INFORMATION ON SAVARKAR

 

GATHERED BY THE BRITISH SECRET POLICE

 

1906-1909

 

KEPT IN INDIA OFFICE RECORDS

 

 

A note for the readers.

Whatever we may think of the British Raj, we have to admire their record keeping. India Office Library, London keeps files by their secret police on Savarkar and others. These were explored by Late Mukund Sonapatki over a long period from 1968 to 1980. He had to make notes in pencil. As computers became more easily available I typed all his notes for posterity. Now they are being put on our web-site www.satyashodh.com.

The work is by no means finished. If some one has time they can go to India Office Library (now at 3rd floor, British Library, Euston Road, London) and carry further research so that we can know more about our past.

 

Persons mentioned in the files.

After the unsuccessful Indian War of Independence of 1857-59, the British crown took over adminidtration of India from the hands of the (English) East India Company. The British Cabinet included a Secretary of State for India who controlled the affairs of India through the Viceroy (in India). The secretary of State for India had his office in the building called The India Office (now Foerign and Commonwealth Office) which is behind the famous Downing Street. He had his own Council of advisers. These were mostly retired ICS officers or Indian Army Officers.

 

We find the following on such a council

Sir Arthur Godley, K.C.B – Under Secretary of State for India

Sir William Lee-Warner, K.C.S.I – Vice President of the Council

Sir John Edge, K.C

Theodore Morrison.

 

Lt Col Sir W H Wyllie, K C I E, M V O. – Political A.D.C to Secretary of State for India.

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Others mentioned are- R. Ritchie, Sir Charles Elliott, Sir Charles Lyall,

Mr Dube

Research is needed about these persons.

 

V S Godbole                                                              23 August 2007

14 Turnberry Walk

Bedford

MK41, 8AZ

U.K.

 

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L/P&S/7/317/2432 Letter from Sir Richmond to R Ritchie dated

14th June 1906

 

V D Savarkar is a brahmin youth aged about 22. He was educated at the Fergusson College, Poona where he graduated. While in the college he attended a mass meeting of students under the presidency of N C Kelkar,

( editor of Maratta ) who addressed the meeting, advising students to support the " Swadeshi " movement after which the meeting was thrown open for discussion. It was at this meeting that Savarkar first came under notice as a fiery and unbridled speaker. It is reported that at this meeting Savarkar urged his countrymen to dispose everything that is English, and to abstain from purchasing foreign goods. He suggested that all students should burn their clothes made of English & Foreign cloth on Dasara day at Lakdipool.

 

For this breach of college discipline Savarkar was fined Rs 10. The fine was subscribed by the other students and handed over to Savarkar.

 

Since leaving college he has gone to Nasik, where he is taking a active part in the " Swadeshi " movement. At a meeting held at Nasik regarding the Bengal Government's student circular, Savarkar informed the audience that he was of the opinion that the movement was distinctly in the interests of civilisation and was not directed against the Government, and that they should not cease to participate in it and that no harm could befall those interesting themselves in the movement. At another meeting held at Nasik, Savarkar is reported to have made a rabid speech. But the details of this speech have not been furnished. The police have been requested by the District Magistrate to keep an eye on him.

 

Savarkar is apparently looked upon as Sine Qua Non by students, and recently he has been invited by them to establish in Poona a society for the political emancipation of India. Savarkar responded to the invitation and convened a meeting for the purpose at which he and others spoke. Savarkar wound up his address by dialling on the subject of youth and vigour, scoffed at the experience of old age, which he compared to faded flowers not fit for garlanding the goddess of nation, and thus led up to Shivaji and Ramdas and latter's advice as given in a stanza of which the first 3 lines may be translated as follows, " Collect many men, make their thoughts one, and fall together.

 

The fourth line of the stanza was omitted by Savarkar but its very omission produced the desired effect. It runs in the " Mlenchhas " Savarkar excuses himself and said the assembly would understand what he intended to say but could not say it openly, as he was aware of the presence of detectives, a fact of which he was glad as if they helped in the work about to be taken up so much the better for the country.

 

Savarkar's quotation was taken up by repeated cries of " Bande Mataram "

" Shri Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai " " Shri Ramdas Ki Jai " etc. Savarkar continued that they had lost everything but that they should not shed tears, it behoved them to shed blood to regain what they had lost. Tears, he said, were woman's lot, work for men. He ended up by saying what they had lost was their religion and this is what they had to establish.

 

Savarkar is reported to be developing into a popular agitator and is proceeding to England to lay before the people there the grievances of his fellow countrymen. He expenses are to be defrayed out of the Shivaji scholarship started by S K Varma now residing in London.

 

The exact date of his departure is not known but he is being entertained by those who sympathise with his cause as if he were on the point of leaving the country.

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Remarks by W L Warner.

All we can do is to make his acquaintance and take notes, but not shadow him in any way. 3/6/06.

 

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Mr Ritchie

 

Mr Savarkar called on me today, by appointment, about obtaining an order for the House of Commons to hear the debate on the Indian Budget on the 20th July - a small man with an intelligent face and a nervous manner. He is staying with S K Varma at the India House and has entered Grays Inn to study for the Bar. Sir W Lee Warner saw him in my room and we agree in thinking that there is no objection to his being given the order he asks for.

 

W H C Wyllie. 18/7/06.

 

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Indian students in England /  Essay by John Pollen, CIE, LLD

 

----------------------

Indian students in UK 6/845

 

Report submitted 30 November 1907, pages 316. Actual report consists of 63 pages. Rest of the pages are full of testimonies of various witnesses

 

On 14 March 1907 the Secretary of State appointed a committee to enquire and report upon the position in this country of young Indians who come to England to study ...

 

Members

Sir William Lee Warner KCSI of India Office, ( Chairman )

 

Lt Col Sir Curzon Wyllie of India Office

 

Theodore Morison of India Council ?

 

M J E Shuckburgh ( Secretary )

 

100 persons testified, some English officers, some Indians, 64 Europeans

 

Amir Ali and Dadabhai Naoroji did not help even when asked for.

 

Students at Oxford were reluctant to help

 

The committee went to London, Cambridge, Oxford and then to Edinburgh.

 

Number of students : London            380

 

                                    Edinburgh       50

 

                                    Cambridge      85

 

                                    Oxford   32

 

                                    Manchester       6

 

                                    Birmingham    11

 

                                    Others   26

                                    ----- --------------------

                                    Total                700

 

( Note : Population of India was 300 million )

 

Discipline was strict at Oxford and Cambridge, much lax in London.

 

320 were studying Law in London. One member remarked, " The risk in London is greater than risk in Calcutta. "

Another feature of London was isolation. Even English students from outside London felt lonely, what to talk of Indian students.

 

One officer of the Inns of Court said in 1902 that some of the Indian students were addicted, spendthrift, pleasure hunters. But committee members felt that on the whole students were satisfactory. Some Indian students brought references and saw English officers. But then did not bother afterwards to keep contact with them.

 

Why did the students behave in this way ?

 

(1) They were away from home

 

(2) They were unaware about the English education system

(3) They were unable to find suitable accommodation and could not adjust to mode of living in the  U K.

 

(4) They were unable to adopt English way of life.

 

More and more students turned to the study of Law even if originally they came to U K for a different subject, because the subject was easy. The Bar examination in England was far more easier than in India. In India the Barrister enjoyed many privileges.

