Syed Najmuddin Hashim (1925-1999) recalling Direct Action Day in Calcutta on 16 August 1946 at which time he was a student at Presidency College. The protests on that day called by the Muslim League prompted what became known as the Great Calcutta Killings. Hashim later served as a minister in the Bangladeshi government under President Ershad and was ambassador to Burma and to the Soviet Union. He also worked as a journalist. I interviewed Najmuddin Hashim at his home in Dhaka on 22 April 1997.
EXTRACTS: 'It would not have achieved such serious proportions if the Bengal government had not declared a public holiday. ... We started hearing from the morning about the huge processions. I was next to the Maidan ... On the first floor there was a big verandah where we stood. ... Most of the people showed signs of being intoxicated, whether with alcohol or with enthusiasm ... They were making very wild slogans: we'll fight, we'll grab ... And they carried huge imaginary portraits of Jinnah in battle dress, riding on a white horse and scimitar by the side, and leading the battle of the hordes against the infidels. That sort of atmosphere.'
'The first victim I saw was a poor Oriya porter ... Hindu. He hadn't got a clue. He had his basket ... He had just come into the side street ... and there a Muslim in a lungi broke away from the procession with an iron rod and hit him on the head. The fellow was absolutely startled. It broke open his ear. But then it encouraged others into joining. That was a very shocking thing. ... We realised the proportions it was growing into,'