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SINDH PROVINCIAL CONGRESS COMMITTEE

 

 

(its branches and their activities)

 

 

1. DADU

Day observed complete hartal today (7.5.1946) owing to the death of Mr.Bhulabhai Dessai in the evening a silent procession was organized by Congress Committee. The procession terminated at the Municipal Park was a public meeting was held. Speeches on Bhulabha’s life were delivered by various speakers. A condolence resolution was also passed.

 

2. GHOTKI

The Ghotki Congress Committee held a flag hoisting ceremony on 23.6.1946, as usual.

 

3. HALLA

Applications signed by many responsible persons of Hala Taluka have been sent to the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee and other congress leaders against the local congress workers for their open anti-Hindu activities in the whole of the Halla Taluka resolting in much communal tension.

 

Prof. N. R. Malkani, the local M.L.A. came to Halla, and he was told all these activities of his men. He did his best to persuade his workers to desist from these methods, but the President of the local Congress committee told him openly that he was no his subordinate and refused to follow his advice. Under the excuse that last year the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee passed a resolution in favour of dissolution of Zamindari every Hindu Zamindar is being hit.

 

4. Hyderabad

Following resolution was passed at the meeting of District Congress Committee, held on I5.12.1916:

 

“That it is necessary in the interest of the province of Sindh that it should form a separate unit for the purposes of congress organization and should have a separate provincial congress committee, and that the president be requested to forward the resolution to the general secretaries of the Indian National Congress and the Secretaries of the Bombay Provincial Congress Committee.

 

The District Congress Committee held a meeting on Wednesday (11.12.1918) at which they recommended Mr. Jamshed N.R. Mehta; Mr. Durgdas B.Advani and Mukhi Jethanand Pritamdas for the presidential chair of the Sindh Provincial Conference.

The Committee considered the remarks made in the Hyderabad Management Committee’s annual report against the People of Hyderabad and subordinate judges, and having accord their resentmental, appointed a sub-committee to enquire about and study the cases filed by the people against the Management committee and find out what had offended the late Municipal Commissioner, Mr. Garter, and Mr. Gibson the Collector.

 

last evening (14.12.1918) a public meeting was held in the Holmested Hall compound under the auspices of the “Citizen’s Association” and the District Congress Committee to protest.

 

1_. Against the language used in the Committee of Management’s Report with reference to the people of Hyderabad and the judges of the subordinate Civil Court and

2. Against the nomination of such a large proportion as on third of the total number of councilors who are to constitute the municipality of the city on its restoration.

A strong resolution was passed with reference to the former and Government was asked to take severe notice of the conduct of Mr. Carter and Mr. Gibson with reference to the latter subject it was resolved that in view of the recent liberal pro­nouncement of Government in favour of largely reducing the proportion of nominated members in Municipalities and local Boards a city like Hyderabad should have wholly elected Munici­pality especially as the Muhammadan Community, for whose pro­tection the system of nomination was being largely maintained, were going to have separate representation through election. The meeting was of the opinion that experts like the Executive Engineer and the Civil Surgeon and some Educational Officer might be appointed as additional members for consultation only, i.e. without giving them the right to vote. In the discussion on the former resolution some very vehement speeches were made regarding the insult offered to the citizens and contempt committed against a court of law, one speaker said that Mr. Carter has been haramkhor; another said that Mr. Gibson had shown intellectual dishonesty be commenting indirectly on a sub-judge case but saying that he was with holding comment because case was sub-Judice. He added that both officers should be peremptorily sent away. These and similar utterances were much applanded. The meeting was presided over by Diwan Thakurdas Khemsing, ex-president of the Municipality.

 

The Hyderabad District Congress Committee has decided by 17 votes to 10 to recommend the principle of non-co-operation to the special Indian National Congress. Unlike Mr. Gandhi and the Central Khilafat Committee they consider however that the police and soldiers should he exempt. They will await the decision of the special congress for or against non-co-operation before putting it in practice locally.

On Saturday (16.7.1921), meeting was held in the Holmstead Hall under the presidency of Dr. Choithram Lalchand, and Jethmal were among the speakers.

Committee have decided to award three scholarships of Rs.15/- each per menses, tenable for one year to those students who wish to Join the “Gujrat Vidya Pith” or “ALigarh National Muslim University” Applications are invited from students of Hyderabad District.

The Hyderabad Congress Committee will hold a meeting of congress members tomorrow (7.9.1922) in the Holmstead Hall, where representatives of the congress Punchayat will be elected.

As a result of fresh elections Mr. Abdul Jabar has been elected as the President of Hyderabad Congress Committee and Mr. Fateh chand as Vice-President.

On Monday (25.9.1922) the Hyderabad Congress Committee and Khilafat Committee organized a procession which led through the main bazar and terminated into a meeting at the Holmstead Hall, where speeches were delivered urging the use of Khaddar, Alongwith the procession, a photo of Mr. Gandhi and a spinning wheel were carried in a gharry.

under the auspices of the Hyderabad District Congress Committee, a public meeting was held last night (29.11.1926)at the Holmstead Hall to express thanks to the citizens for having elected Mr. Jairamdas Doulatram to the Bombay Legislative Council.

The meeting of General Body of the Hyderabad District Congress Committee was held on December 3rd, (1926) and the following office-bearers for the years 26-27 were elected:-

President:                 Dr.Choithram Gidwani

Vice President:        Lalchand Jaghani

Secretary:                 Utamchand Jivansing Gidwani

 

Members (Managing Committee): Jeramdas Doulatram, Prof. Ghanshyam Jethanand, Kessumal Teckchand, Hiranand Karamchand, Mansing Chuherrmal, Dr. Chimandas Isardas, Moulvi Mohkamaldir, Koluram Vassanmal Bulani.

Auditors: Chaturbhuj Tejumal

Representatives on the Provincial Congress Committee:

Dr.Choithram, Lalchand, JeraMas, Mansing, Prof. Ghanshyamp, kessumal Teckchand, Gopaldas Jhamtmal, Moulvi Mohkamiiddin, Uttaiachan

 

Following resolution was passed:

“This committee recommends that an attempt should be made on the occasion of the forthcoming conference to frame a programme regarding council work which should enable united action in councils by all parties which are within the congress”

Under the auspices of Hyderabad District Congress committee the anniversary of D.C.Das’s death was celebrated in Holmstead Hall, and prayers were offered in Gur Sangat.

A meeting of Hyderabad congress committee was held on 17.3.1930, it was resolved to form the “Reception Committee” for forthcoming “Sindh Provincial Congress Conference”.

Following office-bearers were elected at the meeting of Hyderabad District Congress Committee, held on 19.8.1934.

City Executive Committee:

 

President:                 Prof. Ghanshamdas

Vice-President:        Prof. Vaswani

Secretary:                 Pandit Develat Kundaram

Treasurer:                 Atmerup Sadacharya

 

Members of Executive Committees

Jairamdas Doulatram; Dr. Chimandas; Dr. Pirtabrai; Shewaram Bhatia; Eherumal Suratsing; Shrinsiti sati Vaswani; Shrimati Devi Hasomal, Mr. Surat J. Uttam Sing.

 

Provincial General Body:

Dr.Choithram; JairamDas; Prof. Ghansham; Prof. Waswani; Dr. Chimandas; Ramchand Parumal; Mr. and Mrs. Hiranand; Mrs. Sati Vaswani Devdnt Kundaram; Surat J. Uttamsing; Hasomal Issardas; Ataxnrupi Mrs_# Devibai Hasomal and Bapo Kishenchand_.

 

District General Body:

Jairamdas Doulatram; Prof. Vaswani; Prof. Ghansham; Dr.Chimandas; Naraindas Vensimal; Shewaram Bhatia; Bheromal Suratsing; Bheromal Issardas; Lachmandas Bhatia; Bhacchand Hiranand; Devdat Kundaram; Surat J. Uttamsing; Himath lal; Hasomal Issardas; Dr. Dayaram; Dr.PritamKias; Lilaram Hiranand; Devibai Hasomal; Mrs. Satibai Vaswani; Omperkash Chentadev; Mrs. Mohinibai Lalchand; Bapo Kishenchand; Master Chainchaldas; Bhanji Gokaldas; Mrs. Thakuribai Salamatrai; Atramrup; Shevapuri; Sirdar Dayasing and Sirdar Santsing.

Meeting held on 11.11.1936 at the Holmstead Hall, passed a resolution that India should not entangle itself in any war which may break out – as appeared imminent- in Europe or the East.

Resolution referred to the elaborate fighting pre­parations now being made by a number of European and Eastern powers and declared that it would be a war of imperialism and capitalism width which India was not concerned.

Hyderabad mourned the death of Mr. Bhulabhai Desai with a partial hartal_ta procession going round the city with black flag’s and a public meeting organized by the local congress organization. Public meeting was presided over by Dr. Chimandas Issardas and addressed by him, Hakim Mohammed Yakub Kadri, and others.

Mr. Hasomal Issardas moved a resolution which was carried expressing the city’s great sorrow over Mr. Bhulabhai Desai’s death.

A public meeting was held on 22.5.1946 for the election of office-bearers of Congress Committee. A big sensation was provided in its circles when the nomination papers of both Prof. Ghansham Jethanand, M.L.A, (leader, Sindh Congress Party in the Assembly) and Prof. N.R. Malkani, M.L.A., were rejected by the returning officer, Mr. Ladharan Mohandas in Hyderabad City Congress Committee as well as in District Congress Committee elections. The election resulted as follows:

CITY:

President: Dr. Chimandas Issardas M.B.B.S.

Vice-President: Mr. JULthu Shahani

Secretary: (a)Mr. Santsing Shahani

(b)Mr. Lokumal Punvani

Hon. Treasurer: Mrs. Takuri Salaisatrai

Managing Committee: Mrs. Sati Vasvani; Vishindas Jagtiani; Lachmandas Lalchand; Naraindas Vensimal; Dayasing Uttamsing; Devdat Kudaram; Kripaldas Jairamdas and Bapo Kishenchand.

District Congress Committee:

Devdat Kundaram; Dayasing Uttamsing; Santsing Hukumatsing; Dr. Chimandas; Bheromal Issardas; Vishindas Issardas; Lachandas Lalchand; Lokumal Pritamdas; and Gobindraia Buderdas, one seat remaining unfilled.

Well-attended public meeting was held under congress auspices last evening (3.7.1946) in the Holestead Hall grounds, Dr. Chimandas Issardas presiding Rrof. Ghanshyam Jethanand, M.L.A, leader of the congress group in the Sindh Legislative Assembly addressed the meeting.

After the President, Dr. Chimandas, has made an impression speech the meeting passed a resolution condemning scathingly the cowardly attempt to derail Mahatma Gandhi’s special. Thanked God that, it had failed and prayed for Mahatma’s long life to make India free.

