by M K Gandhi
157 ‘I could have no cause of quarrel with them.’ To add.
158 ‘an ordinary sadhu’ in the original.
159 In Hindustani in the original.
160 In Hindustani in the original.
161 ‘and I do not mind it’ to add.
162 This was on 3 March 1917.
163 In Hindustani in the original.
164 In Hindustani in the original.
165 ‘Delhi and thence’ added in the English translation.
166 MKG stayed at Cassim Bazar House, 302, Upper Circular Road.
167 The decision of the governor general in Council to prohibit labour emigration from India under the Defence of India Act was gazetted on 12 March 1917.
168 ‘as Sir W.W. Hunter used to call the system’ added in the English translation.
169 Indigo cultivation in Champaran began in 1830 and reached a peak in terms of area under cultivation in 1899–1900 when 38,849 hectares of land was under indigo cultivation. The same was 8662 and 10,683 for the years 1916–17 and 1917–18. See Jacques Pouchepadass, Champaran and Gandhi: Planters, Peasants and Gandhian Politics, translated from the French by James Walker (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1999), pp. 236–37, Table A.
In 1917 the district of Champaran contained 2846 villages, of which three-fourths were held by three landholders, who had obtained their rights under Permanent Settlement in 1793. These were the Bettiah Estate, the Ramnagar Estate and the Madhuban Estate, of which the Bettiah Estate had 1719 villages. Of the total number of villages held by the estate only 283 were under their direct management, while the rest were under lease to European planters and Indian peasants. See B.B. Mishra, Select Documents on Mahatma Gandhi’s Movement in Champaran, 1917–18 (Government of Bihar: 1963), p. 6.
170 The system came into being in 1868. The planters had two options regarding the method of indigo cultivation: either have it cultivated by a tenant on a certain portion of their holding (asamivar system) or cultivate it himself (zirat system). Tinkathia was part of the asamivar system.
171 Rajkumar Shukla was from Satwaria village and resident of village Muli Barharwa in police station Shikarpur of Champaran and was described as ‘a well-to-do middle class peasant and money-lender who also managed the farm of a land holder from Allahabad’. Mishra, p. 22.
172 The 31st annual session of the Indian National Congress held at Lucknow from 26–30 December 1916 was presided by Ambica Charan Majumdar, remembered for the Lucknow Pact of 1916 between the Congress and the Muslim League, and the reunion of the Congress, which had split in 1907.
173 In Hindustani in the original.
174 Babu Braj Kishore Prasad, B.A., B.L., of Srinagar village, a leading vakil of Darbhanga, a member of the Bengal Legislative Council (1910), and Bihar and Orissa Legislative Council (1912–16); raised the issue of Champaran in the Council as early as 1913.
175 According to the Bihar Special Branch Intelligence Report, Rajkumar Shukla also spoke at the Lucknow Congress on Resolution X: ‘Planters and Labourers in Bihar’. See Mishra, Select Documents, pp. 54–55.
176 In Hindustani in the original.
177 There is no available record of MKG’s visit to Kanpur. He left Lucknow on 31 December 1916, reaching Ahmedabad on 2 January 1917.
178 In Hindustani in the original.
179 MKG was to be in Calcutta on 7, 8 and 9 April 1917 for the AICC meeting. The Bihar Special Branch Report of 4 March states, ‘It is also rumoured that Mr. Gandhi who has once agitated Indians in South Africa is coming here to deliver lectures.’ Mishra, Select Documents, p. 51.
180 Bhupendra Nath Bose.
181 MKG and Rajkumar Shukla reached Patna on 10 April 1917.
182 ‘in Patna’ added in the English translation.
183 ‘who paid us no attention’ added in the English translation. On 10 April MKG wrote to Maganlal Gandhi, ‘The man who had brought me here does not know anything. He has dumped me in some obscure place. The master of the house is away and the servants take us both to be beggars. They don’t even permit us the use of their latrine, not to speak of inviting us to meals . . . I have swallowed a good many insults and the queer situation here does not trouble me. If things go on this way I am not likely to see Champaran.’ CWMG, vol. 13, pp. 360–61.
184 ‘The servants were doing their duty, and as they thought, doing what Rajendra Babu would wish them to do.’ In the first edition.
