July 5 falls between July 4 and July 6. “Huh?” you might say. Or better still, “Duh!”. But the statement is not as dense as it sounds. Today, that is July 5, is sandwiched between two important days in history, both associated in some way with independence of provinces. The fourth of July is celebrated as Independence Day in the United States of America. It was on that date, two hundred and fifty years ago, that is July 4, 1776, that the US Congress formally declared America’s independence from Britain.
The rest, quite literally, is history. When I lived in the United States, I witnessed the kind of joy with which Americans celebrated the day. The weather was usually good: sunny with blue skies and white clouds. It was a holiday of course. Even my father, who worked in the news media, had an off, not to mention our school. My mother would pack delicious sandwiches and we would be out on a long drive somewhere far from the city. What I remember is how careful Dad was not to go over the speed limit because that’s one day when the traffic cops are completely unforgiving if they catch you speeding.
The evenings were full of sound and light with firework displays in specific locations. I never liked fireworks, finding them artificial like fake flowers. I prefer the wild, naturalness of real lightning and thunder. To this day, when I see a flash of light followed by a loud sound, I find myself hoping that it’s a storm approaching and not a firecracker going off somewhere in the vicinity, which in our land, happens with unfailing regularity. When there is a cricket or football match maybe and India wins (and sometimes when India is not a participant in an international sporting event I have seen/heard firecrackers go off for the next best option like Brazil maybe or Argentina).
The loci of these ad hoc firecracker shows can be anywhere from your terrace or rooftop to the busy footpath or road on which are walking. I have often narrowly missed being hit by ‘flying rockets’ or ‘chocolate bombs’ during Diwali, the festival of lights and, evidently, sound. Kids tell me reassuringly, “Auntie, nothing will happen. You can pass through.” Boom. Did they mean pass out? Or simply pass on? Whatever. I digress. July 6 is significant because it is the birth anniversary of Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, considered ‘the father of the state of West Bengal’.
The freedom fighter, educator and politician pioneered the idea that West Bengal would be independent of the newly created country of Pakistan and remain a part of India when Partition took place in 1947. He rejected the idea that an undivided Bengal would go to Pakistan, arguing that western Bengal was predominantly Hindu and its inclusion in the newly created country which was predominantly Muslim would make the Hindus a minority in their own land and expose them to discrimination and religious persecution. In fact, June 20 is celebrated as West Bengal Day. It was on that date in 1947, that the Bengal Legislative Council decided that Bengal would be divided into East and West.
Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee’s role as the one who fought fiercely for the Hindus of Bengal has been highlighted significantly by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party not just since it swept to power at the Centre in 2014 but especially now that it has captured power in the state in the Assembly elections held in April and May this year. For the first time in the history of independent India West Bengal Day was celebrated and tomorrow, July 6, Dr Mookerjee’s 125th birth anniversary, has been declared a holiday, not just in the state but all over India. Earlier the BJP led Union government declared that Kolkata Port would henceforth be called Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port and formally renamed it on January 12, 2020. There is a history to all this, of course. Dr Mookerjee was the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the party which eventually became BJP.
The writer is Editor, Features