Gandhi and Anarchy

APPENDIX XIX
GOVERNMENT REPLIES.

Mr. Gandhi's Misstatements.

"Mass civil disobedience is fraught with such danger to the State that it must be met with sternness and severity."

So says the Government of India (Home Department) in the communique published below in reply to Mr. Gandhi's manifesto offering a postponement of civil disobedience on certain conditions which Government regard as impossible.

The Government statement makes it clear that the issue is between lawlessness and the maintenance of civilised government.

The manifesto issued by Mr. Gandhi on the 4th February justifying his determination to resort to mass civil disobedience contains a series of misstatements. Some of these are so important that the Government of India cannot allow them to pass unchallenged. In the first place they emphatically repudiate the statement that they have embarked on a policy of lawless repression and also the suggestion that the present campaign of civil disobedience has been forced on the non-co-operation party, in order to secure the elementary rights of free association, free speech and of a free press. The Government of India desire to draw attention to the fact that the decision to adopt a programme of civil disobedience was finally accepted on the 4th November, before the recent notification relating either to the Seditious Meetings Act or the Criminal Law Amendment Act, to which Mr. Gandhi unmistakeably refers were issued. It was in consequence of serious acts of lawlessness, committed by persons who professed to be followers of Mr. Gandhi and the non-co-operation movement, that the Government were forced to take measures, which are in strict accordance with the law for the protection of peaceful citizens in the pursuit of their lawful avocations.

A new and dangerous situation

Since the inauguration of the non-co-operation movement the Government of India actuated by a desire to avoid anything in the nature of the repression of political activity, even though it was of an extreme character, have restricted their action in relation thereto to such measures as were necessary for the maintenance of law and order and the preservation of public tranquility. Up to November no steps, save in Delhi last year, were taken against the volunteer associations. In November, however, the Government were confronted with a new and dangerous situation. In the course of the past year, there had been systematic attempts to tamper with the loyalty of the soldiers and the police, and there had occurred numerous outbreaks of serious disorders, directly attributable to the propaganda of the non-co-operation party amongst the ignorant and excitable masses. These outbreaks had resulted in grave loss of life, the growth of a dangerous spirit of lawlessness, and increasing disregard for lawful authority. In November they culminated in the grave riots in Bombay, in which 53 persons lost their lives and approximately 400 were wounded. On the same date dangerous manifestations of lawlessness occurred in many other places, and at this period it became clear that many of the volunteer associations had embarked on a systematic campaign of violence, intimidation and obstruction, to combat which proceedings under the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal procedure had proved ineffective.

More drastic Measures

In these circumstances the Government were reluctantly compelled to resort to measures of a more comprehensive and drastic character. Nevertheless, the operation of the Seditious Meetings Act was strictly limited to a few districts in which the risk of grave disturbance of the peace was specially great, and the application of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1908 was confined to associations, the majority of the members of which had habitually indulged in violence and intimidation. It is impossible here to set out in detail the evidence which justified the adoption of these measures in the different provinces. Abundant proof is, however, to be found in the published proceedings of the various legislative bodies, in the Communiques of the different local Governments, and in the pronouncements of the heads of the provinces. While resolute in their determination to enforce respect for law and order and to protect loyal and peaceful subjects of the Crown, the Government have at the same time taken every precaution possible to mitigate where desirable the conditions of imprisonment and to avoid any action which might have the appearance of vindictive severity. Ample proof of this will be found in the orders issued by the local Governments. Numerous offenders have been released, sentences have been reduced and special consideration has been shown in the case of persons convicted of offences under the Seditious Meeting's Act or the Criminal Law Amendment Act. There is thus no shadow of justification for the charge that their policy has been one of indiscriminate and lawless repression.

A statement disproved

A further charge, which has been brought to Mr. Gandhi is that the recent measures of Government have involved a departure from the civilised policy laid down by His Excellency at the time of the apology of the Ali brothers, namely, that the Government of India should not interfere with the activities of the non-co-operators so long as they remained non-violent in word and deed. The following citation from the communique of Government of India issued on the 30th May, conclusively disproves this statement:—

"After explaining that in view of the solemn undertaking contained in the statement over their signature it had been decided to refrain from instituting criminal proceedings against Messrs. Mahammad Ali and Shaukat Ali, the Government of India observed, it must not be inferred from the original determination of the Government to prosecute for speeches inciting to violence that promoting disaffection of a less violent character is not an offence against the law. The Government of India desire to make it plain that they will enforce the law relating to offences against the State, as and when they may think fit against any persons who have committed breaches of it."

The proposed conference

It remains for the Government of India to deal with the allegation that His Excellency summarily rejected the proposal for a conference, although the terms put forward by the conference at Bombay and accepted by the Working Committee of the Congress were quite in keeping with His Excellency's own requirements as indicated in his speech at Calcutta. How far this is from being the case will manifest from a comparison of his Excellency's speech with the terms proposed by the conference. His Excellency in that speech insisted on the imperative necessity, as a fundamental condition precedent to the discussion of any question of a conference of the discontinuance, of the unlawful activities of the non-co-operation party. No assurance on this point, was, however contained in proposals advanced by the conference. On the contrary, whilst the Government were asked to make concessions which not only included the withdrawal of the notifications under the Criminal Law Amendment and Seditious Meetings Acts and the release of persons convicted thereunder but also this release of persons convicted of offences designed to affect the loyalty of the army; and the submission to an arbitration committee of the cases of other persons convicted under the ordinary law of the land, there was no suggestion that any of the illegal activities of the non-co-operators other than hartals, picquetting and civil disobedience should cease. Moreover, it was evident from the statements made by Mr. Gandhi at the conference, that he intended to continue the enrolment of volunteers in prohibital associations and preparations for civil disobedience. Further, Mr. Gandhi made also it is apparent that the proposed round table conference would be called merely to register his decrees. It is idle to suggest that terms of this character fulfilled in any way the essentials laid down by His Excellency or can reasonably be described as having been made in response to the sentiments expressed by him.

Impossible Requests.

