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873

PART-III

CENTRAL PROVINCES POLICE ABSTRACTS OF INTELLIGENCE

This part of the Volume furnishes the source material culled from the Police Abstracts of Intelligence. As stated earlier, these Abstracts of Intelligence are yet secret and not accessible to students of History. They are, however, very authentic documents which were originally intended for helping the framing of policy and execution of measures of maintenance of law and order. These Abstracts of Intelligence furnish the reports for all the districts then in the Central Provinces and Berar. The districts included all the districts now included in , besides the -speaking districts of Chhindwada, Betul, Jubbulpore, Khandawa, Raipur, Drug, Bilaspur, , Nimarr, Saugor, Hoshangabad, Balaghat and Narsingpur. We have culled in this Volume the Police reports pertaining to the following districts now, included in :—(1) Buldhana, (2) , (3) Akola, (4) Yeotmal, (5) Wardha, (6) , (7) Chanda (now called Chandrapur), and (8) Bhandara. IN VIDARBHA In the Central Provinces and Berar the Salt was symbolic and not widespread due to ihe absence of easy targets as salt works or the sea shore. Manufacture of salt was possible only at Dahihanda in Akola district and at Bhamod, about five kilometres away from Dahihanda in Amravati district. This tract was selected by the Berar P. C. C. for satyagraha. Four wells at Dahihanda were suitable for salt-making as they contained salt water. These wells, owned by some individuals, had earlier been yielding salt under Government permit. The salt yielding capacity of ihe well at Bhamod was very limited. Once the salt satyagraha was announced to be taken up by Gandhiji Congressmen from 874

Vidarbha, and particularly those from Amravati, Akola, Wardha and Nugpur, proceeded in batches of volunteers to Dahihanda for undertaking salt, manufacture. The first bach of volunteers arrived at Dahihanda on 12 April 1930 and a was followed by several others from all over the Province. Initially the satyagrahis had a problem with the owners of well who refused them to draw water. The enthusiastic volunteers then proceeded to Bhamod and launched upon soli making. On the very first day (13 April) two and a half seers (about two and a quarter kilograms) of salt was manufactured by boiling water from the Bhamod well. It was an encouraging endeavour which continued for some days. Meanwhile the owners of wells at Dahihanda came round and yielded to the satyagrahis. Salt making continued at Dahihanda for many days in April and May. But the natural target in the Central Provinces and Berar was forest regulations. Although there was less civil disobedience in the Central Provinces and Berar during the early months of the country-wide movement, the wave of forest satyagraha gathered momentum from June 1930. The Governor of Central Provinces and Berar, Sir Montagu Butler, expressed his fears at the spreading movement which was attracting women, children and villagers at the end of July 1930. He reported that the situation was out of hand in Nagpur and Juobulpore. The situation, from Government's point of view, deteriorated so much that the police fired six times and punitive police were imposed in twelve areas. It is noteworthy that a Responsivist leader like B. S. Moonje joined the movement as late as July, and that too with an eye on publicity for the forthcoming elections. It is also noteworthy that Moonje like Khaparde was temperamently a Tilakite, and was hardly in favour of Gandhiji's mass movement of civil disobedience. Moonje like his Poona counter part, N. C. Kelkar, favoured the Council-entry policy and clamoured to get seats in the Legislatures. However, by the end of June the Responsivists realised that civil disobedience as a mass continental movement has awakened the masses and it was no use remaining on the fences. It is also remarkable that although Moonje actively participated in civil disobedience from June, he was preparing himself to attend the Round Table Conference of November 1930. Moonje and his associate S. B. Tambe did attend the Round Table Conference of November 1930 in spite of Congress opposition. The Congressmen and even the masses in Vidarbha were opposed to their attendance in the Round Table Conference as it was going to be a futile exercise. An echo of the same was experienced during the burning of effigies of B. S. Moonje and S. B. Tambe in September 1930 (See page 1043). M. S. Aney joined the war council in the third week of April 1930. The prominent Responsivists, who had been entrenched in marry positions of power in Government and local bodies, followed Aney's lead. The stalwarts among the Responsivists to participate in civil disobedience were Dr. Munje, Ramrao Deshmukh and Dr. Hedgewar. They declared their support to Gandhiji's Civil Disobedience Movement and joined the Congress volunteers in the preparation of salt at Dahihanda. The temper 875 of the movement rose high in May. It was at this stage that Government undertook the most repressive measures to suppress the movement. But the people were in an unrelenting mood. The boycott of foreign cloth and the anti-liquor movement became more intense. Picketing gathered momentum and occasionally resulted in violence. Picketer ladies marched through Nagpur and Amravati wearing wnite and sinking national songs. This was an unprecedented scene in the region. The student fraternity became more volatile and the authorities were obliged to close many high schools and colleges. This was probably the firsl truly "mass" agitation ever launched in the territory. The next phase of civil disobedience, namely, forest satyagraha, began in June-July.1 Wamanrao Joshi better known as Veer Waman, the great Marathi playwright, Brijlal Biyani, Moreshwar Abhyankar, P. B. Gole, Poonam-chand Ranka, Jamnalal, Bajaj Dr. N. B. Khare, Nilkantharao R. Deshmukh, Durgabai Joshi, Aney, Bhagwandin Sharma, , K. V. Sahasrabudhe, S. T. Dharmadhikari. Sunderlal, N. M. Ghatwai were the principal leaders of the people's movement. They activated public opinion to such an extent that the bureaucracy was surprised as the fact that the people of C. P. and Berar who were hitherto friendly and hospitable to the Government now adopted a sullen hostility and determination.2 Wamanrao Gopal Joshi had been a terrorist revolutionary of Amravati. In the course of time he became a follower of Tilak and discarded his earlier terrorist ideology. He had been propagating the Tilak school of thought in Berar for long. After Tilak's death he advocated that Gandhiji was the natural heir to Tilak, and that Gandhiji's satyagraha had a continental mass appeal and there is no alternative to it. Moreshwar Vasudeo Abhyankar had been another staunch Home Rule activist in the Tiiak era. Now he took a big lead in activating the masses in Vidarbha for civil disobedience. The Police regarded Joshi and Abhyankar very dangerous as they could arouse public opinion very effectively. , Ravi Shankar Shukla, Veer Wamanrao, Abhyankar, Sunderlal and Bhagwandin had earlier taken the lead in popularising the Non-Co-operation Movement and in making the Nagpur Congress of 1920 a grand success. All these persons along with Poonamchand Ranka, Manchersa Awari, A. R. Tijare, , G. N. Tikekar, N. R. Deshmukh and Abid Ali, had made the Nagpur of 1923 a grand success. Each and every one of them exerted his full might during the Civil Disobedience Movement throughout. Jamnalal Bajaj moved on to the national political stage in 1925. By this time Moreshwar Abhyankar became the leader of the Congress in . He brought in new elements into the Congress and gave the organisation a new look. Soon Dr. N. B. Khare became his Chief Lieutenant in Nagpur. The Veer Wamanrao—Abhyankar unity inducted new men into the Congress, such as P. B. Gole and Durgabai

1 K. K. Chiudhari, Maharashtra and Indian Freedom Struggle, p. 89. 2 For detailed analysis See ibid, pp. 91-93. 876

Joshi, both of A kola. The most influential youngman to emerge in Vidarbha by 1930 was Brijlal Biyani. His role in the freedom struggle from 1930 to 1945 was spectacular. M. S. Aney's joining the war council in the third week of April 1930 was significant due to many reasons. Not only was he a Tilakite but was also popular. He had also not identified himself with the Ministry formation of 1924 or 1929. He had, therefore, a clean image. It was the Civil Disobedience Movement which took. Aney to the height of his political career, and he became the Congress President for few days in 1933-34. But Aney's later wedding with the British Government during the days of the individual Satyagraha and the Quit Movement brougitt him discharge in the eye of the Congress and nationalist forces in India. Aney was then a Member in the Viceroy’s Executive Council which spared no effort to bury the and to massacre thousands of Indians. The politics in the Central Provinces and Berar prior to the Civil Disobeaience Movement was a very, complicated affair. The Swarajist Party, in opposition to the Congress, was invited by the Governor to form a Ministry under Dr. Moonje, in 1924-25. But the Party declined the offer because its acceptance would have been opposed by the Congress. Between 1925-26, Swarajists' unity collapsed as the three factions or the vied with each other to form a Ministry. The Governor, therefore, appointed S. B. Tambe as Home Minister, which portfollo had earlier been held by Sir Moreshwar Joshi, Later the Marathi leaders of the Swarajist Party formed a Ministry in the C. P. and Berar in 1929. But a year later they fell in line with the Congress, and their Ministry relinquished office in 1930 and launched a campaign of Civil Disobedience. There were separate Provincial Congress Committees for Berar and the Central Provinces. The factor gave rise to several difficulties in execution of the satyagraha programme. The two Provincial Congress Committees were merged into one subsequently. The satyagraha activities of the Berar Provincial Congress Committee and the Central Provinces Congress Committee included the items mentioned below :— 1. Manufacture of salt at Dahihanda and Bhamod. 2. Sale of contraband salt. 3. Illicit cutting of toddy trees, timber, grass and other forest produce. 4. Grazing of cattle in Government forests without paying fees. 5. Picketing of liquor shops, and preventing auctions of liquor. 6. Boycott of foreign cloth. 7. National Flag salutations and hoisting flags on public buildings. 8. Boycott, both social and economic of Government servants. Exhortation to Government servants to resign. 9. Violation of prohibitory orders and Ordinances. 10. Boycott of schools and colleges.—Editor. 877

172 CENTRAL PROVINCES POLICE ABSTRACT OF INTELLIGENCE

Vol. XLV Nagpur 5th April 1930 No. 14

GENERAL SUMMARY 1341. Active propaganda in the cause of civil disobedience continues, and meetings are reported from a number of districts. Wamanrao Joshi of Amraoti has made an extensive tour of the Buldana district, Bhave2 of Wardha and Tijare of the Nagpur Tilak Vidyalaya have been moving in the interior of the , Seth Govind Das3 and Dwarka Prasad Mishra4 of Jabbulpore have addressed a further meeting at Khandwa, and Bhagwandin5 of Nagpur has spoken at Wardha and Arvi, and Rajaram Shukul of Chhindwada at . These and other meetings organised by local leaders at various centres were only moderately attended and the audiences, with one or two exceptions, unresponsive. The speeches broke no new ground. Sunderlal Sharma6, author of Bharat Men Angrezi Raj, who lectured at Nagpur on the 30th March under the auspices of the Nagpur Nagar Congress Committee, attracted an audience of about 2,500. POLITICAL, POLITICO-RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL MOVEMENTS 136. (vii) Wardha, 25.3.30.—On the 17th March Bhagwandin Sharma of Nagpur lectured at Wardha on 's campaign of civil disobedience and exhorted the people to be ready for mass action when called upon Jammanlal Bajaj7 was in the chair.

1 Like the Police Abstracts of Intelligence these Abstracts contain sections such as General Summary ; Extra Provincial Agitators Political; Politico-Religious and Racial Movements ; Religions and Social Excitement and Propagandism ; Labour ; Miscellaneous ; and Resident Agitators. We have reproduced here the extracts on Political, Politico-Religious and Racial Movements which deal with Civil Disobedience. 2 Vinoba Bhave, a saint of Gandhian thought narticipated in the Flag Satvagraha at Nagour in May-August 1923. He joined Gandhiji in the famous Dandi March. He was specially chosen by Gandhiji the first satyagrahi in the Individual Satyagraha in 1940. He was arrested in Quit India Movement. Later he devoted to Bhoodan Movement. 3 Seth Ghovind Das participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement. In 1923 he was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly and in 1925 for the Council of State. He founded Youth League in 1930 to propagate nationalism. He was president of P.C.C. 4 Dwarkaprasad Mishra took part in the Non-Cooperation Movement. With the help of Shukla. Das and Biyani he organised Congress activities in the Central Provinces with as its centre. He associated middle classes particularly merchants with Civil Disobedience Movement. He organised the Hindustani . He also organised forest satyagraha in Hindi speaking areas of C. P. 5 Pandit Bhagwandin was appointed as a supsrvisor of Asahayoga Ashram, Nagpur by Jamnalal Bajaj. He took oart in the Non-Co-operation Movement and Nagpur Flag' Satyagraha, besides Civil Disobedience. 6 Pandit Sunderlal took part in the Non-Co-operation Movement and Nagpur Flag Satyagraha. He was president of P.C.C. His work during Civil Disobedience was valuable. 7 The correct name is Jamnalal Bajaj. The Police authorities have not spelt it properly Hence we have carrected this name wherever it occurred in subsequent pages. 878

(viii) Wardha, 31.3.30.—Bhagvvandin Sharma of Nagpur delivered a lecture to an audience of about 200 persons at Arvi on the 27th March under the presidentship of Nilkanthrao Babbasaheb Deshmukh of Virul. He spoke on the idependence movement and the boycott of foreign cloth, and appealed for volunteers for Gandhi's satyagraha, urging all students of over 15 years of age to enlist themselves. Hariram Marwadi of Arvi said that they were ready for satyagraha against the Forest Laws immediately, but their instructions were to await the signal. (ix) Wardha, 31.3.30.—Nilkanthrao Deshmukh of Virul is reported to have left for Ahmedabad to offer himself as a volunteer in the Salt satyagraha. (x) Nagpur, 3.4.30.—On the 20th March, Benuvagi Beg, Jagannath and Gajanand of the Wardha Ashram visited Katol. The former addressed a meeting in which he urged support for Gandhi's movement. (xi) Nagpur, 3.4.30.—Vinoba Bhave of Wardha in company with Tijare has been touring the district. He addressed meetings at Ramtek, Umred. Kuhi and Bori and left for Wardha on the 27th March. Bhave exhorted his audience to follow Gandhi's movement, the three cardinal principles of which were civil disobedience, abolition of liquor, and wearing of khaddar. The audiences were extremely meagre and unresponsive. (xii) Nagpur, 3.4.30.—Pandit Sunderlal Sharma of Allahabad arrived in Nagpur on the 29th March. On the 30th he addressed a public meeting called by the Nagar Congress Committee under the presidentship of Bhagwandin the attendance being about 2,500. He spoke in support of the Gandhi movement, and pointed out that independence could not be secured by violence, but only bv communal unity. (xviii) Nagpur, 3.4.30.—On the 2nd April, leaflets were circulated in the city over the signatures of Punamchand Ranka1 callng for support in men and money for the satyagraha movement. (xiv) Buldana, 28.3.30.—A tour to arouse enthusiasm in Gandhi's war of independence has been made by Veer Wamanrao Joshi of Amraoti and Durgawati Bai Joshi of Akola accompanied by Gulabrao Baxi of Amraoti, Korde. School Master of Akola. Balasaheb Kulkarni of Bhuswal and Mrs. Girjabai Bhat of Bombay. They have made the usual but unactionable speeches at the following places:— (1)Shegaon, 20-3-30.—Audience 500. Sahasrabudhe presided. (2)Khamgaon, 21-3-30.—400 attended. Dr. Parasnis presided. (3)Jalgaon, 22-3-30.—400 attended. Korde presided. (4)Malkapur, 23-3-30.—600 attended. Madan Saogi of Malkapur presided.

1 Punamchand Ranka. a Marwadi cloth seller and a close associate of Gandhiji' took lead with Jamnalal Bajai to boycott foreign cloth in 1921. He also narticipated in the Nagpur Flag Satyagraha, Civil Disobedience Movement, Individual Satyagraha and Quit India Movement. 2 Durqahai Joshi (Akola), a woman leader, encouraged women to participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement. She worked with other women leaders-Anusayabai Kale and Parvatibai Patwardhan. 879

(5)Buldana, 24-3-30.—Audience 200. No president, as Wamanrao Joshi said no human being fit to be president as the subject of the meeting was so pious and serious. (6)Chikhli, 25-3-30.—Speeches said to have been more or less acceptable. (They were not reported so in the other places.) (xv) Buldana, 4-4-30.—Waman Rao Joshi and party lectured at Mehkar on the 25th March. Before the meeting there was a lot of discussion amongst the pleaders and the leaders of Mehkar as to who should preside. The pleaders being followers of Y. M. Kale and in favour of Council entry, are not in favour of Waman Rao Joshi's propaganda, so V. K. Soman presided. It was at first intended to hold the meeting in the Balaji temple but as Muhammadans are not allowed there the venue was changed. Only 500 attended, including very few Bohras and the proceedings started very late as nobody turned up. The usual speeches were delivered and they are said to have had little or no effect. A sum of Rs. 43-9-6 was collected. A further meeting was held in village Pimpalgaon Kale, Station-house Jalgaon, on the 1st April. Korde, Head Master of the Rashtriya School, Akola, presided and about 300 attended. The speakers were Veer Waman Rao Joshi. Korde, Borwandkar, Head Master of the Rashtrrva School, Hiralal Marwari, village Wankhed, and Krishna Rao Deshmukh of village Garadgaon, Station-house Khamgaon. Their speeches were the usual independence speeches with many references to the prosperous economic condition of India prior to the British rule. Waman Rao said that British rule was based on treachery, and he and other speakers made pointed remarks about the police reporters. Rs. 16-12-9 were collected. * * * (xvii) Amraoti. 29-3-30.—On the 23rd March. 200 people attended a meeting in Jog Square, Amraoti at which Dr. G. G. Bhojrai presided. S. T. Dharmadhikari of the Tilak Vidyalaya, Nagpur, made a rambling speech on the philosophy of satyagraha and civil disobedience. He said nothing remarkable. (xviii) Amraoti. 29-3-30.—There is talk of starting civil disobedience in regard fo forest laws in Morsi taluq. A war committee has been formed by Ramrao Deshmukh. Ex-M.L.C., of Jarur. His activities are being watched. (xxii) Akola. 1-4-30.—On the 26th March Mahadeo Shastri who recently returned from the , went round Akola city selling khaddar. accompanied by 4 or 5 students of the National School. He described Gandhi's battle for freedom and asked all persons over 18 years of age to become volunteers for the breaking of forest laws. (xxiii) Akola. 1-4-30.—Waman Rao Joshi and party paid a visit to Sirpur on the 27th March. An application was made to the sanitation 880 committee asking that the flag of independence be flown on the Sanitation office and that an address of welcome be given to him. The chairman, Syed Usman, refused permission saying that Sirpur had no connection with the movement advocated by Joshi. The latter however did not turn up. A meeting was held at which Sheonarayan sharma, abused both the British Government and Syed Usman. The latter had to be forcibly restrained from assaulting Sharma and the meeting broke up. (xxviii) S. B., C. P., 5-4-30.—The Central Provinces Marathi Provincial Congress Committee's War Council consisting of Abhyankar, Bhagwandin, Nilkanthrao Deshmukh and Poonamchand Ranka met privately in Abhyankar's house on the evening of the 4th March to consider what form of civil disobedience should be adopted in the province. A few other Congressmen were present including Ganpatrao Tikekar, S. T. Dharmadhikari, Ghatwai and Damle. Two members of the War Council Jamnalal Bajai and Dr. N. B. Khare, did not attend. It is understood that the Council unanimously resolved that salt satyagraha be adopted exclusively, consideration of other forms of civil disobedience being held over for the present. 137. (a) Nagpur, 3-4-30.—On the 30th March, some 50 volunteers of the Swatantrya Sainik Dal (Independence Volunteers Corps), composed almost entirely of teachers and students of the Tilak Vidyalaya, spent the day at village Panchgaon. Their object was to make themselves acquainted with camp life and to study the possibilities of statyagraha in the dehat. (b) Nagpur, 3-4-30.—On the 31st March, a meeting of the Swatantrya Sainik Dal was held to pay homage to the National Flag on the occasion of the Hindu New Year. 70 volunteers attended. Sunderlal who made a short speech, said that Gandhi's movement was but an off-shoot of the Nagpur Flag Satyagraha which he considered should never have been stopped. He again stressed the necessity for communal unity. Sunderlal left the same day for Bombay. (But I understand he is likely to return in order to conduct the Satyagraha movement a this province.) 138.Wardha, 25-3-30.—On the 6th March Purushottam Mahajan of Nagpur initiated a branch of the Swayam Sewak Sangh at Arvi. Some 18 men and boys are said to have enlisted. Further details are awaited.