 

Sir John Edge said, " In India Vakils (?) and Barristers should be brought to same level. Inns of Court should take a harder examination, without passing this examination one should not be allowed to practice in India.

Indian students and politics

 

(1) Before coming to England Indian students are unhappy about British rule.

 

(2) This dissatisfaction increases after coming to England. They feel that the expulsion of the British is the only hope for India.

 

The committee then turned to India House. There are in England, representatives of the Extremists in Indian Politics, and they spare no pain to win adherents to their cause among the Indian students as soon as the latter arrive in this country. Probably the most active of these has been, for sometime past, Mr S K Varma who conducts a paper in London called the Indian Sociologist in which he urges his countrymen to " boycott " the British Government as the surest means of driving the British out of India. He has also founded a lodging house in Cromwell Avenue, Highgate called " India House " at which students willing to put up with a certain amount of discomfort are accommodated at a very moderate charge. Representatives of the India House visit the railway stations at which Indian Students arrive and offer them the advantage of these cheap lodgings. On reaching the India House they are plied with the arguments of Mr Varma's adherents and are no doubt frequently converted to his views. (Our note : See Biography by Karandikar page 165 )

 

We call attention to the following card of invitation to a meeting at Tilak House ( 78 Goldsmith Avenue, Acton ) which is another centre of Indian malcontents in London.  Under auspices of the " Free India League " it is decided to commemorate the golden jubilee of the Patriotic Rising of 1857. This meeting is to be held on Saturday 11th May, the day of declaration of independence.

 

Some government scholarship holders strongly condemned the British administration in India. Therefore Government of India should be careful in awarding such scholarships. They should insist on certificates from the relevant colleges to the effect that the students are not political extremists. If they are careless in this the students from such colleges should be barred from entering England.

Witnesses (1) Sheikh Abdul Kadir

 

                   (2) Amir Ali. He sent a letter on behalf of  

                                      East Indian Association

 

                   (3) Sir Charles Elliott

 

                   (4) Charuchandra Ghosh

 

                   (5) Douthwaite

 

In Cambridge there was some racial discrimination. Students did not like use of the words, natives, blacks or eyests?

 

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Wednesday 6th May 1908

 

The inaugural meeting of the London Branch of the All India Muslim League. President Ameer Ali

 

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John McCarthy, acting supdt CID - New Scotland Yard

Report of a meeting at the " India House "  2nd September 1908

 

Pole, Baron Parglas - 27 Perry Vale, Forest Hill - Egyptian " At the same meeting a letter was read purporting to be written by a B.P. in which he expressed regret at not being able to attend the meeting and went on to say that, " I am quite ready to give my entire assistance to your only too just cause " and " the events in Turkey will I trust be followed up also in Egypt, and this will no doubt assist and further the endeavours of your people. " and a good deal more in that strain.

 

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A meeting was held on 5th December 1908 at Alexandra Hall, Cambridge. Reported in The Times of 7th December 1908. Mrs Datta was in chair. B C Pal was one of speakers.

 

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L/P&J/6/908/4600 contains Savarkar's invitation for commemorating the birth anniversary of Shri Guru Govind Singh on 29th December 1908.

Note : Report in The Times of 30th December 1908

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5th January 1909 The Standard

News about Two historical statements and an editorial.

 

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Special Branch - New Scotland Yard S.W.   11th March 1909

 

I beg to report that according to enquiries in Indian circles, it is believed that Harnam Singh who was rusticated from Cirencester College in July 1908 for wearing a Bande Mataram Button, is the man who recently wrote Gurumukhi appeal to the Sikhs.

 

Harnam Singh came to England in July 1907, and was introduced into Grays Inn by G Shankar and S Krishnavarma. He afterwards went to study at Cirencester Agricultural College and on his banishment from that  institute, he returned to London, where he was much feted by his compatriots for his action and patriotism with regard to the commemoration medal.

In December last he took an active part in the series of meetings held by Indian agitators at the Caxton Hall, Westminster, after which he disappeared from London, and now said to be residing in Paris.

 

He is a native of Amritsar, is said to be a man in good circumstances, and to have a thorough knowledge of the Gurumukhi Vernacular.

 

J McBrien - Inspector

 

 J McCarthy - Acting Supdt

 

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Sir Charles Lyall,

 

Mr Douthwaite, under Treasurer of Gray's Inn called yesterday to enquire about two Indian students, Harnamsingh & Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who have qualified for the Bar and have applied to be called on 5th May.

 

Harnamsingh is the student who behaved so badly at the Royal Agricultural College Cirencester and Savarkar is another notorious agitator and a follower of Bipin Chandra Pal.

 

Mr Morison and I explained to Mr Douthwaite the disloyal character of these two young men and in consequence of their representations a subcommittee of three Benchers of Gray's Inn has been appointed to consider the matter.

 

Mr Douthwaite very kindly called again this morning to explain the position and to ask us for any written information we could give him corroborative of the statements against these students.

 

He has since sent the accompanying letter formally asking for this information, and it is desirable that our answer should reach Mr Douthwaite by Monday evening next.

 

From the printed papers accompanying Mr Douthwaite's letter it will be seen that Shyamji Krishna Varma is one of the sponsors for both the students and the files in the J & P Department contain the incriminating evidence of the association of these students with the proceedings of Shyamji Krishna Varma at the India House.

 

I think that a careful statement of these students' disqualifications to be called to the Bar from our point of view might with advantage be sent to Mr Douthwaite.

 

                                                                                                 W H C Wylie.  29/4/09

 

 

Gray's Inn                                                                                           29th April 1909

 

Dear Sir Curzon Wyllie,

 

The Benchers at Gray's Inn at their meeting last night adjourned until Wednesday next the further consideration of the eligibility for call to the English Bar of Harnam Singh and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, two students of this society about whom I spoke to you yesterday. Both these students are qualified for the Degree of Barrister according to the ordinary regulations of the Inns of Court and they have applied to be called with other students on the 5th of May - next Wednesday. Their cases have been adjourned because of the intimation I received from you yesterday to the effect that the India Office were aware of certain matters concerning these students, which suggested that they were not fit and proper persons to be called. I know both you and Mr Morison appreciated the fact that although this intimation was quite sufficient to justify a postponement of the matter for a few days in the period intervening between the consideration of their eligibility and the ceremony of " call ", a refusal to call these students could only rest upon very definite evidence concerning them which could be held to render them ineligible.

 

I now write to ask therefore that I may receive as soon as possible any definite information concerning Harmnam Singh and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar which is deemed to affect the eligibility of both or either of them for call to the English Bar.

 

Any document which I receive will be submitted to a committee of three Benchers of Gray's Inn who have been appointed to consider the matter.

 

Believe me yours faithfully

 

D W Douthwaite

 

Enclosed are copies of the admission documents of both students.

 

 

 

Gray's Inn                                                                                           4th May 1909   

 

Dear Sir Curzon Wyllie,

 

Thank you very much indeed for your letter which will be very helpful.

 

You will be glad to hear that my committee have decided to report to the Benchers tomorrow night that neither Harnam Singh nor Savarkar should be called to the Bar until full enquiry has taken place into the matters alleged against them.

 

I have no doubt that the committee's report will be adopted. Certainly neither of them will be called this term.

 

The committee feel ( as I expected ) that except for the Police report there was a lack of substantial matter against Harnam Singh.

