A New Source for the History of the Revolutionary Movement in India, 1907- 1917 Author(s): P. B.

Sinha Reviewed work(s): Source: The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Nov., 1971), pp. 151-156 Published by: Association for Asian Studies Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2053060 . Accessed: 04/09/2012 13:47
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NEW SOURCE FOR THE HISTORY IN INDIA,

MOVEMENT

1907-1917

OF THE

REVOLUTIONARY

P. B. Sinha Moscow StateUniversity

Confidential, "Political Troublein India I9o7-I9I7"'1 byJames CampbellKer.2 "PoliticalTrouble"was publishedby the Government of India as a confidential document. Hence,onlya limited number of copiesof thebook wereprobably printed by thegovernment. It is verylikely thatbefore thetransfer of powerin I947 theGovernment of India destroyed mostof thecopiesof "PoliticalTrouble."3 It is, therefore, not surprising thatthe book has not yetreceived the attention it deserves.4 "PoliticalTrouble" is a government publication. The authorof this book had accessto all information, whichtheGovernment secret or otherwise, ofIndia possessed eventsby Ker can be safelytaken to be authentic and authoritative. This makes "Political Trouble"a veryimportant originalsourceforthehistory of therevolutionarymovement in India.
CONFIDENTIAL

Recently this author found an original source for thestudy oftherevolutionary movement inIndia prior to1917. It isa Government ofIndia publication: "No.372,"

about therevolutionary movement in theperiod I907-19I7.

Hencethenarration of

Political Trouble in India

1907-1917
My JAMES CAMPBELL
OF THE INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE

KER

(From 1907 to 1913

lo the Persoonl Assilsnt 'Directorof Ctominal gnoe1hg-cn,)

CALCUTTA SUPERINTENDENT GOVERNMENT PRINTING,INDIA 1917

1 Calcutta, Government Printing, Superintendent to as "Political referred India, 1917; hereafter Trouble." 2 Ker servedin the Indian Civil Service from to the Director Assistant 1907 to I9I3 as Personal of CriminalIntelligence. 3 This authorpossesses one copyof the book. A of the titlepage of "PoliticalTrouble" photostat aDpearsabove.

Editorial Note: Copies of the Ker volume are and theLibrary availablein theIndia Office Library of the School of Oriental and African Studies.The reportbelongs to a categoryof Government of India reports that has been littleused by scholars. 4 Uma Mukherjeehas quoted from "Political Trouble" in her book, "Two greatIndian revolu-

151

152

P. B. SINHA

is the Sediused by scholars The onlyofficial on the topicpreviously publication to the "RowlattReport,""Political Reportof I9I8.5 In comparison tion Committee pointsof view.The Sediand usefulfromseveral Trouble" provesmoreinformative a "PoliticalTrouble,"whichhad been published not onlyconsulted tion Committee someof itspassages.This verbatim but also at timesit even reproduced yearearlier, source "PoliticalTrouble" as an originaland authentic factalone clearly establishes in India. "PoliticalTrouble"is in addition movement forthehistory of revolutionary Report"(226 pages). (550 pages) thanthe"Rowlatt morevoluminous becomes Trouble"in relation to the"RowlattReport" The importance of"Political of the two docueven moresignificant when we look at the natureof the contents CampbellKer, James ments. Speakingof thescopeof "PoliticalTrouble,"its author, observed: size, ofmoderate volume thelimits ofa single within of thisbookis to give, The object theyears in India between activity a connected and revolutionary account of seditious
I907

and 19I7.6

factualaccountof the period under review. a primarily This work,thus,presents the was to investigate On the otherhand, the purposeof the SeditionCommittee in India and to suggest waysand meansforits movement causesof therevolutionary findsplace in the"RowlattReport" of events, therefore, The narration suppression.7 forthe purposesof the SeditionComonly to the extentto whichit was essential mittee. the verynature and character of the Over and above all these considerations value of "PoliticalTrouble" forresearch the immense establish purtwo documents whichwas meantforofficial document, poses."PoliticalTrouble"was a confidential whichwas made public.Thus a higher Report," use only,as opposedto the"Rowlatt of facts in thenarration in "PoliticalTrouble." can be expected degreeof objectivity his own viewsopenly thisbook,theauthorwas freeto express Besides,whilewriting an accountof revoluThe book, therefore, presents without fearof publicscrutiny. officer viewed them.In this way the as an important government activity tionary subjectiveaspect of "PoliticalTrouble" is also free fromseveraldefectswhich a documentintendedforthe public,like the "RowlattReport,"is bound to possess. to the "Rowlatt supplement providesan important "Political Trouble," therefore, in movement knowledgeof the revolutionary Report"in enlargingthe historian's India from I907 to I9I7. "PoliticalTrouble" beginswith a preface(pp. v-xi).8 "Note on Indian Names"
the SeditionCommittee-" (i) to investigate and reporton the natureand extentof the criminal connected withtherevolutionary conspiracies movement in India, (2) to examineand considerthe difficulties that have arisen in dealing with such I907-I9 I7. and to advise as to the legislation, if conspiracies S.A.T. of Mr. Justice 5Under the presidentship to enable Government to deal effecGovernment any,necessary Rowlatt, (Calcutta, Superintendent withthem. . ." ("RolwlattReport," tively p. i). to as referred Printing, India, I9I8); hereafter 8 The preface is written by Sir C. R. Cleveland, "Rowlatt Report." of CriminalIntelligence, the Director 6 "Political Government Trouble,"p. i. 7 The governor-general in Council,with the ap- of India. of stateforIndia, appointed provalof the secretary howtionaries"(Calcutta, I966). These citations, and ever, do not bring to light the importance the of "PoliticalTrouble" forstudying significance duringthe period movement Indian revolutionary

