Gandhiji Champaran, Rajendra Prasad and Ramanugarh Narayan Sinha

S.N. SINGH, 23 4-1917.

[No. 46B.]

Note, dated 23 April, 1917, from S.N. Singh, Personal Assistant to the Commissioner, Tirhut Division

I have seen three of the gentlemen who are helping or who have invited Mr. Gandhi.

Everything was pre-arranged. Rs. 10,000 or more was collected in Motihari and the interiorof Champaran. The matter was discussed before the Congress Committee at Lucknow last year, but it was lying dormant because Messers. Madan Mohan Malviya and M. K. Gandhi had no time to come. In March last, while the All-India Congress Committee was sitting in Calcutta and most of the Behar-men such as Messrs. Haq, Sinha, and Brijkishore Prasad were there, Rajkumar Shukla of Champaran went there and narrated the (alleged) grievances of the tenants and Mr. Gandhi undertook to come alone as Malviya was busy with other work. Before leaving Calcutta, Mr. Gandhi had a very long interview with Mr. Gourlay who has promised to talk over matters again with him when he finishes his enquiry.

It is said that the Viceroy's Private Secretary has just written to assure Mr. Gandhi that he will have no more trouble in his mission.

This enquiry will take about 6 months. Mr. Gandhi may go away from Champaran now and there leaving his assistants in charge. His asistants are:--

(i) Babu Brijkishore Prasad, 

(ii) Babu Rajendra Prasad,

(iii) Babu Ramnavami Prasad, 

(iv) Babu Dharni Dhar Prasad,

(v) Babu Ramanugraha Narayan Sinha,

All pleaders who have decided to give up their practice for six months; other pleaders go now and then to assist.

Messrs. Polak and Andrews also offered their services for six months but Mr. Gandhi has told them they will not be required. They are recording the statements of witnesses and have given notice to the planters to let them see their own evidence if they please. It is said that two planters have seen Mr. Gandhi.

It is also said that Mr. K.M. Leslie will help Mr. Gandhi. Mr. Gandhi proposes to place his report after making the enquiry befors Lord Chelmsford personally."

S.N. SINGH.