Direct Action Day, August 16, 1946

The Direct Action Day date 16 August 1946 is one of the black days in the communal history of India.

Unable to get his demands ratified by the Cabinet Mission, M.A. Jinnah, the prominent leader of the Muslim League, resorted to coercive tactics using the communal card. On July 29, 1946, led by Jinnah, the Muslim League passed a resolution declaring August 16 as “Direct Action Day”, announced a nationwide protest, and called for the suspension of all business. Jinnah said that,

“We will either have a divided India or a destroyed India.”

The Muslim League proclaimed a general strike or “hartal”. Inflammatory speeches by their leaders further fuelled the issue. In articulating this stance, Jinnah underscored a desire for a peaceful resolution, emphasizing an aversion to armed conflict. Nevertheless, he also communicated an unwavering willingness to engage in hostilities, presenting a stark choice between a divided India or one beset by catastrophic consequences.

The Direct Action Day date 16 August 1946 and the ‘Great Calcutta Killing’

The four-day massive riots between Hindus and Muslims that engulfed Calcutta on August 16-19, 1946 killing over 5,000 people and seriously wounding over 15,000 people in Calcutta is often termed by historians as ‘the Great Calcutta Killing’.

The riots started on August 16, 1946, to observe the ‘Direct Action Day’ call given by Muslim League leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The Bengal province had a majority of Muslims which constituted about 54% of the total population as against Hindus which constituted about 44% of the total population. However, the situation in Calcutta was reverse, as the Hindus constituted about 73% of the total population while Muslims constituted about 23% of the total population in the city. The city’s economy was influenced by the rich Hindu Marwari community. Additionally, Bengal was the only province in which the provincial government was led by Muslim League. Hussain Suhrawardy was the Chief Minister of the Bengal province and was one of the direct contenders to M.A. Jinnah as the representatives of the Muslim. The Chief Minister Hussain Suhrawardy to represent himself as Muslim leader and to tame the Hindus of Calcutta openly supported the march followed by the riots led by Muslims.

The noticeable point about these riots was the savage manner in which the killings were executed. Not only were victims brutally killed, but they were also grotesquely mutilated. Secondly, the cases of rape predominated in the riots.

Gopal Patha: The Saviour

While the riots left a deep scar in the history of Calcutta, they brought to the fore the bravery of activists like Gopal Chandra Mukherjee, also known as ‘Gopal Patha’, who played a significant role in mobilizing groups of youths to protect Hindu families and give shelter to those left homeless. After the incident, a social worker Leela Roy alone rescued 1307 Hindu girls from the mob.

In August 1946, the Government of Bengal appointed an enquiry commission presided by the Supreme Justice of India, Sir Patrick Spens. Although the commission interrogated many witnesses, its conclusions were never published.

Violence and Riots in Other Parts of the Country

This conflagration of violence served as the catalyst for a broader wave of religious strife, which subsequently engulfed neighboring areas such as Noakhali, Bihar, the United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh), Punjab, and the North-West Frontier Province. The ramifications of these events were far-reaching, ultimately sowing the seeds that culminated in the partition of India. In November 1946, Mahatma Gandhi, accompanied by anthropologist Nirmal Kumar Bose visited Noakhali in a bid to restore communal peace.

The confluence of these events sowed the seeds for the eventual partition of India, an enduring and consequential chapter in the nation’s history.

Also read the book: Comprehensive and Brief History of Modern India Book by Brijesh Singh