Times of India Calls for Pax, Not Pact, in 1926 Communal Crisis
In a July 6, 1926 editorial, the Times of India argued that the pressing need in India was not a pact but a Pax—a state of lasting peace—between Hindus and Muslims. The newspaper criticized the Sangathan and Tanzim movements, describing them as sources of communal heat rather than social harmony.
Critique of Sangathan and Tanzim Movements
The Times of India expressed amazement at leaders who assumed they could easily alter the character of these deeply opposed movements. It noted that the Maha Sabha movement was designed to foster a militant spirit for Hindu progress and reclamation of converts, while the Tanzim movement was a Muslim response aiming to enlarge the community through conversion and protect Muslim interests. The newspaper dismissed claims that these movements were purely social, calling such descriptions a misuse of words.
Referring to Dr. Kitchlew's defense of Tanzim, the editorial stated: "It is impossible by any stretch of imagination to describe those movements as being of a purely social nature, and it is mere misuse of words when Dr Kitchlew, speaking of 'my Tanzim,' contends that Tanzim is, or can be, anything different from what we have described."
Impact on Communal Relations
The editorial highlighted that despite the laudable intentions of their leaders, these movements had generated considerable communal heat. The call for Pax over a pact underscored the need for genuine reconciliation beyond political agreements.
