Bhagat Singh's views on communal riots and their solution
True patriots of India will consider our solutions to prevent the nation's self-destruction.
After the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919, the British government began to heavily promote communal riots. As a result, in 1924 in Kohat, Hindu-Muslim riots occurred in a very inhumane manner. This led to a long debate on communal riots in national political consciousness. Everyone felt the need to end them, but Congress leaders attempted to stop the riots by drafting agreements between Hindu and Muslim leaders.
The revolutionary movement presented its ideas for a definite solution to this problem. This article was published in the June 1928 issue of ‘Kirti’. The article contains the thoughts of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his associates on communal riots.
Followers of religions are mortal enemies of each other
The condition of India at this time is very pitiable. Followers of one religion are mortal enemies of followers of another religion. Now, being of one religion is to be a staunch enemy of another religion. If there is still any doubt about this, just look at the recent riots in Lahore. How Muslims have killed innocent Sikhs and Hindus, and how Sikhs have also left no stone unturned.
This massacre was not because a particular person was guilty, but because a particular person was Hindu, Sikh, or Muslim. Just being a Sikh or Hindu was enough for Muslims to kill, and similarly, being a Muslim was sufficient reason to take a life. When the situation is such, only God can save Hindustan.
In such a situation, the future of Hindustan looks very bleak. These ‘religions’ have ruined Hindustan. And it is still unknown when these religious riots will leave India. These riots have defamed India in the eyes of the world. And we have seen that everyone gets swept away in this tide of superstition.
Only a rare Hindu, Muslim, or Sikh keeps a cool head, while the rest grab sticks, swords, and knives to maintain the prestige of their religion and end up killing each other. Some are hanged, and some are thrown into jails. After so much bloodshed, the English government's stick falls on these ‘religious people’ and then their minds come to their senses.
Communal leaders and newspapers are behind the riots
It has been observed that communal leaders and newspapers are behind these riots. At this time, the leaders of Hindustan have made such a mess that silence is better. The same leaders who had taken the responsibility of liberating India and who never tired of boasting about ‘common nationality’ and ‘self-rule’ are either sitting quietly with their heads down or have been swept away in this tide of fanaticism. The number of those sitting with their heads down is not small. But such leaders who have joined the communal movement emerge in hundreds when the ground is dug. There are very few leaders who genuinely wish well for everyone. And such a strong flood of communalism has come that even they are unable to stop it. It seems that leadership in India has gone bankrupt.
Another group that has played a special role in inciting communal riots is the press. Journalism, once considered a very noble profession, has become very dirty today. These people incite emotions by giving big headlines against each other and cause mutual head-bashing. Riots have occurred in many places because local newspapers have written very provocative articles. There are very few writers whose hearts and minds have remained calm even in such times.
The real duty of newspapers was to educate, remove narrow-mindedness, eliminate communal feelings, promote mutual harmony, and build India's shared nationality. But they have made their main duty to spread ignorance, promote narrow-mindedness, incite communalism, cause fights, and destroy India's shared nationality. This is why, when considering the current state of India, tears of blood flow from the eyes, and the heart questions, ‘What will become of India?’
Those who know the enthusiasm and fervor of the days of non-cooperation feel like crying seeing this situation. Where were those days when the glimpse of freedom was visible, and where are these days when self-rule has become just a dream? This is the third benefit that oppressors have gained from these riots. The bureaucracy, whose existence was threatened, has now strengthened its roots so much that shaking it is no ordinary task.
The cause of communal riots is economic
If we search for the root of these communal riots, we find that the cause appears to be economic. During the days of non-cooperation, leaders and journalists made many sacrifices. Their economic condition deteriorated. With the slowing down of the non-cooperation movement, a sort of distrust arose towards the leaders, causing the businesses of many current communal leaders to collapse. In the world, whatever work is done, the question of livelihood is always at its root. This is one of the main principles of Karl Marx's three major principles. It is due to this principle that organizations like Tabligh, Tanzeem, Shuddhi, etc., started, and it is for this reason that our current indescribable plight has occurred.
The only solution to all riots, if any, can be through the improvement of India's economic condition. In fact, the economic condition of the common people of India is so bad that a person can be humiliated by another for a mere four annas. Driven by hunger and misery, a person sets aside all principles. It's true, what won't a dying man do? But in the current situation, economic reform is extremely difficult because the government is foreign and does not allow the people's condition to improve. Therefore, people should pursue this relentlessly and not rest until the government is changed.
To prevent people from fighting each other, there is a need for class consciousness. The poor, laborers, and farmers should be clearly explained that their real enemies are the capitalists. Therefore, they should be wary of their tricks and not fall into their trap. The rights of all the poor in the world, regardless of caste, color, religion, or nation, are the same. Your welfare lies in eradicating the discrimination of religion, color, race, nationality, and country and uniting to try to take the power of the government into your hands. These efforts will not harm you; one day, your chains will be cut, and you will gain economic freedom.
Those who know the history of Russia are aware that during the time of the Tsar, there were similar conditions with many communities clashing with each other. But since the day labor rule was established there, the scenario has completely changed. There have been no riots there since. Now everyone is considered a ‘human’ there, not a ‘religious person’. During the Tsar's time, people's economic condition was very poor, which led to all the riots and disturbances. But now the economic condition of Russians has improved, and they have developed class consciousness, so there has never been any news of riots from there.
Class consciousness is a beautiful path that can stop communal riots
In these riots, although there are generally disappointing news, there is one piece of news from the Calcutta riots that brings much joy. It is that the workers of the trade unions did not participate in the riots, nor did they engage in mutual conflicts. Instead, all Hindus and Muslims sat together in factories with great affection and even made efforts to stop the riots. This was because they had class consciousness and recognized their class interests well. This is the beautiful path of class consciousness that can prevent communal riots.
We have received the happy news that the youth of India are now fed up with religions that teach mutual hatred and conflict, and are distancing themselves from them. They have become open-minded enough to see the people of India not through the lens of religion—Hindu, Muslim, or Sikh—but as humans first, and then as Indians. The emergence of these thoughts among India's youth indicates that the future of India is bright. Indians should not be alarmed by these riots and such. They should strive to create an environment where such situations do not arise, and riots do not occur at all.
The martyrs of 1914-15 had separated religion from politics. They understood that religion is a personal matter and no one else should interfere in it. Nor should it be mixed with politics because it prevents everyone from working together in unity. This is why movements like the Ghadar Party remained united and cohesive, where Sikhs willingly went to the gallows, and Hindus and Muslims were not left behind. At this time, some Indian leaders have also stepped forward who want to separate religion from politics. This is also a beautiful solution to end conflicts, and we support it. If religion is separated, we can all unite on politics, even if we remain separate in religions.
We believe that the true well-wishers of India will certainly consider the remedy we have suggested and will save us from the self-destruction that India is currently facing.