Unsung Heroes - Ramesh Butani

Sometimes I get to spend time with my aged friends, Vimla and her husband the 92 year old Ramesh Butani. As our friendship grew so did I discover a hero.

Here are some of his experiences.
On 8th Aug 1942, Mahatma Gandhi launched the 'Quit India' movement, to unite all Indians, in all out effort to oppose British rule of India and become independent.



At that time, Mr. Ramesh Butani aged 17 and three of his other juvenile Sindhi college student friends living in the city of Hyderabad (Sindh) decided to join the freedom struggle. Malkani one of the friends knew the very rich Indian buisnesman,  Bhai Pratap Dialdas. They went to him to seek counsel. He asked "What do you think you can you do, for our freedom struggle?" 

Butani said, "I can write articles and Anand Panjwani here can help me distribute our message" Malkani and Shivdas Sahani said "We know how to make small bombs to create a scare amongst the British authorities."

Bhai Pratap said, "Whatever you need you arrange it. Whatever money you need its yours. Whatever resources you need but can't get it let me know and I will arrange to provide it to you. 


The four youngsters working in total secrecy, set up their base in a garage provided by Bhai Pratap. They got hold of a small hand press and other resources, along with various chemicals to make bombs. Every alternate night they would print a couple of hundred copies of some inflammatory message against the British and messages of motivation to Indians.  A typical poster had the motto  'Rebellion is my religion, revenge is my oath'.

Every now and then Malkani and Sahani would take the bombs and set them off in public places, to infuse a sense of panic amongst the British. They succeeded in their intent of causing a ruckus without killing anyone. 

In November 1942 the British police arrested the four friends. They were kept in jail for several months, beaten up regularly. They were grilled often by the police, to find out who was funding and supporting them. The young men said they were independent and had collected money by begging. The name of Bhai Pratap was never revealed.

The police sought the death penalty for the four but the prosecution could not establish a case and Malkani and Sahani, were found 'not guilty' by the court and set free. Unfortunately Butani and Panjwani were found to be 'guilty' and were sentenced to 20 lashes each.

The punishment was to be meted out in the backrooms one of the Police stations in Hyderabad. A tall and formidable Sikh soldier led Butani to the back, stripped him naked, strapped him down and when they were alone the Sikh wept.

He spoke softly in Hindi to Butani, "Please forgive me for doing this. I feel ashamed that I have to side with the British against my own people, but I dare not leave their service for then I too will be targeted." 
He continued, If I give you 20 lashes I am afraid I will kill you, and my officers sitting in the front room want that. However I will give you only 10 lashes and 10 times I will lash the wall. I know you will scream in pain when I lash you, but you must also scream even when I lash the  wall"

So harsh was the lashing that Butani was in hospital for 3 months and could walk again only after 5 months.

Butani ji stopped writing and printing inflammatory articles, but continued to join agitations wherever they were held. 

In 1943 a brave lady, the freedom fighter Aruna Asif Ali arrived in Hyderabad (Sindh) to spur people on in the fight for freedom. 

The British had announced an award of Rs 5,000 for her capture, because she was the nationalist who unfurled the Indian flag at the Gowalia Tank maidan, in Mumbai on 9 Aug 1942 which marked the commencement of the 'Quit India' movement. She took this courageous step, after the British authorities arrested all the Congress leaders.

Bhai Pratap had received information through his spy network that Aruna ji was marked to be arrested the next morning. There was no time to lose. He sent for and arranged for Shri. Jaitley and Shri. Butani to accompany and escort Aruna ji, safely out of Hyderabad. They travelled by foot and 'tonga' in disguise, she as a Muslim woman in a burkha, accompanied by Shri. Jaitley and Butani ji acting as her husband and young son respectively. 

With great difficulty they arrived at Kotri railway station where they boarded a train to Shikarpur. Once there Aruna ji secretly met with key people at a safe house arranged by Bhai Pratap.

 Butani and Jaitley with great difficulty managed to return to Hyderabad. All the heroes played their part and kept the flame of the freedom struggle burning bright. 


Soon thereafter young Butani ji, got a job as a reporter at the 'Sindh Observor' newspaper. His outstanding work saw him elevated to the post of assistant editor. He interviewed several times the future leaders of India, Jinnah, Nehru, Sardar Patil, Maulana Azad, etc.

On 14th August 1947 he quoted from Jinnah's speech as the first Governor General of Pakistan, 'Now that freedom is a reality, we should forget, Muslim animosity to other faiths, and  live and build a secular Pakistan." 

Unfortunately Muslim fundamentalists and extremists ruled the streets of Pakistan. They took exception to Butani's factual reporting on secularism statements of Jinnah. They sought to kill him. He took refuge in the home of Muslim well wishers and finally with the assistance of the Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan fled to India on 9th Sept 1947.

The small built and frail looking Butani ji shows that courage and strength does not mean only physical strength.

Many Sindhis gave their blood, sweat, tears, money and lives for the freedom struggle. Rarely is their contribution acknowledged. 'Sindh's role in the freedom Struggle' by Baldev Gajra is an excellent reference on this subject.

Drop by drop, the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of such unknown and unsung heroes, created ripples, that grew into waves that eventually turned the tide against British occupation in favour of Indians and our freedom. 

To these countless unsung heroes, the people of undivided India owe their gratitude and debt. We salute you.

Digestable People

I am grateful to Mr. Rajiv Malhotra whose many talks and books and the occasional email have awoken and inspired not only me but numerous  other people.


One can possess things but not people. 

Yet Husbands try to possess their wives and vice versa, together they try to possess their children. Employers seek to own their employees etc. Marketeers want to entrap their customers, and governments want to possess their citizens. Everyone is trying to literally possess, control and exploit  everyone else. 

