Pakistan are in danger, but I point this out for the benefit of those who entertain such contemptuous ideas regarding their brother Muslims. Let me give you a few instances of joint electorate in action in East Pakistan to show how incorrect is the view of its so-called saviors.
In the district of Khulna, where the Hindus and Muslims are almost equally divided, and from wherein the Provincial Assembly which is based on separate electorate, there are 8 Muslims and 7 Hindus, there are in its District Boards of 30 Elected members. where there should have been on the same basis 16 Muslims and 14 Hindus, 28 Muslims and 2 Hindus. In the Faridpur District Board, where on the basis of separate electorate, there should have been 25 Muslims and 11 Hindus, 32 Muslims and 4 Hindus have been returned. In Dinajpur, where On the basis of electorate, based on population, there should have been 12 Muslims and 9 Hindus, 21 Muslims have been returned and no Hindu. These figures speak for themselves, and show that in a system of joint electorate Hindus have little chance of being returned unless they cooperate with the Muslims and identify themselves with them. Indeed, joint electorate if it does any harm at ail in the matters of representation will harm the Hindus. I deliberately use the words “in the matter of representation", for I think they will gain otherwise from the point of view of creating identity of interest and a sense of common endeavor in a common cause for a common country, which is so vital for a minority community, for its safety, for its dignity and for its future progress, more particularly if the majority community is willing and prepared to be just and to live with the minority community as equal partners and share with its hopes and its fears. It may, therefore, well be asked why, if the Hindus stand to loose so much in representations, do they advocate joint electorate. I have already given the answer but there are other answers as well. It is difficult for the Hindus, who, when they were citizens of undivided India, denied to the Muslims the right of separate electorate as a proper method or representation to claim that right for themselves now that they are in the position of a minority. Apart from this the Hindus find that in a system of separate electorate they will remain for all time a constitutional minority subject to a minority complex and at the whim of a majority complex. It is always to the interest of the minorities if there these complexes are removed and the idea of one nation takes its place and the term minority community loses significance. In the system of separate electorate, the Hindus will be entitled to such a large number of seats that they will always hold the balance of power between the contesting Muslim groups. It is a political and logical phenomenon that the minority community closes its ranks and stands solid as a group, while the majority community that wields power will always be divided. It is to the credit of the Hindus of East Pakistan that they realize that it will be fatal for their future if they place themselves in the position of being able to playoff one group against the other. Their position can become so dominant that they can place the smaller Muslim party in power by combining with it and oust the larger party. This while giving to the Hindus minority some temporary advantage will build up against it forces of distrust and the major Muslim group cannot but entertain unfriendly feelings towards it. It speaks greatly for the political insight of the Hindu community that they prefer to reap the benefits of trust and cooperation and one nationhood rather than scramble for representation on the basis of numbers. A time will come. I hope, when Muslims and non-Muslims will forget
