Gandhi's Independence Day Miracle

It was 15 August 1947 in Kolkata. The burning hatred between Hindus and Muslims was about to break out into civil war, when the Mahatma, through an extraordinary pact of friendship, suddenly brought peace to all

- HORACE ALEXANDER

Where was Mahatma Gandhi on 15 August 1947? Surely the man who had led the movement for freedom would be in the forefront of the national celebrations in Delhi on that day. Instead, Gandhiji created one of the most extraordinary happenings in his eventful life. Here is the story:

BIHAR AND EAST

Bengal had suffered severely from violent communal strife in late 1946. In the Noakhali district of East Bengal, members of the Muslim majority had attacked their Hindu neighbors and burnt their houses. Gandhi immediately went there to bring the two communities together again. Soon the Muslim minority in Bihar was even more brutally attacked by their Hindu neighbors. Gandhi went there to give courage to the Muslims and a change of heart to the Hindus. I joined Gandhiji in Bihar, and together we traveled to Calcutta. On 11 August we would go to East Bengal, for Gandhi had given a solemn pledge to the frightened Noakhali Hindus that on Independence Day, when East Bengal would become part of Pakistan, he would be with them.

Hours after our arrival in Calcutta, leading Muslims from Calcutta had visited Gandhiji and had begged him not to go to East Bengal. He must stay in Calcutta, and try to bring peace to the great city. If there was peace in Calcutta, they said, there would be peace throughout all of Bengal. Gandhiji was not easily convinced. He wanted full assurance that the Muslim bosses in East Bengal would protect the Naokhali Hindus. Time was short; but the Muslim leaders agreed, so Gandhiji stayed in Calcutta.

GANDHIJI HAD A PLAN.