ABSTRACT
Starting with August 1946, India was introduced to something like a civil war, particularly in Bihar, Punjab and Bengal, the three worst affected provinces in this phase of violence. This chapter explores the peace initiatives during and after the Great Calcutta Killing, August 1946. It looks at the work of Gandhi in Calcutta, when riots broke out soon after the partition of the province in September 1947. Gandhi also undertook his last but one fast in Calcutta at this time. The chapter focuses on the impact of his fast upon the people of Calcutta and sees how the riot quickly waned as a result of the collective reaction of the city. The Calcutta Emergency Relief Organization was set up by the Government of Bengal on 17 August, to deal with the problem of refugees who had accumulated in different parts of the city, particularly at the compound of the Calcutta police headquarters at Lalbazar.