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141. Akola, 1-4-30.—On the 22nd March, K. V. Sahasrabudhe and Tarabai Mashruwala (a girl of 14) went round the town hawking Khaddar. They repeated the performance on the following day, accompanied by some students of the National School. At various places where they stopped Sahasrabudhe gave short lectures advocating the use of Khaddar, the boycott of foreign cloth and abstention from liquor. 881

173 CENTRAL PROVINCES POLICE ABSTRACT OF INTELLIGENCE Vol. XLV No. 15. Nagpur, 12th April 1930. GENERAL SUMMARY 147. Congress activity has greatly increased during the past week and meetings have been held throughout the Province. Local agitators are growing bolder in their condemnation of Government and are more emphatic in their demands for money and volunteers. So far, however, response has been sporadic and enthusiasm is by no means general. Various forms of civil disobedience are discussed of which the most popular seem to be the manufacture of illicit salt and infringement of the forest laws. One of the few localities in the Central Provinces where salt can be obtained in any quantity is a saline tract in the neighbourhood of Dahihanda in the Akola district where salt was formerly manufactured by Government. This tract has been selected by the Berar Provincial Congress Committee as the satyagraha centre for Berar, and the first batch of 16 volunteers, headed by Sahasrabudhe, left Akola on the 10th April and will begin to manufacture salt at Dahihanda on the 13th. A small party of 5 volunteers from Nagpur have joined them, there being no workable area in the Marathi districts. At the present moment the areas most likely to give trouble would seem to be Berar, Raipur and Betul. While in the rest of the province agitation is so far more or less confined to the townships, in these three areas it is being energetically carried on in the interior and would appear to be taking effect. Wamanrao Joshi of Amraoti continues his dangerous speaking and has made violent and abusive speeches at Yeotmal and at the Amraoti Taluq Political Conference held at Thugaon in the Amraoti district on the 30th March………… National Week is being celebrated at Nagpur with less enthusiasm than usual. The audience at the first meeting on the evening of the 6th April numbered 2,500, but subsequent meetings are reported to have been only moderately attended. The attendance was again 2,500 at a meeting held on the 9th to congratulate Jamnalal Bajaj and various other leaders on their recent arrests. POLITICAL, POLITICO-RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL MOVEMENTS 150. (ix) Wardha, 7-4-30.—On the 27th March Ghatwai of Hinganghat lectured to an audience of about 75 persons at Girad. He explained the significance of the satyagraha movement in respect of salt and other taxes. He used offensive language towards the Government. (x.) Wardha. 7-4-30.—On the 28th March. Bhagwandin of Nagpur delivered a lecture at Karanja to an audience of about 200 persons under 882 the presidentship of Nilkunthrao. He spoke on the Congress campaign and appealed for volunteers to join in the sail satyagraha. He advocated absolute non-violence. Seven men volunteered to join Gandhi, but were told to think it over.

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(xii) Amraoti, 5-4-30.—The Amraoti Taluq Political Conference was held at Thugaon, Station- house Takurkhed, on the 30th March. Drs. Paiwardhan and Soman, N. R. Bamangaonkar, H. W. Deshpande, T. G. Joshi, Bedekar, Dr. N. T. Paturkar, Durga Tai Joshi of Akola and Baba Rao Sawkar of Saur (adjacent village) attending. The audience numbered 450. W. G. Joshi presided and Shriram Bhaiji Deshpande of Thugaon, the principal organiser of the confeernce, was chairman of the reception committee. Shriram condemned the British Government and all its works and said that Indians were now out to wrest Swaraj from the British by refusing to pay all oppressive taxes. The Non-co-operation Movement of 1920-21 had failed for want of proper leadership: this time the leaders must not withdraw in the middle of the struggle. Waman Rao Joshi, after a vehement denunciation of British rule, said that the Lahore Congress had entirely changed the old idea of ameliorating their condition by constitutional means while remaining within the British Empire. A demon would have devoured them all at once, but the British were killing them gradually. After all they all had to die and it was no use dying like eunuchs. He would speak out his mind fearlessly before every Englishman and every Government minion (reporters and magistrates): they were no better than dogs or goats. He would willingly lose everything he had, if he could see the reduced to ashes. They were not images of clay or beasts to rot in slavery, The blood of their holy mother was running in their veins. They might be hanged but they would not fail to presen the purity of their blood. If they were not beasts and would call themselves real men, let them boldly proclaim that their mother land India would no longer remain under the sway of the British. These Britisher bowed down before them when they came to India for the first time and subsequently killed those very people who had given them shelter. Thousands of people were dying in India, but the real man was he who would die in the war of Independence. It was shameful to call themselves the descendants of their gforious ancestors mentioned in the Ramayana while they were being trodden under the heels of 3 lakhs of English people. They were being kicked because they kept quiet. The had reduced themselves to the level of beasts. They should tear to pieces any men who dared to point even a finger at any one of them. India umst live on terms of equality she would never bow down before anybody. He had nothing to care for in this world. The Government could clap him in jail and gag his mouth, but they could not suppress his ideas or thoughts. They would now discuss a few resolutions embodying these ideas and thoughts which no Englishman could kill. 883

Dr. Soman moved the first resolution accepting the independence resolution of the Lahore Congress and recommending the carrying out of the Congress programme in the Amraoti taluq. This was supported by R. B. Kale and H. W. Deshpande and declared passed unanimously. The second resolution sympathising with Gandhi and requesting the people of the Amraoti taluq to take part in the salt satyagraha proposed by the Berar Provincial Congress Committee was moved by Dr. S. G. Patwardhan. S. Y. Patel of Assegaon and Durgatai Joshi supported the resolution which was declared passed unanimously. Bamangaonkar moved the third resolution protesting against the disproportionate assessment of land revenue in Berar and requesting the people of the taluq to keep an account of their income and expenditure and to be prepared for satyagraha in the event of an unjust assessment. Gopal Rao Baxi supported the resolution which was also declared carried. Waman Rao Joshi in his closing speech said that history did not tell them that independence could be gained by peaceful means. Satyagraha, however, was not the weapon of the weak. It inquired self-control. One who received a blow without retaliation consened his strength and the moment he retaliated the opponent would be nowhere. They might remain non-violent, but the world would not, and ultimately the present peace would change into violence. They must remain non- violent until a black sepoy fired at the white soldiers. (xiv) Amraoti, 5-4-30.—On the 31st March, Dr. D. B. Soman presided at a meeting convened by the Congress Committee and Students' Association to celebrate political sufferers' day. 200 attended, and appropriate resolution was passed. The presidem was seconded by L. R. Malani, a student of the King Edward College. (xv) Amraoti, 5-4-30.—A public meeting for ladies was held at Amraoti on the 1st April. Mrs. Parwati Bai Patwardhan presided and the speaker was Mrs. Durgatai joshi of Akola. Some 50 women attended. The speaker dealt with the Congress resolution, Gandhi's activities and the necessity for supporting him. A similar meeting of women was held in Narayan temple on the 2nd April, when Durgatai Joshi made the same speech. (xvi) Amraoti, 5-4-30.—There is a certain amount of loose talk about civil disobedience in isolated places in this district, but it is evident that the ground has not yet been sufficiently prepared. The extremist leaders have not made any special effort to corrupt the cultivating classes as they did in 1920-21, and outside the bigger towns little interest is shown in political affairs. In the towns too, audiences are small and consist chiefly of students and the pleader class from which they emanate. (xxxv) Nagpur, 10-4-30.—National week began on the 6th April. In spite of the general excitement throughout India, there has teen less enthusiasm here this year than in any previous years. Even the annual procession through the civil station has been abandoned. On the 6th morning a small procession of 75 boys, mostly of the Tilak Vidyalaya, marched through Sitabuldi and the city and dispersed at the Tilak statue after S. T. Dharmadhikari had made a short speech. 884

In the evning a procession of similar size passed through the city and was followed by a public meeting at the Town Hall, attended by about 2,500 persons. Bhagwandin, Dharmadhikari, Tijare and Ghatwai explained Gandhi's programme of civil disobedience and appealed for support. The rest of the week's programme consists of nightly meetings in various mohallas of the city, at which the persons mentioned above are making strenuous efforts for volunteers. Thre is no enthusiasm, and the meetings are on the whole, sparsely attended. (xxxvi) Nagpur, 10-4-30.—On the 7th April, Bhagwandin and Punamchand held a meeting in Kamptee for civil disobedience propaganda. (xxxvii) Nagpur, 10-4-30.—Two thousand and five hundred persons attended a public meeting held on the 9th April by the Nagar Congress Committee to congratulate Jamnalal Baja and other leaders on their arrests. 150 foreign caps were burnt. (xxxviii) S. B., C. P., 10-4-30.—A party five volunteers selected by the Nagpur Nagar Congress Committee left Nagpur by train on the morning of the 9th April to engage in the illicit manufacture of salt at Dahihanda, a saline tract in the Akola district where Government salt was manufactured formerly. The District Superintendent of Police, Akola, wires that Dahihanda has been selected by the Berar Provincial Congress Committee as the satyagraha centre for Berar. It is understood that Dahihanda, being one of the few localities in the Central Provinces where salt can be obtained in any quantity, is likely to become the objective of all three Provincial Congress Committees. The Nagpur volunteers are to combine with the first batch of fifteen from Akola. Satyagraha is to start from the 13th April. The party consists of V. G. Sahasrabudhe, municipal member and a teacher of the Tilak Vidyalaya and three. students. They were given a reception in the Town Hall and enthusiastic send off at the railway station. (xxxix) Akola. 10-4-30. The news of the arrest of Jamnalal Bajaj was received here by special wire on the 8th April and caused a sensation among Marwari community .A meeting a convened the same evening with P. B. Gole ex-M. L.C., in the chair was attended by about 300 persons. Brijlal Biyani1, ex-M. L. C., announced that a batch of volunteers headed by K. V. Sabasrabudhe was starting from Akola and march by stages to Dahihanda where the salt law would be broken. The satyagrahis were to reach Dnhihanda on the 13th. He also announced that a telegram had been teceived to the effect that as there was no place in the Marathi districts of the Central Provinces where salt could be prepared, volunteers from the C. P. Marathi would also be joining.

1.Brijlal Biyanis in league with Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla and Sheth Govind Das joined Non- co-operation Movement. He strove hard for the growth of Congress in . He was a member of the Provincial Legislature from 1926 to 29 and also presided over the Vidhrbha Provincial Congress Committee for a period of 13 years (1935-48). 885

Another meeting was held on the 9th April, attended by about 1,500 persons. Five volunteers arrived from Nagpur and it was announced that these 5 would be included in the first batch of 16 volunteers headed by Sahasrabudhe, who would start out from Akola at 6-30 a.m, on the 10th. Dr. Patwardhan and Waman Rao Joshi from Amraoti were present at the meeting. About 1,500 persons were present at the Swami Narayan Bhawan this morning to see the satyagrahis' depart. National songs were sung and the volunteers were garlanded by Mrs. D. V. Joshi and Mrs. Durgatai Joshi. Two photographs were taken. The volunteer were garlanded in different parts of the town as they passed through, and were followed by the crowd as far as the Akot-File. The volunteers were 15 in number, excluding Sahasrabudhe who was in command.

174

CENTRAL PROVINCES POLICE ABSTRACT OF INTELLIGENCE Vol. XLV No. 16. Nagpur, 26th April 1930. GENERAL SUMMARY 156. The first batch of salt satyagrahis arrived at Dahihanda on the 12th April, but negotiations with the owners of the salt wells failed and they were forced to move on to Bhamod, some three miles away in the Amraoti district, the next day. Sait has since been manufactured daily and the satyagrahis have been joined by further parlies from Amraoti. The salt obtained has been sold at meetings throughout the Province, but it is doubtful whether all that has been sold is genuine contraband. Nagpur city itself is still quiet, although the last National Week meeting on the 12th April was attended by an audience estimated at 10,000, and a meeting convened on the 15th to protest against the arrest of by between 7,000 and 8,000 persons. POLITICAL, POLITICO-RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL MOVEMENTS 159. (a) (i) Akola, 13-4-30.—The first batch of satyagrahis arrived at Dahihanda on the morning of the 12th April. They halted at Ugwa and Keli Veli on the way and did propaganda work there. The total number of satyagrahis at Dahihanda is now 29. They were met by the munim and other employees of Seth Kishan Lal, Marwari of Akola, who has a factory at Dahihanda. There are four wells suitable for the preparation of salt. They are private property however and it is said that the owners are unwilling to let them be used for this purpose. In the event of definite refusal the satyagrahis will move on to Bhamod, three miles away in the Amraoti district, where Kishan Lal, Marwari, has a suitable well which will be available. There have been no meetings in Akola since the departure of the satyagrahis. 886

(ii) Akola, 14-4-30.—It seems that Bhamocl in station-house Daryapur, district Amraoti, and not Dahihanda is to be the scene of the breaking of the salt law. On the evening of the 12th April Seth Kishan Lai, Erijlal Biyani and Dr. Patwardhan of Amraoti went from Dahihanda to Bhamod, returning some time later. Mrs. Durgatai Joshi with the daughter of Phadke, pleader, and three Marwaris of Akola arrived in Dahihanda by motor the same evening. At 9 a.m., a meeting was held which was attended by all the satyagrahis and a crowd of about 700 persons. Speeches were made by Sahasrabudhe, Yusuf Beg, Durgatai Joshi, Dr. Patwardhan and P. B. Gole, pleader. At the end, Bahrain Mahar, got up and advised all untouchables to have nothing to do with this satyagraha until the were allowed the ordinary rights of Hindus. On the 13th April, the satyagrahis left at 6-30 a.m. for Bhamod. Only a few people attended to see them start. A meeting of about 2,000 persons was held in Akola on the evening of the 13th April. P. B. Gole being in the chair. Speeches were made by Durgatai Joshi and Brijlal Biyani, who had returned from Dahihanda. Biyani auctioned a packet of salt for Rs. 21. About a dozen small packets of salt were sold at one anna each. (iii) Akola, 15-4-30.—The volunteers at Bhamod manufactured 2½ seers of salt on the 13th April. Kishan Lal, Marwari, with some of the volunteers returned to Dahihanda in the evening leaving five volunteers near the well in Bhamod. No salt is reported to have been prepared so far in Dahihanda. (iv) Akola, 15-4-30.—A meeting of about 2,000 persons was held in Akola on the 14th April when the arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru was announced. Phadke, pleader, was in the chair. A motion of congratulation was proposed by Gole and carried unanimously. Seth Kishan Lal, Marwari, suggested a hartal, which is to be observed today. During the meeting a few small packets of salt were sold. Small envelopes have been specially prepared to contain the contraband salt for sale. (v) Akola, 16-4-30.—No salt has been manufactured at Dahihanda. A few volunteers are working at Bhamod. Enthusiasm at Dahihanda is waning considerably and very few villagers from outside are now coming in. A meeting of about 3,000 persons was held Akola on the 15th April. Brijlal Biyani was in the chair. Jawaharlal’s arrest was the main subject for the speakers. The Muhammadans were strongly criticised for not playing their part in the present agitation. A partial hartal was observed in Akola on the 15th April. Both the cotton mills were working, but the cotton market was closed. All Hindu shops were closed. (vi) S. B., C. P., 23-4-30.—The Berar Provincial Congress Committee met at Akola on the 16th March and elected the following as members of the Provincial War Council :— President.—Dr. S. G. Patwardhan. Vice-President.—Brijlal Biyani, ex-M. L. C., Akola. 887

Secretaries. —AmbuIkar, Akola, T. G. Joshi. Members. — (1) K. V. Sahasrabudhe, (2) Purshottam Zunzunwalla of Khamgaon, (3) Krishna Rao Garadgaonkar, Akola,. (4) Durgatai Joshi, (5) Tarabai Mashruwala, (6) Devidas Eknath Deshpande, Akola, (7) W. G. Joshi. M. S. Ane has since been co-opted a member. (vii) Akola, 22-4-30.—On the 16th April a hartal was observed in Murtizapur town in cocnection with the conviction of Jawaharlal Nehru. A meeting was held later ……….. About 400 persons attended. Speeches on the usual lines were made by P. B. Gole and Mrs. Durgatai Joshi. The latter said it was disgraceful that Murtizapur had no Congress Committee. A packet oi contraband salt was auctioned, but fetched only Rs. 2. (viii) Akola, 22-4-30.—A meeting of about 300 persons was held at Borgaon on the 18th April to discuss the satyagraha movement. Muuliar of Borgaon presided. It was decided to help by touring and lecturing in the bigger villages of the circle.

