Mutiny in India! (1946)

41

The Indian Express (February 25, 1946)

BOMBAY COMPARATIVELY QUIETER
Situation completely under control by nightfall

Leaders demand withdrawal of troops; 210 killed: 1,017 injured

BOMBAY (API, Feb. 24) – After three days of chaos in which rioting, looting, arson and destruction were as free and frequent as police and military shootings, Bombay had a comparatively quieter day today. Except for three or four minor incidents there were no acts of mass violence. The police opened fire thrice.

A joint communique issued by the Advance Headquarters, Southern Command at 7 p.m. described the situation as “completely under control.”

A virtual steel ring was placed around the city since the morning, large contingents of British and Indian troops taking positions in all areas.

The police have rounded up so far over 1,000 persons described as “bad characters.”

Sardar Patel and other leaders have demanded the immediate withdrawal of military patrols. The Sardar has also entreated the public to see that there are no hartals.

Pandit Nehru is on his way to Bombay.

The official casualty figures upto noon today were 210 dead and 1,017 injured.

Looting, burning and destruction of public property continued for many hours after curfew came into force last night. These acts were done not by large crowds but a few persons stalking about the disturbed area. Many fires were burning, particularly in the northern part of the city, hours after midnight,

Tram service was restricted between Colaba and Crawford Market, all other routes being suspended. Bus service continues between Colaba and Crawford Market and between Colaba and Malabar Hill along Queens Road and Marine Drive.

The situation in the labour area was quiet this morning. Fifteen textile mills resumed work today of which four have full complements and fifteen other work with considerably reduced number of workers.

Several lorry loads of Congress peace patrols and Muslim League volunteers moved about the disturbed areas appealing to the public to resume normal work and not to gather idle crowds.

Local and main line train services were normal today.

The station master’s office, the railway booking office and the public shelter at the Matunga railway station on the B.B. and C.I. railway line have ceased to exist as a result or yesterday’s organised attack by frustrated mobs on the railways. Though through and local trains are running no train stops at this station.

Steel ring

A virtual steel ring was placed around Bombay since morning. Large contingents of troops, both British and Indian, arrived in the city from outside and took up positions all over the city. Scores of lorries filled with steel-helmeted British tommies and Indian troops with drawn bayonets and their rifles placed in position in all directions, accompanied by armoured cars and Bren-gun carriers, were constantly touring the entire city from Museum in the south to Mahim causeway in the north and Queens Road in the west to Frere Road on the east. Fully-equipped contingents of troops were stationed at strategic positions such as police headquarters, Museum, Victoria Gardens, Townhall, Shivaji Park etc.

The creation of such a steel ring around the city has had profound effect on riotous elements which had been let loose in the streets during the last three days.

A large section of the city’s civilian police constables had been provided with steel helmets and lathis and they have taken positions every hundred yards on main roads to prevent blocking of roads and attacks on military lorries and trucks.

Sir John Colville, the Governor of Bombay made a tour of the affected areas today and saw the dispositions of troops and civil police force.

Fire opened twice

Police opened fire twice today between 10:30 and 11 a.m. and four persons were injured as a result of the firing.

At 10:30 a.m. a crowd made a demonstration in front of the Spring Mills which has resumed work this morning. The Spring Mills is situated at Dadar. A police party which was guarding the mill was attacked, leading to police opening fire. Two rounds were fired and the crowd dispersed. The mill continued work.

A police Sub-Inspector was attacked at 11 a.m. at Khetwadi near Grant Road. A police party which rushed to the scene to rescue the officer fired one round and dispersed the crowd.

A fire brigade station situated at Memonwada was attacked during early hours of morning and set on fire.

The police have rounded up so over 1,000 persons described as “bad characters.”

Patel visits disturbed areas

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel accompanied by the officials of the Bombay Provincial Congress Committee toured the disturbed area for two hours today and visited all the hospitals.

Sardar Patel said that he found substantial improvement in the situation and he hoped that normal conditions would be restored soon.

First action was taken by the troops today when they opened fire on a crowd near Shivaji Park (Dadar) round about 2 p.m. Two persons were wounded as a result of the firing and removed to hospital.

It is reported that a detachment of British troops was salvaging some of the burnt-out military lorries and trucks when an idle crowd collected in the vicinity. Troops thereupon opened fire. The crowd immediately dispersed. The two persons injured it is learnt are brothers.