RESEARCH NOTES

153

bya detailed glossary (pp. xv-xviii)of Indian words coverspp. xii-xiv.It is followed in theconspecific significance, whichtheycarry used in the book,along withtheir (pp. xix-xxv). Then follows thetableofcontents text of therevolutionary movement. (pp. I-390), including thefirst elevenchapters The main contents (pp. I-550) follow, partofthebook. whichconstitute themostimportant literature and ChaptersIII and IV (pp. 30-I35) deal with the revolutionary Ker quotes fromthese periodicals publishedin India or abroad. In thesechapters truenature and character. sources in order torevealtheir Chapters I-II (pp. I-29) and V-XI (pp. I36-390) give a detailedaccountof the not only in different partsof India, but also in activities of Indian revolutionaries providesvarious and Turkey.The description England,Paris,America,Germany, new information. activity In someofficial circles it was thought thattherevolutionary and unofficial measureof in India was thereaction of Indian youthto the unpopulargovernment of the thegrowth partitioning Bengalin I905. But Ker dispelsthisnotion.He traces dateand remarks thatthe revolutionary movement to a muchearlier tookplace,and has before thePartition revolutionary movement in Bengalwas started in force the two but so longas thePartition remained persisted sinceit was reversed, wereclosely interconnected.9 duringthe leadersof the Indian nationalmovement Amongthemostimportant and the Britishpress was period,the man hated the most by Britishauthorities Bal(want)Gangadhar Tilak.10 Against this positionKer, himselfa high-ranking the life,careerand activities of Tilak in a sober government officer, has described language.Ker writes. of Government, his policybeingto obtainSelfwardshe was a persistent opponent Government if it had any chanceof favouring even rebellion by any meanspossible,
success.11

and became the leader of the 'Extreme' party,or 'Orthodox' . . . From this time on-

In theagitation Bill he [Tilak] madea bid forpopularity against the'Age of Consent'

dubbedTilak as a religious SeveralEnglishwriters'2 and bigotand communalist of his acts,e.g.,his organization in theGanapati several and participation interpreted in this light.13 view in this regard.Ker festival, Ker, however,holds a different
writes,

withthepublic on religious was already and it grounds, The Ganapati popular worship as thebestmeansof reaching Hindus of all classes was takenup by theTilak party
9 "Political Trouble," p. 5. The partitionof was united Bengal was annulledand the province at the Delhi Durbarin Decemby royalcommand ber I9II. Labor Party'sorgan the Daily Herald 10 British noted that Tilak was "the best hated man of all Anglo-Indianautocrats." (Quoted in Jogesh C. Bose, "Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak," The December I959, Vol. io6, Calcutta, ModernReview, No. 6, p. 46I). 11 "Political pp. 14-15. Trouble," 12 For example, Sir ValentineChirol, "Indian
i9io), (London, Unrest,"

13 With an obviousreference to Tilak the Sedition Committee also came to the same conclusion: "Public Ganpatifestivals appearto have arisenout of anti-Muhammadan movement started afterriots which broke out in the cityof Bombayin 1893 between Hindus and Muhammadans. Agitators who were interested in wideningthe breach between the two communities encouragedthe holding of public celebrations in honour of Ganpati, the elephant-headed god of wisdom and successon a much largerscale than in previous years."("RowlattReport," p. I),

