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Mountbatten visits Calcutta

Viceroy Mountbatten visited Calcutta amidst growing communal tension. Calcutta had been the scene of a mass outbreak of communal violence the previous year. The Viceroy increased the military presence in the city as had been planned for the Punjab.

The following was reported in The Times regarding tensions in Calcutta two weeks before independence:

“BENGAL HESITATION OVER CELEBRATIONS”

Bengal appears to be the only province in the eastern zone of India where no plans have yet been indicated for celebrating August 15, and the general inference is that the authorities are worried that the jubiliations might cause further communal bloodshed. This fear applies particularly to Calcutta, where controversy about its future and rival claims for it by Hindus and Muslims have been generating much heat. It has, nevertheless, already been announced that there will be military and police parades.”

Source: ‘Bengal Hesitation over Celebrations’, The Times, 1 Aug 1947.

 

 

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