For the first time within the last several years a congress public meeting held this evening (3.7.1947) to condemn the recent Sindh ordinance was disturbed by two Hindu Sabha leaders who were not allowed by the Chairman, Dr. Chimandas, to move an amendment to the resolution condemning the ordinances adding that the congress should also be condemned for consenting to the country’s partition which had made the promulgation of these ordinances possible. The Chairman disallowing the amendment, said that it was out of order and the Hindu Sabha could hold a separate meeting for passing whatever resolution they liked. There­upon the movers of the amendment, Mr. Chanchaldas, a teacher, and Mr. Krishinchandm an Arya Samajist, stepped on to the platform and wanted to address the gathering. There was opposition, the congress having their own supporters and Hindu Mahasabha their own. The meeting broke up in confusion after a slight scuffle. The resolution, therefore, could not be put to vote. As the meeting broke up in confusion, the congress version is that the resolution had been put to vote hurriedly and passed before the meeting became disorderly.

5. Jacobabad:

Last night (13.3.1923) a public meeting was held under the auspices of the local congress committee with Bhai Newandram Vice-President, in the chair. The proceedings began with some National Songs sung by three sahiti Con-Co-Operators. Next came a resolution of congratulating Mr. Verhomal (teacher Tilk High School Sukkur), who was sentenced to 12 month’s imprisonment, on the 13th (March 1923) at Shikarpur. This was followed by speeches by the Sahiti Non-Co-Oprators.

A public meeting was held by Jacobabad congress committee on 8.9.1923. It was attended by large number of Local Congress Workers. Mr. Rajendra Prasad, Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee, together with Mr. Viroomal the President of Congress Committee in Sindh and other Provincial Congress Worker also attended the meeting.

At tne last meeting of District Congress Committee, Jacobabad, held on 7th September, 1924, Dr. Menghraj was elected President, Dr. Hemandas a Vice-president and Mr. Choithram Secretary. It was further unanimously resolved that Mahatma Gandhi be invited on his ensuing visit to Sindh to the town of Jacobabad.

Tributes were paid to Mr. Phulabhai Desai at a public meeting of the citizens of Jacobabad this evening (6.5.1946) under the auspices of Jacobabad Congress Committee. As the news of congress leader’s death reached, congress workers wested no time in informing all business panchayat, who feeling deep concern, closed all markets immediately. The whole town observed complete hartal.

The newly-elected Congress Committee of Jacobabad is observing a week in the memory of the late Mr. Allah Bux and the late Mr. Aslam Achakzai commencing from May 11 to 17 (1946). Several Indian leaders including Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Mr. Ataullah Shah Bukhari; Capt. Seghal; Khan Abdul Samad Khan and about 50 provincial leaders have been invited to attend.

 

6. Karachi:

A meeting of Karachi District Congress Committee was held on 2.3.1917, in which a series of resolutions of disapproval and protest were passed against the “illiberal spirit” of the recommendations of the public service commission, against Mr. Chaubal’s action in signing the majority report, and against the action of the Punjab Government in excluding Messrs Tilak and Bepin Chandra Pal. Thanks were recorded to Mr. Justice Abdul Rahim for his minority report as member of the Public Service Commission and a resolution was adopted urging the immediate discontinuance of indentured labour in any form.

A meeting of Karachi District Congress Committee was held at Khalik Dina Hall on 23.3.1917, under the Chairmanship of Harchandrai; 44 delegates were elected for “Sindh Provincial Conference” to be held at Shikarpur. Participants were Jamshed Mehta; Abdul Rahman; Lokamal Chelaramj R.K. Sidhva and Dr. Choithram.

At a meeting of Karachi District Congress Committee held on 23.10.1917, in Khalik Dina Hall_f under the Presidency of Mr. G.A. Chaglla, 37 delegates were elected for the “Special Sindh Provincial Conference” to be held at Hyderabad on 3, 4.11.1917. The Chairman and secretary of Karachi district congress committee were authorized to add to the number_.

A public meeting under the auspices of the Karachi District Congress Committee was held in the first week of December 1917, in the Khalik Dina Hall to elect delegates for the forthcoming congress at Calcutta and to form a Reception Committee for “Sindh Provincial Conference” to be held in Karachi in April 1918. Mr. Ghulam Ali Chagla presided and speakers were Messrs. Nasinglal; MuhaMnad Khan; P.S. Shahani; Dipchand T. Ojha; Lokomal Chelaram; Tikamdas Wadhomal; R.K. Sidhva; 52 delegates were elected, including a few pareses and a Goan M. M. Misquitta.

The Hon. Mr. Harchandrai Vishindas_t has resigned the President ship of Karachi District Congress Committee and Mr. T. L. Vaswani has been appointed in his place.

In conformity with the wishes of Mr. Gandhi the local Non-co-operators are holding nightly public meeting in different parts of city (Karachi) to raise subscriptions and enroll congress members, the first of these meetings was held yesterday evening (26.6.1921) at the Idgah Maiden.

Messrs. R. K. Sidwa; Lalchand A. Jagitiani; Dr. Patel; Swami Krishnand delivered speeches. Duggdas B. Advani and Muhammed Khan presided one after the other.

At yesterday’s (27.6.1921) meeting of the Non-co­operation organized in the Lalchand Lekhraj’s godown there were a number of piece-goods merchants present. Pundit Amarsen was in the chair while Messrs. Mohamned Khan; Narsinglal; Lalchand Jagitiani and Mahraj Damodar spoke. When Mr. Gandhi was last here in Karachi, the people had garlanded him at various places with wreaths of yarm which when leaving he had given over in charge of Mohammed Khan and Lalchand. The former had out of them made a piece of Khadar measuring twenty three yeards and this way offered for sale. Mr. Lalchand said that inspite of his utter poverty he would offer for it Rs.1OO but eventually a shikarpuri merchant came to his rescue and took it up for an amount which he would not then give out but would pay to the organizers without having it publicly announced. Other collections made amounted to about Rs.1500.

A meeting of the general body of the members of the Karachi Congress Committee was held last night (6.7.1921) in the Khalik Dina Hall for the purpose of electing the members of the Panchayat. To voting papers were lodged by members and the result of the voting will be announced shortly.

A meeting of Non-co-operators held at the Idgah maidan yesterday (3O.6.1921) evening was attended by about a thousand men it lasted till 11 O’clock and yielded about Rs.7,OOO in cash and promises of immediate payment and Rs.10,000 was promised before December 31. Swami Krishnand was promised a monthly sum of Rs.180 to last for a year to enable him to pay the pickets and stop the liquor traffic.

A public meeting was held on 15.7.1921 in the Khalik Dina Hall where Seth sunderdass presided and Sheikh Abdul Majid, Dr. Choithram, Seth Chainvai Virbhandas and Mr. Zuher Mohammed of Allahabad address the audience. An appeal was made to merchants to case importing any further foreign made cloth and try to dispose off the stocks they already had on their hands in places outside their country.

On Wednesday (8.3.1922) night a meeting of Congress Committee agreed to observe hartal in Karachi on the occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wabs. The procedure will be on the lines of the All-India National Congress Resolution on 17th the volunteers will not assemble and collect crowds but previously there will be house-to-house visitation with a view to persuade the people to refrain from attending the celebration.

To inaugurate the National week the Non-co-operation organized a public meeting last night (5.4.1922) on the Idgah. Moulvi Mohammed Sadiq in the chair referred to the dicisions of the Near East Conference at Paris, and said no terms regarding Turkey would be acceptable to the Indian Muslims which did not meet the requirements of the injunctions of their prophet. Other speakers informed, the audience of the activities of the week, dwelt on the exclusive use of khaddar, as wearing apparel as enjoyed by Mr. Gandhi in his last meeting and to observe complete non-violence in thought, worded deed. They emphasized on the efficacy of fasting and prayer.

There was an informal meeting last night (27.4.1922) of the Congress and Khilafat Committees which decided to co-operate in spreading the use of Khaddar. It was resolved to approach the Moulvi’s to urge upon the large masses of Muhammedans during the ensuing holy month of Ramzan to wear Khaddar. It was also further decided that some respectable people be entrusted with Khaddar pieces to hawk them through the town.

To observe the Gandhi Day, the District Congress Committee held a public meeting on 18.5.1922 at the Idgah, Seth Sunderdas Valabdas President District Congress Committee persiding. Kazi Abdul Rahman; Chaggan Lal; Sarswati Devi; Mistri Gaggi spoke on the occasion. They argued that the best way to remember Mr. Gandhi was to wear Khaddar. They also urged the people all should contribute a day’s income to the Tilak swaraj Fund. Meeting lasted for a couple of hours and a thousand people attended.

The District Congress Committee called a worker’s conference on Saturday (17.6.1922), about 25 persons attending out of those invited. The object was to push forward Congress work in response to the recent resolutions of the All-India Congress Committee. The question of spreading the use of Khaddar and earring on propaganda by means of leaflets and play-cards was considered in the end word-committees were appointed to carry on the work in their respective spheres.

A meeting of the District Congress Committee was held on Saturday (17.5.1922) night, where a number of non-contentious matters were put through. It was decided that all Congress Committee’s papers and records be kept in the office, where they could be seen by any member with the permission of the Secretaries. It was decided that 3rd class fare be given to congress propagandists. Messrs. Shivaram and Dastur were appointed as Auditors in place of Mr. Dalah. It was decided that upto 15 July elections of party be held.

Under the auspices of District Congress Committee, a public meeting was held on 7.9.1922 at the Idgah for enlighting public opinion on the Guru-ka-Bagh question (of punjab), Seth Sunderdas valabdas persiding.

The District Congress Committee has organized a programme of public meetings to be held in different parts of the city.

On Saturday (25.11.1922) night the Khilafat arid congress Committees held a public meeting at Idgah to congratulate Mr. Din Mohammed late editor of the Al-Wahid on his being sentenced to 12 month’s vigorous imprisonment. Several college friends of Mr. Din Mohammed dwelt on his religious bent of mind and steadfastness of purpose which gave promise of a useful life. Other speakers dwelt on the repressive policy of the Government and emphasized the stimulating effect it had on national life. In the end a resolution was unanimously passed congratulating Mr.Din Mohammed on his sacrifice and service in the cause of the nation. Mr. Bukhari was put up to preside as he was deemed the next victim of section 108 Cr.P.C.

The local Congress Committee yesterday (18.2.1923) deliberated Gandhi Day in the usual manner. About 200 people met at the Burn Garden in the morning when Sadhu Vaswani held a prayer. In the afternoon a procession started from near the Congress Committees office on the Bunder Road and went round through the usual quarters of the city singing songs. At sunset a public meeting was organized at the Khalik Dina Hall with Mr. Durgdas B. Advani in the chair. Sadhu Vaswani was amongst the speakers who dwelt at the great length upon the National movements in Germany and Turkey where young men were rallying round to work out the salvation of their countries. India, he said similarly expected sacrifice and service from its young men who should hand themselves together and work.

Under the auspices of the District Congress Committee a public meeting was held last night (19.2.1923) at the Khalik Dina Hall to celebrate the anniversary of the late Mr. G.K. Gokhale, Mr. R.K. Sidhwa presided. Mr. Lunidaram, Mr. Hatim bhoy; Dr. Popatal and Mai Sarswat addressed the audience. The meeting came to an end with the singing of a national song.

In celebration of Mr. Gandhi’s incarceration anniversary the Karachi District Congress Committee has ordained a general hartal on the (March 1923). There will be also public meetings held in. different parts of the city from the 12th to 18th to enrol volunteers and collect the Tilak swaraj find.

