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164 Vol. XI.III No. 32 of 1930. BOMBAY PRESIDENCY POLICE ABSTRACT OF INTELLIGENCE Poona, August 9, 1930. POLITICAL, POLITICO-RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL MOVEMENT 1329. Civil Disobedience Movement, General Summary. S. B., Bombay Presidency, Poona, August 2.—Agitation appears to be still strong in the following districts as indicated by the number of meetings held : Nasik, Satara, etc. Attendances at meetings are generally smaller and this appears to be mainly due to the absence of leaders with an inflammatory turn of speech. The arrest of Vallabhbhai J. Patel took place at Bombay in the early morning of August 2 along with other important members of the Working Committee of the Congress, should these arrests lead to substantial convictions it should have a calming effect on the general situation in the presidency.

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Forest satyagraha continues to develop in the Ahmednagar, Nasik and Satara districts, but the local action taken should prove effective. No special developments are reported in this connection from West Khandesh and Kolaba. Liquor shop picketing continues in most districts in a peaceful manner. Brief details of the state of agitation in the different districts are as under:— (1)Thana.—Week ending July 19. 6 meetings, largest attendance 2,000 persons at Kalwan on July 13. R. S. Ruikar and Bhalchandra Atmaram Dandekar have been prominent speakers. (2)Nasik.—33 meetings. The following talukas have been affected by the forest satyagraha movement :—Satara, Kalwan, Niphad, Malegaon North, Nandgaon and Yeola. (3)West Khandesh.—27 meetings, none however of much importance. (4)East Khandesh.—17 meetings. Attendances over 1,000 were at Faijpur. July 16, Bhusawal. July 17, Jalgaon. July 17 and 19. Student activities are noticed and Congress flag agitation by the Local School Boards. (5)Poona.—Week ending July 26. Local speakers continue to hold meetings but audiences have fallen off. S. B. Mehendale. Dictator and K. N. Phadke, Secretary of the Poona Youth League, have been busy organising boycott week and in agitation among college students. Abdul Razak, the railway agitator was sentenced under Section 3 of the India Act 22 of 1922 for inciting police to disaffection. Some incidents of forest satyagraha are reported. 768

(6)Sholapur.—3 meetings. One at Sangola, Kurduwadi. July 19 and Kurti, July 21. The most prominent mischief maker of the district Dr. K B. Antrolikar, who had been out of the district since Martial Law commenced, was arrested on July 25 under Section 117, I. P. C. (7)Satara.—Week ending July 19. Rise in the number of meeting from 50 to 80. Breach of the forest laws and non-payment of grazing fees is widely preached by volunteers. Some of the speeches have been very violent. (8)Ratnagiri.—18 meetings. Six of these were in celebration of the death of Tilak, attendances were below 400. (9)Kolaba.—Alibag is the main centre of the movement. The agitation is being spread throughout the district. Forest satyagraha is being preached. Picketing of liquor shops was fairly general. 1330. Agitation. (1) Bombay Suburban District.—Prabhat feris took place as usual at the more important places in the district. They were taken out daily at Ghatkopar, Parle, Chembur, Bandra, Kurla, Pahadi, Malad and Versowa. The number of processions varied from 9 to 60. The majority in them were women and children. In Ghatkopar itself there were 21 such processions during the week. On July 26, about 200 workers of the Swadeshi Factory of Ghatkopar proceeded for about an hour and a half with the usual songs and slogans. There was no hartal during the week Except at Chembur, there was no picketing of liquor shops. Meetings held include the following :—

Date Place Audience Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) Nil Ville Parle 300 Meeting, held on the occasion of the visit of Kumari Krishnabai, daughter of Pandit Motilal Nehru. Speeches were on the usual lines. Krishnabai asked all not to put faith in the neace negotiations as her father did not agree with them. 21st July Ghatkopar 2,500 Vallabhbhai came to Ghatkopar from Bombay accompained by Hansabai Mehta and one Manibai. He was garlanded with a wreath of handmade yarn. Chandulal Vrajlal Desai of Ghatkopar gave a report of the work done by the Ghatkopar Congress Committee, and then urged civil disobedience, disloyalty to Government, they should not be afraid to meet death. Kamlaben has undergone imprisonment, the women, should produce hundreds of Kamlaben amongst them. He then advocated the wearing of khaddar. Women should compel their husbands and brothers to take part in the movement, when everyone was prepared to die then only would swaraj be obtained, not only by the shouting of "Boycott British Goods." 769

Date Place Attendance Subjects (1) (2) (3) (4) 20th July Bandra 500 Presided over by Thomas Almeida, a Municipal Councilfor of Bandra. The President and all the speakers urged the audience to use swadeshi goods and boycott foreign cloth and liquor, to spin on the takli and to become members of Congress. All should help by subscribing towards the fund for supporting families of volunteers who have gone to jail. (2) Thana, July 26.—17 meetings were held during the week. The chief subjects were boycott of foreign goods, prohibition and boycott of Government servants. As a result of the arrest of Anant Krishnaji Kashikar boycott of the Police commenced on July 26 and provisions have to be brought from Bhivandi. (3) Nasik, July 26.—Meetings held include the following :—

Date Place Audience Subject 20th July Nasik 1,200 To protest against the suggested address by the municipality to His Execllency the Governor on the occasion of his expected visit to Nasik in August. 21st Do. 4 similar meetings with attendance from 125 to 600. to 23rd July 22nd July Trimbak 500 To congratulate Sub-Inspector Caaudhari of the Police on his resignation. 20th July Nandgaon 2,000 The use of Swadeshi articles and the giving up of liquor drinking. 27th July Do. 1,000 In connection with the hoisting of the national flag on the Local Board Office. 21st July Manmad 1,000 The present movement. 22nd July Do. 1,000 Do. 25 July Do. 500 to 600 Progress of the Vanjari community and abstiance from liquor.

(4)West Khandesh, July 26.—36 meetings are reported in the district and 16 hartals. These for no special mention. (5)East Khandesh, July 26.—Laxman Ramchandra Tanksali of Puntamba arrived at Raver during the week and delivered lecture on July 25 on Civil Disobedience Movement. S. R. Rajawade of Poona arrived at Chalisgaon during the week. He has been delivering lectures on Sanatan Vaidic Dharma there. Naravan Namdeo Patil of Wiware and Dharmaji Bhiku Teli of Mhaiswadi, both of taluka Malkapur, district Buldhana, Central Provinces arrived in Edlabad petha and delivered a lecture at Parambi on July 22. Prabhat feris with national flags and songs continue to be taken out at Jalgaon, Ranjangaon, Karajgaon, Chalisgaon, Bodwad, Amalner, Shend-urni and Bhadgaon. 770

The school boys of Bhusawal took out a procession with Congress flag, on July 24, on hearing of the conviction of S. V. Bapat. Congress flag processions were taken out at Baroda, Nimkhede, Ichhapur, Borkhedi, Rajure Parumbe and Khurhe under Edlabad Police Station, Edlabad itself has been particularly quiet. Shankar Motiram Kabre and Bhimrao Trimbak Deshpande have been released from prison, after serving their sentences and while passing through Parola were taken out in procession. On their arrival at Erandol, their home town, they were again similarly honoured. This was on July 21. Chandrasingh Mahipatsingh was released on July 25 and on arrival at Chalisgaon was taken round riding a horse. Hartals were observed on July 22 at Amalner on account of the arrest of Shenfadu Sayaji Gite and at Erandol on account of the arrest of Rama Pandu Mahajan. (6) Ahmednagar July 19.—There is very little general support except in Akola and Sangamner talukas where some of the local people are supporting the volunteers in their forest satyagraha propaganda. Elsewhere in Kopargaon taluka a fair amount if propaganda is going on in sympathy with the forest satyagraha movement. Forest satyagraha has been arranged for July 22, the intention being to graze cattle and pluck grass without paying grazing fees. No damage to forests is anticipated. The association of the demonstration with Ekadashi is designed to lend religious significance. An order having recently been passed for the collection of grazing fees by village officers, extension is thus given up to the 13th August. Local Police Officers are experiencing some difficulty on account of boycott. Ibid, July 26.—The forest satyagraha in Sangamner and Akola talukas received considerable support from locals, particularly in the neighbourhood of Pemgiri where the main demonstration occurred. A great majority of the crowd was present through curiosity and hopes of free food. Kolis are reported to be not much interested in the movement. Altogether, the demonstration was rather a disappointment to the organisers. In Ahmednagar the leaders are trying to revive interest in the movement by restarting prabhat feris, but with indifferent success. Intimation is being given and responsibility accepted, but passes are not being taken. The principal meetings were as below:—

Audience 21st July Belapur 500 21st July Rahuri 700 to 800 22nd July Bhingar 400 to 500 25th July Rahata 700 to 800 25th July Kharda 400 to 500 26th July Kharda 300 to 400 26th July Deolali 300 26th July Tharabad (Rahuri) 300 to 400

26th July Rahuri 500 to 600 27th July Shevgaon 300 771

The national flag was hoisted on July 19 at Savalavihir (Rahata Police Station) on Maruti's temple; at Samvatsar on the chavdi (Kopargaon), and at Taklimiya on the school (Rahuri), after a procession attended by 300 people. Forest satyagraha was inaugurated on July 22 in Sangamner and Akola talukas by demonstrations at the following places the proceedings in all eases being more or less the same :— Putlya Hill, Pemgiri, in Sangamner taluka gathering about 10,000. Chandanapuri in Sangamner taluka gathering about 3,000 Dhagya Hill in Akola gathering about 2,000, Shamsherpur in Akola gathering about 500 and also at Kotul, Vita, Pensid and Terungan in Akola taluka. Cows were garlanded and then taken into forest where grass was uprooted, being too short to cut and the cows fed. Grass was also taken away by those present as a trophy. At Pemgiri, speeches inciting to breach of the forest law were made by Navare and Joshi (who have been prosecuted). The assembled crowds were peaceful except for the usual jeers at Government officers. Stretchers, doctors and first-aid requisites had been arranged for. Efforts had been made to get Narsinh Chintaman Kelkar and Atmaram Raoji Bhat to lead the main demonstration. Navare and Joshi were arrested on July 23 on their return to Sangamner and have been convicted. Lalji Pendse. Madhavrao Godbole, Kulkarni, Kabadi, Engineer and Atmaram Raoji Bhat arrived from Bombay via Nasik on July 23 evening and Lalji Pendse made a rather objectionable speech that night but as they left the same night for Nasik no action has been taken for the present. Orders have been given for his arrest if he returns to Sangamner. The present plan seems to be to repeat the demonstration on August 13. It remains to be seen how far the prosecutions act as a deterrent. Steps are being taken to prosecute all volunteers and local leaders wherever possible.