 

They would not refuse to call him on the Cirencester incident alone. We must remember of course - that they have the Judges to think of.

 

Yours very truly

 

D W Douthwaite

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Grays Inn                                                                                            May 6th 1909

 

 

Dear Sir Curzon Wyllie,

 

I am directed by the Treasurer of Gray's Inn to inform you that your communication in reference to the case of the two Indian students, Harnam Singh and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was considered by the Benchers of this Inn yesterday in connection with the application from these students then pending before them for admission to the Bar.

 

It was decided that in face of your communication the consideration of this application should be suspended and that in the meantime the Benchers should investigate the subject matter of your report. Under the regulations of this society, a preliminary enquiry has to be held by the discipline Committee with a view of ascertaining whether upon the facts there is a case of complaint calling for investigation.

 

The Committee will sit for this purpose at Gray's Inn on next Wednesday, May the 12th at 5.30 when it is expected that the Indian office will submit to them the evidence oral and documentary upon which the statements contained in their communication to this society were founded. In dealing with a matter of such grave importance the Benchers have a serious responsibility to discharge, not merely in the public interest but also in the interest of the students concerned and of the society itself and they can not take action unless they are satisfied upon evidence of the truth of the matters alleged.

 

I am, Dear Sir Curzon Wyllie,

 

Yours faithfully

 

D W Douthwaite.

 

 

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Post & Tel                          Buckenhall Hall                                ( 6 May 1909 )

 

Munford 2M                          Munford, Norfolk

 

Station, Brandon

 

Telephone 22 Thetford

 

Dear Sir Curzon Wyllie,

 

On seeing Sir John Edge and Lord Marnaghin I found that the council of

 

and that a report was in hand. In these circumstances

 

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Daily News interviewed Bipin Chandra Pal about Savarkar.

Published on Saturday 8th May 1909.

 

India House carries on a propaganda, and if its sympathisers are not called to the Bar on that ground, then it follows that every member of the Irish Land league should be treated in the same way.

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                                                                                                18 Queens Gate S.W

 

                                                                                                May 9th, 1909

 

My dear Wyllie,

 

Will you kindly read this letter from Mr Underdom with regard to the Indian students for the Bar ? The only point on which I want you to have the kindness to give me information, is this - am I right in supposing that the advising committee, just established by the Secretary of State will be prepared to answer enquiries regarding the conduct or character of students...............to the committee by the Inns of Court..........and generally act in consultation with the Regal authorities in the matter of providing for control and of exercising discretion in the ...........to the Inn.

 

Mr Undertom's letter is dated April 28th 1909, but I have just found it here, and as I shall meet him on the 12th an early answer from you, if profitable will be very convenient to Queens Gate.

 

Lyall

 

 

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Daily News                                                                             Monday 10th May 1909

 

Grays Inn Hindoos

 

Old students views in India House

 

The statements published in Saturday's "Daily News" with regard to the constitution of India House are confirmed by an interview which a representative has had with Mr Dube, an old resident there who was appointed to Lord Morley's Advisory Committee.

 

" I came to this country " he said, " more than two years ago, and as I did not know anybody in London, and did not wish to put up at an hotel, I went to India House where I understood all Indians were welcome. I spent two or three weeks there. There were a member of Indian students who entertained a variety of opinions on political questions. Residence in the house certainly does not imply agreement with any political creed. "

 

Additional weight is given to his testimony by the circumstance that on technical grounds Mr Dube justifies the action taken by the Benchers of Gray's Inn with regard to the calling to the Bar of the two Indian Students whose views are alleged to be seditious.

 

" It is a matter entirely in the discretion of the Benchers " he said, " If it has come to the knowledge of the Benchers that these two young men have actually professed disloyalty to the King and Constitution, thus they have a perfect right not to call them to the Bar. The information of disloyal professions must, of course, have been communicated to the Benchers by someone. How they are going to decide what is sedition is another matter. "

 

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                                                                                                May 11th

                                                                                                18, Queens Gate. S W.

 

My dear Wyllie,

 

I return this letter with my thanks for the information in the subject that you have written to me.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Lyall

 

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                                                                                                            India Office

                                                                                                            Whitehall S.W

                                                                                                            May 12th, 1909

 

Dear Mr Douthwaite,

 

I must apologise for the delay in acknowledging your letter of the 6th inst.

 

You will see from Mr Morison's letter, which I enclose that Mr Lint Smith is prepared to give evidence in support of the statements made by him regarding Savarkar, and I have  ascertained that Sergeant Parker and police constable Hallett are prepared to give evidence that Savarkar spoke at the meting in the Caxton Hall on Dec. 29th as reported in the Govt of India confidential letter to the Secretary of State No. 3 of 4th March 1909 para 5.

 

Enclosed I send a Scotland yard special branch report which you possibly care to see.

 

I dare say you know that Savarkar's brother is now the subject of a criminal prosecution in connexion with sedition in India.

 

Yours very truly

 

W H C wyllie

                                                                                                            India Office

                                                                                                            Whitehall S.W

                                                                                                            12th May 09

 

Dear Mr Douthwaite,

 

I have consulted Mr Lint Smith of the Evening Standard and he authorises me to say that he is ready to give evidence before the Benchers in support of the statements made by him regarding Savarkar which have been communicated to you. He desires to be informed of the time and place at which his evidence will take place.

 

The report from Scotland Yard which I forwarded to you contains certain reports of speeches which Savarkar is alleged to have made at secret meetings at India House. The evidence upon which Scotland Yard relies cannot be produced, it was given to the police in confidence and it is quite impossible to disclose the source from which it was derived. We believe however that the information which Scotland Yard has obtained with regard to Savarkar is correct and the statements which we have forwarded to you are accepted as trustworthy in this office.

 

I should like to add that neither I nor Sir Curzon Wyllie is prosecuting Savarkar before the Benchers. A doubt has been expressed as to the fitness of this man to be called to the Bar and we are putting before you such information as we possess. But we do not challenge the right of Benchers to call anybody they like and we have never taken pains to collect evidence with regard to any particular student with a view of preventing his call to the Bar, had we done so we should now no doubt have much more direct evidence to put before you regarding Savarkar.

 

We cordially sympathise with the Benchers in desiring to keep the honoured name of Barrister free from reproach and if any information that is in our possession can be of service to the Benchers in that behalf we are glad to communicate it, but the good name of the Bar is after all the concern of the Benchers and not of the India Office and we cannot take upon ourselves the responsibility of advising you whom you shall and whom you shall not call.

 

Believe me

 

Yours sincerely

T Morison.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                            Gray's Inn        

                                                                                                            13th May 1909

 

Dear Sir Curzon Wyllie,

 

Harnam Singh is to be informed that no further proceedings will be taken against him but he will be admonished by the Treasurer in the presence of the Bench.

 

Savarkar is to be called on to answer three charges :-

 

1) That by assisting in the circulation of pamphlets and by taking part in seditious meetings he incited the Nation of India to revolt.

 

2) That he advocated assassination

 

3) That he expressed approval of assassination.

 

Liberty is left to add to this indictment of course with notice to him.

 

 

Our enquiry will, I think, be held on 9th June.

 

I will let you know when the date is fixed and it may be that I shall ( if you will permit me ) trouble you with another visit shortly with reference to Mr Lint Smith's appearance and other matters.

