Gandhi and Nehru's Views on the Partition
Two notable Hindu leaders, Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi, had a very different view of the Partition than Jinnah. Both leaders believed that India should stay united, but they had different views on the cause of the mass migration.
Jawaharlal Nehru, The first Prime Minister of India, Source: Fine Art America
Mohandas Karamchand (Mahatma) Gandhi, A revolutionary fighter for Indian freedom, Source: IBTimes UK
“But if the British Government presumes to tell us that they are going to hold anything in India because they do not agree either in regard to Minorities or in regard to the treaty, we shall not accept that position.” (Nehru, Nehru on the Cabinet Mission Plan)
The cabinet mission plan led by British officials would have forced India to remain united. On July 10, 1946, Nehru held a press conference opposing this plan. Although Nehru wanted a united India, he believed Muslim wishes should be listened to. From Nehru’s perspective, the Muslims wanted out of this united India plan and he would not stop them.
This message caused significant unrest among Nehru's Hindu supporters, most of whom believed that India should remain united. Many Hindus and Sikhs understood Nehru's words to mean that Muslims should no longer be a part of India. Emboldened by Nehru, Hindu extremists started many riots, trying to force the Muslims out of India and into Pakistan.
“I have said that we have all sinned… Hindus in trying to drive out the Muslims are not following Hinduism.” (Gandhi, Spitting at the Sun)
Gandhi shared Nehru’s wish for a united India. But, unlike Nehru, Gandhi believed that Hindus and Sikhs were partially at fault for the partition by trying to drive the Muslims out of India. Gandhi also made the argument that Hindus should help Muslims who stayed behind in India because they had their security in parliament. Gandhi went so far to say that those who do not help Muslims worship the devil.
Gandhi delivered this speech shortly before he was assassinated, and it can be inferred that this speech was a motive behind his assassination. "Spitting at the Sun" caused many Hindus to believe that Gandhi blamed them for the Partition. In response to these words, Hindu extremist, Nathuram Godse, assassinated Gandhi on January 30, 1948.
“Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians, and Muslims who are in India should continue to live in India and India should become a country where everyone's life and property are safe.” (Gandhi, Spitting at the Sun)