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National week is being observed in Ahmednagar from July 26, which was observed as boycott day. Boycott of Government servants is being advocated. On July 26, a procession of 300, mostly children, was held, followed by a meeting attended by about 1,200, including 75 women. The President was Vinayak Balwant Chowkar, Pleader of Ahmednagar, exhorted the audience to boycott the Round Table Conference and to enrol as Congress members. The Sub-Inspector reports that the audience did not understand about the Round Table Conference, and that the call for Congress members will not meet with much response as people are reluctant to sign any pledges. 772

(7) Poona, July 26.—Meetings:

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 20th July Shaniwar Wada 600 The meeting was preceded by a procession that started from Reay Market and went to Shaniwar Wada. R. D. Dheer criticised Government, for inviting leaders to the Round Table Conference on the one hand and continuing repressions on the other, and said there would be no talk of Round Table Conference so long as the real leaders were in jail. Mrs. Yeshodabai Bhat Said that India was hungry for Swaraj. She appealed to the audience to cut off trade with the British and so starve them. Mutha said that the liberal leaders like Sapru and Jayakar did not know the value of self-sacrifice and they had no right to interfere, only Gandhi could solve this problem. H. Vaghire referred to the statement made by Fonner Brockway in the Parliament which clearly indicated that the British people were deceiving Indians on the pretext of Round Table Conference and therefore his membership was suspended. He also condemned Gunjal for not resigning his M. L. C. ship, and B. B. Bhopatkar for criticising Gandhi and the Governor for calling Congressmen, revolutionists. Popatlal said that anybody talking about a compromise except Gandhi was a traitor, and that the persons attending the Round Table Conference were not their leaders at all and that the Conference would be a failure without Gandhi. 21st July Mitganj 150 N. R. Gunjal, Vyankat Rao Surve and D. S. Vitekar alleged that Mallappa Dhanshetti being a lover of non-violence could not have committed murder; also that he was popular and philanthropic and that the Bombay Government might cancel or lessen the sentence passed on him. It was also decided that deputation consisting of Messrs. N. R. Gunjal, Pandit Appa Chikodi, Chandrachud, V. R. Surve, all M. L. C's, and some other influential persons should be sent to the Governor in the 1st week of August to beg for mercy. This meeting was called by the Veershaiva Hitchintak Mandal of the Lingayat community of Poona. 24th July Shivaji Mandir 300 K. N, Phadke said that boycott week was to be observed to enkindle the flame of independence in the hearts of everybody. He also expressed 773

(1) (2) (3) (4) sorrow on hearing that Gore and Khadilkar were being treated very badly in jail and warned the Government that the movement would not stop by such repression. Student Nirantar criticised the action of the Principal of Sir Parshuram Bhau College for putting up a notice that students should not take part in the Youth League Movement and should not palade. 26th July Dwyer Parade 250 G. A. Deshpande addressing the youths said that they should Lane kindle the flame of freedom in their hearts. To the Cantonment merchants he said that they should not care in the least for the old stock of foreign goods in their shops. He then spoke about the volunteers who had gone out from his camp to Sanganmer and how some were to be sent to Ambegaon Petha for forest satyagraha and mentioned that two leaders from that place being arrested, volunteers were badly needed. Vaghire said that the Government had now realised that the Round Table Conference would be a failure witnout the Congress leaders and that the Liberal leaders were of no use. He then discussed picketing of liquor strops and said that picketing would do no good, the only way to bring round the drunkards would be to boycott them socially.

(8) Sholapur, July 28.—At Sangola a meeting was held to persuade the people not to pay land tax and to boycott the Police (audience 60). The president was one D. T. Kandalgaonkar of Sholapur and the principal speaker one S. R. Degaokar. It met with no support. A similar meeting was held at Kurduwadi on July 19, which was also addressd by Degaokar. The audience numbered 50.

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Processions were held at Kondej on July 20; at Pandharpur from July 21 to 25 and Karkamb on 15 and 18. (9) Satara, July 26.—The number of meetings has this week dropped to 66 as against 80 in the week preceding, the movement is on the increase in the several tracts particularly in Karad, Koregaon, Patan and Walwa talukas and Shirala Mahal. As usual speeches of an inflammatory nature, on breach of forest laws, spread of khaddar, boycott of foreign cloth, tea, liquor and annual auction sale of grass in the reserved forest area and social boycott of Police officers were delivered in these meetings. As a counter-propaganda two public meetings were held this week at Lonand in Koregaon taluka and Jihe in Satara taluka. In both these 774 meetings the conveners denounced the present Civil Disobedience Movement and explained to their audience the very substantial benefits which have accrued to India from British rule. Signs are apparent that incidious propaganda is beginning to tell on the minds of the ignorant masses in the several tracts which accounts for the recent happenings of open defiance of Law and Order. The Non-Brahmin Party1 has to a great extent been won over and this aliance is likely to make the situation more tense. The arrest of 23 persons at Kale for offences under Sections 120-B, 148, 149, 379 and 427, I. P. C, has had a salutary effect throughout the district and deputations on behalf of the accused offering apologies for them, undertaking to make amends for damage done to forest property and guaranteeing to make good conduct are being received by the District Magistrate. The impending arrests at Karad of those responsible for the rioting of the July 13 have also had a good effect. (10) Ratnagiri, July 26.—In all 16 meetings were held during the week as under :— 12 to advise boycott of foreign goods, liquor, tea, etc., and to call on the people to assist the present agitation in any possible way. 3 were for celebration of Tilak's Death Anniversary but in them too the above boycotts were preached. 1 for advice to Brahmins to stick to their duty as imposed by religion. The following three meetings are of some interest All the rest had smaller attendances :—

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 19th July Malwan 300 Principal speakers Bhau alias R. S. Gawankar of Malwan and Shripad Sadashiv Mahajan of Vengurla. A reference to the picketing of liquor shops was made and young people were called on to come forward for the nation's service. Bandivdekar and Mayekar were congratulated on their conviction. Mahajan also made a reference to the police excesses on Garhwal Day in Bombay and stated that manuscript leaflets asking the police to assist the nation's cause were, circulated by him among the local police and requested the people to enlist their names for Congress work. 17th July Ratnagiri 300 (women) Principal speakers Annapurnabai Par-anjpe of Ratnagiri and Ganesh Ramchandra Sule of Veshwi, Peth Mandangad. A reference to the present agitation and the sacrifices done by Tilak and Gandhi for the nation and the people were advised to stick to swadeshism and boycott of tea, etc. The women were also asked to join the present agitation as volunteers.

1 The Non-Brahmin party was opposed to the Congress movement, although on some stray instances it spoke in favour of the national movement. 775

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 21st July Khed 250 Principal speakers, Janardan Trimbak Chikhale, Wani of Khed and Kashiram Sakharam Rediz of Chiplun. Muhammadans were congratulated for taking part in the procession which was taken out in protest of the conviction of picketers. The audience was exhorted to continue the movement more vigorously without blaming the Government servants who were doing their duty. Processions Date Place Purpose (1) (2) (3) 18th July to Kanakavli Every day the vanar Sena (monkey troop) procession were taken 22nd July out alongwith posters advising boycott of foreign goods. On 22nd July 1930 some old foreign clothes were burnt at the close of the procession. On July 22 also a procession in connection with boycott week was taken out with hand spinning competition and at the close, prizes to best spinners were awarded 18th July to Khed Every day processions were taken out in protest of 23rd July the arrest and conviction of picketers. 19th July Dapoli Hoisting national flag on Marathi school. Do. Ratnagiri Hoisting national flag on the school of industry. Do. Do. Vanar Sena (monkey troop).

(11) Kolaba, July 26.—There were in all 29 meetings during the week with the audiences up to 250. The position is practically the same as that outlined in last week's report. Meetings are frequent but although speeches are virulently anti-Government and anti-British cases of incitement to break the laws are much less common. Morning rounds are popular generally. On July 25 there was a procession of 10 persons to defy the order under Section 48, Bombay District Police Act, passed by District Superintendent of Police. They were arrested and subsequently fined by the City Magistrate (fines varied from Rs. 25 to Rs. 20). Similarly on July 26, 9 processionists were arrested and subsequently fined. It was noticeable that all the processionists were people of no influence, the leaders having studiously kept in the background. 1332. Forest Agitation. Nasik, July 26.—During the week under report no information has been received of volunteers from outside the district having visited the district to join the forest satyagraha movement, but there have been reports from within the district that some 7 volunteers from Nasik proceeded to Satana taluka to take part in the forest satyagraha and some 5 volunteers from Yeola proceeded to Nampur to take part. Most of the volunteers continue to move about in Satana, Kalwan and Malegaon talukas, visiting the villages and inciting the people to take part in the movement and advising the village officers to resign. 776

During the week there appears to be no falling off in the number of meetings, and certain talukas, especially Niphad, Kalwan, Nandgaon and Malegaon, appear to have been sowing considerably more interest in the movement. The Muhammadan community does not appear to show any interest in the movement and remains aloof. 1333. Boycott Week Celebrations. Poona, July 26.—S. B. Mehendale, dictator, and K. N. Phadke. secretary of Poona Youth League, have been busy organising a boycott week and held a meeting on 24th in Shivaji Mandir attended by 300 students to explain the programme. Private meetings for women and advanced school boys were held on 25th and 26th at Tilak Mandir. Poona City Congress held a meeting in Reay Market on 25th attended by 150 to urge increase in Congress membership and boycott of British goods. A similar meeting presided over by Dadabhai, a Parsi, was held in cantonment the same evening.

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1334. Round Table Conference. Poona, July 26.—The satyagraha mandal on 29th staged a procession of children, women and men and a meeting at Shanwar Wada to condemn participation in the Round Table Conference and His Excellency the Governor of Bimbay's speech to the Legislative Council on 17th instant. 600 persons took part. The chief speakers were G. A. Deshpande of city and R. D. Dheer of cantonment. Haribhau Waghire. secretary Satyagraha Sabha Mandal, condemned N. R. Gunjal, M.L.C., for not resigning and B. B. Bhopatkar, editor of Bhala for crititcising Gandhi. 1338. Ville Parle Chhawani. (1) Bombay Suburban District, July 26.—On July 23, auctions of toddy booths were held in the Mamlatdar's kacheri at Bandra. As it was thought likely that volunteers would picket the auction, Police bandobast was made and a cordon was placed on the roads. 31 women who arrived and attempted to break through the Police cordon at different points, were arrested and sent to the Bandra lock-up until the auctions were sent away on July 24, 25 volunteers ewre then brought from. Of the 11 permanent male volunteers who remained in the Chhawani on July 19, 7 insisted on going on leave, 3 were arrested under Section 131, l.P.C., for distribution of deaflets in the Santa Cruz cantonment to the military. Therefore, a batch of 11 honorary volunteers, who were local Banias' servants, were taken into the Chhawani for work on July 22. They, however, were unwilling to remain permanently in the Chhawani, and so were sent away on July 24. 25 volunteers were then brought from Bombay, supplied by the Bombay Congress leaders, These would not remain in the Chhawani at night, so they come out every morning and return to Bombay in the evening at the expense of the Chhawani. There is little likelihood of these volunteers who have gone on leave returning. 777

There had been a certain amount of disaffection for some time past among them ; also quite a number of them have received letters from parents and relations telling them not to disgrace their families, but to return home. The leaders of the Chhawani visited the Bombay Congress House daily. Spinning and weaving was carried on in the Chhawani daily. Dr. N S. Hardikar visited the Chhawani on July 20 and not told the leaders that volunteers who had gone on leave had spread rumours about the Chhawani's mismanagement, so a private meeting was held in which they tried to settle that no volunteer should go on leave without giving a month's notice. The volunteers said they would go on leave any time they liked, and, as mentioned above, seven of them went two days later.

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No trace of a printing press can be found in Ville Parle. At Versowa three volunteers went from house to house telling the people to come and break the salt law, and gathered together about 100 people. All then proceeded to the shore, took sea- water in their pots and returned. Some salt was prepared there by two of these volunteers, who were later arrested and convicted under Sections 117, I. P. C., and 47-A of the Salt Act. (2) S. B. Bombay Presidency, Poona. August 6.—The following is a short summary of a report of the satyagraha movement in the camp at Ville Parle which was sent by the Secretary of the camp to the All-India Congress Committee. The chief activities of the camp were directed towards breaking the salt law, and defying the ordinances against picketing and prohibition. The total number of law-breakers imprisoned is 82. Of these 49 were jailed for breach of the Salt Law, 19 for picketing liquor shops, 6 for distributing leaflets to Policemen, 3 for distributing pamphlets in the military area and 5 for preaching social boycott of policemen. Among the prominent persons connected with the camp who were sentenced were:

Jamnalal Bajaj, Dictator 2 year rigorous imprisonment. Swami Anand 14 months Gokulbhai Bhat 2 years. Kishorlal Mushruwala 2 years. Shankaraao Dev 18 months. B. G. Kher Do. Mrs. Lukmani (daughter of Justice Badruddin Tyabji) 5 months Vandrekar 14 months. Markandbhai Mehta 9 months. Zabir Ali 17 months. Keshavrao Chemburkar Imprisonment with one son and two grandsons. Najeebhai 1 month Posha Patel 18 months. Dr. Dandekar Do.

