SINDH PROVINCIAL CONGRESS COMMITTEE
(Meetings and activities)
A meeting of the Council of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee will be held on Saturday (17.1.1920) in Hyderabad, to consider the following subjects:
1. To consider the following resolution passed by the Amritsar Congress: "This congress urges its Provincial committees and other affiliated associations to promote labour unions throughout the country with the view of improving social, economic and political condition of the labouring classes and securing for them a fair standard of living and a proper place in the body politics of India".
2. To organise an "All-Sindh Fund" for the Jallian Walla
Bagh Memorial; and
3. The non-release of a large number of political prisioners in various provinces of India.
At a meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee last week the Hon. Mr. Harchandrai Vishindas C.I.E. was elected president and Hon. Mr. G.B. Bhurgri and Mr. Jamshed N.R. Mehta Vice Presidents. The following five members were elected for All-India Congress Committee: The Hon. Mr. Harchandrai and Messrs. Jamshed N.R. Mehta; Durgdas B. Advani, Choithram P. Gidwain, and Jeramdas Doullatram. The meeting also passed a resolution recommending the selection by the Government of India of Mr. B.G. Tilak as indians representative on the peace conference.
There was a meeting of the Sindh provincial Congress Committee here (Hyderabad) on Sunday (16.5.1920) last at which after much discussion it was resolved that a special session of the Sindh Provincial Conference should be called within two months to consider and give its opinion on the Reforms, on the "Punjab affairs" including the reports of the "Congress Committee" and "Hunter Committee”, and on the "Khilafat" question.
A meeting of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee was held at Hyderabad on Tuesday (15.6.1920), Mukhi Jethanand Pritamdas presiding. A committee was appointed to consider the Reform Rules and forward their views telegraphically to Mr. Patel in England. As regards the holding of a special session of the Provincial Conference to consider the Reforms, the Khilafat, the Hunter Report and other questions, it was decided that the conference should be held about a week before the holding of the special congress, the exact dates to be appointed by the reception committee of the conference. The question of the continuance of restrictions on the export of food grains was also considered and a committee was appointed together facts and figures and submits their considered opinion within a week.
Sindh Provincial Congress Committee after a prolonged discussion (on 30.7.1920 at Hyderabad) has adopted by a majority of votes resolutions saying:-
1. "That in consideration of the vital demands in connection with the revision of the Turkish treaty and the punjab affairs non-co-operation should be resorted to as against mere agitation".
2. "That the special congress should declare that the revision of the Turkish Peace Treaty should ensure absolute independence for the Arabs and the nationalities of Syria and Mesopotamia if these nationalities desire it and
3. That the programme of non-co-operation should not be put into operation until the ground has been prepared by adequate preliminary propaganda.
A programme of non-co-operation was drafted which in some points differs from that of the Central Khilafat Committee. A discussion is now taking place on the details of this programme, which will probably take another two days for final adoption.
The Sind Provincial Congress Committee met on Sunday (15.8.1920) last at Hyderabad when thirty members were present. Mr. Sautdas moved a resolution against non-co-operation similar to the one he had moved in the District Congress Committee. Mr. Hirdaram of Karachi seconded him. Mr. Abdul Majid moved an amendment in a strong speech in favour of Mr. Ghandi's non-co-operation. Dr. Choithram seconded him. Mr. Gopaldas moved another amendment which was against non-co-operation but different from Mr. Sautdas’s propotion. Mr. Sautdas withdrew his motion in favour of Mr. Gopaldas’s that did not condemn non-co-operation as unconstitutional but simple as impracticable and dangerous. The decision was adjourned to 26th just before the special conference. The meeting on Sunday took three hours in the morning and nearly four hours in the evening.
On Thursday night (last week of August, 1920) at a meeting of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee the principal of modified non-co-operation was adopted. Three votes were taken, one for Mr. Ghandhi's plan in entirety, one for modification, while the third strongly opposed the non-co-operation. The resolution adopted laid down the police and army should not be tampered with, for that would upset order, and leave indian open to hostile foreign invasion, it also provided that people should be properly educated before starting the programme.
