SINDHI CONTRIBUTIONS TO FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE

>

>
> From: Sindhulogy@aol.com Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008
>
> Role of SindhWorkis (Sindhi Traders in foreign countries) in Gadar
> Revolt & INA under Subhash Chandra Bose
>
> Submitted by:
> Dial V. Gidwani- Sindhu American
> ,
> Respecting the sacrifices of the Ancestors ,educating the future
> Generations.
>
> The Sindhi Hindu community uprooted as the result of India's Partition,
> now girdles the globe. But then for Sindhi traders, globalization was
> never a new concept. For decades, well before Partition, Sindhi traders
> (commonly known as SindhWorkis) had established themselves practically in
> every city of the world, with larger concentration in Japan, Singapore,
> Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia; through the Middle East to Africa and
> Gibraltar, and across Britain and Europe to the U.S. and Latin America.
>
>
> These SindhWorkis or Sindhi traders earned a fine reputation for
> trustworthiness and honesty in foreign countries. Their word was known as
> a bond. They supported local, social events and aided worthwhile charities
> from time to time, locally and in Sindh and India. They were religious and
> remained steadfast in their family, social and cultural roots and
> religious identity. Largely their donations were to religious
> institutions, mandirs (temples) and gurdwaras but many like Bahi
> Wattumall, Chellarams. Bhai Maghnamal of K A J Chotirmull and many others
> gave much for educational and social purposes for Sindhis and others.
>
> The SindhWorkis kept a low profile while giving aid and support. As
> the grand old man heading the Watumalls is said to remark when someone
> questioned him as to why he does not publicize his charities, he quoted
> Rahim who was a great philanthropist, "dene wala koi aur hai; log brahm
> mujh pay kyoun karen!" (Means: Giver is Some One Else - implying that
> there is some Higher Power that is the Giver - So why should people think
> that I am the giver?). Later, when Watumalls established the public
> foundation for Education, naturally their charities had to come out in the
> open.
>
> By and large SindhWorkis remained aloof from politics. Many suffered
> almost silently the pain of India for its being a colony of the British
> but there was no organization worth the name till the first decade of the
> twentieth century through which they could channel their frustration and
> funds . A change in the attitude of the SindhWorkis came about with the
> formation of the Gadar Party early in the second decade of the twentieth
> century.
>
> Establishment of the Gadar Party:
>
> The Gadar Movement was established around 1912-1913. It was the first
> organized violent bid for freedom after the uprising (Indian War of
> Independence) of 1857. Gadar in Punjabi means "revolt" - and indeed this
> revolt was the saga of courage, valor and determination of overseas
> Indians to free India from the shackles of British slavery. Clearly, the
> Gadarites wanted to liberate India by the force of arms. The movement did
> not achieve its intended objective. However, it awakened a sleeping India
> and left a major impact on India's struggle for freedom. The heroism,
> courage and sacrifices of the Gadarites inspired many freedom fighters to
> continue their mission. This attempt to free their country was made by
> Indians living overseas, particularly in the United States and Canada.
> Although, the overwhelming majority of the Gadarites were Sikhs and the
> main centers of revolutionary activity were in Canada and the United
> States, the movement spread to other centers as w
> ell, such as Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore. Many of the leaders were
> of other parties and from different parts of India, and amongst them were
> Rash Bihari Bose, Barkutullah, Seth Husain Rahim, Tarak Nath Das, Vishnu
> Ganesh Pingley, Virendra Nath Chattopadhyay (younger brother of
> politician-poetess Sarojani Naidu), Bhupendra Nath Datta (brother of Swami
> Vivekananda), Ajit Singh (uncle of Shahid Bhagat Sigh), and Bhai Bhagwan
> Singh.
>
> It was as the result of Rash Bihari Bose's effort that some Sindhis
> also became sympathizers and helpers of the Gadar Movement. Notable among
> them were Dr. Choithram P. Gidwani, who was in regular touch with Rash
> Bihari Bose, not so much by normal correspondence but through messages
> sent by word of mouth by friendly couriers. Dr. Choithram had introduced
> quite a few associates to Rash Bihari Bose, and amongst them were two of
> his close friends Lokram Sharma and his brother Vishnu Sharma. The two
> Sharma brothers remained in close touch with Rash Bihari Bose. Dr.
> Choithram had also been in touch with Lala Har Dayal who had been a
> faculty member at Stanford University in U.S.A. for about two years. He
> was the central pioneering figure and the force behind the newly formed
> Gadar organization.
