ABSTRACT
The years 1945 and 1946 are commonly viewed as the most decisive period of conflict among religious communities in our history. They are characterised as entirely a time of communalisation of Hindu-Muslim relations in the city, a point of no return, which made Partition, as well as a permanent mutual bitterness, inevitable. By studying two localised mass movements in Calcutta in the winter of 1945-46, this chapter, however, explores an alternative pattern of politics. In November 1945 and February 1946, Hindus and Muslims in the city reconciled their political differences and united on a common political podium against British imperialism. The context was provided by the trial of Indian National Army (INA) prisoners. Anti-trial agitations galvanised hundreds of people belonging to different religious communities against the colonial authorities. The political sentiment in the city was essentially anti-colonial and non-communal.
