Architect of Swaraj - 7

It again fell to the lot of Patel as Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee to raise funds, select candidates and to campaign for the election. In spite of his ill-health he undertook the task. As in 1937 Sardar proved himself equal to the task. The election results were a tribute to his organizing capacity. The Congress had been outlawed during the past three years and Jinnah had utilizing his genius, though negative to strengthen his party with the slogan "Islam in danger", "Congress is a Hindu Party." It was feared that Congress might not fare too well. But thanks to the efforts of Patel Congress won 91% of the general seats in the Central Legislature and a clear majority in eight provinces.

Prime Minister Attlee sent a Cabinet Mission to help India to attain her freedom as speedily and as fully as possible. To resolve the Congress-League differences a special Conference was called in Simla in which representatives of both the parties participated. The Congress was opposed to partition and the League insisted on it. Faced with a deadlock the Cabinet Mission its own proposal on May 16. 

The plan did not agree for the creation of Pakistan but still it appealed to the Muslim League for it provided for the States and the groups of States right of secession. And for that very reason Sardar Patel called the plan cumbersome and was rather unhappy about it. But still Congress accepted the plan. The League also accepted it but with reservation. When the time came for the formation of Interim Government, the Congress refused the concede the demand of the League to nominate all the Muslim members. Jinnah had hoped that if the Congress refused to form a Government he would be called to do so. But Wavell saw no point in forming a Government without the Congress and he dropped the idea of the formation of Interim Government. The infuriated Jinnah. He accused the British Government and announced in a mood of frustration that "Today we bid good bye to constitutional method." He fixed August 16 as "Direct Action Day".

In atmosphere of high tension, mutual distrust and communal riots, the Viceroy wanted to divest himself of responsibility and invited Jawaharlal Nehru, the President of the Congress, to form an Interim Government alone if Jinnah's co-operation was not forthcoming. Jinnah was furious at the way he had been snubbed. His prestige had gone down. But he was a shrewd man and tactfully he opened negotiations with the Viceroy and told him that the League was keen to join the Council. The Viceroy agreed and the five members of the League joined the Council on October 26th. The aim of these members was not to co-operate but to sabotage the Government from within. 

Even after joining the coalition Government League members continued to incite people to violence. The League supplied arms and weapons and serious riots broke out in Noakhali and Tipperah Districts on October 15. Plunder, destruction of property, murder and dishonoring of women were perpetrated on large scale. The Prime Minister issued a statement on February 20 which implied that the country would have to be partitioned unless Congress and the League united. 

Encouraged by Attlee's statement the League resorted once again with redoubled force to "Direct Action" in Assam and the Punjab. It was in this critical and frightful situation that Lord Mountbatten was sworn in as the new Viceroy on March 24, 1947. With the arrival of Lord Mountbatten things began to move fast. Even before his arrival Sardar Patel was convinced after working for about seven months with the League Ministers that partition was the only way out. 

Patel's reason for accepting partition were: "I agreed to partition as a last resort", said Sardar Patel, "When we should have lost all. Five Members of Muslim League had established themselves as Minister of the Interim Government with the sole object of partitioning the Country. We decided that partition should be agreed upon on the terms that Punjab and Bengal should be partitioned. I made further condition that in two months time power should be transferred and an Act should be passed by Parliament during that time guaranteeing that Britain would not interfere with the question of the Indian States. We will deal with the question.... Let paramountcy be dead."

TO BE CONTINUE…..

Courtesy : ARCHITECT OF SWARAJ

Page – 90-91

Today That Day : 02-August-1946

 

DROP POLICY OF THREATS - Congress Chief's Advice to Jinnah

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, leading members of the Congress Working Committee, in a speech at Bombay advised Mr. Jinnah Moslem leader, to drop his and follow "the constructive path of co-operation."

It was the first Congress reaction to Mr. Jinnah's statement on Wednesday that Congress was organising "a mass civil disobedience struggle."

Mr. Jinnah's threatened "direct action" if it was real. Mr. Patel said, was aimed not at the British Government but at Congress because the British had already made it clear that they had no intention of staying in India.

Denying that Congress had concluded a secret deal with the British Cabinet, Mr. Patel said-"It was Mr. Jinnah who entered into a secret understanding and obtained promises behind the back of Congress. He wanted to form an interim Government without Congress, and failed in the attempt. That is why he is angry."

Sardar Patel's New Definition of Government Officer

TODAY THAT DAY : 4th May 1939

RAJKOT

When a stalemate ensued in the conversations between the Thakore Saheb and Mahatma Gandhi, the letter expressed a hope, on the eve of his departure for Calcutta, that the Thakore Saheb himself would take the initiative and satisfy his subjects without the intervention of a constitution committee. The Thakore Saheb took advantage of this expression of hope and offered to introduce dyarohy in his State on the model of Cochin and full responsible government ten years later, and asked Mr. Dhebar, who was to be chairman of the committee, whether he would accept the offer. Mr. Dhebar could not give a definitive answer on his own account and therefore went to Bombay to consult with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It is hardly possible that the Sardar will advise the Rajkot people to agree to the offer, as they had been promised full responsible government immediately. Mahatma Gandhi, it seems clear, on his return from Calcutta, would insist upon full implementation of the promise, and as he has secured the help of the Paramount Power in this respect there is no doubt but that he will gain his and, whatever temporary set-backs he meets with before the final goal is reached.

TODAY THAT DAY : 28 APRIL 1949

BOLD AND MOMENTOUS, SAYS PATEL

REACTION was generally favourable to-day to India's new association with the Commonwealth.

The Indian Congress news paper, "Hindustan Times," said that in a quiet businesslike way the Commonwealth Prime Ministers had made history, not only for their group of nations but for the world.

"If there is genuine co-operation and give and take, the association of a fourth of the human race may lead the way to the redemption of the world from the perpetual dread of conflicts and wars and its transformation into a commonwealth of the human race," the paper added.

Sardar Patel, Indian Deputy Prime Minister, commented "Bold and momentous."

He paid tributes to the "full understanding" shown by Britain and the Dominions of India's attitude and acknowledged their "assistance and co-operation."

