[Freedom Struggle] Suhrawardy-Sarat Bose agreement, Bengal

Pact, Features, Consequences

1. Events leading to Bengal Pact
2. Bengal Pact: Features
3. Why Bengal Pact failed?

Events leading to Bengal Pact

Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy, then CM of Bengal supported the Two
nation theory and Pakistan. But He feared India will get Bengals
industrialized regions and Calcutta, while (East) Pakistan will only get the
poor-backward areas of Bengal.
Bengali Hindu leader Sarat Chandra Bose believed that division of Bengal
between India and Pakistan, will ruin its culture and economy.
But Since Hindus would not agree to a United Bengal joining Pakistan
and Muslims would not agree to a United Bengal joining India, therefore
Suharawardy and Sarat Bose decided to carve out a Sovereign nation
United Bengal, free from both India and Pakistan, and jointly run by both
Hindus and Muslims.
They sought Gandhis help, Gandhi supported this idea in hope to counter
Jinnahs two nation theory. But maintained that all decisions for united
Bengal should be taken on mutual consent among Hindus and Muslims.
Therefore, Suharawardy and Sarat Bose drafted an agreement. This is known as
Bengal Pact or Suhrawardi-Sarat Bose agreement or Sarat Formula on
20th May 1947.

Bengal Pact: Features

1. Bengal would become an independent state

2. Bengals Constitution will be drafted by an assembly of 16 Muslims, 14

Hindus= 30 members.
3. Interim government with Muslim CM and Hindu Home minister, until this
Constitution is drafted.
4. Proportional representation of Hindus and Muslims in the legislature.
5. A candidate who wins majority votes of his own community and 25% votes
of other community, would be declared elected
6. Hindus (including Scheduled Caste Hindus) and Muslims will have equal
share in military and Police jobs.

Why Bengal Pact failed?

Assam CM Gopinath Bordoloi complained Mountbatten, if Bengal became
a separate country, Assam will be cutoff from India & Calcutta port. This
will ruin Assams tea business & economy.
Jinnah agreed to separate Bengal country IF Congress gave him WHOLE
Punjab.
Obviously, Congress, Nehru and Patel opposed.
Shyamaprasad Mukharjees Hindu Mahasabha also started Bengali Hindu
Homeland Movement for creation of separate state for Bengali Hindus
within Indian dominion.
Bengals Muslim league also backtracked, we agree to formation of
Pakistan and Muslim dominated Bengali areas joining (east) Pakistan. We
have nothing to do with demand for separate Bengal country made by
Suharawardy and Sarat Bose.
Seeing no consensus among Congress and Muslim league for united
Bengal, Lord Mountbatten decided to partition Bengal between India and
Pakistan.
Now, picture becomes clear that Calcutta will go to India. Chief Minister
Suharawardy fears that Hindu will kill him because of his involvement in
Direct action Day. He runs away to Dubai Dhaka, abandoning the plan of

United Bengal nation and accepts to live under Jinnahs (East) Pakistan
(Where he would later become the Prime Minister.)
Now, Sarat Chandra Bose is isolated. He seeks Gandhis support
But Nehru and Patel requested Gandhi not to support Sarat Bose on this
matter. Therefore, Gandhi asked Sarat to abandon the idea of United
Bengal nation.
And thus, Suhrawardi-Sarat Bose agreement = #EPICFAIL

Mock Question
(GS1) Q. Examine the events leading to Suharawardi-Sarat Bose
agreement, why did it fail to create United Bengal nation? (200 words)
Event leading to:
Muslim league leader and Bengal CM Suharawardi was in favour of
creation of Pakistan, but feared that rich areas of Bengal will go to India.
Congress leader Subhash Chandra Bose feared division of Bengal will ruin
its economy and culture.
Since neither Hindu nor Muslims would agree to a United Bengal joining
either Pakistan OR India respectively, the only solution was a United
Bengal- free from India and Pakistan.
Thus Suharawardi-Sarat Bose agreement / Bengal pact was signed in May 1947,
with following features
1. Bengal would become an independent state
2. Its Constitution will be drafted by a joint assembly of Hindus and Muslims.
3. Hindus and Muslims will get Proportional representation in legislature but
equal share in military and Police jobs.
Why failed?
1. Opposition from Assam that itd cut their link to Calcutta port and rest of
India.

2. Jinnah accepted with caveats, But Congress and Hindu Mahasabha

opposed vehemently.
3. June 1947: Given the lack of consensus, Mountbattens partition plan
divided Bengal between India and Pakistan. Both Congress and Muslim
League accepted.
4. Suharawardi stepped down as CM, left for Dhaka.
5. Isolated Sarat Bose did not get support from Gandhi due to opposition
from Nehru and Patel