Geopolitics of Indian Ocean and Indo-Sri Lanka Relationship

By Mr. Asanga Abeyagoonasekera , Saturday 25 February 2017
Director General
Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka(INSSSL)
Srilanka

Letter to B.K. Dutta

Central Jail, Lahore

November, 1930

Dear brother,

The judgment has been delivered. I am condemned to death. In these cells, besides myself, there are many others prisoners who are waiting to be hanged. The only prayer of these people is that somehow or other they may escape the noose. Perhaps I am the only man amongst them who is anxiously waiting for the day when I will be fortunate enough to embrace the gallows for my ideal.

            I will climb the gallows gladly and show to the world as to how bravely the revolutionaries can sacrifice themselves for the cause.

            I am condemned to death, but you are sentenced to transportation for life. You will live and, while living, you will have to show to the world that the revolutionaries not only die for their ideals but can face every calamity. Death should not be a means to escape the worldly difficulties. Those revolutionaries, who have by chance escaped the gallows, should live and show to the world that they cannot only embrace gallows for the ideal but also bear the worst type of tortures in the dark dingy prison cells.

Yours

Bhagat Singh

From Bhagat Singh, The Jail Notebook and other writings compiled by Chaman Lal

Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru attained Martyrdom, 23 March 1931

Oral History Division’s Record (Extracts), NMML

This Day in Indian History: Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru attained Martyrdom,

23 March 1931

                  Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were involved in the Second Lahore Conspiracy Case. They were tried for hatching conspiracy to overthrow the British rule in India. Shaheed Bhagat Singh was a prominent leader of the revolutionary movement in the Punjab and one of the founders of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha and Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.

Some excerpts from the transcripts of the recording of OHD:

Comrade Ramchandra (Close Associate of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and one of the Founders of Naujawan Bharat Sabha)

dkejsM jkepUnz%        --- Hkxr flag dks Qkalh feyus ls igys ukStoku Hkkjr lHkk dh rjQ ls eq>s gh egkRek xka/kh] iafMr tokgjyky usg:] ekSykuk vcqy dyke vkt+kn] ljnkj oYyHkHkkbZ iVsy vkSj enueksgu ekyoh;th ls feyus Hkstk x;k Fkk fd muls feydj ;g dgwa fd Hkxr flag dks Qkalh u yxus fn;k tk,A eSa bykgkckn x;kA ekyoh;th ls feyk vkSj ekyoh;th ds os yQ+t eSa ugha Hkwy ldrk tc eSaus dgk fd Hkxr flag dks cpkuk pkfg, vkSj blesa vki gekjh enn dfj,] mUgksaus ml oDr ;g dgk fd Hkxr flag rks og vkneh gS ftlus lkjs fgUnqLrku dks ,d nQk fgyk fn;k gSA vaxzsth dk cM+k “kkunkj mUgksaus fQdjk i<+kA ^^gh gSt lsV nh ykbQ iYlsfVax bu nh gksy us”ku^^ dkSu vkneh gS tks Hkxr flag dks Hkwy ldrk gSA

Jh “;ke yky eupUnk% ekyoh;th dk :[k lgkuqHkwfriw.kZ Fkk\

dkejsM jkepUnz%       cgqr ^^flEiSFksfVd^^ FkkA mUgksaus eq>s dgk fd eSa FkksM+h cgqr enn dj ldrk gwa] ysfdu vki blds fy, egkRek xka/khth ls fefy,] mUgha ds gkFk esa vf/kd “kfDr gS ---

                    --- tc eSa xka/kh th ls feyk] rks os cM+h gennhZ vkSj eqgCcr ls feysA mUgksaus dgk fd HkkbZ] Hkxr flag dks cpkuk dkSu ugha pkgrkA esjh rks iwjh dksf”k”k gksxh fd Hkxr flag dks Qkalh u yxus nwaA ysfdu tks dqN eSa vkils dg jgk gwa] ;g dsoy vkils gh dg jgk gwaA bl okLrs vki ^^ifCyd^^ esa vkdj ;g fcydqy u dfg, fd egkRek xka/kh Hkxr flag dks cpkuk pkgrs gSaA vxj vki ,slh ckr dg nsaxs] rks Hkxr flag dks Qkalh yx tk,xhA eSa ugha cpk ldwaxkA vki tkfgjk rkSj ij tSls ukStoku Hkkjr lHkk us QSlyk fy;k gqvk gS fd ge dksbZ lqykg ugha ekusaxs tc rd Hkxr flag dh Qkalh u Vy tk,] vki ;gh dgrs jfg, & bl ckr dk ftØ gh u dfj, fd vki eq>ls feys gSa vkSj eSaus vkils dksbZ oknk fd;k gS ;k gkSalyk fnyk;k gS ---A