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Meetings are being held periodically at Dahihanda, where Sahasrabudhe is addressing audiences of about 200 persons. The volunteers with him are touring in the surrounding villages inciting people to break the salt laws. As the result of this teaching one or two patels have prepared contraband salt at their houses. Sahasrabudhe prepared salt in Dahihanda on the 17th April near the Station-house. He challenged the Police to arrest him. (x) Akola, 21-4-30.-—Dr. Patwardhan of Amraoti arrived at Akola on the 20th April with 17 volunteers, 3 of them boys of 13. On arrival they were garlanded by members of the Young Women's Association. Dr. Patwardhan made a speech in which he said as their opponents ( the Government) had refused to show their strength, so it was not wise for them (the satyagrahis) to show theirs. After the speech the party was photographed and then left for Dahihanda in Lorries. 20 persons of Waregaon, Balapur station-house, gave in their names at a meeting as volunteers for satyagraha at Dahihanda. The leading spirit at Waregaon is one Dhanji Bhatiya who is continually organising meetings there. (xi) Akola, 22-4-30.—A meeting was convened at Balapur on the 18th April by Bnjlal Biyani, when speeches on civil disobedience were made by himself. Durgatai Joshi and Miss Seetabai Oak. Only 300 persons attended. A packet of contraband salt was auctioned for Rs. 10. A meeting took place at Hiwarkhed on the 20th April, about 200 persons attending. Sampat Bhopale who had been to Dahihanda, recounted his experiences there and afterwards sold packets of contraband salt. The first packet auctioned fetched Rs. 11, being bought by Bhagwant Rao Deshmukh. 888

Some 21 men of Washim have given their names as volunteers to go to Dahihanda. The chief of them are Dabir, pleader, Dr. Khaskikar and Trimbak Rao Pathak. A meeting of about 5,000 persons, including 1,500 women, was held at Akola on the night of the 21st April. A pot of water had been brought from Dahihanda and salt was publicly prepared by some of the women. It was then sold by auction, realising Rs. 75. The auctioneer was Mrs. Durgatai Joshi and the purchaser a Marwari. Great enthusiasm was displayed at the meeting which was presided over by Brijlal Biyani. Speeches were delivered by Biyani, Mrs. Durgatai Joshi and Miss Lilatai Oak. (b) (i) Amraoti, 14-4-30.—Salt is being prepared at village Bhamod, three miles from Dahihanda station-house, Akola district, and just inside this district boundary. Five volunteers daily are being told off for the work. There is an old well of saline water in a field belonging to one Kishan Lal Marwari, who has assisted in the preparation of salt making apparatus and repaired the road to enable motors to come from Dahihanda. Dr. Patwardhan of Amraoti is apparently taking a prominent part in the arrangements. (ii) Amraoti, 18-4-30.—Political activity has considerably increased during the past fortnight. Local agitators have indulged in a good deal of intemperate speaking and certain speeches are being examined. The following is a summary of the meetings held :— 4.4.30.—Amraoti Attendance 450. Speeches by H. W. Deshpande, Dr. Soman and W. G. Joshi. Joshi's speech renders him liable under Section 117, I. P. C. 6.4.30.—Amraoti. First day of National week meeting to commemorate Jallianwala Baug. 500 attended. Dr. Bhojraj, W. G. Joshi, Dr. Soman and H. W. Deshpande spoke. Joshi in his second speech advised until the Indian militia turned their arms against the British, when non- violence would be changed to violence. 7.4.30.—Amraoti. Audience 400. Dr. Patwardhan., Dr. T G. Vaidya, N. R. Bamangaonkar of Akola spoke on the usual lines. 8.4.30.—Amraoti. 500 people present. H. W. Deshpande, T. G. Joshi and W. G. Joshi spoke as usual.

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10.4.30.—Amraoti, 500 present. Speakers T. G. Joshi and W. G. Joshi. The latter urged audience to join the satyagraha. 11.4.30.—Amraoti. 550 present. Bamangaonkar liable under Section 117, I. P. C. W. G. Joshi gave a religious parable, ending with a reference to the change from non-violence to violence at some future date.

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13.4.30.—Amraoti. Over 1,000 present Final meeting of national week. W. G. Joshi announced impending departure of two parties of salt satyagrahis from Amraoti for Dahihanda. Dr. Patwardhan also spoke. W. G. Joshi auctioned contraband salt for Rs. 31. 889

14.4.30.—Amraoti. To congratulate Jawaharlal Nehru. Audience 1,200. Speakers Drs. Bhojraj and Patwardhan, who said Government had provoked youths to the use of bombs and pistols but urged nonviolence. Bamangaonkar and W. G. Joshi also, spoke. The latter made an objectionable peech not, however, directly indictable under Section 117, C. P. C. 15.4.30.—Complete hartal observed at Amraoti for Jawaharlal Nehru. Procession 5-30 p.m. Meeting at close of procession at 7-30 p.m. Audience 2,500, mostly students. Bamangaonkar moved resolution of congratulation to all salt convicts, and urged the breaking of salt laws. T. G. Joshi, Dr. Bhojraj and Dr. Patwardhan also spoke. (iii) Amraoti, 18-4-30.—Efforts have been made by W. G. Joshi and Ramrao Deshmukh of Jarud in the Morsi taluq to unite Brahmans and Non-Brahmans with a view to civil disobedience, but with no definite result. Ramrao Deshmukh and other addressed a meeting of 200 persons at Warur on the 6th April on civil disobedience. (iv) Amraoti, 18-4-30.—Popatlal, H. W. Deshpande, Bamangaonkar, and Zainuddin of Karanja held a meeting at Daryapur on the 10th April at which some 600 attended, including many Marwari and Gujerati Banias. Dr. Dharmadhikari and the usual Daryapur extremists were present. Subscriptions and volunteers were demanded and salt satyagraha advocated. The usual anti- Government speeches were well received. (v) Amraoti, 18-4-30.—Small meetings and a hartal were reported trom Chandur taluq to mark national week and the arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru. At Dattapur a meeting of 500 was organised by the local Marwaris on the 15th April, after the hartal and procession, and was addressed by Dr. Soman of Amraoti. He urged his audience to break the salt laws and abused Government freely in offensive terms. His speeches created a considerable impression. Contrary to the impression given by the report, the general feeling in the district is at present well disposed towards Government. Agitation is restricted to the larger towns where, however, it is undoubtedly gaining more followers daily. The increased attendance at meeting is of course due to the vacations of schools and colleges. (ii) Bhandara, 12-4-30.—Seth Fatehchand presided over meetings at Tumsar on the 6th, 9th and 10th April. The audience averaged 200. Ten persons have volunteered for civil disobedience. (iii) Bhandara, 12-4-33.—A public meeting in Bhandara on the 6th April carried resolution criticising the arrest of and appreciating Gandhi's courage. On the 9th one Acharya Vinobaji Bhave of Wardha lectured on civil disobedience, and the boycott of foreign cloth. A bonfire of foreign cloth was made. On the 10th there was a general hartal at Tumsar on the arrest of Jamnalal Bajaj. (iv) Bhandara, 12-4-30.—Two teachers, Mothe Deshmukh and Balkrishna, paraded the streets of Andhargaon with about 25 boys and a national flag on the 6th April. (v) Bhandara, 21-4-30.—On the 13tih April, a procession of 50 strong, consisting mostly of national school boys, paraded the streets of Gondia. 890

Sheobalak Singh Hakim presided over a meeting of about 200 persons held in the evning. Joglekar, Chaturbhuj and Dalsukh, Gujerathi of Gondia, lectured on the national week, salt satyagraha, the arrests of Congress leaders and the objects of rivil disobedience. They made little impression. On the 15th, a meeting was held to protest against Jawaharlal Nehru's arrest. Nanaji Kotwal presided. Chaturbhuj, Joglekar and seth Fatechand or Tumsar delivered violent speeches. A partial hartal was observed. On the 17th, Bhagwandin presided over a meeting of 300 persons. He spoke on the bycott of foreign cloth and the use of Khadi. Nine persons volunteered to picket cloth ships. (vi) Bhandara, 21-4-30.— Koti presided over meetings at Bhandara on the 13th and 15th April. Shankar Rao Nawade and Shendurnikar lectred on the salt tax campaign. On the 13th packets of contraband salt were sold at prices ranging from Rs. 5 to Rs. 50. On the 15th, a Nagpur volunteer, Shankar Rao Paithankar, described his own deeds and urged the young men ot India to rise against the Zulmi Government. Shendutnikar proposed a resolution condemning Jawaharlal Nehru's arrest, which was unanimously passed. The audience numbered about 200. M. V. Abhyanhkar, Punamchand Ranka, S. T. Dharmadhikari and Damle, teacher, National School, Tumsar, arrived at Bhandara on the 16th April and delivered lectures to a gathering of about, 400 persons presided over by Shendurnikar. Seth Punamchand criticise the British administration in India and pointed out that Gandhi's satyagraha movement was the only means of attaining freedom. Damle and Dharmadhikari criticised Jawaharlal Nehru's arrest and conviction. Abhyankar said that it was a cause to be alive under the present devilish Government. Some foreign cloth was burnt and a packet of contraband salt auctioned for Rs. 12. (vii) Bhandara, 21-4-30.—The Swarajist Party in the Local Board elections, inolucing Palsule, pleader, and Ram Dayal Misra, are louring the district delivering lectures on the Salt Tax satyagraha campaign. (g) (i) Buldana, 13-4-30.—Two satyagraha meetings were held on the 4th April at Jalamb and on the 5th at village Matargaon, Station-house Jalamb. The presidents were Shankar, son of Mirajilal, Marwari of Jalamb, and Govind Rao, son of Parasram, Assistant Master, village Matargaon. The attendance at both places was about 300. Gandhi's satyagraha and the independence movement were talked about, the speakers being:— Bornerkar, Krishnarao Patel of village Gondnapur and Vithal Rao Korde, Head-Master, Rashtriya School, Khamgaon. (ii) Buldana, 13-4-30.—The Malkapur cotton market was closed on the 9th April owing to the arrest of Jamnalal Bajaj. 891

(iii) Buldana, 18-4-30.—A hartal was observed in the following places after the arrests of Jamnalal Bajaj and Jawaharlal Nehru: 10-4-30— Mehkar, 14-2-30—Shegaon, 15-4-30—Malkapur and Mehkar. The usual Independence and Congress speeches were delivered as follows during National Week:— 6th April 1930.—Khamgaon, audience poor. President—Baburao Borkar, pleader. Speakers—Haribhau Borwankar, Korde and Parwar., Rashtriya School. Khamgaon. 7th April 1930.—Shegaon, audience about 1,000. President—Raoji Bhatia. Speakers—Bhimrao Deshpande, Borwankar, Krishnarao Patel and Korde. 10th April 1930.—Mehkar, 200 audience. V. K. Soman, pleader, spoke, 11th April 1930.—Shegaon, 500 attended. President—Raoji Bhatia. Speakers.—Lokhande, Naraih Rao Potdar, Bhim Rao Deshpande, Borwankar and Korde. 13th April 1930.—Khamgaon, audience poor. President.—Dr. Kale. Speaker—Jaswant Singh of Benares, Haribhau Borwankar, Krisnna Rao Deshmukh, Pannalal Vyas and Korde. 13th April.—Chikli, 600 attended. President.—Desai, Deshpande, village Shandurjana. Speaker.—Soman of Mehkar. 15th April.—Mehkar, 125 attended. Speakers.—V. K. Soman and Desai. 16th April.—Shegaon, 250 attended. President.— Bhai Rao Baba of Shegaon. Speakers.—Godbole of Akola and Yeshwantrao Deshmukh, Akola. Seven volunteers of Shegaon enlisted on the 12th April with the Navjiwan Tarun Sangh for the satyagraha training school at Khamgaon. They were taken in procession through the town and garlanded. (h) Chanda1, 13-4-30.—On the evening of the 6th April, a procession of national flags paraded the town. There were 11 flags and about 150 persons including Khushalchand, Maheshdas, Dr. Waikar, Balgovind, Bajirao, Udaykaran Marwadi, Siddi Karan and Bala Patel. A public meeting was held afterwards in the Town Hall, Khushalchand occupying the chair. After exaggerating the response to Gandhi’s salt campaign in other provinces, Maheshdas appealed for volunteers, Govind Rao Yadnik of Chanda also asked for volunteers and for financial assistance. He said they disliked being ruled by the English. Khushalchand said he had seen Gandhi in Ahmedabad on the 21st March on the eve of the commencement of his march to the coast. Gandhi was welcomed everywhere on his march and many Patels and Kotwals had resigned. British rule had practically ceased in the area through which Gandhi had

1. Canda is now renamed as Chandrapur. 892 passed. Bombay merchants had stopped ordering British cloth. Any one who refused to help in Gandhi’s movement was a traitor. After many years of co-operation with the Government even Madan Mohan Malaviya had resigned his seat in the Assembly and given his support to Gandhi. "Do not fear the Government. Be free or die." Thirteen volunteers were enlisted and about Rs. 600 collected. The main subscribers were Siddi Karan Rs. 201, Udaykaran Rs. 201, Rajeshwar Teli Rs. 101 and Khushalchand Rs. 25. Volunteers have started hawking khadi in the town from the 7th April. Another public meeting was held in the Town Hall on the 10th April. Aboul 150 persons attended. Khushaichand again presided, and said that the meeting had been called to congratulate their arrested leaders, and that if their sacrifice did not inspire others to action, nationalism was non- existent. Maheshdas moved the formal resolution. He said that Gandhi had vowed that he would be successful or leave his corpse floating in the sea. Did they want to see Gandhi dead in such a manner? Government wanted to crush Gandhi's movement, but the movement was growing stronger. No force in the world could crush a movement based on truth and non-violence. Everywhere there was civil disobedience. Chanda had never lagged behind before and would not do so now. Bajirao seconded the resolution which was carried unanimously. Khushaichand then announced that the names of six more volunteers had been received and that Rs. 400 worth of Khadi had been sold. He said that 95 per cent of the people supported Gandhi's movement. He assured his audience that success would come, but that it was bound to be fraught with pain. (n) (i) Nagpur. 19-4-30.—There has been considerable activity throughout the district to prepare the people for the Civil Disobedience Campaign. So far, however, no great enthusiasm is apparent. Meetings were held at the following places :—

Place Date Speakers Umred 6th April Local 11th April Local Salt sold 13th April Local Ramtek 6th April Local 7th April Local 8th April Local 13th April Local Bonfire of foreign cloth. Kuhi 8th April S. T. Dharmdhikari Hingna 7th April Bhagwandina Sharma and Punamchand Ranka. Bori 9th April Tijare and Dharmadhikari Parseoni 8th April Local 11th April Local 13th April Local Katol 9th April Local 13th April S. H.Thatte(Wardha) Salt sold Saoner 10th April Bhagwandin, Dharmadhikari. Punamchand and Tulsiram. Kalmeshwar 12th April S. H. Thatte. Kamptee 13th April Bhagwandin Salt sold 893

(ii) Nagpur, 19-4-30.—Partial hartals were obserwed at Umred and Parseoni on the 11th April in connection with the conviction of Jamnalai Bajaj. (iii) Nagpur, 19-4-30.—On the 12th April, the Nagpur Cloth Merchants' Association passed a resolution to restrain from dealing in foreign cloth for a period of three months. (iv) S. B., C. P., 17-4-30.—The last National Week meeting at Nagpur on the 13 th April was attended by an audience estimated at 10,000. Bhagwandin presided and the principal speaker was Abhyankar whose main theme was the Civil Disobedience campaign initiated by Gandhi. He explained that it was intended to bring about a mass revolution in which the whole nation would fearlessly defy the Government of the country. He concluded by auctioning a packet of alleged contraband salt which, he said, had been received from Ville Parle, for Rs. 255. (v) S. B., C. P., 17-4-30.—An audience estimated at between 7,000 and 8,000 persons attended a public meeting convened at Nagpur by the Nagar Congress Committee on the 15th April to protest against Government's action in arresting Jawaharlal Nehru. Abhyankar occupied the chair and speeches were made by Punamchand, Pandurang Sao, Tijare and Bhagwandin. No new ground was broken. The Pandit's services to his country were described and the people urged to follow his example in thousands. They should not be merely prepared to go to jail but to give their lives for their country. Punamchand reminded them that independence could never be attained without blood sacrifice. Muhammadans were asked to join in the national war. At the close of the meeting the president auctioned five packets of contraband salt at prices ranging from Rs 21 to 151. Although it is reported that the audience showed signs of considerable excitement only 33 men responded to the president's call for volunteers. The sale of contraband salt by volunteers continues daily in the city. (s) (i) Wardha, 14-4-30.—There has been considerable activity during the week in Wardha town. On the 6th April, National week was inaugurated with a flag procession in the morning, picketing of liquor shops in the afternoon and an open air meeting in the evening. Teja Ram, Sheoraj, Ramchandra Deochand and the inmates of the Ashram took an active part. The picketing was not a success. The lecture was confined to the salt satyagraha and an appeal for volunteers. The attendance was meagre. On the 8th April, a flag procession was organised and a complete hartal was observed on the arrest of Seth Jamnalai Bajaj. In the evening Vinoba Bhave of the Local Ashram delivered lectures congratulating Jamnalal Bajaj and appealing for volunteers to join the salt campaign. The audience was large and the lectures were received with a good deal of enthusiasm. Another meeting was held on the 13th April under the presidency of Sheoraj and was attended by about 1,500 persons. Ramchandra Rao spoke on the present satyagraha movement and exhorted the audience to see that the Central Provinces did not lag behind in the fight for independence. Swami Vimalanand of Ellichpur also spoke. At the close of the meeting some packets of alleged contraband salt said to have 894 been manufactured at Dahihanda were produced. A few were auctioned realising about Rs. 50, and the rest distributed free. At all these meetings emphasis was laid on the need of boycotting foreign cloth. (ii) Wardha, 14-4-30.—Hartal was observed at Arvi and Pulgaon on the 9th April on the arrest of Jamnalal Bajaj. Meetings were held and the usual speeches made. Dr. Patwardhan of Amraoti and Nilkanthrao Baba Saheb Deshmukh of Virul were prominent at the Arvi meeting where it was proposed to manufacture salt in the old talaos of village Bharaswada, Station-house Ashti. Three parties from the Ashram have visited Deoli and Selu Station-house and made speeches on the salt satyagraha and the boycott of foreign cloth. They propose to move from village to village. N. M. Ghatwai of Hinganghat is visiting villages in Girad and Hinganghat Station-houses to enlist volunteers, but apparently without success. Seven volunteers offered themselves at a meeting held at Dahegaon Gondi under the presidentship of Deshmukh of Virul on the 8th April and signed the printed pledge. Deshmukh succeeded in enrolling another 15 the same day at Kharangna.

