Diverse Telegrams and Appeals to M.A. Jinnah on Community Grievances and National Affairs

Sub title : Protests Over Religious Rights, Mass Arrests, Political Violence

Subject: Community Grievances | Religious Rights (Mosque Disturbance) | Political Violence (Khaksar Shootings)

Language: English

Page: 104 p.

Source: National Archives of Pakistan

Serial no: 28090

Keyword: Mosque Disturbance -- Khaksar Movement -- Mass Arrests -- Etah -- Berar | Walchand Hirachand -- Scindia Company -- Hajj Shipping -- Mogul Line | Economic Nationalism -- Viceroy's Invitation -- Community Protest -- Telegraphic Appeals

Abstract: This collection presents a wide array of urgent telegrams and one detailed letter sent to M.A. Jinnah, portraying him as the supreme arbiter and protector of Muslim interests in India. The telegrams document acute local crises: protests against a wedding procession passing a mosque during prayers in Khangaon; reports of "indiscriminate arrests" of Muslims in Etah and Berar; and an appeal from Lahore Muslims concerning Khaksars being "shot dead." One telegram is an invitation from the Viceroy's Private Secretary for a meeting in Simla. The most substantial document is a lengthy telegraphic letter from Walchand Hirachand of the Scindia Company, detailing a bitter dispute with the Government of India over the allocation of Hajj pilgrim passenger traffic, framing it as a betrayal of national (Indian) shipping interests in favor of British companies. Together, these papers illustrate the immense range of issues—from hyper-local religious sensitivities to high-stakes economic policy—that were channeled to Jinnah for resolution or intervention.

Description: This dossier underscores the multifaceted role of M.A. Jinnah as the perceived central authority for Indian Muslims. Beyond high politics, he was seen as the final recourse for redressal against administrative injustice, communal slights, and state violence. The pleas from towns and districts across India reveal a deep-seated trust in his ability to intervene with the colonial government. The Scindia Company correspondence uniquely highlights how business leaders also sought his influence, linking a commercial dispute to the larger causes of Indian nationalism and Muslim religious facilitation. The collection provides a ground-level view of the anxieties and conflicts within Muslim communities during the late colonial period and demonstrates how Jinnah's leadership was invoked across social, political, and economic spheres. SCANNED BY: NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF PAKISTAN.

Total Views: 52        Favorites : 0