>
> Please note the following extract on page 89 of The Sindh Story by
> K.R.Malkani (published by Sindhi Academy Delhi):
>
> "One mid-night in 1913, a lame Muslim complaining of severe stomach
> pain, arrived in a bullock cart from Kotri, at the residence of Lokram
> Sharma in Hyderabad (Sindh). Once in, it was clear, that he was Rash
> Bihari Bose, the famous revolutionary in disguise who had thrown a bomb at
> Lord Hardinge in Chandni Chowk, Delhi in 1912. Rash Bihari Bose, Lokram
> Sharma and his brother Vishnu Sharma had been in the same house in Delhi
> on that bomb-throw day. Dr. Choithram arranged money for Rash Bihari Bose
> and sent him to Amritsar on way to Japan via Afghanistan".
>
> Note: Although it is said that Rash Behari Bose had 'thrown" the bomb,
> it seems that he had 'master-minded' the event and was present nearby to
> direct the bomb-throw. On December 23, 1912, Lord Harding, the Viceroy of
> India, was to make his entry into Delhi in a procession. At 11.45am the
> procession reached Dhulya Katra in Chandni Chowk. A bomb ripped through
> the procession. The Viceroy escaped, but the man to his right in his
> howdah was killed and 20 spectators were injured. In the ensuing man-hunt
> Master Amir Chand, Avadh Behari and Bal Mukund were arrested and hanged in
> Delhi jail.. Basanta Viswas, who threw the bomb, disguised as a lady, was
> hanged in Ambala jail. Rash Behari Bose averted arrest owing to a clever
> disguise. The event, as observed by Sir Valentine Chirol, had a
> "tremendous effect on the subsequent revolutionary activities" . Rash
> Behari Bose remained on the move from Punjab to Uttar Pradesh to Bengal in
> different disguises. A police officer note
> d that Rash Behari Bose could have been a "great stage actor" instead of a
> revolutionary if he so desired.
>
> Rash Behari Bose's escape from Sindh arranged by Dr. Choithram had
> also a touch of drama. Rash Behari wore a long beard with a wig of
> flowing white hair and carrying a long seven-foot pole covered with
> multi-colorful cloth and a large number of bells attached, he marched on,
> with banging the pole and repeating loud cries of 'Alakh Niranjan', 'Anal
> Haq', 'Ya Ali, Ya Hussain' and such religious slogans as though seeking to
> draw attention to himself but the result actually was that everyone kept
> away from him, regarding him as a demented sadhu or dervish (holy man),
> Not only in Sindh but elsewhere too he kept up the same charade, believing
> firmly that the surest way to avoid detection is to be loud in inviting
> attention to yourself.
>
> As it is, an organizational set-up had already been created in Sindh
> to help revolutionaries in hiding and in assisting them to escape. Here
> again, we turn to page 89 of The Sindh Story by K.R.Malkani, which tells
> us:
> Commissioner of Police
> "In 1910, Acharya Kripalani, Kaka Kalelkar, Swami Govindanand, Dr.
> Choithram and others set up the Brahmacharya Ashram in Hyrerabad
> (Sindh)... This was not only an institution to produce patriotic young
> men - though song, drama and gymnastics but also a forum for other
> activities, including shelter for revolutionaries-in hiding.
>
> "Dr. Choithram, Swami Alaram, Pandit Deendayal Vachaspati and Swami
> Satya Dev went on cow protection tour of Sindh singing, 'Behl sahib khe
> karyo salam' ('Salute Sir Bullock') and collected 3,000 rupees for the
> Brahmacharya Ashram."
>
> The Brahmachaya Ashram had nominated a number of members and
> well-wishers in all districts and many towns of Sindh. Amongst them was
> Dr. Vatanmal Gidwani of Mirpur Khas, Prof. Ghanshyam Shivdasani in
> Hyderabad and many others.
>
> The Sindh Story by K.R.Malkani also tells us of how Baba Gurdit Singh,
> carrying a reward on his head 'for his arrest dead or alive' of 40,000
> Rupees due to his part in hiring the Japanese ship komagatamaru was
> sheltered safely in Sindh for a period of three years - thanks to
> assistance from the Brahmacharya Ashram.
>
> An interesting footnote should also be added here. Dr. Choithram
> Gidwani had given Rupees 845/ to Rash Bihari Bose, along with a gold
> bangle donated by Dr. Choithram's elder brother's wife, to facilitate his
> escape to Japan. Long after, when Rash Bihari Bose had reached Japan to
> settle down there, became a Japanese citizen after marrying a beautiful
> Japanese girl from the respected Soma family, Dr Choithram received a
> message through an intermediary, along with Rupees 845/ and the message
> simply said,
>
> "My wife Tosiko's parents have given me a gift; call it dowry if you
> will but it is a gift of love. So I must return Rupees 845/ for they
> belong to the Brahmacharya and the Cow - and the Cow must not be deprived
> on my account. As to the lady who donated the Bangle to me, I touch her
> feet. The bangle adorned my wife's jewelry box for a while which now, in
> its entirety, she has donated to the Cause dear to you and us all. Let
> the Bangle then serve the Cause; and let us pray for the Cause and if time
> permits, even for us. . . . ".