Messrs. Durgas; Lunidaram; Rewachand Naraindas, and Seth Sunderdas have agreed to serve on the “Arbitration Court” constituted by the District Congress Committee. Some matters have already been placed before them for settlement.

At the Idgah Maidan last evening (2.12.1923) the Karachi Congress Committee presented an address of welcome to Lal Lajpatrai on behalf of the citizens of Karachi, Principal T.L. Vasvani persided. About three thousand people were present.

A public meeting was held by Karachi District Congress Committee on 13.4.1923, to commemorate the anniversary of Jallian Walla Bagh.

The hartal in Karachi on 27.2.1923 was observed dully. It was called by the leaders of Karachi Congress Committee and Karachi Khilafat Conanittee as a protest on Kenya Colony.

Under the auspices of the Karachi Congress Committee, a public meeting was held on 5.2.1924 at Khalik Dina Hall to express rejoicing over the release of Mr. Gandhi, Swami Govindnand persided.

The Hall was over-crowded with Non-Co-operator’s and several other members of public.

Messrs. Lalchand A.Jagtiani; Manilal Vyas; Muhammad Khan; T.L. Vasvani; Haji Abdullah Haroon and some other made speechs.

The meeting terminated at 8 p.m. amid loud cries of “Mahatma Gandhi-ki-Jai”, “Bharat Mata-ki-Jai”.

Under the auspices of the Karachi District Congress Committee a public meeting of the citizens of Karachi will be held at the Khalik Dina Hall on Monday, June 30,(1924) at 7.30 p.m. to observe the Death Anniversary of the late Dada bhai Naoroji.

A debate will be held at the Khalik Dina Hall at 7 p.m. on 3.12.1925 on “The Swarajists policy and their program in the legislature”. Among the speakers are prof, Jitendralal Bennerji; Messrs. Swami Krishnand; Swami Govindanand and Principal S.C. Shahani. The debate is open to the public and is being held under the auspices of the Karachi Congress Committee.

A meeting of about 200 citizens of Karachi was held in the Khaliq dina Hall under the presidency of Mr. R.K. Sidhwa on Saturday, 20.3.1926, when the following resolution was passed:

“This meeting of the citizens of Karachi held under the Congress Committee congratulates the Swarajists and others, who walked out of Assembly and Provincial Councils in obedience to the Congress mandate”.

Speeches were made by Muhammad Khan, Dr. Hingorani, and Drugdas B. Advani.

Today (16.6.1926) is the first anniversary of the death of Mr. C.R. Das, and a public meeting of the citizens of Karachi will be held at the Khalik Dina Hall this evening to commemorate the event. The meeting has been convened by Mr. Narayandas Anandjee, Secretary of the Karachi District Congress Committee.

A meeting of Karachi District Congress Committee was held on 16.6.1926 to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Mr. C.R. Das. Meeting was presided over by R.K. Sidhva, President Congress Committee, and speakers included Hatim Alvl, Acharya Gidwani, Swami Govindanand and Mir Muhammad Baluch. Meeting was attended by seventy persons.

A public meeting was held on 3.11.1926 in Khalik dina Hall under auspices of Congress Committee. Mr. Durgdas, B. Advani and others addressed the meeting, in support of Durgdas B. Advani’s candidature.

At a public meeting held last night (2.2.1927) in the Khalik dina Hall, Karachi under the auspices of the Karachi Congress Committee, and presided over by Mr. Naraindas Anandji Bechar to protest against the Government of India’s action in sending troops to China, fiery and vehement speeches were made by Mr. Mohammed Khan, Swami Govindanand, R.K. Sidhwa and others.

The following resolution moved by Mohammed Khan was carried, “This public meeting of the citizens of Karachi conveys its warm sympathy with the people of China in their struggle for freedom and most indignantly protest against the dispatch of Indian troops by reason of Britain’s bellicose attitude”.

Under the auspices of the Karachi District Congress Committee, a public meeting was held last night (16.6.1927) at the Khalik dina Hall to commemorate the second anniversary of the late Mr. C.R. Das. Several speeches were made on his life and work.

In a meeting of Karachi Congress Committee, held on 16.9.1928 at Dr. Tarachand’s residence it was resolved to concentrate energy in making the boycott of the “Simon Commission” a success. It was decided to hold another meeting on 23.9.1928 to finalize the program in this connection.

In a meeting of Karachi Congress Committee held on 8.3.1930, at Khalik dina Hall Resolutions were passed on the following subjects:-

(1) Congratulation to Mr. Patel on his arrest (under section 71 Bombay District Police Act).

(2) An appeal to the Congress Workers for joining “Satayagrah Army”.

On 12.3.1930, a procession from Swaraj Ashram, Garikhata was taken out by the Karachi Congress Workers, which ended in Rambagh recreation ground, where a meeting was held under the presidency of Mr. Naraindas Anandji.

“Gandhi Arrest Day*’ was observed by the Karachi Congress Committee on 3.4.1932. Workers hosted flag on Muncipal office.

Following were arrested in this connection:-

Dingi bai (Woman dictator); Mughanmal Fanachand; Lakshman Lakhmichand and Badri Shanker Bhat.

Following office-bearers were elected for the year 1934-35 at a meeting of Karachi District Congress Committee held on 19.5.1934 at Khalikdina Hall under the presidency of Naraindas Bechar.

Presidents: Naraindas Bechar

Vice-Presidents: i)Mrs Kikibhen Lalwani

ii)Moulvi Muhammad Sidik

iii)A. K. Sidhwa

Secretary: Parasram Tahilarami

Treasurers: Seth Haridas

Auditors: Messrs. M.B.Dalai & Co.

Members of Executive Council:

Swami Govindanand; Dr. Tarachand; Swami Krishanand; Alji Mahrotra; Hafiz Ahmed; Mr. Shrikhrishin Lulla; Shivaram Chawan; Dr. Pershotam, Poona bhai Mamai; Odhavji Sejpalj; Ravji Ganatra; Kalidas Narain; Rupchand Ramchand Bhagnori; Acharya Jamiyatram; Shri Manek ben Maheta; Shri Mehar ben Kadger; Shri Kamlaben Mukhi; Shri Sundrabi Chawan.

Members of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee:

Nariandas Bechar; Jarashed Mehta; Moulvi Muhammad
Sidik; R.K.Sidhwa; Swami Govindanand; Swami Krishinanand; Seth
Haridas Lalji; Parsram Tahllarami; Mrs, Kikibhen Lalwani;
Shrikishin Lulla; Lalji Maharotra; Seth Sukhdev; Bhadrashanker
Bhatt; Acharya Jamiyatrai and Hafiz Nisar Ahmed.
In a meeting of Karachi Congress Committee held on 16.2.1935. It was resolved to have a building of its own at an approximate cost of Rs. 20,000. An influential sub­ committee was appointed to select a plot.

A meeting of Karachi Congress Committee was held on 30.6.1935 to pass annual report, accounts and to carry on changes effecting the rules and bylaws of the committee.

In the end, following were elected as office-bearers for the year 1935-36.

Presidents: R.K.Sidhwa

Vice-Presidents: i)Moulvi Muhammad Sidik

ii) Dr.Tarachand

Secretaries: i)Swami Krishanand

ii) Parsram Tahilraiiani

Treasurer: Anand Hingorani

Auditor: D.P.Dastur

15 members were elected for provincial congress committee including R.K. Sidhwa; Moulvi Mohammad Sidik; Naraindas Bechar; Swami Govidanand; Mariwalla; Swami Krishnanad; Anand Hingorani; Seth Haridas Lalji; Shrimati kiki Bhen; Goverdhan Vazirani; Ramchand Sadarangani; Parsaram Tahilarami and others.

A meeting of Karachi Congress Committee was held on 11.9.1935, a resolution viewing with apprehension the Italo-Abyssinian tangle, and consequent feverish preparations for war and expressing sympathy with Abyssinian people in their struggle was adopted.

Committee requested working Committee of All-India National Congress to deliberate over the situation, at an early date.

It was resolved to convene a public meeting on 17.9.1935 to assure Abyssinian of the support of Indians.

A largely attended meeting held last evening (1O.5.1936) at Khalik dina Hall under the auspices of the Karachi District Committee, Mr. R.K. Sidhwa presiding, reaffirmed the lucknow Congress resolutions raftering to the arrest of Mr. Subah Bose and suppression of civil liberties.

Prior to the meeting the national flag was flown half-mast on the news of Dr. Ansari’s death being broken to the people. The meeting passed a resolution expressing profound sorrow and conveying heartedly sympathy with the deceased family and adjourned for five minutes.

As a protest against the decision of the Central Congress Parliamentary Board in case of Swami Govindanand’s disqualification, the following Congress Workers of Garikhata tendered their resignations on 30.9.1936:-

Shrimati Parpti Lalvani; Dr. Tarachand Lalvani; Mr. Ghansham das. Mir chandani; Vasde Raisighani; and Lakhmichand N.Kinger Secretary of Garikhata Congress Committee.

The Congress Ward elections were held on 23.11.1936 and following office-bearers were elected!

From Saddart: Mr. R.K. Sidhwa(President) and

Dr. Tripathi(Secretary).

From Runchore: Dr.Popatlal (President) and

Mr N.Vyas (Secretary).

From Garrikhatas: Mr.Tirith Subhani (President) and

Mr.Eotiram (Secretary).

From Old Town: Moulvi Mohammad Sidik (President) and

Dr.Tarachand J.Lalwani and Assandas (Secretaries)

From Bunder Road Extention: Mr. Parstam Tahilramani (President)

Shri mati Ganga Gidvani(Vice PrtiEident), Ram Sadarangani and Miss Jethi Sipahimilani (Secretaries) Anand Hingorani(Treasurer).

Elections to some of the Ward Congress Committees in Karachi City were held today (2.6.1946). Following were elected:

GHARIJQIATTA WARD:

Tirath Sabhani (President); Motiram A.K. (Vice President); Birma R. Bighani (Secretary); Hiro A. Shahani(Secretary) and Balram Motwani(Treasurer).

 

 

RUNCHHORE WARD:

Durgesh Thaker (President) and Ravji Ganatra (Vice President).

Glowing tributes were paid to late Bhulabahi Desai at a public meeting of the Karachi Congress Committee this evening (7.5.1947) at the Rambagh Recreation Ground under the auspices of the Karachi District Congress Committee. The meeting was largely attended and Swami Krishnanad presided.

At the meeting speeches were made by Dr. Choithram P. Gidvani, President of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee; Swami Krishinanand; Mr. Lalji Mehrotra and Hr. R.K. Sidhwa.

The Karachi Congress Municipality Party at its meeting this evening (14.6.1946) considered letter from Swami Krishnanad President of the Karachi District Congress Committee, asking the party to reconsider its decision on confining the membership of the School Board to members of the party itself so far as the general seats went, and decided that it was no reason to go back upon its previous decision.

The party also appointed a committee of over a dozen members to go into the question of corruption in the municipality and to submit a report about the ways and means of putting an end to it.

At a general body meeting of the Karachi students Congress held on 19.6.1946 it was unanimously resolved to picket all the colleges on the issue of enhancement of college fees.