Finally, the Government of India desire to draw attention to the demands put forward in the concluding para of Mr. Gandhi's present manifesto, which exceeded even the demands made by the Working Committee of the Congress. Mr. Gandhi's demands now include: (1) the release of all prisoners convicted or under trial for non-violent activities; (2) a guarantee that Government will refrain absolutely from interference with all non-violent activities of the non-co-operation party, even though they fall within the purview of the Indian Penal Code, or in other words an undertaking that Government will indefinitely hold in abeyance in regard to the non-co-operators the ordinary and long established law of the land. In return for these concessions he indicated that he intends to continue the illegal and seditious propaganda and operation of the non-co-operation party and merely appears to postpone civil disobedience of an aggressive character until the offenders now in jail have had an opportunity of reviewing the whole situation. In the same paragraph he re-affirms the unalterable character of the demands of his party. The Government of India are confident that all right thinking citizens will recognise that this manifesto constitutes no response whatever to the speech of His Excellency at Calcutta and that the demands made are such as no Government could discuss, much less accept.

Issue—Law versus lawlessness

The alternatives that now confront the people of India are such as sophistry can no longer obscure or disguise. The issue is no longer between this or that programme of political advance, but between lawlessness with all its dangerous consequences on the one hand, and on the other the maintenance of those principles which lie at the root of all civilised Government. Mass civil disobedience is fraught with such danger to the State, that it must be met with sternness and severity. The Government entertain no doubt that in any measures which they may have to take for its suppression, they can count on the support and assistance of all law-abiding and loyal citizens of His Majesty.

APPENDIX XX
N.C.O. RESOLUTION

Ahmedabad, December 28.

The following was put by Mahatma Gandhi. "Whereas since the holding of the last National Congress, the people of India have found from actual experience that by reason of the adoption of non-violent non-co-operation the country has made great advance in fearlessness, self-sacrifice and self-respect, and whereas the movement has greatly damaged the prestige of the Government, and, whereas, on the whole the country is rapidly progressing towards Swaraj, this Congress confirms the resolution adopted at the Special session of the Congress at Calcutta and reaffirmed at Nagpur, and places on record the fixed determination of the Congress to continue the programme of non-violent non-co-operation with greater vigour than hitherto, in such manner as each province may determine, till the Punjab and the Khilafat wrongs are redressed and Swaraj is established, and the control of the Government of India passed into the hands of the people, from that of an irresponsible corporation, and whereas the reason of the threat uttered by his Excellency the Viceroy in recent speeches and the consequent repression started by the Government of India, in the provinces by way of disbandment of Volunteer corps and forcible prohibition of public and even committee meetings in an illegal and high handed manner, and by the arrests of many Congress workers in several provinces, and whereas this repression is manifestly intended to stifle all Congress and Khilafat activities and deprive the public of their assistance, this Congress resolves that all activities of the Congress be suspended, as far as necessary, and appeals to all quietly and without any demonstration to offer themselves for arrest by belonging to the Volunteer organisations to be formed throughout the country in terms of the resolution of the Working Committee, arrived at in Bombay, on the 23rd day of November last, provided that no one shall be accepted as Volunteer who does not sign the following pledge:—

The Pledge

"With God as witness, I solemnly declare that (1) I wish to be a member of the National Volunteer Corps; (2) So long as I remain a member of the Corps, I shall remain non-violent in word and deed, and shall earnestly endeavour to be non-violent in intent, since I believe that as India is circumstanced non-violence can help the Khilafat and the Punjab and result in the attainment of Swaraj and consolidation of unity among all the races and communities of India, whether Hindu, Mussalman, Sikh, Parsi Christian or Jew; (3) I believe in and shall endeavour always to promote such unity; (4) I believe in Swadeshi as essential for India's economic, political and moral salvation, and shall use handspun and hand-woven Khaddar to the exclusion of every other cloth; (5) as a Hindu, I believe in the justice and necessity of removing the evil of untouchability and shall on all possible occasions seek personal contact with, and endeavour to render service to, the submerged classes; (6) I shall carry out the instructions of my superior officers and all the regulations not inconsistent with the spirit of this pledge prescribed by the Volunteer Boards or the Working Committee or any other agency established by the Congress; (7) I am prepared to suffer imprisonment, assault, or even death for the sake of my religion, and my country, without resentment; (8) in the event of my imprisonment, I shall not claim from the Congress any support for my family or dependants.

Volunteer corps

"This Congress trusts that every person of the age of 18 and over will immediately join the Volunteer organisations. Notwithstanding the proclamation prohibiting public meetings, and inasmuch as even Committee meetings have been attempted to be construed as public meetings, this Congress advises the holding of Committee meeting in enclosed places and by tickets and by previous announcements, at which as far as possible only speakers previously announced shall deliver written speeches, care being taken, in every case, to avoid the risk of provocation and possible violence by the public in consequence.

"This Congress is further of opinion that Civil Disobedience is the only civilized and effective substitute for an armed rebellion, whenever every other remedy for preventing arbitrary, tyrannical and emasculating use of authority by individuals or corporations, has been tried and, therefore, advises all Congress workers and others who believe in peaceful methods and are convinced that there is no remedy save some kind of sacrifice to dislodge the existing Government from its position of perfect irresponsibility to the people of India, to organise individual Civil Disobedience, and massed, when the mass of people have been sufficiently trained in the methods of non-violence, and otherwise in terms of the resolution therein of the last meeting of the All-India Congress Committee held at Delhi, this Congress is of opinion that in order to concentrate its attention upon Civil Disobedience, whether mass or individual (whether of an offensive or defensive character) under proper safeguards, and under instructions to be issued from time to time by the Working Committee or Provincial Congress Committee concerned, all other Congress activities should be suspended whenever and wherever, and to the extent to which it may be found necessary.

Mahatma the dictator

"This Congress calls upon all students of the age of 18 and over, particularly those studying in the national institutions and the staff thereof, immediately to sign the foregoing pledge and become members of National Volunteer Corps.

"In view of the impending arrest of a large number of Congress workers, this Congress, whilst requiring the ordinary machinery to remain intact and to be utilised in the ordinary manner whenever feasible, hereby appoints until further instructions Mahatma Gandhi as the sole Executive authority of the Congress and invests him with the full powers of the All-India Congress Committee including the power to convene a special session of the Congress or of the All-India Congress Committee or the Working Committee, and also with power to appoint a successor in emergency.

