1922] KHILAFAT & MAHATMA GANDHI’S MESSAGE 145 1922 Pages 131-32, Para 104. Bombay City, January 18th.—The Working Committee of the All-India Congress Committee met at Gandhi's House, Laburnum Road, in the afternoon of the 17th instant. M. K. Gandhi presided. M. K. Gandhi left Bombay for Ahmedabad on 17th January 1922. 146 RUMOURS OF GANDHI’S ARREST [1922 Page320, Para 271(2). Poona, February 19th —The Commissioner, Central Division writes. "Rumours of Gandhi's arrest and the postponement are rife. Moderate-opinion in Poona and Satara (which I have just visited) is one of acute disappointment and that the arrest will be inevitable later and that the longer it is delayed the more trouble it will cause. The statement of the Secretary of State that Gandhi will abandon active civil disobedience is received with credulity, while the Extremist party openly deride it" Page 400, Para 364. Bombay, March 12th.—The news of Gandhi's arrest was received very quietly in Bombay. There was no sign of restlessness anywhere in the City. Placards were posted up by the Congress and Khilafat Committees advising the people to remain calm, but they appeared to be unnecessary. For a day or two previous to his actual arrest there were rumours that he had already been arrested, but there was little or no sign of excitement. There was no spontaneous desire for a hartal or other form of mourning and there was no sign of agents endeavouring to foment trouble. A public meeting was held on the night of the 11th in the Cutchi Dasa Oswal Jain Mahajanwadi, V. J. Patel presiding. There were about 600 present. K. P. Khadilkar, V. J. Patel, Jamnadas Mehta and N. D. Upadhya spoke. It was all advice couched in inoffensive language to keep quiet and not to disturb the peace, and extolling the virtues of non-violence. Kulaba, March 13th.—The effects, if any, of Gandhi's arrest arc not yet discernable. I do not expect any results in this district. Poona, March 12th.—The news of Gandhi's arrest was received on the evening of the 11th March. It was generally expected that a hartal would be proclaimed on the following day, but the Lokasangraha published a special edition that evening giving Gandhi's wishes in that connection. There was then no demonstration or procession of any kind. On the 12th idem a meeting was held at the Shivaji Mandir at which N. C. Kelkar presided, some 4,000 attended and resolution congratulating Gandhi on his arrest and resolving to carry on the non-co-operation movement in a peaceful manner as desired by Gandhi was passed. S. M. Paranjpe, S. K. Damle, Abdul Isak, S. G. Lavate and others spoke on the occasion. The speeches were all moderate in tone. Moulvi Muhammad Ali Siddikki spoke to the effect that Gandhi's arrest was necessary to lay the foundation of Swaraj and tauntingly said that Kelkar would be the next person to go to jail and then hundreds of people from Poona would be prepared to do so to heighten the fame of Tilak's Poona. Ahmednagar, March 15th—The news of M. K. Gandhi's arrest was heard through the Advocate on the morning of the 12th March in Ahmednagar, but so far there have been no signs of special interest taken over the matter here. At Sangamner, where I had sent my Deputy, R. S. Kamte, he reports that all was quiet. The Inspector reports that after receipt of the news at Sangamner, Maruti Moreshwar Pingle. Pleader and president of the local Taluka Congress Committee, Virchand Shrichand, Gujerati, Shankar Govind Paregaonkar, Sadashiv Bhimshankar Saraf, Laxman Shridhar Saraf and Laxmansing Balaram, Pardeshi, assembled in Ram Krishnadas Buwa's house, where they made preparations for a procession which they took through the town. It was attended mostly by boys of the National School numbering about 100. A board informing the public that Gandhi had 1922] ARREST OF MAHATMA GANDHI 147 been arrested and advocating a protest meeting for 9 p.m. was take in procession, Gandhi's photo, garlanded with red flowers, accompanied in a perambulator. The procession went round the town to the cries of "Victory to Gandhi" and "Victory to Tilak Maharaj". East Khandesh, March 15th.—Gandhi's arrest has been taken quitely. Handbills were distributed at Jalgaon and Bhusawal advising no hartals, etc., and giving his last message. An attempt to collect foreign clothing for a bonfire was abortive at Jalgaon and at Bhusawal, only five articles altogether being contributed. West Khandesh, March. The district has received quietly the news of Gandhi's arrest. Nasik. March 15th.