The general body of the Karachi Student’s Congress resolved at a meeting decided this evening (25.6.1946), that in view of the authorities of the Sindh Collegiate Board having, so far, failed to remove their legitimate grievances in respect of charging the increased rats of fees and also owing to the fact that a speedy solution of the question was badly called for, the meeting was compelled to direct its “council of Action” to organize forthwith a hunger-strike by a batch of students at the college.

In the morning (1.8.1947), Karachi Congress men took out a Prabhat Pheri which ended with a flag solutation infront of lokmanya Tilak’s statue at the Khalik dina Hall. At the ceremony (Tilak Day), Swami Krishnanad President of the Karachi District Congress Committee, spoke on present-day politics and dilated on the glorious contribution made by lokmanya Tilak the achievement of the goal of independence by the country.

A meeting of the Congress Assembly Party has been convened by Prof. Ghansiiyam Jethanand, leader, at his residence on August 12, 1947 to consider the question of nominations for the non-muslim representative of Sindh on the Pakistan Consti­tuent Assembly in Place of Mr. Jiramdas Doulatram and to select a nominee of the congress for the impending bye-election in the land holder’s constituency in place of Shaikh G. Hussain Hidayatullah, the Governor designate of Sindh.

 

7. LARKANA.

On Sunday (25.6.1922) night the Congress party at Larkana organized a public meeting to urge the audience to help completing the construction programme of the Congress by A August 15. Another public meeting held there congratulated Moulvi Ghulam Farid on his imprisonment while during national work.

To celebrate the anniversary of the great leader, Dada bhoy Nooraji, a public meeting was called last night (30.6.1922) by The District Congress Committee. Seih Sunderdas Valabdas presided on the occasion.

A meeting of Larkana Congress Committee was held on 2.3.1930, to make an appeal for enlisting volunteers for Satyagrah Movement. Messrs. Morusing; Goumal and Munshi Gobindram were enrolled as the volunteers.

 

8. NAWABSHAH.

A resolution criticizing the policy of the Sindh Ministry regarding political prisoners in Sindh was adopted at a meeting of the Nawab Shah District Congress Committee yesterday (2.6.1946). The resolution “inter alia” stated that whereas other Provincial and even the Govt: of India had released political prisoners, including those convicted of violence, and also the I.N.A. personnel, in Sindh Mr. Tilokchand Gopaldas and Mr. Kishan Gurnani Editor and Sub-editor, respect­ively of the weekly “Hind Samachar” of Nawabshah had been convicted and remanded to jail custody for the political offence of publishing an “independence Day Issue” in 1945.

 

9. ROHRI

On 18.6.1921 a public meeting under the auspices of the Congress Committee was called when Mr. Bhagwandas narrated two incidents of police intimidation. One of which was connected with his visit to khairpur Mirs to purchase spinning wheels. He was wearing his Gandhi cap and Khaddar dress when a police man of the state prohibited him from going into the town or from getting any lodging. The vazir of Khairpur is reported to have issued prohibition orders against Non-co-operators in his state. Mr. Pamnani said that besides the petty donations paid to Mr. Gandhi a sum of Rs.1,000 was presented him and up to this time 4,000 have been collected for the swaraj Fund.

The Rohri taluka congress committee in its published report says: That the committee has received a gift of 26 spinning wheels. Propaganda work has been carried on in the villages and towns of Geneva, Haji Mohammed Dadlai, Kahmmadpur, Pano Akil, Daharki, Ubauro and the part of workers stirs out on every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday to different villages. Some spinning wheels have been prepared here and about 40 have been sent for from Rahimyar Khan. On marriage occasion some wheels have been presented to poor windowed women. They intend distributing 1,000 wheels in the town. Some 424 yards of Khadsr cloth have been sold and weaving work will soon be started.

The Rohri Congress Committee in its recent meeting have decided to present Mr. Gandhi, on his visit to Rohri of at least one crore yards of yarn.

A public meeting was held in the Municipal park at 6 p.m. on Wednsday (4.11.1936) under the auspices of the local congress committee. Dr. Choithram, Mr. Jairamdas and Mr. C.T. Valecha came from Sukkur. Mr. Valecha and Dr. Choithram requested the voters to vote for the congress candidate namely Mr. Hassaram S. Pamnani.

Mr. Tulsidas Shiwandas Gajwani a candidate from Rohri division, then spoke and said that the parliamentary Board of the congress committee had taken a hasty step by announcing the name of Mr. Pamnani as a candidate from Rohri Division. The speaker pointed out that people in villages had no regard for the congress or congress candidates.

Mr. Jairamdas then replied Mr. Tulsidas, and said that as only one candidate namely Mr. Pamnani had sent in his application to stand on congress ticket, the congress committee had no right to reject it. He concluded his speech by saying that if voters did not vote for the congress candidates and if the congress candidates failed, it would be considered a failure of the voters and not of the congress

.

10. SHIKARPUR.

A meeting of Shikarpur congress committee was held on 26.1.1928, seth Sobhraj Walecha presided. Amongst the present were Moulvi Cheshti; Swami Priyag Zhrti; Mahraj Lunidd ram; Bokhari; Govindanand and Shaikh Abdul Majid. It was resolved to observe hartal on 3.2.1928, the day on which “Simmon Commission” is to arrive at Bombay.

At a meeting of Shikarpur Congress Committee, following were elected as office-bearers for the year 1934-35:-

President: Kaka Sobhraj

Vice-President: Shrimati Ganga Devi

Secretary: Khanchand

Mr. Bilandram Vasandrr.al, who is observing a fast for the last few days in order to bring pressure on Mr. Lilaram Pherwani to withdraw his candidature from the Sindh Legislative Assembly, is in critical condition.

He has been examined by doctors. He has been persuaded to take water by Jairamdas.

Mr. Bilandram, broke his fast on Saturday (6.11.1936) as the result of the persuasions of a number congress-men of Shikarpur.

Dr. Lilaram has not withdrawn his candidature.

Yesterday (21.5.1946) evening a function was arranged in Tilak Swaring Shawan by prominent congress workers in honour of Prof. Udharam Asvani of Benaras Hindu University on his election to the legislative Assembly of the U.P. Prof. is an old congress worker of Shikarpur.

 

11. SUKKUR.

During the past three days (15 to 17.3.1919) three meetings were organized by the congress committee – two in connection with the passing of Rowlatt bills and one to enlighten the public on the congress-Muslim scheme. The first meeting was presided over by Haji Abdullah Haroon of Karachi and was attended by a large number of Muhammadans who happened to be in Sukkur in connection with Muhammadan Educational Conference (organized by Anjuman I.A.W. Sukkur). At this meeting vigorous speeches were made by President, Mr. Abdul Rahman of Karachi and Dr. Choithram. At the second meeting presided over by Mulchand Pessumal, a very large number of Moulvi from different parts of Sindh, who had come for the Educational Conference, were present. The provisions of the Rowlatt Bills were explained at length and few were induced to take the satyagarh vow. The third meeting yesterday (17.3.1919) under the presidency of Mr. Viromal Begraj was also well attended. The number of Muhammadans was not so great as at the previous meeting for some of them had left by the evening train. Speeches were made by Haji Abdullah Haroon; Mr. Abdul Rehman, Dr. Choithram and Mr. Virumal explaining the congress-Muslim scheme and few of the audience were enlisted members of the congress committee.

Under the auspices of the District Congress Committee a public meeting was held on 6.4.1919 to educate public opinion on political subjects. Speeches were made by several gentlemen on the Rowlatt Bills, Satyagrah Vow, Tilak fund, and honourary magistrates, and about twenty delegates were elected for the forthcoming Provincial conference at Jacobabad. At the same meeting it was announced that a meeting would be held on Saturday (12.4.1919) when matters pertaining to the local municipalities would be discussed and duties of the voters would be explained to the audience.

Today (23,7.1919) being the birthdate of Mr. Tilak the member of congress Committee celebrated it by arranging for Kanah Pershad at sadh Bella, in morning, distributing Methai on the bunder road in the evening, sending a message of congratulations to Mr. Tilak and distributing in the town a leaflet giving an account of his life.

Last night (3.11.1919) a meeting under the auspices of the District Congress Committee took place in a private godown opposite to the Bunder Station when Dr. Choithram of Hyderabad gave an address on the present condition of Bharat Varsh and congress. He described the condition of indians in the Punjab, South Africa and Fiji Islands and exhorted the audience to go to the congress in numbers to strengthen the hands of those who were working in the direction of the advancement of the country. Mr. Lokomal Chellaram and some other speakers spoke in the same strain and in the end 25 more ncaries were added to the congress committee.

The All-indla Congress Committee of Sukkur hold its meeting on July 29 (1920) and decided that it cannot recommended non-co-operation and the decision of the All-India congress should be awaited about it. Shikarpur Congress Committee has decided in favour of non-co-operation.

At a public meeting held on 3.5.1921 a resolution condemning the action of the Sukkur Municipality in refusing an address of welcome to Mr. Gandhi, was passed. Dr. Sugnomal, a Municipal Councilor, announced that he did not consider it worthwhile to continue in a Municipality which had refused a welcome address to a man like Mr. Gandhi and he had therefore resigned his seat on the corporation.

A monster meeting was held yesterday (30.6.1921), when amidst cheers it was announced that Sukkur had paid its share to the Tilak Swaraj Fund. Mr. Viromal announced that he thought at first he had to collect Rs.11,500 which was done. But when Mr. Gandhi demanded three lakhs from Sindh, the share of Sukkur increased to Rs.26500. He had worked to bring the figure of Sukkur District including that of Rohri to 25,000. If he had not been able to raise the required quota, he would have sold his property. Some young men were also prepared to sell their property. He read a remarkable letter written by a young man who offered to sell himself into servitude to any rich Sethia, for a sum which might make up the required deficit. The people demanded to have a Darshan of the young man who had written the letter and he was brought on the platform amidst cheers. To the great surprise of all he turned out to be son of a rich man and had not been up till now actively associated with Non-co-operators, Mr. Viroomal’s appeal for funds brought about Rs.500 more. Several donations were also promised. The number of charkhas running in Sukkur District is exceeded 3,000. But the District had failed to enroll 11,500 members. Altogether only 5,000 members were enrolled. It was hoped that 6,000 more would soon be enrolled. Moulvi Taj Mohammed also spoke at the meeting.

A meeting of the members of the city congress committee was held yesterday (8.2.1922) to elect candidates for the various Municipal Wards in the town of Sukkur. At the outset it was decided that the elected candidate would be required to sing the following pledge.

“I shall not vote for any Government servant, pensioner, title holder or honorary Magistrate or President, Vice-President or Chairman of any Committee or Membership of the Managing Committee. Whenever my issue will arise between Government and Congress I shall invariably vote for the latter excepting when I conscientiously feel otherwise”

The local congress committee is making strenuous efforts to collect for the Tilak Swaraj Fund, it is understood that the Das party which is particularly active of Sukkur is whole-heartedly co-operating with the congress party.

