Who is Syama Prasad Mukherjee?

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Syama Prasad Mukherjee was a prominent Indian politician, barrister, and academician who played a significant role in India's pre- and post-independence political landscape. He is widely recognized as the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the predecessor to today's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Early Life and Education

Born on July 6, 1901, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Bengal Presidency, British India, Syama Prasad Mukherjee came from an illustrious family. His father, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, was a renowned educationist and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta.

Mukherjee received a distinguished education:

Presidency College, Calcutta: Graduated in English in 1921.
University of Calcutta: Earned an M.A. in Bengali in 1923 and a B.L. (Bachelor of Laws) in 1924.
England: Became a barrister from Lincoln's Inn in 1926.

Academic and Political Career Beginnings

Upon his return to India, Mukherjee quickly rose in academic circles. He became a Fellow of the University of Calcutta in 1923 and, at the remarkably young age of 33, became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta in 1934, a position he held until 1938. During his tenure, he introduced several reforms and emphasized the importance of vernacular languages.

His political career began with his entry into the Bengal Legislative Council in 1929 as a Congress candidate representing the Calcutta University constituency. However, he resigned shortly after due to differences with the Congress leadership. He later re-entered the Council as an independent candidate.

Role in Pre-Independence Politics

Mukherjee became a vocal critic of the British Raj and the Muslim League's demand for Pakistan. He was particularly concerned about the potential partition of Bengal and worked to prevent it from falling entirely into East Pakistan. His efforts were instrumental in the partition of Bengal in 1947, leading to the creation of West Bengal, which remained part of India.

He was a prominent leader of the Hindu Mahasabha, serving as its president from 1943 to 1946. During this period, he advocated for the rights of Hindus and a strong, unified India.

Post-Independence and Founding of Jana Sangh

After India gained independence in 1947, Syama Prasad Mukherjee was invited by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to join the interim central cabinet as the Minister for Industry and Supply. However, he resigned from the cabinet in 1950 due to disagreements over the Nehru-Liaquat Pact, which aimed to protect minority rights in both India and Pakistan. Mukherjee believed the pact was a capitulation to Pakistan and did not adequately protect Hindus in East Pakistan.

Following his resignation, Mukherjee felt the need for a strong nationalist alternative to the Indian National Congress. This led him to found the Bharatiya Jana Sangh on October 21, 1951, with the aim of promoting a strong, unified India based on its cultural heritage. The Jana Sangh advocated for:

Abrogation of Article 370: Full integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India.
Uniform Civil Code: Common laws for all citizens, irrespective of religion.
Ban on cow slaughter: Protection of cows, which are considered sacred in Hinduism.
Promotion of Hindi: As the national language.

Jammu and Kashmir Agitation and Demise

Mukherjee was a staunch opponent of the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, which allowed the state to have its own constitution and flag. He launched a strong agitation against it, famously stating, "Ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan aur do Nishan nahi chalenge" (One country cannot have two constitutions, two prime ministers, and two flags).

In May 1953, he entered Jammu and Kashmir without a permit, defying the existing rules, to protest against Article 370. He was arrested on May 11, 1953, and detained. He passed away in custody on June 23, 1953, under mysterious circumstances. The official reason given was a heart attack, but many of his supporters and family members suspected foul play and demanded an inquiry, which was never conducted to their satisfaction.

Legacy

Syama Prasad Mukherjee is remembered as a fierce nationalist, an articulate parliamentarian, and a visionary who laid the ideological foundation for India's right-wing political movement. His ideas and principles continue to influence the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its political agenda, particularly regarding national integration, cultural nationalism, and the abrogation of Article 370 (which was eventually done in 2019). He is revered by the BJP and its allied organizations as a martyr who sacrificed his life for the unity and integrity of India.