Chapter 34Appendix: Bengal Provincial Conference Hughly – 1909

APPENDIX Bengal Provincial Conference Hughly–1909 DRAFT RESOLUTIONS NATIONALIST DRAFT RESOLUTIONS I. That this Conference places on record its profound feelings of regret and sorrow at the death of Lord Ripon who has justly been called the father of local self-government in India and whose policy of justice and righteousness will for ever enshrine his memory in the hearts of the people of this country. This Conference also urges that immediate steps should be taken to perpetuate his memory. I. That this Conference places on record its sorrow at the death of Lord Ripon who was an earnest and sincere sympathiser with Indian aspirations and did much for the cause of local self-government. II. (a) That this Conference is of opinion that the system of Govern- ment obtaining in the self-governing British Colonies should be extended to India. (b) That while expressing its grate- fulness to the Government for the concessions made in the recent Reform Scheme, this Conference records its firm conviction that no reform will ensure the happiness and contentment of the people unless it gives them a direct control over the finances of the country. II. (a) As in the Committee’s draft. (b) That this Conference emphati- cally condemns the principle of sepa- rate electorates on sectarian lines and of special privileges for one commu- nity which it is intended to introduce into the Reform Scheme and is farther of the opinion that no reform will be acceptable to the country which does not concede to the people a direct and substantial control over finance and legislation. The rest to be omitted. The draft resolutions in the left column were written by the Moderate Congress leaders. The Nationalist draft resolutions were written by Sri Aurobindo.

(c) That this Conference is further of opinion that any undue favour in the matter of representation in the Councils which may be shown to any particular community cannot fail to encourage sectarianism in the differ- ent communities and to create dissen- sions and political troubles amongst them. (d) That this Conference also urges the Government to publish the rules framed in accordance with Lord Mor- ley’s Scheme before they are finally adopted. III. (a) That this Conference declines to accept the Partition of Bengal as a settled fact or question and resolves to continue the agitation against it with a view to its reversal or modification. (b) That in this connection this Conference appeals to the Govern- ment of India to act in the spirit of His Majesty’s assurance in his recent message that the rectification of er- rors has ever been one of the guiding principles of British Government in India. III. As in the Committee’s draft but clause (b) to be omitted. IV. That this Conference urges the people to continue the Boycott of for- eign goods which is, in its opinion, a perfectly legitimate movement and is calculated to promote the political as well as industrial and economic welfare of the country. IV. That this Conference accords its fullest support to the Boycott move- ment and recommends its farther ex- tension both as a political weapon and as a measure of economic pro- tection. N.B. This is the Pabna resolution. V. That this Conference urges upon the country the necessity of using Swadeshi articles in prefer- ence to foreign, even at a sacrifice, and developing the resources of the country. V. As in the Reception Committee’s draft.

Draft Resolutions of the Hughly Conference VI. That this Conference places on record its emphatic and unqualified condemnation of the detestable out- rages and deeds of violence which have been recently committed and is of opinion that such acts will retard the progress of the country. VI. That this Conference looks with strong disapproval on all methods of violence and holds that the fur- therance of the national movement should be effected by peaceful and legitimate means, and it warns the au- thorities that the policy of repression stimulates terrorist activity and the best way to paralyse it is to restore normal conditions. VII. (a) That this Conference re- cords its emphatic protest against the repressive measures adopted by the Government and especially against the deportation of nine Bengali gen- tlemen without trial or charge and further protests against the persistent refusal of the Government to fur- nish any information regarding the charges against them and to give them an opportunity of exculpating them- selves. This Conference considers the immediate release of the deportees as absolutely necessary in the interests of justice and fair-play. (b) That having regard to the grave risk of injustice involved in Govern- ment action based upon ex parte and untested informations and to the pe- nal laws of the country, this Confer- ence urges upon the Government the repeal of the Bengal Regulation III of 1818. VII. That this Conference em- phatically condemns the repressive measures adopted by the Government and especially the deportation of nine Bengali gentlemen without trial or charge and considers their immediate release and the repeal of the Bengal Regulation III of 1818 as the only way to assuage the profound discontent created by these measures. VIII. That having regard to the prevalence of Cholera, Malaria and Smallpox in the province throughout the year and the abnormal death rate as disclosed in the last Sanitary Report of Bengal, this Conference urges the Government as well as the VIII. That inasmuch as the Govern- ment has failed hitherto to redeem its pledges with regard to the ap- plication of the Road Cess for the purposes originally intended and has not fulfilled its duties with regard to the improvement of sani-