Shri Kultar Singh (Brother of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Minister of State, UP, 1976-77)  

Jh “;ke yky eupUnk% rks Hkxr flag ls vkidh vkf[kjh eqykdkr dc gqbZ] tSlk ge tkurs gSa 23 ekpZ 1931 dks “kke ds oDr mudks Qkalh nh xbZA rks vkidh vkf[kjh eqykdkr fdrus fnu igys gqbZ\

Jh dqyrkj flag%      gekjh vkf[kjh eqykdkr 3 ekpZ 1931 dks gqbZ  FkhA --- mlds ckn rks fQj eqykdkr Hkh ugha gksus nhA T;knk l[rh dj nh] cfYd ljnkj Hkxr flag dks rks ;g vanktk Fkk fd “kk;n ykgkSj ls ckgj ys tkdj Qkalh nsaxsA cfYd mUgksaus mlls igys ,d fpV~Bh fy[kh  Fkh rks mudk [;ky Fkk fd “kk;n eq>s fdlh vkSj tsy esa tkdj Qkalh nsaA rks pwafd oDr ,slk Fkk fd ljdkj tYnh esa Fkh] rks ml oDr mUgsa mlh txg Qkalh ns nhA ml oDr ;g ppkZ Fkh fd okbljk; bl ckr ds fy, rS;kj Fks fd djkph ls”ku ds ckn Qkalh nsa ;k igys nas] bl ckr dh ppkZ pyrh FkhA ml oDr dgrs gSa fd okbljk; us Qkalh jksd nh Fkh fd vHkh Qkalh u nksA ysfdu ;gka tks gkse esEcj Fkk] og vkSj iatkc xouZesaV us vkil esa lykg dh fd vkt gh Qkalh ns nksA tks okbljk; dk vkMZj Fkk og rks VsyhxzkQ vkfQl esa Hkst fn;kA rks Vsyhxzke xbZ ugha vkSj dg fn;k fd vki Qkalh ns nks] vc jksdks ugha] blfy, tYnh-tYnh esa mUgksasu “kke dks Qkalh ns nhA vkSj fQj yk”kksa dks Hkh tsy dh fiNyh nhokj rksM+ dj ykgkSj ls 35-40 ehy nwj tkdj tyk fn;kA fj”rsnkjksa dks ugha nh] bÙkyk Hkh ugha nh fd Qkalh ns nh] vkerkSj ij ,slk ugha gksrk FkkA

23 March 1931- Execution of Bhagat Singh

The Written Statement of Accused Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutta

Bhagat Singh’s views on ‘Revolution’

          

             I, Bhagat Singh, was asked in the Lower Court as to what we meant by the word ‘Revolution’. In answer to that question, I would say that Revolution does not necessarily involve a sanguinary strife, nor is there any place in it for individual vendetta. It is not the cult of the bomb and the pistol. By Revolution we mean that the present order of things which is based on manifest injustice must change. The producers or the labourers, inspite of being the most necessary element of society are robbed by their exploiters of the fruits of their labour and deprived of their elementary right. On the one hand, the peasant who grows corn for all starves with his family, the weaver who supplies world markets with textile fabrics cannot find enough to cover his own and his children’s bodies, the masons, the smiths and the carpenters who rear magnificant palaces live and perish in slums; and in the other the capitalist exploiters, the parasites of Society squander millions on their whims. These terrible inequalities, and forced disparity of chances are heading towards chaos. This state of affair cannot last; and it is obvious that the present order of Society is merry making on the brink of the volcano and the innocent children of the Exploiters no less than million of the exploited are walking on the edge of a dangerous precipice. The whole edifice of this civilization if not saved in time, shall crumble. A radical change, therefore, is necessary; and it is the duty of those who realize this to reorganize Society on the Socialistic basis. Unless this is done and the exploitation of man by man and of nations by nations which goes masquerading as Imperialism is brought to an end, the sufferings and carnage with which humanity is threatened today cannot be prevented and all talks of ending is undisguised hypocrisy. By Revolution we mean the ultimate establishment of an order of society which may not be threatened by such break down, and in which the sovereignty of the Proletariat should be recognized, and as the result of which a world-federation should redeem humanity from the bondage of capitalism and the misery of Imperial wars.      