The third instance of police opening fire occurred at Thakurdwar on Girgaum Road at 4 p.m. today. A goldsmith’s shop which had been looted yesterday was again attacked by a crowd. The police who rushed to the scene opened fire, as a result of which one person was injured. A blood-stained silver watch was picked up by the police.

The situation in the mill area deteriorated after the noon recesses. Out of the 15 mills working in the morning ten were forced to close down by midday owing to repeated stone-throwing.

Latest official casually figures are 210 dead, 1,017 injured upto noon today since the commencement of the disturbances.

As Victoria Terminus (GIP Railway) is within the curfew area, arrangements are being made by the Bombay police to enable bonfida travellers to get to and from the station. Passengers arriving at the station during the hours when the curfew is in force will be allowed to proceed to Waudhby Road from where they can make their way to Colaba or by the Marine Drive to other residential areas.

Passengers wishing to depart from Victoria Terminus between 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. should follow the same route.

A police officer who returned to Headquarters at 7 p.m. after touring the whole of the disturbed area described the situation as “quiet.”

“The situation is now completely under control in the city and only two minor incidents were reported during the course of the day,” states a joint communique issued from Advance Headquarters, Southern Command at 7 p.m. The communique adds: “All main roads out of Bombay are now open to normal traffic.”

A tour round the affected areas by an API reporter between 5 and 7 p.m. showed definite signs of returning confidence and restoration of normal conditions. In Girgaum and Kalbadevi areas which were worst affected during the past three days, people were moving about freely. Most of the barricades in the streets have been cleared.

Aruna Asaf Ali’s statement

Mrs. Aruna Asaf Ali said at a press conference here to-day, that when she was first approached by the representatives of naval strikers on Wednesday, he had advised them to seek the advice of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the highest Congress authority who was available in Bombay. She however advised them to confine their demands strictly to the improvement of their conditions of service and not to give a political complexion to their demands like release of INA men.

Referring to the disturbances which broke out in the city Mrs. Asaf Ali said that anti-social elements who take advantage of the disturbances in the city and get an upper hand could be best dealt with by peace brigades formed among the people who could restore confidence among the people promptly.

Attack on WAC (1) condemned

Condemnation of “indiscriminate shooting” by the military and police, and disapproval of the mob attack on a member of WAC (1) in Hornby Road is expressed by Mrs. Hansa Mehta, President of the All-India Women’s Conference in a statement to-day.

42

‘No hartals’ – Sardar’s entreaty

BOMBAY (Feb. 24) – Strong disapproval of any hartal students to-morrow is expressed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in an appeal issued to-night.

The Sardar hopes that the authorities will see the wisdom of withdrawing the military as “demonstration of such force works as a continual irritant, particularly at a time when it is wholly unnecessary.”

Sardar Patel says: “At last the situation in Bombay has been showing signs of improvement since this afternoon and there has been no ugly incident since then. The demonstrations which led to the fearful havoc of the last three days were uncalled for. The ratings needed no sympathy of this sort, as their grievances which were legitimate were being attended to. If my advice, not to observe any hartal, had been heeded on the first day, Bombay would have escaped the regrettable events which resulted in such heavy loss of life and property. But unfortunately, people were misled by irresponsible advice that such demonstrations were necessary in the interests of the ratings. The time for plain speaking has not yet come but at present I can only say that the city had little idea of the very serious consequences, which would have followed, if they had not accepted my advice. The demonstrations, in any event, were unjustifiable after the ratings had gone to work and can only be attributed to mischievous and interested motives.

“The ugly hooliganism and the consequent military action, which no doubt has been indiscriminate, has cost many innocent lives, including those of four young members of the Peace Brigade, who died of bullet wounds while on duty. This has also weakened the power and strength of organised public opinion in the city. Now that the situation is being restored to normal, the public should refuse to be misled by any irresponsible advice and discontinue the hartal. The mills should begin to work with their full complements and the people should resume their normal work.

“I understand that the Communist section of the students known as the Students’ Federation under the inspiration of the Communist Party, is trying to stage a hartal. This would naturally result in reviving trouble, which has just begun to subside. I would, therefore, appeal to the students, as well as to the public, to desist from staging any demonstration, which would prevent the early restoration of normal conditions.

“I hope that the authorities will also see the wisdom of withdrawing the military, as the demonstration of such force works as a continual irritant, particularly now, when it is wholly unnecessary.”

