Samipya 1991 Vol 08 Ank 01 02

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

Page 73

Public Meetinga, processions and picketing were done at Vala, Botad, Mahuva, Talaja etc.32 Muslim volunteers namely Fakhruddin Pestanji (Gadhda), Khoja Rajabali Lakhani, Khatki Rahman Ladhani, Vazirali Lakbani of Bhavnagar staged demonstrations and were arrested.
Kathiawad Bhagini Samaj was established to make women politically conscious and create interest in them for the moveinent. The women workers organized Padyatras also to focus the attention of the women of the rural areas 33 The women of Bhavnagar showed that they can compete with the male volunteers. One Miss Saroj Mehta participated in the demonstration held at Bhavnagar port where a ship loaded with weapons was anchored. The police started beating her with lathis but she stood like a mountain and challenged the police to beat her till they could. But ultimatety the police felt ashamed and went away.34
When all the important leaders were arrested, the leadership was provided by the women. Manekben, Nilaben, Jayaben Shah, Sarojben Mehta, Pramilaben Shah etc. became the leaders one by one. They were sentenced to imprisonment of different tenure and cash fines. But they decided to oppose it. They went in a procession to give a memorandum to Maharanisaheba of Bhavnagar. But they were stopped and asked to disperse. They did not and staged Dharna at her residence for the whole night. Next day the officers consented to send their memorandum to her. But even after that the processionists were not prepared to disperse. So the police had a lathicharge in which nine were injured. 35 After this incident the Dewan Anantrai Pattani had declared prohibitory orders on meetings, processions etc....
Though Rajkot was not a big state but it was of importance because it enjoyed the position of the capital of the states of Kathiawad.36 and it was famous for its fine climate and commercial progress.37 Moreover, Rajkot was the centre of the political activities of Saurashtra. After the arrest of U. N. Dhebar and Jethalal Joshi, Shri Jayantilal Maldhari, Odhavaji Ahya and Jaysukhbhai Shah provided leadership to the people of Rajkot and gave many programmes like hartals in the schools picketing near mill and factories and movements to stop supply being sent for war. Mr. Vajubhai M. Shukla and Ismail Hirani were the leftist leaders. They had little popular following and were without organized mass base. Still in the beginnig they found common cause with the nationalists of Saurashtra. They called the second world war an 'imperialist war' but when Germano attacked Russia, they called it the peoples' war and changed their loyalty. They betrayed the nationalists. and so they became unpopular. 38
Wadhwan was the H. Q. of Kathiawad Political Conference. The prominent leaders of this state were Rasiklal Parikh, Sardaben F. Shah, Chanchalben Dave, Swami Shivanand, Amrutlal sheth etc. There was considerable awakening among students and younger people. The leaders toured the whole state and inspired the
Quit India Movement in Princely States of Saurashtra)
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