 

I expect that Harnam Singh will be called next term. I shall be writing to both students tomorrow.

 

Douthwaite

 

 

 

                                                                                                            No - 727 of 1909

                                                                                                            Govt of India

                                                                                                            Home Dept

                                                                                                            Political

 

To

 

  Sir Arthur Godley G.C.B.

      His Majesty's Under Secretary of State for India

 

 

                                    Simla 13th May 1909

 

Sir,

 

In continuation of the letters noted in the margin, I am directed to forward,

for the information of the Secretary of State , a copy of a letter from the Govt of Bombay, No 4830 SD dated the 28th April 1909 and enclosures regarding the finding of certain letters and seditious literature in the house of G D Savarkar of Nasik and the Institution of proceedings against him under sections 121, 121-A and 124-A of the Indian Penal Code.

 

[ 1) Despatch from the Govt of India in the Home Dept, No 3 Political, dated  the 4th March 1909

2) Letter from the Govt of India in the Home Dept. No. 481. Political, dated the 25th March 1909 ]

 

2) I am to add that, on the 11th January 1909, orders were issued under section 26 of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, directing the interception of V D Savarkar's book on the Indian Mutiny.

 

                                                                                    I have the honour to be, Sir,

 

                                                                                    Your most obedient servant

 

                                                                                    H.A.Stuart.

 

                                                                                    Secretary to the Govt of India.

 

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Copy of Telegram

 

From Viceroy. Dated Simla 15th May 09.

 

Received at London Office 2 09 PM.

Reuters wired 7 May that Benchers, Gray's Inn had postponed calling to Bar two Indian students owing to connexion with Indian sedition. If either student is V D Savarkar this connexion is undoubted. We are sending by this mail important documents establishing his active participation in seditious movement.

                                                                                                            India Office

                                                                                                            Whitehall S.W

 

My Dear Lyall,

 

The Benchers have given Savarkar a written statement of the charges against him. He is allowed till 22nd May in which to frame his written reply. The reply will be considered on 26th May by the Benchers.

 

If Savarkar fails in his written statement to refute the charges brought against him, he will be examined by the Benchers on 9th June.

 

We ought to have the papers from India by 5th June if they leave by next Saturday from Bombay, so that I think they will be in time to hoist our friend.

 

Yours sincerely

 

T Morison

 

17th May 1909

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                                                                                                            Grays Inn

 

                                                                                                            18th May 1909

 

Dear Sir Curzon Wyllie, 

 

Thank you for your letter enclosing copy of a telegram. No doubt I am right in supposing that when these documents ( referred to in the telegram ) arrive they will not be confidential.

 

It would be embarrassing if, after the Bench had postponed - as they may have to do - the consideration of the matter pending the arrival of the documents, we were unable to produce them at the enquiry.

 

No doubt this point has occurred to you. Meanwhile I will take care that the matter is treated as confidential. 

 

I remain yours faithfully

 

D W Douthwaite

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                            India Office

                                                                                                            Whitehall S.W

 

Sir Arthur Godley,

 

I have added a forward to the draft telegram and suggest that it should be issued at once

 

Lyall  19/5/09

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                                                                                                            India Office

                                                                                                            Whitehall S.W

 

My Dear Lyall,

 

Wyllie and I think that a telegram to this effect should go to India today or tomorrow to make sure that we get all the incriminating evidence before the Benchers decide. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

T Morison

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To

Viceroy ( Home Dept )

 

Your telegram - 15th May 1909

 

V D Savarkar is one of the students whose call to Bar is postponed. Benchers will decide case 9th June, send all documents by this mail. The other is Harnam Singh. Is there any conclusive evidence of his connexion with Gurumukhi leaflet ?

 

Sent 19th May 1909.

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                                                                                                D O No. 237 Political

                                                                                                Home Dept

                                                                                                Simla - 20th May 09

                                                                                                India

 

Dear Sir Arthur Godley,

 

In reply to Secretary of State's telegram of yesterday, received this morning, I am desired to refer to the papers sent with my letter No. 727 - Political dated 13th May 1909 and to paras 3 & 5 of the Govt of India's Political dispatch, No 3 dated 4th march 1909 and to enclosures 1 and 2 of that dispatch, attention is particularly invited to the first enclosure.

2) Regarding Harnam Singh, I am to say that we have no conclusive evidence of his connexion with the Gurumukhi leaflet referred to in the Secretary of State's telegram. It will be remembered that this youth left the Cirencester College because he was not allowed to wear a medal in commemoration of the Indian Mutiny " Martyrs " It is reported that he said he got this medal from Savarkar. A Scotland Yard report of the 26th February last states that he was then in Paris assisting Shyamji Krishna Varma

 

Yours very truly

 

H A Stuart.

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                                                                                                            India Office

                                                                                                            Whitehall S.W.

 

Mr Morison,

 

These and the papers..........the Government of India's Telegram of 15th instant I am afraid they don't add much to the case. The last the Vande Mataram essay apparently if by Savarkar himself could be useful

 

C.I.Lyall 29/5/09

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                                                                                                            India Office

                                                                                                            Whitehall S.W.

                                                                                                            1st June 1909

 

My dear Lyall,

 

I do not think that there is anything in these papers from India which the Benchers have not already in their possession. Scotland Yard had an early copy of the letters signed Tatya and have also a copy of the Bande Mataram pamphlet I believe, we want evidence to connect Savarkar with it. I don't find anything in these papers which proves such a connection

 

Yours Sincerely

 

T.Morison

 

 

                                                                                                            India Office

                                                                                                            Whitehall S.W.

 

Sir Arthur Godley,

 

The Government of India send the papers which in their telegram of the 15th May, they said, " Established the acting participation of V D Savarkar in the Indian Seditious movements. "

 

Please see Mr Morison's note below. These papers do not appear to add anything to what is already known and in the possession of the Benchers of Grays Inn. But Sir W Curzon Wyllie might communicate a copy of the print to Mr Douthwaite.

 

C.I.Lyall  2/6/1909

 

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                                                                                                            India Office

                                                                                                            Whitehall S.W.

                                                                                                            June 4th 1909

 

Dear Mr Douthwaite,

 

The papers about Mr Savarkar, which I mentioned in a recent letter as being on their way from India have arrived, but they do not appear to add anything to what is already known and in the possession of the Benchers of Grays Inn.

 

W.H.C.Wyllie.

 

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                                                                                                            India Office

                                                                                                            Whitehall S.W.

                                                                                                            8/6/09

To

 

Mr Morison,

 

There is nothing new here about either Savarkar or Harnam Singh.

 

C I Lyall 

 

 

 

Grays Inn                                                                                            10th June 1909

 

D W Douthwaite - under treasurer

 

Sir Curzon Wyllie, K C I E,

The India Office, Whitehall

 

Dear Sir Curzon Wyllie,

 

The Benchers of Gray's Inn considered at a meeting held yesterday your letter of 4th inst., informing me that certain documents relating to Mr V D Savarkar which you mentioned to me in your letter of 17th May as being on their way from India, had now arrived but did not appear to add anything to the information already in the Benchers possession.

 

I was directed to ask that the Benchers may receive copies of any documents sent by the Govt of India in pursuance of the intimation contained in the telegram of the 15th of May of which you were good enough to send me a copy.

