Chronology of Mahatma Gandhi's life/South Africa 1910

Documents libres.

South Africa 1909

Chronology of Mahatma Gandhi's life ~ South Africa 1910 written by Mohandas K. Gandhi

South Africa 1911

1910, January 1

Indian Opinion reduced in size for financial reasons.

1910, January 5

Gandhi attended Boksburg meeting, where certificates were handed in to be destroyed.

1910, January 6

Rev. Charles Phillips and J.C. Gibson had interview with Gandhi following their conversations with Lord Selborne, High Commissioner of Transvaal.

1910

In letter to J.C. Gibson, Gandhi refuted charge that South African movement was engineered and controlled from India and that British Indians continually shifted their ground regarding their demands.

1910, January 7

Spoke at dinner to Joseph Royeppen and others in Johannesburg.

1910, January 13

Gokhale wrote to Gandhi that disposal of the sums remitted was left to the latter’s discretion.

1910, January 20

Natal Legislative Council passed Indian Immigration (Licences) Act Amendment Bill.

1910, February 1

Joseph Royeppen, David Andrew and Samuel Joseph tried t Volksrust and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor.

1910, February 9

In Gandhi’s office, Mrs. Amacanoo and Mrs. Packirsamy took off their ornaments, vowing not to wear them till struggle was over.

1910, February 14

Gandhi spoke at Chinese reception at Cantonese Club, Johannesburg, in honor of Rev. J.J. Doke, on eve of latter’s departure for America.

1910, February 18

Spoke at banquet in Masonic Hall in honor of Rev. Doke. Chairman, BIA, in letter to General Manager, C.S.A.R., submitted draft railway regulations to replace those applicable to Asiatics.

1910, February 20

Gandhi addressed meeting of Natal Indian Congress in Durban.

1910, February 23

Explained Transvaal struggle at meeting of Kathiawad Arya Mandal, Durban.

1910, February 25

Transvaal BIA, Johannesburg, sent telegram to Earl of Crewe on treatment of Royeppen and Rustomjee in Transvaal prisons and on diet-scale of prisoners.

1910

Indian Legislative Council at Calcutta passed Gokhale’s resolution to prohibit recruitment of indentured labor for Natal.

1910, February 26

Gandhi wrote in Indian Opinion supporting the resolve of Dr. Abdurahman and Cape Colored people in view of their disfranchisement to observe day of prince of Wales’s arrival as day of mourning.

1910

Spoke at Durban Indian Society meeting in honor of passive resisters.

1910, March 11

Accompanied a number of passive resisters to Transvaal to violate immigration laws.

1910

In letter to Moulvi Ahmed Mukhtiar, explained that Phoenix debt was incurred during struggle.

1910, March 17

Told the Star representative that Indians had come to Johannesburg not to arrest their personal rights, but to take part in struggle.

1910

President and Secretaries of Natal Indian Congress forwarded petition to Colonial Secretary against Indian Immigration Law Amendment bill.

1910, March 23

Bill to amend Indian Emigration Act 1908, was moved by Robertson in Viceroy’s Council, to give effect to Gokhale’s resolution of February 25.

1910, March 24

Bombay Government Gazette notified that Hind Swaraj; Universal Dawn, - Gujarati rendering of Ruskin’s Unto This Last -; Mustafa Kamel Pasha’s Speech, - a Gujarati translation of the Egyptian patriot’s speech delivered just before his death, in Cairo-; and Defense of Socrates or The Story of a True Warrion - all publications of International Printing Press - had been forfeited to His Majesty for reason that they "contain matter declared to be seditious".

1910, April 4

Letter to Leo Tolstoy with copy of Indian Home Rule for comment.

1910, April 8/9

Director of Transvaal Prisons replied to Chairman, BIA, denying complaint that prisoners were sent to Diepkloof Prison to associate them with hardened criminals, and declined to send them elsewhere and change present diet-scale.

1910, April 12

Question on emigration of indentured Indians from India to Natal raised in Commons by O’Grady and Rees.

1910, April 14

Fifty-nine Indians deported to India from Transvaal by the Umhloti.

1910

Gandhi addressed letter to Attorney General regarding Karodia case and requested Government to use judicious discretion in obtaining warrants of arrest against Indians of standing.

1910, April 25

Wrote to Gokhale indicating how Passive Resistance Fund was being used.

1910, May 5

Madras public meeting protested against deportation of Indians without trial by Transvaal Government.

1910, May 5

King Edward VII passed away.

1910, May 8

Leo Tolstoy, in letter to Gandhi, commenting upon Indian Home Rule, said question of passive resistance was of greatest importance not only for India but for all humanity.

