01 Do You Know the facts about Ayurvedic Medicine And Unani Meidcine ?

Fact about Ayurvedic Medicine And Unani Meidcine 

શું તમે જાણો છો?

બ્રિટિશ સરકાર દ્વારા બોમ્બે મેડિકલ એક્ટ ૧૯૧૨ માં આયુર્વેદિક અને યુનાની દવાઓ પર પ્રતિબંધ લગાવ્યો હતો, જેનો વિરોધ  વીર વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલ દ્વારા કરવામાં આવેલ અને તેમની ધારદાર રજૂઆતો અને દલીલો ના કારણે બ્રિટિશ સરકારે બોમ્બે મેડિકલ એક્ટ ૧૯૧૪ માં સુધારો કરવો પડ્યો હતો.

क्या आप जानते हैं?

बॉम्बे मेडिकल एक्ट १९१२ में ब्रिटिश सरकार द्वारा आयुर्वेदिक और यूनानी दवाओं पर प्रतिबंध लगा दिया गया था, जिसका वीर विठ्ठलभाई पटेल ने विरोध किया था और उनकी मजबूत प्रस्तुतियों और तर्कों के कारण ब्रिटिश सरकार को बॉम्बे मेडिकल एक्ट १९१४ में संशोधन करना पड़ा था।

Do you know?

Ayurvedic and Unani medicines were banned by the British Government in the Bombay Medical Act 1912, which was opposed by Veer Vitthalbhai Patel and due to his strong submissions and arguments, the British Government had to amend the Bombay Medical Act 1914.

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Vitthalbhai Patel – 149th Birth Anniversary

વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલ – ૧૪૯ જન્મ જયંતી

વડી ધારા સભાના પહેલા ભારતીય પ્રમુખ અને સરદાર પટેલના મોટાભાઈ

સૌ પ્રથમ તો વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલને લોકો સરદાર પટેલના મોટા ભાઈ તરીકે ઓળખે છે પરંતુ ઘણા ઓછા લોકોને ખબર હશે કે શ્રીયુત શ્રી વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલને “સંસદીય પ્રથા ના જનક” તરીકે વધારે સારી રીતે ઓળખ આપી શકાય, શ્રી વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલના કાર્યો થી આપણે ઘણા અજાણ છે કદાચ આઝાદી થી આજ સુધી તેમના કાર્યોને જાહેર જનતા સુધી કદાચ કોઈ રાજકીય પક્ષો એ ઉજાગર નથી કર્યા કે તેમની વિગતો જાહેર જનતા સુધી પહોચાડવામાં ઉદાસીનતા દાખવી છે.

સામાન્ય રીતે લોકોમાં એવી ચર્ચા છે કે વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલ વલ્લભભાઈ પટેલના નામે આવેલ પત્રમાં V J Patel લખેલ હોવાથી તેઓએ ઇંગ્લેંડમાં એડિમિશન મેળવ્યું. આ માટે વલ્લભભાઈ પટેલે તેમને ઈંગ્લેંડ જવાની પરવાનગી પણ આપી.

ઉપરની વિગતમાં થોડુંક સાચું છે અને થોડીક ગેરસમજ છે. હકીકતમાં વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલ વલ્લભભાઈ પટેલના નામે આવેલ થોમસ કૂક એંડ સન્સ ટ્રાવેલ પરમીટ (ટીકીટ) ઉપર ઈંગ્લેંડ બેરિસ્ટર થવા ગયા. અને આ બાબતે વલ્લભભાઈની પરવાનગી પણ મેળવેલ હતી. વલ્લભભાઈએ પરવાનગી આપતા સમયે સરદાર પટેલે શરત મૂકી કે પોતે દારૂ છોડી દેશે અને વિલાયતમાં કોઈ પણ પ્રકારના વ્યસનમાં નહીં પડે. વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ એ તે શરત માન્ય રાખી.

૬ઠ્ઠી જાન્યુઆરી, ૧૯૧૩ના દિવસે શ્રી વિઠ્ઠલભાઈએ ગવર્નર ઓફ બોમ્બે (આજનું મુંબઈ) ની લેજિસ્લેટિવ કાઉંસિલના શપથ ગ્રહણ કરી તે પદ શોભાવ્યું અને આ પ્રસંગ પછી તેઓ “માનનીય શ્રી વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલ” તરીકે ઓળખાયા. શ્રી વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલે વર્ષ ૧૯૧૪ના સત્રના સૌથી વિવાદાસ્પદ વિધેયકોમાં મહત્વનો ફાળો આપ્યો જેમાં મુખ્યત્વે ધ બોમ્બે ડિસ્ટ્રીક્ટ મ્યુનિસિપલ એક્ટ એમેંડમેંટ બિલ, ટાઉન પ્લાનિંગ બિલ, બોમ્બે લેંડ રેવન્યુ કોડ એમેંડમેંટ બિલ, બોમ્બે પોર્ટ ટ્રસ્ટ બિલ, કરાંચી પોર્ટ ટ્રસ્ટ બિલ માં મહત્વની ભુમિકા અદા કરી, સાથે સાથે પંચમહાલ જિલ્લાના તાલુકા અને જિલ્લા બોર્ડમાં નામાંકન પધ્ધતિના સ્થાને ચુટણી પ્રથાને અમલમાં લાવવા માટેનો ઠરાવ પણ સફળતા પૂર્વક પસાર કર્યો. અને આથી જ તેઓ “ગ્રામ સ્વરાજ ના પ્રણેતા” તરીકે ઓળખાયા.