         

          This is our ideal and with this ideology for our inspiration we have given a fair and loud enough warning. If, however, it goes unheeded and the present system of Government continues to be an impediment in the way of the natural forces that are welling up, a grim struggle must ensue involving the overthrow of all obstacles and the establishment of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat to pave the way for the consummation of the ideal of the Revolution.

        

           Revolution is the inalienable right of mankind. Freedom is the imprescriptible birth-right of all. The labourer is the real sustainer of Society. The sovereignty of the people is the ultimate destiny of the workers.

        

         For these ideals, and for this faith, we shall welcome suffering to which we may be condemned. To the altar of this revolution we have brought our youth as incense; for no sacrifice is too great for so magnificent a cause.

    
        We are content; we await the advent of the Revolution.

“Long Live the Revolution”

BHAGAT SINGH–B.K. DUTTA

Source: Bhagat Singh Papers, Acc no.716, NMML Archives

On this day in Indian history: 17 March 1959- Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet

On the eve of Dalai Lama’s escape to India

TRANSLATION

Pt Jawaharlal Nehru

Prime Minister of India

     Ever since Tibet went under the control of Red China and the Tibetan Government lost its powers in 1951, I, my Government officers and citizens have been trying to maintain peace in Tibet but the Chinese Government has been gradually subduing the Tibetan Government.

     The Tibetans have great love for and faith in Buddhism and their religion is more precious to them than their lives. In order to root out Buddhism, the Chinese published some articles in the press against Lord Buddha’s teachings and circulated them widely. This has created unhappy atmosphere amongst the Tibetans and they have started disliking intensely the Chinese Administration.

    On 10.3.1959, I, members of the Kashag and other high ranking officers were invited to the Chinese Army Headquarters in Lhasa ostensibly to attend a cultural show. The people of Lhasa came to me and requested me not to attend the function as they suspected foul play. They announced openly in the streets that they would not remain any longer under China and would become independent. After this a large armed party came to my residence to guard me.

     The Government of Tibet have tried their best to maintain good relations with China but the Chinese have  been trying to take away powers from the Tibetan Government and in some areas they are making preparations for war.  

     On 17.3.1959 at 4 p.m. the Chinese fired two shells in the direction of my residence. They could not do much damage. As our lives were in danger, I and some of my trusted men [sic] managed to escape the same evening at 10 p.m. and moving south [sic] reach Lhuntse Dzong on 26.3.1959.

     India and Tibet have had religious relations for thousand years and they are like brothers without any differences. Moreover Pt. Nehru as also the Indian people are known throughout the world for their support of humanitarian causes.

     In this critical situation we are entering India via Tsona. I hope that you will please make necessary arrangements for us in the Indian Territory.

     Confident of your kindness and with good wishes,

                                                              Dalai Lama

                                                                  Tenzin Gyasto

                                                            26.3.1959

Source: Subimal Dutt Papers, NMML Archives

This Month in Indian History: Dandi March/Salt Satyagraha

Oral History Division’s Record (Extracts), NMML

This Month in Indian History: Dandi March/Salt Satyagraha,

12 March-06 April 1930

On 12 March 1930, Mahatma Gandhi started his Dandi March at 6.30 a.m. from Ahmedabad. On 5 April he reached Dandi and on the following day at 8.30 a.m., he civilly broke Salt Law by picking up natural salt from the sea shore.