1910, May 10

Replying to letter from W.J. Wybergh, M.L.A. (Transvaal ), Gandhi defended views expressed in Indian Home Rule.

1910, May 30

Wrote to H. Kallenbach expressing thanks for offer of farm near Lawley for use of passive resisters and their families for duration of Transvaal struggle.

1910, June 1

Union of South Africa came into being.

1910, June 2

In letter to Press, Gandhi said advent of Union was no cause for rejoicing and described it as "a combination of hostile forces" arrayed against Asiatics.

1910, June 10

Sir Charles Hardinge appointed Viceroy of India.

1910, June 13

Twenty-six passive resisters, deported to India by Transvaal Government in April returned to Durban by S.S. President.

1910, June 18

In Durban, mass meeting of Indians supported passive resistance.

1910

Report of Committee on Emigration from India to Crown Colonies and Protectorates published.

1910, June 26

Gandhi spoke at Socialist Hall, Johannesburg , on "Modern v. Ancient Civilization."

1910, June 29

In Commons, O’Grady raised question of British Indians in Transvaal and suggested Gandhi-Smuts Conference to arrange compromise.

1910, July 1

Gandhi cabled SABIC on rejection of deportees by Natal.

1910, July 3

Appealed for gifts to help settlers at Tolstoy Farm.

1910, July 8

BIA, Transvaal, presented address of welcome to Lord Gladstone.

1910, July 9

In reply to Secretary of State, Lord Gladstone communicated decision to increase daily ration of India prisoners serving sentences of up to 3 months.

1910, July 21

Natal Government Gazette published rules framed under Indian Immigration Law 1891, requiring employers of indentured Indian immigrants to provide shelter for children of Indian women working in fields.

1910

Gandhi paid tribute to G.C. Natesan for his work for passive resisters deported to India.

1910, July 22

Lord Morley (Secretary of State for India) expressed to Lord Crawe (Secretary of State for Colonies) his profound regret at refusal of Transvaal Ministers to make any concessions regarding observance of Ramzan in prison or to exempt high-caste Hindu prisoners from tasks involving what they regarded as religious defilement.

1910, July 26

In Lords, Lord Ampthill raised question of deportation of Indians from Transvaal.

1910, July 28

BIA cabled SABIC regarding deportation of Royeppen to Natal and Government’s attempt to make minors prohibited immigrants.

1910, July 30

Gandhi commented on Churchill’s statement in Commons that he had given instructions that all persons imprisoned as passive resisters or as suffragettes should be spared unnecessary degradation.

1910, August 3

Resolutions passed at London public meeting under president ship of Sir Muncherjee Bhownaggree, protesting against treatment of Indians domiciled in Transvaal and deportation via Mozambique.

1910, August 5

Gokhale asked questions in Indian Imperial Council regarding Transvaal deportees.

1910, August 6

Transmitting Lord Morley’s communication of July 22 to Lord Gladstone, Secretary of State for Colonies said that anything offending religious susceptibilities of Indians must be a serious and permanent obstacle to settlement.

1910, August 9

Gandhi sent rejoinder to Rand Daily Mail’s leader "Asiatic Exaggeration" on Lord Morley’s reputation of harsh treatment of British Indian deportees during their unforced voyage from Dalagoa Bay of Bombay.

1910, August 13

Colonial Office wrote to Sir Muneherjee Bhownaggree and Ritch regarding London meeting of August 3.

1910, August 15

Gandhi wrote a letter to Tolstoy.

1910, August 23

A.E. Chhotabhai, a Krugersdrop merchant, appealed against decision of Registrar of Asiatics refusing registration to his son on attaining majority.

1910

Public meeting held at Victoria Hall, Madras, to bid forewell to Transvaal deportees on eve of their departure for Transvaal. Sir S. Subramania presided; Mrs. Annie Basent attended.

1910, August 25

Cape Town City Council passed resolution refusing en bloc applications of Indians for trading licences.

1910, September 2

Ritch sent reply to Colonial Office letter of August 13 regarding registration law and deportation of Indians from Transvaal.

1910, September 7

Tolstoy wrote to Gandhi, supporting passive resistance.

1910, September 10

Gandhi commented in Indian Opinion on Magistrate Jordan’s dismissal of Chhotabhai’s appeal and its implications for minor Asiatics.

1910, September 13

In Supreme Court, Justice Wessels heard in Chambers Chhotabhai’s case and dismissed it with costs, observing that, if Government’s decision about minors be true, it were a monstrous and cruel injustice.

1910, September 17

Gandhi left for Durban to receive Polak and passive resister deportees from India.

1910, September 20

Spoke at a meeting of Colonial-born Indians.

