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328 T HEMES IN INDIAN H ISTORY – P ART III and their views taken into account. Only separate electorates would ensure that Muslims had a meaningful voice in the governance of the country. The needs of Muslims, Bahadur felt, could not be properly understood by non-Muslims; nor could a true representative of Muslims be chosen by people who did not belong to that community. This demand for separate electorates provoked anger and dismay amongst most nationalists. In the passionate debate that followed, a range of arguments were offered against the demand. Most nationalists saw separate electorates as a measure deliberately introduced by the British to divide the people. “The English played their game under the cover of safeguards,” R.V. Dhulekar told Bahadur. “With the help of it they allured you (the minorities) to a long lull. Give it up now … Now there is no one to misguide you.” Fig. 12.8 Partition had made nationalists fervently opposed In the winter of 1946 Indian leadersto the idea of separate electorates. They were haunted went to London for what turned out to be a fruitless round of talks withy the fear of continued civil war, riots and violence. British Prime Minister Attlee. (Left toarate electorates was a “poison that has entered the body politic of our country”, declared Sardar right: Liaquat Ali, Mohammad Ali Patel. It was a demand that had turned one Jinnah, Baldev Singh and Pethick- Lawrence) community against another, divided the nation, caused bloodshed, and led to the tragic partition of the country. “Do you want peace in this land? If so do away with it (separate electorates),” urged Patel. Source 3 “The British element is gone, but they have left the mischief behind” Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel said: It is no use saying that we ask for separate electorates, because it is good for us. We have heard it long enough. We have heard it for years, and as a result of this agitation we are now a separate nation … Can you show me one free country where there are separate electorates? If so, I shall be prepared to accept it. But in this unfortunate country if this separate electorate is going to be persisted in, even after the division of the country, woe betide the country; it is not worth living in. Therefore, I say, it is not for my good alone, it is for your own good that I say it, forget the past. One day, we may be united … The British element is gone, but they have left the mischief behind. We do not want to perpetuate that mischief. (Hear, hear). When the British introduced this element they had not expected that they will have to go so soon. They wanted it for their easy administration. That is all right. But they have left the legacy behind. Are we to get out of it or not? CAD, VOLV Reprint 2026-27