43

Communists ask workers to resume work

The Bombay Committee of the Communist Party of India, which had asked the workers of mills and factories in Bombay to declare a general strike has issued an appeal to all the workers to resume work from to-morrow.

An allegation that the military opened fire on a crowd of workers returning home after day-shift from Morarji Gokuldas Textile Mill at Lalbaug this evening is made in a statement by the Bombay Committee of the Communist Party of India issued to-night. The Committee, therefore, declares that repetition of such incidents does not help the restoration of confidence among the workers. The Committee appeals to the people of Bombay to strongly condemn such acts of “indiscriminate firing on innocent workers.”

“Since the city has shown definite signs of returning to normal to-day the Congress expects the Police Commissioner to withdraw the military pickets and join in the restoration of normal conditions,” says Mr. S. K. Patil, General Secretary of the Bombay PCC, in a statement to press. Mr. Patil expresses the opinion that panicky conditions are bound to persist so long as military pickets patrol the streets.

44

Ratings resume work in Bombay

BOMBAY (Feb. 24) – A joint communique issued from Advance Headquarters, Southern Command at 7 p.m. says:

“During the day armed guards were placed on board RIN ships and shore establishments with a view to ensuring that there was no possibility of violence and preventing damage to Government property. No incident took place.

Later in the afternoon, the Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Navy, Vice-Admiral J. R. Godfrey delivered the following address at HMIS Talwar, Castle Barracks and to the ships’ company on board his flagship HMIS Narbada.

“Now that order has been restored it is your duty to return quietly to work without delay. No passive resistance to duty will be tolerated. Normal routine will be resumed.

“There will be a full and impartial enquiry into the complaints and grievances. and as I told you on Thursday, the whole question of pay, travelling allowance and family allowance is now being investigated by an Inter-Service Committee which only last week visited Karachi, Jamnagar, and Bombay in the Narbada.”

Five hundred ratings have started normal duties at HMIS Hamla.

Lt. Gen. R. M. M. Lockhart, GOC-in-C, Southern Command, visited RIN shore establishments this afternoon accompanied by Rear Admiral Rattray.

Tributes to the men of the Royal Indian Navy “for the splendid and United Stand” they took for the redress of their many grievances, are paid by Mr. Purushothamdas Tricumdas, President of the Indian Ex-Services Association in the course of a statement.

Referring to the interpretation of non-victimisation given by Mr. Mason in the Assembly yesterday, Mr. Tricumdas says: “I appeal to the leaders who have been given the assurance to firmly resist any attempt at punishment and see to it that the assurance of non-victimisation is carried out to the letter and no one is punished in the name of discipline.”

Cruiser stationed off Bombay

The six-inch gun cruiser of the Royal Navy Glasgow has arrived in Bombay today and is standing off the Bombay harbour.

Two destroyers of the Royal Navy have also arrived in the Bombay harbour. Heavier units are reported to be near Bombay and will be brought to Bombay if required.

45

Karachi quiet

KARACHI (Feb. 24) – Karachi has remained almost quiet today.

Upto 12 midday no incident of any sort has been reported after midnight, according to an official spokesman.

The military has been withdrawn. All tram and bus services have started and the situation is completely normal.

For refusing to disperse, one person was arrested at Machi Mani today.

The Sind Governor, it is understood, visited the affected areas in the city, all shops have been reopened and normal business continues.

Three more persons died in hospital today bringing total dead to six as a result of the police firing at the Idgah Maidan yesterday.

A member of the Royal Indian Auxiliary Corps who sustained serious injuries owing to stone-throwing also succumbed to his injuries last night in hospital.

RIN strike in Calcutta

CALCUTTA (Feb. 24) – The strike of over 500 RIN ratings in Calcutta continued today for the sixth day.

A deputation of the ratings met Mr. Jinnah this afternoon, and appraised him of their grievances.

46

RIAF strike called off in Bamrauli

ALLAHABAD (API, Feb. 24) – Nearly 400 RIAF men at Bamrauli, who had gone on strike yesterday in sympathy with the RIN men at Bombay and Karachi, called off their strike today after 24 hours.

It is reported normal work was resumed at the aerodrome from this afternoon.

47

The Evening Star (February 25, 1946)

Bombay again calm as navy mutineers return to duties

BOMBAY (AP) – Royal Indian sailors who participated in a mutiny last week have returned to duty, a British communique said today, and conditions in Bombay are “practically normal.”

