On August 15, 1947, where was Bapu?

Synopsis:

Mahatma Gandhi was working for the welfare and unity of the nation on 15th August 1947. He enlightened the new leaders about their humongous responsibility towards the nation and appealed to the masses for sustaining the trust between Hindus and Muslims.

Background:

• On the midnight of Independence Day, the nation was in a joyful mood and grand celebrations were about to start.
• Nonetheless, a key pioneer of our Freedom Struggle i.e. Gandhiji (Bapu) was still working for the welfare of the country in Calcutta.  

Mahatma Gandhi’s conduct before Independence Day:

• On the evening of August 6, Bapu boarded the Calcutta Mail at Lahore. From Calcutta, he was supposed to leave for Noakhali (now in Bangladesh).
  • He had promised the minority community that he would shield them during Partition (East Bengal became East Pakistan).
• Bapu arrived in Calcutta on August 9, 1947. A delegation of Muslims, led by the chief of Calcutta District Muslim League, Mohammad Usman, pleaded with Bapu to remain in Calcutta to ensure the safety of Muslims. 
  • Bapu told them he would delay going to Noakhali if they guaranteed the safety and wellbeing of the minority community in Noakhali. However, if there was violence in Noakhali, he would go on an unconditional fast unto death.
• On August 11, Bapu met with Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, the former Premier of Bengal. Suhrawardy too voiced his concern about the safety of Muslims.
  • Bapu asked him to guarantee for the safety of the Hindus in Noakhali if he wished for him to stay back in Calcutta. Later, as Suhrawardy agreed Bapu stayed in Calcutta. 

Conduct on the Independence Day:

• On August 15, 1947, Independence Day, He received several messages of congratulations, but he was not celebrating. Furthermore, he was praying, fasting, and spinning khadi. 
  • Bapu sent a message to the ministers of the cabinet of West Bengal in order to make them realize the humongous responsibility they hold towards the nation.
  • He wrote, “From today, you have to wear the crown of thorns. Strive ceaselessly to cultivate truth and non-violence.
  • He also advised them that they should always remember that they are in the office to serve the poor in India’s villages.
  • At the prayer meeting that evening, Bapu congratulated Calcutta for the mutual trust displayed by Hindus and Muslims. Muslims shouted the same slogans of joy as the Hindus. They flew the tricolour without the slightest hesitation. 
  • What was more, the Hindus were admitted to mosques, and Muslims were admitted to mandirs. Bapu had hoped that Calcutta would be entirely free from the communal virus forever.

This is the wish with which Bapu ended his day, the day that India became independent in 1947.