The much applauded bourgeoisie who divided India

This Republic Day gave me an opportunity to watch some excellent documentaries about the Independence struggle of India. I knew most of the things about how India achieved independence. Honestly, I feel Hitler contributed more to the Indian freedom struggle than any of the idiots whose portraits adorn the walls of government buildings.

The Indian Independence was not fought out, it was rather negotiated across a table in plush British buildings in the mid 1940's.

There were two key actors in the division of the nation, both bourgeois. Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammad Jinnah. Both of them came from rich families, studied in the UK, had bourgeois habits and came to India at the most opportunistic moment with a hunger for power.

Mohammad Jinnah - Jinnah was only a second generation Muslim. His grandfather was a Rajput Hindu. His fore-fathers had been rich traders from Gujarat and he was another bourgeois who essentially pursued law because he saw a lot of money in it. This man became a part of the Indian National Congress, and did not wish for the British to leave, actually. The high nosed bourgeois thought that the British culture and educational system was needed for India.

He did not wish to join the Indian Muslim League initially since he considered it too muslim and did not suite his bourgeois style. Though later, he saw that he was not going to have any sway in terms of strength in the congress and decided to lead the Muslim League so that he would have an opportunity to wield some power. Further, when he saw that Nehru was going to have a greater sway, he started rooting for the need to protect the interests of minority muslims and started demanding for a separate state. He did not want sustenance, he cared less about the muslims still, all he wanted was the name tag of Prime Minister; no matter what the cost. The condition of Pakistan today and its long and brilliant political history is a testament to this fact.

Jawaharlal Nehru - His upbringing was steeped in great aristrocracy. Son of a rich Barrister, went off to London to study, he was a total wealthy elitist. Nehru's father was neck deep in politics and hence his induction into the same was no matter of great surprise. He was, what can only be called a complete British sycophant. He was another power hungry character, just like Jinnah, who had dreamt of getting himself to the Prime Minister's chair from the moment that the Independence of India became news. From the moment that Louis Mountbatten stepped on Indian soil and announced that he would be the last Viceroy of India, Nehru began his mission of shining Mountbatten's boots. I feel he worked more with Mountbatten than with the Congress during that period. When Jinnah announced the need for Pakistan, Nehru was equally certain that the need existed since the only other option was losing power or seat, as it is known now.

So essentially, for the need for a tag by the other two, this country was split up into three. As far as I can see, this has not helped the cause of anybody. Pakistan and India have been at war over Kashmir since 1948. Bangladesh is another kind of problem and China has been using Pakistan against India the whole time.

What a waste... All for the sake of power hunger.