This morning (21.11.1920) there was (at Hyderabad) an annual general meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee for the election of office-bearers and representatives on the All-India Congress Committee, also to consider Mr. Ghurgri's resignation of the Presidentship and to consider the revised draft constitution of the Indian National Congress. The election of fifteen office-bearers and of five representations occupied more than three bourses, there being end-less talks, speeches and suggestions. Very much of the time was taken up with the consideration whether on the executive council which was to meet always at Karachi the Head Quarters here should or should not be. So many or so many representatives from each district. Mr. Bhurgri's resignation was recorded as the year of his office is already over. Mr. Durgdas B. Advani was appointed President for New Year (Nov.1920 to Oct.1921). Mr. Bhurgri was rejected as a representative on the All-India even proposed by any one. Mr. Jethmal, Mr. Bulchand Kodoomal and Mr. Kishinchand Amersing resigned the membership of the Provincial Congress Committee. There were hardly any elderly men of experience taking active part in the meeting.
On Sunday (17.7.1921) at a meeting of the Provincial Congress Committee at Hyderabad It was decided to organize a Provincial National Service for propaganda work. Women night take part in this works in their sphere time and would be financed by the Provincial Congress Committee but no separate service was instituted for them with any separate representation power of vote. Ways and means were besides devided to organize boy-cott of foreign cloth in the Province. As president for the next National Congress at Ahmedabad in December, Mr. C.R. Das was voted for as candidate and was full supported.
The Sindh Provincial Congress Committee decided on Wednesday, 8.3.1922 that not Individual should launch on Civil Disobedience without obtaining permission from the Provincial Congress Committee and fulfilling all conditions lay down by the All - India Congress Committee.
The Sind Provincial Congress Committee have awarded nine scholarships to students undertaking studies at the Gujrat vidyapith, six of them are of the value of Rs.20 each monthly, and three of Rs.l5.
The Sind Provincial Congress Committee has forwarded to Calcutta through their representative all the evidence collected in connection with the Civil Disobedience question to be placed before the Enquire Committee.
A meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee will be held on Friday 8.9.1922 at Hyderabad to consider inter-alia the recommendations of the Khaddar Committee regarding the making of advances for organizing Khaddar Production.
At a meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee held on Friday 8.9.1922, at Hyderabad. It was decided to spend Rs.20000 out of its own funds in addition to 50,000 got from All-India Congress Committee
The Secretary Sindh Provincial Congress Committee has instructed all congress committees in Sind to join the Khilafat Committees in the celebration to be held on 17.9.1922 all over the province in connection with the Turkish recovery of Smyorana.
The recent elections of the Provincial Congress Committee appear to have produced bitterness in certain quarters, and tomorrow (27.1.1923) meeting at Shikarpur is expected stormy on that account. Mr. Virumal's election to the Presidentship, the removal of the Provincial office from Hyderabad to Sukkur, and the appointment of a Slikhrite as Secretary have led the Hyderabad Congress people to discover a flow on the elections with the result that some of them have sent a proposal for setting aside the election on the grounds that there were several technical irregularties in the elections at the Mirpurkhas meeting.
A meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee was held at Shikarpur on Saturday (27.1.1923) and continued on Sunday.
The main question before the committee was the consideration of a proposal to set aside the Mirpurkhas elections which has resulted in the appointment of Mr. Virumal Beghraj as the President of the Provincial Congress Committee.
The Sind Provincial Congress Committee met at Karachi yesterday (24.6.1923) and the day before (23.6.1923) when resolutions were passed unanimously electing Moulana Mohammed Ali the President of the next session of Congress and instructing all Congress Committees in Sindh to suspend all propaganda against council entry. The committee further resolved to request the All-India Congress Committee to convene a special session of congress to finally settle up the differences that has arisen between congressmen. In regard to Nagpur Satyagaraha it was resolves:
(1) to congratulate Karachi Congress Committee on its decision to send 25 volunteers and devote a sum of Rs.2,000 to the Sind Provincial Congress Committee met at Karachi yesterday (24.6.1923) and the day before (23.6.1923) when resolutions were passed unanimously electing Moulana Mohammed Ali as the President of the next session of congress and instructing all congress committees in Sindh to suspend all propaganda against council entry. The committee further resolved to request the All-India Congress Committee to convene a special session of congress to finally settle up the differences that has arisen between congress men. In regard to Nagpur Satyagraha it was resolved:
(1) To congratulate Karachi Congress Committee on its decision to send 25 volunteers and devote a sum of Rs.2000 to defray their expenses and to support where necessary, the familes of those that may be imprisoned, and
(2) To constitute a Provincial volunteer Board to examine those persons offering to enlist as volunteers whether they satisfied the requirements laid down by the All India Congress Committee and to co-ordinate the work of enrolment through the province so as to keep up the supply of volunteers for the Nagpur Satyagraha.