Some excerpts from the transcripts of the recording of OHD:

Sumangal Prakash (Gandhian, Author and Participant of Dandi March as one of the 78 Satyagrahis)

Lkqeaxy izdk”k%  ---Eksjs [;ky ls ued dkuwu Hkax eq[;r% ,d izrhdkRed fojks/k Fkk vkSj mldk mn~ns”; ml oDr rd c<+rs vkus okys jk’Vªh; {kksHk dk lgh bLrseky FkkA ,d rjQ lkbeu deh”ku ds cfg’dkj ls tks”k iSnk gqvk gh Fkk] nwljh vkSj rFkkdfFkr vkradoknh dk;Zokfg;ka c<+rh tk jgha FkhA Hkxr flag oxSjg ds ohjrkiwoZd dk;ksZa ls ukStokuksa dk [kwu xeZ gks pyk FkkA

              Lkkjk okrkoj.k fgalk dh rjQ tksj ij FkkA xka/khth us dgk Hkh fd vxj eSa bl oDr bls ugha NsM+rk rc rks fQj dHkh ugha NsM+ ldwaxkA pkjksa rjQ fgalk dk tks okrkoj.k rS;kj gks jgk Fkk]  fgalk esa fo”okl djus okyk tks jk’Vªh; rRo Fkk] mlds f[kykQ Hkh xka/khth dh ;g yM+kbZ FkhA ;g mUgksaus lkQ-lkQ “kCnksa esa dgk fd eSa vxj vkt bl vkUnksyu dks NsM+ dj lQy ugha gksrk rks fQj vkxs vfgalk ds fy, iz;ksx dk jkLrk ugha jg tk,xkA fQj rks lc bu yksxksa ds gkFk esa gh pyk tk,xkA bl rjg ls xka/khth c)ifjdj gq, FksA rks ;g lkjh ifjfLFkr id jgh FkhA ued dkuwu u ysdj dksbZ Hkh nwljh pht os ys ldrs FksA bl rjg mUgksaus tks”k iSnk dj fn;kA izkFkZuk lHkk esa muds tks Hkk’k.k gksrs Fks os cM+s gh ^^fFkzfyax^^ gksrs FksA og v[kckjksa esa iwjs-ds-iwjs Nirs FksA vkSj lkjs ns”k esa mudk izpkj gksrk Fkk ---A

S.K. Patil (Gandhian, Parliamentarian, Journalist and Participant of Dandi March as a volunteer)  

Dr Hari Dev Sharma:    Do you recall Gandhiji’s Dandi March?

Shri S.K. Patil:         I recall very vividly Gandhiji’s Dandi March. He had himself chosen all the seventy-eight volunteers. They used to march with him… People came from all over India. There was in fact a competition to be in the Dandi March… Along with those seventy-eight satyagrahis, who walked with him, I think there were about a couple of hundred other people, and out of whom at least fifty were press representatives. They also used to walk because there was no going with motor cars and things like that… It was a sight to see Mahatma Gandhi bending and picking salt and just having it, like that. But the Government did not arrest anybody for picking salt there.

                                       At that time Lord Irwin was Viceroy and he was a good Viceroy. He had great respect for Mahatma Gandhi; he said: Let us see, let us ignore it. He did ignore to the utmost extent. Gandhiji was not arrested for about a month after that.

                                     … when the Government saw that the movement would not stop by any process, and while Gandhiji was out, they would not be able to take the wind out of his sails, then they arrested him...

Dr Hari Dev Sharma:    What was the impact of this march?

Shri S.K. Patil:               Impact of this march was very great. In fact, I would say that the march was a sort of backbone of the civil disobedience movement… And it attracted the attention of the world… According to Gandhiji and according to the world, this march was a non-violent march… It created confidence among the people that Gandhiji could attract millions of young people…

CALL FOR PAPERS

Teen Murti House, New Delhi – 110011

011-23010666, www.nehrumemorial.nic.in

CALL FOR PAPERS

National Conference as part of the Centenary Celebration of Gandhi’s arrival in  Champaran and the launch of the Champaran Satyagraha

on

Champaran Satyagraha

11th -12th April, 2017

Key Themes:

• Colonialism and Indian Economy
• The Emergence of Gandhi
• Peasant Movements in Modern India
• Mass Participation in Freedom Struggle

Please send your abstract (1000 words) and application by email to director.nmml@gov.in hrpdnmml11@gmail.com on or before 25 March 2017.