The camp sent 131 men to take part in the raid at Dharasna, where two volunteers (Dulle of Sholapur and Hiralal Shah) succumbed to the injuries

1 Tyabji was a great Congress leader along with Pherozeshah Mehta and Gokhale. 778 sustained there. Numerous meetings and processions were also held throughout the district in connection with the movement.

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Much stress is being laid on Khadi work. Carding and spinning have been started, based on scientific methods and over a thousand persons have received this training. For the furtherance of khadi propaganda, stores to supply such materials as may be necessary for khaddar production have been opened and such literary publications as may be useful in this direction, circulated. The present artivities in connection with khaddar production are propaganda work, organisation of villagers, picketing and definance of ordinances. The strength of the camp was stated to be 150. Note by S. B., C. I. D., Poona.—This appears a considerable exaggeration and very few volunteers now actually reside at the camp. 1339. The Maharashtra Provincial Congress Committee, Activities of. S. B. ,Bombay Presidency, August 8.—The following are points of interest from the summary of work of the Maharashtra Provincial Congress Committee to date. The report has been published in the Mahratta dated August 3. The Maharashtra Provincial Congress Committee appointed a war council with G. V. Ketkar as president and S. D. Deo as member on March 18, 1930. Prior to this was council, certain members who did not co-operate with the Congress Committee had already formed a Maharashtra Congress Party which had nominated its own war council of five members including Ketkar and Deo. The Maharashtra Provincial Congress Committee subsequently approved of this war council and voted Rs. 200 for its preliminary expenses. The movement of satyagraha in Maharashtra took various forms according to circumstances, viz.— (1) Salt satyagraha: Manufacture, sale, possession of contraband salt, etc. (2) Forest: Non-payment of grazing fees, cutting of grass and timber, etc., in reserved forests. Preventing of auctions of reserved forests. (3) Prohibition: Picketing of liquor and toddy shops and preventing auctions. (4) Foreign cloth : Picketing of foreign cloth shops. (5) Hoisting of national flag. (6) Breaking of prohibitory order under Section 144, C. P. C. (7) Taking signatories to the resolution of the Working Committee about the Police and the Military. The war council took up the work of surveying convenient fields in Maharashtra for starting salt satyagraha. Almost all leaders and workers in Maharashtra went on propaganda tours and delivered lectures.

1 Also see Editorial Note on page 573—75. 779

Ville Parle was opened as a centre on April 6 and a conference was held with Jamnalal Bajaj as president. The camp closed on May 22. This camp carried on salt satyagraha activities from Virar in the North and Thana in the South. Other satyagraha centres were formed on the coast, the more prominent being Arnala (Thana District), Pen (Kolaba District), Ratnagiri and Shiroda (Ratnagiri District). N. C. Kelkar inaugurated the Pen camp. The report estimates that not less than two lakhs of people may have broken the Salt Act. The war council then turned its activities to forest satyagraha, which is at present mainly confined to the following districts:—Ahmednagar, the two Khandesh, Nasik and to a small extent Poona. Sangamner is the chief centre and a camp was established here. In Thana, Kolaba and Poona districts satyagraha was practised against the auction sales of timber and grass in reserved forest areas. No general movement for the non-payment of taxes was undertaken. Advantage was however taken of agitation against the non-payment of land revenue which had already been going on in Baglan taluka (Nasik District) and Bassein taluka (Thana District). 1339-A. Dhulia Shibir. West Khandesh, July 26.—Vyankatesh Ganesh Javdekar resigned his post as chief of the Dhulia shibir as he has been appointed as a secretary and vice-president of the District Congress Committee. Chhagan Jaba Bhawsar was appointed as the chief (shibiradhipati). Balubhai Laxmidas Mehta of Nandurbar has been appointed president of the District Congress Committee. 1339-B. Prabhat feri Mandal, Nhavi. East Khandesh, July 26.—An association called Prabhat Feri Mandal has been formed at Nhavi, Faijpur Police Station.

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Forest satyagraha has actually started in the following talukas.—Chopda, Chalisgaon, Raver, Yawal and Jalgaon. The local officers so far have been able to deal with the situations. D. L. Risbud, M. V. Dastane and other pleaders are working hard at Bhusaval, trying to work up the public enthusiasm, but so far have not been very successful. They have, however, managed to get the Congress flag hoisted over the municipal hall. 1343. Resignation of Police Patels, etc. (1)West Khandesh, July, 26.—The Police Patels of Virkhed, Mandana, Sewge, Balane and Kohargaon, Sakri taluka have resigned. (2)Ahmednagar, July 19.—The police of Bhandardara in Akola taluka is reported to be harbouring the satyagrahis, and the Police Patel of Kavthe Budruk, Sangamner taluka, to have sent his resignation. According to the local bulletin this was due to his having been asked to give false evidence against a satyagrahi. 780

1345. Swadeshi Propaganda. Ratnagiri July 26.—The two satyagrahis at Mithbav (taluka Deogad) still continue there and engage themselves in spinning. On July 21 about 30 women gathered in a temple at Kanakavli and resolved to use swadeshi bangles, etc., and also to meet there every Sunday to obtain information about the developments of the present agitation. 1348. Temperance Propaganda. (1) Ahmednagar, July 19.—Picketing is in abeyance everywhere in the district. This is due to the recovery of tines, release ot convicts and discharge of accused on apology, and the return of convicts with calloused hands as the result of rigorous imprisonment. The policy adopted of sending up people under the ordinary law in preference to ordinances has caused apprehension that such convicts will not be included in the anticipated general amnesty.

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Rs. 100 were voluntarily paid into court by friends and relations on behalf of convicts, and the orders of release were taken off to jail by them. About 200 poor people are reported to have thronged to the house of Keshav Ramchandra Garud, pleader, in charge of the picketing, and demanded the release of their relations by the payment of fines. (2) S. B., Bombay Presidency, Poona, August 8.—Picketing of liquor shops is mentioned in the diaries received from the following districts:— Ahmedabad, Kaira, Panch Mahals (17 Picketers were arrested at Dohad under the ami-picketing ordinance), Broach, Nasik (at Sinnar, Yeola, Wadner Bahiroba, taluka Chandor, Manmad and Pimpalgaon Baswant), West Khandesh (Dhulia and Nandurbar). The following districts report the stoppage of picketing at the places mentioned:—Thana District (Bassein) called off for a week as the result of District Magistrate's order. West Khandesh (Dondaicha), Ratnagiri (Sarjekot, taluka Malwan). (3) Poona, July 26.—Auctions held by Divisional Forest Officer on 21st in Kirloskar theatre and on 22nd at Haveli Mamlatdar's kacheri were picketed peacefully by G. A. Deshpande and satyagraha camp youths and an objectionable leaflet was broadcasted. On 25th the Deputy Superintendent of Ptlice, Western, arrested Maruti Kasar, the Ghoda agitator, at Manchar on his way back from Poona with 300 copies of same leaflet. Maruti and one Jairam Kale, another Ghoda agitator, have since been sentenced to 2 months rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 100 fine or one month more by Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Western, under 117, I. P. C., and 26, Forest Act. (4) Kolaba, July 26.—An order under Section 39 (1) (m), Bombay District Police Act has been promulgated by the District Magistrate prohibiting picketing of liquor shops, etc. It is too early yet to see the effect produced, but as at such centres as Panvel and Mahad the order is welcomed as a further opportunity for satyagraha the Police will not suffer from lack of work. 781

165 Vol. XLIII .No. 33 of 1930. BOMBAY PRESIDENCY POLICE ABSTRACT OF INTELLIGENCE Poona, August 16, 1930 POLITICAL, POLITICO—RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL MOVEMENT 1366. Civil Disobedience Movement, General Summary. S. B., Bombay Presidency, Poona, August 9.—Agitation remains noticeable in the following district :— Nasik, West Khandesh and Ahmednagar. In Nasik, Ahmednagar and West Khandesh the main form of agitation is forest satyagraha Prabhat feris or morning rounds now take the place of violent incitements at meetings and the Congress motto would appear to be women and children first. Jail is not courted as openly as in the first heat of the campaign. The virulent rash of sedition in the newspapers, which was so common, ha also abated since the application of the Press Ordinance. Surreptitious attempts to produce cyclostyled leaflets like the Police Patrika of Surat still continue, but have had no discernible effect, as far as the Police themselves are concerned. In some cases copies of resolution of the Congress Working Committee referring to the Police and Military have been sent by post to policemen. In Kolaba district, among others, the policemen addressed (Sub-Inspectors and Head-Constables among them), have immediately brought to the notice of their respective District Superintendents of Police the fact of their having received such communications. Interest is being shown in the interviews with Gandhi at Yeravda and there is undoubtedly a general desire for peace with honour and a cessation of agitation in general; except from the youthful element which is being infected with the virus of a growing distaste for authority in any form. Brief details of the state of agitation in the various districts are as under:— (1)Thana.—Week ending July 26, 17 meetings. Boycott of the Police commenced on July 26 and provisions have to be brought from Bhiwindi (Bhiwandi). (2)Bandra.—3 meetings. One with an attendance of 2,500 at Ghatkopar on July 21. Ville Parle Chhawani shows decreasing activity. (3)Nasik.—20 meetings. Attendance over 1,000 only at Nasik, July 20 (1,200) at a meeting to protest against the suggested address by the municipality to His Excellency the Governor. Other attendances over 1,000 at Nandgaon, July 20 (2,000), July 27 (1,000) in connection with the hoisting of the national flag on the Local Board Office, Manmad, July 21 (1,000) and July 22 (1,000). (4)West Khandesh.—36 meetings and 16 hartals, not of great importance. Forest satyagraha continues. 782

(5)East Khandesh.—Morning rounds and Congress flag processions continue to be held. (6)Ahmednagar.—Forest satyagraha in Sangamner and Akola talukas has received considerable local support, particularly near Pemgiri. Several demonstrations took place on July 22, gatherings ranging from 200 to 10,000. Several Bombay speakers including Lalji Pendse and Atmaram Raoji Bhat have been noticed in Ahmednagar. (7)Poona.—Week ending August 2. From July 25 to July 31 there was an intensive propaganda specially in the cantonment, for enrolling Congress members and stopping the sale of foreign cloth. R. D. Dhir (Dheer) of Poona cantonment was most active. Poona cloth merchants, with the exception of one Muhammadan, have as the result of this, agreed to close their shops for one month from August 7 and not to order any more foreign cloth for a year. The cantonment authorities have taken action against cloth sellers who intend to carry out this decision. Speakers from Bombay, including Mrs. Hansa Mehta and Atmaram Raoji Bhat of the Youth League, assisted local speakers, and inaugurated boycott week at a meeting attended by 4,000 on July 29. Tilak Day (August 1) was marked by a speech by Dr. Munje of Nagpur who exhorted an audience of 500 students to resist police charges by non-violently depriving the constables of their lathis. 7,000 persons took part in the procession and demonstration on August 2 on receipt of the news of the arrest of the leaders in Bombay. (8)Sholapur.—Week ending August 2. Processions taken out daily at Pandharpur since July 27 and at Akluj, Malsiras taluka. Several arrests have been made of important leaders, including Dr. K. B. Antrolikar who was sentenced on August 4 under section 117, I. P. C., to 18 months' rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 1,000 fine. The news of the confirmation of the death sentence of the accused in the policemen's murder case of Sholapur town appears to have had a sobering effect locally. Representations to His Excellency the Governor for a reprieve are being made in Sholapur and adjoining districts. (9)Satara.—Week ending July 26. 66 meetings. Forest agitations as well as the other form of agitation are being kept up. (10)Ratnagiri.—16 meetings. Three in connection with Tilak Day. Audiences small. The monkey army processions continue. (11)Kolaba.—29 meetings; small audiences. Morning rounds are popular. 1367. Agitation. (1) Thana, August' 2.—Twenty-two meetings took place during the week. Speakers from Bombay urged that no notice should be taken of peace negotiations. The following are the more important meetings :—

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 26th July Chinchani 600 Keshavlal Negindas Shah of Ahmedabad and Kaveribai Choudhari of Bombay exhorted the audience to take part in the movement. 783

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 27th July Kalyan 500 K.N. Shah of Ahmedabad spoke on prohibition and boycott of foreign goods. Do. Bhayander 500 Janakibai Bajaj urged the use of swadeshi goods. * * * 2nd August Thana 300 Balkrishna Bakre of Belgaum and Janakibai Bajaj of Ville Parle spoke on prohibition, hand-spinning and the boycott of foreign goods.