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(iii) Wardha, 22-4-30.—Some 500 persons attended a meeting held at Arvi on the 13th April under the presidentship of Baba Saheb Deshmukh of Arvi. Tijare and S. T. Dharmadhikari of the Tilak Vidyalaya, Nagpur spoke on the salt satyagraha and boycott of foreign cloth. Two packets of contraband salt said to have been manufactured at Dahihanda were auctioned for Rs. 60 each. The meeting ended with a bonfire of foreign cloth. (iv) Wardha, 22-4-30.—A general meeting of the Arvi Taluq Congress Committee was held on the 13th April, 24 members being present, including N. B. Deshmukh of Virul. A Taluq War Council was appointed under presidentship of Nilkanthrao Deshmukh of Virul. After the meeting a procession was formed and marched to the Town Hall where the national flag was hoisted by Deshmukh of Virul. Abhyankar of Nagpur was also present. (v) Wardha, 22-4-30.—On the 13th April, a public meeting was held at Hinganghat under the presidentship of N. M. Ghatwai. About 1,000 persons attended. The president Bhiwanwar and Vinoba Bhave explained the significance of the salt satyagraha and congratulated Jamnalal Bajaj on his arrest. Contraband salt was sold at Re. 0-1-0 per packet and one packet auctioned for Rs. 6. The meeting ended with a bonfire of foreign cloth. (vi) Wardha, 22-4-30.—Nilkanthrao Deshmukh of Virul addressed four meetings in Ashti Station-house during the week at villages Bharenwada, Antora, Talegaon and Ashti. He enlisted 20 volunteers at Talegaon and six at Ashti. All the meetings were well attended. He spoke on the salt satyagraha, the boycott of foreign cloth and the use of Khadi. 895

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CENTRAL PROVINCES POLICE ABSTRACT OF INTELLIGENCE Nagpur, 3rd May 1930. Vol. XLV No. 17 POLITICAL, POLITICO-RELIGIOUS AND RACLAL MOVEMENTS 167. (a) Akola, 27-4-30.—The campaign against the salt tax continues. Processions of boys and girls are taken out daily in Akola. Bulletin No. 6 was distributed on behalf of the war council on the 23rd April. It summarised the events of the week and directed that on the 27th April salt was to be manufactured in Yeotmal, Akola, Amraoti and Khamgaon. On the 28th contraband salt is to be sold at every tahsil headquarters in Berar. On the 20th April, a batch of 20 volunteers arrived on foot in Akola from Khamgaon. They were garlanded and photographed. They left the same evening for Dahihanda Brijlal Biyani, Mrs. Durgatai Joshi and Mrs. Premilabai Oak went to Nagpur and returned on the 26th. Batches of 5 volunteers leave Dahihanda daily for Bhamod where they manufacture salt, returning to Dahihanda in the evening. The local people have got used to this and take hardly any notice of it. A meeting of about 600 persons was held at Karanja on the 24th April with M. S. Ane in the chair, Several influential persons from Amraoti, Akola and Yeotmal were present. Five resolutions were passed condemning the general system of assessment of land revenue. There was a brief reference to the salt satyagraha campaign in a speech made by Zainuddin of Karanja. Balapur had a meeting of about 500 persons on the 22nd April, Maganlal Gujerati of Balapur being in the chair. The 20 volunteers who were marching from Khamgaon to Akola were present and six of them made speeches advising the people to defy Government. Several meetings have been held in the Borgaon circle which is near Dahihanda. Speeches were made by satyagrahis who sold salt to the audiences. (b) Amraoti, 26-4-30.—Some 2,000 persons attended a meeting held at Amraoti on the 18th April to announce the departure of Dr. Patwardhan and 18 volunteers to Dahihanda to make salt. The speakers were W. G. Joshi, T. G. Joshi, N. R. Bamangaonkar, H. W. Deshpande and Dr. Patwardhan. Their speeches were of the usual type. On the 19th April, 800 people attended a meeting to give Dr. Patwardhan and his volunteers a send off. W. G. Joshi, Dr. Patwardhan and Dr. Bhojraj were prominent. Patwardhan gave vent to some noble sentiments on patriotism and self-immolation and the volunteers were garlanded. They proceeded the same evening by motor forry via Ellichpur and Anjangaon, where they were greeted en route, and reached Bhamod next 896 day. Dr. Patwardhan did not stay there long. His volunteers remained and have been making salt in batches.

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Interest in the salt-makers of Bhamod is decreasing and few people now visit the well. Pleaders and others in Amraoti are saying that the so-called salt is really potash nitrate, and that a bag of salt was thrown into the well before operations were begun. Belated reports show that hartals were organized in the larger towns throughout the district on the occasion of Jawaharlal Nehru's arrest. Muhammadans who were not inclined to join were forced or persuaded to close their shops. Violent speeches by Dr. Soman at and W. G. Joshi at Chandur Bazaar are reported. The response to repeated appeals for volunteers at Daryapur has been disappointing. The proposal to break Forest Laws in the Morsi taluq has not been accepted for the time being and it was decided to boycott foreign cloth and collect volunteers instead. Ramrao Deshmukh, ex-M. L. C., is, as usual, the leading spirit in the taluq. (e) (i) Bhandara, 28-4-30.—There is so far little enthusiasm in the district over the Civil Disobedience Campaign. The usual lectures were delivered at Tumsar during the week by M. V. Abhyankar, Punamchand Ranka and S. T. Dharmadhikari, from Nagpur, but the response was negligible. (ii) Bhandara, 28-4-30.—On the 17th April a small quantity of salt was prepared by the National School teachers at Tumsar and sold for Rs. 30. (g) Buldana, 23-4-30.—Dahihanda salt has been auctioned in two places: Pipalgaon Kale (station-house) and Khamgaon. (ii) Buldana, 23 4-30.—An hartal was observed in Khamgaon and Chikli on the 15th April on account of Jawaharlal Nehru's arrest and conviction. The Chikli hartal only lasted an hour.

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There was procession of Rashtriya school boys on the 15th morning to announce the hartal, and a meeting that evening. The meeting was attended by about 2,000 people and Parwar, Master of the Rashtriya School, presided after one Chhotelal had refused. The speakers—Parwar, Dr. Kale, Dcshpande, student; Baburao Patki, Master, Rashtriya School: Hari Bhau Borwankar, Master, Rashtriya Schcool; Korde, Master, Rashtriya School and Pannalal Vyas made the usual satyagraha speeches (iii) Buldaua, 23-4-30. Two volunteers or the salt satyagraha left Mehkar for Dahihanda on the 17th April, after being taken in procession through the town. On the 20th April, 20 volunteers left Khamgaon for Dahihanda. Their commander was Krishna Rao Ganpat Rao Deshmukh of village Garadgaon, 897

Khamgaon station-house and they were taken in a large procession round the town. A meeting attended by about 2,000 persons was subsequently held at which Dr. Parasnis presided. The speakers were Dr. Kale, who offered Rs. 15 per mensum to the family of one satyagrahi. Ozarkar, pleader, Muhammad Ali, Bohra, Laxman Deshmukh and Korde, who said the time for mass civil disobedience had come and that everybody should give in their names as volunteers; that Mohanlal Bhanulal of Khamgaon had promised to provide food for all volunteers and that clothes would also be given. He then, described how Basant Barahate and some others had discovered salt-bearing earth at a village two miles from Khamgaon and had prepared salt from it. Thus everybody should now join up and prepare salt here. Basant Barahate, who described how he made his salt, put up one packet for auction which was sold for Rs. 11. The whole affair is reported to have had its effect on the people of Khamgaon who are now considered likely to start the manufacture of salt locally and mass civil disobedience. (iv) Buldana, 23-4-30.—On the 19th April, a satyagraha meeting was held at Shegaon. Jainarayan Bhayva of Shegaon presided and about 1,000 attended. The speakers were Brijlal Biyani of Akola, minister of war for Berar and his two sisters. Lilatai Oak and Durgatai Joshi. The usual speeches were made, Brijlal Biyani remarking that although he had broken the salt law at Dahihanda he had not been arrested. One packet of salt was auctioned for Rs. 11 and several packets sold for one anna each. (v) Buldana, 25-4-30.—On his return from the Amraoti conference, V. K. Soman held a meeting at Mehkar on the 21st April to explain the satyagraha programme. Soman said that volunteers were wanted to explain throughout the tahsil the present system of Government, to spread the boycott of foreign cloth and to picket liquor shops. Anybody who did not give up foreign cloth at the request of the volunteers would be boycotted. Desai asked the Hindus and Muhammadans to sink their differences and bothe join in. He said the centres chosen were Dongaon, Fatehkherda, Janefal and Lonar. Soman's ginning factory is to be the training centre for the volunteers. Soman said he had so far only 30 volunteers, which was not enough. On the 22nd April, 22 volunteers paraded Mehkar town in the morning and patrolled near the liquor shops but did not actually picket them. This is to go on daily. On the 21st April five more volunteers were sent to Khamgaon from Shegaon for training in satyagraha. Bhairon Baba carrying a national flag, led them in procession through the town 898

(vi) Buldana, 7-5-30.—The following meetings have been held in the district:— 21-4-30.—Station-house Shegaon, village Jawla Buzurg, 300 attended. Speakers: Laxman Rao Deshmukh of Shegaon and Korde, National School, Khamgaon. 23-4-30.—Khamgaon. 400 attended. No pleaders. Meghraj, Marwari, presided, and following sopke as usual: Hari Bhau Borwankar ; Patke National School, Khamgaon. Korde, National School, Khamgaon. Gajanand Sukal Kale. Pandit Murarilalji. They asked for volunteers and sold salt. 24 4-30.—Khamgaon 150 attended. President—Narain Das, Marwari. Only Marwaris present. Speakers: Patke, Deshpande, Hari Bhau Borwankar, Korde. They talked about breaking the Forest Act. 24-4-30.—Mehkar. 150 present. Raghunandan presided. Speaker: V. K. Soman on the same topics. 25-4-30.—A regular patrol has now been started by volunteers in Mehkar town. They number about 20. So far they have taken care not to patrol or picket the liquor shops as they are afraid of being beaten. 25-4-30.—Khamgaon. Audience only 25. Borwankar and Korde were disappointed at the poor audience. 27-4-30.—Khamgaon. 400 attended. No pleaders. President.—Korde, National School. Speakers.—Borwankar and K. V. Sahasrabudhe of Akola, who made a lengthy and rather bitter speech saying he was very annoyed that the Local Government is not taking any action against the saltmakers. 28 4-30.—Mehkar. Volunteer Mule has returned with indigestible salt of Chikli and Patke of Khamgaon. 300 attended. 28-4-30.—Mehkar. Volunteer Mule has returned with indigestible salt and is going to sell it. Nine more volunteers have given in their names. (h) (i) Chanda, 24-4-30.—An hartal was observed on the 15th April as a mark of respect to Jawaharlal Nehru. Outwardly it was a success. The leading Hindu pleaders absented themselves from Court. About 1,000 people attended an open air meeting in Chanda the same night Khushalchand presided and opened the meeting with the usual remarks about independence. Govind Rao then proposed a resolution congratulating Nehru on his arrest. He eulogised the Pandit's service to India and appealed for more volunteers for offering satyagraha. Mahesh Das, in seconding the resolution, said that Government was afraid of Gandhi and his independence campaign and that was the duty of every Indian to go to jail at least once in support of the movement. He also appealed for recruits. The resolution was passed unanimously. In conclusion, Khushalchand gave a sketch of Jawaharlal Nehru's life and achivements. The net result of all appeals for volunteers was one recruit. (ii) Chanda, 24-4-30.—On the 16th April Chintaman, son of Purshottam, Brahman of Nagpur, and Sakara, son of Sadashiv, Brahman of Deoli, district Wardha, came to to arrange for a hartal in protest 899 against Jawaharlal Nehru's arrest. They endeavoured to close the municipal offices, but Chinoy, the president, refused to let them do so, in the absence of expressed desire of the majority of councillors. Chintaman and Sakara then closed the gates of the municipal compound and refused the clerks admittance. Chinoy sent for the Police, who arrested the two persons under Section 341, I. P. C. After the arrests the municipal office was besieged by a mob of about 400 persons. A procession carrying national flags marched to the gates with the intention of closing them forcibly. They were resisted and driven back by the Police, without resort to unnecessary force. The locals who resisted the Head Constable in charge of the Police were arrested under Section 353, I.P.C. The two persons arrested under Section 353 admitted their mistake and publicly apologised and the two cases against them were dropped. The other two persons arrested under Section 341, refused to apologise were prosecuted, convicted and fined Rs. 5 or 7 days S. I. The fines were paid and they were released. On the 13th, Chintaman, mentioned above, visited Warora and addressed a meeting of about 200 persons, over which Deotale, ex-M. L. C, presided. His address was unimportant. He told his audience that salt was being prepared by volunteers at Dahihanda, near Akola, and was being sold as Gandhi salt. He brought some packets with him and offered them for sale. Three packets were purchased very hesitatingly and realised Rs. 9. His appeal for volunteers met with no response. Each packet contained about ½ tola of salt. (iii) Chanda, 24-4-30.—Mahesh Das, Govind Rao and Khushalchand of Chanda, Shankar Sadashiv of Deoli and Chintaman Rao of Nagpur, addressed a meeting of 500 persons in Warora, on the 17th April under the chairmanship of Chunilal, Marwadi of Warora. Each speaker mildly abused the Government and appealed for volunteers. Four men volunteered, including one of the persons who was arrested under Section 341 on the 16th and released. About 100 foreign caps were burnt. Another meeting was held under the same chairman in Warora on the 18th. The resolutions before the meeting were (i) to hoist the national flag over the municipal buildings on the occasion of the next hartal, and (ii) sympathising with Jawaharlal Nehru on his arrest Chintamanrao of Nagpur declared that the municipal office was a public building and that voters had every right to hoist the national flag over it if they wished. N. M. Ghatwai of Nagpur endorsed this view and upbraided the voters for their apathetic attitude in the matter. He said, in effect that Englishmen had obtained power in India unjustly and by false pretences. He bemoaned the fact that Indians treated Englishmen with so much servility and submission. Waxing enthusiastic, he proceeded to classify Englishmen as dacoits, robbers and thieves, and went on grossly to misrepresent the fact of Jallianwala Baug. "In Ireland the English killed the presidents of two municipalities, but they met great trouble after the arrest to Terence Macswiney. The people of his city attacked the Police Stations and took away the arms and distributed them among villagers. You know that when Lajpat Rai was assaulted and killed, the 900 young men committed murder before Police Stations. Therefore, I say, Government should not think that it can smash a movement by arresting by rar on the 21st April and stayed with Baigovind. A public meeting, Rs. 2-8-0. (iv) Chanda, 24-4-30.—Abhyankar and Punamchand of Nagpur arrived by car on the 21st April and stayed with Baigovind. A public meeting, with Khushalchand in the chair, was held in Chanda the same evening. Punamchand said that all were aware of Congress affairs and that Indians were being ruled like slaves by the British from 5,000 miles away. There were only a few British in India, and they have come to India for own selfish ends. Aurangzeb's rule was hard, but it was a thousand times better than British rule through which every one had become poor. The riches of India went to England. Englishmen in India were living in luxury while Indians were without food or raiment. England gets 60 crores every year through the cloth trade from India. A handful of Englishmen rule 33 crores of Indians like lambs. Liquor contractors, pleaders and doctors, help Government and the Police strengthen its rule. He then appealed for temperance and upbraided his audience for their pathetic attitude towards current affairs, and told that if they all stopped paying taxes, they would get Home Rule in five minutes. Abhyankar then addressed the audience for 1½ hours. He said that formerly the Congress demanded better facilities for the people and indianisation of the services, but now they wanted complete independence. He denounced the apathy of Indians and said that Brahmans first went to worship and then went to pay respects to beef-eaters. He told the Chhatris that their swords had been snatched from them and they were left only with implements for cutting grass. He advised the Chhatris to take back their swords from the British. To the Mohammadans he said that they went to namaz and from there to pay respects to pig-eaters. He told the Sikhs that they were lions, but that during the Jallianwala Baug incident the British dragged them through the streets by the hairs of their heads and spat in their faces. He said that if all communities combined and offered courageous opposition, it would not be possible for one Britisher to rule over 2,000 Indians. As it is, they were helping the British Rule and being treated like dogs. There were only a few Europeans in Chanda and not enough Constables to keep one in every village. He then referred to the Sub-Inspectors and Magistrates present and said they were cutting the throats of their own people, and threatened that when Swaraj came he would send the Police and Magistrates to jail. They would require social services, he said, when Swaraj came and all Indian members of the services would get remunerative posts. He asked the Police to give Khushalchand timely warning of his impending arrest, so that he would be able to destroy papers, etc. (There is no intention at present to arrest Khushalchand). He regretted the absence of the Chanda pleaders and accused them of cowardice. Government was afraid of Gandhi. Weapons were in the hands of Indian sepoys. He then appealed for non-violent, non-co-operation and satyagraha. After another taunting 901 reference to the Police and Magistrates present, Abhyankar called for, volunteers and said that it was his duty to send others to jail. About 2,000 people attended the meeting, including some Marwadi females. Three persons, including one ex-Constable recently dismissed, offered themselves as volunteers. Abhyankar and Punamchand returned to Nagpur the same night. (v) Chanda, 24-4-30.—A meeting of local cloth merchants held in Chanda on the 19th April resolved to order no more foreign cloth for one year, but to continue the sale of existing stocks. Khushalchand, took an active part in the meeting. (vi) Chanda, 29-4-30.—A private meeting was held in the house of Balwant Rao Deshmukh, Pleader, on the 19th April, to appoint a War Council. Balwant Rao Kowle, Chendke, Bhagwat, Dewaskar, R. R. Deshmukh, Pleader, Dr. Shankarrao, Balaji, petition-writer, Lomb Karan Marwadi and others were present. The following War Council was appointed :— Lomb Karan, President; Babaji Vekhandi, Vice- President; Abdul Razzak, Secretary. Resolutions to support the Khadi movement, to disobey the salt, laws, to find a salt well in Chanda and to nominate volunteers for the work, were passed. (vii) Chanda, 29-4-30.—Under the chairmanship of Khushalchand of Chanda, a meeting was held at Warora on the 21st April. About 500 persons were present to hear Abhyankar and Punamchand of Nagpur, whose speeches were much the same as they delivered at Chanda later in the day. Abhyankar denounced the Hon'ble Mr. Tambe as a traitor. He said that one man could not control 2,000 sheep, yet each Britisher in India controlled 2,000 Indians. He abused the Police for showing; force to the public of Warora and suggested that they should distribute arms to the populace, and hinted that under Swaraj they would require Police and that those policemen who joined the movevent would get very remunerative posts. (viii) Chanda, 29-4-30.—The Nationalist party held a public meeting in Chanda on the 26th April. About 200 people were present, including Chendke, Dewaskar, Kowle, Deo and R. R. Deshmukh, pleaders, Shankar Rao and Abdul Razzak, Maheshdas, Bajirao, Govindrao Yadnik, Congressmen, were also present. Lomb Karan took the chair. Abdul Razzak explained that the meeting had been called to condemn the harsh treatment meted out to S. C. Bose and Sen Gupta by the Government of Bengal. He said that Bose was so badly beaten by the jail authorities that he was unconscious for three hours. He then described the growth of the Swaraj movement. Formerly he said there were only two parties. The British and Swaraj. Now there were three British, Congress and Nationalist. He said that his (the Nationalist) party was against going to jail; they wished to obtain Swaraj reasonably. He deprecated the actions of those persons who donned Khadi and enlisted as volunteers and then went to pay calls on the local officials and invited Police officers to tea parties. He was not in favour of non-violence, he said, because it was not possible for human beings to remain non-violent. His party 902 intended to start picketing liquor shops and boycotting foreign cloth. He requested the audience to help by personal service or by money contributions. His speech was seconded by Kowle, pleader. (This exposition of the "Nationalist" policy is somewhat difficult to follow. The two local parties are very much at loggerheads and jealous of each other.) Govind Rao of the Congress parly was them permitted to say a few words, and took the opportunity of offering seven packets of contraband salt for sale. There was no response from the Pleaders' party. Seeing this the Congress members present cried "shame". Uproar ensued and a breach of the peace was apprehended. On the request of the Station-house Officer the chairman dispersed the meeting. Contraband salt was manufactured by Khushalchand at a public meeting in Chanda on the 27th April. Three persons Khushalchand, Ambadas and Manohar Singh were chosen as the first batch of volunteers. A bottle of water, said to have come from Dahihanda, was boiled down and the result sold in anna packets. Khushalchand made the usual speech while the salt was being prepared, About 1,000 persons were present. (n) (i) Nagpur, 24-4-30.—Alleged contraband salt continues to be sold in the city. There has been some peaceful picketing by volunteers of foreign cloth shops in Sitabaldi. (ii) Nagpur, 24-4-30.—There has again been considerable Congress activity in the interior, meetings being held at the following places :—

