A Prayer Speech in the Hand of Gandhi: Let the Religions of India Die Defending Indian Freedom, as the Spartans of the Ancient World

“We were all of and from one and the same God, no matter by what names we worshipped Him.”

In August 1947, when, after three hundred years of rule in India, the British finally left, the subcontinent was partitioned into two independent nation states: Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan. Communities, families and farms were cut in two. Immediately, there began one of the greatest migrations in human history, as millions of Muslims trekked to West and East Pakistan (the latter now known as Bangladesh), while millions of Hindus and Sikhs headed in the opposite direction. Across the Indian subcontinent, communities that had coexisted for almost a millennium attacked each other in a terrifying outbreak of sectarian violence, with Hindus and Sikhs on one side and Muslims on the other. In the middle lay Kashmir, now part of India but an area where the majority of people are Muslims.

In Kashmir, on the border between the two new nations, the pro-India Maharaja Hari Singh faced an uprising by his Muslim subjects in Poonch, Kashmir, and lost control of the western districts of his kingdom. On October 22, 1947, Pakistan’s Pashtun tribal militias crossed the border of the state. These local tribal militias and irregular Pakistani forces moved to take Srinagar, the largest city in Kashmir and its capital, but on reaching Baramulla, they took to plunder and the advance stalled. A plea to India for assistance was made, and help was offered, but it was subject to the Kashmir government signing of an Instrument of Accession to India. Following the accession of the state to India on October 26, 1947, Indian troops were air-lifted to Srinagar.

This set off a major conflict with international and multi-religious connotations. Gandhi, at the same time as a he appealed to God for a just resolution, hoped that the Muslim and Hindu forces fighting side by side might serve as an example for the forming nation, even comparing them to the Spartans.

After a prayer time in late October, Gandhi gave a speech on the situation, and spoke on this using remarkable and hopeful words for the future of his nation and the religions of the region. The fragment offered here is his narration, drafted by his aide but containing extensive edits in his hand, so many that he nearly re-wrote the draft, intended for publication.

Autograph Manuscript, 3 pages, October 29-31, 1947, “…What was the situation? It was stated that a rebel army composed of the Afridis and the like, ably officered, was advancing towards Srinagar, burning and looting the villages all along the route, destroying even the electric power-house, thus leaving Srinagar in darkness. It was difficult to believe that the entry could take place without some kind of encouragement from the Pakistan Government. He had not enough data to come to a judgment as to the merits of the case. Nor was it necessary for his purpose. All he knew was that it was right for the Union Government to rush the troops, even a handful, to Srinagar. That must save the situation to the extent of giving confidence to the Kashmiris, especially to the Sheikh Saheb, who was affectionately called Sher-e-Kashmir, the Lion of Kashmir. 

“The result was now in the hands of God. Men could but do or die. The speaker would not shed a single tear if the little Union force was wiped out, like the Spartans, bravely defending Kashmir nor would he mind the Sheikhsaheb and his Muslim, Hindu and Sikh comrades, men and women, dying at their post in defence of Kashmir. That would be a glorious example to the rest of lndia. Such heroic defence would infect the whole of India, and we would forget that Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs ever were enemies. Then we would realize that not all Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs were fiends. There were some good men and women in all religions and races. The universe existed on its good men and women. Indeed he would not be surprised, if even the rebel army was itself converted to sanity, Let them remember the refrain of the Bhajan: “‘We were all of and from one and the same God, no matter by what names we worshipped Him.’”‘

It is interesting to note that Gandhi often used to write his notes and letters on wastepaper or used paper. Sometimes he even opened envelopes and wrote messages on the inside. Here he obviously wrote on the reverse of a typed text and crossed out someone else’s earlier text to make use of the same sheet.