Direct Action Day was a large-scale protest and strike called by the All-India Muslim League on 16 August 1946. The aim was to demand the creation of a separate Muslim state, which would later become Pakistan. Although intended as a peaceful demonstration, it quickly escalated into widespread communal violence in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
Gopal 'Patha' Mukherjee was a local strongman and leader from Calcutta. Some accounts suggest he organized a counter-response to the riots to protect Hindu communities. However, historical interpretations of his actions vary, and his role remains a subject of debate.
The violence resulted from long-standing political and communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims, particularly in Bengal. The call for a strike by the Muslim League, combined with a charged political climate and breakdown of law and order, triggered riots, arson, and looting. Thousands were killed or injured during the unrest.
The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 was a British proposal to transfer power to a united India. Initially accepted by both the Congress and the Muslim League, disagreements and misinterpretations later led the League to withdraw its acceptance. This rejection of a united India, along with the League's determination to create Pakistan, directly contributed to the call for Direct Action Day.
H.S. Suhrawardy, the Chief Minister of Bengal at the time, played a controversial role. Critics argue that he failed to control the violence and may have allowed it to happen, while supporters claim he was overwhelmed by the scale of the riots and made efforts to restore order. His actions remain debated among historians.
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