Between Thana and Belapur, volulnteers of the Belapur Chhawani continued to preach prohibition and the use of swadeshi goods. The villagers in that area are not likely to take any part in breaking the forest laws at present. (2) Bombay Suburban District, August 2.—The usual daily meetings took place during the week. Audiences varying from 50 to 150. The speeches were on the same lines as previous ones, viz., wear khaddar, volunteers should come to Ville Parle Chhawani (which they do not do), and carry on the movement. Dr. N. S. Hardikar who came specially from Bombay to lecture on Tilak anniversary spoke on for 10 minutes, when he found that there was only an audience of about 60, all of whom except 4 or 5 were Deccanis. He was obviously very disgruntled at the small size of the audience. * * * (3) Nasik, August 2.—During the week under report some 4 volunteers from Nasik city left Nasik on July 28 to join the forest satyagraha camp at Nampur, again on August, 1 some 5 volunteers from Sinnar left Nasik en route to Satana taluka. Since August 1, volunteers have also been congregating at Kalwan where a shibir has been started in connection with the forest movement. The public especially in Satana, Kalwan, Niphad and the north-western part of Malegaon taluka appear to be keenly interested in the movement and their interest is kept up by the continual visits of volunteers who were about inciting the villagers to join the movement, boycott the police and generally boycott everything foreign. During the week meetings were held at the following places:—

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 24th July Nasik 1,500-2,000 On the subject of the question of an address by the Nasik Municipality to His Excellency the Governor. 784

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 25 th July Nasik 600-700 To congratulate three satyagrahis who had been arrested in Satana taluka. 1st August Do. 1,000 To celebrate Tilak Day and offer prayers in salutation of the national Flag. 28th July Sinnar 800-900 Use of khaddar. 30th July Do. 300 Khaddar movement. 25th July Niphad 400-500 Disobedience of laws. 28th July Lasalgaon, 125-200 The present movement. taluka Niphad. 29th July Ozar, taluka Do. Forest satyagraha and liquor picketing. Niphad. 26th July Yeola 1,000 Sangamner forest satyagraha. Do. Do. 400 The present movement 23rd July Do. 3,000 Violence used by the Bombay Police on Garhwal Day. 25th July Andarsul, taluka 500-600 Boycott of foreign goods, etc. Yeola 28th July Nandgaon 200 Women Boycott of foreign goods and not to drink tea. 29th July Manmad 200-250 To send delegates to the annual meeting of the Railway union. 2nd August Manmad 300-400 Boycott of foreign goods. 26th July Malegaon 500 Present movement. 31st July Khakurdi, taluka 200 Forest satyagraha.

2nd August Zodga, taluka 800-900 Do. Malegaon. 29th July Lohoner, taluka 400-500 To congratulate a man for his arrest. Satana. 24th July Jaikheda 300-350 Boycott of Government servants 1st August Nampur, taluka 300 Tilak anniversary. Satana. 31st July Mulher, taluka 150-200 Forest satyagraha. Satana. 30th July Kalwan 9,000-10,000 Forest satyagraha. 1st August Abhone, taluka 400-450 Swaraj. Kalwan.

The figures for meetings of any importance show that the movement still continues in certain talukas of the district with unabated vigour; Satana and Kalwan are the worst affected, and Malegaon and Niphad are also badly affected. At Yeola and in the vicinity there is also considerable interest taken, and also in Nandgaon taluka the movement shows signs of increasing. 785

(4) East Khandesh, August 2.—Meetings were held during the week, of which the following are important:—

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 27th July Chalisgaon 150 This meeting was convened to discuss the vexed question of the removal of the Congress flag from the Chalisgaon Educational Society's School which receives a large grant from the District Local Board. The following resolutions were passed :— (1) That the national flag should be kept at Chalisgaon School No. 1 as it does not hinder the education of the boys in any way, (2) That if the flag is removed from the school, the feelings of the boys and girls would be hurt and possibly the school would be closed and hartal observed. The removal of the school will cause great loss to the students in the cause of education. M. G. Patil, who is the chairman of the District School Board was present and after the meeting was over, said that he held the same views as some of the speakers, namely, that the flag should not be removed, but that as he is the chairman, he is obliged to co-operate with Government in order that his duties may be carried out. That was why he was removing flags from other schools in the talukas. 30th July Jalgaon 800 Ganesh Keshav Patwardhan spoke on the local controversy over the flying of the Congress flag. 31st July Do. 1,000 Congratulating Vasant Ramchandra Sharma on his conviction and on boycott of British goods. 1st August Do. 4,000 President:—Hari Vinayak Pataskar, pleader of Chalisgaon. Speakers:—Ganesh Keshav Patwardhan, Bhave, Pleader of Jalgaon and Anna Chatru Wani of Asoda. The meeting was called to celebrate the anniversary day of B. G. Tilak. Ganesh Keshav Patwardhan was very 786

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 1st August— rabid and called on every one to employ the instrument contd. of boycott of British goods to obtain swaraj; Bhave made some references to some cases that are now proceeding in the Courts. Anna Chatru Wani called for the boycott of the Times of India. The meeting was attended by practically all the pleaders of Jalgaon.

In addition to the above there were meetings held every day at Bhusawal by Risbud, Gokate and others, the attendances at which were between 100 to 200. The speeches were all on swaraj, boycott of foreign goods and Civil Disobedience Movement. The local Congresswallas are trying very hard to work up some interest among the residents but have not so far met with any success, especially among the railway employees, who are still sore as the result of the railway strike. Prabhat feris continue to be taken out daily at Jalgaon, Bhusawal, Bhadgaon, Khiroda, Bahadurpur, Chinaval and Raver. Flag processions were taken out at Shendurni, Kurhe, Nimkhede, Taroda and Bhandgure. (All under Shendurni Police-Station.) Hartal was observed at Shendurni on August 1 on account of the arrest of the leaders on the previous night. The Sub-Inspector was making an investigation into a crime in the Chawadi when the flag procession was passing. On seeing him they went round the chawdi three times and then refused to move on when ordered by the Sub-Inspector. As they prevented him from working, he arrested seven of the ring leaders under the Intimidation Ordinance. (5) Poona, August 2.—From 25th to 31st July there was intensive Congress propaganda, especially in the cantonment, for enrolling more Congress members and stopping the sale of foreign cloth. There were meetings every night and the most active agent was R. D. Dheer of cantonment. One Chandulal turned his room in Seth Hirachand's wada. Sachapir Street, into a Congress office for enlistments, morning and evening. The tangible result of all this was announced at a meeting on 31st namely that cantonment cloth merchants with exception of a Muhammadan had agreed to close for a month from August 7th and not to order more foreign cloth for a year. It was announced the Muhammadan would be picketed.

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 27th July Tilak Mandir 600 Prabhat feris of Poona city and Cantonment were specially invited to this function which took place at 7 a. m. in Tilak Smarak Mandir. 787

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 28th July Kamatipura, 200 Ambalal requested the audience to enlist as Cantonment. Congressmen. Deshpande asked them to take up to village propaganda. Vaghire said all classes had taken part in the present struggle. Dheer specially addressed the untouchable class and pointed out how they were wrong in arguing that they would join this movement only if they were allowed entrance into the temples, that the whole Indian nation was untouchable in the eyes of the British as none of the Hindus were allowed membership of their clubs and masses. 29th July Ram Mandir, 500 Swadeshi and boycott. Cantonment. Do. Bandar Talim. 500 Mrs. Hansa Mehta asked the cantonment cloth Cantonment merchants to imitate Bombay cloth merchants pointing out how the Muljee Jetha Market was closed and how the other shops were closing down and requested them to do the same. K. N. Phadke criticised the Government for saying that the Hindus and Muhammadans would break their heads, if Swaraj was given and said that both of them had ruled before. He said that he had no faith in negotiations and appealed to the audience to enlist as Congressmen, boycott foreign goods and not to help the bureaucracy at all. G. A. Deshpande exhorted the audience to increase the number of Congressmen as there was possibility of establishing a parallel Government very soon. Haribhau Vaghire regretted that only 225 men had enlisted so far. He reminded Muhammadans how the last Muhammadan king was arrested with his three sons and some merchants, how they were Shot dead in 1857, how the Sikhs and Muhammadans forgot their differences in Peshawar. Popatlal Shah criticised the policy of Government of negotiations on the one hand and of repression on the other and emphasised that boycott was the only way to get success. Inamdar asked the Muhammadans to take part. R. D Dheer condemned the cantonment cloth merchants for purchasing foreign cloth worth three lakhs in spite of the repeated requests not to do so. 788

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 29th July Shivaji Mandir 4,500 Mrs. Hansa Mehta exhorted the audience that the present Government was living on tagdi (trade) and the best way to drive it out was to snatch away that tagdi, stop trading with them completely and take the vow of swadeshi. A. R. Bhat reproduced the speech of Mrs. Mehta and condemned the British people for destroying their trade. He also said that the number of unemployed persons in England should be increased by stopping trade with them and this would bring them on their knees. Madhaorao Godbole explained how the boycott week was observed in Bombay. Two lady speakers advised the women in the audience to enforce swadeshi in their houses and take active part in this movement. 30th July Shaniwar 3,000 This meeting was preceded by a procession that had Wada started from Shivaji Mandir. B. M. Gupte narrated how London millowner had sent a letter to an Ahmedabad millowner, describing the disastrous effects of boycott of foreign goods. Turning to the attempt at negotiations he said that they should not be misled by Such attempts and though civil disobedience might be stopped, boycott of foreign goods must continue Messrs. Dheer and R. G. Chapekar Spoke on the Same lines. R. G. Bhide advised the youths to take up the movement. Popatlal Shah criticised the attitude of the Government in preventing Gandhi caps and taklis in Guntur, in dishonouring and burning the national flag at different places. 30th July Shaniwar 600 G. A. Deshpande thanked the audience for Wada processing peacefully and said that the boycott was pinching the Lancashire millowners whose mills were being Sold at low prices K. G. Pashankar called on college students to suspend their studies. H. Vaghire condemned the Poona public for their indifference to the movement. Do. Main Street 400 Ambalal Gujar and Kamdar requested the audience to enlist as Congressmen. R.D. Dheer said he had no faith in negotiations and Round Table Conference and the present struggle should be continued. Bhide alleged India was degraded by the British people and the present means of communication were simply for 789

