'British Left India Because They Saw Arms In People's Hands, Not Satyagraha': Bihar Governor

Panaji: Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Friday said British rulers left India not because of ’satyagraha’, but when they saw arms in native people’s hands and realised that they can go to any extent.

Referring to the Portuguese inquisition of Goa, he said it is time a true perspective about history is brought to light without being afraid of anyone.

Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR) had set up a narrative that you are born to be slaves and the then government also supported it, Arlekar alleged without naming the Congress-led dispensations.

He was speaking at the "A Brief History of Freedom Struggle in North East of India (1498 to 1947)" book authored by Anandita Singh.

In his half-an-hour-long speech, Arlekar, who hails from Goa, said, "What is Goa inquisition? What is that exactly? If we try to bring it out, then some people in Goa get upset. They feel pain." "Are we not supposed to tell what your roots are? Some people get upset if we try to tell them from where you belong to, where are your roots. Why should it be?" he said.

We have to speak out without being afraid of anyone, he added.

"Those who invaded us can never be ours. That is why it is necessary to bring out our perspective," he said.

Arlekar, a former Goa legislative assembly speaker, said if people from places like Guwahati are here telling us their history, why don’t Goans write the true history of the land.

"The invaders tried to create a narrative. The Indian freedom movement was not without arms. They did not leave India because of ’satyagraha’. But when they saw arms in our hands and they realised that we can go to any extent, then they decided to leave the country," the Bihar governor added.

Arlekar appealed that we should go through the speeches of MPs in the British Parliament during that time, which clearly speaks about the armed struggle.

"They (MPs) have not just mentioned about satyagraha, but were also mentioning about the armed struggle which made Britishers realise that it is time they should leave India," he said.

Satyagraha was a method of peaceful resistance used by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule.

Referring to the Indian history written in books, Arlekar said that the ICHR has set up a narrative that you are born to be slaves.

Satyagraha was a method of peaceful resistance used by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule.

Referring to the Indian history written in books, Arlekar said that the ICHR has set up a narrative that you are born to be slaves.

(PTI)