Ashti and Chimur incident and Mahatma Gandhi

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

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Ashti and Chimur incident and Mahatma Gandhi

 

 

Ashti and Chimur are two historical places in Maharashtra, India. During quiet India Movement a mob killed some policemen. So British Government decided to hand thirty people. Mahatma Gandhi opposed it.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Professor Bhansali, one time fellow Elphinstone college, left college 1920 and joined Ashram Sabarmati. He is reported by daily press to be fasting without water near Sevagram Ashram Wardha over Alleged Chimur Excesses Would like establish direct telegraphic contact with him thorough superintendent for ascertaining cause fasting his condition. I would like to dissuade him if I find his past morally unjustified. I make this request for humanity’s sake.” 1   Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I have just read about your sympathetic fast. You have just ended your very long fast over Chimur. You have made that your special task. You should therefore quickly rebuild your body and fulfil the self-allotted task. Leave God to do with me as He likes. I would not have interfered, if you had not just risen from a fast that might have proved fatal and if you had not imposed on yourself a special duty.” 2 

 Mahatma Gandhi gave a statement to the Press Bombay on March 31, 1945, “If the news is correct that the Ashti and Chimur petition has been rejected, it is disturbing. I am opposed to State hanging in every case, but most so in cases like these. Whatever was done by the people on and after August 9, 1942, was done under excitement. If these hangings are now carried out, it will be cold-blooded, calculated murder and worse, because it will be done ceremoniously and under the name of so-called law. It will leave behind nothing but a great increase in the already existing woeful bitterness. How I wish that the threatened hangings were given up. They can be if there is the united voice of India against the impending sentences and such other contemplated sentences.” 3   Mahatma Gandhi did an appeal, “In places where unanimity of public opinion can be recorded and there is no danger of dissent arising, the 3rd of April should be observed as an all-India day by suspension of business as a mark of protest and prayer.” 4 

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “If, after all that has happened, the Chimur prisoners are to be hanged, I cannot see how a national government can be formed. What can we expect from such a government? Will you consider only your own interests in what you do and give no thought to the interests of the masses? Both you and I need to ponder deeply over this. Please consider what can be done while the prisoners are still alive. If you can do something with the League’s co-operation do it, otherwise do what you yourself think proper.” 5 Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter to Purushottamdas Tandon, “I have read the papers you have sent me about the Jaunpur prisoners. I feel that they should be saved from the gallows. What I have written about the Ashti and Chimur prisoners applies very well to this case. You must have seen that I have tried to sate all such prisoners. My hope is that such prisoners will not be hanged. Seven persons had been tried and sentenced to be hanged by the Jaunpur Sessions Court. On appeal, the Allahabad High Court acquitted one of the accused, reduced the sentence of a second to three years’ imprisonment, and confirmed the sentences of the remaining five. An appeal for mercy had been sent to the Governor of U. P.” 6

 Mahatma Gandhi wrote in his Diary, “We shall be undone if we succumb to the psychological environment around us. The situation regarding the Chimur prisoners keeps changing from day to day. Let us do our duty and remain detached.” 7 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Keep in mind the Chimur prisoners. They must live. It will spoil everything if they are hanged.  In the Central Provinces, a number of persons had been sentenced to death in a case of rioting in which some policemen were killed in the villages of Ashti and Chimur during the Quit India movement. The King had rejected their mercy petition; vide “Statement to the Press”, 31-3-1945. But a lacuna in the order was discovered by the defence counsel, and the executions were stayed. Later, owing to Gandhiji’s efforts, on August 16, 1945, the Viceroy commuted the sentences to life imprisonment.” 8

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I understand what you say regarding Chimur-Ashti. Please see to it that those prisoners are not hanged.” 9 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It is also definite that if the Chimur-Ashti prisoners and other such prisoners are hanged, the situation will become impossible. Unless the League’s attitude shows a change without any expectation of gain I will have no deal with it even if the Congress Working Committee consents. This is for you yourself to think over and decide. You are in a better position to understand the truth than anybody else.” 10 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Some hangings an aftermath of the disturbances of 1942 are impending. I have some cases given to me by Dr. Rajendra Prasad of the Working Committee. The Chimur cases you perhaps know. I do not quite know how the last stages of the conference are shaping. Be that as it may, I suggest that all such hangings be commuted to life sentences without further public appeal or agitation and whether judicial proceedings are going on or not. If you think that this is beyond you, may I suggest that these be postponed so as to be dealt with by the national government that is coming into being?” 11 

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Mrs. Anasuyabai Kale of the C. P. Assembly has been to me to tell me that the Privy Council has dismissed the petition of the Ashti and Chimur prisoners to be heard in appeal against the judgement of the Nagpur High Court. Unless, therefore, His Excellency uses his prerogative of mercy the prisoners will be sent to the gallows. His Excellency was good enough to tell me that he would consider these cases and the like when the time came. Now is the time. May I hope that the death sentences will be commuted?”12 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I am sorry to say that I do not read Newspapers and heard about Chimur Ashti only from you. If what you state is all true, it is a matter of great sorrow and all the more so for me that such an incident should take place over my name. Moreover, I am totally ignorant about what is going on there at present. I cannot personally go anywhere but I am enquiring about both the matters. If the second incident also was as you describe, it is really sad.” 13 

 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It is certainly good that the Chimur people have been released. They deserved to be released. But to command all that they did would amount to commending violence. It would mean that we accepted it. Now that they have all been released, uncle Bhansali should understand this and make our Chimur friends understand.” 14

 

References:

 

 

1. TELEGRAM TO SECRETARY, HOME DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF BOMBAY, Express November 24, 1942   
2. LETTER TO M. G. BHANDARI, February 12, 1943
3. The Hindu, 1-4-1945
4. Mahatma Gandhi-The Last Phase, Vol. I, p. 109
5. LETTER TO BHULABHAI J. DESAI, April 8, 1945
6. The Hindustan Times, 21-4-1945
7. Diary, April 5, 1945
8. LETTER TO BHULABHAI DESAI, May 22, 1945
9. LETTER TO BHULABHAI DESAI, June 7, 1945
10. SILENCE-DAY NOTE TO BHULABHAI DESAI, June 11, 1945  
11. LETTER TO LORD WAVELL, June 28, 1945
12. LETTER TO E. M. JENKINS, August 3, 1945
13. LETTER TO ABHYANKAR, October 14, 1945
14. LETTER TO KANU GANDHI, June 4, 1946