"This Congress hereby confers upon the said successor and all subsequent successors appointed in turn by their predecessors, all this aforesaid power provided that nothing in this resolution shall be deemed to authorise Mahatma Gandhi or any of the aforesaid successors to conclude any terms of peace with the Government of India or the British Government without the previous sanction of the All-India Congress Committee to be finally ratified by the Congress specially convened for the purpose, (and provided also that the present Creed of the Congress shall in no case be altered by Mahatma Gandhi or his successors except with the leave of the Congress first obtained).

"This Congress congratulates all those patriots who are now undergoing imprisonment for the sake of their conscience or country, and realises that their sacrifice has considerably hastened the advent of Swaraj."

APPENDIX XXI
Mr. M. K. Gandhi's Statement

Before reading his written statement Mr. Gandhi spoke a few words as introductory remarks to the whole statement. He said: Before I read this statement, I would like to state that I entirely endorse the learned Advocate-General's remarks in connection with my humble self. I think that he was entirely fair to me in all the statements that he has made, because it is very true and I have no desire whatsoever to conceal from this Court the fact that to preach disaffection towards the existing system of Government has become almost a passion with me. And the learned Advocate-General is also entirely in the right when he says that my preaching of disaffection did not commence with my connection with "Young India" but that it commenced much earlier and in the statement that I am about to read it will be my painful duty to admit before this Court that it commenced much earlier than the period stated by the Advocate-General. It is the most painful duty with me but I have to discharge that duty knowing the responsibility that rested upon my shoulders.

And I wish to endorse all the blame that the Advocate-General has thrown on my shoulders in connection with the Bombay occurrence, Madras occurrences, and the Chouri Choura occurrences thinking over these things deeply, and sleeping over them night after night and examining my heart I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible for me to dissociate myself from the diabolical crimes of Chouri Choura or the mad outrages of Bombay. He is quite right when he says that as a man of responsibility, a man having received a fair share of education, having had a fair share of experience of this world, I should know the consequences of every one of my acts. I knew them. I knew that I was playing with fire. I ran the risk and if I was set free I would still do the same. I would be failing in my duty if I do not do so. I have felt it this morning that I would have failed in my duty if I did not say all what I said here just now. I wanted to avoid violence. Non-violence is the first article of my faith. It is the last article of my faith. But I had to make my choice. I had either to submit to a system which I considered has done an irreparable harm to my country or incur the risk of the mad fury of my people bursting forth when they understood the truth from my lips. I know that my people have sometimes gone mad. I am deeply sorry for it; and I am, therefore, here to submit not to a light penalty but to the highest penalty. I do not ask for mercy. I do not plead any extenuating act. I am here, therefore, to invite and submit to the highest penalty that can be inflicted upon me for what in law is a deliberate crime and what appears to me to be the highest duty of a citizen. The only course open to you, Mr. Judge, is, as I am just going to say in my statement, either to resign your post or inflict on me the severest penalty if you believe that the system and law you are assisting to administer are good for the people. I do not expect that kind of conversion. But by the time I have finished with my statement you will, perhaps, have a glimpse of what is raging within my breast to run this maddest risk which a sane man can run.

WRITTEN STATEMENT

I owe it perhaps to the Indian public and to the public in England to placate which this prosecution is mainly taken up that I should explain why from a staunch loyalist and co-operator I have become an uncompromising disaffectionist and non-co-operator. To the court too I should say why I plead guilty to the charge of promoting disaffection towards the Government established by law in India.

My public life began in 1893 in South Africa in troubled weather. My first contact with British authority in that country was not of a happy character. I discovered that as a man and an Indian I had no rights. On the contrary I discovered that I had no rights as a man because I was an Indian.

But I was not baffled. I thought that this treatment of Indians was an excrescence upon a system that was intrinsically and mainly good. I gave the Government my voluntary and hearty co-operation, criticising it fully where I felt it was faulty but never wishing its destruction.

Consequently when the existence of the Empire was threatened in 1899 by the Boer challenge, I offered my services to it, raised a volunteer ambulance corps and served at several actions that took place for the relief of Ladysmith. Similarly in 1906 at the time of the Zulu revolt I raised a stretcher-bearer party and served till the end of the 'rebellion'. On both these occasions I received medals and was even mentioned in despatches. For my work in South Africa I was given by Lord Hardinge a Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal. When the war broke out in 1914 between England and Germany I raised a volunteer ambulance corps in London consisting of the then resident Indians in London, chiefly students. Its work was acknowledged by the authorities to be valuable. Lastly in India when a special appeal was made at the War Conference in Delhi in 1917 by Lord Chelmsford for recruits, I struggled at the cost of my health to raise a corps in Kheda and the response was being made when the hostilities ceased and orders were received that no more recruits were wanted. In all these efforts at service I was actuated by the belief that was possible by such services to gain a status of full equality in the Empire for my countrymen.

The first shock came in the shape of the Rowlatt Act a law designed to rob the people of all real freedom. I felt called upon to lead an intensive agitation against it. Then followed the Punjab horrors beginning with the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh and culminating in crawling orders, public floggings and other indescribable humiliations. I discovered too that the plighted word of the Prime Minister to the Mussulmans of India regarding the integrity of Turkey and the holy places of Islam was not likely to be fulfilled. But in spite of the foreboding and the grave warnings of friends, at the Amritsar Congress in 1919 I fought for co-operation and working the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms, hoping that the Prime Minister would redeem his promise to the Indian Mussulmans, that the Punjab wound would be healed and that the reforms inadequate and unsatisfactory though they were, marked a new era of hope in the life of India.

But all that hope was shattered. The Khilafat promise was not to be redeemed. The Punjab crime was white-washed and most culprits went not only unpunished but remained in service and some continued to draw pensions from the Indian revenue, and in some cases were rewarded. I saw too that not only did the reforms not mark a change of heart, but they were only a method of further draining India of her wealth and of prolonging her servitude.