શ્રી વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલ મેડિકલ એમેંડમેંટ બિલ, પ્રાથમિક શિક્ષણ કાયદો, આયુર્વેદ અને યુનાની ચિકિત્સકોના રક્ષક, રોલેટ એક્ટ, ઈંગલેંડમાં કોંગ્રેસનો પ્રચાર, અસહકાર આંદોલન અને સવિનય કાનૂનભંગ, બોમ્બે મ્યુનિસિપલ કાઉંસિલનો કાર્યકાળ, બોમ્બેના મેયર, સ્વરાજ પક્ષની રચના, હિંદુ મેરેજ એક્ટ, પેશાવર ઈંક્વાયરી કમિટી, કે પછી અમેરીકામાં વિઠઠલભાઈ પટેલના ભાષણો હોય, વગેરે બાબતોમાં જરુર જણાય ત્યાં તેઓએ દેશહિતમાં આક્રમક વલણો પણ અપનાવ્યા છે અને ક્યારેક નરમાશ થી પણ કાર્યો કરેલ છે. એક કિસ્સામાં પોતાના જ સ્વરાજ પક્ષના નેતા શ્રી મોતીલાલ નહેરુનો ખોફ પણ એમણે વહોરી લીધેલો, સ્પીકર તરીકે ચુંટાયા એટલે એમને કરવેરા બાદ કરતાં માસિક રૂ. ૩,૬૨૫નો પગાર મળતો થયો શ્રી વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલ જેમનું જીવન સાદગી અને નિઃસંતાન વિધુર ને આટલી મોટી પગારની રકમનું શું કરવું એમ પ્રથમ નજરે લાગે આથી નેતા શ્રી મોતીલાલ નહેરુ ની ઈચ્છા હતી કે શ્રી વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પોતાના પગાર નો અર્ધો હિસ્સો સ્વરાજ પક્ષમાં આપે. શ્રી વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ એ જે પળે પ્રમુખપદ સ્વીકાર્યું તે જ પળે, મન સાથે જ નિશ્ચય કરેલ કે પક્ષની વિચારસરણી ને પોતે વરેલા ખરા, ભારતના સ્વાતંત્ર્ય ના સેનાની પણ પોતે અચૂક, પણ પક્ષ તરીકે કોઈ પક્ષ સાથે, કોઈ સંબંધ ચિન્હ ટકાવવા નહી. આથી જ તેઓએ પક્ષના સભ્યપદે થી મુક્ત થયા, આવી પરિસ્થિતિમાં તેઓ પોતે ફાળો કેવી રીતે આપી શકે તે સવાલ સ્વાભાવિક પેદા થયો. આ ઉપરાંત વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ નું દિલ્હીનું ઘર એટલે સરોજીની નાયડુંથી માંડી મહાદેવભાઈ દેસાઈ જેવા કેટલાય રાષ્ટ્રીય કાર્યકરો નું વિરામ સ્થળ. બહોળી મહેમાન ગતિ અને વિશાળ નિવાસસ્થાન જે ૨૦, અકબર રોડ, દિલ્હીમાં આવેલ જ્યાં આજે લોકસભા ના સ્પીકર શ્રી ઓમ બિરલાનું નિવાસસ્થાન છે. 

આ નિવસાસ્થાનમાં શરૂઆતમાં શ્રી વિઠ્ઠલભાઈને સારી એવી રકમ રાચરચીલામાં ખર્ચવી પડી હતી અને છ માસને અંતે એમને સમજાયુ કે માળી, નોકરોના મોટા કાફલા અને પોતાના મોભાને યોગ્ય સામાજિક ખાણી પીણીને નિભાવવા, માસિક બે હજાર જોઈએ. એટલે બાકી ના માસિક રૂ. ૧૬૨૫ એમણે મહાત્મા ગાંધીને મોકલી આપ્યા. એમને ઈચ્છા થાય તે રીતે જનકલ્યાણની પ્રવૃત્તિમાં વાપરવા માટે અને આ વાત મોતીલાલ નહેરૂને પસંદ નહોતી અને આથી જ તેમણે આ રકમ પર પક્ષનો દાવો પોતાના રોષ સાથે કર્યો. અને આ તરફ મહાત્મા ગાંધીજી એ આ રકમ કેટલાય સમય સુધી વાપરી નહોતી આ કારણે પણ મોતીલાલ નહેરૂનો રોષ યથાવત રહ્યો. પરંતુ સમયાંતરે ગાંધીજીએ મોતીલાલ નહેરૂની સંમતિથી આ રકમ રાષ્ટ્રહિતમાં વાપરી અને પ્રતિમાસ વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ રૂ. ૧૬૨૫ ગાંધીજીને મોકલાવતા રહ્યા. 

સરદાર પટેલને બેરિસ્ટર જતાં સમયે દારુ કે અન્ય વ્યસન બાબતે જે વચન વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ એ આપેલું તે તેમણે આજીવન પાળ્યું. ૧૫ નવેમ્બર ૧૯૨૭ ના રોજ તેમણે વડી ધારાસભાના પ્રમુખ હોવાના કારણે નવા વાઈસરૉય લોર્ડ અરવિંન ને  સ્વાગત સમારંભ માટે દારુ સિવાયના ભોજન સમારંભ માટે આમંત્રણ આપ્યું અને આ આમંત્રણ લોર્ડ અરવિંન દ્વારા સ્વીકાર્યા બાદ, સમારંભ પૂરો થયાના બીજા દિવસે કોર્પોરેશનમાં તેમણે સુધારો દાખલ કર્યો અને તે મુજબ કોર્પોરેશન હોલમાં આલ્કોહોલિક પીણાં પર પ્રતિબંધ હતો. તે અંગેનો ઠરાવ પસાર કરવામાં આવ્યો હતો. આ પહેલા એવો રિવાજ હતો કે દર વર્ષે પ્રમુખ નાં ભોજનનું આયોજન કોર્પોરેશન હૉલમાં પ્રાંતિય ગવર્નર ને મુખ્ય અતિથિ તરીકે રાખીને કરવામાં આવતું હતું અને તેમાં સૌથી વિશિષ્ટ વાઇનનો વિપુલ પ્રવાહ વહેતો હતો. તેનો અર્થ દેખીતી રીતે યજમાન માટે નોંધપાત્ર ખર્ચ હતો. આ ઠરાવનું એક સુખદ પરિણામ એ આવ્યું કે આ રાત્રિભોજનો પોતે જ બધા સમય માટે સદંતર બંધ કરી દેવામાં આવ્યો.

