Tapan Ghosh; Last Hindu Leader of West Bengal (File Pic.)
My gratitude & respect to the Hindus of Bhagalpur
There was no reaction in West Bengal in 1948 and 1950 when there was horrific oppression of Hindus and massacre of Hindus in East Bengal and East Pakistan.
Even then, newspapers were not as secular as they are today. So the news of that torture was published. Even so, the Hindus of West Bengal were silent, didn't even take out a procession in protest. They (means our ancestors) were busy with Dol Durgotsab Rabindra-Jayanti etc etc.
At that time, the Bihari Hindus of Bhagalpur, were surprisingly hurt by the oppression of the Bengali Hindus of East Bengal, the oppression of the Hindu women. They reacted in Bhagalpur & started communal riots which was started by Hindus, naturally led by the Yadavs. Muslims were taught a lesson.
History testifies that the Bhagalpur riots had a clear role in stopping the riots in East Bengal. So let's thank Bhagalpur. I express my gratitude to the Hindus of Bhagalpur.
Bhagalpur is always aware. Bhagalpur also responded to the communal attack on the holy Ram Shila Puja in 1969. Even today that memory is bright.
This Bhagalpur was won by Sushil Modi, the face of the BJP projected by the RSS in Bihar, in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, even during the BJP's worst period across the country (only 116 seats). But then the opportunist Sushil Modi (my former senior colleague), who failed to bring down Lalu-Rabri Raj and left the Assembly to go to the Lok Sabha to drink the honey of power, even from the Bhagalpur seat. As soon as the BJP regained power in a new caste-equation alliance with Nitish Kumar (for addition of kurmi vote), he left the Lok Sabha and became the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar.
After sitting on chair of Dept. C.M., he did two nasty work:
1) Nominated Molla Shahnawaz as the candidate, in by-election of Bhagalpur Lok Sabha seat. Shahnawaz won the Hindu vote in Bhagalpur.
2) The riot case of 1969, which (probably in Yadav Favour) Lalu-Rabri had kept hidden for 15 years, was re-opened and 30 persons including Rameshwar Yadav were sentenced to life imprisonment. Then he held a press conference and proudly declared, "Hamne Humare Bhagalpur Ke Musalmano Ko Insaaf Dilaya."
Bhagalpur Hindus understood the reality this BJP leader Sushil Modi!
But the winter does not go in one Season! 2014 comes. Lok Sabha elections starts. Strong Modi wind blowing all over the country, even in Bihar. BJP achieve huge victory, even in Bihar. Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar has left the BJP alliance. Despite that, Bihar poured out Modi and the BJP. But surprise! In Bhagalpur, BJP lost the traditional seat of BJP, Shahnawaz lost. Bhagalpur taught a lesson to BJP. The burden of Sushil Modi's sin fell on the BJP. Not only that, when Nitish Kumar understood the wind of the country and shook hands again, the BJP-Nitish alliance won again in the 2016 assembly elections but surprisingly, the BJP could not win a single assembly seat in the entire Bhagalpur district, all lost. They will not accept Shahnawaz. They will not accept Sushil Modi's back-stabbing to Hindus.
But that is not why we are grateful to Bhagalpur. For their sympathy and compassion towards the Hindus of East Bengal in 1947-50.
I can't stay without saying about a memory in this context.
October 2001. The results of the general election in Bangladesh came out on October 1. I was then in charge of Bajrang Dal (North India) in Delhi. Terrible news started coming from Bangladesh. After the victory of Begum Khaleda Zia, severe persecution of Hindus has started all over Bangladesh. News is coming that not a single Hindu woman's chastity has saved in Bhola of Barisal. Many temples are being demolished. The atrocities of 1947 and 1992 are being repeated.
I am sitting in Delhi and fidgeting. I am repeatedly appealing to the leadership of Bishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal in Calcutta, there is so much oppression in Bangladesh, hold a protest procession in Calcutta, give a deputation to Bangladesh High Commission. They are willing to do this but they all told me in a moaning voice that Puja had arrived, everyone is busy shopping at Pujo Bazaar, No one will be available to operate the program at this time.
Hatred came upon myself for being a Bengali. I told the boys of Bajrang Dal in Delhi, this torture is happening in Bangladesh, will you do anything? Everyone said, "Haan Ji, Jarur Karenge".
On 19 October, we staged a Bajrang Dal protest in front of the Bangladesh Embassy in Delhi. Do a Google search, you will get. Then I informed the Hon'ble Ashok Singhal. He spoke to the RSS. On 5th December, under the leadership of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in collaboration with the RSS, a huge demonstration was again held with 5,000 people in Jantar Mantar. Then a delegation of 10 people led by Hon'ble Ashokji went to Parliament and met Prime Minister Vajpayee. I requested him to protect the security of Hindus in Bangladesh. That's another story.
So I say, since 1947 till today, the story is same. No matter how much oppression is inflicted on Hindus in Bangladesh; our food, sleep, sex, travel and Rabindra Jayanti will not be disturbed.
But those (খোট্টা) Biharis will protest and remedy. And we will sit at home with the pride of Bengaliness.
I express my respect and gratitude to Bhagalpur, to the Hindus of Bhagalpur, from my behalf, not from the behalf of bengalis.
The Leader aka Guide Hon'ble Tapan Ghosh
19/09/2019