I came reluctantly to the conclusion that the British connection had made India more helpless than she ever was before, politically and economically. A disarmed India has no power of resistance against any aggressor if she wanted to engage in an armed conflict with him. So much is this the case that some of our best men consider that India must take generations before she can achieve the Dominion status. She has become so poor that she has little power of resisting famines. Before the British advent India spun and wove in her millions of cottages just the supplement she needed for adding to her meagre agricultural resources. The cottage industry, so vital for India's existence, has been ruined by incredibly heartless and inhuman processes as described by English witnesses. Little do town-dwellers know how the semi-starved masses of Indians are slowly sinking to lifelessness. Little do they know that their miserable comfort represents the brokerage they get for the work they do for the foreign exploiter, that the profits and the brokerage are sucked from the masses. Little do they realise that the Government established by law in British India is carried on for this exploitation of the masses. No sophistry, no jugglery in figures can explain away the evidence the skeletons in many villages present to the naked eye. I have no doubt whatsoever that both England and the town-dwellers of India will have to answer, if there is a God above, for this crime against humanity which is perhaps unequalled in history. The law itself in this country has been used to serve the foreign exploiter. My unbiased examination of the Punjab Martial Law cases has led me to believe that at least ninety-five per cent of convictions were wholly bad. My experience of political cases in India leads me to the conclusion that in nine out of every ten the condemned men were totally innocent. Their crime consisted in love of their country. In ninety-nine cases out of hundred justice has been denied to Indians as against Europeans in the Court of India. This is not an exaggerated picture. It is the experience of almost every Indian who has had anything to do with such cases. In my opinion the administration of the law is thus prostituted consciously or unconsciously for the benefit of the exploiter.

The greatest misfortune is that Englishmen and their Indian associates in the administration of the country do not know that they are engaged in the crime I have attempted to describe. I am satisfied that many English and Indian officials honestly believe that they are administering one of the best systems devised in the world and that India is making steady though slow progress. They do not know that a subtle but effective system of terrorism and an organised display of force on the one hand and the deprivation of all powers of retaliation or self-defence on the other have emasculated the people and induced in them the habit of simulation. This awful habit has added to the ignorance and the self-deception of the administrators. Section 124-A under which I am happily charged is perhaps the prince among the political sections of the Indian Penal Code designed to suppress the liberty of the citizen. Affection cannot be manufactured or regulated by law. If one has no affection for a person or thing one should be free to give the fullest expression to his disaffection so long as he does not contemplate, promote or incite to violence. But the section under which Mr. Banker and I are charged is one under which mere promotion of disaffection is a crime. I have studied some of the cases tried under it, and I know that some of the most loved of India's patriots have been convicted under it. I consider it a privilege therefore, to be charged under it. I have endeavoured to give in their briefest outline the reasons for my disaffection. I have no personal ill-will against any single administrator, much less can I have any disaffection towards the King's person. But I hold it to be a virtue to be disaffected towards a Government which in its totality has done more harm to India than any previous system. India is less manly under the British rule than she ever was before. Holding such a belief, I consider it to be a sin to have affection for the system. And it has been a precious privilege for me to be able to write what I have in the various articles tendered in evidence against me.

In fact I believe that I have rendered a service to India and England by showing in non-co-operation the way out of the unnatural state in which both are living. In my humble opinion, non-co-operation with evil is as much a duty as is co-operation with good. But in the past, non-co-operation has been deliberately expressed in violence to the evildoer. I am endeavouring to show to my countrymen that violent non-co-operation only multiplies evil and that as evil can only be sustained by violence, withdrawal of support of evil requires complete abstention from violence. Non-violence implies voluntary submission to the penalty for non-co-operation with evil. I am here, therefore, to invite and submit cheerfully to the highest penalty that can be inflicted upon me for what in law is a deliberate crime and what appears to me to be the highest duty of a citizen. The only course open to you, the Judge and the Assessors, is either to resign your posts and thus dissociate yourselves from evil if you feel that the law you are called upon to administer is an evil and that in reality I am innocent, or to inflict on me the severest penalty if you believe that the system and the law you are assisting to administer are good for the people of this country and that my activity is therefore injurious to the public weal.

M. K. GANDHI.

APPENDIX XXII
Lists of Riots or Disturbances

List of riots or Disturbances since the year 1919.

