গান্ধী ও নেতাজী (অষ্টম পর্ব) : উৎপল আইচ

[১৮] নীচে শ্রী টি. আর. সারীন সম্পাদিত বই “Subhas Chandra Bose and Nazi Germany” — এর ২৭৯-২৮১ পৃষ্ঠায় প্রকাশিত শ্রীযুক্ত রাস বিহারী বসুকে লেখা নেতাজী সুভাষচন্দ্র বসুর সম্পূর্ণ চিঠিটি টাইপ করে দেওয়া হল। [শ্রী সারীন এই চিঠিটার উৎসের রেফারেন্স হিসাবে লিখেছেন: “German Foreign Office Records No. 350084-85] চিঠিটার সম্পূর্ণ বয়ান : —

11 July 1942

“I was very glad to be able to speak to you over the telephone, though I could hear only a small part of what you said. Please accept warmest greetings from myself and my comrades here and convey them to all our comrades there.

“I am replying to what I could hear over the telephone. I shall be thankful if you could communicate to me through the diplomatic channel, the rest of the conversation which I could not hear.

“We are in touch with the Indian prisoners of war and are trying our best to influence them. The difficulty is with the officers and the higher non-commissioned officers – who are more pro-British than the rank and file.

“We are all glad to know that the Bangkok Conference was a great success.

“Regarding Mahatma Gandhi, I am sorry to say I cannot agree with you. Gandhi’s epoch in India’s history came to an end in 1939. He has imparted political consciousness to the Indian masses and he built up an All-India political organization. But he stands pledged to non-violence and passive resistence. With such methods you can never expel the British from India and can never win independence. Therefore, Gandhi, while talking of independence, always keeps the door open for a compromise with the British. Since Gandhi wants a compromise with England, he will never become pro-Axis. Only those who are prepared for complete break with England, can adopt a pro-Axix policy.

“The correct strategy for India now is : —

1. Alliance with all powers hostile to Britain.
2. Launching of a revolution now in India, when British power is collapsing.
3. Seeking such military aid from outside as is necessary.

“I have worked under Mahatma Gandhi for 20 years and I know him thoroughly. I do not underestimate his strength and influence, nor do I overestimate it. During these 20 years, I have sometimes fought Gandhi successfully and defeated him. In September, 1939, he declared for cooperation with England and it was our propaganda that forced him to change his attitude. In April, 1940, the Forward Bloc first started passive resistance to cooperation with Britain’s war and Gandhi was thereafter compelled to do so in November, 1940. Gandhi today is no longer a dynamic and revolutionary figure. Only pressure of public opinion can now make him act and we have to influence public opinion through our own propaganda. The recent demand of Gandhi that the Anglo-Americans should leave India, was only the result of our propaganda. But we must always remember that there is a limit to the extent to which Gandhi could be forced to change – for instance —

1. Gandhi will never advocate the use of arms.
2. Gandhi will never become pro-Axis in his policy.

“Consequently, there is no room for cooperation with Gandhi. Every show of strength and defiance that Gandhi puts up, is always followed by an attempt at a compromise. Hence we now see that Gandhi is again working for a compromise with the British Government. It would be a fatal mistake now to lionize Gandhi or praise him too much, this will strengthen Gandhi’s position and show that we lack self-confidence. The correct tactic will consist in strengthening the position of our followers in the country. Please do not think that the Congress means Gandhi. The Congress means Gandhi-wing and Forward Bloc. Gandhi may command a majority within the congress Party, but the Forward Bloc has a large following in the country. This following of ours has been built up after years of hard labour and sacrifice – and neither the British Government nor Mahatma Gandhi can destroy it. This following will stand by us under all circumstances. It will take up arms at the right moment and it openly advocates a pro-Axis policy. To expect that Gandhi will come over to our point of view is only an idle dream. Consequently, to strength Gandhi’s position by praising him too much, amounts to weakening our own following and committing political suicide. You may occasionally pay a compliment to Gandhi as a political manoeuvre, but you should always remember that Gandhi will never come over to your side.

“Nehru is fanatically anti-Axis and he is much worse than Gandhi. Azad is a blind follower of Gandhi now.” [ক্রমশ]