Who was Shyama Prasad Mukherjee?
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was among the huge personalities who fought for independent India; Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee has no doubt his own individuality and place. He was a great educationist, second none patriot, a keen parliamentarian, political leader, man of principles and founder of ‘The All India Jansangh.
Shyama was quite in keeping with common adage, worthy son of a worthy father or great son of a great father. His family environment was very honorable. No importance was attached to greatness and luxury and in spite of infinite wealth, and availability of all means of comfort and pleasure.
Having been brought up in environment of sympathy, humanism, renunciation academic and regulated and very discipline life, he was always above the greediness and worldly wise affairs and display.
Early Life
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was born in 1901, at Bengal, a land of which has given birth so many legends like, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Subhash Chandra Bose, Desh Bandhu Chitranjan Das, and Satyajit Ray. Having a look at the placement of the stars in the horoscope of this new arrival the astrologers said with full confidence to Sri Asutosh Mukherjeee- This, you’re second in unique and lucky. He would prove an expert educationist, and great mathematician, great nationalist and harbinger of a new age in community sequence.
In his age of teenage years, while preparing for High School, he had a debate with his head master to get exemption from the examination fee to a poor classmate, who was not in able to pay their examination fee.
That indicates his tough courage. He passed every examination in the first division; High School, 1917, B.A 1921, M.A. 1923 Going to England to become a barrister, and earning fame of a mathematician, and getting membership of the renowned Mathematical Society of London, made manifest his uncommon genius. At the early age of 24 years, he to membership of Senate of Calcutta University. In 1938, Calcutta University conferred on him voluntary degree of D.Litt.
Vice Chancellor Voyage
As a Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University, he introduced important reforms in military education, women education, teachers training and the Civil Services Examination. He had his special donation in founding Arvind University in Pondicheri.
He occupied the post of President of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, and thereby enhanced the honour of the learned class of India, the Government of India sent him to League of Nations as India’s representative to the Committee of Intellectual Co-operation.
In 1939, Dr, Mukherjee became interested in politics. He was elected member of the Bengal Legislative Council from the university constituency. With reference to inhuman atrocities committed on Hindus in Muslim majority areas, Gandhi’s comment that, Hindus should keep Muslims with them even at the cost of great loss and harm, gave him heart- touching anguish.
At that time, he realised that by following blindly Gandhiji policy of non-violence, that day will not be far off when the whole of Bengal would go under the sway of Pakistan. That very movement, his attention was attracted towards the Hindu Mahasabha.
Being prejudiced by the line of philosophy of Savarkar, he became a strong support of the principal which nourished Indian culture. In gratitude of his efficient role, the Hindu Mahasabha nominated him as its President.
As a Minister of Commerce
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru appointed Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee as the minister of commerce in the first ministry of Independent India on 15th August, 1947. He died in Kashmir.
He discharged his duties of the post sincerely and with devotion. Keeping away from speeches, inaugurations and game politics, he fully devoted himself to give practical shape of the projects of development success. Huge factory of railway engines year and manufacturing factory of ships at Vishakhapatnam and fertilizers’ factory of Sindri, located in Bihar are glaring examples of his initiative and imagination.
Dr. Mukherjee was greatly shocked when in 1950 in Bengal, property and wealth of Hindus were being snatched and looted, the honor of their mothers, sisters and wives was being defiled and depraved and five thousands or them Liaqat Ali, Prime Minister of Pakistan. He expressed his opposition and indignation openly in the Parliament.
Nehruji got offended. Therefore are fundamentals and it is not fair and therein, “My differences are fundamental and it is not fair and honorable for me to continue as a member of the government, whose policy I cannot approve of. Nehru accepted his resignation and leveled the accuse of being joint aligned with him.
Bhartiya Jan Sangh Party
As a protest Bhartiya Jan Sangh was born on 28th April in 1951, Ex-planning the objects of Jan Sangh, Dr. Mukherjee said, ‘This Political party has not been formed to oppose any community or religion. For establishing freedom and unity such an organization was needed.
To defend the honour of mothers and the motherland and to infuse the feelings of nationalism and freedom are the main things of the Bhartiya Jan Sangh were only three months old. Even then Jan Sangh fielded 742 candidates for Parliament and legislative assemblies. In bitterness of muscular opposition by the Congress, thirty three candidates of Jan Sangh were elected. Dr. Mukherjee himself contested the seat, of Calcutta south, got elected to Parliament with a pounding majority.
With his powerful role of the leader opposition. He proved that there was a man who could speak against the weak policy of the government of India. He came into conflict with the Congress sincerely because it was pursuing the policy of appeasement.
Kashmir Disputes
In the matter of Kashmir also, Nehruji had full sympathy with Shekh Abdullah. The surprising thing is although Nehru Believed cent per cent merger of Jammu and Kashmir into India, yet visa from the government of India was needed to enter Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir Parishad started a movement against this policy of the government; the government adopted a very stiff attitude. About 2500 volunteers taking part on the Satyagaraha Movement were arrested and 30 were shot dead.
Dr. Mukherjee prepared himself to go Kashmir, and without taking the permit he started for Jammu. On way from Delhi to Jammu People in thousands rallied to welcome Dr. Mukherjee at Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, Modinagar, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Ambala, Jalandar , Amritsar, and Pathankot.
Dr. Mukherjee addressed meetings at all places and said, Pandit Nehru has already presented as a gift one third of Kashmir to Pakistan. Now, I Shall not let go even one inch land of India.
Ending Days of Life
At the start government Jeeps was arranged to take Dr.Mukherjee and his companions from Pathankot to Jammu. But later on at 4.30 pm. When their jeeps reached Madhopur, port of river Ravi, under fresh orders of the government the Inspector General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir took in custody Dr. Mukherjee and his companions under section 3 of Public Safety Act.
In the Jail, all of a sudden he got unwell. The administrator of Jail immediately sent to Dr. Ali Mohmmaed and made proper arrangements for his treatment. After 4 to 5 days on June 23rd, 1953, at about 11PM. His condition is much worsened. And he died same day.