>
> NOTE: Apart from the message to Dr. Choithram, Rash Behari Bose
> simultaneously also sent a message of Regards to Sister "Kumari Jethi". To
> her were thanks for the 7-foot curtain rod stripped from the curtains in
> her drawing room, covered with her two colorful saris which served as his
> walking pole and the ghungroos and bells, she attached to the pole.
> Possibly the reference to "Kumari Jethi" is to Kumari Jethi Sipahimalani
> who later became a Member of the Sindh Legislative Assembly and was
> herself a freedom fighter, crusading for the rights of Sindhis in India
> after the Partition. But there is no clear confirmation yet to identify
> this reference to "Kumari Jethi".
>
> Rash Behari Bose gained prominence in Japan, particularly during World
> War II. With the help of Captain Mohan Singh and Sardar Pritam Singh, he
> formed the Indian National Army (I.N.A.) on September 1, 1942. Rash Behari
> was elected President and later gave Supreme Command of the I.N.A. to
> Subash Chandra Bose in 1943. Rash Behari expired before the end of World
> War II, on January 21, 1945.
>
> Sindhi Code-Names:
>
> There was considerable sympathy and support among the people of Sindh
> for the Gadar Movement. Those connected with the movement through efforts
> of, and contact with, Rash Bihari Bose, however, were very cautious and
> circumspect. For instance, Vishnu Sharma was code-named "Teesra Ishwar"
> ("third God" - a reference possibly to the third god in the Trinity of
> Gods - Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu). His brother, Lokram Sharma, who also,
> along with him, was in the same house in Delhi with Rash Bihari Bose on
> the day of bomb-throw at Lord Hardinge, had the code-name of "Teesra
> Ishwar ka Bhai" ("Brother of Third God"). Dr. Choithram Gidwani had the
> code-name of "Brahmadassa" which may possibly have been selected at
> random, unconnected with any particular association. (Brahmadassa is an
> uncommon Sindhi name. It was the name of the discoverer of the confluence
> of Sindhu and Saraswati Rivers. Brahmadassa started life in an Ashram as a
> Brahmachari but later renoun
> ced his vow of Brahmacharya and married Rishi Vaswana's daughter,
> settling along the Saraswati River. Thus the code name of Brahmadassa had
> no real connection with Dr.Choithram Gidwani's life as he, throughout,
> intended to remain- and did remain - a Brahamachari).
>
> There was lasting advantage in the secrecy maintained by Sindhis in
> their code-names. When a person - who was very high up in the Gadar
> movement - turned a traitor and a police-informer, Gadar movement was
> broken up as all the names of the participants were with the Police.
> Sindhis with their code-names were protected as, despite a nation-wide
> investigation and hunt, their identities remained hidden. At least a
> dozen men with names of Ishwar Das, Ishwar Singh and such like, along with
> their brothers, were questioned by the Police, from time to time, on the
> suspicion that they may be the culprits referred to as, "Teesra Ishwar" or
> "Teesra Ishwar ka Bhai"
>
> As many as 145 Gadarites were hanged by Indian Government, 308 were
> sentenced for longer than 14 years and many more for lesser terms. Some of
> them passed years in KALA PANI (Black waters) in the Andamans.
>
> Fourteen Gadarites remained hidden in Sindh for long, sheltered through
> aid from the Brahmacharya Ashram. They moved out to safety, with changed
> identities and in disguise with somewhat altered appearance, when the
> police- hunt for them was no longer hot.
>
> Dr. Choithram as also most Sindhis had by now had begun to embrace the
> Gandhian doctrine of non-violence as the way to make the British leave
> India. They no longer subscribed to the Gadarite philosophy of force and
> violence to gain independence. But even so, they felt honour bound to
> protect the Gadarites from police-hunt. "We have promises to keep", they
> said, and they kept their promise. They also said among themselves, "If
> Gandhiji knew, he would understand", but they left Gandhiji uninformed.
>
> Support of SindhWorkis:
>
> Sindhi traders (SindhWorkis) began to support the Gadar Movement.
> Certainly, the SindWorkis were not in the frontline of the movement. Their
> support largely consisted of financial donations - often substantial - to
> the movement. In one case, the firms of Pohoomal Bros, D.Chelaram,
> M.Dialdas & J.T.Chanrai of Hong Kong contributed on a large scale to a
> fund for the purchase of ammunition for an armed rising by Gadarites.
> Quite apart from this ad hoc assistance, SindhWorkis were paying regularly
> to the Gadarite treasury. The SindhWorki support also extended, in many
> cases, to providing safe-houses to hide the Gadar revolutionaries.
> Moreover, SindhWorkis were able to help Gadarites in passing their
> important and confidential messages as they had a vast and intricate
> network covering practically every country with associates, correspondents
> and in many cases, even branch offices.