"We have all taken this step in hope and with faith in the bonafides of each other. The future will show how far that hope and that faith can be fulfilled." he added.

The Canadian Parliament greeted the Commonwealth decisions with thunderous applause, it was reported from Ottawa.

Other comments were: "Bombay Free Press JOurnal" "Wait and see."

"Calcutta Amrit Bazar Patrika": "A partnership which in no way mortgages India's future."

"New York Times":"It is an historic step, not only in the progress of Commonwealth, but in setting a limit to Communist conquest and opening up the prospects of a wider defence system than the Atlantic pact."

Mr. Herbert Morrison read the India declaration in the House of Commons to-day. There will be no immediate debate on the declaration, which was read merely to get it on the Parliamentary record, writes a Lobby correspondent.

In due course, however, a motion to approve it will probably be moved in both Houses of Parliament.

TODAY THAT DAY : 09 DECEMBER 1947

INDIA AND PAKISTAN AGREE

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Deputy Prime Minister of India, told the Constituent Assembly in New Delhi to-day that complete agreement had been reached between the Dominion of India and Pakistan on all outstanding issues relating to partition, including those affecting the armed forces.

Nottingham Evening Post - Tuesday, December 9, 1947

TODAY THAT DAY : 07 DECEMBER 1946

CRISIS MAY BE POSTPONED

Political circles in New Delhi were not surprised by the inconclusive results of the London talks. One Congress spokesman said that a crisis may be postponed for some months, which would provide yet another opportunity for a settlement.

Vallabhbhai Patel "Strong Man" of the Indian Congress, declared to-day he felt certain that as soon as vital Moslem interests are at stake, the Moslem League will enter the Constitutional Assembly.

 

THE YORKSHIRE EVENING POST - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1947

THE LEADER

Saturday, October 15, 1949

The greatest chastisement that a man may receive who hath outraged another, is to have done the outrage; and there is no man so rudely punished as he that is subject to the whip of his own repentance. SENECA.

G L O R I O U S REVOLUTION

The highlight of the proceedings of the Constituent Assembly on Wednesday was Sardar Patel's speech on the "bloodless revolution" in the states. The British ruling classes have rendered many and grave disservices to India during their regime in this country. Their last disservice before their departure from India was the enunciation of the doctrine of lapse of paramountcy. According to this doctrine, each one of the states in India became an independent kingdom on August 15, 1947. If this doctrine had been carried out, India would have been ruined. In unity lies strength. The doctrine of lapse implied India's fragmentation. There are about 600 states in India. If every one of the 600 states had become independent, the result would have been chaos. Sardar Patel averted this disaster.

Sardar Patel's achievement has surprised both friends and foes. British political officers who had been inciting the rulers of states against the Congress left India full of hope that not one of the states would accede to the Indian Union. But a miracle happened. Before the first contingent of ex-British bureaucrats reached Aden on their way to England, the majority of states had acceded to the Indian Union.


But Sardar Patel realized that accession was not enough. The instruments of accession executed by the rulers provided for the accession of states to the Indian Union on only three subjects, namely defence, external affairs and communications. The administration of the states was inefficient and corrupt and the establishment of modern standards of administration was beyond their means. What was needed besides accession was the consolidation of states into sizable administrative units. This reform has been carried out. The states, with the exception of half-a-dozen, have merged either in unions of states or in provinces. Today the relations of the Central Government with the states are the same as those with the provinces not only in respect of defence, external affairs and communications, but in respect of defence, external affairs and communications, but in respect of all subjects. In other words, India is one.

It is remarkable fact that in spite of the efforts of British Political officers to alienate the princes from Indian National leaders, the process of unification was carried out with the support and cooperation of the people and the rulers of the states. Sardar Patel encountered opposition in very few states. The Nawab of Junagarh who had promised to accede to India broke his promise and surreptitiously acceded to Pakistan. But he had reckoned without his host. The people who wanted that Junagarh should accede to India rose in revolt and the Nawab fled Junagarh and took refuge in Pakistan. The Nawab of Bhopal acceded to India but he insisted that the state must retain its autonomy. In plain words, he wanted to remain in feudal chief. He announced a scheme of constitutional reforms. The people rejected the scheme. The reforms were a farce. The people wanted integration. The Nawab argued that the agitation for the merger of Bhopal was ill-timed and, therefor, ill-advised and, that the people would do well to realize the complications inherent in the situation. The people were not impressed by the argument. They replied that no complications arose when states bigger than Bhopal merged in the Madhya Bharat and that a voluntary surrender of his power would conduce to the Nawab's own interests. "Remember Junagarh", they said. The warning had the desired effect.

The States Ministry had to face opposition in Hyderabad owing to the fact that power in that state had been captured by a party of Fascists who called themselves Razakars. They declared Hyderabad an independent state. They received encouragement and support from Pakistan. But as the Razakars were hated by the people, the Indian army was able to occupy Hyderabad and free the Nizam from the clutches of the Razakars without much difficulty. Hyderabad is now as much a part of India as, say, Mysore. In fact, Hyderabad had never been independent during the last 200 years. The rulers of Pakistan supported the Razakars because they were interested in India's disruption. Kashmir acceded to India about two years ago. But Pakistanis argued that because the majority of the population of the state is Muslim, therefore, Kashmir should accede to Pakistan. Pakistanis invaded Kashmir and tried to occupy it by force. The invasion was a total failure. The Pakistanis who had invaded the beautiful Valley full of hopes of loot and victory, received a good beating. The Pakistanis may prevent a free and impartial plebiscite being held for sometime, but Sheikh Abdullah has demolished the two-nation theory and the accession of Kashmir to Pakistan is out of question. No Country ever witnessed such a glorious revolution. We achieved not only independence but we achieved, as Sardar Patel said, "The great ideal of geographical, political and economic unification of India an ideal which for centuries remained a distant dream and which appeared as remote and as difficult of attainment as ever even after the advent of Indian independence." The achievement is the result mainly of the efforts of Sardar Patel.. MAY HE LIVE LONG.

TODAY THAT DAY : 29 NOVEMBER 1933

MRS. GANDHI AGAIN ARRESTED

Disregards Magistrate's Warning.

