Samipya 1991 Vol 08 Ank 01 02

Author(s): Pravinchandra C Parikh, Bhartiben Shelat
Publisher: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sanshodhan Vidyabhavan

Page 70

The freedom struggle was born and nurtured mainly in British Indian territory but whenever it gained momentum in the provinces, neighbouring princely states were invariably affected and the agitation always found some echo howsoever faint, among the subjects of the princely states.9 Between 1917 and 1930 Gujarat was in the forefront of the Indian nationalist movement, partly because Gandhji's base was in Ahmedabad city during these years, 10
The Kathiawad Political Conference was established in 1920 to solve the problems of the people of the whole of Saurashtra. It marks the beginning of a new era in the political life of Saurashtra. It created new atmosphere in the conservative atmosyhere of Saurashtra. 11 It had Viththalbhai Patel, Gandhiji, Thakkerbapa and Sardar Patel as its Presidents. It had organised the 'Kathiawad Vidyarthi Parishad' at Rajkot in 1921 under the presidentship of Acharya Kripalani12 and Kathiawad Youth Conference at Rajkot in 1929 under the presidentship of Shri Jawaharlal Nehru. 13 "Saurashtra" weekly was also started in 1921. It became the torch bearer of the demands of the people of the states. It played important part in educating states people and arousing them to fight against autocracy and injustice of the states, 14 In 1927, All India States Peoples' Conference was established to vent the grievances of the states people. Balwantrai Mehta, Amrutlal Sheth, Manilal Kothari, Popatlal Chudgar, Amrutlal Thakker and Jamnadas Mehta of Saurashtra had played important role in its establishment
By 1931 the people of states were trained in non-violent nationalist activities. Many volunteers and leaders from this region had participated in the Satyagraha held in British territory like Nagpur Flag Satyagraha, Bardoli Satyagraha, Dandi March and Salt Satyagrahas of Viramgam and Dholera. They had participated and won success in the Satyagrahas of Khakharechi (1929), Vanod and Dhrol (1931), while they had failed in the Satyagrahas of Morbi and Dhrangadhra (1931). But all these events created a spirit of confidence among the states people.
Gujarat came to the fore once again during the Quit India Movement of 1942.15 This was a memorable, dramatic and explosive movement. In this movement the people of princely states of Saurashtra also participated actively with enthusiasm implanted in them by the resolution regarding states peoples at the Congress Session of Haripura in 1938 in Surat District of Gujarat.
Before 1938 the Congress had adopted the policy of noninterference in the princely states. Though Jawaharlal Nehru believed that the extremist of autocracy prevailed in thes? states, 16 Gandhi and Sardar Patel believed that their main enemy was the British and hence princes should not be attacked because, the source of their power was the support of the Raj. Moreover Congress could not afford to attack two enemies at a time.17 They argued that once India rid herself of British Rule, the Princes would surrender like apples falling from a tree when the trunk is shaken'.18 Moreover, Sardar Patel and other British Gujarat nationalist leaders believed
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Sāmipya : April, '91-March, 1992