>
> Again, as The Sindh Story by K.R.Malkani points out, "When Subhash
> Chandra Bose set up INA in the Far East, his best and biggest supporters
> were the Sindhi businessmen there. Both Subhas Bose and Gandhiji referred
> to Sindhis as ``World Citizens'' since they are to be found everywhere."
>
> Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is immortalized in our History for having
> formed the Azad Hind Government in exile, and regrouping and leading the
> Indian National Army to battle against the allies in Imphal and Burma
> during the World War II.
>
> Sindhi families abroad donated large sums of money, ornaments, jewelry
> to support the Independence movement of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
>
> Among the Sindhworkis who distinguished themselves by supporting these
> freedom movements are:
>
> 1) Wassiamull Assumall 2) J. Kimatrai3) Utoomal Assudomal 4) Gangaram,
> Singapore
> 5) Jhamandas Melwani, Hongkong/Singapore 6) Sehwani family (Manila) 7)
> K a J Chotirmall, Hongkong/Singapore8) Kewalram Corpoartion, Japan 9)
> Gulraj Corpoartion, Japan 10) P Parsram, Japan 11) Watumull's Hawaii 12)
> Watanmal Bulchand 13) Chanrais 14) D Chellaram 15) G. Assanmall 16)
> Jhangimull and many others
>
> This educational movement is joint effort of American Institute of
> Sindhulogy www.sindhulogy.org ,GlobalSindhi Council Mumbai
> www.globalsindhicouncil.org and Gul Hayat Research Institute Dokri,Larkana
> (sindh) www.gulhayat.com
>
> Three institutes experienced that there was scanty or no pre partition
> information available on uprooted Sindhi families . There are requests
> from Sindhis , specially those who married out side their community, that
> their growing children are curious to know about their Sindhi
> background.This is missing from the historical documents.
>
> Gul Hayat has provided us names of 581 Sindhi activist freedom
> fighters and their role in freedom movement. The Seventy page research
> collection (part one) will be posted on web site shortly.Sindhi family
> those were up rooted from Sindh after partition, their ancestors
> information can be obtained through research.
>
> Three Institutes will be delighted to receive any information that may
> be available for incorporating in this historical document
>
>
> ANCESTRAL INFORMATION
>
> Gul Hayat can provide information on your ancestors from its researched
> collection for which the following information is required.
>
> 1) Full name of your Ancestor
> 2) Name of City / District of his residence in Sindh
> 3) Political affiliations, if any
> 4) Occupation
> 5) Any other relevant information
>
> The Information will include following, which may enable you to arrange
> your family tree
>
> (A) Nukh/caste/Sub-caste.
> (B) Childhood,Education & Profession.
> (C) Details about his/her services rendered.
> (D)His/Her colleagues & contemporaries.
> (E)His/Her position in the field of service.
> (F)Photos, doucments, letters & other material,
> information subject to availablity
>
> A research donation of $150 would be applicable.
> The amount to be sent to AIS in the USA or GSC in Mumbai. The donation is
> tax deductible in USA as well as India.
>
> Respondent's Name:
> Address:
> Telephone:
> Email:
>
>
> American Institute of Sindhulogy to promote knowledge of Sindhu &
> Saraswati Civilzation- NON PROFIT,NONRELIGIOUS,NONPOLITICAL INSTITUTE
> 1740 Ridge Avenue #LL15 B
> Evanston Illinois 60201
> Phone 847 491 6930 //Fax 847 491 0923
> www.sindhulogy.org
> Theme No. 9-POSTED
> Theme No. 10
> Frontiers of Bharat Varsha (5,000 BCE) - with an account of how
> Afghanistan (Avagana) became a part of Bharat Varsha ; the story of
> Sadhu Gandhara, a great wanderer, who became the Chief of Afganistan.
>
> Respecting the sacrifices of the Ancestor ,educating the future
> Generations.
> "Knowledge is the most powerful Resource for the nation building "
> APJ ABDUL KALAM Former President of India. www.abdulkalam.com
>
>
>
>
> --
> The following information is a reminder of your current mailing
> list subscription:
>
> You are subscribed to the following list:
> Prof. G.C.Asnani
>
> using the following email:
> shakti-l@hinduworld.com
>
> You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by
> visiting the following URL:
>
>
>
> If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the
> entire address. Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break
> this automatic unsubscribe mechanism.
