sepration of sindh from bombay presidency

8/11/2019 Sepration of Sindh From Bombay Presidency

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SEPRATION OF SINDH FROM

BOMBAY PRESIDENCY- BRIEF

HISTORYdgramchandani


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SEPRATION OF SINDH FROM BOMBAY PRESIDENCY- BRIEF HISTORY

During 1800s the demand for separation of Sindh had emerged that got stronger and in

1919 Montague-Chelmsford reforms fell short of expectations of Sindhs province, thereby

making it a popular demand by Sindhis at every forum. Finally, the first major success of

recognition came on 26 December, 1923 when Indian National Congress in its session at

Kanpur agreed to the principle of re-organization of provinces on linguistic basis and

demanded the separation of Sindh from Bombay Presidency. This was followed by All India

Muslim League session held at Aligarh on 30-31 December, 1925 where resolution in

support of Sindhs separation from Bombay Presidency was unanimously passed.

Following is a summarized chronology of separation of Sindh from Bombay Presidency:

1917: Question regarding separation of Sindh was first time raised in Congresss session

held in Karachi

1918: Sindh Provincial Councils sub-committee recommended Sindh becoming

autonomous province based on a detailed report it prepared

1919: Montague-Chelmsford Reforms fell just short of expectation regarding Sindhs

separation

1923: Congresss session at Kanpur officially recognized Sindhs demand for separation and

supported it

1925: All India Muslim League passed a resolution unanimously that supported Sindhs

separation from Bombay Presidency

1927: Delhi Muslim Conference put forward proposals to agree to Joint Electrorate

provided Sindh separated from Bombay Presidency

1928: All Parties Conference formed Nehru Committee that recommended separation of

Sindh, not on communal grounds but on economic. Hindu Mahasaba protested it fearing

Hindus will become minority in Sindh.

1928: A conference involving all communities was called on 18 Junein Karachi reached a

pact called Sindh Hindu-Muslim Pact, signed and confirmed by 26 prominent leaders

belonging to Hindu, Muslim and Parsi communities. The pact demanded Joint Electorates

and separation of Sindh from Bombay Presidency.


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1928: Simon Commission visited Karachi on 12 Novemberand co-opted two Muslims

members, Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto and Sayed Miran Mohammad Shah. Sindh Muhammadan

Association prepared detailed report in support of Sindhs separation and was presented

to the commission by Ayub Khuhro. Professor Chhablani opposed the move on financial

grounds. Two committees were formed by Bombay Legislative Council to support Simon

Commission; Bombay Central Committee clearly supported separation of Sindh while

Bombay Provincial Committee opposed the separation. Simon Commission, though in

agreement of separation, didnt recommend it until detailed examination of administrative

and financial was completed.

1929: In January, All Parties Muslim Conference was called by Mian Muhammad Shafi and

Liaqat Ali Khan. It was presided by Sir Agha Khan and Jinnahs 14 points were central to

this conference. The 9th point demanded separation of Sindh.

1930: Meeting convened by Sir Shahnawaz Bhuttoon 31 May at Hyderabad was attended

by Nawabs, Sardars, Zamindars and leading persons of lower four districts of Sindh. A

special resolution in support of Sindhs separation waspassed.

1930: In the first Round Table Conference, Sindh was represented by Sir Shahnawaz

Bhutto and Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah. To look into Sindhs separation, a sub -

committee was formed headed by Earl Russel and comprised of Sir Agha Khan, M. A.

Jinnah, Mohammad Shafi, Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah and Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto.

Committee recommended Sindhs separation and expert committee comprising of MilesIrwin and Harris was formed to look into financial viability of Sindh after separation.

1931: Conference of Muslim members of Congress held at Lacknow in Aprilsupported the

demand for separation of Sindh.

1931: Second Round Table conference couldnt reach to any settlement but agreed to hold

a conference of Sindhs leaders to look into ways to cover financial deficiencies of Sindh

after separation, as indicated by the expert committees report.

1932: The agreed conference of Sindhs leaders was held in April at Karachi and its reportsaid that Sindh would require 80 lacs annually for 15 years from Indian government

to financeits deficit.

1932: First Sindh Azad Conference was held on 18 April under chairmanship of Sheikh

Abdul Majid Sindhi that pressed the demand for Sindhs separation. Another Sindh Azad

Conference was held on 20 Augustby Sir Shahzawaz Bhutto that decided to


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observe September10 as Separation Day; that day was observed enthusiastically and

meetings were held in all major cities to support separation, though Hindu communities

campaigned against it.

1935: Select Committee by British Government invited M. A. Khuro and Professor

Chhablani to present their cases regarding Sindhs separation. Khuhro successfully

presented the case for separation while Professor Chhablani could not impress the

committee. In April, government decided to separated Sindh and constitute it as a

separate autonomous province. A committee under Sir Hugh Dow was formed comprising

Mr. Mocovila, A. I. Brice, Mr. Kola, Sir Abdullah Haroon, Ayub Khuhro and Rai Bahadur

Hiranand Khemsingh. The committee was tasked to form machinery for the new province

of Sindh.

1935: British Parliament passed Government of India Act 1935 in Octoberand Sindh wasdeclared a separate province with effect from Aptil 1, 1936. First governor was Sir Lancelot

Graham and his advisory committee consisted of Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto, Ghulam Hussain

Hidayatullah and Diwan Hiranand.

1935: All India Muslim League session at Howrah on 21 October welcomed the decision

1936: Hindu communalists opposed the separation in a conference held on 26 January in

Karachi

sepration of sindh from bombay presidency

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