Place Date Speakers Saoner 13th April Tulsiram Lodhi Abhyankar, Dharmadhikari, 17th April Tulsiram. Abhyankar, Bhagwandir, Umrer 14th April Punamchand. Bori 17th, 18th and 28th April. Balkrishna, doctor of Umred Jaalkhera 18th April S. H. Tathe (Wardha) Kamptee 19th April Abhyankar, Bhagwardin. Fifteen volunteers were enlisted in Kamptee and 11 in Saoner. (iii) S. B., C. P., 28-4-30.—Some 4,000 persons attended a meeting convened by the Nagpur Nagar Congress Committee on the 27th April under the presidency of M. V. Abhyankar. The proceedings opened with a short speech by the president deploring the fact that the Local Government had taken no action with regard to the Congress satyagraha against the Salt Act throughout the Province, and announcing that salt would be openly manufactured in Nagpur forthwith. Some water, said to have been brought from Dahihanda, was then boiled by ten volunteers and the salt obtained was auctioned in two packets for Rs. 125 and Rs. 111. During the process Punamchand Ranka and Dharmadhikari made the usual speeches appealing for united support of the Congress programme. In response to the president's call for volunteers at the closes of the meeting, 13 persons gave in their names, including G. D. Dhaole. Thirty members of the C. P. Marathi Responsivist Party, amongst whom were Mrs. Paranjpe and Cholkar, met privately on the' 27th April at the house of Dr. S. B. Munje. It was unanimously resolved to support the 903

Civil Disobedience Movement started by the National Congress, to adopt satyagraha against the salt and other inequitable laws, including the law relating to sedition, to carry on propaganda tor the boycott of foreign goods, and to stiff the volunteer organisation in the province. (iv) S. B., C. P., 1-5-30.—Some 5,000 persons attended a meeting convened by the Nagpur Nagar Congress Committee on the 30th April to congratulate the arrested leaders. M. V. Abhyankar occupied the chair, and speeches were made by Punamchand Ranka, G. D. Dhaole and Durga Shankar Mehta of Seoni. The public was urged to carry on the movement in spite of the arrests and were told that it was a matter for rejoicing the the C. P. Government which had hitherto taken no notice of their satyagraha had at last been goaded into taking action. The places of the arrested leaders must be filled and Section 124-A must be trampled down. G. D. Dhaole said that the revival of the Press Act of 1910 should be taken as a clear sign that the Government had been shaken. Mehta of Seoni congratulated the Responsivist on itheir decision to join in the national movement. The audience was not particularly enthusiastic and only 10 volunteers were enlisted at the end of the meeting. (v) S. B., C. P., 2-5-30.—About 6,000 persons attended the much advertised Responsivists' meeting at Nagpur on the evening of the 1st May. Dr. Munje, who occupied the chair, announced that he was about to break the Salt Act by preparing contraband salt. He then took some water, said to have been brought from Dahihanda, and poured it into a pan to be boiled. While the water was boiling he very quickly and in a voice that was hardiy audible read out from a piece of paper a very harmless passage from V. D. Savarkar's book The War of Independence of 1857. Dr. Cholkar then took the paper from him and repeated the passage. Bala Huddar followed with a copy extracted from the preface of Savarkar's Life of Mazzini relating to the overthrow of an alien Government. The audience contained a fair proportion of Abhyankar's supporters, who had obviously been instructed to cause disturbance, and one of these in a loud voice called upon the reader to produce the book. Dr. Cholkar then attempted to speak on the Civil Disobedience Movement, but Abhyankar's man heckled him persistently. When Dr. Munje rose and announced that the salt was ready, he was loudly called upon to resign his seat in the Assembly. Confusion ensued, during which Dr. Munje, who is still weak from his recent illness, fainted and was removed, The Congress party at once took possession of the meeting but found themselves unable to control the over-excited audience. The proceedings ended in general disorder. (s) (i) Wardha, 29-4-30.—Inmates of the Wardha Ashram have started picketing the local liquor shops. (ii) Wardha, 29-4-30.—M. B. Dewan and Gadre of the Wardha Ashram have lectured at Deoli on civil disobedience, urging the people to break laws and to start non-payment of taxes. (iii) Wardha, 29-4-30.—On the 20th April. N. S. Palnikar of Nagpur lectured at Karanja on civil disobedience and the salt satyagraha. There was a small bonfire of foreign cloth. 904

(iv) Wardha, 29-4-30—On the 16th April, Puranik Mahadeo Sajanand Joshi addressed a meeting of 150 persons at Karanja under the presidentship of Kesho Rao Bhusari. The lecturer dwelt on the independence resolution and told the people to join in the present struggle for freedom. An appeal for volunteers was made, but there was no response. (v) Wardha,. 29-4-30.—M. V. Abhyankar of Nagpur has toured in the district during the week, lecturing at Wardha, Arvi, Pulgaon and Hinganghat. His lectures were intemperate and repidly anti- Government in tone. He appealed for funds and exhorted his hearers to enlist themselves as volunteers. The meetings were largely attended but the response was meagre. Punamchand Ranka and Abhyankar addressed a meeting at Hinganghat on the 20th April under the chairmanship of N. M. Ghatwau. There was a bonfire of foreign cloth after the meeting and Rs. 50 were collected. Nineteen persons offered themselves as volunteers. On the 22nd April, Abhyankar lectured at Arvi, Baba Saheb Deshmukh of Virui in the chair. There was a small bonfire of foreign cloth, and contraband salt was sold to the value of Rs. 200. Nineteen persons enlisted as volunteers. On the 23rd April, Abhyankar addressed a well-attended meeting at Pulgaon. The chair was occupied by Dixit, weaving master of Pulgaon Mills. Contraband salt was sold for about Rs. 30. Twenty-one persons enrolled as volunteers. (vi) Wardha, 29-4-30.—The local cloth merchants of Wardha have decided not to import any more foreign cloth, but will continue to dispose of their present stock. Owing to the efforts of N. M. Ghatwai, the Hinganghat cloth merchants also have decided not to import any more foreign cloth, 16 of them signing a pledge to this effect. 168. S. B., C. P., 25-4-30.—In is understood that the War Council formed by the Nagpur Youth League with Ghatwai and Jaiwant as president and secretary respectively, have decided to assist the Civil Disobedience Campaign by deputing members of the League to various places in the C. P. Hindi province to prepare the jeople and to enlist volunteers. Ghatwai himself is to undertake a tour.

176 CENTRAL PROVINCES POLICE ABSTRACT OF INTELLIGENCE Vol XLV Nagpur, 10th May 1930. No. 18. GENERAL SUMMARY 171. The news of Gandhi's arrest was received quietly at Nagpur on the 5th May. A fairly successful hartal was observed and an audience 905 estimated at 15,000 persons attended a joint Congress-Youth League meeting convened in the Chitnayis Park during the evening. Vithalbhai Patel, who passed through in the Calcutta-Bombay Mail on the 6th May, addressed a few words on the Civil Disobedience Movement to a crowd of about 1,000 persons who were at the Nagpur railway station to meet him. In accordance with the decision of the C. P. Marathi Provincial Congress Committee's War Council to break the law against sedition, M. V. Abhyankar read out an inflammatory passage from Bharat Men Angrezi Raj at a meeting of about 7,000 persons at Nagpur on the 9th May, and induced the audience to repeat it after him word for word. He and Dharmadhikari both made objectionable speeches. Wamanrao Joshi of Amraoti, who delivered a violent address at Nagpur on the 4th May, attracted an audience of about 7,000 persons. There is no change in the general situation. Congress agitation continues to be intense throughout the Province and local leaders continue their abusive speeches, several of which contain more or less open incitements to Government servants to resign their posts, coupled with threats of social boycott. The salt laws continue to be broken on every possible occasion. Propaganda for the boycott of foreign cloth is carried on energetically and cloth merchants of several more towns have been induced to place no more orders for periods varying from six months to year. In Berar, salt-making still goes on at Bhamod in the Amraoti district, and the volunteers have been relieved by parties from Amraoti, Akola and Yeotmal. The local people are taking little interest, but an outbreak of house-breakings in the vicinity is attributed to the speeches of volunteers who address meetings in the surrounding village inciting the people to defy the law. Wamanrao Joshi of Amraoti and Sahasrabudhe of Akola have made highly objectionable speeches. In the C. P. Marathi, extensive propaganda is being carried on in the interior, especially in the Wardha and Nagpur districts. In the Wardha district, batches of volunteers from Wardha town are touring the villages and are cutting down toddy palms. So far some 500 trees have been destroyed, but most of these were already useless. Toddy and liquor shops have been picketed, but without much success. Objectionable speeches are reported from Bhandara and Chanda. POLITICAL, POLITICO-RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL MOVEMENTS 172. (a) Akola, 3-5-30.—Meetings were held at Akola on the 28th and 30th April, the attendance being 4,000 and 1,000 respectively. The second meeting was called in connection with the arrest of the Jubbulpore leaders. Speeches of the usual violent nature were made by Wamanrao Joshi and Sahasrabudhe. Each of them referred to the Mutiny of 1857. What was said by Joshi might be construed as an incitement to the subordinate Police to fire on their officers. Sahasrabudhe, in describing the Chittagaon insurrection, said it was a fitting answer to Government's present repressive policy. 906

A committee has been busy collecting funds for the Civil Disobedience Campaign. Daily processions of boys and girls are being taken out in Akola. Volunteers some times accompany them and make speeches in the streets. At a meeting of cloth merchants in the Berar Trading Companiy's shop, it was decided to purchase no more foreign cloth for a year. The usual procedure is being followed at Dahihanda, where each batch of volunteers is relieved by a fresh lot after a week. Five of them go to Bhamod daily to make salt and return in the evening. Others are deputed for lecturing in the surrounding villages. The latest batch of satyagrahis is from Yeotmal. The local leaders, including three or four women, have been touring the district and lectures have been delivered at all the taluq headquarters. (b) (i) Amraoti, 3-5-30.—On the 24th April, a meeting attended by about 2,500 people, including 100 women, was held at Amraoti to congratulate K. V. Sahasrabudhe on his salt-making. W. G. Joshi, Bamangaonkar and Sahasrabudhe were the speakers. On the 26th April, a public meeting attended by some 2,500 persons was held at Amraoti to prepare the ground for the breaking of the Salt Act in Amraoti the following day. H. W. Deshpande and W. G. Joshi were the speakers, and the prospective heroes were held up to general admiration. On the morning of the 27th April, 4,000 people assembled in Jog Square. 175 volunteers were employed and placed to guard the square on all sides, while others were stationed to gave warning with flag and bugle on the approach of the Police. The law was then solemnly broken, six pans being boiled over six chulas. The procedure was repeated at 5 p. m. In the evening at 9-30 p.m. a meeting of 4,000 persons was held under the presidency of W. G. Joshi. H. W. Deshpande, N. T. Pande, a student of the King Edward College, Dr. Soman, Bamangaonkar, Dr. Patwardhan and the president spoke. Their speeches indicated great disappointithent that the Police had completely ignored their proceedings. Some said that Government must be driven to repression, and others said that the C. P. Government's restraint showed up the foolishness of the Government of Bombay. Salt was auctioned, the highest bids being Rs. 151 and Rs. 125 a packet. No Police whatever were present at the breaking of the salt law and, after the preparation they had made and the heroics in which they had indulged at previous meetings, the promoters were made to look very foolish. The usual salt manufacture goes on daily at Bhamod by volunteers in batches of half a dozen at a time. They address the people in the adjacent villages. A few people come to watch the salt- making daily, but the interest taken is negligible. Ramrao Deshmukh of Jarur and others held meetings at Hiwarkhed, Morsi and Yaoli during the last week of April. At Morsi they took out a procession with the national flag and halted in front of the Police 907

Station, shouting "Britannia barbad—Hindusthan abad" several times. N. G. Amrutkar, pleader (non-Brahman), refused to join the Congress at their request. Speeches abusing Government were made at the above meetings by Ramrao Deshmukh. Yadaorao Pharkade, Bhaurao Deshmukh, Baba Saheb Yeshwant Rao, B. A, Mohrir, Vishnupant Jarudkher, Jaggulal, Namdeo Khude, Maroti Rao Nathi, Sitaram Dardu and N. G. Deshpande. Ramrao Deshmukh, Yeshwant Pandurang, N. G. Deshpande, Jaggulal and Yadorao Pharkade also addressed meetings at Mangrul and Loni on the Civil Disobedience Campaign. H. W. Deshpande addressed a meeting of 400 at Nandgaon (Mahuli station-house) on the 24th April. Various other meetings of less importance have also been held in the Morsi taluq. (ii) Amraoti, 3-5-30.—At the Non-Brahman Conference which was attended by about 4,000 persons on the 18th April at Assegaon, among others, were passed resolutions congratulating Jawaharlal Nehru, protesting against Government's repression, and asking young non-Brahmins to join Gandhi's movement. Two meetings were held at Ellichpur on the 21st and 23rd April at each of which some 600 persons attended. At the first Dr. Soman and the second Bamangaonkar and others abused Government.