>
> You may also change your subscription by visiting this list's main screen:
>
>
>
> If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at:
>
>
>
> The following physical address is associated with this mailing list:
>
> --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
>
> To post to this group, send email to shakti-l@googlegroups.com
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> shakti-l-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/shakti-l?hl=en
> -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
>

Reply

Reply to all

Forward


Bharat Gajjar
----- Original Message ----- From: "Prof. G.C.Asnani"
6:15 AM (22 hours ago)
Sher Agrawal to Ap

show details 4:53 AM (1 minute ago)


Reply


- Hide quoted text -


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bharat Gajjar
Date: Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 6:15 AM
Subject: Fw: [Shakti-L: 1709] ) Role of SindhWorkis in Gadar Revolt & INA under Subhash Chandra Bose (Sindhulogy@aol.com)
To: Undisclosed-Recipient



----- Original Message -----
From: "Prof. G.C.Asnani"

> Role of SindhWorkis (Sindhi Traders in foreign countries) in Gadar
> Revolt & INA under Subhash Chandra Bose
>
> Submitted by:
> Dial V. Gidwani- Sindhu American
> ,
> Respecting the sacrifices of the Ancestors ,educating the future
> Generations.
>
> The Sindhi Hindu community uprooted as the result of India's Partition,
> now girdles the globe. But then for Sindhi traders, globalization was
> never a new concept. For decades, well before Partition, Sindhi traders
> (commonly known as SindhWorkis) had established themselves practically in
> every city of the world, with larger concentration in Japan, Singapore,
> Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia; through the Middle East to Africa and
> Gibraltar, and across Britain and Europe to the U.S. and Latin America.
>
>
> These SindhWorkis or Sindhi traders earned a fine reputation for
> trustworthiness and honesty in foreign countries. Their word was known as
> a bond. They supported local, social events and aided worthwhile charities
> from time to time, locally and in Sindh and India. They were religious and
> remained steadfast in their family, social and cultural roots and
> religious identity. Largely their donations were to religious
> institutions, mandirs (temples) and gurdwaras but many like Bahi
> Wattumall, Chellarams. Bhai Maghnamal of K A J Chotirmull and many others
> gave much for educational and social purposes for Sindhis and others.
>
> The SindhWorkis kept a low profile while giving aid and support. As
> the grand old man heading the Watumalls is said to remark when someone
> questioned him as to why he does not publicize his charities, he quoted
> Rahim who was a great philanthropist, "dene wala koi aur hai; log brahm
> mujh pay kyoun karen!" (Means: Giver is Some One Else - implying that
> there is some Higher Power that is the Giver - So why should people think
> that I am the giver?). Later, when Watumalls established the public
> foundation for Education, naturally their charities had to come out in the
> open.
>
> By and large SindhWorkis remained aloof from politics. Many suffered
> almost silently the pain of India for its being a colony of the British
> but there was no organization worth the name till the first decade of the
> twentieth century through which they could channel their frustration and
> funds . A change in the attitude of the SindhWorkis came about with the
> formation of the Gadar Party early in the second decade of the twentieth
> century.
>
> Establishment of the Gadar Party:
>
> The Gadar Movement was established around 1912-1913. It was the first
> organized violent bid for freedom after the uprising (Indian War of
> Independence) of 1857. Gadar in Punjabi means "revolt" - and indeed this
> revolt was the saga of courage, valor and determination of overseas
> Indians to free India from the shackles of British slavery. Clearly, the
> Gadarites wanted to liberate India by the force of arms. The movement did
> not achieve its intended objective. However, it awakened a sleeping India
> and left a major impact on India's struggle for freedom. The heroism,
> courage and sacrifices of the Gadarites inspired many freedom fighters to
> continue their mission. This attempt to free their country was made by
> Indians living overseas, particularly in the United States and Canada.
> Although, the overwhelming majority of the Gadarites were Sikhs and the
> main centers of revolutionary activity were in Canada and the United
> States, the movement spread to other centers as w
> ell, such as Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore. Many of the leaders were
> of other parties and from different parts of India, and amongst them were
> Rash Bihari Bose, Barkutullah, Seth Husain Rahim, Tarak Nath Das, Vishnu
> Ganesh Pingley, Virendra Nath Chattopadhyay (younger brother of
> politician-poetess Sarojani Naidu), Bhupendra Nath Datta (brother of Swami
> Vivekananda), Ajit Singh (uncle of Shahid Bhagat Sigh), and Bhai Bhagwan
> Singh.
>
> It was as the result of Rash Bihari Bose's effort that some Sindhis
> also became sympathizers and helpers of the Gadar Movement. Notable among
> them were Dr. Choithram P. Gidwani, who was in regular touch with Rash
> Bihari Bose, not so much by normal correspondence but through messages
> sent by word of mouth by friendly couriers. Dr. Choithram had introduced
> quite a few associates to Rash Bihari Bose, and amongst them were two of
> his close friends Lokram Sharma and his brother Vishnu Sharma. The two
> Sharma brothers remained in close touch with Rash Bihari Bose. Dr.
> Choithram had also been in touch with Lala Har Dayal who had been a
> faculty member at Stanford University in U.S.A. for about two years. He
> was the central pioneering figure and the force behind the newly formed
> Gadar organization.