Province Date Place of Disturbance.	Brief description.
Bombay 26th May 1919 Godhra, Panch Mahals.	A leading wealthy member of the Gandhi community was celebrating the marriages of some of his sons and nephews. It appears that feeling was running high between the two sections of the community as some of the brides had previously been betrothed or promised to persons of the other party. The trouble began when one of the party let off potash bombs. The Gandhis then began to assemble and an altercation ensued which ended in a fight in which broken bricks and pieces of wood were freely used. The police on the spot finding that the fracas became serious, had to resort to firing. On arrival of more police, the crowd dispersed. The District Magistrate succeeded in getting both the parties reconciled to each other. Two rioters were injured; six policemen received injuries from bricks.
Bombay 11th June 1919 Deesa Cantonment.	Some military sepoys on duty purchased liquor, and when the police constable on duty demanded the name of the purchaser in accordance with the Cantonment Magistrate's orders, they refused to give the name and beat the constable. When one sepoy was arrested, the others interfered and attacked the constable. Three sepoys were then arrested and put in the lock up. The Sub-Inspector of Police persuaded about 200 of the men to leave the bazaar but not before the lock up was broken, the prisoners released and several policemen were injured. Six policemen were injured, two of them being in a serious condition.
Bombay 18th June 1919 Kanoda, Panch Mahals.	One Sania Dipsing of Kanoda was terrorizing the neighbourhood, committing robbery, frequently though mostly of trivial articles. When warrants were issued for his and his brothers arrest he openly defied the authorities and even threatened to kill the police or anyone who tried to arrest him with a dharaia. As he could not be persuaded to surrender the District Magistrate ordered the arrest of the brothers, by using force if necessary. Sania's brothers and parents all armed with dharaia, clubs and pickaxes, and Sania armed with a gun resisted the arrest. The police were compelled to fire in self-defence with fatal results. Sania's mother and two brothers were killed. Sania himself was wounded.
Madras 22nd September 1919 Nellore.	In an attempt to enforce a decree obtained in the civil court the Hindus with police protection took a procession with music through the main bazar where there are mosques. They and the police were attacked by the Muhammadans and the police compelled to fire. Two Muhammadens killed and two wounded.
Bombay 20th January 1920 Bombay.	Abnormal conditions in Bombay due to general strike of mill-hands and other industrial unrest. One striker killed. One seriously wounded, 8 policemen, 1 police officer, 1 lorry driver and a Magistrate injured. One private individual killed and one woman injured by strikers stoning trams.
Do. 26th January 1920 Do.	Renewed attack made by strikers, police were compelled to fire. One striker was wounded.
Do. 30th January 1920 Nandvaji village Bijapur district.	A police party was engaged in protecting a faction in the village against the attacks of the rival faction when it found itself in the presence of a large body of rioters with sticks, axes and stones and fearing attack on themselves the police fired two shots in the air and one on the men in front. Three wounded.
Do. 16th February 1920 Sholapur.	During the strike of mill-hands at Sholapur some 8,000 mill-hands who had struck work surrounded the District Magistrate and refused to disperse when ordered to do so, by the District Magistrate. They became violent and began to stone officers and troops. The District Magistrate was compelled to order firing. It was only after the military arrived that the disturbance ceased. Four killed. Huzur Deputy Commissioner was injured.
Bihar and Orissa 15th March 1920 Jamshedpur.	A general strike of the workers at the Tata iron and steel Works, Jamshedpur began on the 24th February and continued for nearly a month. As the strike proceeded, the attitude of the strikers grew more hostile, those men who wished to work were intimidated, the gates of the works were picketed and the guards at the gates more than once stoned. The local Government despatched a large body of armed and military police to the spot for the protection of life and property and were compelled also to obtain assistance of regular British troops from Calcutta. On the 15th March the strikers obstructed the railway lines between the works and Tatanagar Railway station and made a most determined attack on the armed police sent out to clear the obstruction. The police were compelled to fire in self-defence and to fall back towards the works. Killed 5, wounded 23.
Bombay 14th April 1920 Jalalani Nawabshah.	A fracas took place in the Hur Criminal Tribes settlement of Jalalai Nawabshah, Sind, in the course of which one Fatu Mari was attacked by a number of Hurs who belaboured him with lathis and blows. As his wife was in danger a Sub-Inspector ordered the mob to stop. The crowd made an attempt to attack the Sub-Inspector who finding his own life in danger ordered firing in self-defence and also with the object of quelling the disturbance. Six wounded.
Madras April 1920 Perungamanallur, Madura distt.	The attempt to register the kallars under Criminal Tribes Act brought about a serious collision between them and the police. On account of their defiant and aggressive attitude, the police had to open fire. Eleven killed.
Do. May 1920 Muthupet in Tanjore district.	A Hindu marriage procession passing a mosque came into conflict with the Muhammadans. A fight ensued and to clear the street the police had to open fire. One man was slightly wounded.
Do. 17th May 1920 Madras.	During a strike in the Burma Oil Company some Pathans were brought from Bombay to carry on the work. An altercation between them and the local coolies resulted in a riot which required the presence of the armed police reserve to quell it. One Pathan was killed; there was also minor casualties on both sides.
Bombay 29th May 1920 Dubar Sukkur District.	On 29th May an affray took place between the police and certain Jagiranis near Durbar in the Sukkur district, Sind. The police received a complaint that two buffaloes had been stolen by some Jagiranis. A Police party went in search of the criminals and having found them seized and arrested the offenders. On their return journey they were attacked by about 30 Jagiranis two of whom were armed with guns. Those guns were fired at the police party and the Jagiranis closed in with their lathis. A general free fight ensued and the police seeing that they were overwhelmed by weight of numbers, fired in self defence. The Jagiranis then ran off, leaving their wounded. One killed, one wounded, also five policemen injured.
North-West Frontier Province 8th July 1920 Kachagarhi.	At Kachagarhi a collision occurred between troops and Muhajarins. Killed one Muhajir.
Punjab 25th August 1920 Kasur.	The Khilafat party asked a theatrical company to give the proceeds of their last performance to the Khilafat Fund. The company declined and was attacked at night. The police arrived on the Scene and used fire-arms. One killed and two wounded.
United Provinces 23rd September 1920 Pilibhit.	During the Muharram festival an attack was made on a Hindu temple at Pilibhit. The police fired a few rounds in the air. One wounded who subsequently died.
Madras 9th December 1920 Madras.	Buckingham Mills. Perambur. The police lorry which was taking the coolies from the mills to the harbour was subjected to persistent and violent stoning by strikers. The police opened fire. Sixteen persons were wounded, two of whom died.

List of riots or Disturbances since the year 1921.

