810 167 Vol. No. XLIII No. 35 of 1930. BOMBAY PRESIDENCY POLICE ABSTRACT OF INTELLIGENCE Poona, August 30, 1930. POLITICAL, POLITICO-RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL MOVEMENT 1465. Civil Disobedience Movement. General Summary. (1) S. B., Bombay Presidency, Poona, August 16.—In the northern districts, agitation among students has been noticeable, while in Nasik, West Khandesh, Satara and in the southern districts agitation against the forest laws continues. National flag agitation, which is a form of propaganda which costs little but which easily raises passions, has been much exploited. National flag agitation has also been employed to inflame the youths in Poona and a part of students from the Benares Hindu University sponsored by Pandit Malaviya have helped to stimulate them. Women have also taken part in picketing the Fergusson College here, though not with great success. 1The Rajadroha was probably the vernacular version of the Revolt. See Daily Report part of this volume. 811 Forest agitation has been given a religious tinge, and a leaflet has appeared in West Khandesh telling the villagers that the cow, which is sacred to them, used to be well-ted in the past when grazing was free, but that this satanic Government has been changing all this by repressive grazing laws. The prospect of free grazing ana iree wood from the forest, combined with appeals on behalf of the cow, are likely to prove a stimulant to agitation an these parts. The simpleminded Bhil and his more sophisticated Maratha neighbour of Sakri taluka in West Khandesh district, and the adjoining parts of the Nasik district are likely to respond to it if counter measures are not adopted. * * * (2)Thana.—Week ending August 2, 22 meetings, none with an attendance of over 600. Speakers from Bombay urged that no notice should be taken of peace negotiations. The other usual subjects were spoken on. (3)Bandra.—Usual daily meetings and small audiences. Subjects discussed, khaddar and appeals to volunteers to come to Ville Parle Chhawani. (4)Nasik.—25 meetings, attendances over 1,000 at Nasik, July 24 (2,000), Yeola, July 26 (1,000), Kalwan, July 30 (9,000). Kalwan and Satana are the worst affected talukas. Malegaon, Niphad and Yeola are also active. The movement shows signs of increasing in Nandgaon taluka. (5)East Khandesh.—17 meetings, attendances over 1,000 at Jalgaon, July 31 (1,000), August 1 (4,000). Prabhat feris continue daily. (6)West Khandesh.—30 meetings. Mainly forest satyagraha and temperance propaganda. (7)Poona.—Week ending August 9. The Poona Youth League concluded the boycott week on August 4 and Congress week was immediately inaugurated with the object of raising Congress membership. There were daily processions in which large numbers took part. The attendance was 6,000 on August 7 and 12,000 on August 10. 1,200 women members are said to have been enrolled. V. B. Davre, a fiery speaker, is being prosecuted. On Gandhi Day (August 5), the students of the Fergusson, Sir Parashurambhau and some other colleges in Poona hoisted the national flags on the college buildings and showed considerable youthful excitement. Popatlal Ramchandra Shah has taken control of all the prabhat feris in the city. Week ending August 16. 9,000 new Congress members are stated to have been enrolled. The Fergusson College was picketed by women of the Spinners' Association on August 13, but this proved ineffective and was called off. Forest agitation being stimulated at Saswad. There has been a good deal of mischief reported in connection with forest grazing satyagraha. (8) Sholapur.—Week ending August 9. Daily processions at Pandharpur and a meeting on August 8. 812 (9) Satara.—Week ending August 2. 77 meetings at which highly objectionablee language is being used. The Police and Government servants were openly abused. Boycott of Government servants and breach of the forest laws were preached. (10)Ratnagiri.—17 meetings, but small audiences, only one over 300. (11)Kolaba.—22 meetings. Though audiences are small the cult of non-co-operation is spreading. (2) S. B., Bombay Presidency, Poona, August 23.—Agitation is still general throughout the districts, particularly in ……………….. Nasik, West Khandesh, Poona, Satara………………… and Kolaba. Most of the efforts appear to be directed towards stimulating the students and fowards inciting the villagers to commit offences against forest laws. There are no developments of fresh forms of agitation. The following are details of the state of agitation in the individual districts :— (1)Thana.—Week ending August 9. 18 meetings, largest audience 500 at Shahapur. (2)Bandra.—Week ending August 9. Usual daily meetings with small audiences. Prabhat feris continue to be taken out. (3) Nasik.—25 meetings of some importance are reported. Centres of agitation are Nasik, Yeola, Nandgaon, Kalwan and Baglan talukas. The situation is much the same as regards forest agitation. (4)West Khandesh.