Not only do they try to possess, they wish to eat and digest them completely. Most people make it easy by blindly, meekly and senselessly submitting to the expectations of powerful and dominating people making themselves easily digestible.


Powers that be, colonialists and rulers have always used this very effectively as do school teachers, military, political, religious, and community leaders. 

Get conformance from people, digest, get conformance, digest, chomp, chomp, chomp, burp!

       

 

This is why people who do not conform by thinking and behaving as per the wishes of the powerful, have to be destroyed if they cannot be possessed. To set an example and to deter non believers who might have thoughts of their own non conformists are ridiculed, isolated, locked up, expelled, and better destroyed. 





Not merely killed the non conforming individuals and groups will be crucified, burnt at the stake, quartered, and tortured in myriad ways and that too in grand public displays. 

Gandhi ji appeared to have little regard for the things the British valued greatly, personal liberty, is a case in point.

The British threatened him with imprisonment, and violence, and smilingly not only Gandhi ji but numerous of his followers marched into prison and did not flinch or recant when Police and soldiers rained blows on them.

The language also changed. When he was asked by the British, what do you want, he replied "Swaraj". How do you hope to get it? "By Satyagraha" Gandhiji replied.

The British were flummoxed, they were now hearing new words, they were encountering radical thoughts and philosophies, unrecognisable patterns of behaviour. Gandhi ji was impossible to digest.


Gandhi ji was a peoples leader, he appeared to live in simplicity, and want nothing but freedom for his country and her people.. Gandhi ji had the backing of the Indian political set up, the businessmen and even the policemen and soldiers. He was also the officially nominated leader of the Indian National Congress.

Though they wanted to be rid of this irritatingly complex mind in a simple fragile body. The British had no choice but to deal with Gandhi ji because he had the popular mandate. He was invited to come to Britain for talks and also to meet King George.

The Britishers banged their heads against the walls in exasperation at this strange and stubborn Indian, physically so frail but spiritually so Himalayan. While Gandhi ji maintained and respected all social protocols, he insisted on wearing the traditional farmers 'dhoti' and thick homespun cotton shawl and sandals. He also took along his white goat whose milk formed a staple part of his diet.

He was indigestible, refusing to be overpowered or awed by British royalty and made his point bluntly but politely that it was high time the British left India to Indians.

Britain however refused to accept Indian demands to leave India. Had Gandhi ji prevailed and had remained the leader of the Congress, India would have been free much earlier and still one people rather than the gruesome outcome of partition that took place. Unfortunately Nehru and Jinnah were both too eager to be the leaders and were easily manipulated and managed by the British.

The war against tyranny by the British for which they got global support could not provide either moral justification or legitimacy to continue with an immoral colonial policy. Eventually India got her freedom because India become unmanageable by the weakened and chastised British, and it was also the moral thing for the British to do.

The lessons are many but some are significant for all people in all lands.

1. Do not be a digestible person, group or even country.

2. India needs Indian solutions based on Indian aspirations to tackle uniquely Indian challenges. 

3. Inappropriate solutions imported at great cost and implemented by people with little or no understanding of Indian needs has always been counterproductive, wasted enormous resources and stunted Indian development. 

4. Understand oneself, the strengths and weaknesses one possesses and then take the right steps to meet the genuine aspirations of the people.

My fellow countrymen and women, awaken, realise, arise and build a greater and noble India, and a better, kinder, wealthier world. Cherish and honour the freedom you have been gifted by the efforts and sacrifice of so many named and unnamed individuals.

I congratulate all Indians on this Republic day. 

Still Looking For Freedom

It is the 15th of August and the anniversary of Indian independence.
There is great official pomp and ceremony across the land. Patriotic songs are heard everywhere, to imbibe a sense of patriotism in the people. Sadly most people do not bother and patriotism seems to be waning everywhere except in the field of cricket. But the youth they do listen, because they are trusting and eager to learn and they can be forced to listen in the educational institutions.

Independence means freedom, but from what and whom?  India won her independence not only from the British, but also the Portuguese and 562 monarchs with titles of Rajas, Maharahajas, Nawabs, Nizams, Khans and Baigs.  

The foreigners and the kings and their staff may have departed and replaced by a new breed of rulers. The country is now run by numerous criminal politician cum businessmen and an often corrupt and dysfunctional government administration.

Sadly we Indians have always been outsourcing our governance to foreigners for over a 1000 years. As long as that happens, India cannot be free. Foreigners need not only be people of foreign birth but also people who do not have their heart or their minds and commitment to the Indian people or nation whom they have sworn under oath to serve.

Every citizen wants, a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

Forget about evil political leaders and useless governments for a while. Let us focus nearer to our own selves and our homes. 

Teachers at schools may teach various subjects but it is the parents in homes who instill values.

Every man is a king and every woman a queen of your own home, where you make and implement your won rules and policies. Your writ runs in your own home. 

Do you show integrity and responsibility in your own home? What example do you set for your family and your colleagues?

Voltaire the French Philosopher and writer said, "It is not only important to be free, but to also know what to do with one's freedom".

We are a young and fragile democracy. We must realise that with freedom comes not only rights but also responsibilities. Almost everyone demand their rights but apparently remain oblivious about their responsibilities. Such a society is like a one winged bird, may even look beautiful and chirp happily, but it cannot fly.

Freedom is not only about being physically free. An individual can never be free if he or she is shackled by an enslaved mind. And an enslaved mind is the product of a weak spirit.

Our children are our future, however they will become what we help mould them into.

This independence day let us vow afresh to teach our children the difference between right and wrong, instill the wisdom to make right choices and the courage to do the right thing. 

If each one of us does this, then we can hope to be truly free.