Strikes have ended at shore installations, dockyards and all but one of the city’s 66 cotton mills, the communique said, although Royal Indian Air Force personnel here still refuse to work.

A police statement said that road barricades had been removed by recruiting residents of the area as laborers, and that only a few minor incidents had been reported.

Royal Navy ships, including the light cruiser HMS Glasgow, formed a double semicircle inside the harbor, and a large force of naval personnel in white shorts and blouses came ashore for unannounced assignments.

Precautions taken

Meanwhile, reinforced British Tommies took precautions to make certain that a scheduled demonstration by students would not cause a new outbreak of violence. No student disorders had been reported by this afternoon, however, and leaders of the Congress Party and the Bombay Student Congress urged that the demonstrations be cancelled. Some students insisted, nevertheless, that they would protest the use of British military forces against the mutineers.

At the largest hospital here, medical students took care of their regular ward duties, but stood in doorways during their off hours to protest against the establishment of a post of British troops on the hospital grounds.

A British Army communique tonight said latest figures on civilian casualties admitted to hospitals since the beginning of the disturbances totaled 228 killed and 1,047 injured.

Other sources said the toll was much greater, however, and might never be known. Many of the dead already had been cremated on burning ghats, the funeral pyres which daily receive the city’s dead.

While Jawaharlal Nehru, Congress Party leader, arrived to investigate the causes of the rioting, the army announced that five courts of inquiry had been ordered. The multiple courts will inquire into separate incidents. Four are to begin their investigations at once.

The army communique said Bombay was “completely quiet.”

The city’s hospitals listed scores of dead and wounded simply as “unknown.”

Banks looted

The British communique said that nine banks, 30 shops, 22 government grain and cloth shops, 10 post offices and 10 police outposts had been looted since the start of the disturbances.

Meanwhile, police said that Bombay had experienced its first quiet night since last Monday, when the first group of Indian sailors went on strike because of alleged discrimination against them by the British.

Suspects seized

Law officers spent most of the night in a quiet, systematic round up of persons suspected of being involved in the rioting. The number arrested was not disclosed.

Military and naval inquiries were launched under orders from Vice Adm. J. H. Godfrey, commander of the Royal Indian Navy, into grievances of the mutineers.

Adm. Godfrey, returning to his flagship – HMS Narbada – told the mutineers that he expected them to return to work. The striking sailors, who had held 20 small ships in Bombay harbor, hoisted unconditional surrender flags Saturday.

Naval and military spokesmen privately paid tribute to Gen. Sir Claude Auchinleck, British commander-in-chief in India, for averting additional violence and possibly revolution.

Gen. Auchinleck has stated there would be no vindictive, mass punishment for the disorders, but that ringleaders would be tried and punished if guilty.

Cruiser’s arrival delayed

The spokesman said that arrival of the light cruiser Glasgow, which anchored here yesterday, and other British ships was purposely delayed until the mutineers surrendered.

“It was feared that the sudden appearance of British ships might have had unfortunate results,” one informant said.

Just how serious the British considered the situation was seen in the fact that a regiment of field artillery was ordered here, in addition to regiments of infantry and motorized troops.

Many observers had expressed the fear that the mutiny, coupled with strikes of Indian Air Force personnel and the civilian rioting, might flame into open revolution. Congress Party leaders, however, deplored the campaign of violence and called for peace. Both the Indian Army and the civilian police force remained loyal.

British troops by the thousands still patrolled the streets today, mostly in armored cars and trucks covered with crash netting to protect Tommies from rocks which might be thrown from rooftops.

Heavy police details, weary from a week of fighting, stood by for any emergency.

The streets were littered with broken glass, stones, and the skeletons of perhaps 50 trucks and motor cars which had been burned. Buildings were bullet-pocked and fire-scarred. Gas lights gushed flame where mobs had smashed the shades and mantles.

Many of the city’s cotton mills, which had been strike-bound in sympathy with the seamen, reopened yesterday. Peace groups of the Congress Party toured the city in automobiles, some of which bore the Red Cross insignia.

CALCUTTA (AP) – A seven-day strike of about 500 Royal Indian naval personnel at Majherhat, 10 miles southwest of Calcutta, ended today, Cmdre. Hughes Hallett announced.

No disturbances were reported here during the strike, although approximately 50,000 tram and railroad workers held a one-day sympathy strike Saturday.