>
> Please note the following extract on page 89 of The Sindh Story by
> K.R.Malkani (published by Sindhi Academy Delhi):
>
> "One mid-night in 1913, a lame Muslim complaining of severe stomach
> pain, arrived in a bullock cart from Kotri, at the residence of Lokram
> Sharma in Hyderabad (Sindh). Once in, it was clear, that he was Rash
> Bihari Bose, the famous revolutionary in disguise who had thrown a bomb at
> Lord Hardinge in Chandni Chowk, Delhi in 1912. Rash Bihari Bose, Lokram
> Sharma and his brother Vishnu Sharma had been in the same house in Delhi
> on that bomb-throw day. Dr. Choithram arranged money for Rash Bihari Bose
> and sent him to Amritsar on way to Japan via Afghanistan".
>
> Note: Although it is said that Rash Behari Bose had 'thrown" the bomb,
> it seems that he had 'master-minded' the event and was present nearby to
> direct the bomb-throw. On December 23, 1912, Lord Harding, the Viceroy of
> India, was to make his entry into Delhi in a procession. At 11.45am the
> procession reached Dhulya Katra in Chandni Chowk. A bomb ripped through
> the procession. The Viceroy escaped, but the man to his right in his
> howdah was killed and 20 spectators were injured. In the ensuing man-hunt
> Master Amir Chand, Avadh Behari and Bal Mukund were arrested and hanged in
> Delhi jail.. Basanta Viswas, who threw the bomb, disguised as a lady, was
> hanged in Ambala jail. Rash Behari Bose averted arrest owing to a clever
> disguise. The event, as observed by Sir Valentine Chirol, had a
> "tremendous effect on the subsequent revolutionary activities" . Rash
> Behari Bose remained on the move from Punjab to Uttar Pradesh to Bengal in
> different disguises. A police officer note
> d that Rash Behari Bose could have been a "great stage actor" instead of a
> revolutionary if he so desired.
>
> Rash Behari Bose's escape from Sindh arranged by Dr. Choithram had
> also a touch of drama. Rash Behari wore a long beard with a wig of
> flowing white hair and carrying a long seven-foot pole covered with
> multi-colorful cloth and a large number of bells attached, he marched on,
> with banging the pole and repeating loud cries of 'Alakh Niranjan', 'Anal
> Haq', 'Ya Ali, Ya Hussain' and such religious slogans as though seeking to
> draw attention to himself but the result actually was that everyone kept
> away from him, regarding him as a demented sadhu or dervish (holy man),
> Not only in Sindh but elsewhere too he kept up the same charade, believing
> firmly that the surest way to avoid detection is to be loud in inviting
> attention to yourself.
>
> As it is, an organizational set-up had already been created in Sindh
> to help revolutionaries in hiding and in assisting them to escape. Here
> again, we turn to page 89 of The Sindh Story by K.R.Malkani, which tells
> us:
> Commissioner of Police
> "In 1910, Acharya Kripalani, Kaka Kalelkar, Swami Govindanand, Dr.
> Choithram and others set up the Brahmacharya Ashram in Hyrerabad
> (Sindh)... This was not only an institution to produce patriotic young
> men - though song, drama and gymnastics but also a forum for other
> activities, including shelter for revolutionaries-in hiding.
>
> "Dr. Choithram, Swami Alaram, Pandit Deendayal Vachaspati and Swami
> Satya Dev went on cow protection tour of Sindh singing, 'Behl sahib khe
> karyo salam' ('Salute Sir Bullock') and collected 3,000 rupees for the
> Brahmacharya Ashram."
>
> The Brahmachaya Ashram had nominated a number of members and
> well-wishers in all districts and many towns of Sindh. Amongst them was
> Dr. Vatanmal Gidwani of Mirpur Khas, Prof. Ghanshyam Shivdasani in
> Hyderabad and many others.
>
> The Sindh Story by K.R.Malkani also tells us of how Baba Gurdit Singh,
> carrying a reward on his head 'for his arrest dead or alive' of 40,000
> Rupees due to his part in hiring the Japanese ship komagatamaru was
> sheltered safely in Sindh for a period of three years - thanks to
> assistance from the Brahmacharya Ashram.
>
> An interesting footnote should also be added here. Dr. Choithram
> Gidwani had given Rupees 845/ to Rash Bihari Bose, along with a gold
> bangle donated by Dr. Choithram's elder brother's wife, to facilitate his
> escape to Japan. Long after, when Rash Bihari Bose had reached Japan to
> settle down there, became a Japanese citizen after marrying a beautiful
> Japanese girl from the respected Soma family, Dr Choithram received a
> message through an intermediary, along with Rupees 845/ and the message
> simply said,
>
> "My wife Tosiko's parents have given me a gift; call it dowry if you
> will but it is a gift of love. So I must return Rupees 845/ for they
> belong to the Brahmacharya and the Cow - and the Cow must not be deprived
> on my account. As to the lady who donated the Bangle to me, I touch her
> feet. The bangle adorned my wife's jewelry box for a while which now, in
> its entirety, she has donated to the Cause dear to you and us all. Let
> the Bangle then serve the Cause; and let us pray for the Cause and if time
> permits, even for us. . . . ".
