Feb 1931-March
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MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI BOMBAY SECRET ABSTRACT 1931 Page 367, para. 508-A, dated 7th February 1931— A letter from Gandhi to Shrimati Urmila Devi, 40/1 Rupchand Mukherji Lane, Bhawanipur, Calcutta, has come to notice. Replying to enquiries, he says that Satyagrahi prisoners should obey all jail regulations that would not be commonly considered to be harmful to human dignity. Satyagrahis attending courts should certainly show ordinary respect to court officials. A Satyagrahi should, generally speaking, answer a summons to give evidence. It is advisable to furnish information about parents, residence, etc. Hunger-strike can be resorted to in matters of self- respect. It is a weapon to be most sparingly used. There is nothing in the Congress resolution to prevent a Satyagrahi from entering upon defence. The practice is not so. But cases can be conceived where defence might be a duty. Page 368, para. 511— S. B., Bombay Presidency, Poona, February 24— Young India now appears under the signature of M. K. Gandhi. In the issue, dated February 19, he states that he has resumed the editorship. The late editor, J. C. Kumarappa, also contributes an article criticising the Borsad incident. Pages 399-400, para. 528 (3), February 7— U. P. Secret Abstract, dated 7ih February 1931—Para. 71 B, Allahabad Mrs. Uma Nehru presided at the Independence Day meeting on January 26 at Purshotam Das Park. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was present and consequently a large gathering, estimated at 8,000 assembled to see him. The proceedings began with national songs by Chandra Kant Malaviya and two others, that it is time for attaining independence and sacrifices should be made in the cause by youths. Mrs. Uma Nehru tried to read the resolution of remembrance but the crowd wanted to hear Pandit Jawaharlal so she had to stop. Pandit Jawaharlal, who was loudly cheered, said he had been released a few hours before the appointed time on account of his father's illness and he was 2 PRAYERS FOR MOTILAL NEHRU [1931 some what indebted to Government for the favour although he considered himself an enemy and rebel towards Government. He then referred to the resolution of remembrance, and reminded his audience of what has happened in the country during the last 12 months and the sacrifices which had been made by different communities. The resolution would remind them of the martyrs of Peshawar, Bombay, Sholapur and other places, and how the soldiers and Police had acted, and how the women and children had taken part in the battle for freedom. He specially praised the volunteers and exhorted the audience to complete the work. He said he was grieved at the serious illness of his father not because of his relationship but because the lion of the country was lying on a sick bed and he asked the audience to pray for his recovery and safe return to duty. Mrs. Uma Nehru again read the resolution of remembrance, but, as the audience had began to move it was hurriedly finished and declared carried unanimously. Sardar Narbada Prasad Singh then read out the Independence Resolution which was also carried unanimously. He also moved the last resolution for prayers for the speedy recovery of Pandit Motilal Nehru. On Independence Day, January 26, the national flag was hoisted in the chowk in the presence of about 500 persons, most of whom were the youthful members of the Vanar Sena, who had been addressed at a rally on January 25 by Mrs. Uma Nehru who exhorted them to carry on the work for which they had been organised. Most of the prominent leaders who have been recently released have arrived in Allahabad but did not appear in public until a large public meeting was held on February 1. The presence of Mr. Gandhi proved a great attraction on February 1. The afternoon meeting was attended by an enormous crowd, estimated at 20,000. It was Puranmashi, the last day of the Magh Mela, which no doubt enabled a large number of outsiders to be present. In the morning many villagers arrived at Allahabad station without tickets and were arrested, under the idea that as Mr. Gandhi was here, tickets would not be required. