THE
PUBLIC VOICE OF SIND MOSLEMS
for
BRINGING TO THE KIND NOTICE
of the
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA
and
COMMISSIONER-IN-SIND
1. The unanimous dissent in the Home Rule
question, shown on behalf of all Sind
Mohammadans by Sind Mobammadans Association at
its general meeting and expressed in the address
presented to His Excellency the Viceroy, is
quite justifiable and reasonable.
2. Thereafter if signature of any Mohammadan is
found to have been taken on Mr. Gandhi's draft
memorial or any other such reform scheme
document, it should be treated as of no
significance or weight.
3. A few Sind Mohammadans who arepro homerule
are either merchants, pleaders, or members of a
sect of Mohammadan Community e.g., Khojas, Boris
and Memons who are neither sons of the soil nor
familiar with the ways and manners of Sind
Mohammadans. Any proposition emanating from them
or any demand advanced by them in conjunction
with Hindus should therefore never be considered
to be representative of the entire Community.
4. The case of Sind is yet quite different and
peculiar Its population consists of nearly 27
lacs of Mohammadans and of only about 7 Lacs of
Hindus. In matters educational, however, the
difference between the two communities is quite
the contrary, the numerically superior race
being far behind the other.The claim for Home
Rule put forth by the latter may therefore be
reasonable but for the former to do so is an
absurdity, for it is not yet fit for the same.
5. Even now the Hindu community is predominant
in all ranks of Government Service. So if
Home-rule is bestowed it is but certain
Mohammadans will never get as much share as they
get under the present system of Government.
6. Sind was conquered from Mohammadans and is
the home of big and respectable Jagirdars and
Land-holders. If any wide awake and
well-informed administrator has ever shown
sympathy with the fallen Mohammadan community in
the shape of bestowing some high places on
Mohammadans in Government service on
considerations of high family or the
backwardness of the community or efficiency of
administration, the members of the other
community have protested strongly in papers and
criticised the action of the official concerned
in very unpalatable terms.
7. Since Hindus envy Mohammadans in Government
Service, in the Councils, and on the Boards,
what trust can Mohammadans repose in them and
come forward to claim Home Rule in concert with
them simply to plunge themselves in permanent
slavery to them (Hindus).
8. It is more preferable for Mohammadans to be
under the present Government of British
Bureaucracy than to be ruled by Hindus.
Mohammadans are satisfied with the Local
Government that has been granting to them rights
and privileges according to their deserts.
9. The security of the rights of Mohammadans
lies in separation from Hindus, for the customs
and manners of the former are quite divergent
and they are numerically far superior to the
latter.
10. Sind Mohammadans are mostly Zamindars and
agriculturists and therefore constitute the
chief source of revenue to Government. But as
long as their two grievances are not remedied,
they will never attain felicitous circumstances.
First"- All civil suits be referred to private
'Arbitration Courts', limitation set upon
'usury', and the provisions of the Punjab Land
Alienation Act 13 of 1900 extended to Sind to
guard the Mohammad pans property against
alienation by sale, action and confiscation.
Second— The control of Mohammadans’ education
should rest with Mohammadans, as under the
existing system no benefit is likely ever to
accrue to them. The passing of the bill for
compulsory education is bound to prove suicidal
to Mohammadan interests. For securing to the
fallen Mohammadan community the above related
two privileges, nay, boons, the name of
Honourable Mr: Lawrence will ever remain green
in the memory of the Sind Mussalmans like that
of late Sir James who immortalized his name by
introducing 'The Deccan Relief Act' and the
"Encumbered State system”, Both the names will
then remain as bright as the sun for ever in the
annals of Sind. Further as full generosity has
been shown in respect of the grant of Honourary
Magisterial powers, it should be empowered to
try small cause civil suits also in the
interests of poor agriculturists. In the absence
of these things it is next to impossible that
the Mohammadan community can ever make any least
progress, for all other remedies will be futile
and not radical.
11- Not a single clause of the Congress-League
reform scheme is conducive to Mohammadan
interests. Mohammadans have therefore nothing to
do with it.
12. Not only in Sind but in the Punjab too
several Mohammadans are deadly against Home Rule
and their resolutions or memorials to that
effect must have been submitted to the
Government.
13.
Home Rule is suited to a country peopled by men
of one religion and one caste. Such is not the
case here.
14. India, as is well proved by its histories,
has never enjoyed self-Government. It is a
blunder therefore to compare it to England. How
then do Indians deem themselves fit for and
entitled to Home Rule!
15. We would not grudge if Goverment, out of
generosity, grant any wish of the Hindus
provided of course Mohammadan interests be not
jeopardised thereby.
16. Any demands put forth by Hindus should be
considered to have been made solely by them and
Mohammadans will have nothing to do with the
same even though they may contain a statement to
the effect that Mohammadans acquiesce in them.
17. When the relations between the Hindus and
Mohammadans are not amicable as evidenced by the
recent sad occurrances in Behar, Shahabad,
Badiwan, Brailly and Delhi, the grant of Home
Rule will on the contrary further such
disturbances.
18. When Hindus cannot even make a small
sacrifice in the shape of House Tax for the
welfare of their country—it being a 1st lesson
in self-help— what good can they do to the
country when granted Home Rule? The stronger
community will have every thing to itself.
19. Mohammadans express their ulmost regret at
the attitude of the Hindus who have at this
momentous juncture of the war embarrassed the
Government by their unreasonable demands. This
is indeed the most inopportune moment chosen by
them.
20. In conclusion, Mohammadans offer their
hearty prayer for the success of the Allies over
their ruthless enemy. They also assure the
Government of their full sympathies with them
and thank God that in this very trying time they
have proved themselves to be unflinching in
their loyalty and devotion to their sovereign
and express a hope they will continue to be so
as long as life is in them.
In conclusion, we cannot refrain from observing
that since our Hindu brethren of
Sind and their lady leaders have beem
vauntingly giving out that the country,
originally theirs, was made over to the English
for mere administration's sake and that they
were now demanding it back without at all
begging for Home Rule, it will be highly
expedient for Government to issue a press
communique stating that Government is prepared
to return the country with its Home Rule to
those from whom it was coniquered by them. It
should then be seen whether our brethren persist
in their demand or show their heels. This will
serve as a very effective way of muzzling their
mouths because it is as clear as a day that Sind
belonged to Mohamrnadans and was taken from
them. How is it then that Hindus demand its Home
Rule? What an absurd claim! As a matter of fact
Mohammadans should advance this claim but they
will do it only when they consider themselves
quite fit for it. In the meanwhile why should
others meddle in a matter which does not at all
concern them?
Note: Besides, objections to the Congress-League
Reform Scheme and Sind Provincial Scheme have
also been written in this book which forms
vernacular part of it.
Shamsuddin "Bulbul" |