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At a meeting at Dattapur on the 28th April, at which Jasraj Marwari, presided, Ratanlal Kale of Amraoti delivered an abusive speech to 400 people, including many Marwaris and most of the local notabilities. He invited his hearers to break the salt law, and auctioned contraband salt. It is no longer possible to give details of all political meetings held in this district. Morsi taluq, with Ramrao Deshmukh and his followers, produces several meetings a day. Since reporting the above, news of further meetings has come in, including one in which 2,000 people assembled at Morsi on the 28th April to hear W. G. Joshi. A large procession shouted revolutionary slogans. Some of the non-Brahmans also spoke warning the audience against the Brahmans and the Congress party generally. Another meeting of 2,000 persons heard W. G. Joshi at Teosa, where Bhagwant Rao Joshi, a prominent agitator of Chandur Railway, presided. Bhagwant Rao Joshi of Chandur Railway has been prominent in a number of meetings in which attendance are rising from 200 to 300 and upwards to 800 in Chandur and the vicinity (attendance somewhat less). He abuses Government and advises civil disobedience. Agitation grows daily more intense throughout the district, the areas affected being:—(.1) Amraoti and important villages of the neighbouring station-house circles within easy distance. (2) Daryapur and villages round that town and Bhamod, (3) Morsi taluq, (4) Chandur Railway and vicinity, including Dattapur where the Marwaris are taking a prominent, part. 908

Ellichpur taluq is little affected, though meetings are reported from Chandur Bazaar, Paratwada and Ellichpur from time to time and the less accessible parts of other taluqs receive little attention from the Congress leaders. Actually the effect of the agitation is hitherto small except in the larger towns where the increase in the numbers attending indicates a growing interest. These numbers have of course been swelled of late by school boys and college students on their holidays who form a large proportion ot eviery audience. There is no evidence that the feeling of the people generally towards Government have been seriously affected at present, though this will follow in the course of time, how soon or to what extent it is difficult to say. Punjab Rao, Barrister1, President of the District Board, Chaubal, pleader, and Shankar Rao Watane, Vice-President, District Board, are touring the Amraoti, Ellichpur and Daryapur taluqs, advocating wearing of Khadi and handing out mild abuse of Government. This is an electioneering stunt rather than anything else, though it does not do Punjab Rao and his friends any great credit. The arrests of the Jubbulpore agitators had an immediate effect in Amraoti as was reflected in the tone of the speeches made after the news was received. Many of the local men would be pleased to go to jail for two months, but by no means welcome two or three years imprisonment. (e) (i) Bhandara, 4-5-30.—Sakharam Badhai presided over a meeting at Bhandara on the 27th April. Shankar Markande of Bhandara prepared a little salt from water said to have been brought from Dahihanda. There was no response to his invitation to the audience to join in the preparation. Sendurnikar spoke on the present situation. The salt obtained was sold for Rs. 7, while 75 packets of alleged Gandhi salt fetched a price of one anna each. About 200 persons attended. (ii) Bhandara, 4-5-30.—On the 27th April, Girdharlal presided over a meeting at Gondia attended by about 300 persons. Six volunteers prepared salt from Dahihanda water and the result was auctioned for Rs. 11. Bhagwandin Sharma of Nagpur made the usual speech and called for 125 volunteers from Gondia and 14 persons, including Girdharlal, Chaturbhuj, Joglekar and Sheobalak gave in their names, Sheobalak's speech to the effect that he would have preferred a violent movement was objected to by Bhagwandin. On the 28th April, the Gondia cloth merchants under the presidentship of Usman Seth decided to order no more foreign cloth for a period of six months, Ramnath Bhadupote, Honorary Magistrate, Gondia Bench, has tendered his resignation as a protest against the repressive policy of Government. On the 26th April, in a meeting of about 100 persons at Gondia under the presidentship of Pandit Ram Ratan of Tiroda, Bhagwandin, Sheobalak, Vaidya, Girdharlal and Chaturbhuj Bhai of Gondia lectured

1 Dr. Panjabrao Shamrao Deshmukh, (1898-1968) was elected in 1930 to the C. P. and Berar Legislative Council, and became Minister of Education. He established the Shivaji Education Society in 1931. 909 on the present movement. It was emphasised that if the Police, who were the right hand of Government, resigned in a body to-day, the Government would be paralysed. Some packets of national salt were sold.

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On the 27th April, salt was prepared from alleged Dahihanda waiter at Tumsar and sold together with 30 packets of national salt. Mande, Wankhede, Koti, teacher, and Seth Fatehchand delivered speeches saying that they were ready to undergo imprisonment. (g) Chanda, 8-5-30.—Several small processions with national flags and Gandhi salt were taken out in Warora during the week. On the 2nd May, Khushalchand presided over a public meeting in Chanda. Nilkanthrao Deshmukh of Viral, district Wardha, was the principal speaker. Nilkanthrao began by rebuking his audience for wearing foreign cloth and for visiting the Deputy Commissioner and the District Superintendent of Police. Continuing, he said that Gandhi must be trusted completely and implied that his actions were above criticism. He denied that the British had won India by the sword, and invited them to a trial of strength by the sword. He abused the Police for considering their stomachs when the country called for personal sacrifice. He advocated social boycott of Government servants. Khushalchand said that they did not propose to call any more meetings in the city but to employ their time and energy in spreading their creed in the villages. He depfored the paucity of volunteers in the district and appealed for support. About 300 persons attended a meeting convened by the Pleaders' (Nationalist) Party in Chanda on the 3rd May to congratulate the leaders who were recently arrested in Jubbulpore. Bhagwat occupied the chair. Kowle, pleader, condemned the police of repression adopted by Government. Abdul Razzak, a local unemployed who is prepared to support any party who will pay him, strongly deplored the apathy of the residents of Chanda in the Civil Disobedience Campaign. India, he said, had saved England from German domination and had got nothing in return. Shankar Sadasheo Panke then produced a book which he said was proscribed Azadi-ki-Diwani and read a paragraph of it. He disappeared immediately after the meeting. About 1,500 persons attended a meeting in Chanda on the 6th May to sympathise with Gandhi on his arrest. Khushalchand and other local Congressmen being on tour in the interior, Maheshraj Marwadi, took the chair. Govind Rao Dalal spoke of Gandhi and his work and abused Government's revival of the Press Ordinance. A resolution congratulating Gandhi was passed unanimously. Shesh Karan, Marwadi, gave a brief sketch of Gandhiji's life. Maheshraj said that Gandhi was the 538th leader to be arrested. He referred to recent happenings in Peshawar and said that the Militarv had fired on the innocent mob continuously for six hours, but the Peshawaris were not afraid and gave their lives willingly. He rebuked the Muhammadans for not supporting the hartal in Chanda on the 15th May. An attempted hartal in Ballarshah also failed. Shops 910 closed up to 3 p.m. in response to the activities of volunteers, but thereafter remained open. (n) (i) Nagpur, 2-5-30.—Activity in the dehat continued and meetings were held as follows :—

Date Place Speakers Abhyankar and 18th April Katol Bhagwandin 19th April Bori Locals 20th April Mowar S. H. Thatte of Wardha Caps burnt 21st April Bilona S. H. Thatte of Wardha Caps burnt 22nd April Narkhed S. H. Thatte of Wardha Caps burnt 24th April Saoner Local Salt sold 27th April Umred Local Salt sold Do. Saoner Local Salt sold Do. Ramtek Local Salt sold 28th April Kamptee Local Salt Sold

(ii) Nagpur, 2-5-30.—Sale of contraband salt continued spasmodically throughout the week. There has also been picketing of foreign cloth shops by Chaturabai Kotak and other women. They have not so far given trouble. There have been a number of bonfires of foreign caps. The Nagar Congress Committee held meetings on the 24th April in Sitabuldi (attendance 500), on the 25th in Itwari (attendance 1,000), and on the 27 at the Town Hall (attendance 5,000) in aid of the civil disobedience propaganda. At the last meeting some water said to have been brought from Dahihanda was boiled and the salt produced auctioned for fancy prices. There seems little doubt that owing to non-interference by Government the salt movement is on the wane. (iii) S. B,. C. P., 5-5-30.—About 7,000 persons attended a meeting held at Nagpur in the 4th May under the auspices of the Nagar Congress Committee to hear Wamanrao Joshi of Amraoti who was introduced by Abhyankar, Joshi, while impressing upon his audience that for the present violence in the struggle for freedom would end only in disaster, told them to remember that the time would come when it would have to be adopted. India had failed to attain her freedom in 1857 because Indians had not been united and the Government had been assisted by traitors. This was still unfortunately the case. They must endeavour to win over all supporters of Government so that when 1857 was repeated sepoys and police would refuse to fire on their countrymen and Magistrates would refuse to convict their own people. When such a situation had been established and the whole country was united against their alien rulers, the mutiny would be repeated and would be bound to succeed. But for the present it was impossible to deny that India was anything but united, and violence at the present stage would be suicidal. Joshi's speech is reported to have created a considerable impression, but only 15 volunteers gave in their names at the close of the meeting, in response to an apnea! from Abhyankar. (iv) S. B., C. P., 6-5-30.—The news of Gandhi's arrest reached Nagpur during the afternoon of the 5th May. Hartal was immediately proclaimed 911 and practically all shops in the city were closed. There was very little excitement. A certain amount of hat snatching is reported. During the evening a joint Congress-Youth League meeting convened in the Chitnavis Park by the Nagar Congress Committee was attended by about 15,000 persons. The usual speeches were made by Punamchand, Pandurang Sao, Bhagwandin and Abhyankar of the Congress party, M. L. Jaiwant of the Nagpur Youth League and Dr. Cholkar. Government's action in arresting Gandhi was criticised as cowardly and the people urged to carry on the struggle undismayed. Jaiwant, who said that Government was digging its own grave, announced that two battalions of troops had arrived at Kamptee from Poona, and advised the sepoys to join the revolutionary movement bringing their arms if possible. The Revolutionary Party, he said, had temporarily ceased their activities in obedience to Gandhi's instructions, but now that Gandhi had been arrested they would cry out for vengeance. Bloodshed must be avoided, but he was doubtful whether the boycott of British goods would be effective. He suggested that the Congress should sanction an all-India strike of workers and peasants. British goods would not even be unloaded at the ports and Government would be completely paralysed. A stone thrown during the meeting created some slight temporary disorder. Bhagwandin accused Government of deliberately causing the mischief and announced that he would remain in the Park until noon on the 8th May. Dr. Cholkar appealed for 200 volunteers. Other Congress speakers condemned Government's revival of the Press Ordinance of 1910. A final appeal for volunteers by Abhyankar resulted in 55 men giving in their names, Bhimsen Kasar, an Arms Act Satyagrahi filling in his pledge in his own blood. On the morning of the 6th, 60 volunteers followed by about 300 persons, mostly boys and students, marched in procession from the Chitnavis Park through the city to the Town Hall, and on to Sitabuldi and the Sadar Bazaar where they dispersed. When the procession arrived at the Town Hall, Abhyankar said that he was going to meet Vithalbhai Patel, who was passing through by the Calcutta-Bombay Mail, at the railway station and would endeavour to persuade him to break his journey and address a meeting in the evening. Hartal was observed in the city and Sadar. (v) S. B., C. P., 7-5-30.—A crowd of about 1,000 persons including volunteers ant Congressmen were on the platfrom to see Vithalbhai Patel, who passed through by the Calcutta- Bombay Mail on the 6th May. Abhyankar. Punamchand, Dharmadhikari, Dr. Cholkar, Ogle and Dhaole were prominent, Abhyankar pressed Patel to break his journey at Nagpur to address a meeting in the evening. The invitation was declined with a promise to visit Nagpur in the near future. Addressing the crowd on the platform, Patel appealed for support in the Civil Disobedience Movement, saying that freedom would be won now or never. He urged the exclusive use of Khadi, boycott of foreign cloth and liquor, the breaking of laws and strict non-violence. Referring to the revival of the Press Ordinance, he advised the owners of presses not to furnish security but to allow their plants to be confiscated by Government, and asked the people to boycott Anglo-Indian newspapers. 912

Punamchand Ranka presided over a meeting of about 7,000 persons held in the Chitnavis Park during the evening, Punamchand, Dharmadhikari and Bhagwandin (who is still fasting in the Park) made the usual speeches on civil disobedience. Dharmadhikari, speaking on the arrest of Gandhi, said that the charge made against him by Government that his propaganda though professedly non-violent held already led to violence and that he was unable to control his followers, was absolutely unfounded, Gandhi being a messenger of peace with whose teachings the recent outbursts of violence in India had no connection whatever. He asked the rising generation never to enter Government service. Bhagwandin announced that he intended to raise a corps of 1,000 volunteers and to collect a fund of two lakhs. These volunteers must be prepared to sacrifice their lives and should not be content with merely going to jail. He said that he had evolved a programme which he would disclose on the 10th May and by which Government would be completely paralysed. The audience did not appear particularly interested. The five volunteers, who went to Dahihanda to assist in the salt manufacture, have returned to Nagpur. (vi) S. B., C. P., 10-5-30.—A private meeting of the C. P. Marathi Provincial Congress Committee's War Council decided to break the law against sedition. Abhyankar undertaking to read proscribed literature at a public meeting on the 9th May. The meeting on the 9th was well attended, the audience numbering over 7,000 persons. Abhyankar himself presided and Bhagwandin and Dharmadhikari made introductory speeches. Bhagwandin announced that as Government had made no reply to the general breaking of the Salt Act through the province, it had been decided to read seditious literature as Seth Govind Das and the C. P. Hindi War Council had done. Referring to the arrest to Seth Govind Das he said that this was the way in which Government rewarded the help given by the Seth's great-grandfather in 1857, Dharmadhikari, who described the contents of Gandhi's second letter to the Viceroy, delivered an objectionable oration urging the people to continue the struggle at all costs saying that the present Government had become intolerable and must be completely destroyed. Abhayankar's speech was also objectionable. He said that the Congress had openly defied Government and were determined that India should win freedom or parish in the attempt. He then read out a highly iflammatory passage from Bharat Men Angrezi Raj, first in Hindi and then in English, and made the audience repeat the Hindi version word for word after him. He concluded by announcing that he had openly broken the law against sedition and challenged Government to take action against him. The audience did not display any undue enthusiasm, but readily repeated the Hindi version which Abhyankar had read out. Action against him is at present under consideration. (t) (i) Wardha, 6-5-30.—A. V. Thatte of the local Ashram presided over a meeting held in Wardha town on the 27th April to break the salt law. A lecture was delivered bv Tejram. and in the presence of about 2,000 persons salt was prepared by boiling water said to have been 913 brought from Dahihanda for the purpose. The salt thus prepared was auctioned for Rs. 41. Further speeches were made by Ramchandra and Ganpat Rao Kale of the Ashram, and the meeting ended with a small bonfire of foreign caps. About, 600 persons attended a meeting held in Wardha on the 2nd May under the presidency of Shivraj Chudiwala to congratulate Vithalbhai Patel on his resignation from the Assembly and Seth Govind Das and the other Jubbulpore leaders on their arrest. It was announced that from the 15th May the salt law would be broken in every village in the Province. Batches of volunteers from Wardha town are touring the villages and are cutting down toddy palms with the approval of the owners. So far some 400 or 500 trees have been destroyed most of which were either too old or too small to be of any use. Toddy and liquor shops are being picketed, but without much success. Parties of volunteers are moving daily in Arvi town, selling contraband salt and singing national songs. Some 500 persons attended a public meeting held at Arvi on the 27th April under the presidency of Baba Saheb Deshmukh of Virul. Salt was prepared from water said to have been brought from Dahihanda, while Thatte, the chief speaker, exhorted the audience to be prepared for and not to fear arrest. Deshmukh said that Government servants should resign or be socially boycotted. The salt prepared was auctioned for Rs. 25, A largely attended meeting was held on the 30th April at Arvi to congratulate Vithalbhai Patel and Seth Govind Das and the other Jubbulpore leaders on their arrest.

