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Chaptisr-Iii Politicai Biography Op Sir Phsrozeshah Mbhta

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Chaptisr-Iii Politicai Biography Op Sir Phsrozeshah Mbhta CHAPTISR-III POLITICAI BIOGRAPHY OP SIR PHSROZESHAH MBHTA 51 OHAFPER~III POIITICAL BIOGRAIHY Of SIR PHEROZBSHAH MEHTA Barly life Sir Fherosesliah Iferwanjee Hebta, \ioxn on 4th August, 1843» at Boabay, in a irsalthy nerehant family of tha Parai ooanunity, had a raaarkahle edueational career* After paaaiag his Katrieulatien exaaination in 1861, he graduated as B.A« of the JSomhay t&iiyeraity in 1864 and passed with honours M.A* exaaination within six months only, hy a special dispensation* He was nominated as ])a]cshina Fellow of the Blphinstone College in 1864* He was a keen student of history and English literature* Daring his eollei^ eareer he eaae under the influenee of Sir Alexander Grant, the then Principal of the SLphinstone College, and a great eduoationist of the time* He was highly Impressed with the talents of Pherozeshah from the beginning of his eollege career. Sir Alexander Grant did not exhibit racial discrimination, and as a sinoere well wisher and a mentor, he encouraged Pheroseshah Mehta to aetuire higher education* Sir Alexemder procured for his favourite student, the trayelling fellowship founded by Rustomji Jeejeebhoy to 52 study at the Sar in England. He took special Interest in Hehta's higher education and convinced his father to send Pherozeshah to England. In December 1864 Mehta proceeded to Ezigland and Joined Lincoln's Inn, and in a period over three years was called to the Bar. He left for India in September 1868. Daring his stay in England his close association with the great parliamentarian Dadabhai Haoroji played ,an Important part in moulding his personality. He owed his liberal outlook to that influence. Dadabhai*s love for his country was a source of inspiration for him. It enthused him to work for the cause of progress and liberty. Mehta was initiated into politics by Dadabhai Haoroji. He was also intimately associated with his colleague W.C. Bannerjee, the President of the Pirst Indian National Congress, in establishing the London Literacy Society which was shortly superseded by the Bast India Association. His connections with the Association made him interested in Indian politics from the beginning. He displayed his mature judgement and foresight on Indian problems. His stay in England helped him to achieve mastery 53 on the English language, and afforded an opportunity to study theerolutlon of English hia-^ory and noms of parliaaentary desoeraey* He also studied political thinkers like Benthaa.Xill and Mazxini. That brightened the flaise of patriotism in him* EoneTer* he was not influeneed, as Sawarkar was, hy Hassini's Tiews on seeret socle ties and Tiolent roTolutlons* He was Huoh Bore influenced by the eiadstenian liheralisa lAleh was preyalent at that tiae. He was a roracious reader and rerelled widely in the literary work of eainent English authors. Daring his stay in England he studied the freneh language and read Ireneh literature of the Freneh rerolutionary period with great interest. This study of the Freneh language and its iapertanee led hlB te Introduoe Freneh language as a seeond language in the Boahay University later on. *His ; association with Western life and thought instilled into hlB breadth of view, courage and independence of thought, and a IOTS of ordered progress, allied with a certain conserratisn. * It also dereloped his faith in parliaaentary deaocraey. He believed in English education as a oreative force for building up a nation and took interest in the 5 educational aetlyities from the beglimlng* Pherozesbah read a paper before the Sast India Asaooiation on *The Educational systen of the Fresidenoy of Boabay.* The p^r was baaed on facte and figures and contained sound suggestions for beneficial and practical educational progress* She paper was aeclained and made its mark. In the paper he said, "The first paramount aim of education in India is the absorption of the lower into the higher ciTilisation, the reformation of the old system of culture by the new". Stressing the importance of English language as a medium of education he wrote: 'that the yemaculars of the country were unsuited to become the Tohicles. of the requisite high education, and that, consequently, English was to be the principal medium of imparting knowledge.