154

P. B. SINHA

touchto the movement fornational inand castes, and of givingnecessary religious dependence.14 and "it appears Sir ValentineChirolcalled Tilak the "Fatherof Indian Unrest," was sought as thoughwhat Sir ValentineChirol wrote [about Tilak] unofficially effort [the 'Rowlatt Report'].""3Tilak, to be officially supportedby this official to it in his speeches and however, did not createthe unrest, he onlygave expression writings. Ker supportsthis viewv. Commentingupon the "Kesari," the Marathi and concentrated the general weeklyof Tilak, Ker writesthat "its tone reflected of unrest overthewhole country."16 feeling whichwas at thattime [1907] spreading In therulingcircles as theresult theGreatStrikein Bombayin i90817 was regarded of plans of some mischievous elements. Ker, reflecting a more baland anti-social ancedviewpoint, writes thatthestrike developed, disturpartly to thefear that serious Partly owingto thepersuasion ofTilak'spartisans, to showsympathy extent to a desire bances wouldtakeplace,and also to a considerable with disapproved bymany besides hisimmediate Tilak whose conviction wasvery widely
followers.'8

and the Britishpress Avoiding the abusive language in which Britishofficials a moreobjective estimate of Tilak. generally described Tilak, Ker soughtto present He remarks, in India."'9 "B. G. Tilak is the mostimportant extremist agitator In this connection semi-official it may be noted that unlike the Britishpress,20 Ker does notcall theIndian revoluAnglo-Indian press2'and therulingauthorities,22 He callsthemrevolutionaries tionaries "anarchists," "nihilists" or "mischief-mongers." and terms their activities Ker could express and revolution." as "attempt at seduction his views about Indian revolutionaries in thisway only because of the factthathe knewthathisbookwas confidential. Anotherimportant insightin "Political Trouble" is the role that Ker assigns Accordingto Ker, to Ganesh Srikrishna Khaparde23in the freedommovement. of the idea of boycott of Englishgoods. "The idea of Khaparde was the originator withG. S. Khaparde,forit is on boycotting British goods seemsto have originated recordthat he conveneda meetingfor this purposeas early as i896."24Ker also
Trouble,"p. i8. "Political Bal GangadharTilak, (AhmeT. V. Parvate, dabad, 1958), pp. 403-404. 16 "PoliticalTrouble,"p. 92. 17 The six-daystrike in JulyI908 was a mark of strongprotestagainstthe award of six years' case. to Tilak in a sedition transportation 18 "Political Trouble,"p. 95. 19 Ibid., p. 442. 20 The mostconspicuous of by its condemnation was the London daily the Indian revolutionaries Times. 21 For example,The Pioneer,Allahabad. 22 John Morley, secretary of state for India datedMay3, 1907, to in his letter, (I905-I910), of India and viceroy Lord Minto,governor-general
14 15

I910 to i9i6, in Indiafrom and viceroy general

anarchissaid that"the Gadar party. . . is frankly tic." (Quoted in K. K. Baneiji, "Har Dayal and of two Gadar leaders," assessment Ram Chandra-an May I965, Vol. II7, The ModernReview,Calcutta, No. 5, p. 338). 23 GaneshSrikrishna Khapardewas an "extrem(Central Amraoti leaderfrom ist" and "nationalist" India). He was a close associateof B. G. Tilak, held to the Shivaji festival whom he accompanied in Calcuttain I906. In April I9I6 Tilak founded C.P. & the India Home Rule League (for Bombay, India). Khapardewas one Berarregionsof British To plead forthe cause of of its founder-members. India's Home Rule, Khapardewent to England in of the deputation of Home Rule I9I9 as a member of the MontaguLeague. Afterthe inauguration as ChelmsfordReformshe became a Member of revolutionaries referred to Indian (I905-I9I0), Council. (London, ImperialLegislative See "Recollections," "sedition-mongers." governor- 24 "PoliticalTrouble,"p. 27. 1924), Vol. II, p. 2I2; LordHardinge,

