What can a Dalit and Muslim alliance achieve in Indian politics?
Dalit-Mu$lim alliance failed during 1947 partition. It may fail in the future also. Jogindernath Mandal, a Bengali Dalit Hindupolitician who supported Pakistan in the name of Dalit Muslim unity, was Pakistan’s first law minister.Later he was also minister for minorities and commonwealth affairs. He helped Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in getting Silhet district awarded as Part of East Pakistan in August 1947. But unfortunately, within few years after partition and independence, this Pakistani minister quietly migrated to India and lived like a refugee till his death. His story is relevant today as current Bengal leadership under Mamata Banerjee is committing the same mistakes done by Jogindernath Mandal. Jogindernath Mandal was born in Barishal which is close to Dhaka. The location, geography and demography is important to understand his story. In 1930’s and 1940’s, frontline freedom fighters were Gandhiji, Nehru and Subhash Bose in this part of Bengal and Jogindernath Mandal had hi...