* On his return from England, the GrO'vemment offered him the position of a first class sub-judge; but he preferred private practice, and in no time became known as a fearless and powerful advocate, of course, with handsome practice. His legal ability was 3 remarkable. In ia9&~1873 in the Tower of Silence case, he made his mark as a lawyer against the forces of lawlessness and disorder and the insolence of highhanded 55 authority. Mr. Anstey la open court appreelating his ability as a lawyer said that be was a lawyer ±n yAkom lay the genas of future eaiuenee. Political Career In his stiTUggle against foreign domination, his independent spirit, originality, self-respect, his fiery imagination, sincere desire for national uplift, patriotism, his faith in constitutional methods, his dislike of regional and communal tendencies, and his belief in the gradual growth of parliamentary institutions earned him a reputation as a political stalwart and an opposition leader. Here are some of the landmarks in his political career. In 1871 when the Indian Eridenee Act was being revised, Sir James ?lizJames Stephen, the emiinnt jurist irtio drafted the Act, passed some strictures on Indian lawyers. Some observations attacking the integrity and independence of legal profession were made in the Bill. Fhlrozeshah Hehta strongly protested against such provisions in the Act which were subseciuently withdrawn. Mehta attacked the Bngllsh Section of the Bar, 56 for not inviting Indian lawyers to the dinner held to honour Sir Joseph Arnold, the eminent judge of the High Court who had retired from the Bench, The replies were evasive the Anglo-Indian press and English advocates tried in vain to assail his position. When his approach to the press in this matter was questioned, staunch patriot and lawyer he replied, "I am a public man and not only a harrister, hut as harrister I am much more than that* As a public man I am bound to ventilate the grievances of the Indian Community." He further mentioned that his activities as a newspaper correspondent could not be questioned by the Bar Association which had no jurisdiction over his conduct. Pherozeshah Mehta registered his opposition to the Grant-in-Aid system to schools formulated by Sir Charles Wood, before the branch of the Bast India Association in December 1869* though H.G. Ranade and Telan^ were in favour of the system in spite of its defects* In his paper he criticized that it showed the pace of education as the sums allotted for education by the Government of India were meager (1^ of the revenue as against 40^ of defence). 57 He was a democratic aM fear lee sly pleaded for fairziess and freedom of opportuziity. He advocated upon competition for recruitment to the Civil Service while opposing ^the clause (6) of the Bast India (Laws and Regulations) Bill, which introduced appointment to u / the Civil Service by nomination* His fundamental objections to this measure were: "Ist that it strilces a fatal blow at the principle of competition in the Civil Service of India; 2nd that it revives and encourages the promotion of political jobbers^} 5rd that it destroys the unity and espirit decorps of the service; 4th that it is unjust and 5 demoralising to the natives themselves*" He could not share Haeaulay*s concept of prerogative of British rule to man service, as he thought that the Civil Service was to serve as an instrument for public good and felt that the officers should be aware of their obligations. The municipal corporation had a rudimentary constitution. Mehta organised public meetings to consolidate public opinion for bringing about iiqprovemsnt In the working of the corporation, and took a leading part in the reform agitation. There was already discontent and unrest against despotic behaviour of Arthur Crawford, 58 the then Municipal ComMiaaioner. Fherozeshah Hehta* hoipe-ver, tried to restore anity and concord, as his ohjeet was to elininate the epidemics and other auil- praetices and not the CoBonissioner. He said, "I am not hex^e to defend Crawford. Let me clear oyself. But I am here for the welfare of Bombay citizens, for the purification of Bombay, for the clearing of Bombay streets and for the driTing away of the diseases and epidemics established among us. Mr* Crawford has done inestimable aerrice to the City and I am not going to 6 blind myself to that side of his actirities*" In his paper read before the Bombay Branch of the Bast India Association, he advocated electi-ve principle for membership of local bodies and emphasised the utility of responsible ezeeuti-ve in the elected representatiTe body. He was also in farour of concentrating ezeeutive powers in one man for rapid and forceful execution of duties* Tha goremment accepted the scheme proposed by him in his paper for improvement in the working of the corporation. When a Parsi-Muslim riot broke out in Bombay in 1874, the government wasrather indifferent about the safety of the people of both the oommanities. The Par sis 59 being a lainori-ty community suffered the most* Far sis were subjected to ill treatment by the goyemment and police* Sir Philip Wodehouse, the OoTemor of Bombay, told the Pars! deputation, "You Parsia, ought to learn the lesson of defending yourselTes and not dex>end wholly on govemfflsnt*** !Ehe Police Commissioner, Frank Souter, addressing a Parsi crowd spolEe, "Damn you Par si 8* Tou have provoked the row* I would like to see all Parsis killed.
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