At a meeting of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee held recently at Hyderabad, it was resolved to remove office from Hyderabad to Karachi, and to hold a Sind Provincial Political Conference at Karachi in the end of may1926.
A meeting of Sind Provincial Congress Committee was held on 5.2.1930 at Max Denso Hall, Karachi, it was presided over by Dr. Choithram.
Amongst the present were:- Naraindas A, Bechar (president local Congress Committee); K. Punniah; Acharya A.T. Gidwani, Swami Krishanand; R.K. Sidhwa and Govindanad, meeting was called in connection to the 45th session of congress to be held in Karachi.
A meeting of Sind Provincial Congress Committee was held on 2.3.1930 in Bharat Sarswat Mandir. It was presided over by Dr. Choithram.
It was decided to hold an exhibition at the time of the 45th session of congress to be held in Karachi. It was resolved to take pledges from the people to boycott foreign cloth.
A reception Committee consisting the following members was appointed for Indian National Congress to be held in Karachi:
Dr. Choithrami Swami Govindanand; Prof. N.R. Malkani; Jairamdas Doulatram; Swami Krishnanand; Viromal Begraj; H.S. Pamnani and R.B. Motwani.
Seth Isardas Varandmal was appointed as treasurer
A meeting of Sind Provincial Congress Committee was held on 26.11.1933 at Holmstead Hall, Hyderabad Dr. Tarachand P. Gidwani presided. It was attended by 40 members among them were:
Narayandas Anandji; Swami Govindanand; R.K. Sidhwa; Prof. Shawdas Vaswani; Dr. Vishindas Shidvasani; Vishna Sharma; Kishinchand Melwani; Mrs. Kamladevi Hiranand; Mr. Baldev Gagra; Hundraj Parwani:-
Resolutions passed:
1. "In view of the fact that dissension are so rife in the congress ranks this meeting of the congress workers of Sindh is of the opinion that it is high time that a meeting of the All India Congress Committee be called to discuss the present political situation in order to revive political life in the country and to bring about unity in the congress ranks".
2. "This meeting is of the opinion that under the conditions existing at the present movement, it will be very difficult to continue individual civil disobedience movement or revive mass civil disobedience movement in Sindh".
This meeting of the congress workers of Sindh declares its firm faith that under the leadership of M. Gandhi during 14 years there has been a wonderful political awakening made a considerable progress towards the attainment of freedom.
This meeting is therefore, indebted to him for his valuable services to the nation and expects that he will continue to lead the country".
A meeting of Sind Provincial Congress Committee was held on 21.6.1934, under the presidentship of Dr. Choithram.
Executive discussed the Government communique removing the ban on congress. It was decided to direct all the District Congress Committees to hold election by 1.8.1934. A Sub-Committee consisting the following members was appointed to arrange for a conference of political workers during the forthcoming visit of Mr. Gandhi: -
Dr.Choithram; Swami Govindanandj Moulvi Muhammad Sidik and Swami Krishnanand.
Resolution on the following subjects were passed:
(i) Appreciation of the services of congress workers,
(ii) Condemnation of discrimination of Government against "Red Shirts".
A meeting of Sind Provincial Congress Committee was held on 9.7.1934 in Karachi, Jairamdas Doulatram General Secretary of Indian National Congress presided.
Following work was carried out:
(i) Expressed grief at the deaths of Patel; Sen Gupta and Dr. Besant.
(ii) Considered the draft of new rules and passed.
(iii) Adjourned the question of appointing Sind representatives on the Congress parliamentary Board.
(iv) Resolved to revive congress committee's political life.
A meeting of Executive Committee of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee was held under the presidency of Dr. choithram.
It considered the alleged irregularities of elections to Karachi District Congress Committee where in non-habitual Khadi-weared are reported to have exercised votes against rules pretesting which a section of the members walked out and held another meeting and elected separate committee.
The council invalidated both the elections and ordered fresh election after getting instruction from the All India Congress Committee and working committee regarding their means to how enforce Khadar clause in fiture.
A meeting of Sindh provincial congress Committee was held on 1.12.1934 in Karachi, Dr. Choithram presided. Committee resolved that the congress working committee be recommended to organize an All-India demonstration against the joined parliamentary committee's Report by fixing a day on which public meetings be held in co-operation with other political parties who agree with the congress attitude for endorsing the statement of working committee on the Joint parliamentary committee's Report to be issued by working committee and burning effigies of the report with a view to attracting mass attention.
Sub-Committee consisting of following members was appointed for drafting rules for Sindh Provincial Congress Committee:
Dr. Choithram, Swami Govindanand; Prof. Ghansham das and Parasram Thai Iraniani.