185 Maulana Mazharul Haq (1866–1930), Bar-at-law, enrolled in the Middle Temple on 8 November 1888, called to the Bar on 10 June 1891, one of the founders of the Muslim League, vice-chairman, Bihar Congress Committee, participated in the Khilafat Non-Cooperation Movement, established the Sadaquat Ashram at Patna, and started an English journal, The Motherland.
186 ‘an utter stranger like’ added in the English translation.
187 Jivatram Bhagvandas Kripalani (1888–1982), professor of English and history at Muzaffarpur College, joined the Non-Cooperation Movement, general secretary (1934–45) and president (1946), Indian National Congress, member of the Constituent Assembly and member of Parliament (1952–71).
188 Hyderabad (Sindh). MKG and Acharya Kripalani first met at Shantiniketan on 17 December 1915. MKG visited Hyderabad (Sindh) and surrounding areas in February–March 1916.
189 Dr. Choithram Gidwani (1889–1952), medical practitioner, president, Sindh Provincial Congress Committee, participated in the civil disobedience and quit India movements.
190 ‘informing him of my arrival’ added in the English translation.
191 Narayandas Ratanmal Malkani (1890–1974), taught economics at Muzaffarpur College, joined Gujarat Vidyapith (1920–27), participated in the civil disobedience and quit India movements, served as deputy high commissioner of India at Karachi and was nominated member of the Rajya Sabha (1952–62).
192 Tirhut had 87,000 acres of land under indigo cultivation at the end of the nineteenth Century. Mishra, p. 5.
193 Ramnavmi Prasad, born in 1981 at village Fahatha, obtained Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degrees from Calcutta University, practised at the district court, Muzaffarpur, joined the Non-Cooperation Movement.
194 ‘(meaning Prof. Malkani’s quarters)’ added in the English translation.
195 Gaya Prasad Singh, B.A., B.L., of Kanhauliganj village was elected in 1922 to the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
196 Babu Rajendra Prasad (1884–1963), studied history and law at Calcutta University, a nationalist leader of the Indian National Congress, chairman of the Constituent Assembly of India (1946–49), the first President of independent India (1950–62).
197 ‘He sometimes failed in them as well.’ To add.
198 ‘Though self-sacrificing, Braj Kishore Babu or Rajendra Babu did not hesitate to charge their fees.’ To add.
199 ‘unbelievable’ to add.
200 ‘even’ to add.
201 Kathi script, also called ‘Kayathi’ or ‘Kayasthi’, dates back to 1600s. It derives its name from the Kayastha community, whose members were employed as administrators in princely north India. It was recognized as official script in British courts in Bihar.
202 ‘Face to face with the Goddess of Ahimsa’ in the original.
203 MKG wrote to Leonard Frederick Morshead, ‘Having heard a great deal about the condition of the Indians working in connection with Indigo plantation, I have arrived here to ascertain, so far as possible, for myself the true position.’ CWMG, vol. 13, p. 362.
204 Herbert Cox of the Paddumukair factory.
205 The commissioner, L.F. Morshead, in his note on the interview wrote, ‘Mr. Gandhi said that he had had many communications asking him to enquire into conditions in the indigo plantations, and found that there was an insistent public demand that he should enquire . . . It was pointed out to him that the raiyats were not backward in representing their grievances, and that our administrative resources in the shape of courts, the Settlement Officials, the Manager of the Bettiah Estate, the District Magistrate, Subdivision Of
ficer in their executive capacity were all being employed to ascertain and rectify the causes of complaint . . . Mr. Gandhi was asked whether he could produce any credentials to show the insistent public demand of which he spoke.’ Mishra, Select Documents, pp. 58–59. During this interview Mr. Weston, the magistrate of Muzaffarpur, was also present. The same day MKG sent the commissioner two credentials. One was signed by Braj Kishore Prasad, Ramnavmi Prasad, Gaya Prasad Singh and Ramdayalu Sinha. The other was from Arikshan Sinha who was a delegate at the Lucknow Congress. Ibid., pp. 59–61.