Selected papers will be published in an edited volume from the proceedings of the conference.

प्रजातन्त्र

 प्रजातन्त्र

प्रजातंत्र की स्थापना तब होती है जबकि सभी वयस्क स्त्री––पुरुष राज्य के कार्यों में भाग लेते हैं] अपने मतदान द्वारा प्रश्नों तथा योजनाओं का निर्धारण तथा निर्णय करते हैं तथा इस प्रकार अब्राहम लिंकन के ‘आदर्श जनता की सरकार जनता ही के द्वारा’ को चरितार्थ करते हैं। सभी नागरिकों को शासन में भाग लेना चाहिए क्योंकि सभी काम करते हैं तथा धनोपार्जन करते हैं]  सभी व्यवस्था की स्थापना में अपना–अपना भाग जुटाते हैं। सभी उचित रूप से शिक्षित हैं तथा सामाजिक कार्यों के विषय में भली भांति विचार कर सकते हैं। सभी उन विधि–नियमों द्वारा प्रभावित होते हैं जो कि आये दिन प्रस्तावित किये जाते हैं। सभी भ्रष्टाचार] अति कर तथा दमन को रोक सकते हैं। सभी आर्थिक वैभव तथा जीवन की रक्षा तथा स्वतंत्रता का उपयोग करते हैं] सभी को अच्छे शासन का लाभ तथा कुशासन तथा अन्याय से हानि पहुंचती है। जिसका संबंध सभी से है उसका निर्णय भी सभी के द्वारा होना चाहिए। लोकतंत्र सभी नागरिकों को नागरिक कर्तव्य सिखाता है। यह विवेक स्वतंत्रता] आत्मसम्मान] सहनशीलता सामाजिक भावना तथा राजनीतिक निर्णय का सर्वोत्तम शिक्षा––स्थल है। यह जनता की बुद्धि को विकसित करता है तथा उन्हें काॅमनवैल्थ के लिए बड़े–बड़े त्याग करने के लिए प्रेरित करता है; क्योंकि वे सभी इसके नियन्त्रण तथा निर्देशन में भाग लेते हैं। यह राष्ट्रद्रोह तथा अव्यवस्था को रोकता है] क्योंकि यह सार्वजनिक विचारधारा को पूरी स्वतंत्रता देता है तथा नियमों और संस्थाओं की ठीक रूप से स्थापना में सहायक होता है। यह मन की अत्यन्त मूल्यवान निधियों जैसे मानसिक चैतन्य] दया] विनम्रता] स्वार्थहीनता तथा वीरतापूर्ण बलिदान को बढ़ावा देता है। अच्छे शासन का सच्चा लक्षण जनसंख्या तथा धन की बढ़ोतरी नहीं है। यह चरित्र तथा व्यक्तित्व का निर्माण है। वही शासन–सत्ता सर्वोत्कृष्ट होती है जो कि अच्छे–से–अच्छे स्त्री–पुरुषों का चरित्र–निर्माण करती है। इस प्रकार की नैतिक परीक्षा सरकार के सभी राजनीतिक रूपों पर प्रजातंत्र प्रणाली की संशयहीन सर्वोत्कृष्टता को स्थापित करती है। इसके बिना मानव समाज बिना आरोग्य की आशा के गल–सड़ जायेगी।

प्रजातंत्र अमर रहे।

लाला हरदयाल द्वारा लिखित व्यक्तित्व-विकास संघर्ष और सफलता] अनुवाद प्रो. सत्यपाल विज] से उद्धृत अंश

The Hindu National Movement

The growth of the Hindu National Movement is one of the most remarkable contemporary phenomena in the Orient. The diversity of races and religions in India need not to be an insuperable obstacle to national unity. Every county in the world has had to contend with similar difficulties. A common historical tradition is the indispensable basis of national unity. India boasts of a national historical tradition that has been transmitted from generation to generation for more than four thousand years. Again, India’s geographical situation marks her out as a distinct country destined to be the home of a great nation. The struggle with the British Government will weld them into a strong whole. Such conflicts have always been the chief instrument in nation-building.

