Khilafat Movement 1920
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KHILAFAT MOVEMENT 1920 (January to June 1920) (a) Bombay, December 29th 1919.—An urgent meeting of the Central Caliphate Committee The Caliphate and the was held on the 22nd instant in the office Mahomed Ali Khan. Turkish Empire: Muhamm- adan feeling in regard to— The undernoted members were present : — (1) Mia Mohamed Jan Mahomed Chhotani. (2) Mirza Ali Mahomed Khan, Solicitor. (3) Honourable Mr. Sheriff Devji Kanji. (4) Ahmed Haji Sidik Khatri. (5) Badruddin Abdulla Koor. (6) Moulvi Abdul Rauf. (7) Hakim Abu Yusuf Isphani. (8) Rafai. (9) Khan Bahadur Mahomedali of Taher and Company. (10) Mahomed Abba Juma. (11) R. M. Chinoy. The suggestion of the Caliphate Conference at Delhi to the effect that British goods should be boycotted and that Muhammadans should refuse to co-operate with Government was discussed. With the Exception of Koor and Rauf, those present were averse to adopting the suggestion and it was quite clear that the sense of the meeting was opposed to the idea. At the same time many of those present had not the courage to say so openly. It was finally decided to appoint a Sub-Committee to draft a reply which should be sent to the Caliphate Conference to be held at Amritsar. This reply was to point out in clear terms that, in the opinion of the Central Caliphate Committee of Bombay, the two resolutions passed by the Caliphate Conference at Delhi were neither feasible nor workable. The Members of the Sub-Committee are as follows :— (1) Chhotani. (2) Honourable Mr. Sheriff. (3) Faiz Tayabji. (4) Hadi Tayabji. (5) Khatri. (6) Rauf. (7) Isphani. (8) Haji Ismail Haji Muhammad. (9) Oomer Sobhani. (10) Khan Bahadur Muhammadali of Taher and Company. It was announced at the meeting that Abdulla Khan Khasmandi had brought a letter to Chhotani from Hakim Ajmal Khan and Dr. Ansari. This letter announced that it was being arranged that a deputation should wait upon His Excellency the Viceroy in connection with the Caliphate question and that it was being considered whether that deputation should 2 KHILAFAT MOVEMENT 1920 represent the Central Caliphate Committee of India or the Muhammadans of India. It was decided by the meeting that the question of the desirability or otherwise of sending such a deputation should be left to the discretion of the Amritsar Conference. Chhotani came to see me a few days ago and he mentioned that Abdulla Khan was now taking part in the Caliphate question and Chhotani expressed some doubt as to whether he really was the emissary of Hakim Ajmal Khan and Dr. Ansari as he claimed or whether he was an agent of Government who was running with the hare and hunting with the hounds. The second meeting of the Central Caliphate Committee was held on X'mas day at Chhotani's house ; the following nine persons were present:— (1) Mia Mahomed Chhotani. (2) Mia Ahmed Chhotani. (3) Badruddin Abdulla Koor. (4) Abdul Karim Essa Fazla. (5) Abdul Gani. (6) Maulvi Abdul Rauf. (7) Hakim Syed Abu Yusuf Isphani. (8) Ahmed Haji Siddik Khatri. (9) Hajee Ismail Hajee Ahmed Lakdawalla. Sir Fazulbhoy Kurrimbhoy also attended but did not stay until the termination of the meeting. The question of boycott and non-co-operation with Government was again discussed and a letter was drafted to the address of the Chairman of the Caliphate Committee at Amritsar. I attach, for your information, a copy of this letter (reproduced below). I saw Sir Fazulbhoy Kurrimbhoy the day after this meeting and he told me that he had spoken very strongly against the suggestion of boycott. I am informed, however, that the strongest opponent of the movement, although he did not attend this particular meeting, was Sheriff Devji Kanji.". CHHOTANI HOUSE, KHADAK, Bombay, 24th December 1919. To THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CALIPHATE COMMITTEE AT AMRITSAR. Dear Sir, By the Direction of the Central Caliphate Committee of India, Bombay, and with reference to the Resolutions passed at the last All-India Caliphate Conference held at Delhi on the 23rd November 1919, regarding progressive boycott and progressive withholding of co-operation from Government, we have the honour to address you as follows:— Our committee have carefully ascertained the views of the Mussalmans of the city on the resolutions aforesaid. The general opinion appears to be that the resolutions are impracticable. The reasons for holding this opinion are as follows :— 1. The boycott cannot succeed even if our Hindu brethren join us wholeheartedly in the movement. CENTRAL CALIPHATE COMMITTEE 3 2. More than 76 per cent of the Bombay Mussalman merchants have dealings in English goods and if the boycott is enforced it would spell ruin to them all, and believe that they will not agree with boycott. Thus, there may be a split which is most undesirable at this juncture. 