206 The administration was forewarned and prepared. On 11 April, E.C. Ryland, deputy inspector general of police, crime and railways, wrote to H. Macpherson, chief secretary, Government of Bihar and Orissa, ‘As Mr. Gandhi’s speeches are not always free from objection it has been decided by the Punjab Government that he should not lecture in the Punjab without first obtaining permission from Government. In view of the rumours that Mr. Gandhi intends visiting Champaran . . . the Local Government will no doubt consider whether similar orders should not be published here.’ Mishra, Select Documents, p. 57. C. Marshman, the superintendent of police, Champaran, was informed that MKG’s visit was ‘most undesirable and likely to cause trouble’ and he had not been in the past allowed to speak; but because ‘He is not on any list of agitators’ the district magistrate was requested to call him and issue a warning that if his visit were to result in trouble, action would be taken against him. The superintendent was told, ‘If Gandhi does anything after this warning . . . he can be proceeded against most suitably by an eviction order under rule 3, Defence of India (consolidation) Rules, but as I said before in dealing with men like Gandhi one has to be careful.’ Ibid., pp. 56–57.
207 Babu Gorakh Prasad (1869–1962), pleader, joined the Non-Cooperation Movement (1919–21), Civil Disobedience Movement (1930), individual Satyagraha (1941) and Quit India movement (1942).
208 This was the case of tenant Lomraj and Mr. Kemp, the manager of the Jagiraha factory, near Jassauli village.
209 Babu Dharanidhar Prasad (d. 1948), pleader, joined the Non-Cooperation Movement, president, Bihar Provincial Conference (1923).
210 The messenger was Sub-Inspector Ajodhya Prasad Tiwari. Mishra, Select Documents, p. 63.
211 The notice was served under Section 144, Criminal Procedure Code. The notice read:
To: Mr. M.K. Gandhi (at present in Motihari)
Whereas your presence in any part of the district will endanger the public peace and may lead to serious disturbances . . . I do hereby order you to abstain from remaining in this district which you are required to leave by the next available train. Given under my hand and the seal of the Court, this 16th day of April, 1917.
W. B. Heycock
District Magistrate, Champaran
See ibid., p. 62, n. 4.
212 MKG responded to the notice, ‘Out of sense of public responsibility, I feel it my duty to say that I am unable to leave this district, but if it so pleases the authorities, I shall submit to the order, viz, suffering the penalty of disobedience.’ CWMG, vol. 13, p. 367. MKG was issued summons on 17 April, under Section 188, Indian Penal Code.
213 On 16 April MKG wrote two letters to Maganlal Gandhi and one to Mr. Maffey, private secretary to the Viceroy, and on the 17th he wrote to Esther Fearing, H.S.L. Polak and Kripalani. See CWMG, vol. 13, pp. 365–73.
214 MKG wrote, ‘The royts should be instructed definitely not to use violence whether regarding their own grievances or regarding imprisonment of those who may come to assist them.’ See CWMG, vol. 13, pp. 369–70.
215 ‘the notice and’ added in the English translation.
216 ‘There were no Congress members to be found.’ To add.
217 ‘substance and not shadow’ translates a colloquial expression that literally translates as, ‘We wanted food and not the sounds of cooking.’
218 The government of course did not think so. S.N. Sinha, personal assistant to the commissioner noted on 23 April 1917, ‘Everything was pre-arranged. Rs. 10,000 or more was collected in Motihari and the interior of Champaran.’ See Mishra, Select Documents, p. 84.
219 ‘in this meeting with the peasants’ added in the English translation.
220 Navajivan of 22 July 1928 did not carry the statement, which was introduced in the English translation published in Young India of 26 July 1928 and later incorporated in the Gujarati.
221 ‘setting examples’, both in Mishra, Select Documents, p. 70, and CWMG, vol. 13, p. 375.
222 See CWMG, vol. 13, pp. 368–69.
223 ‘Bharat Bhushan’ to add.
224 On 18 April 1917, district magistrate Heycock wrote to the commissioner, Tirhut division, ‘Mr. Gandhi has pleaded guilty under section 188, I.P.C. He of course still refuses to leave the district unless he is compelled. This can only be done under the Defence of India Act.’ Mishra, Select Documents, p. 70. MKG agreed to stay on in Motihari ‘quietly’ till Saturday, 21 April, and ‘wait upon’ the district magistrate at 7 a.m. that day.
225 Sir Edward Gait, Lt. Governor of Bihar, sent a telegram to district magistrate, Motihari, seeking a full report on 18 April 1917, which was complied with on the same day. The Government of India sought a similar report from the Lt. Governor on the same day. On 19 April, the Government of Bihar issued telegraphic orders to withdraw the proceedings and take no further action; on the same day the district magistrate was instructed by telegram to give MKG ‘facilities for obtaining information regarding facts of agrarian situation’. Mishra, Select Documents, p. 74.