 

 

I am dear Sir Curzon Wyllie

 

Yours faithfully 

 

D W Douthwaite

 

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From Viceroy                                                                                     11th June 1909

 

In continuation of Home department letter No. 727 ( political ) dated 13th May last G D Savarkar convicted under sections 121 and 124A, Indian Penal Code and sentenced to transportation for life and forfeiture of property under former, and two years under latter section, sentences to run concurrently. Third charge declared invalid.

 

 

                                                                                                            India Office

                                                                                                            Whitehall S.W.

                                                                                                            11th June 1909

 

Dear Mr Douthwaite

Under Treasurer - Grays Inn

 

With reference to your letter of yesterday, I have much pleasure in sending you the papers relating to Mr Savarkar lately received from the Government of India.

 

You will observe that the enclosure to the letter from the Government of India No. 727 dated 13th May 1909 is marked confidential.

 

If the Benchers of Grays Inn wish to treat it as a public document, I would ask that before doing so, I may again be referred to.

 

I am, dear Mr Douthwaite

 

Yours faithfully

 

W H C Wyllie

 

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                                                                                                            India Office

 

                                                                                                            24/6/1909

 

To Governor General

 

Vinayak Savarkar : your telegram 3rd inst. I do not clearly understand what your Sikh emissary is to do. If to find evidence here, that could amount to nothing beyond hearsay unless he could produce witnesses or evidence taken by commission neither of which proceedings is very feasible. Again is he to be placed under control of Scotland Yard ? If not he might easily be counter working Scotland Yard. Not again is it at all unlikely that he might be discovered by the enemy and if he were murdered that would only add to our difficulties. Are you sure that even possible success against Savarkar is worth all that risks. To send such an emissary as a general and continuous aid to Scotland Yard is quite a different thing and is thought here to be well worth considering, if you could help us to the right sort of man.

 

( From J & P File 26/6/1909 )

 

 

From Viceroy, Simla                                                                          3rd July 1909

 

Received at London Office 1.36 p.m.

 

Vinayak Savarkar. Our telegram of 15th May last and Home Secretary's letter of 20th May. Bombay Government anxious to proceed against Savarkar for conspiracy. His brother Ganesh has been convicted under section 121 Indian Penal Code. We agree that this is desirable and propose to send to London Indian Police officer having intimate knowledge of conspiracy case here. We are advised that best evidence against Savarkar will be obtained from Sikhs and therefore have selected Sikh deputy superintendent, Dyal Singh Gyani. We propose that he should receive full pay of Rs 400 a month and present local allowance Rs 100 with travelling expenses and 10/6d  day subsistence allowance in England. We request you sanction by telegraph to deputation on these terms.

 

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                                                                                                            India Office

 

                                                                                                            Whitehall S.W.

 

Confidential

 

Sir Arthur Godley

 

I recommend that this be sanctioned by telegraph for reasons which I have explained to you verbally.

 

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To Viceroy

 

Your telegram of 3rd inst. Savarkar, I sanction your proposals. 

 

5th July 1909.

 

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Daily Dispatch of Manchester published photographs ?

7th July 1909 Big article by Virendranath Chattopadhya

" India must be free. The real meaning of the Indian outrages. "

 

" And although in the pregnant words of Disraeli, " assassination has never changed the history of the world " young Indians have slowly but surely learnt with success at least one branch of applied Chemistry, and today number of those who know how to make bombs is to be reckoned not in hundreds, but in tens of thousands...... under the circumstances, there is only one solution and that is the one that is offered by Indian Nationalism

 

 

 

 

Copy of Telegram

 

From Viceroy. Dated 9th July 1909

 

Received at London Office : 3.18 PM

 

Your telegram of the 5th inst. Sikh police officer.

 

Development of events here since my telegram of the 3rd inst. makes it desirable to retain services for the present of the officer we had in view, but we think formally of your proposal to have an Indian police officer attached continuously to Scotland Yard and we will address you later about sending for that purpose either the Sikh or another experienced detective. He would be able to obtain information about Vinayak which Govt of Bombay require.

( From J & P file 2490 of 1909 )

 

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Telegram from Viceroy - Simla.                                               3rd August 1909.

 

It is understood that Madanlal Dhingra is to be executed on the 17th August. If body cremated, undesirable that ashes should be sent to India.

 

( 950/2566 - Lady Wyllie's respond to resolution of grief, passed in India. )

 

Aziz Ahmad a Mullah from Lahore run a mosque in Glasgow. He wrote, " North India is quiet. If Madanlal Dhingra is hanged he will become a martyr and this will start a large movement. Hanging should therefore be cancelled.

 

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L/PS/8/9 Letter by Arthur Crawford to Sir Richmond Ritchie, dated 28th Aug 1909. Savarkar ( Babarao ) has been transported for life.

 

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Harnam Singh was determined to put up the medal until 9 June.

 

Letter from John McClellan, Principal of Cirencester College, to W Coldstream

 

Harnam Singh should come back without putting up the medal. Not to do so would be a folly, as he is likely to get a gold medal in his studies. Afterwards, Harnam Singh went to London and then to Cambridge.

 

Medal was circular with a flag in enamel, apparently, on it. The flag had three bands of colour, horizontally, the top band of green, the middle one yellow and the lowest one red. The top band bore device of lotus, the middle

" Bande Mataram " and the lowest band bore a crescent, a Sikh emblem, and a Sun. Round the flag were the words, " In memory of the martyrs of 1857. "

( Our note : The same flag was unfurled by Madam Cama at the International Socialist Congress at Stuttgart. See Savarkar's Biography by Karandikar page 175 )

 

Harnam Singh - I got the medal from Savarkar in May, in vacation time at 3 Glazebury Road, staying with other Indian at Mrs Pryor's : where were Aminchand, Mozumdar, J R Khosla.

 

I was staying at India House last week. It is managed by Joshi of Gujrat, I think. Master is a parsee not there now.

 

 

Telegram from W C ( Wyllie ? ) to Harnam Singh 65 Cromwell Avenue, Highgate. " Will be glad if you can come here and see me today 3 o'clock or 6 or tomorrow 10. "

 

Telegram from Highgate handed at 1.29 received 1.35 June 9th 1908

 

To : Coldsmith, ICS ( retired ) 60 West Cromwell Road

" Harnam Singh left London this morning, I am writing to him about your message. "

 

It was suggested that the Principal should apologise to all Indian students . It was also suggested that this problem should be resolved by ragging and India Office should not meddle. But Wyllie said that effects of ragging would be harmful.

 

Maharaja of Nabha had given scholarships to the two.

 

Harnam Singh was the son of Sirdar Aya Singh - Amritsar District Judge in Punjab

 

Maharaja should seek apologies from the two or should send them a telegram asking them to come back to India. Harnam Singh actually lost his scholarship later on.

 

Wyllie tried to bar entry of Harnam Singh and Rafik Mahamad in colleges in Cambridge and Reading. In December 1908, Harnam Singh passed Part I in Diploma in Agriculture. Rafik caused trouble in Reading too. He said that as a Indian the English have no right over him.

 

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Disloyal behaviour of Indian students at Caxton Hall November 3, 1909

Criticism on lecture by B C Pal

 

Curzon Wyllie, Sir James La Touche, Velinkar and Dube were present at the lecture by B C Pal.