—The news of Gandhi's arrest became known in Nasik on Saturday evening. At Yeola it was known the same time. In Nasik a meeting was hurriedly convened on Saturday evening (11th instant), Raghunath Hari Gadre, pleader presided. The other speakers were V. S. Akut. pleader; R. G. Pradhan, pleader; V. P. Upadhe, pleader: V. G. Ketkar, pleader; the audience was about 3,000. There was nothing special or violent in any speech. The sum and substance was of course to denounce the arrest with an exhortation to carry on the Mahatma's work, though he be absent in the body, he would still be present in spirit. There was no talk of a hartal or any other demonstration. At Malegaon and at Yeola, too, there was on demonstration of any kind. While there has been no excitement over any " playing up " elsewhere, Nasik may demonstrate feebly. Bombay Suburban Area, March 12th.—So far the news of Gandhi's arrest has caused no excitement in this district. Thana, March 11th.—The District Magistrate writes: " The arrest of Gandhi is known practically to all now. but so far everything is quiet. But the district will take its cue from what happens in Bombay.. Pages 428-29, Para 391 (19) (a.b.c). Bombay, March 20th.—The news of Gandhi's conviction was received very quietly in Bombay. It was known early on the afternoon of the 18th. The only exhibition of feeling was that the Cotton Bazaar at Colaba did not open for business at 4 p.m. as usual. On the 20th idem business was in full swing as usual everywhere. The Share Bazaar closed for ten minutes or so but then resumed business. Leaflets were issued in large numbers by the Congress Committee enjoining peace. They run as follows: — (a) Mahatma Gandhi has gone to Jail Duty of people The people should behave peacefully according to the instructions of the Congress and Khilafat Committees if they want Swarajya, justice in connection with the Punjab and Khilafat. the maintenance of the human birthright of free speech and writing and if they want to honour Mahatma Gandhi and to give him peace, and (1) Become members of the Congress, (2) Boycott foreign cloth, (3) Use hand-spun and hand-woven Khadi, (4) Work Charkhas, (5) Give one per cent. of their annual income to the Tilak Swarajya Fund, (6) Remove the untouchability of the depressed classes, (7) Remove the sin of drink, (8) Hindu, Muhammadan, Sikh, Parsi, Christian and Jew should behave with 148 MAHATMA GANDHI IN JAIL. [1922 each other in a friendly manner, (9) Behave peacefully with those who differ in opinion (10) Get cases decided by the Panchayat, (11) Maintain self control, (12) Be self dependent, (b) Bombay Provincial Congress Committee 2, Dean Lane, Fort, Bombay. Mahatma Gandhi has gone to Jail Duty of people Do not strike. Go to your work. Maintain peace. Use Khadi. Boycott foreign cloth. Respect the Congress Khilafat Committees" orders. Secretary, Bombay Provincial Congress Committee. No. 2, Dean Lane. Fort, Bombay. (c)Mahatma Gandhi has been sentenced to six years' simple imprisonment. Mahatmas order is not to strike but to behave peacefully. 1924 Page 35, Para 81. January 11.—It is rumoured in Poona City that Government has asked Gandhi if he is prepared to accept release on conditions similar to those imposed upon V. D. Savarkar and that Gandhi has declined the offer as. he says, he is as happy at Yeravda as he would be at Sabarmati. Government is said to be now considering his unconditional release. The reason given for this move on the part of Government is that a resolution for the release of Gandhi is shortly to be moved in the Assembly. This resolution is certain to be passed by a large majority and Government will not be able to veto it for fear of becoming still more unpopular. The fact that the I about Party is now coming into power adds, of course, to the difficulties of the situation. Page 60, Para 136. January 25.—It is rumoured in Poona that Gandhi has advised N. C. Kelkar and Lala Lajpatrai not to work in the Councils for his release, as he personally is quite content to remain in jail and is certainly not prepared to accept any release to which conditions may be attached. In spite of this, however, the Swarajists intend to try to obtain the release of the Mahatma more with the idea of making Government unpopular than with that of conferring a benefit upon Gandhi. It is also said that His Excellency the Viceroy in this connection has advised his Excellency the Governor of Bombay that the release or otherwise of Gandhi is purely a provincial question and that the Government of India do not propose to interfere in the decision of the local Government in the matter. Page 68, Para 156. January 31.—The outstanding event of the week has been the operation for appendicitis performed upon Gandhi at the Sassoon Hospital.