On 20 April, the chief secretary wrote to the commissioner and severely indicted his actions, terming them a ‘great mistake’. The letter clearly stated, ‘In the circumstances His Honour in the Council has no alternative but to direct the abandonment of the proceedings taken against Mr. Gandhi. He fully recognises the fact that Mr. Gandhi will thus appear to have gained a victory over the local officials: and, if he is disposed to cause trouble, will be in a better position to do so, but this is unavoidable. The order issued under section 144, Criminal Procedure Code, was ultra vires and action cannot be taken under the Defence of India Rules unless and until Mr. Gandhi does something to justify such action.’ Mishra, Select Documents, p. 71.
226 ‘Satyagraha or’ to add.
227 ‘Champaran and’ to add.
228 See CWMG, vol. 13, pp. 377–78.
229 ‘In spite of these precautions’ added in the English translation.
230 ‘not for publication, but merely for their information’ added in the English translation.
231 ‘from long experience’ to add.
232 ‘for the period’ added in the English translation.
233 Satyagraha in Champaran (Madras: S. Ganesan, 1928). The original in Hindi was written during long vacations in the High Court in September and October of 1918 and 1919, and was published in 1922.
234 ‘poor’ added in the English translation.
235 ‘telegraphically’ to add.
236 ‘of Rangoon’ added in the English translation.
237 ‘in consonance with the poverty of Champaran’ added in the English translation.
238 ‘many of them being repetitions’ added in the English translation.
239 On 28 April the chief secretary, in a letter to the commissioner of Tirhut division wrote, ‘His Honour in Council would be glad to know who your confidential informant is and this may be communicated to me secretly. The name will be kept off the record.’ Mishra, Select Documents, p. 89.
240 ‘All statements were to be recorded in their presence and in their hearing.’ To add.
241 Herbert Cox was the honorary secretary of the Bihar Planters’ Association. The directors of the Association on 5 May 1917 passed a resolution, ‘That the Directors of the Bihar Planters’ Association place on record its emphatic protest against the manner and methods of enquiry conducted by Mr. Gandhi and his assistants in Champaran district, inasmuch as they are calculated to stir up feelings of animosity bet
ween landlords and tenants, planters and tenants.’ Mishra, Select Documents, p. 119.
242 ‘whilst’ in the first edition.
243 ‘me an invalid and made’ to add.
244 Shambhu Saran (1892–1931), M.A., B.L., a lawyer in the Patna High Court, a prominent worker of the Congress in Bihar.
245 Anugraha Narayan Sinha (1889–1957), M.A., B.L., lawyer in the Patna High Court, member, Central Legislative Assembly (1934–37), finance minister, Government of Bihar (1937–39), finance, agriculture and labour minister, Government of Bihar (1946–57).
246 Babu Jankidhar Prasad, B.A., B.L., of Manpura village, vakil in Muzaffarpur.
247 ‘with his historical studies and observations’ added in the English translation.
248 ‘whom I might count upon whenever necessary’ added in the English translation.
249 ‘proper’ added in the English translation.
250 The reports filed by Bachu Narain Lal, deputy superintendent of police on special duty, provide the names of five schools with the teachers working there. The schools were at Bhitwara (thirty-nine enrolled students, twenty-five regular attendees) started in November 1917, Madhubani (eighty-five students) started in January 1918, Bhitwara (eighty-one students) started in February 1918, girls’ school at Barharwa (twenty-five students) started in November 1917 and boys’ school at Barharwa (150 students) started in November 1917. See Mishra, Select Documents, pp. 532–47.
251 Gangadharrao Deshpande, a political worker from Belgaum, popularly known as ‘Lion of Karnataka’, associated with the All India Spinners’ Association and All India Village Industries Association.
252 Baba Saheb Soman (d. 1946), from Belgaum.
253 Pundalik Katgade of Belgaum.
254 Avantikabai Gokhale, the police reports describe her as ‘wife of Baban Gopal Gokhale, knows English, Mahrathi, Guzerati and a little of Hindi, fair complexion, stout build; middle size; age about 35 years’. Mishra, Select Documents, p. 542. She was in charge of the girls’ school at Barharwa.