Champion of the poor

The recent communal riots in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh has brought back  memories of the Noakhali ,massacre and of Mahatma Gandhi, the soldier of peace, the champion of the poor, who walked alone among them.   The one who always shared the sorrows of others, was filled with anguish by the degradation of  the human spirit. The news about the human tragedy reached Gandhiji  who was on his way to Sevagram from Delhi.  He decided to proceed to Bengal and not to Sevagram.  It is said that on 10th October 1946, a one sided massacre commenced in the Muslim dominant areas in Noakhali district of East Bengal (now in Bangaldesh). The violence was well organized and well-executed, as if it were pre-planned. The people who were well acquainted with each other, who had spent days and nights working together in the fields, had carried out this massacre. Gandhiji had camped in Noakhali district and toured the district in a mission to restore peace and communal harmony in the winter of 1947. Gandhiji’s tireless pilgrimage for peace in Noakhali and Tipperah districts began from Chandpur and lasted four months.

Gandhiji in Noakhali ,1947

He went from village to village through the muddy paddy fields and the network of waterways to wipe tears and give solace to the victims. The Ganga flowing on the west and the Brahmaputra coming from north east converge to become river Padma.  A little further to the south river Padma is met by the river Meghna as the confluence of the great rivers form a delta. Walking tirelessly through the densely growing coconut and betel nut forest, he appealed to Hindus and Muslims, men and women that they should take the pledge not to kill each other and ensure peace.  Gandhiji realized that the common people had not forsaken their humanity to the extent that the leaders had.  Gandhiji’s message to both Hindus and Muslims was to be free from fear.

The means to people’s heart is through service. It is through service that the soldier of peace knew the pains of others and gave courage to the helpless and gradually rekindled  trust in the adversaries. This soldier of peace was a young man of seventy seven. Faith in God and prayers sustained him. He gave courage and fortitude to thousands who had lost hope.

Gandhiji was asked towards the end of his stay in Srirampur as about the  impact of his stay. He replied, nothing tangible, but then, ‘non-violence works in unseen ways.’ 

After Gandhiji had left for Bihar, a very old Muslim approached Satish Chandra Dasgupta. He was throughout with Gandhiji arranging his route. Gandhiji  had entrusted the work of restoring peace in his able hands. The old man asked Satish Chandra when Gandhi baba would be returning.  Satish Chandra told him that Gandhiji was in Bihar and has a lot of work their now. He assured the old man that as Gandhiji had said he would come back, he would .The old man said, ‘do let me know when he comes back.’  Satish Chandra was curious to know as to why he wanted Gandhi to come back. The old man said,’ Who else except him is there to worry about us, to care for us?’