‘75 years ago’

Many daily newspapers of different languages reprint in their current editions twenty, fifty, seventy-five or a century old news item or editorial of the same date, through which the scenario of that period comes into light in some way or the other. The Hindi newspaper ‘Hindustan’ of North Indian also does this. In its 14 November issue, it reprinted a news item headlined  ‘Tribute to Kamal Ataturk’ in its column ‘75 years ago’: “New Delhi 14 Nov: Today, after the Question Hour  in the assembly, Bhola Bhai Desai, said while presenting  condolence on the death of  Kamal Ataturk, that “it is right that the demise of Kamal Pasha is not at all related to India but still it is such a kind of event on which the assembly should express its opinion. Kamal Ataturk showed the courage through which he broke all the conventions which had been obstacles in the way of Turkey’s development. In one single day he abolished the Arabic script and hijab and created equality between man and woman. During his 15 years rule he established such a system, in which nobody can create disorganisation”. Later on the speaker passed the resolution and adjourned the assembly in respect of the deceased.

By this small news

With this small news of 75 years ago, the whole scenario of political situations prevailing in the Indian subcontinent in the 1920s, which is stored in history books and archives of newspapers, came before the eyes. That was the period of British rule. The freedom struggle was in the final phase. The above mentioned assembly was established by the Britishers which used to do coordinate between the British government and Indians. Despite the apparent conflict with the British government, the majority of Indian leaders, like the Indian National Congress, was under the influence of British politics and culture. Having abolished the Osmania Caliphate of Turkey in 1923, the British monarchy displayed importantly its conspiracies and ungratefulness in installing pro-west Ataturk Kamal Pasha over there. It is obvious that the death of Kamal Pasha was so woeful for British India, but on the other side there was great satisfaction also, that during his regime Pasha threw the hijab off the faces of Muslim women, banned the Arabic script, and on the model of western social life, sowed the lethal seed of free mixing of men and women in Turkey. His biggest ‘achievement’ was that by abolishing the Caliphate he not only put an end to the rule of Islamic Shari’ah in Turkey but became the cause of discouragement for other Muslim countries as well.

Why was the tribute deemed necessary?

Therefore, despite the fact that ‘the demise of Kamal Pasha is not at all related to India’, paying tribute to Pasha was considered necessary. Obviously, the British government had to do this, but Indian National Congress also did not want to lag behind, because Indian National Congress had been working under the influence of Hindu Mahasabha in many affairs and Turkey, Islamic Caliphate and Muslim community were among them. The R.S.S had also come into existence in the period close to 1923 – it becomes clear (nay fresh in mind) that the roots of anti-Islam mind-set found palpably in today’s political and some administrative sections are very deep, and their proximity with western thought and ideology is equally ancient. To see women unveiled, to make them shameless after having stood them in the line of men, and the mentality of putting further pressure on them for making money, is also against to the Indian traditions, but under the enmity of Islamic Shair’ah it had been welcomed before 75 years ago and even today it is much more under the American system mimesis. Therefore, those who are wishing to create positive and constructive changes in Indian society on the basis of Divine accountability must study the history of country’s past in depth. 

 19/11/2013 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by:Miss Khalida Hussain