Yesterday (18.11.23) was observed as “Gandhi Day” by the members of the Congress Committee. In the evening a khadi sale was organised which resulted in the sale of about Rs.200 worth of khadi. In the evening a public meeting was organized in an open space under the presidency of Mr. Virumal Begraj. In the end Parmanand Mewaram gave demonstrations of the way in which instruction was imparted to the blind.
Lokmanya Tilak’s anniversary was celeberated here yesterday (1.8.1926) in a fitting manner. In the evening meeting was organized on the Bunder under the auspices of Congress Committee presided over by Seth Jashanmal. Meeting was well attended and speechs dwelling on the qualities of lokmanya were made by local congress workers and several others.

12. THATTA.

A meeting of Thatta Congress Committee was held, and following office-bearers were electad for 1946/47.
Mr. Nasinglal Dhamanmal (President)
Mr. Bhagwandas Bazarimal (Vice-President)
Mr. Rupchand L. Asarpota (Secretary)
Mr. Ishwardas Hiradas (Treasurer)

Following were elected on District Congress Committee (Karachi):

Nasinglal, Bhagwandas and Isnwardas.

 

 

 

SINDH PROVINCIAL CONGRESS COMMITTEE

 

(Meetings and activities)

 

A meeting of the Council of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee will be held on Saturday (17.1.1920) in Hyderabad, to consider the following subjects:

1. To consider the following resolution passed by the Amritsar Congress: “This congress urges its Provincial committees and other affiliated associations to promote labour unions throughout the country with the view of improving social, economic and political condition of the labouring classes and securing for them a fair standard of living and a proper place in the body politics of India”.

2. To organise an “All-Sindh Fund” for the Jallian Walla
Bagh Memorial; and

3. The non-release of a large number of political prisioners in various provinces of India.

At a meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee last week the Hon. Mr. Harchandrai Vishindas C.I.E. was elected president and Hon. Mr. G.B. Bhurgri and Mr. Jamshed N.R. Mehta Vice Presidents. The following five members were elected for All-India Congress Committee: The Hon. Mr. Harchandrai and Messrs. Jamshed N.R. Mehta; Durgdas B. Advani, Choithram P. Gidwain, and Jeramdas Doullatram. The meeting also passed a resolution recommending the selection by the Government of India of Mr. B.G. Tilak as indians representative on the peace conference.

There was a meeting of the Sindh provincial Congress Committee here (Hyderabad) on Sunday (16.5.1920) last at which after much discussion it was resolved that a special session of the Sindh Provincial Conference should be called within two months to consider and give its opinion on the Reforms, on the “Punjab affairs” including the reports of the “Congress Committee” and “Hunter Committee”, and on the “Khilafat” question.

A meeting of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee was held at Hyderabad on Tuesday (15.6.1920), Mukhi Jethanand Pritamdas presiding. A committee was appointed to consider the Reform Rules and forward their views telegraphically to Mr. Patel in England. As regards the holding of a special session of the Provincial Conference to consider the Reforms, the Khilafat, the Hunter Report and other questions, it was decided that the conference should be held about a week before the holding of the special congress, the exact dates to be appointed by the reception committee of the conference. The question of the continuance of restrictions on the export of food grains was also considered and a committee was appointed together facts and figures and submits their considered opinion within a week.

Sindh Provincial Congress Committee after a prolonged discussion (on 30.7.1920 at Hyderabad) has adopted by a majority of votes resolutions saying:-

1. “That in consideration of the vital demands in connection with the revision of the Turkish treaty and the punjab affairs non-co-operation should be resorted to as against mere agitation”.

2. “That the special congress should declare that the revision of the Turkish Peace Treaty should ensure absolute independence for the Arabs and the nationalities of Syria and Mesopotamia if these nationalities desire it and

3. That the programme of non-co-operation should not be put into operation until the ground has been prepared by adequate preliminary propaganda.

A programme of non-co-operation was drafted which in some points differs from that of the Central Khilafat Committee. A discussion is now taking place on the details of this pro­gramme, which will probably take another two days for final adoption.

The Sind Provincial Congress Committee met on Sunday (15.8.1920) last at Hyderabad when thirty members were present. Mr. Sautdas moved a resolution against non-co-operation similar to the one he had moved in the District Congress Committee. Mr. Hirdaram of Karachi seconded him. Mr. Abdul Majid moved an amendment in a strong speech in favour of Mr. Ghandi’s non-co-operation. Dr. Choithram seconded him. Mr. Gopaldas moved another amendment which was against non-co-operation but different from Mr. Sautdas’s propotion. Mr. Sautdas withdrew his motion in favour of Mr. Gopaldas’s that did not condemn non-co-operation as unconstitutional but simple as impracticable and dangerous. The decision was adjourned to 26th just before the special conference. The meeting on Sunday took three hours in the morning and nearly four hours in the evening.

On Thursday night (last week of August, 1920) at a meeting of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee the principal of modified non-co-operation was adopted. Three votes were taken, one for Mr. Ghandhi’s plan in entirety, one for modification, while the third strongly opposed the non-co-operation. The resolution adopted laid down the police and army should not be tampered with, for that would upset order, and leave indian open to hostile foreign invasion, it also provided that people should be properly educated before starting the programme.

This morning (21.11.1920) there was (at Hyderabad) an annual general meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee for the election of office-bearers and representatives on the All-India Congress Committee, also to consider Mr. Ghurgri’s resignation of the Presidentship and to consider the revised draft constitution of the Indian National Congress. The election of fifteen office-bearers and of five representations occupied more than three bourses, there being end-less talks, speeches and suggestions. Very much of the time was taken up with the consideration whether on the executive council which was to meet always at Karachi the Head Quarters here should or should not be. So many or so many representatives from each district. Mr. Bhurgri’s resignation was recorded as the year of his office is already over. Mr. Durgdas B. Advani was appointed President for New Year (Nov.1920 to Oct.1921). Mr. Bhurgri was rejected as a representative on the All-India even proposed by any one. Mr. Jethmal, Mr. Bulchand Kodoomal and Mr. Kishinchand Amersing resigned the membership of the Provincial Congress Committee. There were hardly any elderly men of experience taking active part in the meeting.

On Sunday (17.7.1921) at a meeting of the Provincial Congress Committee at Hyderabad It was decided to organize a Provincial National Service for propaganda work. Women night take part in this works in their sphere time and would be financed by the Provincial Congress Committee but no separate service was instituted for them with any separate representation power of vote. Ways and means were besides devided to organize boy-cott of foreign cloth in the Province. As president for the next National Congress at Ahmedabad in December, Mr. C.R. Das was voted for as candidate and was full supported.

The Sindh Provincial Congress Committee decided on Wednesday, 8.3.1922 that not Individual should launch on Civil Disobedience without obtaining permission from the Provincial Congress Committee and fulfilling all conditions lay down by the All – India Congress Committee.

The Sind Provincial Congress Committee have awarded nine scholarships to students undertaking studies at the Gujrat vidyapith, six of them are of the value of Rs.20 each monthly, and three of Rs.l5.

The Sind Provincial Congress Committee has forwarded to Calcutta through their representative all the evidence collected in connection with the Civil Disobedience question to be placed before the Enquire Committee.

A meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee will be held on Friday 8.9.1922 at Hyderabad to consider inter-alia the recommendations of the Khaddar Committee regarding the making of advances for organizing Khaddar Production.

At a meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee held on Friday 8.9.1922, at Hyderabad. It was decided to spend Rs.20000 out of its own funds in addition to 50,000 got from All-India Congress Committee

The Secretary Sindh Provincial Congress Committee has instructed all congress committees in Sind to join the Khilafat Committees in the celebration to be held on 17.9.1922 all over the province in connection with the Turkish recovery of Smyorana.

The recent elections of the Provincial Congress Committee appear to have produced bitterness in certain quarters, and tomorrow (27.1.1923) meeting at Shikarpur is expected stormy on that account. Mr. Virumal’s election to the Presidentship, the removal of the Provincial office from Hyderabad to Sukkur, and the appointment of a Slikhrite as Secretary have led the Hyderabad Congress people to discover a flow on the elections with the result that some of them have sent a proposal for setting aside the election on the grounds that there were several technical irregularties in the elections at the Mirpurkhas meeting.

A meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee was held at Shikarpur on Saturday (27.1.1923) and continued on Sunday.

The main question before the committee was the consideration of a proposal to set aside the Mirpurkhas elections which has resulted in the appointment of Mr. Virumal Beghraj as the President of the Provincial Congress Committee.

The Sind Provincial Congress Committee met at Karachi yesterday (24.6.1923) and the day before (23.6.1923) when resolutions were passed unanimously electing Moulana Mohammed Ali the President of the next session of Congress and instructing all Congress Committees in Sindh to suspend all propaganda against council entry. The committee further resolved to request the All-India Congress Committee to convene a special session of congress to finally settle up the differences that has arisen between congressmen. In regard to Nagpur Satyagaraha it was resolves:

(1) to congratulate Karachi Congress Committee on its decision to send 25 volunteers and devote a sum of Rs.2,000 to the Sind Provincial Congress Committee met at Karachi yesterday (24.6.1923) and the day before (23.6.1923) when resolutions were passed unanimously electing Moulana Mohammed Ali as the President of the next session of congress and instructing all congress committees in Sindh to suspend all propaganda against council entry. The committee further resolved to request the All-India Congress Committee to convene a special session of congress to finally settle up the differences that has arisen between congress men. In regard to Nagpur Satyagraha it was resolved:

(1) To congratulate Karachi Congress Committee on its decision to send 25 volunteers and devote a sum of Rs.2000 to defray their expenses and to support where necessary, the familes of those that may be imprisoned, and

(2) To constitute a Provincial volunteer Board to examine those persons offering to enlist as volunteers whether they satisfied the requirements laid down by the All India Congress Committee and to co-ordinate the work of enrolment through the province so as to keep up the supply of volunteers for the Nagpur Satyagraha.

At a meeting of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee held recently at Hyderabad, it was resolved to remove office from Hyderabad to Karachi, and to hold a Sind Provincial Political Conference at Karachi in the end of may1926.

A meeting of Sind Provincial Congress Committee was held on 5.2.1930 at Max Denso Hall, Karachi, it was presided over by Dr. Choithram.

Amongst the present were:- Naraindas A, Bechar (president local Congress Committee); K. Punniah; Acharya A.T. Gidwani, Swami Krishanand; R.K. Sidhwa and Govindanad, meeting was called in connection to the 45th session of congress to be held in Karachi.

A meeting of Sind Provincial Congress Committee was held on 2.3.1930 in Bharat Sarswat Mandir. It was presided over by Dr. Choithram.

It was decided to hold an exhibition at the time of the 45th session of congress to be held in Karachi. It was resolved to take pledges from the people to boycott foreign cloth.

A reception Committee consisting the following members was appointed for Indian National Congress to be held in Karachi:

Dr. Choithrami Swami Govindanand; Prof. N.R. Malkani; Jairamdas Doulatram; Swami Krishnanand; Viromal Begraj; H.S. Pamnani and R.B. Motwani.