Mrs. Gandhi was arrested this afternoon at Nadiad Railway Station, near here, while on her way to the village of Ras, where she announced she proposed to participate in civil disobedience. This makes the sixth time Mrs. Gandhi has been arrested within the last two years. She was to-day accompanied by the daughter of Mr. Vallabhbhai Patel, a leader of Congress and an intimate friend of Mr. Gandhi, who was also arrested.

The two were brought before the local magistrate, to whom they declared that they were on their way to Ras to conduct Congress propaganda. The magistrate thereupon served notices upon the two women requiring them not to participate in civil disobedience and to leave the Kaira district forthwith.

When they refused to comply with these orders Mrs. Gandhi and her companion were taken into custody.

THE NORTHERN WHIG AND BELFAST POST, Wednesday, November 29, 1933

TODAY THAT DAY : 26 NOVEMBER 1924

SWARAJIST DISCOURTESY

At a meeting of the Bombay Municipal Corporation Mr. V. J. Patel the Swarajist president announced that he had declined invitations to public functions arranged in the honor of the forthcoming visit of the Viceroy. "In accordance with his convictions and without meaning disrespect to the Viceroy as representative of the King." - (Reuter)

TODAY THAT DAY : 26 NOVEMBER 1947

HYDERABAD "POLITICAL WONDERLAND"

Moslem Ruler Wants State to be Third Dominion

From ALAN MOOREHEAD, "THE SCOTSMAN" SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Hyderabad, Tuesday. Hyderabad is a State one half the size of France with a population of 18,000,000 and a treasure in gold, money, and precious stones which is vaguely estimated at £400,000,000,000. The destiny of the State, the people, and the treasure is at this moment being decided in circumstances which one can only describe as haphazard, confused, and full of oriental mysticism.

Alone of all the Indian States Hyderabad has not acceded to either Pakistan of the Indian Union. It is the largest, the richest, and the most powerful State. And yet there is no British representative whatever here or, for that matter, the representative of any other foreign Power.

Hyderabad has no elected Government. The Opposition is in prison. It governs itself through an ancient feudal monarchy and a British political machine which has now been left running on its own momentum, unsupported, in a void. It is a political wonderland of a kind spectacular even for Asia.

The way of the visiting newspaper correspondent is not easy. HE arrives to find a country which is outwardly more prosperous and tranquil than almost any other in India. These quiet streets are the negation of crisis Neither in the bazaars nor in the Government buildings would you ever guess that Hyderabad is struggling for its existence and even mobilising in a vague sort of way against a possible invasion.

ALL POWERFUL NIZAM

The stranger is received with nothing but kindness. It is only when he begins to make inquiries about what is happening that the facts seem to evaporate in front of him; and presently he begins to realise that no official here can speak with authority, that the only real controller of events is the Moslem ruler himself, His Exalted Highness the Nizam.

And the Nizam is at prayers. He will remain at prayers, mourning the death of the grandson of the Prophet throughout the remainder of this week and part of next week as well. Everything stops for Mohurram, which is the most solemn observance of the Mohammedan Year.

The truth is, of course, that all this State is gripped by the long habit of obedience, of eventless days endlessly repeating themselves as inevitable a Royal house which has ruled in peace for two hundred years.

When the policemen's whistles blow sharply in the streets and the Nizam, a thin and lonely little man in an old hat, comes blowing along in a very old motor car on his way to the Mosque, when one roads on civic buildings "His Exalted Highness's Post office" or "His Exalted Highness's Bank" or "By His Exalted Highness's permission" when one sees the special Hyderabad stamps and the special currency notes when one hears stories of fabulous rooms at the Palace filled with sacks of slowly-decaying pearls guarded by 1500 Arab tribesmen-one must realise that all this has obtained the complete and apathetic acceptance of the people because thins have always been like this.

The modern read London buses, the excellent airport, the telephones, and the clean paved streets are simply a twentieth-century incrustation.

In Hyderabad every other day is a wedding or festival, a mourning or a funeral in the strict Wordsworthian sense; this sets the pace of life. These are the real things. The rest is a matter for the Nizam and for God.

CASE FOR INDEPENDENCE

Nevertheless, it is possible with patience to extract the fact of Hyderabad's case for independence. My authorities for what follows are a number of official letters which passed between Earl Mountbatten and the Nizam, and a talk with Nawab Moin Nawaz Jung, the State's chief negotiator, just before he left for Delhi this week in a last attempt to reach an understanding with Pandit Nehru - Prime Minster of the Dominion of India and Mr. Vallabhbhai Patel (Sardar Patel) Minister for Home and the States.

Hyderabad is different from every other Indian States because it is large and rich - larger and richer than most of the members of the United Nations-because it has a separate treaty with Britain, because it is an island of law and order on this continent, and because 80% of its inhabitants are Hindus and 20% Moslems.

In these circumstances it wishes to remain independent as a third Dominion in India. It is quite prepared, however, to fuse its economy, its defence, its communications, and its foreign policy with India. The only thing it will not give up is its sovereignty. It will not place itself under the entire control of the Government in Delhi.

Hyderabad to go on quoting the official case is being threatened and bullied by Delhi. A blockade, especially in petrol has begun. Indian troops are gathering on its borders in a menacing fashion. It has been deserted by Britain. It can get nothing out of Earl Mountbatten in Delhi but the repeated advice "You should accede to the Dominion of India." And Mr. Vallabhbhai Patel (Sardar Patel)  keeps making threatening speeches.

All this is unethical and unfair. It would be tedious to go into all the rebuttals of these points, all the devious negotiations which have dragged on between Hyderabad and Delhi for the last four months.

They even exhausted the powers of Sir Walter Monckton, the Nizam's legal adviser Sir Walter has returned to England.

What the Nizam is endeavouring to patch up now is a compromise, a standstill agreement which will preserve the status quo for another twelve months but this will solve nothing.

THE REAL ISSUES

To an outsider the real issues appear to be those of force. The Nizam, his ancestors, and a small group of Moslems have maintained power in this Hindu State since the eighteenth century, and they do not want to give it up. They cannot be independent because they have no ports and no effective army. They cannot accede to Pakistan because Pakistan is far away. They observe that the Indian Army has got itself heavily involved in Kashmir and it gives them some hope that they can go on playing for time.