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(iii) Wardha, 6.5.30.—Manohar Diwan and Gadre of the Wardha Ashram visited village Waifad, station-house Pulgaon, on the 24th April and lectured on the boycott of liquor and foreign cloth. They gave a practical demonstration of spinning in the local school. Salt was publicly prepared by five vounteers at a meeting held at Hinganghat on the 27th April under the presidentship of N. M. Ghatwai, over 1,000 persons attended. Alleged Dahihanda water was boiled down, while N. M Ghatwai explained to the audience that every one present would be equally liable with the volunteers for the breach of the law. The salt prepared was auctioned for Rs. 5. N. M. Ghatwai of Hinganghat and Moghe and Bhave of the Ashram visited village Alipur, station-house Wadner, on the 22nd April. At a meeting held in the evening Bhave exhorted the audience to join the salt satyagraha and abused the Government. Some contraband salt was sold for small amounts. Four volunteers were enrolled. 914

177

CENTRAL PROVINCES POLICE ABSTRACT OF INTELLIGENCE Vol. XLV. Nagpur, 17th May 1930. No. 19. GENERAL SUMMARY 177. The Berar Provincial Congress Committee's War Council has announced that, since the Local Government has declined to notice it, satyagraha against the Salt Act will be suspended from the 13th May. Meetings at Akola in connection with the arrest of Gandhi were attended by 9,000 persons on the 5th May and by 13,000 on the 6th, and occasioned the usual intemperate speeches. Proscribed literature was read out at a well-attended meeting held on the 10th May to commemorate the anniversary of the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny. Violent speeches were delivered at a similar meeting held at Amraoti and particularly objectionable speech was made on the same day at Yeotmal by Wamanrao Joshi of Amraoti who read out an extract from Dr. Sunderland's India in Bondage. Reports from Amraoti indicate a dangerous growth of intense anti- Government feeling in the Morsi and Chandur Railway taluqs of the district. POLITICAL, POLITICO-RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL MOVEMENTS. 179. (a) Akola, 12.5.30.— A public meeting of about 1,500 Muhammadans was held in Akola on the 5th May to decide whether they should join in the hartal arranged on account of Gandhi's arrest. It was a stormy meeting in which both the Hindus and Government came in for severe criticism. Speeches were made by Maulvi Aktar Ali Khan, a reporter of the Khilafat, who had come to Akola to canvass Yamin Khan, Gulsher Khan and Hassan Nizami. When it came to the vote, it was decided by a large majority that the Muhammadans would not observe hartal. A public meeting was held in the Tilak Park on the 5th May in connection with the arrest of Gandhi. The audience numbered about 9,000. P. B. Gole was in the chair, supported by the leaders of the Civil Disobedience Campaign and others. Resolutions congratulating Gandhi on his arrest and calling a hartal the following day were passed. The speeches were comparatively mild. Special efforts were made to induce the Muhammadans to join the hartal. The hartal on the 6th May was only partial as the Muhammadans refused to join. Both the mills were closed. Gandhi's portrait was taken through Akola town during the evening. The procession started with about 1,000 persons, but when its destination was reached the number swelled to 4,000. Later on there was a public meeting in the Tilak Park which was amended by about 13,000 people. Brijlal Bivani was in the chair. A song was sung by Mathu Bai, daughter of Waman Rao Joshi, and Mrs. Durgatai Joshi made a speech in which 915 she said that "in the near future, the Police are bound to fire on the English". Kishan Lai Seth spoke on the lack of discipline shown in the procession of the evening. He said that orders to march in fours, leaving half the road for traffic, had been given, but the processionists went in a crowd all over the road. The only way to defeat Government was observing discipline. At the conclusion of the meeting there was a bonfire of foreign cloth. At a meeting of about 4,000 persons on the evening of the 10th May, proscribed literature was read out by Brijlal Biyani, Durgatai Joshi, R. G. Pandit, Head Master, National School, and Sushila Gandhi, daughter-in-law of Gandhi. The passages selected not very objectionable. There was not much enthusiasm. Bulletin No. 9 published by the War Council announces that the Salt Act satyagraha will be suspended from the 13th May. The reason given is that Government has taken no action against the satyagraha and there is no point in continuing it. Meetings to congratulate Gandhi on his arrest were held at Karanja (attendance 600), Murtizapur (300), Balapur (500) and Akot (2,000). The speaches were on the usual lines and, on the whole, mild.

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(b) Amraoti, 10-5-30.—On the 1st May, a meeting of 2,000 persons assembled at Amraoti to congratulate Seth Govind Das and others arrested in Jubbulpore. Dr. Soman, Ratanlal Kale, T. G. Joshi and W. G. Joshi made appropriate speeches, that of the last named being indicatable. Dr. Soman advised violence if non-violence failed. The arrest of Gandhi occasioned a hartal in Amraoti. There was' a procession of 5,000 persons in the evening and a meeting later at which the speakers were Dr. Patwardhan. Dr. Bhojraj, Pannalal, Bansilal Singhai, S. V. Gokhale, pleader, Dr. Soman, Radhaballabh Ladha, H. W. Deshpande and Mrs. Patwardhan. The crowd was peaceful The speakers urged them to carry on the work began by Gandhi. On the 10th May, a meeting was held at the Ganesh Theatre, Amraoti, to commemorate the anniversary of the Tndian Mutiny. 3,000 persons attended. W. G. Joshi, Dattatrya Ragho Joshi, a boy volunteer, Dr. Soman and H. W. Deshpande delivered highly inflammatory speeches, full of lying accounts of British atrocities. Dr. Soman said that he had heard the Badnera police saying that they were ready to desert at any time. Mr. George, Deputy Superintendent, proceeded to Morsi during the week to report on the effects of the agitation there and on the evidence available for prosecution of the leaders, Frorn the report he made on his return it is evidently high time that action was taken against Ramrao Deshmukh and three or four others. There appears to be ample evidence to prosecute them under Section 107, C. P. C., in respect of a recent 916 meeting at Morsi, but I am awaiting the report of a meeting at Jarur, held yesterday. (ii) Bhandara, 11-5-30.—Picketing of liquor shops was begun in Bhandara on the 7th May, but the public are not interested. The Bhandara Municipal Committee have passed a resoluting condemning Gandhi's arrest. On the 6th May Shankar Rao and Shendurnikar delivered speeches on the usual lines to a small audience at the Bhandara Town Hall. The sympathy of the depressed classes and Muhammadans was invited, Bhagwandin of Nagpur completed his tour in the Downiwada circle on the 2nd May. He has enlisted ten volunteers. His lectures were as usual on the boycott of British goods, the use of Khadi and the preparation of salt. There was a small national flag procession of 100 persons led by Madan Seth and Jetmal at Lakhandur on the 1st May. The boycott of foreign cloth was urged in the meeting that followed. (g) Buldana, 9-5-30.—Hartal was observed on account of Gandhi's arrest at the following places on the 6th May:— Buldana—Arranged by Kanitkar, Pleader. Every shop had at least one door open. A poorly attended meeting was held in the evening, at which Dinkar Kanade Shastri spoke. Malkapur—A procession was also taken out and foreign caps were burnt on the way. A meeting of about 4,000 persons was held in the evening. Kulkarni of Akola was the speaker. Chikli—Also a small procession and a meeting of 200 persons. Desai, Deshpande, Dattatraya Deshpande, Dajiba Tapi and Dr. Pimprikar delivered short speeches. Nandura—The hartal included all except two taxi owners. Vinayak Rao Deshmukh of Jalamb and Auchit Rao Deshpande of Akola spoke as usual at a small meeting. Deolgaon Raja. —A procession was held and some caps were burnt. Motale and Matisa Babusa Lad spoke at a meeting later. Khamgaon:—The news of Gandhi's arrest was received on the 5th May and all shops were closed, except those of Muhammadans. Processions were taken out calling for an hartal on the 6th, whith was practically complete. No taxis plied for hire. Liquor, opium and ganja shops were picketed peaceably. On the 6th evening about 5.000 persons attended a meeting, but no pleaders were present. The speakers were Borwankar, Nandlal Sharma, Gowardhan Tambakuwala of Khamgaon, Purnaji Patel of Jawla and Korde. Korde's speech was violent and full of abuse. It is being examined. Other salt satyagraha and boycott meetings have been held as usual in Malkapur on the 28th and 30th April : Fatehkherda on the 2nd May; Jalgaon on the 30th April; Chikli on the 2nd May ; Shegaon on the 28th April and 2nd May ; Mehkar on the 29th April and 1st May. (n) (i) Nagpur, 10-5-30.—A meeting was held at Nagpur on the 2nd May to protest against the arrest of Rajagopalachariar and the conviction at Benares of Ramanna and Raut, ex-students of the Nagpur Tilak 917

Vidyalaya. 3,000 persons attended. Bhagwandin presided and the speakers were Dharmadhikari and S. H. Thatte of Wardha. A private meeting of the National Volunteer Corps. (Swayam Sewak Sangh) was held at the Tilak Vidyalaya on the 2nd May. It was decided to hold meeting in various parts of the city to preach the breaking ot the Salt Act. It was also notified on the Congress notice board that propaganda for preparing salt in every village would be started from the 5th May. The meetings in the city have started, but the attendance is small. It is clear that enthusiasm for breaking the Salt Act is on the wane. The sale of contraband salt has practically ceased. It seems that the movement will be replaced by the reading of proscribed literature. (ii) Nagpur, 10-5-30.—On the 6th May, with the exception of some Muhammadan shops and the mills which remained working, there was a complete hartal on account of Gandhi's arrest. Three processions organised during the day were practically complete failures. One procession wandered through the city, a second through Sitabuldi and the third took Abhyankar to the station in the afternoon to meet Patel who was passing through. In no case was the procession over 300 in number. Some 1,200 persons attended the railway station and the orderliness of the proceedings is indicated by the fact that over 1,000 platform tickets were purchased. (iii) Nagpur, 10-5-30.—Activity in the dehat continues. A party of boys from the Tilak Vidyalaya under A. R. Tijare and H. M. Datar visited Kamptee on the 28th April, Ramtek on the 29th and 30th, and Bori on the 1st and 2nd May and staged plays. The primary object appears to have been the collection of funds, but the response seems to have been poor. The party have moved on to Sindi.

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There were partial hartals in several places on receipt of the news of Gandhi's arrest. A meeting at Ramtek on the 6th May attracted an audience of 1,000 persons, but at Kamptee only 200 attended.

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(v) Nagpur, 14-5-30.— was commemorated on the 10th May by a meeting of the Youth League which was practically a fiasco as not more than 150 persons turned up. (vi) Nagpur, 14-5-30.—Several meetings have been held in various mohallahs in Nagpur city for the manufacture of contraband salt, but the public is losing interest. Chaturabai, except for a visit to Wardha, continued her peaceful picketing of cloth shops. (vii) Nagpur, 14-5-30.—The indications are that breaking of salt and sedition laws will be given up in favour of intense picketing of cloth and liquor shops and perhaps cutting down of Sindi palms. Volunteers are however scarce and the present number, 500, appears to be on paper only. 918

(viii) S. B., C. P., 14-5-30.—An audicace estimated at 10,000 persons attended a meeting convened by the Nagpur Nagar Congress Committee on the evening of the 13th May under the presidency of Bhagwandin to protest against the arrest of Abbas Tyabji and his party of volunteers in Gujerat. Particularly objectionable speeches chiefly directed against Government servants were delivered by Punamchand Ranka, S. T. Dharmadhikari and the president. Punamchand Ranka said that The fight with Government must be fought to finish. Breaches of the salt law and open sedition had been committed in Nagpur, but the Local Government had taken no action. From the 16th of this month the campaign must be intensffied and the people must be prepared for Government atrocities. The arrogance of the police must be countered and the City Superintendent and other officers must be rendered incapable of exercising their authority. The administration of the province was being enforced by Indians and these must be shown the error of their ways. "Now there is no question of going to jails. We shall have to face bullets and lathis when we collect together in meetings. We must walk in the footsteps of Abbas Tyabji who displayed his courage at the age of 80 ". Dharmadhikari deplored that the hartal observed during the day had been resented by certain merchants (presumably Muhammadans). Such people should remember that Abbas Tyabji, though actually a Muhammadan, was a Congressman by nationality. Nothing could be achieved unless the people were united. Sunderlal Sharma, in his book Bharat Men Angrezi Raj, had already shown how the English had been helped by Indians in 1857. Government had now started wholesale repression and was clearly out to infuriate the people to provide it with an excuse for firing. In , women had been assaulted. The prestige of Government service must be destroyed. At present a police constable was respected. This order of things must be reversed and the people must get rid of their slavish mentality. Government service must be considered more demoralising than a sweeper's work. Bhagwandin opened his concluding address with similar insulting remarks against the police and other Government servants. Referring to the firing at Peshawar, he advised his audience that if fire were to be opened at Nagpur less damage would be done if it were faced with non-violence. The Dharasana struggle was an all-India one, and if the salt depot at Dharasana could be captured it would then be easy to take possession of Sitabaldi Fort. If the Nagpur Flag Satyagraha had continued for another six months the police and military would in all probability have joined in. He said that he had ten determined volunteers behind him whom he intended to take to Dharasana to join in the fight. "If it is possible I intend giving a fight with the Government at Nagpur before leaving, but my programme is not yet ready." The audience was enthusiastic and the insult to police and Government servants were applauded. It is clear that special efforts have begun to work up mass hatred of Government servants, especially police. It is understood that 500 volunteers have been enrolled at Nagpur up-to-date. (t) Wardha, 10-5-30.—Hartal was observed at Wardha on the 6th May on the arrest of Gandhi. A flag procession, bearing Gandhi's portrait. 919 was taken out in the evening, and was followed by 700 to 800 persons. The procession ended with a mass meeting under the presidentship of Shivaraj Dhotre of the Ashram, Manohar Pant Deshpande, Pleader, Karandikar. Pleader, Ramchandra Rao and Swami Vimalanand made the usual speeches. One speaker opined that the arrest of Gandhi under the Ordinance showed that the Government intended to keep him in confinement until his death.

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Hartal was observed at Hinganghat on the 1st May in protest against the Jubbulpore arrests. Nathmal Jeshkaran, Marwadi, presided over a meeting of about 500 persons held in the evening. N. M. Ghatwai, who was the chief speaker, condemned the forest laws. Nathmal exhorted the Marwadis to join in the present movement. Hartal was observed at Pulgaon on the arrest of Gandhi. At the instance of N. M. Ghatwai, the Natyakala Dramatic Company gave a performance in aid of Congress funds. Some Rs. 700 were realised. H. Mahadeo Datar and Tijare of the Tilak Vidyalaya, Nagpur, paid a visit to Sindi on the 3rd May. They delivered lectures and appealed for volunteers and funds for the Congress. There was no response. The non-Brahmans celebrated Shivaji's birthday at Pulgaon and Selu on the 30th April. The speakers condemned the present Civil Disobedience Movement. Hartal was observed at Arvi on the 6th May in protest against the arrest of Gandhi. The usual speeches on Government's repressive policy were made at a meeting held under the presidency of Nilkanthrao Deshmukh. Contraband salt was sold. There has been increased activity at Karanja during the week. Meetings were held on the 30th April, and the 5th and 6th May. Contraband salt was sold and appeals for funds and volunteers made, but with poor response. Flag processions are being organized daily. Hartal was observed at Selu on the arrest of Gandhi and a meeting held the same evening under the presidentship of Deshpande, at which Amba Dass Tatiya and Ramdas of the Ashram made the usual speeches. There was small bonfire of foreign caps, etc. The Wardha volunteers continue their felling of toddy palms. I. understand that the has given notice to the owners under section 202 of the Land Revenue Act. (u) (i) Yeotmal, 11.5.30.—Hartal was observed at Yeotmal on the 6th May, when the news of Gandhi's arrest was received. The Muhammadans did not join. Gandhi's portrait was taken out in procession in the evening, after which a meeting attended by between 3,000 and 4.000 persons was held at the Town Hall under the presidency of D. K. Kane. Objectionable and abusive speeches were made by Dr. B. M. Tembe of the Yeotmal Rifle Association. G. N. Kothekar and Sheo Prasad alias Bachu Maharaj. (ii) Yeotmal 11.5.30.—Waman Rao Joshi of Amraoti arrived at Yeotmal on the 10th May and stayed with Dr. S. K. Kane. During the 920 evening he read out proscribed literature at a meeting attended by 3,000 persons under the presidency of Ambadas. Joshi, who was introduced by Meghraj Bania, read out an objectionable extract from Dr. Sunderiand s India in Bondage, and handed a typed copy to the police reporters, after which he made a particularly abusive anti-Government speech which contained objectionable references to the mutiny of 1857 and ended with thinly veiled incitements to violence and murder. (This speech is at present under examination.) Extracts from Sadyasthithi and Kakori Ke Shahid were then read out by Gambu Sonar, Meghraj Bania and Krishna Jamulkar, locals. (iii) Yeotmal, 11.5.30.—A meeting of the Yeotmal municipal committee held on the 8th May passed a resolution moved by Chouthmal, Marwari, congratulating Gandhi on his arrest and condemning the repressive policy of Government. (iv) Yeotmal, 11-5-30.—Meetings and partially successful hartals on the arrest of Gandhi are also reported from Wun, Pandharkaoda and Darwha, 500 persons attended the Wun meeting, at which 12 volunteers were enrolled.