Committee resolved that the Sindh province political conference be convened during Easter and the Karachi District Congress Committee be requested to make arrangements for the
same.
Resolved that on the occasion of the above conference, an exhibition of Sindh arts and crafts and other Swadeshi articles be organized and committee of 7 persons be appointed to arrange for the same in consultation with the Sindh branch of All-India's Spinner's Association and All-India village industries Association,
Question of constituting Karachi a separate congress province was discussed and postponed sine die.
A meeting of Sindh provincial Congress Committee was held on 5.12.1934 in Karachi, and following resolutions were passed:—
(1) The council of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee recommends to the working committee and the congress parliamentary
Board to issue instructions to the congress members of legislative
Assembly that they should leave the chamber as soon as lord Willingdon entered it to address the house in order to express the nations resentment against the ruthless repression inaugurated and carried on during his regime".
(2) The council of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee most emphatically condemns the shocking restrictions imposed on Mr. Subhas Chandra Bose immediately on his arrival at Calcutta. Confirming him in the house under the most intolerable and provoking conditions; considering the state of Mr. Subhas Bose's state of health in its further impairment in the opinion of this council such restrictions are unheard of and betray a spirit of utter barbaric vindictiveness.
The council of the Sindh Provincial Congress is of opinion that cricket tournaments arranged on a communal basis have a tendency to emphasize the communal aspect of these matches and add to the communal strain between various communities which are already politically divided.
The council appeals to the various cricket Associations to discontinue these tournaments on a communal basis and arrange them on a territorial or other basis.
In a meeting of Sind Provincial Congress Committee held on 27.1.1935, in Karachi, a committee of 30 members was appointed to make arrangements for coming "Sind Political Conference" to be held in Karachi.
In a meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee, held on 14.2.1935 in Karachi All-India Congress Committee through resolution was requested to give Karachi a district (Provincial) position in congress.
In a meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee held on 3.6.1935 at Khalikdina Hall under the presidency of Dr. Choithram Government was urged to allow relief parties to proceed to Quetta to extricate the dead and injured, meeting was attended by B.T. Thakur, Shaikh Abdul Majeed, R.K. Sidwa and Swami Krishnand.
Following resolution was adopted in the meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee's meeting held on 6.9.1935, in Karachi:
"In view of numerous inquiries made from the President of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee whether the congress will contest elections to the Sindh Legislative Assembly under the new constitution, the council wishes to make it clear that the congress will put up candidates in as many constituencies as possible but as the actual selection of candidates and the announcement of programme may not be possible for some time, the council appeals to all voters and also election workers not to commit themselves at this stage to any particular candidate or party but reserve the liberty of action till the congress enters the field".
A meeting of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee was held on 12.10.1935, Dr. Choithraw presided.
Following suggestions for recommendation to the working committee of All-India Congress Committee, with a view to making changes in the constitution were approved:
(i) The clause regarding manual labour should be deleted.
(ii) The percentage of delegates for rural and urban areas should not be fixed in the constitution, provincial committees be allowed to decide this matter.
(iii) Annual fee for membership should be one Anna only.
(iv) The minimum number of delegates for any province shall be 20.
(v) The total membership of the All-India Congress Committee should be 700 and each provincial quota should be double the number.
(vi) All-India Congress Committee members shall be elected by provincial congress committees by the single transferable vote.
(vii) Delegates from each province shall be ex-officio members of the provincial congress committee.
Speaking at the meeting of the Sindh Provincial congress committee held on 18.5.1946, Dr. Choithrant P. Gidwani reviewed the communal situation in the province.
He urged the Government to take deterrent action against disturbers of peace.
The meeting also passed a condolence resolution on the death of Mr. Bhulabhai Desai.
Sindh Provincial Congress Committee meeting was held on 16.5.1946 at Hyderabad, when thirty-nine out of forty-two Sindh Congress delegates who attended the meeting nominated eight members on the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee, themselves forming the rest automatically. The surprising developments were that Miss Jethi Sipahimalani M.L.A. and Mr. Persram Tahilamani, Present secretary of the Sindh Provincial Congress Committee were not elected.
The following were declared elected: Pandit Doulatram (Dadu), Jairamdas Doulatram and Chimandas Issardas (Hyderabad), Mrs. Kamladevi Hiranand (Hyderabad), Shafi Mohammed (Jacobabad), Lalji Mahrotra, Goverdhan Vazirani and Hotchand Asnan (from the general seats).