To put it bluntly, the Nizam's best chance lies in the India and Pakistan so weakening them selves by quarreling with one another that they will leave Hyderabad alone.

In many ways one must sympathise with him. He feels, no doubt that the Delhi Government is a ramshackle structure full of political arrivists, communists, and other dangerous cranks.

Why should he surrender to them? Why throw away the traditions and dignities of two hundred years? What guarantees will be given? How shall his treasure be guarded? Will not riots break out between Moslem and Hindu once his power is gone? In the end will he not be forced to abdicate? Why have the British deserted him?

There can be only the gloomiest answers to these questions. And that is why Hyderabad is so peaceful this morning. It is the peace of intense anxiety.

Architect of Swaraj - 6

It was too much even for Gandhi. He wrote to Nehru, the Congress President, while forwarding the award, "It is my view that by his conduct in this matter, Nariman has proved himself unfit to hold any responsible position." Nehru placed the award before the Working Committee which resolved, "The Committee are of the opinion that in view of the findings in this report, and his (Nariman's) acceptance of them and his subsequent recalcitrance, his conduct has been such as to prove him unworthy of holding any position of trust and responsibility in the Congress organization."

Now let us turn to the Khare episode. Dr. Narayan Bhaskar Khare was the Chief Minister of Central Provinces. C. P. comprised Hindi Speaking and Marathi speaking areas. Soon after the Ministry was formed three ministers, namely D. P. Misra, R. S. Shukla and D. K. Mehta withheld their co-operation to their leader Dr. Khare. They charged some of the Ministers of Dr. Khare's cabinet of corruption and nepotism and submitted their resignations. Sardar Patel, however, intervened. He called a meeting on 24th May, 1931 at Panchmarhi and succeeded in resolving their differences. But these again came to the surface and the three Ministers continued to send complaints against Dr. Khare to Patel. They also withheld their co-operation to their leader. Dr. Khare asked them to resign but they refused. Then he tendered his resignation hoping that they too would resign but still they refused to resign. So the Governor asked for their resignations and when they refused their services were terminated. Next day the Governor invited Dr. Khare to form a Government which he did.

Constitutionally Dr. Khare did not do anything undemocratic and the action of the Governor was also not unjust. But the Congress Working Committee took exception to it. The Committee called Dr. Khare and held him guilty of approaching the Governor without first approaching the Congress Working Committee. He was also taken to Gandhi. Khare agreed to resign but declared his intention to contest for the leadership of the Party. This was not acceptable to the Working Committee and Gandhi who held him guilty. The Working Committee and the instance of Patel resolved that Dr. Khare was unworthy to hold any position in the Congress.

In 1939 the Second World War had started. In July, 1940 the position of England had become precarious. The Congress Working Committee offered their help to Britain if India was promised independence after the War. This, however, was not acceptable to Gandhi and he parted company with the Congress. This idea of conditional help was that of Rajaji and Sardar was its firm supporter. Patel had undergo mental anguish. On the one side was his loyalty to Gandhi and on the other side was his faith that non-violence would be of no avail in War time. But the Britishers had no mind to give freedom to India. They told the Congress to settle with the League. The Congress approached the League again and again got and a rebuff from Jinnah.

After the failure of Cripps Mission the Congress passed a resolution calling for the Britishers to quite India. The resolution was passed on the midnight of 8th August 1942 by the All - India Congress committee at Bombay. The resolution sought the withdrawal of British rule from India as an urgent necessity both for India and for the success of the cause of United Kingdom. As anticipated by Sardar Patel, a few hours after the resolution was passed the Government arrested all the important leaders of the Congress.

Lord Wavell, who had replaced Lord Linlithgow, was sympathetic to India. His first step in this direction was the release of all political leaders. He invited a conference of 21 leaders from all parties at Simla. The Conference met at Simla on June 25, 1945. Sardar Patel went to Simla but did not participate in the Conference.

The Conference failed because of Mr. Jinnah. Sardar Patel was unhappy over the failure of the Congress was outlawed Jinnah had used all his energy in strengthening his party. And it had become so powerful that Jinnah had acquired the power of veto in political matters.

India's chances, however, brightened when the Labour Government came to power on July 26, 1945. The Labour Government lost no time and on 19th September, 1945 the Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced that provincial autonomy would be restored to India after the elections, a Constituent Assembly would be set up as soon as possible to frame out future constitution and the Viceroy's Council would be reconstituted in consultation with the principal Indian Parties. This announcement was joyously greeted and the people felt that for the first time Government meant business. Both the Congress and the League started campaigning for the ensuing elections.

 

TO BE CONTINUE…..

Courtesy : ARCHITECT OF SWARAJ
Page – 88-89

Architect of Swaraj – 5

At the Congress session Gandhi announced his decision to resign from the Congress. This decision of Gandhi came as a shock to all the Congress workers. C. Rajagopalachari, Abul Kalam Azad and others appealed to Gandhi to reconsider his decision. Surprisingly, when all were appealing to Gandhi not to leave the Congress, Patel was the only person who supported his decision. On hearing him C. Rajagopalachari remarked, "Gandhiji has many blind followers who will not see anything with their own eyes but only with his. But Sardar Patel is a class by himself as a blind follower. His eyes are clear and bright. He can see everything but he deliberately allows his eyes to be blinded and attempts to see only with Gandhiji's eyes."

Once the Congress had decided to contest the elections, a Parliamentary Sub-Committee was set up with Sardar Patel as Chairman and Rajendra Prasad and Maulana Azad as Members. Patel was entrusted with the task of selecting the right candidates for the ensuing elections. This he did without fear and favour. He disappointed many personal friends and became very unpopular. He was charged with being a Fascist, a Hitler and even a Super Hitler. Some people even asserted that Patel had called himself a Super Hitler. But Patel remained undaunted by these attacks. He simply explained that he had laid down some criteria and that they would be scrupulously adhered to.

