Delhi & Across India – February 16th to February 20th, 1949
When the Uniform Civil Code passed on February 15th, 1949, the National Publicity Unit went into overdrive. Newspapers across India ran celebratory headlines about how the government had shown "unprecedented courage" in tackling sensitive social issues.
The whole thing was painted as this huge victory for social justice and women's rights.
But underneath all that carefully managed cheerleading, things were starting to get messy in some parts of the country. The social fabric was already pretty stretched after all the rapid reforms, and now was showing some budding cracks.
The public reaction went pretty much exactly how everyone expected it would. Most Hindus, especially those who supported the Bharatiya Janata Dal's conservative nationalism, were okay with the UCC. They saw it as necessary modernization, particularly the polygamy ban.
As for Christians? Though they grumbled about the divorce clause, majority of the community accepted it as the need to modernize the otherwise discriminatory practice.
But Muslims? They were not happy at all.
Community leaders found themselves in a tough spot. Most of their traditional political parties had been gutted or brought to heel, so they had to work within very narrow limits.
They voiced opposition through Friday sermons, formal petitions, and public statements that were carefully worded to avoid crossing any legal lines. They argued that the state was trampling on religious freedoms and personal laws that had governed their communities for centuries.
Many saw the UCC as an aggressive attack on their cultural identity.
By February 16th, peaceful protests started popping up in various cities. Small but organized gatherings formed outside government buildings in Lucknow, Hyderabad, Calcutta, few East Bengal regions, and even in couple areas in Kashmir.
Religious scholars gave passionate speeches from makeshift platforms, calling the UCC an affront to religious faith and divine law.
For two days, these demonstrations stayed mostly controlled and peaceful, even though they were getting more vocal and emotional. Heavy police presence and IB operatives kept a close eye on everything.
The protesters used strong language and slogans, calling for the UCC to be repealed immediately. But they were careful to avoid any direct violence or calls for armed resistance. They seemed to understand pretty well that the state had already shown what happened to people who crossed certain lines.
Then February 19th came along, and everything went to hell.
In a crowded Muslim district of Calcutta, and at the same time in several areas of East Bengal, what started as a planned peaceful protest completely spiraled out of control. The crowd began with maybe a few hundred people, but within hours it swelled into thousands as word spread through the narrow streets.
Fueled by passionate speeches against the UCC and all sorts of built up resentments, the peaceful gathering turned into an angry, dangerous mob.
Calls to oppose the government through legal channels quickly became outright incitement to violence. People were shouting slogans against Delhi's "tyranny" and the "Hindu code being forced upon Muslims."
When emotions reached fever pitch, stones and bricks started flying at police lines. Shops owned by members of the majority and some minority community got targeted for attack and looting.
Local police, who had been trying standard crowd control, found themselves completely overwhelmed by the numbers and sudden violence.
At the same time, in Hyderabad, where people were still bitter about the annexation and losing the Nizam's authority, a similar but smaller demonstration erupted into serious violence.
The anger about the UCC mixed explosively with separatist sentiments that had never really been put to rest. Inflammatory slogans denouncing the Union Government and its "oppressive, anti-Islamic laws" quickly devolved into widespread street brawls.
The urgent reports reached Arjun's office with alarming speed. Director Sharma, looking grim, presented the rapidly developing updates.
"Prime Minister, the protests in Calcutta, East Bengal, and Hyderabad have turned violent. We have casualties among both rioters and police. The crowds are using inflammatory language, calling for the UCC to be repealed and actively inciting opposition to the government."
Sardar Patel was also present for the emergency briefing. He glanced at Arjun, having worked closely enough with the Prime Minister to anticipate what was coming next.
Arjun listened to the reports with complete calm. Honestly, the whole situation was proving far tamer than he had expected. Violent protests at only a handful of locations was significantly less disruption than his worst case scenarios.
It looked like his systematic methods of control had worked pretty effectively. And now these limited protests would help justify filling any remaining gaps in his security apparatus.
"Director," Arjun's voice was cold and emotionless, "the time for patient dialogue is over. These aren't legitimate protests exercising democratic rights. These are acts of sedition against our Republic, attempting to undermine foundational laws through organized violence. The Constitution is clear on this.
Article IX specifically defines 'incitement to violence' and 'national sabotage' as serious criminal offenses."
He turned to Patel with an intense gaze. "Sardar ji, instruct all local police units to use whatever force is necessary to restore order immediately. Use lethal force if the situation demands it. These riots must be crushed without hesitation.
The message to the nation must be absolutely clear: the laws of this Republic are inviolable. Any attempt to subvert them through violence will be met with the full might of the state."
"Furthermore," Arjun continued, his voice hardening, "every single individual in those violent crowds will be arrested. Not just the leaders, but every person who can be identified through witness testimony, photographs, or other evidence.
Mobilize the Law Enforcement Officers to assist local police. All identified rioters will be charged with Second and Third Degree Crimes under our Penal Code. Serious assault against state personnel, communal incitement, national sabotage, sedition against the Republic. The punishment will be swift and severe, according to the degree of crime."
Patel nodded, though privately he felt that Third Degree crime charges might be a stretch for many participants. Those charges carried death or life imprisonment, which seemed harsh for younger participants who might have just gotten swept up in mob mentality.
Arjun then turned to Sharma with additional instructions. "Director, inform Rajaji that the National Publicity Unit will issue a statement condemning these violent acts in the strongest terms. Highlight the unprovoked violence against law enforcement, casualties among our police officers, and the blatant disregard for national unity.
Frame these rioters not as legitimate protesters, but as dangerous enemies of the state, tools of forces seeking to destabilize India's Republic. Emphasize that this government will not tolerate any violent challenge to democratically enacted laws. This will serve as a lesson for anyone considering defying the state."
After Sharma left, Arjun turned back to Patel with one final instruction. "Sardar ji, after the situation stabilizes, ensure that Law Enforcement Officers double check the charges against those arrested. There's a small chance some individuals unrelated to these protests might end up wrongfully criminalized for being in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Patel nodded approvingly. "Leave that to me."
Over the next two days, the iron fist of Arjun's state apparatus came down hard on the affected areas. Police units, reinforced by Law Enforcement Officers, swiftly quelled all remaining violence with ruthless precision.
Hundreds of individuals were rounded up in coordinated sweeps through affected neighborhoods. The Law Enforcement Officers began processing the massive number of arrests with thoroughness.
The trials proceeded quickly under expedited legal provisions. Convictions were handed down immediately under harsh Penal laws without delay or appeal.
The ringleaders and most violent participants received Third Degree crime charges with sentences of life imprisonment or death. Most followers guilty of lesser but still serious offenses got Second Degree charges with substantial prison terms.
The few who could prove they were merely present without active participation received lighter sentences but still faced significant legal consequences.
The comprehensive crackdown proved effective beyond the immediate areas of violence. Although harsh action was technically taken only against those involved in violent protests, the brutal methods also intimidated many who had been organizing peaceful demonstrations elsewhere.
The message resonated with brutal clarity throughout the Union. The new Republic would tolerate no challenge to its authority, no dissent that crossed from peaceful protest into violent resistance.
Arjun had demonstrated that his managed democracy possessed not just a democratic facade for international consumption, but an unyielding power structure ready to crush anyone who challenged its core principles through violence.