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 30th July— their own use. He said the movement was having its contd. effect and urged the audience to continue it. K. N.Phadke and Dadabhai Ardeshir (Parsee) requested the audience to enlist as Congressmen. 31st July Tilak Mandir 208 Lady Vithaldas Thackersey was to have opened the Swadeshi Bazaar, but she cried off and Shiralkar of Satara district took her place, making the usual speech alleging that India's present rulers killed her trade. Do. Shimpi Alley, 300 Chandulal, Gujarathi, requested the audience to take Main Street. an oath that they would never touch foreign articles. Kamdar said that cantonment cloth merchants had signed an agreement not to purchase foreign cloth till the present struggle was ended and to close down for one month from Thursday next. Those who disobeyed this decision would be fined Rs. 101 and be socially boycotted. H. Vaghire alleged the British passed a law against using Indian cloth and lately threw out the Hajee Bill to secure their own ends. Addressing the Muliammadaus present he said the last Moghul Emperor and his three sons were cruelly killed by the British, depredations were committed at Jallianwala Baug and Peshawar and it was necessary for them also to join hands with the Hindus. 1st August Tilak Mandir. 500 Professor Mate made a long speech on the life and doings of Tilak. The audience got bored and shouted him down. Do. Gaffurbeg 500 Vaghire, Kisansing and Dheer criticised the policy of Street. the Government's dealing with the situation at Peshawar and Bombay and appealed to the audience to continue this fight. Phadke read out a telegram about the confirmation of death sentences passed on the three accused of Sholapur Riot Case by the third judge and criticised councilfors for not helping those men. Government officials should be strictly boycotted and attempts may be made in villages to educate the villagers not to pay land revenue. 2 nd August . Reay Market 2,000 H. V. Tulpule condemned the Government for their lathi charge on the evening of 1st August and the arrests of all the members of the Working Committee. He condemned those standing for council. 790

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 2nd Toddy and liquor shops must be completely rooted Angust— out of Poona. Anandibai Joglekar condemned contd. Government's alleged conciliation cum-repression policy. Pashankar said that Government had imprisoned all the important leaders which showed that Government were afraid of the movement. The British could defeat Napolieon Bona Parte and Germany but would have to bow before Gandhi. H. Vaghire condemned Government. R. G. Ladkat asked the college students to become strong and the city gymnasts to visit the houses of drunkards and dissuade them from drinking. Popatlal Shah said that posts, telegraphs, trains, etc., were simply created by Government for their own purposes. Dheer condemned those who were committing fulum on their own brothers for the sake of Rs. 15 or so and said that such people were to be blamed and not me rulers. Satyabhamabai Kuvelkar urged the students to suspend their studies and take part in the present struggle. 2nd August Reay Market 1,000 Poparlal Shah said that the arrests of Vadabhbnai and others announced the failure of negotiation. Pandit blamed Government and advocated swadeshi. Do. Do. 500 Bombay Police were condemned for the lathi charge on Tilak day procession and also for the arrests of the big Congress leaders and appeals were made to the audience to use swadeshi articles.

(6)Sholapur, August 2.—Processions have been taken out almost daily since July 27 in Pandharpur, accompanied by national flags. National songs are regularly sung, and on one occasion a photograph of M. K. Gandhi was carried. Those who have been noticed taking a prominent part are Babu Nagaya Yavankar and Deoram Tukaram More. Similarly, daily processions take place in Akluj (Malsiras taluka). About 50 persons take part. (7)Satara, August 2.—There were 72 meetings as against 66 in the last week. Breach of the forest laws, boycott of Government servants, foreign goods, etc., were advocated. The language used at most of these meetings was of an highly objectionable and abusive nature. The Police and Government servants in general being openly abused and likened to dogs, monkeys, etc. In this connection prosecutions on an extensive scale are being lodged and all prominent agitators are being roped in. As a counter propaganda a public meeting was held at Padegaon in Koregaon taluka at 791 which the Civil Disobedience Movement was denounced, and the audience exhorted to remain faithful to the British Government. (8) Ratnagiri, August 2.—In all 17 meetings were held to preach boycott of foreign goods and liquor and to advise the people to take to spinning. On July 27, 11 men from Ratnagiri went from door to door to induce the people to become members of the Congress. On July 27, the so-called national flag was hoisted on the Gandhi Seva Ashram (Gandhi Service League) at Vengurla. In Vengurla volunteers maintain themselves by begging and collected Rs. 5 during the week. On July 27, one Waman Vishnu Abhyankar obtained ten persons as Congress members at Achra who each paid 4 annas subscription. Spinning at the Satyagraha Ashram at Malwan continued during the week. Meetings held include the following: —

Date Place Audience Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) July 26th .. Malwan 250 People were asked to attend the ceremony of hoisting the flag on Maruti's temple; Gandhi's life and principles were described; a reference to the excesses of the Police and picketing in Bombay were made. Do. Ratnagiri 300 (women) Women were advised to help the present movement in every possible manner. Do. Do. 695 Hindus V. D. Savarkar1 said that swadeshism was for retention of Indian money in India; the subject had no political aspect. As investments were already made on machinery and as the millhands were natives of India it was not advisable to boycott mill cloth. If the mills were closed down a number of men would become unemployed. Strict adherence to spinning on the takli was not advisable

(9) Kolaba, August 2.—22 meetings were held during the week m the district, maximum audience 700. There is no improvement in the situation for although superficially the situation is fairly quiet, insidious propaganda is being carried on in the villages, aided by the caste system. There is every reason to believe that the civil disobedience cult is becoming widespread. Police Patels are being urged to resign with some success. Picketing continues. At some places, e.g., Mahad picketing has been relaxed, not on account of the District Magistrate's order but on account of this being the month in which temperance is more general. On August 3 there was a half-hearted attempt in Alibag to defy the District Superintendent of Police's order under the Bombay District Police Act as a result of which 4 volunteers were arrested and released after a few hours.

1 Swatantryaveer Savarkar, a great revolutionary, was opposed to the Congress movement. This was contradictory with Dr. Hedgewar who participated in Satyagraha. 792

1368. Boycott Week (1)Poona, August 2.—Poona Youth League led chiefly by Mehendale, dictator, and K. N. Phadke conducted a boycott week from 29th July to 4th August, Mrs. Hansa Mehta came from Bombay on 29th, put up with Lady Vithaldas Thackersey, and addressed 4,000 at Shivaji Mandir. Prabhat feris, especially of females, increased. On Sunday 3rd August, Vallabhbhai Patel was to have arrived from Bombay and B. M. Gupte, pleader, on behalf of Youth League, asked for permission for a procession from station to city. On 1st August, Tilak day was marked by Dr. Munje of Nagpur exhorting 500 students to resist police charges by non-violently depriving constables of their lathis. On 2nd a procession of Youth Leaguers became merged in a monster demonstration in receipt of news of Bombay arrest of Congress leaders. It is estimated that 7,000 processed, and 4,000 listened to speeches. (2)Ratnagiri, August 2.—Five boycott week processions were held at Ratnagiri between July 26 and 30. A procession of 50 boys, in connection with boycott of liquor and foreign cloth, was held at Malwan on July 20. A procession of 400 persons was formed after the salutation of the national flag at Malwan on July 27. A vanar sena (monkey troop) procession, attended by 50 girls and 150 boys, was taken out in Ratnagiri on July 26. 1369. Gandhi Day Celebrations S. B. Bombay Presidency, Poona, August 01.—Gandhi day was observed in Poona on 6th August 1930 by taking out processions and holding meetings in the city and the cantonment. At the meetings held in front of the Shanwar Wada under the presidentship of H. V. Tulpule, speeches were made exhorting the audience to continue the present boycott movement till success was obtained. The president appealed for the enrolment of 13,000 members for Congress during the week, and said that Thursday (7th August 1930) should be observed as the national flag day, on which day a national flag should be hoisted on every house top and added that Sunday should be observed as political prisoners' day. At the meeting held in the Poona cantonment under the same president, Tulpule reviewed the whole Civil Disobedience Movement and impressed ott the audience that the real fight would begin when the Congress established a parallel Government in India. A Marathi poster with 3 green bangles banging to it was found pasted on a post-box in front of the Sir Parshurambhau College. The English translation of the poster is as follows: — "Oh, people of Poona, for your yesterday's valour take these bangles as rewards." The so-called national flag was hoisted on the Fergusson College amphitheatre by the students of the college without the permission of the college authorities. It is reported that the principal promised the students not to lower the flag at least for 24 hours from its hoisting unless directed by the college board to do so or without giving previous notice to the students. 793

A similar flag was laso hoisted on Sir Parshurambhau College ( New Poona College). 1371. Forest Agitation Poona, August 2.—On 31st a police party had to be sent out from the headquarters to Saswad to deal with forest trespass by villagers. One agitator, a taifor from poona, was arrested and on 1st August the Deputy Superintendent of Police visited the affected villages and settled matters amicably with considerable tact. On 27th July three Shrigonda men spoke objectionably to an audience of 150 in Gandhi Chowk and on 29th there was a hartal in the town for sentencing Abdur Razak to 3 months' jail for a speech in Dhond. Shankar B. Baravkar of Varvand was seen at Dhond selling a book of verses which has been reported to Government for action under 124-A. 1374. Ville Parle Chhawani S. B. Bombay Presidency, Poona, August 9.—Of the twenty-live volunteers who used to come daily from Bombay to the Chhawani 7 offered to remain permanently in the chhawani. The total number at the chhawani is 13 men and 13 women. The leaders continue to visit the Bombay Congress House daily. 45 volunteers in Khaki uniforms belonging to the Bombay Seva Dal led by one Ahanta visited the Chhawani on July 27 and remained for one hour, 15 men of the Bombay prabhat feri came to Ville Parle the same day and attended a meeting and then returned. Spinning, carding and weaving is carried daily at the Chhawani.

* * * * *

A branch of the Maharashtra Khadi Sangh was opened in the Chhawani on July 29 by Janakibai Bajaj. P. H. Khadilkar and Gangubai Kunte have been appointed to supervise it. S. S. Naik has been taking renewed interest in the movement addressed a meeting for all the prabhat feris at Bandra. He spoke on Tilak and Gandhi. There has been a definite split between Deccanis and Gujaratis at the Chhawani which came to ahead on August I when Dr. Hardikar addressed a small meeting on the subject of Tilak. Only 5 Gujaratis were present in the audience and the Deccanis decided that they would have nothing to do with the Gujaratis, who claimed that they could get Swaraj by their own efforts. Hardikar only spoke for 10 minutes, being disgruntled by this small audience. 1377. Committee of Tradesmen at Navapur West Khandesh, August 2.—A committee of five persons from tradesmen of different communities of Navapur has been formed in order to see that no merchants indent for foreign cloth. The merchants who have sold stock of foreign goods are allowed to sell them. 794

1382. Boycott of Government Servants (1)Thana, August 2.—The boycott of Government servants at Padgha continued. Unsuccessful attempts were made by the boycotters to influence the owner of a house to make the Police vacate it. (2)Nasik, August 2.—The boycott of the Police especially in Satana taluka is general and they have the greatest difficulty in obtaining supplies; in Kalwan also boycott has been started as a result of action having been taken by the Police against the leaders. 1384. Hoisting of National Flag (1)Satara, August 2.—The Tasgaon municipality has, with the majority of a casting vote of the president, passed a resolution for the hoisting of a national flag on its office. Attempts to hoist national flags on Distract Local Board schools at two or three villages are also reported Hoisting of national flags on the municipal lamp-posts in Satara city appears to be the innovation of the week. (2)West Khandesh, August 2.—30 meetings are reported. The national flag was hoisted on the school building of Ajanda, police-station Nardhana, on July 24. Some villagers and boys of Varshi, police-station Nardhana, hoisted a national flag on the school building there. 1385. (1) Boycott of Foreign Goods Ratnagiri, August 2.—Laxman Ramchandra Kalekar, a native physician at Chiplun, induced about 24 persons to sign a pledge for boycotting foreign goods, liquor, tea, etc. Merchants and shopkeepers held a private meeting on July 27 and resolved not to import British goods, and to pay subscription of four annas to a rupee for the Congress and other public functions. No money was collected on the spot. 1386. Temperance Movement (1)Thana, August 2.—Picketing took place at Virar and Boisar. Action against picketers is being taken under the District Police Act. Narayan Damodar Devdhekar of Umbergaon, leader of the District Congress Committee, picketed at Bassein, on August 1. (2)Bombay Suburban District, August 2.—Except at Chembur there was no picketing of liquor shops. (3)Nasik, August 2.—The picketing of liquor shops has continued during the week at Pimpalgaon Baswant, Yeola, Wadner Bahiroba and Manmad. At Sinnar and Lasalgaon the picketing is reported to have stopped. (4)West Khandesh, August 2.—Picketing of the liquor shop at Nandurbar is in progress. There was no picketing of toddy and liquor shops in Dhulia. Picketing of liquor shops at Navapur commenced from July 25. Liquor shops at Sakarda, Bhadbhunja, Barber Ghat and Bhavria, Navapur taluka, were picketed. (5)Ratnagiri, August 2.—Picketing of liquor stops at malwan continued during the week. Picketing of liquor shops at Sarjekot, Malwan taluka, was recommenced from July 24. At Khed the picketing has practically stcped. Picketers sit in private houses on the road leading to the liquor 795 shops and note the names of persons visiting the liquor shops, after which the leaders visit them at their private houses to induce them to give up drink. No picketing is done on the public road. At Dapoli, liquor and toddy shops were picketed on July 22, but it was stopped as the licensee agreed that he would not bid at the next auction.

