You are quite right. More than throwing away the keys, I think the real cause of the debacle is that we have forgotten the lessons of history, or perhaps never learned any. Our problem does not go back only 63 years, it started from early 18^th century. The Sepoy mutiny of 1857 brought a huge political and social change for all Indians; Muslims as well Hindus, but the mutiny outcome was particularly unforgiving for the Muslims. The Muslims of (All) India had been sliding downhill ever since.

By the time the last Mugal Emperor Bahadar Shah Zafar was crowned in 1837 (he was in his 60s at that time), three fourth of the India was already under East India Company rule. The last Mugal emperor, did not have an army, even to defend his own family (several wives, concubines, 16 sons) let alone defending the empire which had been squeezed down to Delhi region only. The emperor did not even have money to pay for an army.

While the East India company was increasing its army, its social, economical and political ifluence with the Sepoy force that mainly comprised of local Muslim and Hindus, the last Mogal emperor was busy holding Mushairas. Being a poet himself, he patronized all sorts of poets of the time like Ghalib and Zauk as well as the musicians. Lal Qila, the emperor’s official residence was the centre for holding Mushairas and music parties. The emeror and his friends were totally out of touch with the polito-economic realities of the time. All this was going on while the East India Company had its Resident keeping a keen eye on prominent people of Delhi and their capabilities.

Early in 1957, the Company’s Sepoy mutiny started in Meerat over Enfield cartridge animal fat that appeared like a random action, but soon caught on and spread in other areas of the Company army. The emperor had no idea of what was going on. He had neither any interest nor any control over the people involved in the mutiny.

Although the mutiny was started by both, the Muslim as well the Hindu Sepoys, but after the dust had settled down and the emperor was exiled to Rangoon, the city of Delhi was hardly left with any Muslims. From this point on, the Muslims, in the eyes of the British rulers became the second class citizens of India.

Ghalib wrote in his memoirs, that by the end of 1857, there were hardly 1000 Muslims left in Delhi. Their building were auctioned to prominent Hindus, many mosques were razed and the land was sold by the Company to add to its profits. Many portions of Lal Qila (Red Fort) were turned into British officers mess and lounges. As most of Delhi Muslim men were killed, their women folks were forced to live on prostitution or take up courtesan roles in the Delhi’s upper crust society of the time.  

These are the hard facts which affected the decisions made in mid 20^th century leading to the partition of 1947. It is important to study the history of India during the times just after Aurangzab (died 1707) and the sinister plans of the East India Company, the mismanagement of each and every political situation by the local regional Nawabs. They all received personal gains temporarily, but India as a whole was lost to the British East India Company.

Today, I see the same thing happening at the hands of the selfish upper crust of Pakistan. Today, the new imperialists are not interested in India or Bangladesh territories because the needs of the time are different from what they were two centuries ago.

Today, Afghanistan and Pakistan are in the line of sight of the Anglo-Americans in connection with their plans to tap the energy sources of the Central Asia, hence the pressure on Pakistan. Had India or Bangladesh been in the line of the sight, they would have been the target for the terrorism and war like conditions as they exists today in Pakistan.

Keeping in mind what had happened in India during 18^th and 19^th centuries in general and in 1857, in particular, it is my conviction that partition of 1947 was a natural consequence. My only regret is that East Pakistan (Bangladesh) should have been a separate country right from day one and not a part of Pakistan.  

Javed