Seth Isardas Varandmal was appointed as treasurer

A meeting of Sind Provincial Congress Committee was held on 26.11.1933 at Holmstead Hall, Hyderabad Dr. Tarachand P. Gidwani presided. It was attended by 40 members among them were:

Narayandas Anandji; Swami Govindanand; R.K. Sidhwa; Prof. Shawdas Vaswani; Dr. Vishindas Shidvasani; Vishna Sharma; Kishinchand Melwani; Mrs. Kamladevi Hiranand; Mr. Baldev Gagra; Hundraj Parwani:-

Resolutions passed:

1. “In view of the fact that dissension are so rife in the congress ranks this meeting of the congress workers of Sindh is of the opinion that it is high time that a meeting of the All India Congress Committee be called to discuss the present political situation in order to revive political life in the country and to bring about unity in the congress ranks”.

2. “This meeting is of the opinion that under the conditions existing at the present movement, it will be very difficult to continue individual civil disobedience movement or revive mass civil disobedience movement in Sindh”.

This meeting of the congress workers of Sindh declares its firm faith that under the leadership of M. Gandhi during 14 years there has been a wonderful political awakening made a considerable progress towards the attainment of freedom.

This meeting is therefore, indebted to him for his valuable services to the nation and expects that he will continue to lead the country”.

A meeting of Sind Provincial Congress Committee was held on 21.6.1934, under the presidentship of Dr. Choithram.

Executive discussed the Government communique removing the ban on congress. It was decided to direct all the District Congress Committees to hold election by 1.8.1934. A Sub-Committee consisting the following members was appointed to arrange for a conference of political workers during the forthcoming visit of Mr. Gandhi: –

Dr.Choithram; Swami Govindanandj Moulvi Muhammad Sidik and Swami Krishnanand.

Resolution on the following subjects were passed:

(i) Appreciation of the services of congress workers,

(ii) Condemnation of discrimination of Government against “Red Shirts”.

A meeting of Sind Provincial Congress Committee was held on 9.7.1934 in Karachi, Jairamdas Doulatram General Secretary of Indian National Congress presided.

Following work was carried out:

(i) Expressed grief at the deaths of Patel; Sen Gupta and Dr. Besant.

(ii) Considered the draft of new rules and passed.

(iii) Adjourned the question of appointing Sind representatives on the Congress parliamentary Board.

(iv) Resolved to revive congress committee’s political life.

A meeting of Executive Committee of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee was held under the presidency of Dr. choithram.

It considered the alleged irregularities of elections to Karachi District Congress Committee where in non-habitual Khadi-weared are reported to have exercised votes against rules pretesting which a section of the members walked out and held another meeting and elected separate committee.

The council invalidated both the elections and ordered fresh election after getting instruction from the All India Congress Committee and working committee regarding their means to how enforce Khadar clause in fiture.

A meeting of Sindh provincial congress Committee was held on 1.12.1934 in Karachi, Dr. Choithram presided. Committee resolved that the congress working committee be recommended to organize an All-India demonstration against the joined parliamentary committee’s Report by fixing a day on which public meetings be held in co-operation with other political parties who agree with the congress attitude for endorsing the statement of working committee on the Joint parliamentary committee’s Report to be issued by working committee and burning effigies of the report with a view to attracting mass attention.

Sub-Committee consisting of following members was appointed for drafting rules for Sindh Provincial Congress Committee:

Dr. Choithram, Swami Govindanand; Prof. Ghansham das and Parasram Thai Iraniani.

Committee resolved that the Sindh province political conference be convened during Easter and the Karachi District Congress Committee be requested to make arrangements for the
same.

Resolved that on the occasion of the above conference, an exhibition of Sindh arts and crafts and other Swadeshi articles be organized and committee of 7 persons be appointed to arrange for the same in consultation with the Sindh branch of All-India’s Spinner’s Association and All-India village industries Association,

Question of constituting Karachi a separate congress province was discussed and postponed sine die.

A meeting of Sindh provincial Congress Committee was held on 5.12.1934 in Karachi, and following resolutions were passed:—

(1) The council of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee recommends to the working committee and the congress parliamentary
Board to issue instructions to the congress members of legislative
Assembly that they should leave the chamber as soon as lord Willingdon entered it to address the house in order to express the nations resentment against the ruthless repression inaugurated and carried on during his regime”.

(2) The council of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee most emphatically condemns the shocking restrictions imposed on Mr. Subhas Chandra Bose immediately on his arrival at Calcutta. Confirming him in the house under the most intolerable and provoking conditions; considering the state of Mr. Subhas Bose’s state of health in its further impairment in the opinion of this council such restrictions are unheard of and betray a spirit of utter barbaric vindictiveness.

The council of the Sindh Provincial Congress is of opinion that cricket tournaments arranged on a communal basis have a tendency to emphasize the communal aspect of these matches and add to the communal strain between various communities which are already politically divided.

The council appeals to the various cricket Associations to discontinue these tournaments on a communal basis and arrange them on a territorial or other basis.

In a meeting of Sind Provincial Congress Committee held on 27.1.1935, in Karachi, a committee of 30 members was appointed to make arrangements for coming “Sind Political Conference” to be held in Karachi.

In a meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee, held on 14.2.1935 in Karachi All-India Congress Committee through resolution was requested to give Karachi a district (Provincial) position in congress.

In a meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee held on 3.6.1935 at Khalikdina Hall under the presidency of Dr. Choithram Government was urged to allow relief parties to proceed to Quetta to extricate the dead and injured, meeting was attended by B.T. Thakur, Shaikh Abdul Majeed, R.K. Sidwa and Swami Krishnand.

Following resolution was adopted in the meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee’s meeting held on 6.9.1935, in Karachi:

“In view of numerous inquiries made from the President of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee whether the congress will contest elections to the Sindh Legislative Assembly under the new constitution, the council wishes to make it clear that the congress will put up candidates in as many constituencies as possible but as the actual selection of candidates and the announcement of programme may not be possible for some time, the council appeals to all voters and also election workers not to commit themselves at this stage to any particular candidate or party but reserve the liberty of action till the congress enters the field”.

A meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee was held on 12.10.1935, Dr. Choithraw presided.

Following suggestions for recommendation to the working committee of All-India Congress Committee, with a view to making changes in the constitution were approved:

(i) The clause regarding manual labour should be deleted.

(ii) The percentage of delegates for rural and urban areas should not be fixed in the constitution, provincial committees be allowed to decide this matter.

(iii) Annual fee for membership should be one Anna only.

(iv) The minimum number of delegates for any province shall be 20.

(v) The total membership of the All-India Congress Committee should be 700 and each provincial quota should be double the number.

(vi) All-India Congress Committee members shall be elected by provincial congress committees by the single transferable vote.

(vii) Delegates from each province shall be ex-officio members of the provincial congress committee.

Speaking at the meeting of the Sindh Provincial congress committee held on 18.5.1946, Dr. Choithrant P. Gidwani reviewed the communal situation in the province.

He urged the Government to take deterrent action against disturbers of peace.

The meeting also passed a condolence resolution on the death of Mr. Bhulabhai Desai.

Sindh Provincial Congress Committee meeting was held on 16.5.1946 at Hyderabad, when thirty-nine out of forty-two Sindh Congress delegates who attended the meeting nominated eight members on the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee, themselves forming the rest automatically. The surprising developments were that Miss Jethi Sipahimalani M.L.A. and Mr. Persram Tahilamani, Present secretary of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee were not elected.

The following were declared elected: Pandit Doulatram (Dadu), Jairamdas Doulatram and Chimandas Issardas (Hyderabad), Mrs. Kamladevi Hiranand (Hyderabad), Shafi Mohammed (Jacobabad), Lalji Mahrotra, Goverdhan Vazirani and Hotchand Asnan (from the general seats).

 

 

The Annual Session of the Congress in karachi -1913

The Twenty eighth National Congress met in Karachi, Sindh, on the 26th, 27th and 28th December, 1913. The Pavilion was dignified and well decorated, and each of the sixteen gates was ornamented with a motto descriptive of the objects of the Congress an original idea. The delegates were 550 in number, distributed as follows :

·         Bombav and Sindh …………..…….. 264

·         U.P …………………………….…….. 13

·         Pan jab…………………………..……… 10

·         Bohar ………………………………… 4

·         Madras … ……………………………. 33

·         Bengal ………………………………..22

·         Canada …………………..…………… 3

·         Sindh (Reception Committee) ……… 201

·                                                                      550

Some notable figures were absent from the Congress. The heart affection which killed him in 1915 kept Mr. Gokhale away, and Sir Pherozeshah Mehta, Mr. Surendranath Bannerji and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya were all absent’.

The Hon. Mr. Harchandrai Vishindas, the Chairman of the reception Committee, welcomed, the President-elect and the delegates, and gave a short sketch of Sindh and its special difficulties, such as its decennial revision Settlements and its irrigation problem. He then turned to the various questions which lay before the Congress for discussion, and finally called on the delegates formally to elect the Hon. Nawab Syed Muhammad Bahadur as President. The proposal was moved by Rao Bahadur R. N. Mudholkar, seconded by Rai Baikunthanath Sen, supported by Mr. Gopaldas Jhamatmal aud Pandit Rambhuj Dutt Choudhuri, and carried with acclamation.

After speaking of the necessity of the continued work of the Congress, he alluded to the King Emperor’s message on leaving India, and urged that the unity hoped for by His Majesty should be sought, and that Muhammadans, Christians, Parsis and Hindus, should advance together, rather than in separate group. He noted the rapprochement Hindus and Musalmans, as shown by the hope expressed by the All-India Muslim League that the leaders on both sides should meet periodically “to find a modus operandi for joint and concerted action in questions of public good”. He next spoke of the troubles of the Indians in South Africa, then reaching their climax, and he advised retaliatory measures against South African whites, such as shutting out Natal coal, and closing the door of the Civil Service against them. He then turned to the India Council and the need for its radical reform; it must be only an advisory, not an administrative body. He repeated the condemnation of the Regulations which had spoiled the reforms, showed how dilatory was the action of Government with regard to Local Self-Government, emphasized the enormous importance of Primary and Technical Education, and the need of Permanent Settlement to relieve the grave economic situation. The President alluded also to the Public Service Commission then in India, and urged the granting to Indians of Commissions in the Army, quoting some recent remarks on the subject by Lord Minto in London, the previous year, relating his efforts to bring it about. He then said a few words, fraught with deep emotion, on “the subversion of the Ottoman power in Europe and the strangling of Persia,” and expressed the grief with which all the Muslims had felt the blow to their Turkish brethren. He concluded with an earnest plea that Hindus and Musalmans should clasp hands, and work for the Motherland. “The Tide of National Unity….. by God’s grace, will surely sweep away in its majestic onward course the unnatural and artificial barriers of race, colour and religion.”

The President resumed his seat amid loud applause.

The second day’s work began with the moving from the Chair of Resolution I, regretting the deaths of Mr. J. Ghosal and Mr. Justice P. R. Sundara Aiyar. It was passed standing.

Resolution II, dealing with the Indians in South Africa, was moved by Dewan Bahadur L. A. Govinda-raghava Aiyar, and seconded by Lala Lajpat Rai in Hindustani. It was supported by six more speakers who urged the arguments so familiar to us all, and was carried.

