions: An Invigorative Study to Uncover the Role and Outcome of Propaganda
Literature and the Counter Propaganda. – Biman Samaddar
confusion & calculations C.P.I could launch a bigger anti communal, anti riot propaganda.
But this narration also falls short of authenticity because in the riot days many offices of
communist party also were attacked let alone, the attacks on some Communist leaders.46
On the other hand C.P.I was alleging the Congress for their prodding & counter propaganda
at the last moment which ultimately increased the communal tension.47 So for a more
authentic explanation we need to look at the activities of C.P.I after partition, specially at
the initial stages of refugee problem.
Immediately after partition C.P.I tried to get close to the refugees, but in the
communally charged backdrop, the activities of Hindu Mahasabha & the fervor of anti-
communism they ‘called in the Mahila Atma Raksha Samity and visualized it as a Trozan
Horse within enemy territory’. 48 M.A.R.S acted not only as a bridge between C.P.I &
refugees, but also spread the communist & anti communal teaching to the refugee ladies.
Slowly but surely by this ideological transformation the refugees understood the politics of
communal riots. At that point of time M.A.R.S mobilized women into the peace movement
by linking the issue of peace with the distress of refugee women. By linking the women’s
movement with the peace issue M.A.R.S became affiliated to an International body for
women called W.I.D.F (Women’s International Democratic Federation) & was able to keep
the Hindu Mahasabha at bay.
At this point of time Central Government clearly took an anti Bengalee refugee stance.
Many leaders of State Congress openly accused the Bengalee refugees for the distress of
West Bengal & threatened to send them back. 49 On the contrary the fight was carried
forward by the undivided Communist Party. Jasodhara Bagchi & Subhoranjan Dasgupta was
rightly pointed out that the involvement of the communists with the victims of partition
arose out of years of work in the towns & villages of undivided Bengal. The I.P.T.A
movement was a direct response to the hunger & death of the people of Bengal in the 1943
famine. Manikuntala Sen, talks about the partition as having arrived after breaking the unity
of people & workers that had been built up, so painstakingly. 50 But the political turmoil of
the 1940s caused many leftist women activists, like Nibedita Nag, to go back to East
Pakistan to resume their unfinished work. 51 There is no question about it that these
activities of C.P.I was a propaganda of a different type, which can’t fit into the grand
narrative of propaganda literature, but a minute search of local narratives of the colonies of
Calcutta & suburb can open up a possibility of a new story, marked by the struggle,
reorganization & which is remarkably free from the violence - victimhood paradigm. With
the creation of new colonies the feminist geography also started to change radically & ‘with
this reorganization of space came a refiguring of gender and of women’s relationship to
public and private spaces’. However in the colonies of Calcutta & suburb ‘It brought about
politicization and a growing awareness of the communal problems faced by the refugees
living in the colonies.’52 Undoubtedly it is the outcome of the search of the local narrative of
communist propaganda.
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The Great Calcutta Killings and Unfolding of Communal Tensions: An Invigorative Study to Uncover the Role and Outcome of Propaganda
Literature and the Counter Propaganda. – Biman Samaddar
Whether this particular non communal benign situation of West Bengal indulged a
Muslim reverse as well as a fresh migration from East Pakistan just after partition or not is a
matter of another great debate, which, unfortunately, is outside the scope of this paper.