Shri C. Rajagopalachari photographed with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. April 28, 1950.[/caption]

Patel also organised a campaign to educate the voters in the value of the vote. The prestige of the Congress was at stake. The Government felt that Congressmen were no longer popular with the masses. Patel was confident of his State - Gujarat. So he devoted all his time and energy to other states. And the results of the 1937 elections were an eye opener. The Congress had swept the polls. In five out of eleven provinces Madras, Bihar, Central Provinces, United Provinces and Orissa - The Congress won and absolute majority. In four states, i.e., N.W.F.P., Bombay, Bengal and Assam it was the largest single party. Only in Punjab and Sind was it in a minority.

The formation of Congress Ministries led to some internal problems of discipline and it led to two episodes - Nariman episode in Bombay and Khare episode in Central Provinces. K.F. Nariman was a well known congressman of Bombay. He was also the President of Bombay Provincial Congress Committee and it was expected that he would be the elected leader of the Congress Party in the legislature. But he was passed over for leadership in favour of B. G. Kher, may be because Nariman had badly let down the Congress in the previous election. Nariman was shocked.

The episode would have ended there had not some Parsi owned newspapers of Bombay taken up the cause of Nariman. The Bombay Samachar and the Sentinel openly wrote that Nariman had been passed over because Patel "brought to bear improper pressure on Members of the Legislature to reject him."

The Press published Nariman's grievances and led a malicious campaign against Patel. Nariman wrote to Jawaharlal Nehru who was the President of the Congress for that year to intervene. Nehru replied to him that he was prepared to place his case before the Working Committee. But Nariman felt that the decisions of the Working Committee would not be impartial. To this Nehru replied rather sternly that "since the Working Committee unfortunately does not enjoy your confidence, you can go to the Privy Council or League of Nations or any other tribunal in which you have confidence." After receiving this rather stiff letter Nariman turned to Gandhi. During his time he was issuing many statements and the Press was carrying on propaganda against Patel. It was even mentioned that Nariman was dropped for he was a Parsi.

Gandhi wanted to end this controversy and wrote to Nariman that he and D. N. Bahadurji were prepared to arbitrate if the tribunal was acceptable to him. Nariman agreed to it. There were two different matters to be enquired into :

1. Nariman's conduct and attitude in 1934 election.


2. Election of leader to Bombay Parliamentary Party in March 1937.

The award or the tribunal was "that the charge against Mr. Nariman in respect of the election of 1934 is proved and the charge made by Mr. Nariman against Sardar Patel is not proved." When the award was shown to Nariman by Gandhi he accepted it. But a week later he rejected the award and said that he had signed it at a time of mental depression.

 

TO BE CONTINUE…..

Courtesy : ARCHITECT OF SWARAJ
Page – 86-87

Architect of Swaraj – 4

He   accepted   the   invitation only when pressed by Gandhi. Many talukas of Maharashtra were threatened with increase in land revenue and the  people sought the opinion of Vallabhbhai Patel. He told them plainly that such campaigns could be successful if the peasants had no fear of the Government and were prepared to suffer.

Next  Patel  was  invited  by  C.  Rajagopalachari   to  be  the President of Tamil Nadu Political  Conference. Sensing the reluctance of Vallabhbhai Patel, he requested  Gandhi to  intervene. Sardar agreed at the instance  of  Gandhi. The Conference was held at Vedaranyam in August. After  the  Conference  he  toured  along with Rajaji all over the province  and  spoke in every village he visited. In almost all his speeches he stressed  the need for constructive work and the futility of shouting slogans, passing resolutions and making speeches. He asked the people to unite and forget their quarrels and bickerings. And when he noticed the controversy between the Brahmins and the non-Brahmins in that province, he was greatly perturbed and said, "Why are you so envious of Brahmins ? What harm have they done ? Do you not know what harm  those other  Brahmins (the British) have done both to you and to these Brahmins ? Those people have come from 5.000 miles to rule over this country and have become the real" Brahmins. They have no caste and yet both you and the Brahmins worship them as if they were Brahmins."

From Tamil Nad  Patel went to Karnatak at the instance of Gangadhar Rao Deshpande who was trying hard to establish a Peasant League there. In all he addressed ten meetings. The main theme of these speeches was that people should give up the fear of Government officers and of jails. He exhorted them to give up foreign cloth and drink and petty quarrels.

When he was delivering these speeches Gangadhar Rao felt as if B.G. Tilak himself was speaking. Earlier, Rajaji too had felt like that. After Karnatak, Patel toured  Bihar for about a fortnight. He was pained to see the peasants suffering endlessly at the bands of zamindars.

Asking them not to fear death, he said, "Why are you afraid of death? Is the zamindar immortal?  One has to die but once. But it is neither for the Government nor the zamindar to say when you are to die. That is in the hands of God."At a meeting he castigated the people of Bihar for having kept their women in purdah. He said "Are you not ashamed that you keep your women in Purdah? Who are these ladies. Your mothers, your sisters, your wives. Do you really believe that only by keeping them in Purdah you can look after their chastity?" He further added, "If I could I would say to these ladies: Rather than be wives to such cowardly husbands, divorce them."

Patel's tours proved very useful. Everywhere he exhorted people to face tyranny and become fearless and thus prepared the masses for the next satyagraha. It also made Patel very popular. When the Lahore session of the Indian National Congress was to be held he was tipped for Presidentship. But he politely declined the offer as Mahatma Gandhi wanted Jawaharlal Nehru to be the President. So Jawaharlal Nehru was elected President though ten provinces had recommended the name of Patel and only three had recommended the name of Nehru.