166 Vol. XLIII No. 34 of 1930 BOMBAY PRESIDENCY POLICE ABSTRACT OF INTELLIGENCE Poona, August 23, 1930. POLITICAL, POLITICO-RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL MOVEMENT 1419. Civil Disobedience Movement, General Summary (1) Bombay Suburban District, August 9.—The usual meetings took place daily during the week at Ville Parle, audience 50 to 150. There was nothing new in the speeches, which chiefly insisted on the use of khaddar and spinning of yarn; also they had sufficient experience of facing lathi charges, they should now be ready to receive bullets. Mrs. Gandhi1 said that she was sorry as few women took part in the movement and requested all women to follow Gandhi's advice and take part in the movement. They should take no notice of the leaders who are talking peace, but should carry on until these leaders ordered them to stop the movement. Govind, son of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, stressed the importance of boycotting foreign cloth and also said that the unknown person who paid his father's fine was a traitor. Meetings were also held at Ghatkopar, Mahul, Trombay, Chembur and Mulund. Audience varied from 20 to 200. The meeting at Mahul was held to celebrate Tilak's anniversary and several Kolis from Versowa attended. All the speeches were on boycotting foreign goods and liquor except one by Narayan Laxman Lad of Chembur, who requested the audience to boycott the Police saying that it was no use simply congratulating people on thear being sent to jail, but all should do what they have done and boycott the police. Five meetings were held at Malad, undience 40 to 140 consisting largly of boys. At Bandra S. S. Naik held a meeting which was attended by 200 people. He described the happenings in Bombay on the 1st instant over the procession which was banned, and concluded his speech in his usual manner by shouting slogans. Prabhat Feri and other processions were taken out as usual during the week daily in Chembur, Andheri, Pahadi, Malad, Versova, Kurla, Bandra

1 Kasturba Gandhi. 796 and Kandivli and on one or two occasions in other villages of the district. They consisted generally of between 15 and 50 people, mostly children. At Ghatkopar the Swadeshi Match Factory workers numbering 200 again took out processions on the 3rd and 8th some hundred Gujarathi school boys and girls accompanied them. The dhwaja vandan ceremony (flag salutation) was daily performed by some 30 people at Ghatkopar. On Gandhi Day (5th) hartals were observed at Ghatkopar, Malad, Chembur, Borivli, Bandra, Khar, Kurla and Andheri. Muhammadan shops and tea-shops, however, remained open. It transpires that the tea and pan path shops belonging to Anand Waman Bhandarkar at Borivli were allowed by the Congress Committee to remain open as the owner paid Rs. 15-8-0 to the Congress. Except at Chembur there was no picketing at liquor shops. (2)Thana, August 9.—Eighteen meetings took place during the week, the biggest audience being about 500 at Shahapur. At six of these meetings the audiences had less than 80 members. (3)Nasik, August 9.—During the week meetings were held as under:—

Date Place Attendance Remaks (1) (2) (3) (4) 3rd August Nasik 1,000 To congratulate Messrs patel and Malaviya on their arrest. 5th August Do. 400 To show sympathy for the Baglan Satyagraha. 3rd August Bhagur, taluka 100-150 To congratulate leaders arrested in Bombay. Nasik 7th August Trimbak 300 To congratulate Gadre and Khadilkar on their arrest. 4th August Ghoti 250 To express sorrow at the arrest do Vallabhbhai Patel. 7th August Sinna 300 To congratulate Messrs Gadre and Khadilkar on their arrest. 3rd August Do. 400 Thanking the people for observing a hartal for Patel's arrest. Do. Lasalgaon, 300 Regarding the arrest of Pandit Malviya in Bombay. taluka Niphad 4th August Vinchur, taluka 100 A meeting of protest against Government and Sardar Niphad Vinchurkar. 3rd August Yeola 800 To congratulate leaders arrested in Bombay. 4th August Do. 500 Boycott of foreign cloth and liquor, Do. Nandgaon 1,200 Forest satyagraha. 6th August Anchalgaon 200 Boycott of tea, liquor, etc. taluka Nandgaon 4th August Soundane, 100 Forest satyagraha. taluka Malegaon 6th August Satana 500 To congratulate Gadre and Khadilkur. 7th August Abhone, taluka 50—60 Forest satyagraha, Kalwan 797

Some 25 meetings of some importance have been reported. Nasik, Yeola, Nandgaon, Kalwan and Baglan talukas continue to show most interest in the movement, and there seems little improvement in the general situation. In connection with the mass satyagraha at Bhilwad and Pathawe on August 5 some 20 more of the leading lights have been arrested, amongst them being K. R. Sumant of Sholapur and M. B. Gadgil of Nasik. During the week in connection with the arrests of Vallabhbhai Patel and Pandit Malaviya in Bombay, hartals were held at Nasik, Trimbak, Igatpuri, Niphad, Chandor, Satana and probably at other towns. R. H. Gadre, Dr. Khadilkar and Dattatraya Yadav Pingle have all been arrested and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. Bhagappa Vithobappa Gulave and Satidas Tikamdas, Marwadi of Nagpur, are now taking a leading part in Nasik in getting up meetings in support of the movement. The public especially in Kalwan, Baglan and Nandgaon continue to take a great interest in the forest satyagraha movement. Kalwan has been showing great interest as it is intended to have a mass movement there on August 20 similar to the shows at Bhilwad and Pathawe on August 5. During the week under report no movements of volunteers to the district from outside have been reported. Volunteers have been moving about in Kalwan taluka visiting the villages and generally trying to interest the people in the question of forest satyagraha in preparation for a mass satyagraha proposed to be held on August 20, at or near Saptashring Hill. (4) East Khandesh, August 9.—There were eleven meetings held during the week of which the following deserve notice: —

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 4th August Chalisgaon 200 The usual local speakers protested against the arrests of V. J. Patel, and others in Bombay. 8th August Jalgaon 800 G. R. Date, pleader, was president of a meeting with the usual local speakers, on Swaraj. 2nd August Bhusawal This was a meeting of the committee of the local Hindu Mahasabha to elect office-bearers for the ensuing year.

Prabhal feris continue to be taken out at the same places. Flag processions were taken out at the following places:—Wadri, Yawal taluka, Kurhe, Nimkhedi, Wadoda, Chinchkheda, all under Edlabad Police-station. Pimpalgaon, Raver, Bhalod. Faijpur Police-station. Mengaon and Shendurni, Shendurni Police-station, and Amalner. The following hartals were observed during the week: —

Date Place Object for which observed (1) (2) (3) 4th. August Amalner High school students kept away from School on account of the arrest of V. J. Patel, etc. 5ht August Chinaval General hartal for the same reason . 798

Date Place Purpose for which taken out (1) (2) (3) (4) 3rd August Jalgaon General hartal for the same reason. 4th August Rasalpur, Raver Police- Do. Station Sth August Bahadarpur, Parola Police Do. Station 8th August Amalner Do. 2nd August Varangaon, Bhusawal taluka Do. Police Station

4th August Chalisgaon Do. The following processions were taken out during the week: —

Date Place Purpose for which taken out (1) (2) (3) 4th August Chalisgaon The arrest of V. J. Patel, etc. 5th August Chopda Gandhi day. 8th August Do. The arrest of V. J. Patel, etc. 3rd August Jalgaon Do. 5th August Chinaval, Savda Police Do. Station 5th August Erandol Gandhi Day. (5) West Khandesh, August 9.-22 meetings are reported out of which those of importance are mentioned in the statement attached.

Date Place Purpose for which taken out (1) (2) (3) 7th August Shirpur Rashtriya flag was taken in procession through the town and hoisted on the municipal office. 5th August Pimpalner The grass which was brought from Baglan satyagraha was taken in procession through the village. 30th July Kolde, taluka Nandurbar . Rashtriya flag was taken in procession and hoisted on Local Board school. 3rd August Nandurbar A procession of black flags was taken through the town as a protest against the arrest of Vallabhbhai Patel and others. 3rd August Nawapur Rashtriya flag was taken in procession as a protest against the arrest of Vallabhbhai Patel. 4th August Taloda Do. Do. Kukurmunda Do. 5th August Shahada Rashtriya flag was taken in procession and hoisted on the municipal building at Shahada. 799

(6) Poona, August. 9.—Meetings held during the week include the following: —

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 3rd August Shivaji Mandir, Poona 400 Boycott week. K. N. Phadke, presided. Kale, S. G. City. Chafekar, Champutai Agarkar, Mangal B. Dalal of Bombay, Thakar, Pandit, Velinkar, condemned the lathi charges of the Police on Tilak day procession in Bombay; also the negotiation carried on by Sapru and Jayakar. Phadke said that bulletins should be circulated even though Ordinances were applied to fountainpens, pencils or pieces of charcoal. The meeting was preceded by a small procession. 3rd August Gaffurbeg 400 Dadabhai Ardeshir. Parsi, presided. Popatlal Shah, Street, Poona Chandulal, Haribhau Vaghire, R. D. Dheer. Hajee Cantonment. Hakim Sahib condemned Government for the arrests of Vallabhbhai Patel, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and other members of the Working Committee, and for the lathi charges on more than 300 peaceful Congressmen in Bombay. They also requested the audience to carry on this struggle to the end. Vaghire alleged that Pandit Malaviya was disillusioned as to the Councils and the Assembly. 4th August Shivaji Mandir, Poona 150 Raja Bahadur' Shivlal presided. K N. Phadke, B. M. City. Gupte, D. V. Divekar, Mrs. Kashibai Deodhar spoke. The boycott week, inaugurated by the Youth League, was closed on Monday by Raja Bahadur Shivlal who has an interest in the mill behind the Poona Station. He said that the end of the week did not mean the end of the boycott, which was to be everlasting. Phadke related the incidents of boycott week and said that they were going to have in Poona a Desh Sevika Sangh like in Bombay and to open a Swadeshi bazaar in Poona cantonment next September. 5th August Tilak Mandir, poona 700 Pandu Anna Shiralkar of Karad presided and G. A. City. Deshpande read out the programme of Congress week. On Monday morning the Congress week was inaugu rated by performing the Zenda Vandan (flag saluting) ceremony in Tilak Mandir. Handbills were put about inviting prabhat feris of different Peths. 800