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A Great Patriot - Shriyut Vithalbhai Patel

A Great Patriot - Shriyut Vithalbhai Patel

It gives me great pleasure to be here today to release the commemorative postage stamp issued in honour of Shri Vithalbhai Patel on the occasion of his birth centenary. I am glad to have this opportunity to pay my homage to the memory of a great patriot and freedom fighter, and a great parliamentarian. It is very appropriate that this function should be held in the Central Hall of the Parliament House where Vithalbhai Patel made history as the first Indian Speaker of the Central Assembly.

The main points of Vithalbhai Patel's life are well known. He was born one hundred years ago, in a humble family, at Karamsad. After schooling he studied law in the Gokhale Institute at Bombay. After passing the Pleaders' Examination he started legal practice the Pleaders' Examination he started legal practice and made a name as an able and successful lawyer. Later he proceeded to England where he pursued legal studies further, and was called to the Bar in 1908. On return to India he setup legal practice in Bombay, but this was only a brief prelude to his entry into active public life.

His achievements as a member of the Borsad Taluk Board, the Kaira District Local Board and the Corporation of Bombay were noteworthy, and were followed by even greater achievements in the Bombay Legislative Council and later, in the Central Legislature at Delhi.

Vithalbhai Patel, along with his equally illustrious brother, Vallabhbhai, was the inheritor of a tradition to fearless sacrifice and patriotic service for the cause of the nation. He was closely associated with the freedom struggle during the early decades of the present century, and has lefft the impress of his great personality on the history of those times.

Vithalbhai Patel was elected to the Imperial Legislative Council in 1918 and to the Central Legislative Assembly in 1924. He was indeed an outstanding pioneer of parliamentary life in our country who appears to have had a prescience of the vital position which Parliament would acquire in Independent India. As the first Indian to be elected as President of the Central Assembly in 1925, he displayed an ability and independence which made his five year tenure memorable and historic. Fearless, firm and impartial, his rulings from the Chair were marked by a profound knowledge of Parliamentary procedure and rules and have created, for posterity, very sound and valuable traditions and practices. He was an intellectual force, had sturdy judgment and a most remarkable independence of character. He held this high office with unique distinction until his resignation on political grounds. When he died on October 23, 1933, at Geneva, India lost one of its greatest sons, and the people mourned the loss of a veteran leader of rare integrity. But the spirit of the great man still lives to inspire and guide us in our endeavours to reach our goal of unity, prosperity and strength.

I congratulate the Department of Posts and Telegraphs on the scheme they have been following of honouring the memory of great men and women through memorial postage stamps. These stamps are permanent and valuable mementos cherished by all people whether they are philatelists or not. In view of the importance and popularity of these tokens the P&T Department could perhaps consider whether the stamps can be improved in quality. I understand that there are already some sophisticated processes available for this purpose and that if they are used, it would be possible to improve the quality of our stamps even further.

I have now much pleasure in releasing the Vithalbhai Patel Commemorative Stamp.

Jai Hind

Speech of Shri G. S. Pathak. the Vice-President of India on the occasion of the release of Vithalbhai Patel commemorative postage stamp at the Central Hall of Parliament House, on the 27th September, 1973.

Reference : Vithalbhai Patel Birth Centenary

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Tribute to Shri Vithalbhai Patel - 22-10-2020

Tribute to Shri Vithalbhai Patel - 22-10-2020

વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલ પોતાના પુરુષાર્થ અને હોશિયારીથી “બેરિસ્ટર વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ” તરીકે મુંબઈ (તે સમયે બોમ્બે) હાઈકોર્ટમાં ખ્યાતનામ થયેલ વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ હવે પ્રજાસેવક “માનનીય શ્રી વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ” તરીકે ઓળખાવા લાગ્યા. વિઠ્ઠલભાઈના તે સમયના સાથીદારો મુખ્યત્વે સર ફિરોજશાહ મહેતા, ગોકુલદાસ કહાનદાસ પારેખ, ઈબ્રાહીમ રહીમતુલ્લા, સર રઘુનાથરાવ પરાંજપે, સર લલ્લુભાઈ શામળદાસ અને સર ચીમનલાલ સેતલવાડ હતા. ધારાસભાની કાર્યવાહીમાં પ્રશ્નો કેમ પૂછવા, ઠરાવો કેવી રીતે રજુ કરવા, સુધારા કેવી રીતે રજુ કરવા, વધારાના પ્રશ્નો ક્યારે અને કેવી રીતે પુછી શકાય આમ આખી કાર્યવાહી પર પકડ કેવી રીતે મજબુત કરાય તે માટે વિઠઠલભાઈ એક અભ્યાસી જીવન શરૂ કર્યુ અને તેઓ સવારથી સેક્રેટેરિયેટ લાયબ્રેરીમાં અને બોમ્બે પ્રેસીડેંસી અસોસિયેશન લાયબ્રેરીમાં અભ્યાસ કરતા.

વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલ પોતાની બાજ નજરે આખા પ્રાંતના વહીવટ પર નજર રાખતા અને જરા પણ ગરબડ, ગેરવહીવટ, કે શંકાસ્પદ કાર્ય ઘ્યાન આવે તો એન વિશે પ્રશ્નો પૂછી વહીવટકર્તાઓને મુશ્કેલીમાં મુકી દેતા, એમના સવાલોની સંખ્યા અને ધારાસભાના કુલ સભ્યોએ પુછેલ પ્રશ્નોની સંખ્યા સરખાવીએ તો વિઠ્ઠલભાઈના પ્રશ્નોની સંખ્યા વધારે રહેતી, એક વર્ષેતો કુલ પ્રશ્નોનો મોટોભાગ જ વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ એકલાનો હતો. એક પ્રસંગે તો બે ગોરા અફસરોએ એક ભારતીય નાગરીકને તુમાખીમાં માર્યો, અને આની જાણ વિઠ્ઠલભાઈને થઈ એટલે, તેમણે ધારાસભામાં જ પ્રશ્ન કર્યો કે સરકારે આ અફસરો સામે શું પગલા લીધા જેથી એવા વર્તનનું પુનરાવર્તન ન થાય? ધારાસભામાં વિઠ્ઠલભાઈના આ સવાલે તો સરકારને અવઢવમાં મુકી દીધી અને આખરે જાહેરમાં કબુલવુ પડ્યુ કે આવી વર્તણૂક શરમજનક છે અને ગૌરવઘાતક છે.હોમરૂલ લીગના આદ્યસ્થાપક શ્રીમતી એની બેસેંટની ધરપકડ થઈ ત્યારે વિઠ્ઠલભાઈએ પ્રશ્નોનો મારો ચલાવી સરકારને ફરી કફોડી સ્થિતિમાં મુકેલ.

સરકારી બિલો પર સુધારાનો કાર્યક્રમ તેમણે ધારાસભાની ત્રીજી બેઠકથી શરૂ કરી. આ બેઠકોમાં તેમણે મહત્વના સુધારા રજુ કર્યા જેમા આબકારી કાયદો, ટાઉન પ્લાનિંગનો ધારો, મહેસૂલી કરના સુધારો, દરેક પર સુધારાઓ રજુ કર્યા અને તેમના થકી આશરે ૬૫ જેટલા સુધારાઓને રજુઆત માટે કરેલ વક્તવ્યથી તો એક ગોરા સભ્ય તો અધીરા થઈ ગયા અને વારંવાર કાનુની મુદ્દા રજુ કરી દખલ કરવા માંડી પરંતુ તેમા ફાવટ ન આવી અને વિઠ્ઠલભાઈએ આ બાબતે કરેલ અભ્યાસ ના કારણે ગવર્નરે પણ નમતુ જોખવુ પડેલ. 

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Vithalbhai and Vallabhbhai's cherished dream to go to England

Vithalbhai and Vallabhbhai's cherished dream to go to England

It was Vallabhbhai's cherished dream to go to England and call at the Bar. Within three years of his setting up practice at Borsad, Vallabhbhai made enough money to pursue his studies in England. So in 1905, he wrote for passage to Thomas Cook & Sons. The Company's last reply addressed as "V. J. Patel" fell into the hands of his elder brother Vithalbhai, as both of them bore the same initials. Vithalbhai too was toying with the idea of going to England. And this was the golden opportunity! he, therefore, persuaded the younger brother to stave off his plan till he himself returned from England after calling at the Bar. Vallabhbhai not only surrendered his passport to Vithalbhai but also met his entire expenses in England. Not only that, he invited Vithalbhai's wife to stay with them and when he saw that his sister-in-law and his wife would not carry on in peace, he sent his own wife to her parents till Vithalbhai returned from England.

Reference : This was Sardar

Speaker of Assembly - Vithalbhai Patel

Speaker of Assembly - Vithalbhai Patel

વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલ 

ચરોતરના કુલીન ગણાતા કરમસદ ગામનાં પાટીદાર દંપતી ઝવેરભાઈ અને લાડબાઈ પટેલને ત્યાં વિઠ્ઠલભાઈનો જન્મ ૨૭ સપ્ટેમ્બર ૧૮૭૩ના રોજ થયો. માતાની સહનશીલતા અને પિતાની નિશ્ચયવૃત્તિ તેમને વારસામાં પ્રાપ્ત થયેલા, અને એજ ગુણ તેમના નાના ભાઈ અને ભારતના લોખંડી પુરુષ સરદાર વલ્લભભાઈ પટેલના જીવનમાં પણ વણાયેલ. વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ કરમસદ ગામની ધૂળી નિશાળમાં પાંચ વર્ષની ઉમરે પ્રવેશ કર્યો, આ શાળા આધુનિક સાધનોથી સજ્જ કે આલીશાન નહોતી પરંતુ મહેતા સાહેબની નિષ્ઠા આ શાળામાં હતી અને તેજ છાપ વિઠ્ઠલભાઈના કુમળા મન પર પણ પ્રભાવ પાડી રહી હતી અને તેથી જ તેઓ પોતાના કામને કર્તવ્યનિષ્ઠ અને વફાદાર રહ્યા.

ડીસ્ટ્રીક પ્લીડરની પરીક્ષા પાસ કરી વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલે પંચમહાલ જિલ્લાના ગોધરામાં વકીલાત શરૂ કરી. વિઠ્ઠલભાઈને શરૂઆતમાં ખુબજ કઠીણાઈનો સામનો કરવો પડ્યો પરંતુ પોતાની કુનેહથી અને કાયદાના ઝીણવટ ભર્યા અભ્યાસના કારણે સફળતા મળવા લાગી અને ફોજદારી વકીલ તરીકે તેઓ પ્રખ્યાત થઈ ગયા. જવાબદાર વકીલ હોવાની સાથે સાથે તેઓ નીડર પણ એટલા જ હતા.