Province Date Place of Disturbance.	Brief description.
United Provinces 7th January 1921 Rae Berilli Distt.	Agrarian disturbances in Rae Bareilly and Fyzabad Districts accompanied by extensive looting.
United Provinces 24th January 1921 ...	District Rae Barielly. Police party besieged in a house after one of their number was killed.
Punjab 26th January 1921 Tarn.	Serious riot at Tarn Taran. Killed 3 Wounded 14
Bombay 9th January 1921 Kolaba Distt.	A riot occurred between two parties of Muhammadans in the Kolaba district during the course of a flag procession. The sub-Inspector of Police who was in charge lost his head and fired in the air. No casualities.
United Provinces 29th January 1921 Goshaingunj Railway Station, Fyzabad Distt.	A large crowd held up a train with the object of rescuing a man arrested for his complicity in the agrarian riots. The police who were attacked, fired wounding one man, several others were hit with stray pellets. One rioter wounded.
Bengal 4th-5th February 1921 Naihati.	An affray took place between a Muhammadan and a Gurkha Durwan of a Jute Mill resulting in a General fracas between Muhammadan coolies of the Mill and Gurkha durwans in which a few Gurkhas were killed and other injured. It was considered doubtful whether there was any political significance.
Bihar and Orissa 7th February 1921 Giridih.	Strikes at the East India Railway Colliery, Giridih, District Hazaribagh, Bihar and Orissa.
United Provinces 10th February 1921 ...	Strike on the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway, Punjab Mail stoned and Magistrate assaulted.
Bengal 18th February 1921 Calcutta.	Riot in Kalighat section of Calcutta Tramway by strikers.
Bihar and Orissa 18th February 1921 Saran.	District Sarat, Bihar and Orissa. Police while investigating complaint against locally self-constituted panchayet were assaulted.
Punjab 19th-20th February 1921 Nankana.	Nankana Sahib affair in Punjab.
Central Provinces 21st-25th February 1921 Nagpur.	Disturbances of Nagpur arising out of temperance campaign of non-co-operators.
Bengal March 1921 Lillooah.	Strike accompanied by rioting at Lillooah workshops.
Bombay March 1921 Karachi.	Hartal at Karachi accompanied by violence of mob.
Central Province March 1921 Nagpur.	Rioting during excise sales. Five liquor shops Cracked. Mob fired on by police, one policeman killed and 15 injured, 9 rioters killed and 14 wounded.
United Provinces 20th and 21st March 1921 Karhaiya, Rae Barelli District.	In the course of the riots which took place on the 20th March, the police were compelled to fire on two occasions. The riot started by the arrest of two men who had been prohibited from speaking and who were haranguing the crowd. Killed 4 Wounded 12
Assam 21st March 1921 ...	Halem Tea Estate, Assam. Strike by tea garden labourers who assaulted officials of tea garden.
Bengal 24th March 1921 Rajshahi.	Outbreak in Rajshahi Jail in Bengal.
Madras 3rd April 1921 Kumbakonam.	Riots at Kumbakonam due to labour strikes.
Punjab 6th April 1921 Kamalia.	Riot at Kamalia, Montgomery District, Punjab, owing to dispute over Prem Sati Gurdwara.
Bengal 15th April 1921 Ghusuri.	Ghusuri Jute Mill Bengal. Riot accompanied by violence; manager seriously injured.
Bombay 19th April 1921 Shikarpur.	Riot at Shikarpur, Bombay, when non-co-operators interfered with yearly meeting of Pritman Dharma Sabha.
Bihar and Orissa 25th April 1921 Giridih.	Owing to trial of a non-co-operation volunteer, 10,000 people at Giridih, District Hazaribagh, endeavoured to storm sub-jail, looted police station and burnt records.
Bombay 25th April 1921 Malegaon.	Disturbances at Malegaon, Bombay, arising out of trial of Khilafat Volunteers. Sub-Inspector of Police and four constables killed.
Madras 26th April 1921 Ottapalam.	Disturbance at Ottapalam, Madras; fight between Reserve Police and khilafat volunteers.
Bihar and Orissa May 1921 Sitamarhi.	S.D.O. Sitamarhi, (District Muzuffarpur, Bihar and Orissa) compelled to leave Mela; public intimidated.
Bengal 11th May 1921 Kanchrapara.	Riot in Kanchrapara workshops, Eastern Bengal State Railway. Several thousands took part in riot caused by strikers of Eastern Bengal State Railway workshops, Kanchrapara.
Bengal 16th May 1921 Kaloj Valley.	Riot accompanied with violence occurred at Kaloj Valley Tea Estate, Darjeeling District.
Assam 19th-20th 1921 Chandpur.	Trouble at Chandpur in connection with tea garden labourers leaving Assam.
United Provinces 22nd May 1921 Mahagaon.	Serious affray in Mahagaon, District Allahabad.
Bombay 26th June 1921 Bombay.	Disturbances at Tata Mills Limited, Dadar, Bombay.
Bombay 1st July 1921 Dharwar.	Riots at Dharwar, Bombay, arising from liquor shop picketing.
Madras July 1921 Madras.	Strikes in Buckingham and Karnatic Mills, Madras, began accompanied by wide-spread arson.
United Provinces 5th July 1921 Aligarh.	Riot at Aligarh arising out of trial of a non-co-operators.
United Provinces 13th July 1921 Bariha.	Serious riot at Bariha village, District Lucknow.
Bengal July 1921 Chittagong.	Disturbances and disorders occurred in Bengal, both in Calcutta and at Chittagong, during trial of non-co-operators.
Bombay 21st July 1921 Matiari.	Disturbances at Matiari arising out of interference by non-co-operators with an Aman Sabha meeting.
Bombay July 1921 Karachi.	Picketing of liquor shops at Karachi caused cases of obstruction and assault; one leading agitator rescued by crowd from police; when convicted mob threw stones at Police and passers by; various Europeans and Indians were hurt.
Bengal 1st August 1921 Jamalpur.	Riot at Jamalpur workshops of the East Indian Railway resulting from hartal.
Bombay 1st August 1921 Karachi.	Two British soldiers had an altercation with a Musalman in a hotel and when they came out were assaulted by a mob. One soldier was severely injured. The affray was not due to political feelings.
Bombay 17th August 1921 Bombay.	Some 7,300 employees of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway Workshops at Parel demanded increased wages struck work. They stoned the time-keeper's office and afterwards set it on fire together with the records; the office of the workshops' Manager was also wrecked. Some members of the Auxiliary Force who were employed in the Works succeeded in quelling the riot and dispersing the mob.
22nd August 1921.	One man was wounded in the thigh with a bayonet.
Do. 25th August 1921 ...	Strikes in the Jacob and E. D. Sassoon Mills. This terminated on 8th and 12th September.
United Provinces September 1921 Kailana, Chakrata U. P.	There was an affray between police and British soldiers. A Sub-Inspector and a British officer were killed. All the British soldiers and officers were tried and were acquitted.
Madras City 5th October 1921 ...	A serious riot occurred between the Hindus and the Anti-Dravidas which necessitated the opening of fire by the police. The Anti-Dravidas were responsible for insulting a Muhammadan funeral procession, and attacking a Hindu procession.
Beneres October 1921 ...	An attempt made by a sub-inspector to search a cloth-shop in the village whereupon a disturbance arose and he ordered his escort to fire in the air. The Ahirs concerned seized the opportunity to attack police whilst their guns were empty. The police fled, the sub-inspector as far as Meerut. A second sub-inspector came to the rescue. A melee ensued in which a constable was killed by a lathi blow; two villagers were wounded by gun-shot wounds.