The British conquered the country by pursuing a policy of cunning and bribery, supplemented by frequent resort to brute force. At present the people of India live in a condition of utter misery and degradation. Seventy million Hindus, who are not directly governed by the British, are more prosperous than the two hundred and fifty millions who are British subjects.

The land revenue has increased by leaps and bounds since the beginning of the English rule. The total land revenue has increased from about seventy five million to hundred million dollars. Salt is taxed 150 percent above its value and its production is a government sole monopoly. Lord Salisbury summed up the whole situation in a single phrase ‘India must be bled.’

The officials pay themselves exorbitant salaries. The amount of money transferred from India to England each year on account of pensions, salaries, interest on debts and so on, records the total of one hundred and seventy five million dollars.

The administration of justice is turned into a source of revenue by the Government. The executive and official functions are combined in the same person. The use of torture to extort confessions is fearfully common. When Englishmen murder Hindus they are generally let off with a fine. There is no justice between the white and the brown.

Education is sadly neglected. Four villages out of five are without a school. Heavy fees are charged at all Universities and colleges run by the Government.

Public sanitation is conspicuous by its absence. A meager sum of a million dollars a year is spent for the sanitation of two hundred and fifty million people. Plague has raged unchecked for sixteen years, and has caused more than eight million deaths. The death rate has risen from 24 to 34 during the last twenty years. These appalling figures speak for themselves.

Barbarous punishments are inflicted on patriotic public men for ‘sedition’. Distinguished men are transferred away to prison without trial. Young men are transferred for life to barren tropical islands for writing seditious poems. Trials are held in camera in many cases. Children are flogged in public squares for reciting ‘seditious’ poems. A government which maintains its power by such terrorism stands self-condemned.

Empires are relics of barbarism, and must disappear in the course of social evolution.

Extracts from:-  Lala Har Dayal and Revolutionary Movement of His Time by Dharmavira.

Civil Disobedience Movement and aftermath

Gandhi-Irwin Pact- 5^th March 1931

Dandi March- Starts on 12^th March 1931

Salt Satyagraha- 5^th April 1931

Report on Civil Disobedience Movement

Chapter III

Civil Disobedience Begins

Gandhiji reached his destination on April 5th. On the morning of the following day, he committed technical breach of the salt laws by collecting a handful of muddy salt from the sea from which he later prepared pure salt. Knowing Gandhiji’s plans, Government had taken pains to destroy previously all free salt on the coast by thoroughly mixing it up with dirt and mud.

               After Gandhiji had collected his handful of salt, he formally authorised the country to start civil disobedience by preparing, collecting or selling contraband salt. There was immediate and unbounded response to Gandhiji’s call. In every province except Assam, where there are no facilities for salt-making, salt began to be prepared in hundreds of places amidst great popular enthusiasm. At first, batches of chosen volunteers, after passing in procession through the streets of towns and villages, assembled at appointed places and actually went through the process of salt manufacture surrounded and cheered by thousands of citizens. Where the sea-coast or other large salt sources were accessible, the breach of the laws was not confined to chosen volunteers alone. It at once became a mass movement, that is, whole populations took part in it. Gandhiji himself participated in such mass disobedience a couple of days after the initiation of the movement. In Bombay, hundreds of thousands of men and women rushed to the beach to fetch sea water which they evaporated into salt in their homes. In areas where salt could be prepared with difficulty, batches of volunteers toured through villages, carrying accessories of salt- making and holding meetings in every village, they prepared salt in the meetings in which the villagers also participated. Thus they spread the movement far and wide. With the beginning of the movement, Government repression, which had already begun, assumed a fiercer aspect; it soon transcended even the bounds of its own laws. Before the first week of Satyagrah was over, reports came of deliberate maltreatment of Satyagrahis. Forcible wresting of salt from the hands of volunteers, sometimes resulting in the drawing of blood, became a common occurrence not only in Gujarat but everywhere. At one place, boiling saline water (from which salt was subsequently to be prepared) was poured over the body of a Satyagrahi. Only two days after the eventful 6^th of April, while volunteers were preparing salt in Delhi, a force of policemen appeared on the scene and caught hold of the volunteers and dragged them away over thorny brambles and stony ground. The same day while salt was being prepared the third time the police repeated this behavior. As a result of this, all the volunteers were bleeding and badly bruised, five of them becoming completely senseless…….