Patel was not tempted by the lure of office. He devoted his time and energy to educating the people for the forthcoming Civil Disobedience Movement. Gandhi was to commence his Satyagraha March on 12th March from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi along with 78 other followers. Patel was going ahead of Gandhi to rouse the people and prepare them for Civil Disobedience. He told them not to be afraid of jails, not to join the struggle in large numbers and to fill the prisons. When he had gone to address one such meeting at Ras on March 7, he was restrained by Magistrate from addressing the meeting. As he insisted on making the speech he was arrested before he had uttered a sentence and was sentenced to three months and there weeks imprisonment. Patel was released on 26th June and again devoted his time to infusing new spirit in the people. He told them that they would feel more happy in such times to be inside the jail than outside. Patel was again arrested on 1st August for participating in procession to mark Tilak's death anniversary. He was released in November, 1930 and was served with a prohibitory order against making speeches. He delivered a harmless speech on the opening of a khadi bhandar at Bombay. This was quite a good excuse for the Government and they arrested him and sentenced him to 9 months imprisonment. But before he could complete his term he was released in March along with other members of the Congress Working Committee so that they could be in Delhi for consultation with Gandhi who was holding talks with the Viceroy. The outcome of these talks was the Gandhi Irwin pact which was signed on 5th March. According to this Pact,  all political prisoners were released. The Congress agreed to take part in the Second Round Table Conference and called off the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Patel become the President of the Congress session which was held in Karachi at the end of March, 1931. The youth of the country were agitated, for, a day before the Congress session commenced, Bhagat Singh had been executed with his two associate, Raj Guru and Sukhdeo for having murdered a police officer, Mr. Saunders. Bhagat Singh was at that time at the pinnacle of his glory and people had asked Gandhi to exercise his influence with the Viceroy and save his life. Gandhi had tried his best but failed. People resented this and asked Gandhi how, if he could not save Bhagat Singh, he could expect to gain anything with his non-violence.

In his presidential address which was brief, concise and to the point, he said, "You have called a simple farmer to the highest office to which any Indian can aspire."

The most difficult task of the session was to get the Gandhi Irwin Pact approved. Patel told the youth that he was aware that many young friends were deeply hurt by this agreement. He assured them that "if nothing comes out of the Conference the struggle would be resumed. That might mean that we allow six months to slip away." He counselled patience to the youth and said, "Gandhiji is now almost 63 years old, I am 56. Should we, the old,be anxious for Independence or you, the young? because we are interested in seeing India Independent before we die, it is we who are far more anxious, and in a greater hurry than you--why all this impatience."

The young men saw reason and passed the resolution approving Gandhi-Irwin Pact. Strangely enough, Jawaharlal Nehru, who was deadly against this pact, himself moved the resolution. Thus ended the Karachi Session.

As anticipated, nothing came out of the Round Table Conference. Gandhi returned to India on 28th December, 1931 and found that repressive measures had been started in his absence. Both Gandhi and Patel were arrested in Bombay on 4th January, 1932 and both were lodged together in Yeravda Jail.

When Patel was in jail a conference was held at Delhi by the Congress leaders who favoured Council-entry under the chairmanship of Dr. Ansari. Gandhi did not want to stand in their way and issued a statement on 7th April, 1934 suspending Civil Disobedience Movement. Once the Movement was suspended the Government gave up repressive measures and released all political prisoners and also lifted the ban on the Congress.

 

TO BE CONTINUE…..

Courtesy : ARCHITECT OF SWARAJ

Page – 83-85

TODAY THAT DAY : 18 NOVEMBER 1940

India Congress Leader's Arrest

 

Ahmedabad, Sunday.

Mr. Vallabhbhai Patel, chairman of All-India Congress Parliamentary Committee, was arrested today under the Defence Rules.,

It had been reported on Saturday that Mr. Patel was to court arrest by resorting to "Civil Disobedience" by any-war activities.--Reuter.

TODAY THAT DAY : 15 NOVEMBER 1930

DELHI NEWSPAPERS RAIDED

Several police raids were made on Congress premises in Delhi yesterday and property and pamphlets were seized (reports the British United Press)

The branch offices of the India National Congress, the Women's Congress offices, the offices of the "Hindustan Times" and those of the Jawahar Press, as well as the residences of the editor and publisher of the newspapers, were visited and 2,000 copies of a pamphlet were seized.

This pamphlet was entitled "Eight Week's Interlude," and was written by Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, former President of the Indian National Congress, who had been prosecuted for his activities in the passive resistance movement.

Kharak Bahadur Singh, who was with Gandhi in the raid on the Dharsana salt pans, was arrested at the railway station while on his way to meet Mr. Vallabhai Patel at Ahmedabad

DECLARE SARDAR PATEL'S HOME AND SCHOOL IN KARAMSAD AS NATIONAL HERITAGE

Hi,

I wanted to tell you about this petition that I just signed:

"DECLARE SARDAR PATEL'S HOME AND SCHOOL IN KARAMSAD AS NATIONAL HERITAGE"


Palam Airport on April 28, 1950, the Hon'ble Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru stayed on at the airport to receive Mr. C. Rajagopalachari. Here the two ar seen with Miss Maniben Patel, the Hon'ble Sardar Patel , the Hon'ble Gopalaswami Ayyangar and others.

I really care about this cause, and I'd love it if you joined me in supporting it. It's free and takes just a few seconds of your time.
Thanks!

TODAY THAT DAY : 10 NOVEMBER 1950

READS REACH LHASA

Peiping Radio Report

STAFF CORRESPONDENT AND A.A.P.

London, Nov, 9 - Peiping Radio, in a broadcast in Tibetan last night, said that the "People's Army" had entered the Tibetan Capital of Lhasa.

In Lhasa itself an interim regime led by a senior monk Minister. Sawong Lama has replaced the Cabinet of the former Regent Takta Rimpoche.

Partial to the Communists, the new regime is considering Peiping proposals regarding Tibet according to reports.

The proposal provide that : -

• China would not interfere in the internal administration of Tibet but would be responsible for its defense, external affairs, and communications.


• China would station a token force in Lhasa and appoint military advisers to reorganise the Tibetan forces;


• China would not interfere with the Dalai Lama and the Patchen Lama.

The interim regime has ordered the Tibetan troops to offer no resistance to the invading forces.

Meanwhile, in Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh-formerly the United Provinces-security measures have been taken along the two State's borders with Tibet.

NON-RECOGNITION

The Indian Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Sardar Patel, said in New Delhi to-day that India could not recognise the new three year-old King of Nepal.

The boy was proclaimed King on Tuesday after his grandfather, the King of Nepal, took refuge in the Indian Embassy in Katmandu capital of Nepal.

Addressing a public meeting Mr. Patel called on the Indian people to unite and strengthen themselves in the face of "new dangers or fear of dangers" arising from the trouble in Tibet and Nepal.

He said that the internal feud in Nepal had laid wide open India's frontiers in the north to outside danger.