Deputy Supdt Power arrived from Bombay on 10th March 1910 with necessary papers which have been deposited at Bow Street Police Station

 

Savarkar was arrested at London ( Victoria ) station on 13 March 1910.

 

Kennedy Report - Inspector General of Police

 

Upto Marseilles incident the prisoner was not handcuffed.

 

J A Guider - Special Assistant to the Deputy Inspector General of Police

 

He believes he answered the call of native before he escaped. After emerging from the porthole he dropped into the water and had to swim about 10 to 12 ft to get to the quay. 9 ft high wall climbed with the help of rings. Mr Power still in bed and Parker appeared shaving when Savarkar was brought back.

 

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See The Times of India 12th July 1910 about Savarkar's attempted escape. It says Savarkar was naked.

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Koregaonkar's testimony

 

Information about revolutionary party in London.

 

I left for London on 29th May 1906 by the P & O steamer Macedonia. I shared the cabin with M L Dhingra and two others. This was how I became acquainted with Dhingra.

 

Dhingra came to know about India House and he persuaded myself and my friend Shinde to go there. There we met Savarkar who talked with us and invited us to come again. This was about November 1906. We went again and made acquaintance with P M Bapat who was staying in India House then. One evening it was in May 1907, I dined there and saw S K Varma discussing with Savarkar, Bapat, Gauri Shankar and one or two others whom I did not know. All were against S K Varma for the passive resistance doctrine which he preached in Indian Sociologist. They were all for active resistance. During the months of May and June I was staying at India House. Dhingra recommended me the place strongly. All sorts of opinions used to be freely discussed. A few were moderates; most however were rank extremists. Not being prepared for such extreme views I soon left the house and was never a lodger at it since. But the influence of all those forces was strong on me. I admired Savarkar and had a great respect for Bapat who had sacrificed everything for love of the motherland.

 

Then Savarkar unfolded to me his scheme of making India independent. Arms were to be sent into the country; men were to be sent out to Belgium, America, Switzerland and Egypt to have military training as well as to learn the manufacture of arms; seditious literature was to be poured into the country; most of it is to be directed to stir up the Indian Army; direct preaching to the sepoys was to be carried on; every province, every district, every village was to have its own branch of the secret societies which were to be established everywhere and in ten or fifteen years the flag of Indian independence was to be unfurled. All could join this movement, Government servants as well as State servants. Those who could not join as active members through fear could come in as sympathisers who would finance the movement from outside, who would take none of the risks of the society but who therefore would not be entitled to demand any of their secrets. The vision of freedom to be achieved in the near future stirred my imagination and I joined the ranks of the party as "sympathisers" being afraid of the risks of attending active membership. I gave five pounds at once. This I subsequently learnt was utilised in helping towards bomb-making.

 

As I learnt afterwards the inception of the bomb was Dhingra'. He it was who insisted that the time had come for bombs. Others were less enthusiastic. At last the step was decided on, somewhere in the middle of the year 1907. Bapat and Abbas a Mohemmadan were sent with funds collected from London. Students on various excuses to Paris. Hemchandra Das was already there. Those three set about the affair earnestly, found a Russian revolutionary and from him learnt the art of making bombs and other explosives. They soon after returned to India.

 

In Paris they were helped financially and otherwise by Mrs Cama Mr and Mrs Rana Shyamji and probably Godrej. They had promised the party that they would not resist to throw bombs till one year after they had returned to India and they would teach at least a hundred people in India before they began bomb throwing. The first part of the promise had not been kept, the latter is believed to be kept by them by the revolutionary party. S K Varma soon after his going to Paris and become an active resistor one who believed in an armed rising.

 

In May 1907 the first mutiny meeting of the Revolutionary Party was held at Nitinsen Das's home, as S K Varma had refused the use of India House for that occasion. I was present. Ali Khan, a Kashmiri was President. Savarkar Varma and Bapat delivered the speeches. Harnam Singh myself and several others were spectators.

 

In the beginning of the year 1908 Aiyer a man of very moderate views used to come to India House. He was so completely won over, that at present , with the exception of Savarkar he is the most important man of the Party. He writes to Tamil paper in India. Ali and Savarkar share almost all the secrets of the party which are most jealously kept by them.

 

In the year 1908 due to my living in South Kensington and having very hard work at College to do, I very rarely met Dhingra and any other extremists. But in May I went to the Mutiny meeting at India House and sang Bande Mataram at the opening of the proceedings. Mr Rana was president. After the meeting mutiny badges were distributed by Rutnam Pathar, a South African Indian. Dr Rajan and Ali were staying at India House at the time and continued there till the house was closed. The former used to speak some times at the India House meetings.

 

About this time J D N Das and Dhingra became friends, very intimate friends. His great idea was to start a shooting club. He tried to arrange with certain English friends, but as they were not willing the idea had finally to be given up.

 

I hear several Brownings were brought to London at this time by Govind Amin whose connection with India House began in 1908. Das bought one from him I hear and Dhingra and Das used to go to Tottenham Court shooting range to practice there. Das was even a better shot than Dhingra. He used to attend India House frequently and was a lodger in it for nearly a year. He had revolutionary views.

 

Govind Amin was also staying in India House for a considerable period. He used to attend most of the meetings and I have heard Savarkar say that Govind was his right hand. He is a student at the North London Polytechnic of Mechanical Engineering. As he was clever in his line, I suggested to Savarkar that Govind should be sent to Belgium to study manufacturing of arms. When I left London the proposal was under consideration. I had also urged that some men of our party should go to Spain to take part in the war there. I do not know if that has been done as I left soon after. I know that several Indians have taken part in the Persian Revolution, joining whichever party they could get hold of to learn actual warfare.

 

All this time the political propaganda was very active. The following pamphlets reached me from time to time in London. They came anonymously of course.

 

(1) Organisation of secret societies in Russia.

 

(2) Ugantar Prafulla

 

(3) A grave warning

 

(4) A Hindi pamphlet for Sepoys

 

(5) A Gurumukhi pamphlet

 

(6) Two Historical documents

 

(7) Mrs Cama's message to India

 

Besides this I received on pamphlet called " Khalsa " during the meeting in the honour of Guru Govind Singh at Caxton Hall.

 

Some pamphlets were first sent to New York or Germany and then sent to India to give the impression that they were not sent from London. They sent the pamphlets wrapped up in English papers. They never repeated the trick they had used once. Sometimes they sent pamphlets in packets of 100 to 200 to confidential agents all over India who then redistributed them.

 

They also sent revolvers and rifles into the country, but how I cannot say. Once Savarkar asked me what I thought of the idea of sending revolvers in a package of second class boots, but whether he had made use of this idea, I don't know.

 

The society has got branches everywhere, in Egypt, Paris, Hamburg, New York, Switzerland, Vancouver and so on. Members of the party are studying arms in Switzerland and America. I do not know of any of their activities from July 1908 to September 1908 as I was then on my tour in America. Pal and Khaparde used to come at India House first, but afterwards they left off altogether.

 

I took up at this time the translation of Savarkar's Mutiny book which he had written in Marathi. Phadke had translated a major part of the book, myself and Kunte translated the remainder. Phadke was the member of the party at first, but he soon left off.

 

At this time we knew Har Dayal. He was a clever man, and we had respect for him, but it was difficult to work for him. He was manager of India House for a short time.