people to adopt amongst others the following measures: — (1) The sinking of wells and the ex- cavation and reservation of tanks in the villages for purely drinking pur- poses. (2) The draining of the rural areas. (3) The clearing of jungle in the in- habited areas of towns and villages. (4) The prevention of noxious dis- charges from septic tanks into the River Hughly which form the princi- pal cause of Cholera in the riparian towns and villages on both banks of the said river. tation in rural areas, the Conference demands the fulfilment of this duty and the organisation of adequate measures for the provision of good drinking water, medical aid and proper drainage of the country. N.B. This is the Pabna resolution with some verbal modifications. IX. That this Conference recom- mends — (a) That all local self-governing bod- ies and Panchayats should, without further delay, be vested with powers to elect their own Chairman. (b) That the principle of represen- tation should be extended to village Union Committees and Panchayats. (c) That the Union Committees should be vested with powers to initiate and carry on measures for the sanitary improvement of the areas within their jurisdiction and that grants of money should be made to them for that purpose. IX. That this Conference is of opinion that local self-governing bodies including Panchayats and Village Union Committees should be entirely elected on the principle of popular representation and freed from official control and that Village Union Committees should be vested with powers and provided with the necessary funds to carry on sanitary improvements. X. (a) That this Conference urges the Government to take immediate action on their circular on free pri- mary education issued about three years ago and invites their attention to the fact that the grants in aid of technical and scientific education are not at all commensurate with the needs of the country. X. That in the opinion of this Con- ference steps should be taken for pro- moting a system of education liter- ary, technical and scientific suited to the requirements of the country on national lines and under national con- trol and maintaining national schools throughout the country. Clause (a) is omitted.

Draft Resolutions of the Hughly Conference (b) That in view of the recent ed- ucational policy of the Government which has practically closed the doors of the University against many stu- dents of the province and the neces- sity of organising a system of literary, scientific, technical and industrial ed- ucation suited to the requirements of the country, this Conference urges the people to take steps to establish ed- ucational institutions throughout the country on national lines and under national control. XI. (a) That, while recording its satisfaction at the recognition by the Government of India of the principle of separation of Judicial from Execu- tive functions, this Conference regrets that effect has not yet been given to it. (b) That this Conference is of opin- ion that the only effective method of reforming the Police is to separate the Judicial from the Executive functions and that no scheme for such separa- tion will be successful unless all the Judicial Officers are placed under the direct control and supervision of the High Court. (c) That this Conference is further of opinion that for the better ad- ministration of Civil and Criminal justice in the country, the District and Sessions Judges should be recruited from among the ranks of the legal profession. XI. That this Conference is of opin- ion that the separation of judicial from executive functions, which has been recognised in principle, should be forthwith put into effect and all judicial officers placed under the direct control and supervision of the High Court and that provision should be made in the scheme for the District and Sessions Judges being appointed in future from the ranks of the legal profession in this country. XII. That this Conference enters a strong protest against the Calcutta Police Bill which is an uncalled for measure of an absolutely retrograde XII. As in the Committee’s draft except that in place of “enters a strong protest against” should be put “strongly condemns”.

