Excerpts from

Kuhelika

Translation: Mohammad Omar Farooq
(initial draft)

Chapter Three

... The boys broke into laughter. Promotto continued, "Look, the (colonial) government could not do as well with the cultivation of opium, as much they have been facilitated by our great native leaders who have been cultivating religion in our heads. To break our teeth, the weapon of the English now is our own religions. Do you know what is the most potent tool of the English to rule India? It's our mutual distrust; our mutual hatred and prejudice against each other's faith. This prejudiced attitude and approach helped the English to keep their boot firmly planted on our chest. ...

Shomoresh is a dedicated Hindu. He asked, "Well, Promotto Da, we can become independent even without the Muslims. Can't we?"

Promotto said, "Certainly. Many counties have become independent despite the opposition of the three-fourth of their people. But we can't follow the suit. If anyone can get rid of both the English and the Muslims, let him do it. At least, I won't stand in the way. However, all those countries that became independent, they simply had to put up with the opposition of many of their fellow countrymen, but the independence-seekers were never insane enough to even contemplate about getting rid of those who opposed. Anyone who claims that first we have to get rid of the Muslims, let alone his miraculous ability to do it, the cunning English would never let that happen. The day entire Bharat would be united, the English have to pack up and leave. This is something known as much to our Rama-Shayma as it is to the English. ... Do you know what I think? If we want we can easily win over the Muslims of this country. Of course, not by sword, but with heart.  ... To win them over or to instill the spirit of patriotism in them would be to take away the weapon of the English."

Shomoresh said, "But, Promotto Da, they are so stubborn and uncompromising. ..."

Promotto said, "... What's harm trying to show love and respect to them, instead of hatred that only alienates and angers them?"

Shomoresh said, "... They think that our independent movement is to establish the rule of the Hindus (Hindu raj). Therefore, they consider participation in it sinful. ..."

Promotto said, "If Muslims are really afraid of the Hindu Raj, we can't blame them, Shomoresh. Apparently, the leaders of the Mother Association (Matri Shomiti) do desire establishment of Hindu Raj. We have to remove the fear of them (Muslims) through sincerity, conviction and sacrifice. Otherwise, there is not going to be any independence of Bharat. ..."

Shomoresh touched Promotto's feet to pay respect and said, "All these time we have suspected you so wrongly, Promotto Da, thinking that you probably have some weakness or attraction toward Muslims. Truly, we have not earned the right to be soldiers of revolution - we have not learnt to love all those in Bharat regardless of their ethnicity and religion. Our patriotism is simply either sentimentalism or the luxurious emotion of sacrifice. May be we are the new vanguards of fanaticism - the newest brigands of religion. You are right, Promotto Da, none of us have become true patriots yet."

Animesh smiled, "You are absolutely right, Shomor, we are the oxes of religion - we have hardly anything to do with revolution."

Promotto wiped his tears and said, "My Bharat is not this Bharat of the map, Anim. I am not any less passionate, yet I have not loved merely the water-air-soil-mountains-forests of Bharat. My Bharat is this Bharat of thirty three crores of illiterate, poor, starved, and suppressed people. My Bharat-borsho is not India, it is not Hindustan; it's not Bharat-borsho of trees and forests. My Bharat-borsho is the temple of the sorrow and pain of all the oppressed and deprived of all time. My Bharat-borsho of suffering emerged in the form of new lands rising in the ocean of tears. My friends, Bharat-borsho is not your Bharat-borsho of temples (Mondir), or Bharat-borsho of Muslim's mosques - this is Bharat-borsho of people, the great Bharat that upholds greatness of humanity."