Joya Chatterjee (The Spoils of Partition: Bengal and India, 1947-1967) gives a small narration
of the reverse migration 53 and Gargi Chakravartty (Coming out of Partition: Refugee Women
of Bengal) presents a record of fresh migration, mainly from the I.B records. 54 The point of
view of this present research paper is somewhat different from theirs. Here we want to
argue that this fresh migration & reverse migration was a symbol of the dilution of
communal propaganda. Though Dr. Suranjan Das had pointed out that some socialists also
took active part in the riot,55 yet it was surely a stray incident & may be a reason of the
decaying grip of socialists on refugees. Very quickly after partition the prerogative of the
people of West Bengal, particularly of Calcutta & suburb had been changed & they showed
a steady disdain towards the communal hatred. It might not be too fashionable if we can
give the credit to the continuous counter propaganda of anti communalism by the
Communist Party. Joya Chatterjee indicates that this anti communal stance actually helped
not only the C.P.I, but also Congress a bit to capture the vote of the Muslim minorities
later.56 But this narration may act as an over simplification if we ignore the history of the
days of riot and the counter propaganda by C.P.I. Again this discussion is out of the
periphery of this particular paper so we can conclude by saying that the propaganda
literature and the following bloodshed compelled the top Congress leaders to press for the
partition. Though they didn’t popularize the idea of bloodshed openly like Muslim League
yet scope remains to believe that they didn’t resist it whole heartedly by their enormous
organizational strength either. Propaganda literature did the rest. Finally they failed to read
the political implication of the refugee influx. No wonder, Communist Party, by their anti
communal propaganda, by maintaining undivided organization, and by their pro refugee
activities, became the natural choice of the Bengalee refugees.
________________________________________
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The Great Calcutta Killings and Unfolding of Communal Tensions: An Invigorative Study to Uncover the Role and Outcome of Propaganda
Literature and the Counter Propaganda. – Biman Samaddar
Notes & References
1
Krishna Basu, ‘1947: Smriti-bismriti’ (in Bengali), Ananda, Kolkata, 1994. Pp. 49-50.
2 st
‘Amritabazar Patrika’, 31 July, 1946.
3
L/P & J/8/655, IOR, Major Sim to Eroll, MP. 23 Aug. 1946. Cited in Suranjan Das, ‘Communal Riots in Bengal: 1905-
1947’, OUP, Delhi, 1993. P.171.
4 st
‘Amritabazar Patrika’, 31 July, 1946
5 th
‘Morning News’, 5 August, 1946.
6 nd
Ibid, 2 August, 1946.
7 th
‘Amritabazar Patrika’, 12 August, 1946.
8
Shila Sen, Muslim Politics in Bengal, p.213.
9
‘Pravasi’Bengali Translation, Ashwin. P.362
10 st
‘Asr-e Jadid’, editorial, 1 August, 1947.
11
Cited in G.D.Khosla, ‘Stern Reckoning’, pp. 49-50, & S.Sen, ‘Muslim Politics in Bengal’, p.213
12
Cited in Suranjan Das, p.168
13
IB Records
14
Cited in Suranjan Das, p.168.
15
IB Records, Cited in Suranjan Das
16
Suranjan Das, p.169.
17
Humayun Akhtar, ‘How Much is the Difference’, cited in Mushirul Hasan ed. ‘India Partitioned: The Other Face of
Freedom’, vol-1, New Delhi, 1997, pp. 45-47.
18
Suranjan Das, p.169
19 st
Star of India, 21 September, 1946.
20
Calcutta Disturbances Commission of Enquiry, Minutes of Evidence, No.X, p.102.
21
Suranjan Das, p.169.
22 th
Confiscated Bengali Leaflet on 24 May,1947. Cited in Basudeb Chottopadhyay, ‘Partition and Migration:
Perspectives on 1947’, in Bhaskar Chakrabarty ed. ‘Exploring Regional Security: South And Central Asia’. K.P.Bagchi,
Kolkata, 2003. pp. 23-25.
23
PM 937/46, also cited in Joya Chatterjee, ‘Bengal Divided : Hindu Communalism and Partition, 1932-1947’, C.U.P,
New Delhi, 1995, p.242
24
Sailesh Kumar Bandopadhyay, ‘Dangar Itihas’ (in Bengali), Mitro o Ghosh, Kolkata, Ashar-1405. Pp.64-65. Also
cited in Krishna Basu, ‘1947: Smriti-bismriti’ p.55.
25
PM Series, File No. 937/46
26
‘Sangram’, undated, anonymous, SB, PM Series. File No. 506 part IV/46A.
