THE%20SINDH%20STORY

of 40 women satyagrahis. Many young satyagrahis have been made to break
stones. Twelve of them have been flogged with a dozen stripes each.”
The 1930 movement ended in the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, which was followed by the
Karachi session of the Congress in March 1931. It was organized in a grand
manner --- on a budget of only 90,000 rupees --- and in the course of just three
weeks. Mahadev Desai grew ecstatic over “the canopy of heaven under which
the Congress is meeting for the first time in its history”. Gandhiji was “thankful
that the Reception Committee has rent it (shamiana-top) as under and put us into
direct communion with God”. Built on the Takri (hillock), which now sports
Jinnah’s mausoleum, it was mainly organized by Jamshed Mehta, the Mayor of
Karachi, and Chairman of the Reception Committee.
However, the historic Congress session was clouded by two tragedies. The
British hanged Sardar Bhagat Singh and his colleagues Sukhdev and Rajguru on
the eve of the session --- despite Gandhiji’s best efforts to save their lives --- just
to make their imperial existence felt. And when Muslims in Kanpur refused to
close their shops in honour of Bhagat Singh, violence ensued. Ganesh Shankar
Vidyarthi, PCC President of the United Provinces, and editor of the Pratap, who
went to quell the rioting, lost his life in the heroic effort. Gandhiji was greeted
with black flags and black cloth flowers and “Go Back” slogans at every station
on his way to Karachi. He actually detrained at Drigh Road, to avoid an angry
crowd in Karachi proper. Gandhiji said that he would keep the black flags as an
“heirloom” --- unless the demonstrators realized their mistake and asked for
their return. But he begged of them not to disturb the Congress session and “not
to mar the wonderful work by the workers of Sindh”. After that the Karachi
session of the Congress passed off peacefully. A highlight of this session was the
first-time participation of the Frontier Red Shirts led by Khan Abdul Ghaffar.
The Karachi session was presided over by the redoubtable Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel. It was here that the Congress decided to participate in the Second Round
Table Conference. The session also adopted a 20-point resolution on
Fundamental Rights, promising universal adult franchise, free primary
education, a living wage fore all in free India.
This session also had an interesting interlude when Maulana Zafar Ali, editor of
the Zamindar of Lahore, insisted that the Congress adjourn for namaz. Gandhiji
refused --- conceding only that the Congress could conduct less important
business during namaz time. An infuriated Maulana walked straight out to the
station, where he caught the first train to Lahore.
The Sindh Story; Copyright © www.panhwar.com
73