3. The costs of the Indian goods made to replace the goods boycotted would increase to such an extent as to make it impossible for the poorer classes including the lower-middle class to purchase such goods instead and thus they would be deprived of some of the necessaries of life. It will take years to bring down sufficient machinery and build a sufficient number of mills to produce cotton goods of the quality and quantity requisite in India. Labour difficulty will also arise. 4. Our experience shows that boycott has not succeeded in the past. Take the case of the boycott of the Italian goods when Italy went to war against Turkey. It failed miserably and if that boycott could not sustain, a fortiori, the boycott of the English goods will not succeed. The Bengal boycott with far better organisation than the Moslem boycott of Italian goods met with the same fate. The report of the Sub-Committee appointed on this subject by the Delhi Conference is not before us, nor has the Secretary of the Delhi Conference sent us a copy of the resolutions passed at the last Delhi Conference, although he was repeatedly requested by us to do so. Our committee suggests, under the circumstances, that no final decision should be arrived at the Amritsar Conference, but that the present committee may be enlarged and made more representative of the commercial classes to reconsider the whole question and consult, if necessary, the Hindu brethren and to make a final report at an early date. Facts, figures and full details will be put forth by us in this committee. As for withholding co-operation from Government the matter needs serious and careful attention and consideration. In our committee's opinion success in this also is impossible of attainment. The logical result of the carrying out of such a resolution would be that the Mussalmans would be reduced to a low-level and will cease to occupy that position in Indian affairs which their numbers and past history entitle them to do. We are desired by our committee to invite the next Caliphate Conference to Bombay. We have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servants. Mirza Ali Mohamed Khan. Honorary Secretaries, Badruddin Abdulla Koor. Central Caliphate Committee of Ahmed Hajee Siddick Khatri. India, Bombay. (b) Bombay, December, 12th 1919.—The following letter addressed to Chhotani was noticed in the Censorship. THE LONDON MUSLIM LEAGUE, 33, Palace Street, Westminster, London, S. W., 13th November 1919. Dear Sir, His Highness the Aga Khan has received a cablegram from Mian Muhammad Chhotani of Bombay asking his advice as to whether deputations from India should be sent to London and Washington to place the views of Indian Muslims on the Turkish question before the proper authorities. 4 KHILAFAT MOVEMENT 1920 His Highness has replied approving of the idea of Muslim deputations to London, which should be arranged with the cognizance and co-operation of all the Muslim members of the various Legislative Councils in India. The Turkish settlement rests entirely with the Statesmen of Great Britain and it would serve no useful purpose if deputations went to America, whose Statesmen have entirely washed their hands of commitments in any part of Europe or the Middle East. It is, therefore, highly desirable that the London deputations should be immediately despatched. With this object in view we have addressed to yourself a telegram, copy of which we attach (reproduced below). Yours Sincerely, M. K. ISPAHANI, G. M. BHURGRI, MUSHIR H. KIDWAI. Copy of the telegram.—"Recommend urgent despatch Muslim Deputation London on Turkish question. Secure co-operation all Muslim Council members. ". BHURGRI, KIDWAI, ISPAHANI, (c) Bombay, December 24th, 1919.—The following were noticed in the censorship.— Telegram, dated the 12th December 1919, from D. R. D. Sethna, 137, Esplanade Road, Bombay, to Sir Fazulbhoy, C/o Majestic, Calcutta: — " Urgent letter Caliphate Committee want reply their letter whether willing join, deputation or not, wire reply, Chhotani. " Telegram, dated the 13th December 1919, from Fazulbhoy Kurrimbhoy, Calcutta to Mia Muhammad Haji Jan Muhammad Chhotani, Bombay : — " If you can oblige me by letting me know who are going on deputation I can let you know about my joining at present here, I am not well.". Telegram, dated the 19th December 1919, from the Secretary, Caliphate-Amritsar to Caliphate-Bombay : — "Caliphate Conference on 30th, 8 P.M. reception of guests on 27th inform Caliphate Committee, Sind no delegates names up to 25th.". Telegram, dated the 20th December 1919, from Ansari, Delhi, to Chhotani, Bombay :— "Your letter of twelfth received to-day regret my inability proceeding to England in Caliphate Deputation. ". (d) Sholapur, December 16th, 1919.—The Deputy Superintendent of Police reports that a meeting was held by certain Muhammadans of Sholapur City in the Mangawada Masjid on the 5th instant with the object of forming a Caliphate Committee.