વિઠઠલભાઈ એ જ્યારે બોરસદમાં પોતાની વકીલાત શરૂ કરી ત્યાં પણ તેમને સફળતા અને ખ્યાતી મળતા વાર ન લાગી. તેમની ગોધરાની કારકીર્દી અગાઉથી જ બોરસદમાં પ્રસરી ગયેલ આથી ફોજદારી કેસોનો જમાવડો વધવા લાગ્યો આથી તેમણે વલ્લભભાઈને પણ બોરસદ બોલાવી લીધા. તેમના અભ્યાસ અને આવડતના કારણે મુશ્કેલ જણાતા કેસો પણ પલકવારમાં જીતી જતા. આમ બન્ને ભાઈની જુગલજોડીએ સરકારી તંત્ર અને પોલીસખાતાને રાડ પડાવી દીધી. ક્યારેક તો બન્ને ભાઈઓ સામ સામે પક્ષકારોના વકીલ તરીકે ઊભા રહેતા અને તે સમયે તેઓની રજુઆત અને દલીલો સાંભળવા વકીલમંડળ ઉપરાંત જનસમૂહના કારણે કોર્ટનો રુમ ભરાઈ જતો.

એક સમયે તો સરકારને લાગ્યું કે તાલુકાનું પોલીસતંત્ર બન્ને ભાઈઓથી પરાસ્ત થયેલ છે, એમની શેહમાં દબાઈ ગયું, એટલે બોરસદની ફોજદારી કોર્ટ આણંદ ખસેડી, પણ આ સ્થળફેરની યોજના પણ કારગત ન નીવડી. બન્ને ભાઈઓ બોરસદથી આણંદ પહોચી કેસ લડી જીતી જતા. અને સરકારને પણ બોરસદથી આણંદનો ખર્ચો, ભાડા ભથ્થા, વધવા લાગ્યા એટલે વળી પાછા થાકીને આણંદથી કોર્ટ બોરસદ બદલી અને આ રીતે બન્ને ભાઈઓની વચ્ચે સરકાર પીસાતી જ રહી.

શ્રી શુક્લ નામના બોરસદના સબ-જજ જેઓ ભારે લાંચિયા અને માથાભારે હતા. તેમની ગેરરીતિઓનો તો કોઈ પાર નહી. એક રીતે બેલગામ સબ-જજ તરીકે જાણીતા હતા. એક સમયે વિઠ્ઠલભાઈના હાથમાં શ્રી શુક્લના કરતુતોના સબુત હાથ લાગ્યા અને પછી તો પુછવુ જ શું, તેમણે છડેચોક શુક્લ વિરુધ્ધ પ્રવૃત્તિ આરંભી અને મુંબઈ હાઈકોર્ટમાં અરજી કરી, રજુઆત એટલી સબળ હતી કે મુંબઈ કોર્ટે તે સ્વીકારવું જ પડ્યુ અને તપાસના આદેશો અપાયા. આશરે દસ મહીના સુધી કાર્યવાહી સુરત મુકામે ચાલી અને વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ દરેક સમયે હાજર રહી જરૂરી વિગતો અને પુરાવા રજુ કર્યા. પરિણામે શુક્લ સામે આરોપ પુરવાર થયો અને મુંબઈ કોર્ટે થોડી રહેમદીલી દાખવી ફક્ત એક વિકલ્પ શુક્લને આપ્યો કે જાતે રાજીનામું આપો નહીતો સરકાર તમને બરતરફ કરશે. આ પછીતો માથાભારે અમલદારોની અવળચંડાઈ પટેલ બેલડી રહી ત્યાં સુધી અટકી ગઈ અને તેઓ પ્રજાના માનીતા વકીલ બન્યા.

તેમની નિડરતાના તો અનેક પ્રસંગો છે. વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પટેલ સ્પીકર પદે ચૂંટાયા પરંતુ તેમની કામગીરી ખુબ કઠણ હતી. એક તરફ સ્પીકરની સરખામણી હાઉસ ઓફ કોમન્સના સ્પીકર તરીકે થાય અને બીજી તરફ સરકાર ધારાસભાને જવાબદાર નહી. આથી ધારાસભાના સભ્યોનો મોટો ભાગ પ્રજાકીય દ્રષ્ટિબિંદુને સ્વતંત્ર રીતે રજુ કરી નહોતો શકતો. આવા સંજોગોમાં સ્પીકરપદનું ગૌરવ અને મોભો તથા તટસ્થતા જાળવવી અને સરકારથી પર રહી ઉત્તમ પાર્લામેંટરી પ્રણાલી જાણવી રાખવી તે હિંમતભર્યુ હતુ.