Darrang District, Assam 14th October 1921 ...	Strike of tea garden coolies. The European Managers as well as the Superintendent of Police were assaulted and some of the Indian members of the garden staff were injured. Fifty-two arrests were made.
Ahmedabad 26th October 1921 Bombay.	Thirty one out of 47 mills closed down demanding higher wages; but this soon ended.
Bengal 26th October 1921 Chitagong.	The conviction of Mr. J N. Gupta on a charge of picketing led to a slight disturbance on his way to the Jail. A crowd gathered and assaulted the Gurkha Guard who dispersed them and assaulted butts of their rifles.
Bengal 24th October 1921 Calcutta.	Two persons wearing Khilafat badges were arrested. They resisted the Police. A crowd quickly gathered. A number of arrests were made the men being conducted to the police station amidst a shower of brickbats.
Bengal 25th October 1921 Calcutta.	Strike of tramway employees.
Bihar and Orissa October 1921 Champaran.	Serious trouble occurred at Bagaha Police Station, West Champaran, the Chatawar Factory was burnt down and three persons were killed.
Punjab 30th October 1921 Lahore.	On the afternoon of the 30th October 1921 a mob of between 150 and 200 convicts made a determined and evidently a preconcerted attempt to break out of the Lahore Central Jail. They overpowered the guard of the inner gate and forced their way to the outer gate where they succeeded in breaking the lock of the wicket. The Jail officials had to fire at this point and succeed in driving back the convicts. Three of the convicts were killed and thirty-three wounded.
Bengal 4th November 1921 Howrah.	Processions were formed at night after a Khilafat meeting had been held on the Howrah maidan. One of these attacked the police on duty and forced them to retire on the thana. Armed police were requisitioned from Sibpore and, though attacked en route, succeeded in relieving the thana. During the disturbances some shots were fired. One constable was killed and several wounded. Five rioters were killed.
Bengal November 1921 Bogra.	An attempt was made to withhold food supplies from the Settlement Officer, Mr. McPherson who was assaulted when he visited the hat for the purpose.
Bengal 4th November 1921 Calcutta.	A serious riot occurred in Howrah Town after a Khilafat meeting when processions were formed. One of these attacked the Police who retired to the thana. Armed police were requisitioned from Sibpore and were attacked en route. They, however, succeeded in relieving the thana. Some shots were fired by the Police and two rifles were lost. One constable was killed and several were wounded and whilst the Assistant Magistrate was injured on the head.
Bengal 14th November 1921 Calcutta.	An attempt was made to renew the tramway service in Shambazar with the result that a serious disturbance occurred at the Balgachia Depot. The police force being insufficient, the military were summoned but before this the Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr. Bartley was seriously assaulted and about 20 police injured and so were several rioters.
Coorg 17th November 1921 Bangalore.	Following on arrest of six Mahomedans on charge of unlawful assembly a mob numbering thousands surrounded Broadway Police station, prevented removal of prisoners who had refused bail to judicial lock-up in Bangalore Central Jail. As Police force was inadequate, military aid was requisitioned. As detachment of military reached Police station, determined rush was made on rear. In the melee four or five shots were fired. Officer Commanding was individually attacked by man with a stick. There was heavy stone throwing. Two rioters were killed and six injured; 16 men of the Dorset Regiment were injured.
Burma 17th November 1921 Rangoon.	Serious riot occurred on 13th night due to attempt by large number of Burmese monks to obtain free entrance to the Pwes in Shwedagon Pagoda during pagoda festival. Not known. One unknown Burman killed. Among the police there were three serious and many minor casualties.
Bombay 17th-20th November 1921 Bombay.	People returning from seeing the arrival of the Prince were molested. On 18th rioting became general. Europeans and Parsis were attacked and liquor shops, etc, were set on fire. Military aid was requisitioned. Two Europeans, one American and two Parsis were killed. Three Europeans and an unknown number of Parsis were wounded. Eighty-three police were wounded. Of the rioters 53 were killed and 298 wounded. Not all the deaths from gunshot wounds were due to the police and military, as several dead and wounded men were found in localities where the authorities had not opened fire.
Madras 4th December 1921 Cannanore.	On the 4th December 1921, a number of Moplah-convicts and under-trial prisoners in the Cannanore Central Jail, ultimately numbering about 150, began rioting and attempted to break out of the Jail. Breaking open a tool shed they armed themselves with chisels, iron bars, etc., and attacked warders who attempted to obstruct their escape. As the prisoners disregarded warnings, firing had to be ordered to prevent their overpowering the guard by force of number. Seven of the prisoners were killed outright and four wounded by the firing. Two of these subsequently died. One prisoner died of a fractured skull and nine were wounded otherwise than by firing.
Punjab 23rd December 1921 Fezorepur.	A determined attempt was made by a mob to rescue 12 non-co-operators who were arrested for having recourse to violence. The police were forced to fire on the 24th a large number assembled to renew the attack, but Alwar troops and Reserve Police dispersed them. Three rioters were killed and several wounded.
Bengal 28th December 1921 Rungpur.	Owing to disturbed state of locality, thirty-two armed Police were sent to Nilphamari. A halt was made in the bazar during a route march, and an altercation took place between a policeman and a servant of a local gentleman. A crowd speedily collected and began throwing missiles. March was continued followed by crowd who became increasingly menacing and broke through ranks of police. Some shots fired in the air. Eight policemen were injured. Eight of public were also injured.
United Provinces 29th December 1921 Bareilly.	On the 30th December 21, 32 inmates of Bareilly Juvenile Jail refused to work on the grounds that a certain political prisoner had been removed from their midst. (He had been sent to hospital in consequence of illness.) Owing to influence of political prisoners the youths, who numbered about 190, were completely out of hand. They broke open almirahs, took out tools, broke open locks and gates and attempted to scale walls. It was necessary to call up the armed guard and to order firing. Sixteen shots were fired, several of them in the air. None of the gunshot wounds are serious, an inquiry by District Magistrate shows that no unnecessary violence was used. (This account is taken from a communique published in the Press, as no official report has been received from the United Provinces Government.) Eight of the prisoners were injured by gunshots mostly in the legs, and nine with batons.
Madras 13th January 1922 Madras.	On the occasion of the arrival of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in Madras there were disturbances in Madras City. An official report has not yet been received, but from accounts in the Press it appears that the excesses of the mob were such that it was necessary to call out the military and to resort to firing. According to Press accounts, five or six rioters were killed. Other casualities not known.