48

The Pittsburgh Press (February 25, 1946)

New riots erupt in Indian city

Madras strike follows Bombay killing of 231

BOMBAY (UP) – Anti-British rioting broke out in the Indian east coast port of Madras today as authorities restored order in Bombay after four days of mutiny and mob violence in which 231 persons were killed and 1,066 injured.

Dispatches from Madras said striking transport and factory workers stoned British military trucks and battled civil police forces around the city railway station.

There was no immediate word on the casualties at Madras. The workers there declared a general strike in protest against the British suppression of the Indian Navy mutiny and civilian rioting in Bombay.

But the outbreak threatened to disrupt the uneasy truce prevailing in Bombay. British headquarters in the latter city ordered five courts of inquiry established to investigate last week’s mutiny and the subsequent rioting.

49

The Indian Express (February 26, 1946)

MADRAS PROTESTS AGAINST ‘REPRESSION’ IN BOMBAY
Complete hartal in city; no functioning of transport services

Lathi charge in Round Tana area; all-night vigil by police

MADRAS (Feb. 25) – Madras made history today by observing a complete and successful hartal as a protest against the “Military repression” and in sympathy with the RIN Ratings’ strike in Bombay.

There was a spontaneous and complete strike of the City’s transport services. Mill and Railway workers of Perambur among others also struck work in the afternoon. All the shops and hotels in the city and its outskirts were closed and the few that remained open, later followed suit. The closure of the eating houses coupled with the paralyzation of the transport system left most of the people hungry and weary.

Students and workers were seen parading the streets shouting slogans and many processions, including ladies, were taken out during the day.

Round Tana became the main centre of trouble later in the evening when there was continued stone-throwing by the mob and the Police resorted to lathi charge more than once. By night the situation took a turn for the worse, a Military Motor Cycle having been set on fire by the mob. The Police reinforced their strength and kept an all-night vigil.

As many as 12 persons were admitted in hospital with injuries and 18 were treated as out-patients, The police have taken several people into custody.

The vicinity of the Fort Railway station was another troubled spot where a 16-year-old boy died, it is stated, of gunshot wounds.

A large crowd which assembled near the Aquarium on the Marina set fire to the sheds adjoining the new swimming pool and began attacking cars with Europeans and Military personnel. The police appeared later on the scene and effected 40 arrests.

All the picture houses in the City remained closed. The European Service personnel in the City and the suburbs were directed to keep to their billets, and most of them did so.

The through trains leaving Madras Central and Egmore stations in the night left as usual, but with escort parties of armed police.

It is stated that normal bus and tram services will be resumed to-morrow (Tuesday).

…

50

BOMBAY CITY QUIET
Pandit Nehru arrives: Talks with Sardar Patel

228 killed and 1,047 injured

BOMBAY (Feb. 25) – Bombay City is completely quiet today. A noticeable feature was the large number of people in the streets and fewer troops in contrast to the last few days.

The latest figures of civilian casualties admitted to the hospitals since the beginning of the disturbances are 228 killed and 1,047 injured.

53 Government grain shops have either been looted or burnt and 500,000 lbs. of grain destroyed as also nearly 125,000 lbs. of sugar.

Pandit Nehru arrived in the city today and had a conference with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for an hour.

A communique issued by Joint Advance, HQ, Southern Command at 6:30 p.m. says:

“RIN ratings are settling down to normal duties and there are no incidents to report.

“Five courts of enquiry have been ordered, of which four are to be held immediately.

“In the city of Bombay, the situation is completely quiet and public confidence is returning.

“Latest figures of civilian casualties admitted to hospitals since the beginning of the disturbances are: killed 228; injured 1,047.”

Curfew order revised

The Police Commissioner, Bombay, has revised the curfew order so as to excludes as many of the textile mills as possible and also changed the hours of curfew. The period of curfew now is from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

51

C-in-C: No vindictive action on RIN strikers

But ring-leaders will be tried

NEW DELHI (API, Feb. 25) – The C-in-C General Sir Claude Auchinleck in a broadcast tonight on the RIN strike said that there would be no collective punishment, no vindictive action or indiscriminate retribution but ring-leaders and others would be individually tried and those found guilty would be punished. “To refrain from awarding punishment where such is due would put a premium or insubordination,” he said.

“Legitimate grievances can be and are being rectified continually and as quickly as possible,” he went on. But he made it clear that some of the men’s wishes could not be met.

