Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee’s divine self-sacrifice inspires Hindus

How ungrateful can a nation be to disregard significance of June 23! This is not any common day but denotes divine self-sacrifice of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, noted educationist, political leader and above all a great patriot – defiant against anti-national forces constantly, for the cause of nation in 1953. Well, even if people continue to pay homage to him by offering garlands at his altar and through deeds, it is much less than expectation still.

What led to the mysterious death of Dr. Mookerjee? The lone tiger was fighting against the despicable decision of then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to grant state of Kashmir a special status and to have own flag at the same instant. There were other implications of this special status as well. Special status indicated that even President of India couldn’t enter land of Kashmir devoid of permission of its prime minister.

Dr. Mookerjee lodged strongest protest against this incongruous decision and stated with all might Ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Prdhan and Do Nishan nahi chalenge (A single country can’t have two constitutions, two prime ministers, and two national emblems). This slogan, in fact, questioned the basis of Indian Nationalism, guiding principle of gallant independence struggle against the British Empire, and invigorated the whole nation to burst into protest against the hideous decision. It is alleged that Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee through his vigorous struggle created a fright in the Indian governance and hence, it had no other way except to get rid of him before long.

Though his confidants cautioned him earlier, Dr. Mookerjee, a person of rare attributes, to carry on the desperate struggle, went to Kashmir in 1953. He, there, started a hunger strike to protest the edict nixing Indian citizens from taking root in a state in their own country, necessity to carry ID cards. To bring all these agitations to a close Dr. Mookerjee was arrested on 11th May while crossing border.

What happened to him is shrouded in mystery still. Even if no stone is left unturned to ascertain that he was kept as a prisoner of State and used to get all privileges thus, many pundits consider such governmental assertions as deception. Though the ID card rule was annulled on account of his sole efforts, Dr. Mookerjee, in reality, died as detenu on June 23, 1953 under strange state of affairs. The aftermath of his death is more painful.

Even if his sudden death made the whole of India suspicious of governments (both Central and State) and there were earnest requests from his mother, Jogmaya Devi to the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, to probe Dr. Mookerjee’s death , no enquiry commission was set up.

Here are excerpts from letter (dated 4 July, 1953) of Jogmaya Devi Mookerjee to Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru - 'His death is shrouded in mystery. Is it not most astounding and shocking that ever since his detention there, the first information that I, his mother, received from the government of Kashmir was that my son was 'no more', and that also at least two hours after the end? And in what a cruel, cryptic way the message was conveyed! '. A fearless son of free India has met his death while 'in detention without trial' under most tragic and mysterious circumstances. I, THE MOTHER OF THE GREAT DEPARTED SOUL, DEMAND THAT AN ABSOLUTELY IMPARTIAL AND OPEN ENQUIRY BY INDEPENDENT AND COMPETENT PERSONS BE HELD WITHOUT ANY DELAY. I know nothing can bring back to us the life that is no more. But I do want is that the people of India must judge for themselves, the real causes of this great tragedy enacted in a free country and the part that was played by your government'.

Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee remains is our heart for his eruditeness, astute leadership and above all divine self-sacrifice for nation.