>
> NOTE: Apart from the message to Dr. Choithram, Rash Behari Bose
> simultaneously also sent a message of Regards to Sister "Kumari Jethi". To
> her were thanks for the 7-foot curtain rod stripped from the curtains in
> her drawing room, covered with her two colorful saris which served as his
> walking pole and the ghungroos and bells, she attached to the pole.
> Possibly the reference to "Kumari Jethi" is to Kumari Jethi Sipahimalani
> who later became a Member of the Sindh Legislative Assembly and was
> herself a freedom fighter, crusading for the rights of Sindhis in India
> after the Partition. But there is no clear confirmation yet to identify
> this reference to "Kumari Jethi".
>
> Rash Behari Bose gained prominence in Japan, particularly during World
> War II. With the help of Captain Mohan Singh and Sardar Pritam Singh, he
> formed the Indian National Army (I.N.A.) on September 1, 1942. Rash Behari
> was elected President and later gave Supreme Command of the I.N.A. to
> Subash Chandra Bose in 1943. Rash Behari expired before the end of World
> War II, on January 21, 1945.
>
> Sindhi Code-Names:
>
> There was considerable sympathy and support among the people of Sindh
> for the Gadar Movement. Those connected with the movement through efforts
> of, and contact with, Rash Bihari Bose, however, were very cautious and
> circumspect. For instance, Vishnu Sharma was code-named "Teesra Ishwar"
> ("third God" - a reference possibly to the third god in the Trinity of
> Gods - Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu). His brother, Lokram Sharma, who also,
> along with him, was in the same house in Delhi with Rash Bihari Bose on
> the day of bomb-throw at Lord Hardinge, had the code-name of "Teesra
> Ishwar ka Bhai" ("Brother of Third God"). Dr. Choithram Gidwani had the
> code-name of "Brahmadassa" which may possibly have been selected at
> random, unconnected with any particular association. (Brahmadassa is an
> uncommon Sindhi name. It was the name of the discoverer of the confluence
> of Sindhu and Saraswati Rivers. Brahmadassa started life in an Ashram as a
> Brahmachari but later renoun
> ced his vow of Brahmacharya and married Rishi Vaswana's daughter,
> settling along the Saraswati River. Thus the code name of Brahmadassa had
> no real connection with Dr.Choithram Gidwani's life as he, throughout,
> intended to remain- and did remain - a Brahamachari).
>
> There was lasting advantage in the secrecy maintained by Sindhis in
> their code-names. When a person - who was very high up in the Gadar
> movement - turned a traitor and a police-informer, Gadar movement was
> broken up as all the names of the participants were with the Police.
> Sindhis with their code-names were protected as, despite a nation-wide
> investigation and hunt, their identities remained hidden. At least a
> dozen men with names of Ishwar Das, Ishwar Singh and such like, along with
> their brothers, were questioned by the Police, from time to time, on the
> suspicion that they may be the culprits referred to as, "Teesra Ishwar" or
> "Teesra Ishwar ka Bhai"
>
> As many as 145 Gadarites were hanged by Indian Government, 308 were
> sentenced for longer than 14 years and many more for lesser terms. Some of
> them passed years in KALA PANI (Black waters) in the Andamans.
>
> Fourteen Gadarites remained hidden in Sindh for long, sheltered through
> aid from the Brahmacharya Ashram. They moved out to safety, with changed
> identities and in disguise with somewhat altered appearance, when the
> police- hunt for them was no longer hot.
>
> Dr. Choithram as also most Sindhis had by now had begun to embrace the
> Gandhian doctrine of non-violence as the way to make the British leave
> India. They no longer subscribed to the Gadarite philosophy of force and
> violence to gain independence. But even so, they felt honour bound to
> protect the Gadarites from police-hunt. "We have promises to keep", they
> said, and they kept their promise. They also said among themselves, "If
> Gandhiji knew, he would understand", but they left Gandhiji uninformed.
>
> Support of SindhWorkis:
>
> Sindhi traders (SindhWorkis) began to support the Gadar Movement.
> Certainly, the SindWorkis were not in the frontline of the movement. Their
> support largely consisted of financial donations - often substantial - to
> the movement. In one case, the firms of Pohoomal Bros, D.Chelaram,
> M.Dialdas & J.T.Chanrai of Hong Kong contributed on a large scale to a
> fund for the purchase of ammunition for an armed rising by Gadarites.