178 CENTRAL PROVINCES POLICE ABSTRACT OF INTELLIGENCE Vol. XLV. Nagpur, 24th May 1930 No. 20. GENERAL SUMMARY 182. Bhagwandin Sharma of the C. P. Marathi War Council was arrested at Nagpur on the morning of the 18th May on a warrant issued by the Additional District Magistrate, Jubbulpore, under Section 124-A, I. P. C, for a speech he delivered at Jubbulpore on the 4th instant. Partial hartal was observed in Nagpur city during the day, and a protest meeting attended by an audience estimated at 10,000 persons was convened by the Nagpur Congress Committee in the evening. The speeches, which were particularly offensive, were chiefly directed against the police. In accordance with the War Council's decision, thirteen meetings were arranged in various parts of Nagpur city on the evening of the 21st May. At each meeting the procedure was the same. Volunteers read out an objectionable extract from Bharat Men Angrezi Raj, and M. V. Abhyankar, who moved in a car, delivered an extremely seditious address. The attacks made on the police by various public speakers appear to be taking effect, and at several of these meetings the police reporters were subjected to insult and abuse. A private meeting of the Responsivist party held on the 18th May at Nagpur established a Boycott of British Goods League. The meeting of the Working Committee of the All-India Congress Committee held at Allahabad on the 12th—15th May sanctioned satyagraha against the forest laws in the Central Provinces. The salt campaign in Berar has been definitely closed. On the 11th May, salt was publicly manufactured in well-attended meeting at all 921 taluq headquarters in the Akola district, and on the 13th May the satyagrahis finally left Dahihanda. Abhyankar of Nagpur toured the Berar districts during the week and made extremely offensive speeches at Akola, Amraoti and Yeotmal. His attacks on Indian Government servants were particularly gross: he accused them of being traitors to their country and threatened them with social boycott if they continued in their present employment. He was heard with enthusiasm and appears to have made an impression. At a well attended meeting at Akola a few days after his visit, the City Inspector and the Magistrate in attendance were both slightly hit by small stones. M. S. Ane is busy organizing satya-graha against the forest laws in the Yeotmal district. He proposes to give Government 15 days' notice before starting his campaign. Throughout Berar local agitators continue their activities in the interior and are clearly growing bolder in their abuse and condemnation of Government. Action is being taken against several speakers in the Morshi and Chandur taluqs of the Amraoti district, where anti-Government feeling is particularly strong. POLITICAL, POLITICO-RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL MOVEMENTS 183. (b) Akola, 17.5.30.—The local leaders have done considerable touring in the district during the week. On the 11th May, the salt law was broken at all taluq headquarters. The numbers present were as follows :—Wasim 1,000, Balapur 1,500, Mangrulpir 600, and Akot 1,500. All the salt satyagrahis left Dahihanda on the 13th May, and this chapter of the Civil Disobedience Campaign is closed. The arrest of Tyabji did not evoke much enthusiasm1, though meetings and partial hartals are reported throughout the district. There are strong rumours that the forest laws are to be broken after the 18th May. A very violent speech was made in Akola on the 14th May by Abhyankar of Nagpur before an audience of about 10,000 persons. Brijlal Biyani was in the chair. Abhyankar spoke for nearly two hours and his speech was received with great enthusiasm. He referred to Government as a treacherous and satanic institution which had impoverished India. Its arrest of leaders like Gandhi and Jawaharlal was a challenge to the people which must be accepted. Indians were dogs and slaves to submit to this. He told the Kshatriyas that they should snatch the sword from the hands of Englishmen. The Vaishyas should get back their trade from them. He told the Brahmans that while they regarded others as untouchables, they themselves were treated as such by the English. He pointed out the absurdity of the English rule which used Indians to report on political meetings to convict Indian politicians and to guard them in jail. He said that the authority to prosecute lay with the Cabinet, one member of which was a Brahman traitor. He also called Ram Rao Deshmukh a bootlicker. He proceeded to abuse the Police who, when ordered, opened fire on their countrymen. Magistrates who convicted Indians protested that they had no option in the matter. They should be boycotted. He appealed to all Government servants to give up

1 This does not appear to be borne out by facts. Tyabji's arrest at the age of 80 did arouse anger and protests. 922 their posts and said that there was a big revolutionary movement afoot in which they should all join. He asked pleaders to give up their practice and students their studies. He finished up by saying that all risks must be taken in the destruction of this satanic Government. On me 13th May, Abbas Tyabji's portrait was taken in procession in Akola. there were about 1,000 persons in the procession at ns destination. A meeting or about 7,000 people was held in the evening, wnen the news of Tyabji's arrest was announced. K. V. Sahasrabudhe made a speech in which he said that the Mutiny of 1857 failed because of Indian traitors. Since then there had always been revolutionaries who regarded by Government as terrorists. The speaker said it was really the English who were committing atrocities. He said that when Indian volunteers were being offered water by females they were trampled under foot by men on horses. He then referred to the barbarity of the Akola Police during the Governor s last visit. They had adopted non-violence as their creed, but he could not guarantee that the next generation would not resort to violence. The military would not be sufficient to cope with the movement. He said he was prepared to take 100 volunteers for satyagraha at) Dharasana. Brijalal Biyani and Mrs. Durgatai Joshi also made speeches. On the 16th May a meeting of non-Brahmans was held in Akola with Namdeo Rao, Pleader, M. L. C, in the chair. The meeting passed a resolution that R. S. Sattarkar, Pleader, should be asked to withdraw his name as a candidate to the Legislative Assembly in place of Ane resigned. There was a public meeting in Akola on the 17th May with Brijlal Biyani in the chair. The audience numbered about 6,000. Proscribed iiterature was read out, but was, for the most part, of a harmless nature. At the conclusion some small pebbles were thrown at the reporters from just behind them. Two struck Mr. Gupta, the Magistrate, and one the City Inspector, neither of whom was injured. Mr. Gupta went up to Biyani to protest, and this was taken by the crowd to mean that the latter was to be arrested. There was an uproar which was ended by Biyani mounting the platform and announcing that he was not being arrested. Biyani was sent for on the next day by the District Magistrate and made an apology for what had happened. He also guaranteed that there would be no repetition of this incident. The stone throwing appears to have been the work of irresponsible persons, but it cannot be denied that Abhyankar's speech of the 14th has had a bad effect on the minds of the people. During the course of his conversation with the District Magistrate Biyani said that Sahasrabudhe had gone to Bombay and will be away for some time. He also admitted that there is disagreement between himself and Sahasrabudhe, who thinks he ought to be a member of the War Council. Biyani said that at present there was no idea of reading any passages from proscribed literature other than those already read out. (c) (i) Amraoti, 17-5-30.—On the 9th May, after Jumma prayers at the Amraoti mosque, Abdul Wahab of Amraoti addressed 400 Muhammadans 923 on the Peshawar disturbance, reading extracts from newspapers, and describing alleged Government atrocities, shaikh Yakub, made a similar speech. (ii) Amraoti, 17-5-30.—1,000 persons were present when M. S. Ane spoke at Amraoti on the 10th May and Dr. Soman, Dr. Patwardhan and Ane read proscribed literature selected from Present condition of the country, by Chiplunkar ; Martyrs of Kakori. by Ramprashad Bismil; and India in Bondage by the Rev. Dr. Sunderland. (iii) Amraoti, 17-5-30.—On the 13th May a partial hartal was observed at Amraoti in which most of the Bohras and Munammadans joined to mark, the arrest of Abbas Tyabji. A meeting of 5,000 persons was held to congratulate him. Pannalal Singhai, ex-M.L.C, presided and Dr. Bhojraj, Abdul Wahab, Mrs. Patwarahan and Dr. Soman spoke on the usual lines. Mrs. Patwardhan described imaginary outrages by the police on women. 4,500 people heard Abhyankar of Nagpur at Amraoti on the 12th May, W. G. Joshi presided, opening proceedings with the genial remark that Abhyaakar's powerful voice was calculated to cause abortions among the pregnant women of the European community in Nagpur. Abnyankar's speech, directed largely against the Indians in Government employ, was clear and objectionable. Some 80 volunteers from surrounding villages gathered at Daryapur on the 11th May. Salt was prepared pubilcly berore 2,500 people by various well-known locals, foreign caps were burnt, speeches made and national songs sung. The Circle Inspector reports that proceedings created a great impression. Salt making at Bhamod has now been closed down. Various other meetings have been held in and around Daryapur. Though the salt manufacture has been abandoned, agitation continues to be intense. The activities of Ram Rao Deshmukh and his war committee continue in the Morsi taluq. Ramrao Deshmukh and Yado Rao Farkade made objectionable speeches to a meeting of 1,000 people at Benoda on the 13th May. Other meetings are too numerous to report. The non-Brahmins met at Benoda and spoke against Government and the Brahmans. They preferred to be ruled by the former. 800 persons were present, Dr. Kukde, Kadre of Morsi, Gorde, N. G. Amritkar being prominent. The latter condemned the local extremist party. Dr. Punjab Rao Deshmukh, Barrister, Pleader V. V. Chaubal and S. K. Watane continued their electioneering tour, abusing Government right and left and enlisting Congress members. This double-faced attitude of the chairman of the District Council and his friends is nonetheless contemptible because actuated by self-interest. He gives one to understand that he is well disposed, but has not the courage to show it : not only this but he goes round abusing Government. A number of meetings have been held in the Amraoti taluq, including one of 2,000 people at Wathoda, in station-house Kholapur, where H. W. Deshpande made an objectionable speech. 924

Agitation continues to be intense in the Chandur taluq and the Sub-inspector, Chandur, reports that the feeling against Government is going daily from bad to worse. Ratan Lal Kale and Dr. Soman of Amraoti have been prominent. Of locals, Seth Mannalal Gupta, Marwari of Chandur, is prominent. The anti-Government feeling in the town is now strong and that the villagers are fast being corrupted. A feature which requires watching is the large increase in volunteers, of whom there are now over 200 enlisted from the villages around Chandur. Ellichpur taluq reports less general agitation than elsewhere. Hartals were observed in all towns at Gandhi's arrest. The Salt Act was broken before 1,000 people in Ellichpur town on the 11th May. Dr. Punjab Rao Deshmukh, Pleader Chaubal and Watane are reported to have done much harm in their tour throughout the taluq, and, as stated above, it is high time these people were dealt with. Copies of a typed (anonymous) letter have been received by all Amraoti Anglo-Indians, threatening them, their wives and children with being tortured and burnt alive if they continue to assist Government. (f) Bhandara, 18-5-30.—Picketing of the Bhandara liquor shop continues. Sales have decreased considerably. Picketing of the Tumsar liquor shop began on the 13th May. The Sub-Inspector reports that the local volunteers are unwilling to go out of Tumsar for national work. On the 14th May, two volunteers from Nagpur, one of whom was Sadashiv Balkrishna Ranade, lectured at Paoni to an audience of about 100 persons, and auctioned salt for small sums. Ranade explained the meaning of Swaraj. He referred to the Police officers present as traitors, and exhorted the public not to sell any food-stuffs to Police or to permit them to draw water from wells. He advocated boycott of foreign cloth and liquor, disobedience of forest laws, and non-payment of land revenue, and lastly talked about salt satyagraha. In response to his appeal for volunteers several persons enlisted, including Tipre, munim of a Marwadi, and Nirbhayram, Gujerati, a rice mill owner. Hartals were held at Lakhandur and Andhargaon on Gandhi's arrest. On the 12th May, in a meeting of about 100 persons including a number of school boys, Laxmi Narayan Barai of Lanjhi, district Balaghat, delivered a lecture at Lakhandur, Bhopensao, malguzar of Pardi, being in the chair. The lecturer referred to the present Government as plunderers and advocated picketing of liquor shops, felling of toddy palms, khaddar and the boycott of foreign cloth. On the 10th May, Balbahadar and Kasturchand, Jain, Banias of Gondia, visited Amgaon bazaar and lectured on Gandhi's arrest. About 100 persons were present. A partial hartal was held at Tiroda on Gandhi's arrest. There was also hartal at Mundhri Kalan, a big village, on the 7th May. In a meeting attended by 200 persons, Hari Chand Bhola of Tumsar prepared salt which was sold for Rs. 15. Lachman, Kunbi, presided. The audience were asked to give up liquor and foreign clothes. 925

(h) (i) Buldana, 18-5-30.—The following meetings have been held in the district to talk about satyagraha and the boycott of foreign cloth shops, etc. Chikhli, 11th May.—Attendance 300, nearly all Hindus. Speaker: Balappa, Lingayat Teli. Mehkar, 11th May.— Village Anjni, 125 persons. Speakers : V. K. Soman and Desai. Also at Mehkar on the 11th May. Salt water was boiled. Shegaon, 15th May.—Speakers : Vinayak Rao Deshmukh of village Jalamb and Korde of Khamgaon. 6th May.—Audience 2,000. Speakers : Tekare of Shegaon, Hiralal of Balapur and Patki of Shegaon. A hartal was held on this date. 7 th May.—Audience 2,000. No Muhammadans present. Speakers : Shri Krishna Swami of Shegaon, Jainarain, Marwari of Shegaon, Baburao Deshmukh, Laxman Rustom Deshmukh, volunteers. 9th May —Village Janori, Shegaon. Only 50 attended. Speakers. Maroti Ram Parasram, Mali, Tulsiram Sampat, Mali of Shegaon. They advocated non-payment of land revenue, etc. Shegaon. 12th May 2,000 attended. Very few Muhammadans. Speakers Motiram Lokhande, Madanlalji, Marwari, Laxman Rustom Deshmukh, Tekare, Krishna Rao Garadgaonkar. Pipalgaon Raja, 2nd May.—300 attended. Speakers : Dr. Parasnis of Khamgaon, and Korde. Malkapur, 11th May.—4,000 attended, including 50 women. Speaker : Sahasrabudhe of Akola. Jalamb, 6th May.—Hartal observed. Jalgaon.—Hartal observed on the 6th May in village Jalgaon, village Asalgaon and village Pipalgaon Kale. Khamgaon, 10th May.—Audience 4,000. No pleaders, and very few Muhammadans, nearly all illiterates. Speakers : Krishna Rao of village Garadgaon, Achutrao, student of Amraoti, Sahasrabudhe of Akola, Korde, Purshattam Zunzunwala, and Hardas Ramprashad. They read extracts from proscribed books. Sahasrabudhe read extracts from Chiplunkar's book Condition of India; Joseph Mazzini; India in Bondage; and War of Independence by Savarkar, Purshottam Zunzunwala read extracts from the case of 1925 and Hardas Ramprashad from Bharat Men Angrezi Raj. 13th May.—Hartal was held on account of Tyabji's arrest, meeting was held in the evening. Khamgaon, 15th May.—1,500 attended. No pleaders or Muhammadans. Speakers : Mukund, Master, National School, Muhammad Ali Bohra, Korde, Dr. Parasnis. A big procession of 1,000 volunteers was announced for the 18th May. (t) Wardha 17-5-30.—The Arvi Taluq War Council has been carrying on intensive propaganda in the interior. A party of volunteers has been moving from village to village, holding meeting and delivering anti-Government speeches. Salt has been manufactured at several places, the results being auctioned for sums varying from two annas to Rs. 25 per 926 packet. Boycott of foreign cloth is advocated. About 40 volunteers have been enrolled. The agitators have been well received in the villages, audience at Talegaon in Ashti station- house and Karanja being especially responsive. Vallabh Das Jaju, Secretary of the War Council, is particularly active, and has advised people to boycott Government servants and to consider the question of non-payment of taxes. The Arvi municipal committee has passed resolutions congratulating Gandhi on his arrest and changing the name of a local market from Carddock bazaar to Jawaharlal Nehru Bazaar. Baliram Jalit, vice-president, was mainly responsible for these resolutions. Hartal was observed at all towns and more important villages in the district on account of Abbas Tyabji's arrest. Well attended meetings were held as several places and anti-Government speeches delivered. The meeting at Wardha was attended by some 3,000 persons, including about 300 women. Chironji Lal Seth, vice-president, Wardha Congress Committee, was in the chair. Sheoraj asked Government servants to be loyal to India and to resign their posts. The president announced that a meeting would be held shortly to read proscribed literature. The meeting is said to have made a considerable impression locally. The Wardha Town Congress Committee have been concentrating on the picketing of liquor and foreign cloth shops, the holding of daily flag processions and the felling of toddy palms with the consent of malguzars. Meetings have been held in several villages at which salt was prepared and auctioned. The picketing of liquor shops has considerably affected sales. With one exception, when volunteers broke a pot in the hands of a customer, it has been peaceful. A foreign cloth dealer who attempted to defy the pickets lost all his customers, and was forced to apologise and to sign a pledge to cease dealing in foreign cloth. About 5,000 toddy palms are claimed to have been felled in three villages of the Wardha tahsil, but, possibly owing to a notice issued to malguzars by the District Magistrate, has ceased since the 12th May. Volunteers were enlisted at Sindi. A. R Tijare of the Nagpur Tilak Vidyalaya with a party of 11 volunteers visited Hinganghat during the week. Ghatwai and Ratanlal Khatri arranged three meetings at which the usual anti- Government speeches were made. (u) (i) Yeotmal. 17-5-30.—A public meeting of about 600 persons held at Wun on the 11th May was mainly given to the discussion of the bovcott of foreign trade. The speakers. Dr. Are and Ram Rao Bhagwat referred to the old story of the cutting off of the weavers thumbs. Atharkar said that the blood and fat of cows and pigs were used in the manufacture of foreign cloth, and referred to the British demons. Dr. Ram called India an English godown for raw materials. He suggested breaking of the Arms Act as a necessary step towards independence. (ii) Yeotmal. 17-5-30.—Abhyankar of Nagpur arrived at Yavatmal on the 13th May, accompanied by Waman Rao Joshi of Amraoti, and the 927 same evening addressed a meeting of about 2,500 persons under the presidency of G. N. Kothekar, pleader. A number of Marwari and Bhatia shopkeepers were among the audience. Abhyankar's speech was a particularly gross attack on Indian Government servants whom he accused of being traitors to their country in that they assisted an alien Government to loot and prosecute their countrymen. Without their assistance it would be impossible for the British Government to exist. Members of both communities fawned on the English beef and pig eaters. The Kshatriyas had abandoned their swords and taken up scythes, and the Vaishyas had yielded their trade to the English. The traitors (Government servants) fed on sweepings, and were themselves prosecuted and deprived of their freedom. Even Brahmans bankered after the posts of Sub-Judge and Extra- Assistant Commissioner instead of following Tilak's noble example of self-sacrifice. The Army and the Police were composed of Indians who, as a result of foreign domination, were ready at any time to fire on their own kith and kin. "Tambya" and Ram Rao Deshmukh were contemptuously mentioned as deserters from the Swarajists' ranks, and the latter, who was a Kshatriya, was described as being ready to do his duty by firing on Indians. The object of the salt satyagraha was publicly to dishonour Government and its laws, and to awaken a sleeping people. He asked all cloth merchants to continue the boycott of cloth for a year instead of only six months. Waman Rao did not speak. (iii) Yeotmal, 17-5-30.—M. S. Ane. accompanied by Dadaji Kane and Rambhau of Yeotmal, arrived at on the 13th May and addressed a meeting of about 700 persons. After making the usual critisisms of Government, he outlined his proposals for satyagraha against the forest laws. He would give Government 15 days' notice, and, when this had expired, start mass breaking of the grazing and felling rules in all villages in the vicinity of Government forests. (iv) Yeotmal, 17-5-30.—Partial hartal and meetings over Gandhi's arrest are also reported from Umarkhed, Bori-Arab, Ghatanji, Ralegaon and Pusad. The speeches were generally directed against the Government, but contained nothing of special interest. (v) Yeotmal, 17-5-30.—A meeting of the muicipal committee, Yeotmal, held in the 16th May. passed a resolution congratulating Abbas Tyabji on his arrest.