The second day began with the moving of Resolution III, the Separation of Judicial and Executive Functions, by Mr. C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar, who quoted Sir Harvey Adamson’s condemnation of a judge having the police organization at his back ; Mr. R. C. Dutt and Sir Pherozeshah Mehta had showed that the reform would not entail extra expenditure. A re-distribution of functions among munsiffs, magistrates and judges could be made without greater cost. Mr. K. C. Ganguli seconded, complaining that the Congress had passed an annual resolution since 1886, but the bureaucracy opposed it. Messrs: Lalchand Navalrai and Abdul Rahman supported, and the Resolution was carried.

Resolution IV welcomed the adoption by the Muslim League of the ideal of self government for India, and the declaration of the necessity of harmonious co-operation, to be found by the leaders deciding on joint concerted action. It was proposed by Mr. Bhupendranath Basu, saying that Hindus and Muhammadans must concentrate their attention on the one united ideal, for the India of to-day was not the India of the Hindu or the Muslim, nor of the Anglo-Indian, much less of the European, but the India in which all had a share. “If there have been misunderstandings in the past, let us forget them”. If they were united, “the India of the future will be a stronger, nobler, greater, higher, aye, and a brighter India than was realized by Ashoka in the plenitude of his power, a better India than was revealed to Akbar in the wildest of his visions”.

Rao Bahadur R. N. Mudholkar seconded, and said that the Congress and the League now stood on a common platform, and could work together. Mr. Jehangir B. Petit said that many had thought that Hindus and Muslims would never unite, but that if they did they would be a powerful instrument for good and a force to be reckoned with. Mr. D. A. Khare said that Self-Government would be won by the brotherhood of Hindu and Muslim. Mr. Mathradas Ramchand further supported, and Mr. C. Gopala Menon welcomed the pronouncement of the Muslim League as marking an important epoch in the history of the Congress. Mr. D. E. Wacha said that the Congress had entered on a new Nativity and with the new Star they would achieve new success. The Resolution was carried with great applause.

Resolution “V was on the Reform of the India Council. It was moved by Mr. M. A. Jinnah, who pointed out that the Council was composed of old officials who had served in India, and non-official India had no voice. The Secretary of State was responsible to nobody, and was a greater Mughal than any Mughal who had ever ruled in India. Mr. N. M. Samarth seconded, and said that the -Secretary of State for India should be accountable to Parliament as was the Secretary for the Colonies, and one-third of the Council should be elected by Indians. The Hon. Mr. Krishna Rao supported, and gave a short review of the changes that had taken place in the constitution of the Council. The Resolution was further supported by Messrs. Gopaidas Jhainatmal and Surendranath Mallik_; and carried.

The Congress then adjourned.

On meeting for the third session, the Congress; took up a new question, the “continuous journey clause” of the Canadian Privy Council Order, No. 920. The ingenuity of this clause was that it forbade Indians to enter Canada unless they had made a continuous journey from India, and they could not make a continuous journey because there was no direct boat-service and the Steamship Companies refused through booking. Hence it forbade the entry of any Indian into Canada, and prevented any Indian already there from bringing over his wife and family. [It was this Order which caused the chartering of theKumagatu and the subsequent troubles.] The Resolution (VI) was moved by Sardar Nand Singh Sikra, who, himself a Sikh, spoke for his brethren in Canada, but pointed out that all India suffered in the suffering of Sikhs in Canada and Indians in South Africa, and ” we join hands as one United. Nation, and with one heart and one voice we condemn the Colonial atrocities”. The Chief Justice of British Columbia had condemned as illegal the Federal Orders in Council, but that did not seem to help them much. General Swayne had explained the real reason of the exclusion. He said :

One of those things that make the presence of East Indians here, or in any other white Colony, politically inexpedient, is the familiarity they acquire with the whites, the instance of which is given by the speedy elimination of caste in this Province, as shown by the way all castes help each other. These men go back to India, and preach ideas of emancipation, which, if brought about, would upset the machinery of law and order. While this emancipation may be a good thing at some future date, the present time is premature for the emancipation of caste.

Is then the whole Empire in a conspiracy against Indian freedom, and is caste to be a weapon in the hands of the bureaucracy to prevent her emancipation ?

The Sardar Sahab was one of the three delegates elected by the Canadian Sikhs on February 22nd, 1913, to go to the Congress and represent their grievances.

Mr. Krishna Kumar Mitra seconded, remarking that it would be better for Canadians to say openly that they would not admit indians rather than pass so cowardly a law. Mr. Ayuo Khan and Pandit Rambhuj Dutt Choudhuri supported, and the Resolution was carried.

Resolution VII was on the Public Service Commission, and was very full, laying down the grievances under which Indians suffered and suggesting changes. It was moved by Rai Baikunthanath Sen Bahadur, who remarked on the charges leveled by witnesses before the Royal Commission against Indians; it was said they had defects in moral character, and were lacking in physical endurance, administrative efficiency and power of initiative. He brought in rebuttal the districts in East Bengal where there were anarchical disturbances, and while those managed by British Civilians were much disturbed, those in charge of Bengali Civilians were kept quiet. He asked for the cases where Indians had failed. Witnesses from English commercial houses naturally preferred their own kith and kin and depreciated Indians.

The Hon. Dr. Nilratan Sarkar seconded, and took the sound ground that Indians had a birthright to serve their own country, and that non-Indians should be admitted only when necessary and for a short time. But in the Public Services, “the upper branch is synonymous with European, and the lower with Indian. This is as indefensible in principle as it is mischievous in practice.” “We are to remain content, as a Nation of assistants.” He illustrated Indian efficiency with various examples, and remarked that Dr. Pal Roy had no equal in India but he is to remain all his life in the provincial inferior Service”. Messrs. V. V. Jogiah Pantulu and Mathradas Ramchand supported the Resolution and it was carried.

Mr. Bhupendranath Basu moved Resolution VIII, asking for the repeal of the Press Act. He pointed out that in 1837, Sir Charles Metcalfe had liberated the Indian Press; Lord Lytton replaced fetters in 1878, with his Vernacular Press Act, but Mr. Glad­stone repealed it. When Sir Herbert Risley spoke in 1910 in favour of introducing the present Press Act; he had destroyed several papers, such as the Gugantar, and had, said that in the 47 cases instituted by Government under the old law of sedition, a conviction had been secured in every one. What more did they want? The Law Member, who certainly believed what he said, had laid stress on the right of appeal to the High Court but in a late case the High Court had said that a for­feiture was invalid and illegal, but the High Court had no power to interfere. So there was “a special law of a very drastic nature without any safeguards,” and it was “a wet cloth on all expressions of public opinion”. “Situated as the Government of India is, foreign in its composition and aloof in its character, that law is a source of great peril.” Mr. Dalvi, seconding, quoted Sir L. Jenkins, the Chief Justice, in the Comrade case, who said that it is difficult to see to “what lengths the operation of these sections. may not be plausibly extended by an ingenious mind.

Mr. J. Choudhuri, supporting, gave his own case as editor of a legal journal, the Calcutta Weekly Nutess His printer and publisher died and he had to find a new one, and was running backwards and forwards between his office and the Presidency Magistrate’s Court before his declaration was accepted. The C.I.D. could find nothing against the printer, except that his knowledge of English was not as perfect as it might be! Sir Herbert Risley had said that the Press Act would not affect existing papers, and that the administration of the law would not be in the hands of the Police. Both assurances were false. When a declaration is made the magistrate hands over the papers to the C.I.D., and the Habul Matin, an existing paper, was called on to furnish security.

Mr. Kishindas Jhamrai supported the Resolution, and it was carried.

Resolution IX, on Permanent Settlement, was moved by the Hon. Mr. A. S. Krishna Rao, seconded by Rao Bahadur Hiranand Khemsing, supported by Mr. Mathradas Ramchand, and carried.

Then followed a series of Resolutions, put from the Chair : X, Army Commission ; XI, Education (including a protest against the veto by the Government of India of three lecturers, Messrs. Rasul, S libravardi and Jayaswal, on the ground of their connection with politics); XII, High Courts; XIII, Swadeshi; XIV, Indentured Labour; XV, Local Self-Government; XVI, Council Regulation; XVII, Executive Councils for U. P. and Panjab; XVIII, authorising the All-India Congress Committee to arrange a deputation to England, to represent Indian views on: (1) , Indians in S. Africa and the Colonies; (2) Press AcT; (3) Return of India Council; (4) Separation of Judicial and Executive Functions; (5) Important Questions on which Congress has expressed opinion; XIX, Thanks to Sir William Wedderburn and members of the British Committee. These Resolutions, put seriatim,, were really our old friend
the Omnibus. ‘ ;

Resolution XX, was an expression of deep regret at the retirement of Messrs. Wacha and Khare, from the office of Secretaries, and thanks for their work. Rai Baikunthanath Sen Bahadur voiced the gratitude of the Congress to the eminent veteran, who had acted for 18 years, with great self-denial and ability. Mr. Khare had worked well for 6 years. Mr. C, P. Rama swami Aiyar seconded, saying that the greatness of the Congress was largely due to its Secretaries. The Resolution was carried with cheers, and then the Hon. Mr. Harchandrai Vishindas proposed and Mr. D. G. Dalvi seconded the election of the Hon. Nawab Syed Muhammad Bahadur and Mr. N. Subba Rao Pantulu as General Secretaries for the ensuing year Carried.

Mr. N. Subba Rao invited the Congress to Madras, and Resolution XXII decided the acceptance.

The vote of thanks to the Chair was moved by Mr. Ghulam ali G. Chayla, seconded by Mr. Bhupendranath Basu, supported by Mr. Lakamal Chellaram and Mir Ayab Khan, and carried by acclamation. The President’s brief reply closed the proceedings, and the Twenty eighth National Congress dissolved.

RESOLUTIONS

Brief of Congress

I. Besolved—That this Congress desires to place on record its sense of the great loss sustained by the country by the death of Mr. J. Ghosal, who was a staunch worker in the Congress cause, and Mr. Justice P. R. Sundara Aiyer.

Indians in South Africa and Canada

South Africa

II. Resolved—(a). That this Congress enters its emphatic protest against the provisions of the Immigration Act in that they violate the promises made by the Ministers of the South African Union, and respectfully urges the Crown to veto the Act and requests the Imperial and Indian Governments to adopt such measures as would ensure to the Indians in South Africa just and honourable treatment.

(b) That this Congress expresses its abhorrence of the cruel treatment to which Indians were subjected in Natal in the recent strikes, and entirely disapproves of the personnel of the Committee appointed by the South African Union to enquire into the matter, as two of its members are already known to be biased against Indians and as it does not include persons who command the confidence of Indians in South Africa and here.

(c) That this Congress tenders its most respectful thanks to His Excellency the Viceroy for his statesmanlike pronouncement of the policy of the Government of India on the South African question.

(d) That this Congress requests the Imperial and Indian Governments to take the steps needed, to redress the grievances relating to the questions of the ₤3 tax, indentured labour, domicile, the Educational test, validity of Indian Marriages and other questions bearing on the status of Indians in South Africa.