વિઠ્ઠલભાઈએ તો થોડા જ સમયમાં પોતાની શક્તિનો પરચો બતાવી દિધો. ધારાસભાની શરુઆત થાય એટલે સામાન્ય રીતે વાઈસરોય સભાગૃહને સંબોધન કરે અને આ સંબોધન શાહી ઠાઠ, અને દબદ્બાયુક્ત રહેતો, વાઈસરોય પોતે દરબારી પોશાકમાં પ્રવેશે અને ત્યારે પ્રમુખે પોતાની ખુરશી ખાલી કરવી પડતી અને નીચે આવી સૌ સભ્યો સાથે અલગ આસન ગ્રહણ કરવુ પડતુ. અને વાઈસરોય સ્પીકરની ખુરશી પર બિરાજમાન થઈ પોતાનું પ્રવચન આપતા. દબદબો તો એવું પુરવાર કરે કે વાઈસરોય ધારાસભાના કે ધારાસભા ગૃહના વડા હોય અને ધારાસભાના પ્રમુખે વાઈસરોયને પોતાના ઉપરી તરીકે સમજવા. સ્વતંત્ર મિજાજી, સ્વાભિમાની એવા વિઠ્ઠલભાઈથી આ સહન કરી શકાય તેમ નહોતું, અને તેમણે વાતવાતમાં વાઈસરોયને કહેવડાવી પણ દીધું કે જ્યારે વાઈસરોય પ્રવચન કરવા સભાખંડમાં પ્રવેશે ત્યારે સ્પીકર પોતાની ખુરશી નહી છોડે, અને વાઈસરોયે સ્પીકરની ચેમ્બરમાંથી જ ધારસભામાં પ્રવેશ કરવો પડશે. આ વાતે તો જાણે વિઠ્ઠલભાઈએ બોમ્બ વાઈસરોય ઉપર ફોડ્યો હોય તેમ સરકારી વર્તુળોમાં ફફડાટ પ્રવેશી ગયો. વાઈસરોયની સત્તા પરનો કાપ અને સ્પીકરનો ધારાસભા પર સંપુર્ણ સ્વીકાર, સરળતાથી ગળે ઉતરે તેમ નહોતો તેમ છતાં વિઠ્ઠલભાઈના સ્વભાવથી પરીચિત તેમને પડકારવા તૈયાર નહોતા. નોકરશાહીએ વિઠ્ઠલભાઈને મનાવવા ખેડા જિલ્લાના એક માજી કલેક્ટર અને તત્કાલીન સરકારના મધ્યસ્થી એવા એક ઉચ્ચ અધિકારીને વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ પાસે મોકલ્યા અને તેમણે વિનંતી કરી કે વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ આટલો વખત આ આગ્રહ છોડી દો અને હંમેશ માફક લશ્કરી દબદબા સાથે વાઈસરોયની સવારીનો કાર્યક્રમ હેમખેમ પતાવી દેવો. અને આ કાર્યક્રમ પછી વાઈસરોય પોતે આ પધ્ધતિમાં વિઠ્ઠલભાઈની મરજી મુજબ વ્યાજબી ફેરફાર કરશે તથા વિઠ્ઠલભાઈને ફરીયાદ રહેશે નહી. પરંતુ વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ આવી નોકરશાહી ટાળટપ્પા નિતિથી પરિચિત હતા અને તેઓ પોતે આવી તક જવા દેવા રાજી નહોતા. માજી કલેક્ટરે ખુબ વિનંતિ કરી પરંતુ વિઠ્ઠલભાઈ એક્ના બે ન થયા અને પરિણામે વાઈસરોયે સ્પીકરની ચેમ્બરમાં થઈ ધારાસભામાં પ્રવેશ કોઈ પણ ઠાઠ, દબદ્બા વગર કરવો પડ્યો. વિઠ્ઠલભાઈએ પોતાના પદની ગરિમા અને સ્પીકરના પદને શોભાવે તેવુ કાર્ય નિડરતાથી કર્યુ.

આવા વિઠ્ઠલભાઈનો આજે ૨૭ સપ્ટેમ્બર ૨૦૧૯ના રોજ જન્મદિવસ છે. ગર્વ છે આવા નિડર ભારતીય ઉપર.

Mr. V. J. Patel elected as members of the Bombay Legislative Council - VITHALBHAI PATEL

THE HON. MR. V. J. PATEL ELECTED AS MEMBERS OF THE BOMBAY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

The Hon. Mr. V. J. Patel has been elected by the non official members of the Bombay Legislative Council to the seat in the Imperial Legislative Council rendered vacant by the elevation of Sir Ibrahim Rahimutulla to the membership of the Executive Council of the Governor of Bombay. The election was unanimous, there being no other candidate. Mr. Patel is sure to make his mark in the larger sphere to which he is now called. A quiet, unpretentious worker, his grasp on our public questions is firm and vigorous. He is not addicted to heroics of any kind such as do duty for industry and capacity in the case of some of our legislators.

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

THE MEDICAL AMMENDMENT BILL

We are really sorry that the BIll to amend the Medical Registration Act, which tbe Hon. Mr. V. J. Patel introduced in the Bombay' Legislative Council, was thrown ont on its first reading. The voting was 20 for and 24 against the Bill. A rather amusing incident occurred when the Council passed to the next item of business. Mr. Patel asked the PresIdent whether the three gentlemen who had been appointed to the Council as “experts" for the special purpose of the Medical Bill, were entitled to take part in tbe other business before the Counctl. His Excellency replied that they were not, and the three gentlemen had to make a hasty exit from the Council Chamber. But for tbese three gentlemen,
the majority against Mr. Patel's Bill would have been only one. The position of the “expert" nominated in such circumstances is somewhat ridiculous, and we hope that, in future, whenever "experts" are appointed, it may be possible to so arrange things as to enable them to make their exit in a less conspicnous manner. We have beard some flippant Similes regarding the part of the three medical "experts" at the legislatIve fanction in connection with the Medical Bill, and it is due to the gentlemen whom Government are pleased to honour in that way that they should not be exposed to cheap raillery. The provision in Mr. Patel's Bill which evoked opposition was that which sought to exclude expressly the study, practice, management of institutions, and professional association with practitioners, of “the Ayorvedic, Unani, or other indigenous systems of medicine," from the category of “infamous conduct" under the Act. The Medical Council in Bombay seems to have taken action against a gentleman who conducts an Ayurvedic College for "infamons conduct," and the Bill sought to provide against similar contingencies in future. Sir Mahadev Chaubal’s argument that there is an appeal against the Medical Council’s decision to Government, and against Government’s decision to the High Court, is not to the point which is that it is improper for a body of medical men exclusively of one school, organised under the auspices of and subsidised by Government, to declare it “infamous” conduct on the part of any medical man even to associate as a consultant with an Ayurvedic or Unani practitioner. “Infamous” of course, has a technical significance, but even so, if this pretension does not mean that the Ayurvedic and Unani doctors are to be ragarded as “untonchables” and pariahs of the profession, we do not know what it does mean. The phrase “or other indigenous systems of medicine” was, of course vague and lent itself easily to attack. Sir Mahadev Chaubal took advantage of it and raised, or attempted to raise, a laugh in the Council by referring to naka dolacha vaidya, wayside eye doctors, who, according to the Hon. Member, swarmed about the gates of Government House in Poona, as likely to be included in Mr. Patel’s category. If it is the fact that these vaidyas haunt the road near Government House, His Excellency, with his constant consideration for those needing help, as splendidly illustrated by his placing Government House at Mahableshwar at disposal of the families of officers who have gone to the front, will, perhaps, consider the desirability of establishing an eye hospital or dispensary in the neighbourhood of Government House whose splendours would seem to have an injurious effect on the eyes of those who frequent its vicinity. If Sir Mahadev had been less anxious to score a superficial point, and more desirous of helping to improve this piece of entirely reasonable legislation, he might have suggested to Mr. Patel, in Select Committee, to insert the word “recognised” in the loosely-worded phrase. “Other recognised indigenous systems,” will mean systems which have a literature behind them, and which are taught and learnt in a systematic manner. The result of the voting in the Council on Mr. Patel’s Bill is to leave matters worse than they were before it was introduced. The Ayurvedic and Unani systems have been pronounced by several speakers, official and other, to be quackery. The average man, no doubt, will still prefer to be healed by a quack to die unattended out of deference to the susceptibilities of the Medical Council. He will not be deterred by the verdict of the Council from resorting to the practitioner who can treat his ailments at a charge within his means. We have ourselves known at least one case, for which practitioners of the official system could do nothing, so thoroughly cured by an indigenous doctor (a Mahomedan) that subsequest of medical examination by the official doctors failed to reveal the least trace of the rheumatism. When the whilom suflerer told the examiners that he has had a bad attack of rheumatism they said it could not have been rheumatism, as every attack leaves some trace of it on the patient’s heart. This Mahomedan gentleman, belonged to the family of hereditary physicians to the Raja of Taujore. He was not himself a direct descendant but he had married the daughter of the Court Physician. This lady had acquired such a competent know ledge of her father’s science that when her husband, the practitioner, felt any difficulties about a case, he used to go behind the curtain which separated his zenana from his consulting room, and take the advice of his wife as to the course of treatment to be followed.