Source: A.I.C.C. papers, NMML Archives

On Withdrawal of Salt Concession by Government

All India Congress Committee.

Swaraj Bhawan, Allahabad.

Jhang, September 27^th, 1931.

My dear Vallabhbhai,

                             I enclose a copy of a letter I am sending to Emerson, also a copy of a notice issued by the Deputy Commissioner of the Shahpur District withdrawing the salt concession from the Salt Range. I did not want to write to Emerson direct but then I felt that great delay would occur if I referred the matter to you first. Hence the action I have taken. I hope you do not mind.

                              Sometime ago you issued a warning to people abusing the salt concession. I believe this applied to Karachi or parts of Sind but I am not sure. So far as I remember, the Salt Range in the Punjab had nothing to do with it. It seems to me that it is highly improper for Government to withdraw the salt concession in this way whatever the facts regarding abuse might be. I am informed that there has been no such abuse. People from Shahpur District tell me that as a matter of fact full advantage has not been taken of the concession. It may be that there have been minor breaches by individuals. In any event the burden of proof rests entirely on Government and they must prove their case before they take action.

                               I find that repression here is going strong and a very large number of persons, chiefly young men, are being proceeded against under various section. Many are being tried under Sec. 302 I.P.C.  (the murder section) coupled with some other sections, simply because of a speech. I read through the speeches in one such case. It was a report taken by a head constable and most of it was strenuously denied as incorrect. But even accepting it for what it was worth it is an extraordinary state of affairs to proceed under Sec. 302 for a speech.

                               This is just and instance. In a variety of other ways local officials here are misbehaving. Unfortunately the Punjab P.C.C. is not an efficient or a capable body and does not do much. It is hardly possible to make it realise what should be done and what should not be done.

                                        I notice from the papers that you are still in Bombay. I do not know what your future programme is. I am sending this letter to both places.

                                                                                   Yours sincerely,

                                                                                    Sd/- Jawaharlal.

          Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Enclosure

All India Congress Committee

Swaraj Bhawan, Allahabad.

                 Jhang, September 27^th 1931

Dear Mr. Emerson,

                  I have been shown a copy of a notice which the Deputy Commissioner of Shahpur District is said to have issued withdrawing the salt concession from the whole area covered by the Salt Range. I enclose a copy of this notice which bears the date: 10.8.31. I do not know if this date is correctly given in the copy as the notice has, I understand, only recently been generally published for public information.

                    The salt concession was an explicit an important part of the Delhi Settlement and its withdrawal raises vital issues. So far as my information goes there has not been any of it in Shahpur District, but in any event we would have expected that any allegations would have been brought to the notice of the Congress President, as you have done in some other cases, before any action was taken by Government. If the date of the notice 10th August, as is mentioned in the copy, Mr. Gandhi was here at the time and could have been informed of it.

                    In the ordinary course our President, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, would have written to you about this matter and I would not have troubled you about it. But in view of the importance of the matter and the desirability of avoiding delay I have ventured to write to you direct. I am of course informing our President and I shall be obliged if you will write to him in answer to this letter of mine. You need not trouble to write to me.

Yours sincerely

(Sd) Jawaharlal Nehru

H.W.Emerson Esq.

Secretary Home Department,

Government of India, Simla.

Enclosure

Notice

       The concession accorded to the residents of the Salt Range as a result of the discussions between Lord Irwin and Mr. Gandhi has been seriously abused in as much as that

(1)       Salt has been removed otherwise than on foot:

(2)    Within a few weeks quantities many times in excess of the normal annual consumption of the population in the villages in immediately adjoining areas have been removed;

and

(3)       It is established that a trade in salt so removed has sprung up in bazaars in towns many miles away from the source.

The concession has been completely with drawn throughout the wholes area of the Salt Range.

This notice is put up for the information of all in order to make widely known the real facts which made necessary the withdrawal of the concession.

Sd.  I.E. Jones,

Deputy Commissioner

Shahpur District

G. n. 10.8.31

Source : A.I.C.C papers, NMML archives