Burma 15th January 1922 Hokyobo Kwin, near Mada village, Thingangyan.	A party of police were despatched to prevent a buffalo fight. They were attacked on arrival by a crowd of between three hundred and five hundred. The police made six arrests but the crowd attacked them with sticks, stones and bottles and they had to let their prisoners go and to retreat towards the police station. Later the villagers again attacked the police and one villager cut a head constable with a dah on the fore-arm and attempted to seize his carbine. Another head constable came to the rescue and in the scuffle the carbine went off and the original assailant was shot in the abdomen. As villagers continued to attack, a head constable fired twice into the crowd. The police then made good their escape. One villager killed, two severely wounded, seven slightly wounded; one head constable cut on forearm, one head constable incised wound on head, two constables slight cuts about arms and several hit by missiles.
Bengal 21st January 1922 Noakhali.	The Superintendent of police while touring in his car was met with a shower of brick-bats and the S.D.O. was attacked by about 200 men.
Sub-division, Patna Do. Sirajgung.	A sub-inspector and 3 constables attempted to arrest three volunteers who were picketing some liquor shops. A crowd gathered and succeeded in separating and beating the constables. The sub-inspector fled. The mob then went in search of the excise sub-inspector and having failed to find him, they looted the ganja and liquor shop. In the course of this incident one rifle was lost by the police. Several instances of vigorous picketing occurred in this neighbourhood through which the D.M. and Superintendent of Police decided to have a route march. They arrived at Salangahat with two head constables and 23 constables of armed police. A number of volunteers had collected here and as the Deputy Magistrate received complaints of interference several were arrested. A crowd of about 2,000 then gathered and pelted the police. Every effort was made to disperse the crowd. Eventually after the Deputy Superintendent of Police had been hit with a lathi the Magistrate ordered fire to be opened first with buckshot, and when this proved unavailing, with ball. The crowd then dispersed leaving 4 dead and 6 wounded.
Dacca District 23rd January 1922.	Certain bad characters attacked the police in the course of effecting some arrests; the latter fired killing one volunteer.
Titagarh Jute Mills 26th January 1922.	Three mill hands were wanted in connection with an assault on the Manager and Assistant Manager. Two arrests were made which resulted in the collection of a threatening crowd who hemmed in the police against the wall of the mill. After failing to get in touch with the Sub Divisional Magistrate over the telephone the Deputy Superintendent ordered first one and then several of his men to fire. One man was killed and another died subsequently. Altogether 40 were reported to have been wounded, seven were sent to hospital.
United Provinces 1st February 1922 Chauri Chaura.	An attempt to picket Muderwa bazar and prevent sales of fish, drugs and liquor had been frustrated by police. Also an Ahir (gowli caste) Government pensioner, who was a previous convict and had become volunteer, was called up and threatened with loss of his pension. The volunteers, determined on Saturday, that is the next bazar day, to forcibly picket the bazar and overawe all opposition by their numbers. The owner of the bazar is a loyal zaminder. The volunteers proceeded to the bazar through the police station grounds. They attacked the police station with kunkars and bricks. Eventually the police fired in the air. The attack was renewed with greater force. The mob rushed the police and they fled, some into the fields and some into the buildings. A few police must have fired on the mob in earnest, but it cannot be said whether it was before the rush or not. Buildings were set on fire and all the force there except one constable and one chaukidar, who escaped were brutally beaten to death and then burnt. Also a little boy servant of the Sub Inspector was murdered. Resistance to the mob was, I fear, badly organised. Then the mob tore up two rails on the line, cut telegraph wires and scattered. Twenty-one police and chaukidars killed & two rioters.
Bihar and Orissa 3rd February 1922 Jamalpur.	Two Indian boys quarrelled in Railway Works, Jamalpur. One as result being rendered unconscious. Action taken by Railway authorities who dismissed two men did not satisfy popular demand for removal of head maistry and on 10th an attempt was made to assault him in office which was stoned. Works manager asked men in foundry either to work or leave and as they refused to do either they were locked out on 11th and stoned men arriving. Crowd at Jamalpur was dispersed but many workmen came in by local trains from outside where trains were held up and line tampered with. District Magistrate regards situation as serious and fears sabotage. Military police arrived on evening 11th. Trouble expected 13th when shops re-open.
United Provinces 5th February 1922 Bareilly.	A defiant challenge was given this morning in the city by about 5,000 volunteers who went out in procession despite prohibition. The processions were dispersed flags seized and the bands silenced. The volunteers and crowd rallied at the Town Hall. The police seized the Congress office, tore down and burnt the flags. Later a crowd which was reinforced by outside help attempted to seize Town Hall and a charge by the police met with vollies of brickbats. The situation with the number of men available was impossible to hold. By the District Magistrate's orders fire was opened by the police and the attack repelled. The crowds remained hostile. With military assistance the situation in now in hand. No firing was done by the military. The District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police were wounded in the face by brickbats. So far as known two are killed and five wounded. The city is in the hands of the military. The District Magistrate personally satisfied himself that the firing was absolutely justified. Six men have been arrested including Abdul Wadeed, Trebeni Sahai, Moti Singh Vakil and Damodar Sarup. All is quiet now. One man killed on the spot, two since died in hospital five wounded now in hospital including one woman.
Assam 15th February 1922 Jamumamukh.	A riot occured at Jamumamukh on the 15th among Khilafat Volunteers and Sylhet settlers. Convicted prisoners were forcibly released and a mail train was held up by the removal of sleepers and stoned.
Do. 16th February 1922 Sylhet.	Commissioner, Surma Valley, who is in camp at Kanaighat was dispersing forbidden meeting when a large body of Lathials attacked the Police from behind. Armed Police turned to meet them when in spite of warning they came right on Commissioner who was hit on head by clods of earth and was narrowly missed with lathies. He called on the police to fire; several rounds were fired, resulting in about 8 casualties. As soon as firing stopped men swarmed back in great numbers. Police force then returned to thana. One rifle was lost. It is reported that reinforcements from Auxiliary Force stationed at Sylhet and Karimganj are proceeding to spot. Three police constables killed and three wounded.