1910

Spoke at Kathiawad Arya Mandal meeting organized to discuss questions of welcoming deportees.

1910, September 24

Wrote in Indian Opinion, congratulating Dr. Bubusana on his election as member of Cape Provincial Council for Tembuland.

1910, September 26

Bluebook issued dealing with Asiatic legislation in Transvaal up to August 8, 1910.

1910, September 28

Gandhi met Polak, who reached Durban along with other deportees from India by S.S. Sultan.

1910, October 4

Ritch, who came from England by S.S. Saxon, gave interview to Cape Argus.

1910, October 5

Gandhi and others spoke at reception by Kathiawad Arya Manda, Durban, in honor of Polak and passive resisters.

1910, October 7

Cape Provincial Division of Supreme Court heard application of President, British Indian League, Cape town, against refusal by immigration authorities of leave to land to batch of Indians who desired to proceed to Transvaal.

1910, October 8

Gandhi wrote to Minister of Interior in connection with landing of deportees.

1910, October 16

Death of Narayansamy.

1910, October, after 16

In letter to SABIC, Gandhi described death of Narayansamy as "legalized murder".

1910, October 25

Wrote to Registrar of Asiatics, requesting him to advice Principal Immigration Restriction Office to receive applications for duplicate registration certificates from British Indians detained at Salisbury Island under court order.

1910, November 6

After notice to Immigration Officer, reached Volksrust with Mrs. Rambhabai Sodha, her three children and others on way from Durban to Tolstoy Farm.

1910, November 7

Appeared in Court for Mrs. Sodha. In telegram to Immigration Officer, said she did not seek right of permanent residence in Transvaal.

1910, November 8

Chairman, BIA, telegraphed Smuts on Mrs. Sodha’s arrest and requested withdrawal of prosecution.

1910, November 9

Gandhi spoke at Chinese foundation in honor of Ritch and Polak.

1910, November 10

BIA wired Minister of Interior for grant of temporary permit to Mrs. Sodha, adding Association was anxious to avoid importing women into struggle.

1910, November 10

BIA wired Minister of Interior for grant of temporary permit to Mrs. Sodha, adding Association was anxious to avoid importing women into struggle.

1910, November 11

Chhotabhai appeal dismissed by Transvaal Provincial Division of All-India Muslim League, London, sent representation to Secretary of State for Colonies regarding treatment of British Indians in overseas Dominions of the Crown.

1910, November 12

Minister of Interior refused grant of even temporary permit to Mrs. Sodha.

1910, November 14

Gandhi addressed letter to Press in connection with Mrs. Sodha’s case.

1910

Smuts moved second reading gob Bill to consolidate and amend laws regarding naturalization of aliens.

1910, November, before 18

Gandhi addressed letter to members of Asiatic Conference regarding Chhotabhai case.

1910, November 18

At Caxton Hall, London, Polak presiding, Archdeacon Beresford Potter’s paper on "Brotherhood within the Empire - with special reference to the British Indians in the Transvaal" was read.

1910

BIA decided not to join presentation of welcome address to Duke of Connaught.

1910

Ratan Tata sent to Gandhi cheque for Rs.25,000 in aid of Transvaal Indians’ struggle.

1910, November, after 18

Chairman, Hamidia Islamic Society, conveyed respectful welcome to Duke of Connaught but expressed inability to take part in public celebration.

1910, November 19

Chairman BIA, wrote to Director of Prisons regarding fast by Indian passive resisters in Diepkloof prison.

1910, November 20

Death of Leo Tolstoy.

1910, November 22

Chairman, BIA wrote again to Director of Prisons regarding improper treatment of Indian passive resisters in Diepkloof prison.

1910, December 4

Gandhi spoke at Socialist Hall, Johannesburg on Tolstoy and his message.

1910, December 9

In letter thanked G.A. Natesan for securing donations and rendering help to deportees.

1910, December 13

Smuts stated Government’s intention to introduce Immigration Bill for whole of South Africa which would provide suitable opportunity to review entire immigration policy.

1910, December 14

L.W. Ritch on return from South Africa told Reuter in interview that there appeared to be an earnest desire in South Africa to settle Indian problem.

1910, December 15

Gandhi and others met deportees at Diepkloof after discharge from prison.

1910, December 27

Indian National Congress at Allahabad passed resolution expressing admiration for Transvaal Indians’ struggle, urging Government of India to prohibit recruitment of indentured labor and protesting against South African policy as unwise, unrighteous and dangerous to Empire.

1910, December 30

Gandhi appeared for defense in case against Mrs. Rambhabai Sodha under Immigrants’ Restriction Act.