Suhrawardy and the ‘Great Calcutta Killing’: Revisiting the Episode and its Consequences
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Type
Article
Date
2018-03
Journal Title
Karatoya : North Bengal University journal of History
Journal Editor
Bhattacharya, Dahlia
Mondal, Amrita
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of North Bengal
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Bhattacharjee, D. (2018). Suhrawardy and the ‘Great Calcutta Killing’: Revisiting the Episode and its Consequences. Karatoya : North Bengal University Journal of History, 11, 131–152. https://ir.nbu.ac.in/handle/123456789/3942
Authors
Bhattacharjee, Dhananjoy
Advisor
Editor
Abstract
Soon after the installation of the League Ministry headed by H.S. Suhrawardy in Bengal,
the Cabinet Mission announced its draft plan on 16 May 1946 rejecting the Muslim
League’s demand for ‘Pakistan’ which prompted the League Council to give a clarion
call to all the Muslims to go for ‘Direct Action’ for achieving ‘Pakistan’. Following the
Council’s decision, Suhrawardy, the Bengal Premier-cum Home Minister, came forward
to observe the ‘Direct Action Day’ on 16 August 1946 declaring a public holiday on that
day which brought disastrous consequences in Calcutta as the city witnessed communal
riot, blood-shed and a ‘reign of terror’ for four days. The entire episode vitiated Bengal
politics, embittered Hindu-Muslim relationship and intensified communal tension which
altogether made the partition inevitable in 1947.
Description
Citation
Accession No
Call No
Book Title
Edition
Volume
ISBN No
Volume Number
11
Issue Number
ISSN No
2229-4880
eISSN No
Pages
Pages
131 - 152