“I am aware that politics have had something to do with recent regrettable happenings in the services,” General Auchinleck said. “In my position as C-in-C, I have nothing whatever to do with politics, and I will not countenance political intrigue in the armed forces in India. To do so would be a great disservice to India both now and for the future.”

52

The Evening Star (February 26, 1946)

Nehru tours Bombay to see riot damage

BOMBAY (AP) – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Congress Party leader, toured Bombay today to obtain first-hand picture of damage caused by a mutiny and rioting which resulted in 200 to 300 deaths last week.

The former president of the Congress Party, who came here to use his influence against a resumption of the disorders, refused to comment for publication pending completion of his tour. He planned to visit hospitals, where nearly 700 persons are being treated for gunshot wounds, and to examine damage to business and industrial establishments.

Meanwhile, reaction was awaited to a statement by Gen. Sir Claude Auchinleck, British commander in chief in India, that there would be no vindictive mass punishment for the disorders, but that ringleaders would be tried and the guilty punished.

Reuters said police in Madras, on India’s southeast coast, fired on rioting mobs which attacked two trains. Three persons were reported Injured, and European and Indian passengers fled in panic, the news agency said.

Minister Attlee told Commons today the British government “will support” Gen. Sir Claude Auchinleck’s decision for punishment of ringleaders of the Royal Indian Navy mutiny.

53

La Gaceta (February 26, 1946)

Huelgas anti británicas en toda la India

BOMBAY – El pueblo de la India sigue declarando huelgas contra la tiranía británica. En Karachi la situación es grave, lo mismo que en Madras y Trichinopoly.

La censura ha sido impuesta en Karachi. La multitud, en Madras, apedreó y atacó los carros de la policía.

Miles de obreros abandonaron el trabajo en Trichinopoly.

Más de quinientos marineros amotinados en Calcutta volvieron a sus labores.

Calcúlese el total de muertos, en los últimos días, en 270, con 1,260 heridos graves y más de 500 leves.

54

The Pittsburgh Press (February 26, 1946)

Police fire on mob in Indian riot

10,000 hold up train on Madras outskirts

BOMBAY (UP) – Madras police opened fire on a mob of 10,000 rioters who held up the Indo-Ceylon Express on the outskirts of the city today and stoned the first-class passengers.

Heavily-armed police detachments sped to the scene of the attack on the express train and dispersed the rioters.

Dispatches from Madras reported that isolated stonings of British troops continued in the big textile center.

Yesterday an unidentified European civilian was surrounded in the business section of Madras by a mob. He shot his way out, killing one person and wounding two.

Tension in Madras, heightened by textile and transport strikes, flared into violence while British authorities were bringing order out of the chaos wrought in Bombay by four days of naval mutiny and rioting.

A British court of inquiry sat in executive session today on the Bombay mutiny of Indian sailors. A communique said some of the British troops sent into Bombay to deal with the rioting had been withdrawn and the situation here was normal.

It was a troubled peace, however. Rumbles of discontent sounded warnings of possible new outbreaks. A central strike committee charged that 14 Indians had been spirited away to “unknown destinations” while in official custody.

The committee threatened new strikes if the Indian sailors were “victimized” for their mutiny. Sir Claude Auchinleck, commander of British forces in India, said flatly that the leaders of the mutiny must be punished.

The Indian Communist Party disclaimed responsibility for any of the violence.

55

The Indian Express (February 27, 1946)

Azad’s admonition to Govt. on RIN strike –
India will not tolerate punishment of ‘ringleaders’

NEW DELHI (API, Feb. 26) – Referring to the Government’s decision to punish the “ring-leaders” of the RIN strike, Maulana Azad, Congress President, says that India is in no mood to tolerate any action that may have even the semblance of the suppression of national spirit in any quarter, and warns the Government against such an unjust course of action. Discipline, he adds, should not be viewed in a narrow sprit.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in an interview to-day on the recent happenings in the RIN said that it was true that discipline in the army was a matter of supreme importance, but having regard to the entire chain of happenings in connection with the strike, the question of discipline should not be viewed in a narrow spirit. “Nothing should be done,” Maulana Azad said, “to give the impression that individuals can be, or are responsible for collective and general feelings and actions.”