RESEARCH NOTES

155

thatG. S. Khaparde was an imwhichhintsat the possibility producesevidence25 of the idea of bombsas a weapon in the if not the sole originator, inspirer, portant fight forfreedom.6 Until the end of the about ArabindoGhose.27 Ker also revealsnew information struggle. in political Arabindodid not believein theuse of force century, nineteenth however, GardenCase,28 one oftheaccusedin theManiktolla Banerji, Jotindranath views.He withhis political Arabindo to inspire person claimsto havebeenthefirst as to how we couldbestsecure Banerji]says'We had manydiscussions [Jotindranath Arabindo one,and I convinced thanthepresent Government forIndiaa moresuitable couldbe obtained.'29 that sucha Government byforce that itwasonly of Indian it is acceptedthatHar Dayal30who had servedas professor Generally was disin California, and Sanskritat [Leland] StanfordUniversity Philosophy In thisconnection ideas and activities. missedfromthepostdue to his revolutionary to his post and returned 1912 Har Dayal "resigned Ker statesthatin September, This factsheds additionallighton the work."'31 to take up revolutionary Berkeley but notbecausehe was dismissed, University, career of Har Dayal. He leftStanford dedication becausehe foundhis academicwork an obstaclein the path of complete work. to revolutionary and informative Facing p. 382 in "Political Trouble" is a very interesting Nagarkarof Nasik.3' At publishedin i909 by SridharWamnan Picture," "Seditious representing thenational of Mahalakshmi,33 is a figure there of thepicture thecenter and weakness,disloyalty againstdemons representing who is fighting awakening, leaders of 24 political thereare bust-portraits On all foursidesof thepicture slavery. popular among the who were, obviously, includingMuslims and even foreigners which,in one glance, document, The pictureis a veryimportant revolutionaries. shows who were the most popular political leaders in i909. They include even Banerjiand Madan Mohan "moderate" leaderslike Dadabhai Naoroji,Surendranath
Ibid.,pp. 27-29on The hint given by Ker, if corroborated would place G. S. Khaparde investigations, further of the place in the history in a veryimportant in India. movement revolutionary and mystic 27 ArabindoGhose, the philosopher was the authorof the revolutionary revolutionary, "BhawaniMandir."He editedthe revopamphlet English daily Bande Mataram.He was lutionary Lateron he was in August I907. forsedition charged in the ManiktollaGarden accused of conspiracy Case in I909. But in both the cases he was acquitted.In I9I0 he opened a new chapterin his life,when he leftBengaland reachedPondicherry. meditation himself to religious There he dedicated the famous and founded development and spiritual "ArabindoAshram." 28 The Maniktolla Garden Case (August I908was so named after the place in May I909) suburbsof Calcutta where the the northeastern groupwas located. of a revolutionary headquarters This group was accused of having enteredinto resulted in the a conspiracywhich ultimately
25

26

of Mrs. and Miss Kennedyat Muzaffarpur murder who was 30The famous Indian revolutionary, among of theGadar movement one of thepioneers in U.S.A. and Canada, for the Indian emigrants of India fromthe British. independence 31 "Political Trouble,"p. 234. Ker's information can be relied upon, because in a similarcase he (another to say thatBarakatullah does not hesitate was removedfromhis post Indian Revolutionary) of Tokyo. ("Political Trouble," in the University Waman Nagarkar 32 On August8, i910, Sridhar to threeyears'R. I. under section was sentenced I24-A of I.P.C. for havingpublishedthis picture of Police, Superintendent of District [vide telegram Bombayto government, Nasik, to the secretary "Source Material for a Historyof the Freedom in India," Vol. II, I885-I920, (Bombay, Movement of Bombay I958), p. 67I]. Later the Government I5, I9I0 No. 4627 of August Notification bytheir the picture.(Ibid.) forfeited 33 A Hindu goddess.
p. I35). 30, I908. on April 29 "Political pp. I52-I53. Trouble,"

156

P. B. SINHA

Malaviya. Conspicuousby theirabsenceare G. K. Gokhale and P. M. Mehta, an werenotpopularamongtherevolutionaries. they that whichindicates omission about severalconspiracies, I-II and V-XI also give detailedinformation Chapters books. notfoundin other whichis generally and of thosewho have taken politicalagitators of "prominent portraits thumb-nail These portraits work in India and abroad."34 a leading part in the revolutionary Chapter for research. field a vast up opens which source valuable a very provide which in a gives XII also containsa veryusefulchronological table (pp. 446-48I), or India in whether events, important all the order chronological and systematic from I907 movement with the Indian revolutionary abroad,which were connected has been givenon pp. 482Sheetsand otherCompilations" to I9I7. "List of History 5I2. On p. 5I3 thereis table showingthe names of the "Membersof Council and 1907." At the end of the book a fromI January of CriminalIntelligence Directors has been given,whichrunsfromp. 5I5 to 550. detailedindex35 but are rich,not onlyin quantity, of "PoliticalTrouble,"therefore, The contents of some of the also in quality.Besidessheddingnew lighton the lives and careers leadersof India, the book of JamesCampbell Ker, unlike the great revolutionary givenby Sir ValentineChirol,the "RowlattReport" accounts biased and prejudiced studyof Indian revolutionary a farmoreobjective presents and Sir Verney Lovett,36

XII contains "Who'sWho" (pp. 39I-445), Chapter

of about350 a collection

I907 to I9I7. from movement 34"PoliticalTrouble,"p.

39I.

iminstitutions, literature, places, organizations, with Indian revoluportanteventsetc. connected theperiodI907-I9I7. during movement tionary

35 The index enumeratesnames of persons,

36 The authorof the book, "A Historyof the (London, I920). He Movement," IndianNationalist was also a memberof the Sedition Committee
(I9I8).