Pandit Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee is considered one of the greatest personalities of Indian politics whose vision was very far-sighted and the goal of life was to strengthen national interest and national unity. He was a great educationist, nationalist leader, thinker and freedom fighter. His life is a perfect example of how society can be given direction through higher education and dedication to the nation. The principles of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee were based on Indian unity, cultural nationalism, Swadeshi, strong center, democracy, and equal civil rights. His life was dedicated to the creation of a united and powerful nation of India.
Pandit Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee gave a new direction to the politics of India. He founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which later became the basic foundation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was a strong supporter of democratic values. He raised an ideological opposition against the monopoly of the Congress and founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh so that a strong alternative ideology could be presented to the country. His most important role was on the issue of complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir into India. He gave the slogan “Two flags, two heads, two constitutions will not work in one country” and established this idea in the minds of the people by sacrificing his life.
Early life and family
Pandit ji was born on 6 July 1901 in Kolkata (then Calcutta), Bengal. His father Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee was a famous educationist, mathematician and Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University of Bengal. His mother’s name was Jogmaya Devi. His father had a deep influence on his life. Syama Prasad ji not only imbibed the ideals that Ashutosh Mukherjee had established in the field of education but also tried to advance them. His early education took place in Kolkata. He graduated from Presidency College. After this, in 1921, he obtained an M.A. degree in English from Calcutta University. He also studied law and went to Lincoln’s Inn in England to become a barrister. In 1926, he returned to India as a barrister.
The scholarship of Pandit Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee can be gauged from the fact that at the age of 33, he was appointed Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University. At that time, he was the youngest vice-chancellor of the university.
Contribution as an educationist
Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee did not limit education to mere reading and writing but tried to inculcate national consciousness in it. During his tenure as vice-chancellor, the curriculum of Calcutta University was reformed from an Indian perspective and importance was given to Indian history and culture. He tried to inculcate national feelings among students. During the British rule, when universities were considered only centres for producing administrative servants, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee made them a medium of national awakening. He considered education to be the basis of nation building. He always stressed on combining Indian values with modern science and technology.
Entry into public life
After India’s independence, Pandit Syama Prasad Mookerjee was included in the cabinet of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He became the first Industry Minister of India. During his tenure, the foundation of India’s industrialization was laid. He made plans for the development of heavy industries in the country. During this time, he laid the foundation for the development of public sector undertakings. But soon the ideological differences between him and Nehru deepened. His opposition to the Nehru-Liaqat Pact (1950) was especially strong. He believed that minorities were being oppressed in Pakistan and in such a situation this agreement ignored the interests of Hindus.
Establishment of Bharatiya Jana Sangh
After resigning from Nehru’s cabinet, Pandit Syama Prasad Mookerjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh on 21 October 1951. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was his most trusted and prominent associate, thinker and organizer, who later also became his successor. The objective of the Jana Sangh was to build a nation in accordance with Indian culture and traditions. Its ideology was based on cultural nationalism. He considered Indian culture to be the soul of the nation. He believed that India’s policies should be based on Indian traditions and values. Instead of imitating Western thinking, importance should be given to Indian thinking. He stressed on self-reliance in the country’s economic policies. He talked about reducing dependence on foreign companies and goods. He was in favor of promoting indigenous industries and agriculture.
Under Mukherjee’s leadership, Jan Sangh participated in the first general election of 1952 and won 3 seats in Parliament. Although the seats were less, the party gave birth to an alternative nationalist ideology, which later became a strong stream in Indian politics. He pointed out the need for a strong central government in a diverse country like India. He believed that the power of the center is necessary to control provincialism and separatism.
Struggle on Kashmir issue
Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s life was most associated with the question of Kashmir, which is remembered even today. After the independence of India, Jammu and Kashmir was given special status. Under Section 370, it got a separate constitution, separate flag and separate law system. Mukherjee strongly opposed this. His slogan was “Two constitutions, two heads and two flags will not work in one country.” His argument was that Kashmir is an integral part of India and the citizens there should also have the same rights and responsibilities as the rest of the countrymen. He believed that every citizen of the country should get equal law and rights. He was in favor of a uniform law for all citizens in India. He opposed separate laws on religious or provincial basis.
Sacrifice of Pandit Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Pandit Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee was a great leader and patriot who fought for the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir. He opposed the provisions of Section 370 and demanded equal status for Jammu and Kashmir like other states of India. Mukherjee faced many challenges during his struggle and ultimately risked his life. In 1953, he decided to go to Kashmir, even though the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah had not allowed the entry of outsiders. He went to Jammu and Kashmir without a permit and was arrested. He died under mysterious circumstances in custody in Srinagar on 23 June 1953. Many questions have been raised about his suspicious death. Some people believe that it was a political murder. His death created public anger in the country and made the Kashmir issue a topic of national debate. After the sacrifice of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, the Kashmir issue became a topic of discussion across the country. A few years after his death, Sheikh Abdullah was arrested and the integration of Jammu and Kashmir into India was strengthened.
Decision to remove Article 370
The decision of the Government of India led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir is a historic and important step which provided new opportunities for the development and integration of the state. An important inspiration behind this decision was the sacrifice of Pandit Syama Prasad Mookerjee and his demand for complete integration of J&K.
On August 5, 2019, the Government of India decided to remove Article 370 in J&K, which gave special status to the state. Along with this decision, it was also decided to make Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh separate union territories. This step has provided new opportunities for the development and integration of Jammu and Kashmir. Along with this, the people of the state have been given equal rights and facilities like other states of India.
The decision to remove Article 370 is an important result of Mukherjee’s sacrifice and his demand for complete integration of J&K. Pandit Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s sacrifice and the decision to remove Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir are both important events in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. Mukherjee’s sacrifice became an inspiration for the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir, while the decision to remove Article 370 is proving to be an important step for the development and integration of the state. Both these events symbolize the beginning of a new era for the future of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Bharatiya Jana Sangh, founded by Pandit Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, merged with the Janata Party in 1977 and was reorganized as the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980. The BJP considered the ideas of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee as the basis of its ideology. Even today, Pandit Mukherjee is considered the ideal leader of the party. The basic mantra of his politics was national interest above all. He rejected the greed for personal gain or position. His arrest and sacrifice at the time of entering Kashmir also happened due to this principle.
In memory of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, many institutions, roads and schemes are running in the country in his name. For example, Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee National Employment Scheme, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Jharkhand, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port, Kolkata etc.
During my tenure as the School Education Minister of Rajasthan, I had made many changes in the school curriculum of Rajasthan. Especially new chapters on national leaders and thinkers were added in the board books. A separate chapter on Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee was also included in these. Its purpose was to make students familiar with the contribution and ideology of Indian culture, nationalism and great personalities of the country by giving more space to them in the curriculum.
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