Saquib Salim

Shaan Mukherjee, a popular Indian singer, hit the headlines after his strong reply to hateful trolls on Eid. He was trolled for posting his picture wearing a Muslim skull cap on Instagram. Instagram users posted hateful comments on his post and asked him why he chose to greet people on Eid wearing a Muslim skull cap.

Shaan took to Instagram with his video message to address the trolls in which he asked Indians to live peacefully and work together towards development. He wished that people filled with hate think more about national unity and development.

The incident is yet another example of hate in the name of religion being spewed in digital space. Religious hatred has been used by politicians and anti-national forces for a long time. In pre-independence India, the British maneuvered to keep Indian National Struggle divided. After independence, political outfits used religious hatred to gain currency while foreign enemies fanned communalism to weaken our nation.

Looking back into history, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had a treatment for this malaise. When he left India for Berlin in 1941, British-sponsored communal politics was at its peak. Muslim League was demanding Pakistan, the Adivasi Mahasabha was asking for Advasisthan, the Communist Party of India was campaigning for several nations within India and every communal group wanted its representation.

Netaji realized the need for unity for a strong Indian Nation. He set up the Indian National Army and formed the Azad Hind Sarkar. His ‘government in exile’ had the Ministry called the Communal Harmony Council. It aimed to create Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Christian unity. This council was headed by Lt. Colonel Ehsan Qadir.

To Netaji, Hindu-Muslim unity was important. Indian sepoys in the British Army used to have communal kitchens, i.e. Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs would cook food separately. In the INA, the divisive practice was put to an end and food/ drinks became Indian National food. The religion-based war cries were replaced by Jai Hind. It was made sure that any religious place inviting INA soldiers had to open its doors to all Indians.

Col Ehsan Qadri

The council carried out extensive propaganda throughout South East Asia to enhance Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Christian unity among Indians. Abid Hasan Safrani, a close aide of Netaji, later wrote, “We ceased belonging to groups like that because India became our goal and with it our endeavour to establish India to greatness due to her. We are not counted separately and come into the reckoning as a group. We took it upon ourselves to establish this all-embracing India. This became our purpose in life, it gave meaning to our existence. More importantly, it gave us a new identity that to some was for the first time.”

INA fought unitedly and became a truly national force. When INA soldiers were tried in court in 1946, India was staring at the partition along religious lines but no Indian political group could tell the religion of one INA soldier from the other. Congress, Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha, and CPI, otherwise opposed to each other, were one in demanding justice for the INA soldiers. This was the triumph of Netaji’s vision of the Communal Harmony Council.

Maybe the present government should give Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s idea of a Communal Harmony Council a shot to address the unending communal politics.