Date Place Attendance Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 5th August Reay Market, 700 H. V. Tulpule presided. Gotiram Santram Kachi of Poona City. Reay Market, had arranged this Zenda Vandan by circulating handbills. Nanal Shastri and one Mohanlal sang two songs. K. G. Pashankar explained how the market people had taken oaths not to drink and not to use foreign cloth. They prized the national flag more than their lives. Popatlal R. Shah spoke on the national flag and told people to join the Congress, H. V. Tulpule advocated boycott of Council elections. Do. Shaniwar 1,000 Congress week. H. V. Tulpule presided. K. G. Wada, Poona Pashankar, R. G, Bhide, Haribhau Vaghire, City. Mohanlal Gujarathi, Popatlal of Ambegaon. Satyabhamabai Kuvlekar spoke. This meeting was preceded by a procession. The speakers alleged that enthusiasm was lacking in Poona; and other districts were doing much more. At least 13,000 Congressmen should be enrolled during the week; the boycott movement must be vigorously carried on and foreign cloth shops picketed. Do. Jogeshwari 60 Dwarkabai Gujar presided Congress week. This was Temple . a meeting of women to enlist Congress members. Satyabhamabai Kuvlekar said that the wives and mothers of Government Servants could become Congress members as the Congress had not been declared illegal is yet. Do. Bandar Talim, 700 Gandhi Day .H. V. Tulpule presided Hakim Hajee Pooaa alleged that India saved Britain in the Great War. Cantonment. The British had broken their promises, and, therefore, the present movement was taken up, and had struck an effective blow at the Manchester Mills. Haribhau Vaghire said that the British people should be made to starve by stopping trade with them; that they should be boycotted as was done in China; that their repression should be answered by overcrowdingjails. N. V. Tulpule said that M. K. Gandhi started out from his ashram with a few followers, he was ridiculed, he went on breaking different laws, was arrested, and now the movement had gone beyond the control of Government. 801

Date Place Audience Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 6th August Reay Market, 400 Congress Week, K.G. Pashankar, who presided Poona City. announced the conviction of Vaghire and Dheer. R. G. Bhide alleged the British deprived Indians of their industries and reserved India as their grazing farm and as a permanent customer of Manchester. Y. K. Godse of Bombay congratulated Dheer and Vaghire and Said that death was better than life under the tyrannical British raj. The present movement had Paralysed the administration. Do. Shaniwar 50 Yeshodabai Bhat bitterly complained about the Path. Poona alleged treatment given to the political City. prisoners in jail. Do. Dwyer Lane, 800 Dadabhai Ardeshir, Parsi, presided. The Poona speakers congratulated Dheer and Vaghire on Cantonment. their conviction V.B.Davre said the British Government was like the Government of the Demon Kaunsa and would be destroyed by some Superhuman be ing as was done by the God Krishna in the case of Kaunsa; and that Dheer and Vaghire were unjustly sent to jail. Do. Nava 500 V. B. Davre said that he would make the same Modikhana, speeches as were delivered by Dheer and Gavli Alley, Vaghire. He declared that he had broken the Poona law. Contonment. Do. Gaffurbeg St., 400 Mirza Ikram Beg, pleader, presided This meeting Kam-rudin was convened to thank Government, the Mosque, Home Member, Mr. Gulabkhan and Maulana Poona Shaukat Ali for being instrumental in Securing Cantonment. the release of the Malegaon riot case prisoners who were convicted to transportation for life in 1920. The six prisoners were present. They were garlanded and speeches were made. 7th August Shaniwar 1,000 K.G. Pashankar presided. This meeting was Wada, Poons preceded by a procession specially arranged City. for Congress flag day. Pashankar said 13,000 Congress members were wanted. Dr. Muladevi of Bombay described the Tilak day procession in Bombay and requested the Poona citizens to do something for their country. Dr. Pingle of Wardha, Central Provinces, criticised N. C. Kelkar for keeping quite. * * * 802

Date Place Audience Remarks (1) (2) (3) (4) 8th August Shivaji Mandir, 300 R. G. Bhide presided. V. B. Davre repeated his Poona City. speech about the national flag, described how he had broken the order under Section 144, C. P. C., and was arrested and read out the statement of Sub-Inspector, Deshmukh of the Cantonment given in the Court. He then incited the audience to break the Order under Section 144, C. P. C., K. N. Phadke asked students of schools and colleges to suspend their studies and join the Congress; Swaraj could only be obtained by breaking the laws. K. G. Pashankar praised the Sikh community and asked them to enlist as Congressmen. R. G. Bhide told them not to help Government by giving loans. Deshpande declared that about 1,500 national flags had been sold. 9th August Tifak Mandir, 150 This day was selected as women's day of the Poona City. Congress week. The women speakers exhorted the audience to take an oath of swadeshi and become Congress members and do Something like their Bombay siters. Dr. Muladevi of Bombay pressided. Do. Do. 70 Mrs. Janakibai Phatak presided. Swadeshi, boycott of foreign articles and enlistment as Congress members were the subjects discussed. Mrs. Satyabhamabai Kuvlekar said that they had succeeded in enlisting 1,209 women in the Congress and hoped to increase that number to 5,000 by the end of the week. Do. Do. 250 B. M. Gupte presided. The speakers exhorted the audience to become Congress members and show the bureaucracy that the Congress was heavily backed. Inamdar and G. A. Deshpande said that students should Suspend their studies.

(7) Sholapur, August 9.— Only one meeting was reported from the whole of the district during the week. This took place at Pandharpur on August 8. Sarowttam Rajhaunsa, a Congress volunteer of Pandharpur, presided, while the principal speaker was Deorao Tukaram More of Pandhapur. During the week daily processions were taken out in Pandharpur, headed by national flags. Some of the slogans shouted out were "Down with the British Government", "Gandhi must be given Swaraj", and "Policemen must become volunteers." In connection with the arrests of Pandit Malaviya, Vallabhbhai J. Patel and others recently in Bombay a hartal was observed in Barsi 803 town on August 3 and one in Pandharpur town on August 4 and again another on August 8. (8) Satara, August 9.—Meetings still continue to be held in large numbers all over the district and this week reports the holding of about 70 in which the usual propaganda was preached. As a result of this insidious propaganda which is gaining ground amongst the illiterate masses particularly the agriculturists, there were four cases of open defiance of forest laws. In two cases the villagers forcibly removed their impounded cattle, but prompt arrests of their leaders had a good effect. In the remaining two cases the villages en masse went into the reserved forest area and cut down grass and fuel. The accused in both these cases are also likely to make good the damage and loss done to Government property and tender apologies for their misconduct. (9) Ratnagiri, August 9.—In all 27 meetings were held during the week, 8 of which were in protest of the arrest of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and V. J. Patel, etc., 2 were for celebrating the death anniversary of Tilak, 1 for celebrating the death anniversary of Nana Shankaishet, 1 for considering about the celebration of a Ganapati and the remaining in connection with the present civil disobedience agitation. In almost all the meetings held in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement people were asked to take to spinning and to boycott foreign goods, liquor, etc., and thus to strengthen the move ment in all possible ways. With the exception of the meeting held at Malwan on August 5 with an attendance of 4,000, the audience at others was small. The principal speakers at the above mentioned meeting were Shripad Sadashiv Mahajan of Vengurla and Waman Vasudeo Atavnekar of Malwan. Atavnekar said that he had got 5 weeks' imprisonment for satyagraha at Saniketta (salt satyagraha) and that people should continue the agitation without fear. History of the arrest of Malaviya, etc., was also detailed. There were 28 processions during the week, one notably at Vengurla taken out on August 2, for the purpose of hoisting the so-called National flag on the Vengurla Municipality office; 2,000 men and 1,400 boys and girls were present. Morning round parties singing national songs were taken out during the week at several places in the district. (10) Kolaba, August 9.—There were 32 meetings, audiences upto 900. At Uran, a Bombay speaker is occasionally imported, otherwise speakers were local men. Speeches were on the usual topics. The spread of the Civil Disobedience Movement to the villages continues. In most villages of any importance, volunteers deliver speeches urging the boycott of foreign cloth and abstinence from liquor, and where opportunity offers, they prepare the ground for forest satyagraha In many cases pressure is being brought to bear on Police Patels to resign, on pain of being boycotted. In the villages of the Alibag taluka, the progress of the movement is apparent. Uuder the influence of propaganda and the caste system, the Agris have been won over, particularly in the case of Hashivre village. 804

Judging from speeches, agitators expect to commence forest satyagraha in Alibag taluka shortly and volunteers from other parts of the district are invited for the purpose. As a result of the agitation villagers are reluctant to pay forest dues. There were 29 meetings of which ten took place in Alibag taluka. The audience were up to 250. S. B., Bombay Presidency, Poona, August 18.—The District Superintendent of Police, Kolaba, reports that on August 8 he passed orders for the arrest and prosecution of P. K. Deodhar of Andheri (Bombay Suburban District), D. N. Patel of Waghran (Alibag), V. M. Durve of Bhor State and M. G. Rele of Revdanda, who had made particularly fiery speeches urging, among other things, the breaking of forest laws. On August 9, (1) and (2) were arrested. On August 10, Durve came to the Police-Station accompanied by a large crowd of followers to surrender himself...... The Alibag agitators had, according to handbills, determined to support their Congress week by a propaganda of meetings, processions, hartals, etc., commencing with a mass procession and speeches on August 10. In accordance with this a procession was formed and, seizing the opportunity, the processionists went to Sakhar ferry to demonstrate on the arrival of Rele in custody. The Sub-Inspector arrived at Sakhar and seeing the situation took seats in one of the forries plying for hire. The forry had not proceeded more than a hundred yards when it was held up by the crowd. Some of the members of the crowd deflated one of the tyres. The Sub-Inspector then sent for reinforcements and a dozen policemen armed with lathis proceeded to the spot. It was at this stage that District Superintendent of Police, while in Headquarters lines, received information of what was happening and ordered a party of armed police to proceed to the spot and himself proceeded there by car. At the Customs House, he found a crowd of noisy demonstrators about 300 or more in number. A bulk of timber had been placed across the road as a bar to the passage of traffic. This was removed. About 300 yards further on, on the sands was the forry containing the prisoners, surrounded by the lathi-armed police, who were hemmed in by a crowd of 200 or more. At the Customs House, the crowd had again placed a barrier across the road, which was removed. After some distance the District Superintendent of Police left the forry to take the prisoners to the lock-up, and returned to see whether the crowd was making any further demonstrations. On the way a constable ran up to say that the police were being stoned. About 200 yards from the Customs House on the town side, the street was blocked by a mob of people who made way and dispersed on the approach of the car. The policemen were obviously very excited as a result of their being pelted with stones, and would have used their lathis but for the admirable restraint of the Head Constable in charge. Ten persons were arrested who had taken part in the riot and a case is now being sent up against the accused persons under Sections 147, 341, 252 and 353 of I. P. C. 805

1420. Forest Agitation. (1)Thana, August 9.—No further cases of breaking the forest iaws have taken place, Forest contracts are likery to be taken up now. (2)East Khandesh, August 9—Things are fairly quiet at present, but when the grass on the road side and in the fields starts to grow dry, then we must expect a good deal more Satyagraha in forest limits. The collections of money and volunteers are never reported now-a-days They have simply joined the Congress and go out to the forests without any real leaders tor the fun of the things and to get a name for themselves. (3) West Khandesh, August 9.—On 5th August there was forest Satyagraha in Bhiwad Jungles in Baglan taiuka, district Nasik. About 125 men from Pimpalner Police Station had gone there. One Rajaram Deshpande of Pimpalner brought some grass which was taken in procession. Grazing fees in Pimpalner Police Station limits are not collected as yet. Nobody is willing to pay. A private cattle pound has been opened in Pimpalner. Grazing fees in Nandurbar taluka are being collected without any hitch. (4) Ahmednagar, August 2.—The general grazing of cattle in reserved forest on August 17 (Gokul Ashtami) is being advocated. Two heads of cattle impounded at Rajur by the Ranger were released by paying the charges, in spite of opposition. The Sub-Inspector, Rajur, reports that one Manohar Jayaram Bhalerao of Kotul, a retired Talathi, is living at Rajur and taking a leading part in the movement behind Keshav Govind Kamargaonkar. He is the father of the dismissed Forest Guard who is an accused in the forest satyagraha case. All the accused in the Rajur forest satyagraha case were dealt with under Section 562, C. P. C. Police officers at Ghargaon in Sangamner taiuka and at Kotul in Akola taiuka are being boycotted; also in Kopargaon taiuka social boycott of Government servants is causing considerable inconvenience. A hostile crowd collected at Kavthe in Sangamner taiuka when a local leader was arrested, mainly owing to the efforts of a local Talathi ...... Punitive action continues against volunteers and others in Sangamner and Akola talukas for forest satyagraha and instigation to forest offences. Several accused have apologised, but the Pemgiri and Javle Baleshvar villagers are reported to be defiant. Some grazing fees have been paid. Very little enthusiasm except in Sangamner and Akola talukas, where however, some grazing fees have been recovered. Pemgiri and Javle Baleshwar villages in Sangamner taiuka are reported to be defiant and determined not to alow arrests. (5) Kolaba, August 9.—On 16th August there was a breach of the forest laws at Tinvire (Alibag) when in the presence of about 200 villagers, a bullock was garlanded and let loose in the forest. A branch of a tree was broken off and a national flag was hoisted. The two instigators P. T. Vihari and H. R. Patil were arrested on the spot. 806

1421. National Week Celebrations. (1) Ahmednagar, August 2.—The national week does not appear to have revived enthusiasm. The following meetings were held in Ahmednagar : —

Date Place Attendance Remarks 28th July Ahmednagar 1,200 Professor Achyut Sitaram Patwardhan advocatea social boycot of Government Servants. 30lh July Do. 2,000 Owing to the announcement that Mrs. Hansa Mehta would preside. 1st August Do. 2,000 Vallabhbhai Patel had been notified as presiding.