—22 meetings, attendances over 1,000 at Dhulia, August 6 (1,000), Sindkheda, August 9 (3,000) and Shahada, August 6 (1,000). Sakri taluka is still playing a principal part in forest agitation. (5)East Khandesh.—11 meetings. No audience of over 1,000, prabhat feri processions continue. (6)Satara.—70 meetings. The movement takes the principal form of anti-forest agitation and there were four cases of open defiance of forest laws. In two cases villagers forcibly removed their impounded cattle and in the other two cases villagers went out en masse, into the reserved forest area and cut down grass and fuel. (7)Ratnagiri.—27 meetings. eight of which were in protest of the arrest of Congress leaders at Bombay. Audiences were small with the exception of a meeting at Malwan attended by 4,000. At the hoisting of the national flag on the Vengurla Municipality, 2,000 men and 1,500 boys and girls were present. (8)Kolaba.—August 16. 32 meetings with small audiences. Bombay speakers are occasionally imported to enthuse the proceedings. Breach of forest laws at Tinvira, on August 16, in Alibag taluka. Two instigators were arrested on the spot. 1466. Agitation. (1) Thana, August 16.—The following were among the meetings held in the district : — Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 10th August Bhivandi 1,000 Congratulating prisoners, calling for volunteers and for boycott of foreign cloth and prohibition. 813 Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 15th August Vada 300 Vasudeo Purushottam Acharya of Vada said the Russian example should be followed and Government driven out. Britishers should be boycotted. 10th August Shahapur 2,000 Observing prisoners' day and hoisting the Congress flag on the Local Board Office. 12th August Sopara, Police 300 Govind Dharmaji Vartak1 of Virar said British rule was Station shameful and spcke on prohibition, boycott of Bassein foreign goods. At Bhivandi although the loss of business is being badly felt, Momins are now beginning to side with Congress. About 500 of them collected on August 10 to picket a meeting of Police Patils and Talathis which was postponed, and held on August 15. On this occasion about 100 picketers were present. At Bassein as a result of the action against picketers there is much bitter feeling against the Police. Picketing is likely to continue. Kalyan remains quiet and the leaders and merchants are tired of the Movement. (3)Bombay Suburban District, August 16.—Meetings held include the following : — Date Place Audience Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) August 16 Ville Parle 300 to 400 Requests for volunteers were made. Volunteers were told at the not to quarrel among themselves. Abdulla Rahimtulla Chhawani complained that the merchants appeared to be against the boycott of foreign cloth, which was bad, because the movement depends on them. V. J. Patel said he was glad to see the local enthusiasm for this movement. If they wanted swaraj they must boycott British goods and manufacture yarn. He had left Government owing to its present policy. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya merely supported Patel and requested the women to spin and ply charkhas, which would help them to obtain swaraj. The usual remarks were made about the Government having gone mad, and women were requested to join the movement. August 16 Ghatkopar 1,500 Speeches were made on boycott, and that all were ready to go to jail, charkhas and taklis were the only means of fighting. Vithalbhai J. Patel said very little, merely requesting the audience to listen to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya addressed the meeting in Hindi. He requested the audience not to use foreig cloth because thereby they lost 70 crores of rupees. Women also should take part in the movement. In the Dast many women had fought for India, All should work on taklis and charkhas in their homes. 1 Famous freedom fighter and Social worker in Thana district. 814 Date Place Audiencs Remarks (1) (1) (3) (4) August 16 Versowa, 500 Abdulla Rahimtulla and Raraibai Kamdar stated that Andheri Government had taken money on several occasions from taluka. the Kolis and reduced them to poverty. All should, therefore, join the Congress, boycott British goods and break civil laws. The British people boasted that the sun never sets on the British Empire ; they must prove by this movement that it did set. All must remember that the movement was non- violent. The business of England has slackened and the labouring classes were starving. August 12 Malad, The following resolution was passed— Andheri " With a view to complete the programme as drafted by the taluka. Working Committee of the National Congress, the Comm ittee requests the Satyagraha Camp, Ville Parle, to extend its activities at Malad and create the necessary atmosphere to picket liquor and toddy shops here." The Malad Congress has a membership of about 500 and there is every reason to believe that the public is ready to respond to the call of the Satyagraha Committee, Ville Parle.