Architect of Swaraj - 3

Architect of Swaraj

It was decided at the session to start civil disobedience movement on a mass scale and it was left to Gandhi to decide when and where the campaign should be launched. At the instance of Vallabhbhai, Gandhi selected Bardoli, for he felt that people of Bardoli were gentle and mild and would not resort to violence when provoked. He along with Vallabhbhai traveled over the entire district of Bardoli to educate them. They had to rouse the people's enthusiasm and yet keep their passions from breaking into violence. Their utterances electrified the people. The people responded enthusiastically. But only a few days after, Gandhi learnt about the outbreak of violence of Chauri Chaura. The police had opened fire on a peaceful procession without any provocation and the mob retaliated by setting fire to the police station and burning to death 21 constables and one young son of a sub-inspector of police. Learning this Gandhi immediately called off civil disobedience for he felt that the nation was not yet ready for non-violent non-cooperation. Many leaders including C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru and Lala -Lajpatrai resented the suspension of the movement when it was at its peak. They called it Gandhi's greatest blunder and protested vehemently against "the ignominious and ill-turned retreat". Patel however felt that Gandhi was right in suspending civil disobedience. He told the people not to question their leader but to follow him. To quote him, "During the struggle do what Gandhiji commands us, if he asks us to rise we shall rise, if he asks us to retreat we shall do so."

Next Borsad claimed the attention of Vallabhbhai, it was his Taluka and it appealed to him for help. This Taluka was infested with dacoits and robbers. Naturally this was going on with the connivance of the police. But the police attributed it to the indifference and cowardliness of the people who did not co-­operate with the police. To set matters right a special force was posted in the Taluka and the people were asked to pay Rs. 240,000 a year which worked out at Rs. 2 and Annas / per person above the age of 16. People resented this punitive tax.

Vallabhbhai himself went to Borsad and found that the superintendent of police was himself involved. He had issued a confidential circular to all the sub-inspectors and head constables "requiring them to turn a blind eye to dacoits and offences committed by Ali, as he had undertaken to assist in the arrest of Barber Deva." The police had even supplied weapons to Ali with which he had committed many murders and dacoities. Vallabhbhai exhorted the people not to pay this punitive tax and at the same time to remain non-violent against all provocations.

The people of Borsad stood firm. The police reacted with vengeance and attached property. This went on for five weeks when Sir Leslie Wilson was appointed Governor of Bombay. He happened to see in a newspaper a report of Vallabhbhai's speech in which he had quoted that confidential letter. He deputed the Home Member to visit the place and find out the facts. The Home Member confirmed that Vallabhbhai's allegations were correct. Thereupon the punitive tax was abolished, extra cost of extra police was to be borne by the Government. Vallabhbhai thanked the Governor of Bombay for this gesture. Gandhi complimented Vallabhbhai by conferring on him the title of "King of Borsad".

From Borsad Bardoli got the attention of Sardar Patel. In Bardoli he addressed a conference which was attended by peasants from nearly 80 villages. He told them that as to the justice of their case he had not the slightest doubt, but he was not sure of their strength. He added, "I shall stand by the side of anyone who is prepared to take risks."

On 6th February Patel addressed a letter to the Governor of Bombay requesting him to order a fresh inquiry as the increase was unjust and arbitrary, and to postpone the recovery of the revised land revenue. He received a curt reply saying that his letter had been sent to the Revenue Department for Disposal. Now the battle had begun. Vallabhbhai devoted all his time and energy to organizing, uniting and rousing the people. He went from village to village. He ate delivered numerous speeches everyday. He organized a publicity department which would issue, and distribute free, his speeches in pamphlets and also a daily news bulletin.

The Government fired their first shot on 15th February by serving notices on 50 Banias to pay the revised land revenue within 10 days. Banias were considered to be weak and mild people and the Government were hopeful that they would yield. But out of the fifty only two paid. When the people learnt of it they were annoyed with the two "black sheep" and wanted to boycott them. But Vallabhbhai told them to remain calm.

Patel moved from village to village and thousands listened to his speeches with devotion. He invited the women of Bardoli also to join the struggle, "for the burnt will have to be borne by them".

When the Government realized that the imposition of fines had no effect on the people it started confiscation of land. Here are some examples; land worth Rs. 40,000 was attached to recover a tax of Rs. 700. In another instance, 33 acres of land worth Rs. 15,000 was confiscated and sold to another buyer for Rs. 161. Again, land worth Rs. 30, 000 was sold for Rs. 115. But still the people remained unperturbed. To crush them the Government resorted to a new expedient of attaching the cattle of the peasantry.

Patel than appealed to Patels and Talatis to resign. At his call 69 out of the 90 Patels and 11 out of 35 Talatis resigned. It was at this time that Vallabhbhai came to be known as the "SARDAR" of the peasants. The appellation stuck to his name for all his life.

When the Government's repressive measures proved to be ineffective then sanity dawned on them. They were frightened that if the Bardoli Satyagraha spread to other parts of India that would be the end of British rule. So they decided to compromise. The government acceded to all the demands of Sardar Patel. The independent inquiry after a thorough investigation recommended an increase of 5.7% as against 22% originally fixed. Thus ended this glorious struggle. The Bardoli struggle was significant from many points of view. It demonstrated to all the world that truth and non-violence cannot be crushed. It compelled the mighty Government, pledged to crush, to yield within a fortnight of the pledge. It was a viceroy for both the Satyagrahis and the Government and that is why both Gandhi and Vallabhbhai congratulated the people as well as the Governor.

Secondly, the Bardoli Satyagraha was a landmark in the history of our freedom movement. It gave a new meaning and significance to the history of Satyagraha in India and paved the way for the future bigger struggle. Thirdly, it projected the personality of Sardar Patel and proved his organizing capacity and ability to lead people.

In March, 1929 Sardar was invited to preside over the fifth Kathiawad Political Conference. He did some plain-speaking by telling the people to speak less and work more.

A couple of months later he was invited to preside at the Maharashtra Political Conference.

TO BE CONTINUE…..

Courtesy : ARCHITECT OF SWARAJ
Page – 80-82

TODAY THAT DAY : 06 NOVEMBER 1947

"CORNER TURNED" IN KASHMIR

RAIDER'S MAIN STRENGTH NOW BROKEN

 

Indian Troops have fought armed raiders near Bagdom, less than ten miles south-west of Srinagar and five miles from the airfield India is using as reinforcement base in Kashmir. "Raider's infiltration tactics against that airfield are reported.