 

The only effect of the Bill being thrown out by the Council, will be to dater the medical graduates of our Universities from interesting themselves in the indigenous systems. This is a pity, because it is they that can best sift the chaff from the grain, and assimilate to Medical Science, which belongs neither to the East nor to the West, all that is valuable in the Indian systems. Any one who ventures to openly associate himself with Ayurvedic or Unani studies may be branded for “infamous conduct”. but we are sure that this will not deter all of them from taking up the study of the old systems. Even if there is nothing in them, it is better to have it conclusively established that this is the case. We, of course, have no sympathy with orthodoxy in any form. We have been recently reading a very suggestive work entitled “Professionalism and Originality,” in which the writer maintains that professionalism kills originality. Qualified medical men who are stigmatised as quakes, because of their study of the indigenous systems, may take comfort from the fact that the great Pasteur had to suffer similar indignity at the hands of the professionals of his time. Nobody wants to supersede modern anatomy or surgery by the ancient methods. But there are other departments of the healing art, in regard which modern medical science is quite as empirical as the more ancient systems. It is here that the study of the indigenous systems is likely to be most fruitful. His Excellency th Governor threw out the suggestion that the indigenous systems must have their own seperate organisation. This can be done only if Government extend to them some measure of patronage as in the case of the modern orthodox system. His Highness the Nizam’s Government supports both the modern and the indigenous systems by official recognition and liberal grants. We should be glad if the Government of Bombay follow this excellent example. Only in that case, can His Excellency’s suggestion become a practical proposition.

 

Indian Social Reformer : October 14, 1917 Page : 76

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

TODAY THAT DAY : 27 - 28 OCTOBER 1933 (Death of Shri Vithalbhai Patel - 22nd October 1933)

VITHALBHAI PATEL

(27 September 1873 – 22 October 1933) 

GANDHI LOSES AN ALLY

First Indian President of the Legislative Assembly (1925). Died October 22, 1933. The first Swarajist President of the Bombay Corporation. Visited U.S.A. and Irish Free State to denounce the British Raj.

MR. V. J. PATEL DIES IN SWITZERLAND (22nd October 1933)

Mr. Vithalbhai J. Patel, the former President of the Indian Legislative Assembly, who has been lying seriously ill in a nursing home near Nyon (Lake Geneva), died on Sunday.

He remained conscious to the last, and his last works were : "BEFORE I DIE I PRAY FOR INDIA'S FREEDOM".

By the death of Mr. Patel, a barrister by profession, India  losses a staunch Swarajist and an ardent believer in the non-violence movement.

For a number of year he was Secretary of the Indian National Congress, and in the capacity came to England to give evidence in connection with the Montague-Chelmsford reforms in 1919. He was also a successful Mayor of Bombay.

A close collaborator with Gandhi he joined him in launching the second civil disobedience movement in 1931 and was twice arrested.

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TODAY THAT DAY : 27 - 28 OCTOBER 1933 (Death of Shri Vithalbhai Patel - 22nd October 1933)

VITHALBHAI PATEL
(27 September 1873 – 22 October 1933) 

First Indian President of the Legislative Assembly (1925). Died October 22, 1933. The first Swarajist President of the Bombay Corporation. Visited U.S.A. and Irish Free State to denounce the British Raj.

MR. V. J. PATEL DIES IN SWITZERLAND (22nd October 1933)

Mr. Vithalbhai J. Patel, the former President of the Indian Legislative Assembly, who has been lying seriously ill in a nursing home near Nyon (Lake Geneva), died on Sunday.

He remained conscious to the last, and his last works were : "BEFORE I DIE I PRAY FOR INDIA'S FREEDOM".

By the death of Mr. Patel, a barrister by profession, India  losses a staunch Swarajist and an ardent believer in the non-violence movement.

For a number of year he was Secretary of the Indian National Congress, and in the capacity came to England to give evidence in connection with the Montague-Chelmsford reforms in 1919. He was also a successful Mayor of Bombay.