> Quite apart from this ad hoc assistance, SindhWorkis were paying regularly
> to the Gadarite treasury. The SindhWorki support also extended, in many
> cases, to providing safe-houses to hide the Gadar revolutionaries.
> Moreover, SindhWorkis were able to help Gadarites in passing their
> important and confidential messages as they had a vast and intricate
> network covering practically every country with associates, correspondents
> and in many cases, even branch offices.
>
> Again, as The Sindh Story by K.R.Malkani points out, "When Subhash
> Chandra Bose set up INA in the Far East, his best and biggest supporters
> were the Sindhi businessmen there. Both Subhas Bose and Gandhiji referred
> to Sindhis as ``World Citizens'' since they are to be found everywhere."
>
> Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is immortalized in our History for having
> formed the Azad Hind Government in exile, and regrouping and leading the
> Indian National Army to battle against the allies in Imphal and Burma
> during the World War II.
>
> Sindhi families abroad donated large sums of money, ornaments, jewelry
> to support the Independence movement of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
>
> Among the Sindhworkis who distinguished themselves by supporting these
> freedom movements are:
>
> 1) Wassiamull Assumall 2) J. Kimatrai3) Utoomal Assudomal 4) Gangaram,
> Singapore
> 5) Jhamandas Melwani, Hongkong/Singapore 6) Sehwani family (Manila) 7)
> K a J Chotirmall, Hongkong/Singapore8) Kewalram Corpoartion, Japan 9)
> Gulraj Corpoartion, Japan 10) P Parsram, Japan 11) Watumull's Hawaii 12)
> Watanmal Bulchand 13) Chanrais 14) D Chellaram 15) G. Assanmall 16)
> Jhangimull and many others
>
> This educational movement is joint effort of American Institute of
> Sindhulogy www.sindhulogy.org ,GlobalSindhi Council Mumbai
> www.globalsindhicouncil.org and Gul Hayat Research Institute Dokri,Larkana
> (sindh) www.gulhayat.com
>
> Three institutes experienced that there was scanty or no pre partition
> information available on uprooted Sindhi families . There are requests
> from Sindhis , specially those who married out side their community, that
> their growing children are curious to know about their Sindhi
> background.This is missing from the historical documents.
>
> Gul Hayat has provided us names of 581 Sindhi activist freedom
> fighters and their role in freedom movement. The Seventy page research
> collection (part one) will be posted on web site shortly.Sindhi family
> those were up rooted from Sindh after partition, their ancestors
> information can be obtained through research.
>
> Three Institutes will be delighted to receive any information that may
> be available for incorporating in this historical document
>
>
> ANCESTRAL INFORMATION
>
> Gul Hayat can provide information on your ancestors from its researched
> collection for which the following information is required.
>
> 1) Full name of your Ancestor
> 2) Name of City / District of his residence in Sindh
> 3) Political affiliations, if any
> 4) Occupation
> 5) Any other relevant information
>
> The Information will include following, which may enable you to arrange
> your family tree
>
> (A) Nukh/caste/Sub-caste.
> (B) Childhood,Education & Profession.
> (C) Details about his/her services rendered.
> (D)His/Her colleagues & contemporaries.
> (E)His/Her position in the field of service.
> (F)Photos, doucments, letters & other material,
> information subject to availablity
>
> A research donation of $150 would be applicable.
> The amount to be sent to AIS in the USA or GSC in Mumbai. The donation is
> tax deductible in USA as well as India.
>
> Respondent's Name:
> Address:
> Telephone:
> Email:
>
>
> American Institute of Sindhulogy to promote knowledge of Sindhu &
> Saraswati Civilzation- NON PROFIT,NONRELIGIOUS,NONPOLITICAL INSTITUTE
> 1740 Ridge Avenue #LL15 B
> Evanston Illinois 60201
> Phone 847 491 6930 //Fax 847 491 0923
> www.sindhulogy.org
> Theme No. 9-POSTED
> Theme No. 10
> Frontiers of Bharat Varsha (5,000 BCE) - with an account of how
> Afghanistan (Avagana) became a part of Bharat Varsha ; the story of
> Sadhu Gandhara, a great wanderer, who became the Chief of Afganistan.
>
> Respecting the sacrifices of the Ancestor ,educating the future
> Generations.
> "Knowledge is the most powerful Resource for the nation building "
> APJ ABDUL KALAM Former President of India. www.abdulkalam.com
>
>
>
>
> --
> The following information is a reminder of your current mailing
> list subscription:
>
> You are subscribed to the following list:
> Prof. G.C.Asnani
>
> using the following email:
> shakti-l@hinduworld.com
>
> You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by
> visiting the following URL:
>
>
>
> If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the
> entire address. Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break
> this automatic unsubscribe mechanism.
>
> You may also change your subscription by visiting this list's main screen:
>
>
>
>