27
Basudeb Chottopadhyay, ‘Partition and Migration: Perspectives on 1947’, in Bhaskar Chakrabarty ed. ‘Exploring
Regional Security: South And Central Asia’.
28
P.M 937/46, also cited in Joya Chatterjee. P.242.
29
P.M File No. 937(4)/ 47 II & 938/47 II, also cited in Basudeb Chottopadhyay. P.20.
30
‘Pravasi’ (in Bengali), Ashwin-1353, also cited in Shila Sen, ‘Muslim Politics in Bengal” p.213.
31
Cited in Harun- or Rashid, ‘The Fore-Shadowing of Bangladesh: Bengal Muslim League and Muslim Politics,1936-
1947’, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 1985, p.260
32
G.D.Khosla, ‘Stern Reckoning’. Cited in Suranjan Das, p.175.
33
Amalendu Sengupta, ‘Uttal Chollish: Asomapto Biplob’, (in Bengali), Pearl Publication, Kolkata,1989. pp.191-192
34 th
‘Swadhinota’, 16 August,1946.
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The Great Calcutta Killings and Unfolding of Communal Tensions: An Invigorative Study to Uncover the Role and Outcome of Propaganda
Literature and the Counter Propaganda. – Biman Samaddar
35
Interview of Mr. Biren Majumder, published in ‘Ganadarpan’, August, 1989 and interview of Mr. Gopal Acharya,
th
published in ‘Kalantar’, 7 August,1992. Cited in Sandip Bandopadhyay, ‘Itihaser Dike Fire Chechollisher Danga’, (in
Bengali), Radical, Kolkata, 2010. p. 54.
36
Sandip Bandopadhyay, p.54.
37
‘Amrita Bazar Patrika’, 18-19 August, 1946.
38 th
‘Swadhinata’, 18 August, 1946.
39
Cited in Basudeb Chottopadhyay, p.35.
40
Ibid, p.35
41
Ibid, p.35
42
Ibid, p.35.
43 th
‘Amritabazar Patrika’, 16 August,1946.
44
‘Nagorik Mancha Bulletin’ (in Bengali), February, 1990, cited in Sandip Bandopadhyay.
45 th
‘Hindustan Standard’, 16 August, 1946.
46 th
‘Amritabazar Patrika’, 18 August,1946.
47
Narayan Bandopadhyay, “parichay’ (Bengali magazine), Ashwin, 1353.
48
Prafulla Chakraborty, ‘The Marginal Men’, Lumiere Books, Kalyani, 1990. P.50. Also cited in Gargi Chakravartty,
‘Coming Out of Partition: Refugee Women of Bengal’, Bluejay Books, New Delhi, 2005. p.59.
49
Joya Chatterjee, ‘The Spoils of Partition: Bengal and India, 1947-67’, C.U.P, Delhi, 2007.
50
‘The Trauma and The Triumph: Gender and Partition in Eastern India’, ed. Jasodhara Bagchi & Subhoranjan
Dasgupta, streeKolkata, 2007. pp. 7-8.
51
Nibedita Nag, ‘Opposed to the Exodus’ in ‘The Trauma and The Triumph: Gender and Partition in Eastern India’,
pp. 155-158.
52
Rachel Weber, ‘Re(Creating) the Home: Women’s Role in the Development of Refugee Colonies in South
Calcutta’ in ‘The Trauma and The Triumph: Gender and Partition in Eastern India’, pp. 70-71.
53
Joya Chatterjee, ‘The Spoils of Partition: Bengal and India, 1947-67’, pp. 181-208.
54
Gargi Chakravartty, ‘Coming Out of Partition: Refugee Women of Bengal’, Bluejay Books, New Delhi, 2005.
pp.122-123.
55
Interview of an eye witness, Dr. T. Roychowdhury, taken by Dr. Suranjan Das in ‘Communal Riots in Bengal:
1905-1947’. p.176.
56
Joya Chatterjee, ‘The Spoils of Partition: Bengal and India, 1947-67’, pp. 202-206.
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