(e) That this Congress expresses its warm and grateful appreciation of the heroic struggle carried on by Mr. Gandhi and his co-workers, and calls upon the people of this country of all classes and creeds to continue to supply them with funds.

Canada

VI. Resolved—That this Congress strongly protests against prohibition of immigration, resulting from the operation of the Canadian Privy Council Order No. 920, generally known as the “Continuous Journey Clause,” as the order in question has practically the effect of preventing any Indian, not already settled there, from going to Canada, in as much as there is no direct steamship service between the two Countries, and the Steamship Companies refuse through booking and further subjects the present Indian Settlers in Canada to great hardship by precluding them from bringing over their wives and children. This Congress, therefore, urges upon the Imperial Government the necessity of securing the repeal of the said Continuous Journey Regulation.

Legal

Separation of Judicial and Executive Functions

III. Resolved.—That this Congress, concurring with previous Congresses, urges the early Separation of Judicial from Executive Functions in the best interests of the Empire and prays that any scheme of Separation that may be undertaken to be really effective must place all judiciary solely under the control of the highest Court in every Province. .

High Courts

XII. Resolved—That this Congress is strongly of opinion that all the High Courts of India, inclusive of non-chartered High Courts, should have the same direct relation with the Government of India alone, as the High Court of Fort William in Bengal has at the present time. The Congress is, further, of opinion that the Chief Judge of unchartered High Courts should be appointed from the members of the bar.

Union for Self-Government of Congress and Muslim League

IV. Eeaolved—That this Congress places on record its warm appreciation of the adoption by the All-India Muslim League of the ideal of Self-Government for India within the British Empire, and expresses its complete accord with the belief that the League has so emphatically declared at its last sessions that the political future of the country depends on the harmonious working and co-operation of the various Communities in the country which has been the cherished ideal of the Congress. This Congress most heartily welcomes the hope expressed by the League that the leaders of the different communities will make every endeavor to find a modus operandi for joint and concerted action on all questions of national
good and earnestly appeals to all the sections of the people to help the object We all have at heart.

India Council Reform

V. Resolved—That this Congress is of opinion that tie Council of the Secretary of State for India, as at present constituted, should be abolished, and makes the following suggestions for its reconstruction:

(a) That the salary of the Secretary of State for India should be placed on the English Estimates.

(b) That, with a view to the efficiency and independence of the Council, it is expedient that it should be partly nominated and partly elected.

(c) That the total number of members of the Council should not be less than nine.

(d) That the elected portion of the Council should consist of not less than one-third of the total number of members, who should be non-official Indians chosen by a constituency consisting of the elected members of the Imperial and Provincial Legislative Councils.

(e) That not less than one-half of the nominated portion of the Council should consist of public men of merit and ability unconnected with the Indian administration.

(f) That the remaining portion of the nominated Council should consist of officials who have served in India for not less than 10 years and have not been away from India for more than two years.

(g) That the character of the Council should be advisory and not administrative.

(h) That the term of office of each member should be five years

Public Service

VII. Resolved—(d) That this Congress places on record its indignant protest against, and emphatically repudiates, as utterly unfounded, the charges of general incompetence, lack of initiative, lack of character, etc., which some of the witnesses, among whom this Congress notices with regret some of the highest administrative officers, have freely leveled at Indians as a people.

(b) That this Congress begs to express its earnest hope that the Royal Commissioners will, alike on grounds of justice, national progress , economy, efficiency and even expediency, see fit to make recommendations which will have the certain effect of largely increasing the present very inadequate proportion of Indians in the high appointments in the Public Services of their own country; thus redeeming the solemn pledge contained in the Charter Act of 1833 and the Royal Proclamation of 1858.

(c) In particular, this Congress places on record its deep conviction :

(1) that justice can never be done to the claim of the people of this country unless the examination for the recruitment of the superior offices of the various Services be held in India as well as in England;

(2) That the age limit in the case of candidates for the Indian Civil Service should not be lowered, as such a step will operate to the disadvantage of Indian candidates as well as prove detrimental to efficiency;

(3) that the Judicial and Executive Services and Functions should be completely separated and the Judicial Service recruited from the legal profession and placed in subordination to the High Court instead of to the Executive Government;

(4) that such restrictions as exist at present against the appointment of persons other than members of the Indian Civil Service to certain high offices be removed;

(5) that any rule or order which, in terms or in effect, operates as a bar against the appointment of an Indian as such to any office under the Crown for which he may otherwise be eligible, should be rescinded as opposed to the Act and the Proclamation hereinbefore mentioned;

(6) that the division of Services into Imperial and Provincial be abolished and the conditions of Services be equalized as between Indians and Europeans, and that in case the division be maintained, the recruitment of the Executive branch of the Provincial Civil Service be made by means of an open competitive examination instead of by nomination ;

(7) that in case the said division be maintained, the Indian Educational and other Services be recruited in India as well as England, and Indians of the requisite attainments be appointed thereto both directly and by promotion from the respective Provincial Services;

(8) that civil medical posts should not be filled by the appointment of members of the Military I. M. S. or I. S. M. D., and a distinct and separate Indian Civil Medical Service should be constituted therefore and recruited by means of a competitive examination held in India as well as England; educational and scientific appointments, however, being filled by advertisement in India and abroad;

(9) that the present scale of salaried is sufficiently high and should not be raised, and further, that exchange compensation allowance should be abolished, as it has been a costly anomaly since exchange was fixed by statute ; and

(10) that the people of those dominions of the Crown, where they are not accorded the rights of British citizens, should be declared ineligible for appointments in India.

Coercion

Press

VIII. Resolved—That this Congress reiterates its protest against the continuation of the Indian Press Act on the Statute Book, and urges that the same be repealed, specially, in view of the recent decision of the High Court of Calcutta, which declares that the safeguards provided by the Act are illusory and incapable of being enforced.

Permanent Settlement

IX. Resolved—That this Congress is strongly of opinion that a reasonable and definite limitation to the demand of the State on land and the introduction of a Permanent Settlement directly between Government and land-holders in ryotwari-areas, or a settlement for a period of not less than 60 years in those Provinces where shorter periodical settlements on revision prevail will substantially help in ameliorating the present unsatisfactory condition of the Agricultural population.

Military

X. Resolved That this Congress again respectfully points out to the Government of India the injustice of keeping the higherranks in the Army closed against the people of this country, and urges that the same should remain no longer unredressed.

Education

XT. Resolved (a) That this Congress, while thanking the Government of India for its donation of larger grants towards the extension of Primary Education in India, is strongly of opinion that a beginning should now be made for introducing Free and Compulsory Education in some selected areas.

(b) That the Congress, while approving of the proposals by Government for introducing teaching and residential Universities, is strongly of opinion that that system should supplement, and not replace, the existing system of University Education, as otherwise the progress of Higher Education among the poorer classes will be seriously retarded.

(c) That this Congress reiterates its prayer to Government to make adequate provision for imparting Industrial and Technical Education in the different Provinces, having regard to local requirements.

(d) That this Congress records its strong protest against the action of the Government of India vetoing the selection by the Calcutta University of Messrs. Basul, Suhravardi and Jayaswal, as lecturers, on the ground of their connection with politics; as the bar of politics is so general as to lend itself to arbitrary exclusion of the best scholarship from the lecturer’s chair, so detrimental to the interests of Education in the country.

Swadeshi

XIII. Resolved That this Congress accords its most cordial support -to the Swadeshi Movement, and calls upon the people of India to labour for its success, by making earnest and sustained efforts to promote the growth of indigenous industries, by giving preference wherever practicable, to Indian products over imported commodities, even at a sacrifice.

Indentured Labour

XIV. Resolved–That owing to the scarcity of labour in India, and the grave results from the system of Indentured Labour, which reduces the labourers, during the period of their indenture, practically to the position of slaves, this Congress strongly urges the total prohibition of recruitment of labour under indenture, either for work in India or elsewhere.

Representation

XV,Resolved–That this Congress expresses its regret that the recommendations of the Decentralization Commission, with regard to the further development of Local Self -Government, have not yet been given effect to, and urges that the Government of India may be pleased to take steps, without delay, to increase the
powers and resources of Local Bodies.

XVI. Resolved That this Congress records its sense of keen disappointment that at the last revision of the Legislative Council Regulations, the anomalies and inequalities, rectification of which the four previous Congresses strongly urged upon the Government, were not removed. And in order to allay the widespread dissatisfaction caused by the defects complained of, and in view of the experience of the last four years, this Congress earnestly prays that (1 ) there should be a non-official majority in the Imperial Legislative Council ; (2) there should be a majority of elected members in all Provincial Councils ; (3) the system of voting by delegates be done away with, where it still exists ; (4) the franchise be broadened by simplifying the qualifications of electors, basing it on education, property or income ; (5) the Government should riot have the power arbitrarily to declare any person ineligible for election on the ground of his antecedents or reputation ; (6) no person should be held ineligible for election on
the ground of dismissal from Government Service, or of conviction in a criminal court, or from whom security for keeping the peace has been taken, unless his conduct has involved moral turpitude , (7) no property or residential qualification should be required of a candidate, nor service as member of a Local Body ; (8) a person ignorant of English should be held ineligible for membership , (9) it should be expressly laid down that officials should not be allowed to influence elections in any way; (10) Finance Committees of Provincial Councils should be more closely associated with Government in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements ; (11) there should be a Finance Committee of the Imperial Legislative Council as in the case of Provincial Legislative Councils ; (12) the fight of putting supplementary questions should be extended to all members and not be restricted to the member putting the original question ; (13) the strength of the Punjab Council be raised from 26 to 50, and more adequate representation be allowed to the Punjab in the Imperial Council.

And further, this Congress, while recognizing the necessity of providing for a fair and adequate representation in the LegislativeCouncils for the Muhammadans or the other communities where they are in a minority, disapproves of the present regulations to carry out this object by means of separate electorates.

XVII. Resolved That the Congress again urges that an Executive Council, with an Indian member, be established in the United Provinces at an early date, and is of opinion, that a similar Council should be established in the Punjab too.

Deputation to Bngland

XVIII. Resolved That the All-India Congress Committee be authorized to arrange for a Deputation consisting, as far as possible, of representatives from different Provinces, to England, to represent Indian views on the following subjects :

(1) Indians in South Africa and other Colonies ;

(2) Press Act ;

(3) Reform of the India Council ,

(4) Separation of Judicial and Executive Functions ,

(5) And important questions on which Congress has expressed opinion.

Thank of Congress

XIX. Resolved That this Congress records its sense of high appreciation of the services of Sir William Wedderburn and other members of the British Committee, and resolves that the organization of the British Committee and India should be
maintained.

Retirement of General Secretaries

XX. Resolved That this Congress expresses its sense of deep regret at the retirement of Mr. D. E. Wachu and Mr. D. A. Khare, from the office of its General Secretaries, and bogs to place on record its sense of warm appreciation of the very signal and distinguished Services rendered by the former for 18 years, and the latter for 6 years, to tho cause of thu Congress.

Formal

XXI. Resolved That the Hon. Navvab Syed Muhammad Bahadur and Mr. N Subba Rao Pantulu be appointed General Secretaries for the next year.

XXII. Resolved That the Congress of the year 1014 be held in the Province of Madras,