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru intervened and paid Rs. 200 and procured their release. The following leaders were present : Pandit and Mrs. Jawaharlal Nehru, Pandit Mrs. and Miss Shyamlal Nehru, Mr. Vallabhbhai Patel, K. M. Munshi, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Sen Gupta, Pandit and Mrs. Madan Mohan Malaviya, Govind Malaviya, Ramakant Malaviya, Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant of Almora, Babu Sheo Prasad, Dr. Murarilal, Mr. Raft Ahmad Kidwai, Babu Mohanlal Saxena, Babu Purshotam Das Tandon, Sardar Narbada Prasad Singh, Dr. Syed Mahmud, Professor Bari, Sardar Sardul Singh, Mr. Awadhesh Narayan Sahay, Mrs. Sarojini Naidu and Raja Awadhesh Narayan Singh of Kalakankar (Partabgarh). The arrangements for a loud speaker were not very satisfactory, and Mr. Gandhi's speech was repeated by Sheo Prasad Gupta. Mr. Gandhi 1931] PRAISE FOR WOMEN’S SACRIFICE 3 thanked God for the sacrifices rendered by the people and congratulated them as well, with special mention of the sacrifices made by the women of India, whose part had really startled the whole world ; they had given up purdah, offered sacrifices of their children and not stopped their husbands from going to the battle. They have also gladly sent their children and husbands to jail. When a battle takes place with weapons, women, children and aged persons are exempted, but through the kindness of God their battle is such that all can join and have actually joined. The women have made many sacrifices and shown the utmost bravery enabling Indians to raise their heads and adding 3 or 4 inches to their stature. In this battle, Hindus, Muslims, Parsis, Christians and Sikhs take part, and if all stick to the path of peace and righteousness, the tension which we apprehend between Hindus and Muslims will altogether vanish. He therefore begged the people in all encounters with Government never to stray from the path of peace and righteousness. He knew that they would completely adhere to the principle of non-violence, but he wished to say that if they commit the slightest mistake they will be ruined because they have taken a solemn vow before God and the world to fight this battle with perfect non-violence. Men, women and children should use the charkha and wear khaddar and should throw away foreign cloth ; they should give up wine, gambling and filthy things, because if Swaraj came to filthy hands, it would ruin India. After Mr. Gandhi's departure Pandit Jawaharlal referred to the incident at the railway station and told the audience that they had not yet decided to start this sort of Satyagraha. Page 489, para. 651 (2) — Extract from the United Provinces Secret Abstract, dated February 21, 1931 Serious communal riots took place in Benares during the week. Total casualties were 236 including 26 killed. The trouble originated over the funeral of Peshawari Cloth Merchant who was shot, it is alleged, by the captain of the Congress volunteers. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad presided at the memorial meeting for Pandit Motilal on the banks of the Ganges at Allahabad. Mr. Gandhi and other leaders were present and the audience was about 8,000 including a large number of villagers. Mr. Gandhi in his speech referred to the communal riots at Benares and said that if Swaraj was attained in such circumstances, it was worth throwing into the river. Pages 532-33, para. 707, February 28— M. K. Gandhi is expected to come to Ahmedabad in the near future and prominent leaders are preparing to welcome him and collections are being made to present him with a purse. 4 PURSE BY CITIZENS OF AHMEDABAD [1931 Extract from District Superintendent of Police, Ahmedabad's Report No. D-51, dated the 11th March 1931 City.—M. K. Gandhi arrived at Ahmedabad by the Delhi Mail on 9th March 1931. He alighted at the Shahibagh level crossing where he was met by Ambalal Sarabhai, Lady Sulochana, Sir Girijaprasad Chinubhai, Mrs. Lilawati Desai, Kasturbhai Lalbhai and other leaders, who garlanded him with cotton yarn. He drove through the City to Ranchhodlal's bungalow near the Gujarat College. He was given a rousing reception outside the railway station and along Richey (now Gandhi) Road. While he was passing Panch Kuva, some one threw a shoe at Gandhi which missed him and struck a Sub-Inspector of Police who was on duty. The crowd which gathered at the railway station and along the route to Ellis Bridge was estimated at 100,000. No untoward incident took place. On the 10th March 1931, Gandhi attended a meeting of the Vanar Sena and Bal Sevika Sangh (lady volunteers) at 9-30 a.m. The meeting was private and was held in the Visa Shrimali Wadi at Manekchowk. The younger element was rather rowdy and Gandhi, in the course of a speech complimenting the youthful volunteers on their work in the Civil Disobedience movement, threatened to discontinue unless quiet was restored. His warning had no effect with the result that he cut his speech short and sat down. The attendance was about 2,500. He was to have addressed the Picketing Mandal Samiti after this meeting but he postponed doing so on account of the pandemonium caused by the Vanar Sena (Monkey Corps). At 5-30 p.m. on 10th March 1931, Gandhi addressed a public meeting on the river-bed. The attendance was not less than 30,000. Lady Sulochana presented Gandhi with a purse of Rs.