Note.—Local people are reported to be tired of the false announcements of visits of notables in order to collect crowds for meetings. On July 31 a procession of 350, mostly boys, went out with taklis. Boycott and picketing of school on tomorrow was announced. On August 1 a partial hartal was held, and picketing of schools was attempted. Three students were arrested, and, a procession of 300 students was dispersed. When another procession formed with the apparent intention of creating a disturbance in front of working schools, nine boys were restrained and the procession dispersed. Four of the boys apologised forthwith and were released, the other five were ordered to appear before the Magistrate under the District Police Act. They also apologised next morning and further action was dropped. The three students arrested for picketing also apologised next morning and the cases were withdrawn. The prize distribution presided over by the Minister for Education on August 2 passed off successfully and was not boycotted as would probably have been the case if the above cases had been proceeded with. A silent bare-headed procession of 300 was held in Ahmednagar on August 1 in memory of Bombay and Sholapur. A meeting of 100 was held on July 28 in Bhingar on the subject of non-payment of taxes and boycott of Government servants. On July 31 hartal was observed in Bhingar, three released convicts were taken in procession and at a meeting one Bhonsle said that they should make Government servants to leave the service through their wives and relatives. The attendance was 700. The only other meetings of any importance were at Deolali and Rahuri on July 30 and 31 and August 1, with audiences 450, 350 and 750, respectively and at Kopargaon on July 26 with an audience of 1,000. At Pathardi on July 7 three volunteers arrived and took out flag procession and announced that they would return after 8 days and cut down toddy trees; another batch followed suit on July 26. A flag was erected on the Local Board schools at Belapur, also on the bazaar gate. A flag hoisted at Nevasa was removed by the master; it was again hoisted by the boys, who broke tiles on the roof and broke window-panes and threw prickly pear in the school. It was finally removed on July 29 by the parents and guardians of the boys. 807

The flag was also hoisted on Maruti's temple at Jeur in Ahmednagar taluka and in the Local Board school compound, the teachers being present. (2) Kolaba, August 9.— The week was observed as a Maharashtra national week and in consequence was responsible for a certain amount of activity on the part of the agitators. The 10th August was observed as prisoners' day and hartals and processions were general. A report of events at Alibag on this day has been submitted with last week's diary. Speeches were many and were on the usual subjects from boycott of tea and liquor to incitement to break the laws, and to drive out the British. 1421-A. Boycott Week Celebrations. Poona, August 9.—The Poona Youth League concluded their boycott week on August 4, when the owner of the mill near the Poona Station, Raja Bahadur Shivlal, spoke and advocated perpetual boycott. On August 3 there was a small; procession of students and the same day a meeting of 300 was addressed by K. N. Phadke. As soon as the Youth League boycott week ended, Congress week in the city was inaugurated with the object of raising the city Congress membership to 13,000. There have been prabhat feris and saluting of the national flag every morning at the Tilak Mandir. One fiery speaker, V. B. Davre. already on bail and undertrial for unlawful assembly on August 8 near Patkhi Vithoba in Bhavani Peth said the white in the flag stood for non-violence and the red for bloodshed. He exhorted people to resist the Police. There were processions on August 5, 7 and 10, in which 1,500, 6,000 and 12,000 persons, respectively, took part. Meetings were held every day, and sometimes several on one day. 1,200 women members are said to have been enlisted. The procession on August 5 was taken out by Gotiram Kachi, a market leader without previous notice to the police, though he had been warned earlier in the day. It become disorderly and .there was petty rioting and cap burning. Gotiram Kachi was convicted on August 7. The news of the arrest of Vallabhbhai Patel and others in Bombay reached Poona in the afternoon of August 3 when a partial hartal was observed. There was a meeting in Gaffurbeg Street, Poona Cantonment, the same night attended by 400 persons under the presidency of Dadabhai Ardeshir of Poona Cantonment. 1422. Students and Politics. Satara, August 9.—The student class are making capital of the Civil Disobedience Movement and are showing signs of rowdyism. In this the Women folk are also playing a prominent part. 1425. Ville Parle Chhawani. Bombay Suburban District, August 9.—In Ville Parle Chhawani 25 volunteers from Bombay came during the week to reside there permanently. 25 volunteers from the neighbourhood intimated their willingness to live in the Chhawani so that at the end of the week there were 63 men and 13 women volunteers on the roll. 808

One Surendraprasad Gupta, a volunteer of Bengal Congress Committee, came to Ville Parle Chhawani to be instructed in the system of working there. Spinning and yarning went on vigorously in the Chhawani during the week. A donation of Rs. 50 was made to Ville Parle Chhawani by Keshav Nanji Wani of Bombay. 1425-A Prabhat Feri Union, Poona. Poona, August 9.—Popatlal Ramchandra Shah, one of the secretaries of the Poona City Congress Committee, has formed a Prabhat Feri Union with himself as the president and Haribhau Deshpande as the secretary. The office is situated at 1412, Kasba Peth, and the object of the Union is to bring all the Prabhat feris under one control. At a meeting held on August 2 of this union, in the house of Popatlal Shah, it was decided to supply badges to prabhat feriwallas, also board, books containing prabhat feri songs and other propaganda equipment. The members would also be given instructions in the art of singing. 1427. Fund. (1) Thana, August 9.—Box collections are made throughout the district for the Congress hospital aid fund. Rs. 250 were collected at meetings during the week. (2)Nasik, August 9.—The Sub-Inspector of Police, Ghoti, reports that the panchayat of Ghoti collected some Rs. 100 to Rs. 125 during the week. This sum is to be expended on any satyagrahi who might visit Ghoti for propaganda purposes. The Sub-Inspector, Chandor, reports that Rs. 151 were collected by Tulshiram Sheth of Chandor and handed over to Messrs. Gadre and Khadilkar when they were on their way to take part in the mass forest satyagraha at Bhilwad on August 3. Some Rs. 100 to Rs. 150. were further collected in Chandor to assist the forest satyagrahis of Baglan taluka. (3)Satara, August 9.—Rs. 183 have been collected during the week. 1427-A. Youth League Funds. Poona, August 9.—The concert at the Kirloskar Theatre last week brought in Rs. 500 for the Youth League Funds. 1428. Hoisting of National Flag. (1)Thana, August 9.—The Congress flag was hoisted on the Municipal Office at Bhivandi. It has been decided to hoist the Congress flag on the Local Board office at Bhivandi on August 20. Many Momins at Bhiwandi are now sympathising with the Congress movement, (2)East Khandesh, August 9.—The school panchas of Chorwad, Parola taluka, removed a Congress flag that had been hoisted during the night of July 28th-29th. (3)Poona, August 9.—On August 5 (Gandhi Day) the students of Fergusson and Sir Parashurambhau Colleges hoisted national flags on their colleges. National flags were also hoisted on the New English 809

School, the Bhave School and the Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya. The national Hag on Fergussoa College is being guarded by the students. (4) S. B., Bombay Presidency, Poona, August 20.—The so-called national tiag was again hoisted on the Fergusson College on August 18. Mahajani, the Principal, having reassured the students that the authorities had nothing to do with the taking down of the flag previously, there is no further trouble and no picketing at present at the College. It is suspected that some of the picketers in order to strengthen the agitation have played the mischief of taking down the flag. 1430. Swadeshi Propaganda and Boycott of Foreign Goods. 'East Khandesh, August 9.—Daji Kashinath Bhandari, Mahadeo Vinayak Kale, Anant Vinayak Barve and Sakharam Gopal Shenduinikar, all of Chahsgaon, have started a spinning association in the taluka. A swadeshi store has been opened at Savda and Chopda. 1432. Temperance Movement. (1) Thana, August 9.—Picketing took place at Padgha, Virar, Dahanu and Solsumbe. Attempts to start picketing at Kalyan have so far been unsuccessful. The District Magistrate's order prohibiting picketing at Bassein and Bhayandar was again broken at both places. The Congress followers make a point of keeping clear of the liquor shops picketed, so that light sentences will be inflicted. (2) Nasik, August 9.—Picketing of liquor shops continues at Saikheda, Ycola, Chandor, Vadner and Manmad. On August 6 the Divisional Forest Officer, West Nasik, held auctions of coupes at Nasik; the auction room was picketed with the result that only some 15 coupes were sold out of some seventy. (3)Satara, August 9.—Peaceful picketing of liquor shops continues as before at Masur, Tarale, Lonand and Wai. (4)Ratnagiri, August 9.—Picketing of Bharad, Malwan and Sarjekot liquor shops in Malwan taluka continued during the week. 1433. Picketing of Schools and Colleges. Ratnagiri, August 9.—On August 5, schools in Malwan were picketed on account of the arrest of Patel, etc. On August 4, attempts to picket schools in Ratnagiri were made but were unsuccessful. 1434. Resignation, Boycott of Government Servants, etc. Thana, August 9.—At Padgha a shopkeeper is now supplying provisions to the Police. At Bassein Bania shopkeepers are stopping the supply of provisions to the Police. 1436. Counter-propaganda. Satara, August 9.—Five anti-Civil Disobedience Movement meetings were held this week and the audiences were advised not to be misled by the present Civil Disobedience Movement, but to have respect for law and order. 810

1436-B. Unauthorized publication of News-sheets, etc. (1)Kolaba, August 9.—Orders have now been issued to take action against the unauthorised publications of news-sheets. On August 7, the Alibag Shibir was searched, and although copes of the patrikas, etc., were found and attached, the cyclostyle machine was not found. (2)S. B., Bombay Presidency, Poona, August 19.—It is now learnt that copies o£ Rajadroha bulletin1 a cyclostyled daily, which appeared in the Ahmedabad District some time back, containing extracts from prescribed books, were issued by a certain section of the Bombay Presidency Youth League. Although Lalit Mohan Jamnadas Kinariwala, a secretary of the Bombay Presidency Youth League and original publisher is in jail, the Rajadroha does not appear to have ceased publication, as recently the Bombay Dailies gave out that the Rajadroha was being published in Bombay along with the Revolt of the Nav Jawan Bharat Sabha, and the Congress Bulletin. This venture is the outcome of a former decision of the Youth League, namely to spread sedition by publishing extracts from proscribed literature—and as the bulletin is still making its appearance probably from Bombay now—it is obvious that the publishing party is still active.