A close collaborator with Gandhi he joined him in launching the second civil disobedience movement in 1931 and was twice arrested.

Architect of Swaraj - 2

Architect of Swaraj

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel 

Gandhi and Patel made a strong team as President and Secretary of the Gujarat Sabha. Earlier it used to meet once a year and would pass resolution and submit some petitions to the Government. But now it was decided to set up an executive committee with Gandhi as Chairman and Patel as Secretary which would function with a fixed program for the welfare of the masses. Under the Secretaryship of Patel the Sabha rendered service to the people of Gujarat in time of distress. When in 1917 plague broke out in Ahmedabad, Patel organized an anti-plague campaign. People looked to him with confidence to organize the relief measures. No single man in our country organized with so unfailing a success so many and so extensive relief measures in natural calamities as Patel did.

Patel as Secretary of the Gujarat Sabha took up the question of forced labour. Patel wrote three letters to Mr. Pratt, the then Commissioner of Northern Division, to ascertain the Government views on the subject. When nothing materialized he published and distributed leaflets among , villagers to educate them against forced labour. It had the desired effect and people began to press for payment for the services rendered. This antagonized the Government officers against Patel but he remained unmoved.

In early 1918, the crops of Kaira district were washed away by rain. The farmers were left with nothing and could not pay the land revenue. They prayed for the exemption of land tax. But the Government turned a deaf ear to their request. So the people approached Patel for help. "I shall see the crops myself and if what you say is correct, I shall request Gandhiji to take up your fight."

Patel himself visited the villages on a fact-finding inquiry and when he was satisfied he wrote to the Government of Bombay to grant exemption from land revenue. But this had no effect. So Patel approached Gandhi to take up the case of the Kaira peasants. Gandhi advised Satyagraha but he wanted "one at least of the workers of Gujarat Sabha to accompany him and devote all his time to the campaign until it was completed.'' Vallabhbhai offered his services, much to Gandhi's delight. Patel gave up his "European dress and donned dhoti and Kurta and toured the villages of Kaira District along with Gandhi to train the people to suffer in the cause of Satyagraha. When Gandhi appealed to the people to refrain form plying land revenue, the Government became furious and enforced punitive measures for tax collection. Lands were attached, property confiscated, and cattle were auctioned. This meant too great a hardship for the famine-hit people of Kaira. Gandhi had to leave Kaira to go to Champaran in Bihar. But in his absence Patel went from village to village and exhorted the peasants to bear the hardships cheerfully and not to yield. The peasants had faith in their leader and stood firm. Ultimately the Government had to yield. It agreed that the tax should be collected only from those who could pay it. This was what the Gujarat Sabha had been asking for. So the no ­tax campaign was called off.

The Kaira campaign had two effects Firstly the efficacy of the technique of Satyagraha was proved. It was later developed and adopted for the freedom movement. Secondly, the Kaira campaign discovered a new leader in the person of Patel.

In 1917, Patel contested and was elected as Municipal Councillor in a by-election in Ahmedabad Municipality. At that time a headstrong I.C.S. Officer, J.A. Shillidy, was the Municipal Commissioner who did not care for the advice of the Municipal Board. Soon after his election Patel came into conflict with Shillidy. Shillidy was out to help his favoured Councillor, one Fateh Mohammad Munshi, who bad contributed a handsome amount towards the War Loan. There was a small Jake near the railway station. Since it was a breeding ground for mosquitoes, it was decided to fill it up. But Munshi had a match factory near this lake and was seasoning timber in this lake. He wanted the lake to remain unfilled. Disregarding the interest of the Municipality, Shillidy leased this Jake to Munshi for a song. Vallabhbhai came to know all the facts of the case. He moved a resolution demanding the removal of Shillidy. The resolution was passed and the Government bad no alternative but to remove him.

Eight years after, i.e., in 1924, Patel was elected President of the Municipality and devoted all his time and energies to the betterment of the city. He did his utmost to make Ahmeda­bad cleaner, healthier and more beautiful. He himself took up the broom to clean the city. He encouraged the development of parks, play-ground are recreational centres. He also opened schools to provide free education. And when Indian National Congress passed the historic resolution of Non-cooperation at Nagpur in 1920, Patel prevailed upon the Municipality to free Municipal schools from Government control. He told the school.5 to decline the education grant from the Government. The Deputy Education Inspector was told not to visit the Municipal schools. The Government was no prepared to brook this insult. This Commissioner dubbed this act of the Municipality ultra vires. When the Commissioner ordered the Municipality to hand over the schools to the Government, the Municipality closed the schools for a month. This annoyed the Commissioner and he moved the. Government to suspend the Municipality. The Municipality was suspended on 9th February, 1922, and the Government entrusted its affairs to a committee nominated by them. Vallabhbhai strongly condemned this act to the Government. He also appealed to the people for funds to run national schools and was able to collect Rs. 1.25 lakhs with which 43 national schools were opened. Ultimately the Government had to yield and after two years the Municipality was restored.

Vallabhbhai continued to be the President of Ahmedabad Municipality till 1928 when he had to resign to devote himself fully to Bardoli struggle. During his tenure as President he continued to instil courage, self-respect and self-confidence in the people. Soon after the successful completion of the Kaira Satyagraha, Vallabhbhai joined Gandhi in raising recruits for the War which was going on at the time. But once the War was over, the Government tried to resuscitate the old Anglo­-Indian life. As if to add fuel to the fire the Rowlatt Committee's report was published. After the Rowlatt Bills came the massacre of Jallianwala Bagh on April 13th, 1919. 

Vallabhbhai now agreed with Gandhiji that non-co-operation was the only answer to British cruelties. The Congress. session was to be held in Calcutta to pass the non-cooperation resolution. 

TO BE CONTINUE..... 

Courtesy : ARCHITECT OF SWARAJ 

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