character and which will restrict the freedom of action of the people in Calcutta and will subject them to un- scrupulous harassments. XIII. (a) That in view of the large surplus under the head of Stamp Rev- enue and the growing poverty of the people, this Conference urges upon the Government the necessity of re- ducing the Court fees levied for the institution of suits and complaints. (b) That having regard to the ru- inous expenses of litigation in Courts of law, this Conference is of opinion that arbitration Courts should be es- tablished throughout the country. XIII. Omit clause (a), otherwise as in the Committee’s draft. XIV. That with a view to mit- igate the hardship arising from chronic high prices of food stuffs, this Conference urges on the Dis- trict Associations the necessity of establishing Co-operative Banks and Stores with Dharmagolas throughout the country. XIV. As in the Committee’s draft. XV. That in view of the ravages of wild animals and the frequent dacoities in the towns and villages, this Conference appeals to the Gov- ernment to repeal the Arms Act. XV. That in view of the ravages of wild animals and frequent dacoities in the towns and villages against which there is no adequate protection, this Conference is of opinion that the Arms Act should be repealed or radically modified. XVI. That this Conference views with apprehension the decrease in the normal growth of the Bengali Hindu population and hereby appoints a Committee consisting of the follow- ing gentlemen to ascertain the causes which have led to this state of things and to suggest what steps should be taken to prevent it. XVI. As in the Committee’s draft.

Draft Resolutions of the Hughly Conference XVII. That this Conference, while sympathising with the Indian resi- dents of South Africa in their struggle for equal rights and privileges with the White population and admiring their firm attitude, places on record its deep sense of indignation at the gross wrongs inflicted on them and suggests the adoption of Boycott of Colonial and British goods by other Provinces of India by way of protest and retaliation. XVII. As in the Committee’s draft, except that after “firm attitude” should be inserted “and heroic sufferings”. XVIII. That having regard to the gradual diminution of commons or pasture land for cattle, this Con- ference urges the Government and the people specially the land-holding classes to adopt measures for the protection and preservation of cows and oxen. XVIII. As in the Committee’s draft, except that the words “the Govern- ment and” should be omitted. XIX. That this Conference is of opinion that the Government grants of money for drainage and irrigation purposes in Bengal which is essen- tially an agricultural Province are lamentably inadequate for its needs and urges the Government to take the following steps at an early date: — 1. The dredging of the Bhagirathi. 2. The immediate adoption of the measures recommended by Mr. Horn and other expert engineers for the prevention of the annual floods in the Arambagh Sub-division by the overflow water of the Begua Breach. 3. The draining of the Kadua Math in the Amta basin in the District of Howrah. XIX. Omit XX. That in the present situation of the country united action being highly XX. That this Conference consid- ers a United Congress imperatively

desirable, this Conference earnestly appeals to the leaders to bring about a compromise between the two wings of the Indian Nationalist party and to arrange for holding a United Congress. necessary in the interests of the coun- try and believes that the best way to bring about union is to hold a session elected as in all Congresses up to 1906, to which any future arrangements for the procedure of the Congress shall be submitted. (b) That in this view it appoints the following Committee to confer on be- half of the province with the organ- isers of the meeting at Lahore and with other provincial leaders for the holding of such a session and it far- ther empowers the Committee in case of necessity to propose and arrange for this session being held in Calcutta in co-operation with all who are de- sirous of union. XXI. That with a view to inaugurate a vigorous system of self-help and vol- untary work for the redress of their grievances, this Conference urges the people to organise village Commit- tees, Sub-Divisional Associations and District Associations. XXI. As in the Committee’s draft, omitting only the words “and vol- untary work for the redress of their grievances”. Additional Resolutions. 1. That this Conference is of opinion that two of the most necessary and important classes of enterprise from the point of view of our commercial development are (1) Swadeshi Banks and (2) Steam Navigation Companies to control the waterways of Bengal, and urges on the country the necessity of initiating and supporting such en- terprises, and it expresses its appreci- ation of the efforts of those who have already undertaken work of this kind. 2. That the Conference is of opinion that physical training be encouraged by all means to infuse greater man- liness in the younger generation and make them capable of self-protection and self-defence.