 

There were exciting incidents at Bhaubij ceremony at Bibi Dhandevi's house. The red mutiny flag was up and one Dube got up and pulled it down. There was a big row. Finally it had to be put up. Pal and Khaparde were present. There were also a number of English men and ladies.

 

I know Harnam Singh well. Savarkar and Harnam Singh came in the same steamer. Savarkar gained over Harnam Singh completely to his views. The latter left the Civil Service to serve the country. He continued wearing the Mutiny badge in spite of protests from the Principal of Cirencester Agricultural College. He was dismissed. He was disbarred temporarily but was finally called. I heard a rumour that the Gurumukhi pamphlet was written by him.

 

Chatturbhuj a cook at India House seemed to be innocent and did not take an active part. After him came Mohammed who was also innocent.

 

A great friend of Savarkar was Rafik Mohammed Khan who alone with Harnam Singh was expelled from Cirencester College for wearing the Mutiny Badge. Khan and Harnam Singh were great friends. Whenever in London Khan used to attend India House meetings.

 

Acharya a Madrasi came to London in the middle of 1908 and soon became an active member of the party. He was editor of Tamil paper " India " He wrote out the corrected proofs of the Mutiny book, Savarkar used to like him very much.

 

Dhingra J D N Das and myself and several others started a " Shakti Puja Samiti " for teaching Jui Jitsu, boxing, wrestling and if it was well patronised for teaching shooting. There was an airgun at India House and amateur shooting was in progress. Of the Shakti Puja mentioned Dhingra was President, Das Vice President, myself Treasurer. Throughout as a "sympathiser" only the financial side was entrusted to me.

 

I introduced a friend of mine Kirtikar to India House and for nearly a year he continued residing there. It was found out soon afterwards that he was a detective and as I had introduced him, the suspicion naturally fell upon me. They seemed apparently to be satisfied with my explanations, but they did not trust me very much after this incident. Another reason why they suspected me was that I was member of The National Indian Association and was on the best of terms with Englishmen and Anglo Indians. At the same time came with Mr Aiyer one Dr Rajan to India House who continued staying at that place until it was closed. His duty was to write small biographies in Tamil such as the life of Rani of Jhansi, for the papers. After India House was closed we held one Sunday meeting at his place.

 

One Parsee named Master used to be manager of India House for sometime and an active member of the party but he was suspected by many to be a detective.

 

I used to know G C Varma very well. He went to Dhingra in Brixton jail, being the first to do so. Savarkar used to trust him to a great extent, but many persons considered him to be a detective in the employ of India House.   

 

Once in Savarkar's room I found a small blue cover pamphlet which was the Marathi Bande Mataram pamphlet. Once entering the room of Savarkar I found Varma Govind and Savarkar typing something. As soon as my presence was known, they hid the paper away. They were thin foolscap papers, that much I could see.

 

India House meetings as is well known held every Sunday. The subjects were various - " How to import arms into the country " how Italy won its independence, India's future constitution.

 

Latterly Savarkar used to stay at 140 Sinclair Road as a boarder with B Pal with whose son he contracted a very great friendship. Suckhasagar Dutt, brother of Ullaskar Dutt was also staying with B Pal. He used to attend India House meetings along with Ashutosh Mitter, who also was staying with Pal.

 

Haider Raza was the manager of India House for some time. But when he heard Savarkar was disbarred he got frightened and left India House. It seemed as if he had left the party altogether. He was a friend of Patel, a moderate among moderates. On the Sunday following Wyllie murder, however both Patel and Haider Raza were present. I was not present but I hear both expressed their profound admiration of Dhingra.

 

Latterly a Muhammadan from Aligarh whose name I believe is Ali has joined the party and used to come to Savarkar very often.

 

I have learnt that they have actually typewritten the whole literature on bombs and other explosives and that numerous copies have been sent to accredited agents in India. I was present at the Guru Govind Singh meeting. About a dozen Sikhs were present. Afterwards a private dinner was given to them at India House. One Malik whom I do not know at all was present. Violent speeches were delivered and the enthusiasm was intense when we all sang

" Ai Mardano Hindi Jawano " a very intensely revolutionary song. I did not know any of the Sikhs except Harnam Singh and Anant Singh, of the latter of whom I know nothing beyond that he was a religious enthusiast and belonged to the Crystal Palace Engineering College.

 

I went to Paris in the Easter vacation 1909 with Kashi Prasad Jaiswal a friend of mine from Oxford. He used to know Mr and Mrs Rana well. I dined on two or three occasions with them. At that time Hardayal was an invalid at his house. I did not meet any other Indian in Paris whom I knew. I never called on Shyamji.

 

Phadake was for more than six months an active member of the party. He translated a considerable portion of the Mutiny book into English. It was through him that the order for printing the book in Marathi was placed with a firm in Germany he knew. The Mutiny book ( translation ) was quite ready when I left London. The English translation has been printed in Paris, I believe.

 

Dhingra, as I have already said I knew him quite intimately. The only other who knew him intimately as myself were J D N Das and Santiago, a Ceylonese.

 

He was in Lahore Government College till his F A then he was taken in the settlement department,  Punjab. There he was treated badly by Englishmen and he then began to hate Englishmen. He wanted to continue at College but his people did not want him to continue there. At last he was sent to England to study Engineering. He never used to speak about his affairs and was even close with me. But he had been to Australia from whence he was turned out. He used to speak bitterly of the colonials. He had been through Assam. He has travelled as far as East of Turkasthan working part of his way as a stoker on the P & O. He was ill treated by his superior English officers and hence his bitter hatred for Englishmen. I learnt that he formed a resolution of giving his life to the country sometime in December 1908. His hatred of Englishmen was intense. This was fed by the article against Indians that used to appear in the English papers from time to time. He used to read articles over and over again like " Coloured men and English Women " which appeared in " London Opinion " " Babu Black Sheep " which appeared in " Cassell's Weekly " and various other articles. These used to make him wild. He used to attend India House meetings but only sometimes. It was all mere talk he used to grumble.

" Englishmen only understand Force " he used to say again and again. He had various schemes. He wanted to kill largest number of Englishmen indiscriminately. I recently learnt that he had a scheme in his hand of blowing up a P & O steamer. He went to Savarkar and told him of his resolution. Savarkar's idea was to get hold of Lord Curzon and if not Curzon then Morley or Asquith. Dhingra watched Curzon Morley and Asquith. Once he nearly got Curzon opposite Savoy Hotel but two photographers were standing very near him and so Curzon escaped almost miraculously. He then formed the idea of blowing up House of Commons ; that was not possible. He then thought of going to the House and shooting indiscriminately at members from the gallery. But due to the violence of suffragettes the gallery of the House was closed to the public; hence also that fell through.

 

He joined the National Indian Association for the express purpose of knowing some important people. He saw Curzon with the same idea. I thought naturally he did all this because he could finish his course and then he would try to get into Public Works Department for which reason he was trying to make friends with the powers that be. He told me his idea was to return to India in October or November after he had appeared for AMICE and as he used to come to me daily even after the college diploma examination to solve examination questions, I never had the least suspicion of what he was about. He used to admire Savarkar for his power of organisation. He used to speak of him almost with affection. After Pandit S K Varma's defence of the Mozaffapore Bomb Dhingra used to speak very highly of him, he used to read S K Varma's paper with avidity and was very fond of reading the extract from the English Magazine on the heroes of the Russian Revolution which appeared in his paper.