Maulana Azad said: “Now that the RIN episode of the last week has come to a close, it is possible to view its origin and development in their proper perspective in a dispassionate manner. Whether the action of the ratings in going on strike is called by its technical term of the Naval Law, viz., mutiny, or it is called by the civil term strike, the essential nature of the action resorted to by the ratings undergoes no change. It is perfectly clear that certain grievances which the ratings had been feeling for some time were not redressed for one reason or another. Certain immediate incidents brought the trouble to a head, but the root of the struggle, as far as one can judge, was the feeling of the ratings that in spite of the fact that they were in no sense inferior to those of the British Navy, they were not placed on the same footing as regards general treatment. For a hundred and fifty years or longer the Indian services have been subject to this discriminatory treatment. Now that India has come of age, and Indians generally are keenly conscious of rational dignity and self-respect, racial discrimination is very keenly felt and resented. It is quite obvious from the facts as they have been reported that Indian ratings of RIN went on strike as the result of what they considered was a gratuitous insult to national self-respect. They formulated their demands in a clear and precise form. Examination of their demands shows that they were legitimate. And so far as they are legitimate, they must be sympathetically examined and redressed.

“It is true that discipline in the services is a matter of supreme importance, but having regard to the entire chain of happenings in connection with ratings’ strike the question of discipline should not be viewed in narrow spirit, and nothing should be done to give impression that individuals can be, or are responsible for collective and general feelings and actions. In such instances, the term ‘ring-leader’ usually applies to a person, who acts as a spokesman of a general body of complainants. It would be unjust to select such persons for punishment. In the present atmosphere of the country, which is surcharged with emotion and political irritation, it is essential that nothing should be done which may accentuate the situation. I earnestly appeal to the authorities concerned who seem to be anxious to secure efficient working of the services both during the interim period and in the future to try to see things from the Indian national point of view. India is not in a mood to tolerate any action that may have even the semblance of the suppression of national spirit in any quarter.”

56

Cochin ratings shout ‘Jai Hind’

One-day strike

ERNAKULAM (Feb. 24) – Cochin followed Naval establishments elsewhere in India when ratings belonging to the shore establishments HMIS Venduruthi organised a procession through the main streets of Mattanchery, Wellington Island and Ernakulam shouting “Mahatma Gandhi-ki-Jai and Jai Hind.” It is understood that they have staged a strike in sympathy with strikers elsewhere.

It is also learned that the Cochin ratings contemplate a fast till their grievances are redressed.

57

The Evening Star (February 27, 1946)

Indian troops revolt

BOMBAY (AP) – A telephone message to Nagpur said that 2,500 Indian soldiers revolted today and marched out of their barracks at Jubbulpore, a military center in the Central Provinces.

58

The Pittsburgh Press (February 27, 1946)

British troops leave Bombay

Indian mutineers are ‘segregated’

BOMBAY (UP) – A British communique announced that all British troops were being withdrawn from Bombay today and disclosed that some Royal Indian Navy men – presumably ringleaders of the mutiny – have been “segregated.”

The city is back to normal, the communique said, and everything is peaceful in the military camps.

“There is no truth to the report that armored cars which patrolled the streets during the rioting fired their machine guns at civilians,” the communique said. “There was no firing by crews of armored cars.”

Meanwhile Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Congress Party leader, charged that the British government intends to “victimize and terrorize” Royal Indian Navy mutineers despite promises to the contrary. He made the remarks at a press conference.

He was to leave later today for Poona to confer with Mohandas K. Gandhi, spiritual leader of the Congress Party.

Last night, a gathering of 200,000 heard Nehru defend the right of Indian armed forces to revolt.

“Our armed forces have every right to revolt against foreign rule to achieve freedom of the country… The only thing that wasn’t correct was taking up arms against military pickets. The boys know they were fighting against heavy odds,” Nehru said.

Nehru saw some chance that the forthcoming talks between the British Cabinet mission and Indian leaders will produce an agreement.

Gandhi issued a statement last night asking all Indian parties to cooperate in the Anglo-Indian talks. He said the naval mutineers had been badly advised.

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Editorial: Desperate India

Prime Minister Attlee’s charge that Communist influences are at work in India is confirmed by reports that Reds called a general strike in Karachi. There is no doubt that leftist groups are trying to take advantage of the situation throughout India, as long predicted.

Nevertheless, it is obviously absurd to interpret the Indian mutinies and riots in terms of Communist activity. The impasse in India today is serious because not merely a few agitators are involved but massed millions.

The main causes are economic misery and nationalism. Neither is new. There have been famines before. And the nationalist movement has been mounting for more than a generation. But they coincide now, with all the explosive elements left by war.

