Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

106ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH 2006 / 537-38 NSbetween Hindu India and Muslim-dominated Pakistan. The book isan anthology of articles on the subject of Freedom Struggle in Punjab.It would have added to its value if one or two articles by some historianfrom the West Punjab also had been included it.However, a valuable analysis of cause of communal riots inPunjab is provided by Dr Kirpal Singh, an expert on the Partition ofPunjab in the chapter The Price that the Punjab is paid for Freedom. Thelearned doctor opines that the root-cause of communal riots in Punjabwas not the communal strife, but the denial of opportunity to theMuslim League, the single largest party in Punjab to form a government.It caused such frustration amongst the Muslims that they felt thatthere was no alternative left but to stir up strife. He writes: “If SirKhizar had not formed the ministry and the League leaders had beenleft with some hope of office, they would have been compelled, justin order to gain power, to adopt a more conciliatory attitude towardsthe minorities. In that case, they would have been less tempted to stirup strife.” The learned historian also describes the movement ofrefugees, Muslims as well as non-Muslims, and the attacks on themduring the journey. He quotes O H K Spate to assert that these wereenforced movements of the people on a scale absolutely unparalleledin the history of the world. According to the author, peaceful exchangeof population was possible.Another valuable contribution to this book is an article by V PMenon, which deals with the politics of the rulers of States in Punjabwhich were later merged to form the PEPSU. He was the stateSecretary. While Giani Kartar Singh favoured merger of these sixstates, namely, Patiala, Nabha, Jind and Faridkot, Kapurthala andMalerkotla in East-Punjab, another Sikh leader Udham Singh Nagokebitterly opposed this merger. The British, before partition, had triedto create a third force by merging these states with Jammu and Kashmirand some Princely States of Rajasthan. But on account of strongopposition by the Maharaja of Patiala, Yadvindra Singh, and differencesbetween the Raja of Faridkot and the States People Conferences, thePresident did not allow the British plan to materialise. According toMr V P Menon, “Besides, Sikh politics were in so fluid a state that wefelt that, until they became crystallized, there was immediate need fora Union of all the Punjab States under the control of the Government