 

Dhingra hated talk. He was very much against my speaking at India House Meetings and coming too much to the front " your work is in India " he used to say. He himself never spoke at any meeting. Dhingra's ideal was Kanai Lal Dutt who killed Narendranath Goswami of Alipore jail. When I was studying in Russell Square Dhingra used to come to me every day while returning from his college in Gower Street. We used to study together. He came to see me also on the day that he committed the murder. I noticed nothing unusual with him. He did not appear the least excited. He wanted his drawings which I gave him. He tried to dissuade me gently from being present at the " At Home " on the ground that my B Sc examination was so near. But I was resolute because that was the last social function I would be able to enjoy in London. I was present at the " At Home ". Afterwards I told some of my friends that Dhingra had come to me on the day of the murder and hence they circulated the rumour that I knew of Dhingra's crime all along.

 

I have learnt that Dhingra himself went to Savarkar and told him that he was anxious to do it as soon as possible. Hence the National Indian Association's " At Home " was utilised. Curzon Wyllie had recently became very obnoxious because he had employed a number of detectives to watch the India House Party. It was he who had started the idea of starting a home for London Indians to make them loyal. It was he who had gone to Paris to collect information about Savarkar, Harnam Singh and others. He himself was a clever detective, hence he must die. The aim and object of the whole dead was to create the greatest amount of sensation and to establish terrorism. Hence it was decided to shoot the most important person in the room. If Sir William Lee was there he being more important than Curzon Wyllie, was to be first shot at, if he did not turn up, then Wyllie was to be got at. After him having made sure that he was dead Dhingra was to shoot indiscriminately at every Englishman he could meet even using his knife. Hence Dhingra had armed himself with 2 or 3 revolvers and a long knife. Santiago had been staying with Dhingra in his rooms in Bayswater. Dhingra had a talk with him in the morning. Santiago did not notice anything unusual with Dhingra. His landlady who saw him going out at 7 in the evening on the day of the murder, did not have any suspicion that he was contemplating a crime.

 

I had been to see Dhingra in jail. He only spoke to me of common places. He was anxious to know if Wyllie's place had been filled. He expressed his resentment that Pollen should request him to give him permission to plead in his defence as a barrister. He expressed deep pleasure at S K Varma's letter in the Times praising Dhingra's act as one of Martyrdom. I sent Dhingra some money, clothes etc.

 

Nitinsen Das also went to see him in Brixton Jail. He is a member of the revolutionary party. He had promised to him that he would act as one of his trustees along with S K Varma who had told that he would consider it a great honour if Dhingra would allow him to be a trustee. Nitinsen Das used to go to India House meetings and he was related to S K Varma. I have a shrewd suspicion that S K Varma knew all along Dhingra's intentions. Else why that suggestive article in the July number of the Indian Sociologist ?

 

So far as I know Savarkar has no intentions of coming to India. I believe he would like to return to India, but he believes that the step would not be safe. I used to pay money to Savarkar when he asked for it, to be utilised for political propaganda. When Savarkar had to plead before the full bench of Grays Inn showing cause for why he should not be disbarred I appeared before the Bench to translate the Bande Mataram, Marathi pamphlet. Finally Savarkar was disbarred till the next sessions, his name not being erased from the rolls.

 

The Indo-Egyptian club was formed recently in London, but as I attended none of their meetings I do not know much about them. The meetings were quite open. Some of the Egyptians nationalists used some time to come to India House.

 

I did not see Mrs Cama in Paris. I saw her several times in London. She finances the movement largely. Mr and Mrs Rana also finance it and Mr Godrej.

 

I do not think that any cipher was used in the correspondence between Savarkar and S K Varma. Savarkar is in fact against the use of cipher as breeding suspicion unnecessarily. Ambiguous language was in his ideas more safe. It had proposed to him that cipher would be an advantage but he argued me out of it.

 

I had been to Red Lion Passage Restaurant. There was a quiet meeting of important members to consider what programme was to be for the future. It was decided that in spite of the closing of India House Sunday meetings were to be continued in the lodgings of various members. The mutiny book ( English translation ) was ready. It was decided to thrust it into the country as soon as possible. By this time the book should have reached India.

 

Virendranath Chattopadhya is a recent addition to the party. From a passive resister and a follower of B C Pal he has developed into an ardent supporter of the revolutionary movement.

 

I have heard Acharya a Madrasi say that he is quite prepared to shoot an Englishman any day when he feels called upon to do so.

My true connection with the Revolutionary Party begins from the beginning of the year 1909. Till then I used to know a few of them but only slightly. S K Varma is not the real head of the party though he is believed to be so by some. I do not believe there is any recognised leader. Most of the work is done by Savarkar and Aiyar and they share most of the secrets. These young men take all the risk and as they sometimes say half bitterly S K Varma gets all the credit. But they do not grudge him the credit, since the attention of the authorities is directed towards him and they can work all the better for it.

 

The indefiniteness of some my statements is due to the fact that I was merely a sympathiser and also due to my being suspected by the party because I introduced a detective, Kirtikar to India House. Savarkar gave me his friendship but did not confide to me any of the party's secrets which I was not entitled to demand, being only a sympathiser.

 

I very much regret that I was so far led away by the influences by which I was surrounded so completely as to become a sympathiser of such party. I feel now how impossible it is under the present conditions of caste quarrelling against caste to win Swaraj. My eyes are completely opened to my folly and by a clear and clean future I hope to atone entirely for the regrettable recent past.

 

H K Koregaonkar

 

 

India Office Records

 

Indexes and Register

 

Record desk

 

1 Political and Secret dept

 

2 Judicial and Public dept  ( P&J )

 

1909

Mr SAVARKAR

 

ZL/P&S/7/36

 

ZL/P&J/6/31

 

P&J

 

847,1021,1608,1694,1713,1759,1796,1960,2293,2299,2378,

2395,2516,2521,2561,2635,2648,2741,2881,2899,3027,3317,

3405,3460,3498,3496,3503,3546,3823,3936,3950,3986,3987,

3995,4216,4287,4545.

 

L/P & J/ 6/903 - 4223 Indian students in England.

 

L/P&J/6/Vol 989

       /Vol 1032,1028,1018,1051,1035,1062,1046

3460 to 3823/10 - 1032 Savarkar case.

3496

3823 - 1028

2881 - 1018

3986 - 284/11 - 1051

3987 - 1035

4216 - 778/11 -1062

4435 - 1046

 

L/P & J/ 6/897 - Complete file on Harnam Singh - 3787

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

L/P&J/6/1849 (1909)

 

L/P&J/6/855  (1909)

Z/L/PS/7/32  - index 2432 seen

 

        /33  - index finished

 

       /34   - 2564/5 V D Savarkar, book he is about to publish

       /34   - x 1155 - Indians in USA, Hemchandra Das / Subhashchandra Bose should be watched

 

1032/3823 Savarkar case.

 

1062 Photo ( of what ? )

 

1051/284 Plan of the boat.

 

Mousieur Paul Cambon - French embassador in London.

 

F A Campbell - The undersecretary fo state for India

 

Monsieur Pichon ?

 

 

1910 files

 

1062 Photo / 4216

 

1051/284/Plan of boat /3986

 

1032/3823 Savarkar case

 

L/P&J/6/908/1908/4836

 

L/P&S/7/317 Letters ( what letters ?