 

New Delhi, Nov 5 - According to New Delhi Radio, Indian Government forces are officially stated to have broken the main strength of the Kashmir raiders says Reuters. The Kashmir Government claimed in Press note that the corner had been turned. The raiders were being steadily pushed back and mopped up in pockets, heavy casualties being inflicted. The Indian Air Force had destroyed much of the raider's equipment. "There is definite proof that Pakistan Army officers are operating with the raiders" the report said.

 

Reliable reports from the North-West Frontier Province said that a Jehad (Moslem holy war) has been

officially declared and that more tribesmen have been seen moving towards Kashmir, "The Times" correspondent says. Raiding tribesmen shunning main roads and swarming down from the hills in thousands, last night launched attack after attack on the airport outside Srinagar, says the "Daily Express" correspondent. The hard pressed defenders held the attacks with long bursts of fire throughout the night. They knew that if the airfield fell their last hope of reinforcements from the Indian Dominion was gone.

As they fought, transport planes came in on each other's tail. Sikh troops jumped from the planes and assembled in battle formation. Thousands of refugees waited to fill their places for the return journey. The Deputy Prime Minister of India (Mr. Patel) and the Defense Minister (Sardar Baldev Singh) arrived by air and conferred on the spot with the head of the Kashmir provisional Government (Sheikh Abdullah) and then flew on to Jammu to meet the Maharajah of Kashmir (Sir Hari Singh).

An Indian Army officer who has returned to New Delhi from Kashmir told the American Associated Press correspondent that the invaders' threat to Srinagar became grave when they developed infiltration tactics against the airfield on Monday night.

Indian troops, through a victory at the village of Pattan on Sunday night, had forced the raiders to abandon their advance along the Baramula-Srinagar road. The raiders broke up and pus their way through to the village of Bagdom and would have gone straight on to Srinagar if Indian troops had not been able to bold them there for several hours.

HEAVY CASUALTIES

 

Indian troops claimed to have inflicted 50 per cent casualties when they engaged a force of 700 armed raiders near Bagdom on Monday night, less than, ten miles south west of Srinagar ad only miles from the airfield that India is using as a reinforcement base.

An Indian communique said that Indian troops were heavily out-numbered but attacked against heavy mortar and machine-gun fire and sustained comparatively light casualties. Air reconnaissance later spotted the corpses of more than 100 raiders.

An Indian Defense Ministry communique said that Indian troops on Monday afternoon, ten miles south west of Srinagar, held the raiders for several hours and inflicted heavy casualties. Parties of armed bandits, were terrorising Srinagar Valley Royal Indian Air Force planes were operatine against the raiders.

RELIEF TRAINS

Another communique said that a shuttle relief of trains during the first three days of November had carried 34,000) Hindus and Sikhs to India from Pakistan and 37,000 Moslems from India. The American Associated Press correspondent says the relief service used nine trains, each carrying between 3,000 and 7,000 refugees packed in and on every inch of space with their belongings-luggage. bedding, dogs, parrots, pigeons, fowls and mongooses.

The British Air Ministry announced today that Royal Air Force Dakotas and York aircraft, working on the relief service for the Indian and Pakistan Governments. carried more than 20,000 passengers between August 15 and October 27. Many flights involved heavily laden planes landing and taking off from abandoned airfields with a minimum of ground organisation.

The Pakistan Government in a statement issued today, accused Indian troops of having opened fire near the Sialkot border on Moslem refugees from Jammu (West Punjab). Home Guards went to the rescue of the refugees and exchanged fire with the Indians. The Pakistan Government also issued a "gazette extraordinary" ordering an non-scheduled aircraft flying over West Punjab to land at Lahore on both outward and homing flights and proceed only after clearance.

EXTERMINATION PLAN

The Prime Minister of Pakistan (Liaquat Ali Khan). in a broadcast today, said that the people of Kashmir were fighting for their freedom and very They had been caught in a widespread plan to exterminate Moslems, he said. The plan had succeeded in all States acceded to India. "Presumably after such an extermination in Kashmir, India proposed to hold a referendum," he continued. "What use is a vote when the voters have been driven from their homes or silenced in death?"

Liaquat Ali said that it was dishonest to present rebellion of enslaved peoples an invasion from outside. India was helping to wipe out the oppressed, enslaved and entrapped people of Kashmir. India had regarded the accession of Junagadh to Pakistan as a threat to India's security.

The accession of Kashmir to India was a much greater threat to the security of Pakistan "We do not recognise this accession." he said. "The choice before the people of Kashmir is freedom or death."

He charged that thousands of Sikhs, on the pretext of being refugees, entered Jammu at the end of September. but they came from East, not from West Punjab, and then "set about the formal business in Jammu and Punch of repeating the horrible drama they enacted in East Punjab."

Referring to reports that "Free Kashmir" troops were armed with modern weapons. Liaquat Ali Khan

said that many of those fighting the invading troops of India came from the 6000 former army men of Punch who were not incapable of capturing arms from their enemies.

The Governor of the North-West Frontier Province (Sir George Cunningham) has refused the request of the Jirga (tribal gathering) of Lower Mohmand tribesmen to go to Kashmir "and save their Moslem

brethren from the tyranny of the Dogra ruler." He told the Jirga to consider the whole m?n.tter without getting excited and assured them that the Pakistan Government would be able to bring about a satisfactory solution of the Kashmir problem.

A Briton, Lieut.-Col. Dykes, was killed on Monday by tribesmen who attacked the convent at Baramula, says Reuters correspondent and apparently lost his life while trying to save his wife. Mrs. Dykes's body was recovered from a well. Their three children are believed to be safe in Rawalpindi.

Khurshid Hassan. the 25-year-old private secretary to the Governor General of Pakistan (Mr. Jinnah)

who on Monday was arrested in Srinagar, was released last night. "My holiday is over, but I can not get out." he said. "I have asked for a plane from Karachi"

Courtesy : The West Australian, Thursday, November 6, 1947