It would be strange indeed if the independence demands sweeping the Orient from Indo-China to the Dutch East Indies were not vigorous also in India, where the movement is oldest and best organized. Though the Japs never took India, the fall of Singapore and neighboring Burma destroyed in India remnants of British Far Eastern military prestige. Significantly, the current outbreaks started among native sailors of the Indian Navy and in protests against the British use of Indian troops in Dutch Indonesia.

The white man is no longer welcome in the Orient as an overlord.

The British Labor government recognizes this. It is sending a cabinet commission to India to negotiate for a representative constitutional assembly, and an interim regime pending complete home rule. But full dominion status which might have been acceptable earlier, now may be rejected by the independence leaders. Nehru and the Hindu nationalists oppose any ties with Britain; and the Moslem minority, demanding separate Moslem states is far stronger than before.

Only derisive statesmanship of the highest order on the part of British, Hindu and Moslem leaders can prevent prolonged violence and chaos in India.

60

The Indian Express (February 28, 1946)

396 men from RIN ships and establishments segregated

Removed to Mulund Camp pending investigations

BOMBAY (Feb. 27) – Three hundred and ninety-six men from RIN ships and shore establishments, out of all those concerned in the recent mutiny have been removed to Mulund Camp pending investigation, states a joint communique issued at 7 p.m. by Advance Headquarters, Southern Command.

As in the ships and shore establishments from which these men were removed, an infantry guard (drawn from the Mahratta Light Infantry) has been mounted at Mulund Camp. Amenities have been provided and full rations have been issued to the men.

Those removed include members of the so-called Central Strike Committee.

The men belong to ships and establishments as under: HMIS Talwar, Castle Barracks and Fort Barracks, 80; Ships in the stream, 180; HMIS Cheeta, 12; Ships in dock, 60; Wireless station (at Mohul), 10: HMIS Hamla (at Marve), 80; Detention Barracks, 4.

Sixteen men from HMIS Shivaji at Lonavala have been segregated but will remain in their own establishments.

The exact number of men segregated in HMIS Valsura at Jamnagar is not yet known. The infantry platoons of the Sikh Regiment which were flown to Jamnagar yesterday, are guarding Valsura.

Ratings on strike in Jamnagar

The APA adds:

A communique from Advance Headquarters, Southern Command, tonight described the situation in Bombay as “normal”, but added that a disaffection of Royal Indian Navy ratings at Jamnagar was under investigation.

The Jamnagar unit was officially described as relatively small.

The communique states: “A naval officer was flown from Bombay to Jamnagar to investigate the situation there where Royal Indian Navy ratings are refusing duty in sympathy with the RIN ratings in Bombay. An infantry guard has arrived a Jamnagar.

“Air Marshal Sir Roderick Carr, Commander-in-Chief, RAF South-East Asia, visited Royal Indian Air Force units at Marine Drive and Andheri this afternoon.

“In the city the situation is normal.”

A Joint Press communique issued later by Advance HQ, Southern Command, today says:

“The city is back to normal. More troops will be withdrawn today. There is no truth in the report that armoured cars which patrolled the streets during the rioting fired their machine-guns at civilians. There was no firing by the crews of the armoured cars.”

Gen. Lockhart, accompanied by Capt. Morris, last evening visited patients in the military hospital, Colaba, and saw and spoke to, amongst others, a number of officers and men who had been injured either in the riots or during the firing in Castle Barracks.

‘Hindustan’ being repaired

KARACHI (API, Feb. 27) – The shell-battered HMIS Hindustan has been towed from the east wharf to the Manora Island where repairs are being undertaken to make her again seaworthy, it is learnt.

Seventy-five Indian ratings of the ship HMIS Hindustan who surrendered on February 22 are now interned in a camp in Malir, a suburb of Karachi.

Enquiry to be held

LONDON (Reuters, Feb. 27) – Prime Minister M. Clement Attlee, in the course of his statement yesterday in the House of Commons on the mutiny in the Royal Indian Navy, said: “A full inquiry into the origin of the trouble, grievances put forward by the men, their reasons for indiscipline and any allegations against their officers, is to be held by a committee appointed by the Government of India with which members of the Indian Central Legislative Assembly will, I understand, be associated. Courts of Inquiry will also be held by the Royal Indian Navy at the various centres concerned to make recommendations about the conduct of individual men.”

The Prime Minister added that he must naturally refrain from prejudging issues which the Committee and courts would have to examine.