Natal Indian Congress

Practice as a lawyer was and remained for me a subordinate occupation. It was necessary that I should concentrate on public work to justify my stay in Natal. The despatch of the petition regarding the Disfranchising Bill was not sufficient in itself. Sustained agitation was essential for making an impression on the Secretary of State for the Colonies. For this purpose it was thought necessary to bring into being a permanent organisation. So I consulted Sheth Abdulla and other friends, and we all decided to have a public organisation of a permanent character.

Practicing law was, and remained, a secondary occupation for me. I needed to focus on public work to justify my stay in Natal. Sending the petition about the Disfranchising Bill was not enough by itself. Continued campaigning was essential to make an impression on the Secretary of State for the Colonies. We thought a permanent organization was needed for this purpose. So I consulted Sheth Abdulla and other friends, and we all decided to establish a permanent public organization.

To find out a name to be given to the new organisation perplexed me sorely. It was not to identify itself with any particular party. The name ‘Congress’ I knew, was in bad odour with the Conservatives in England, and yet the Congress was the very life of India. I wanted to popularise it in Natal. It savoured of cowardice to hesitate to adopt the name. Therefore, with full explanation of my reasons, I recommended that the organisation should be called the Natal Indian Congress, and on the 22nd May the Natal Indian Congress came into being.

Choosing a name for the new organisation troubled me greatly. It was not meant to identify itself with any particular party. I knew that the name ‘Congress’ was disliked by the Conservatives in England. Yet the Congress was the very life of India. I wanted to make the name popular in Natal. It seemed cowardly to hesitate over adopting it. So, after fully explaining my reasons, I recommended calling the organisation the Natal Indian Congress. On 22nd May, the Natal Indian Congress came into being.

Dada Abdulla’s spacious room was packed to the full on that day. The Congress received the enthusiastic approval of all present. Its constitution was simple, the subscription was heavy. Only he who paid five shillings monthly could be a member. The well-to-do classes were persuaded to subscribe as much as they could. Abdulla Sheth headed the list with £2 per month. Two other friends also put down the same. I thought I should not stint my subscription, and put down a pound per month. This was for me no small amount. But I thought that it would not be beyond my means, if at all I was to pay my way. And God helped me. We thus got a considerable number of members, who subscribed £1 per month. The number of those who put down 10s, was even larger. Besides this, there were donations which were gratefully accepted.

Dada Abdulla’s spacious room was packed that day. Everyone present enthusiastically approved of the Congress. Its constitution was simple, but its membership fee was high. Only those who paid five shillings a month could become members. Wealthy people were encouraged to contribute as much as they could. Abdulla Sheth headed the list with £2 a month. Two other friends pledged the same amount. I felt I should not hold back, so I pledged a pound a month. This was no small amount for me. But I thought I could afford it if I was going to earn my own living. And God helped me. In this way, we gained a considerable number of members who contributed £1 a month. Even more pledged 10 shillings a month. We also gratefully accepted donations.

Experience showed, that no one paid his subscription for the mere asking. It was impossible to call frequently on members outside Durban. The enthusiasm of one moment seemed to wear away the next. Even the members in Durban had to be considerably dunned, before they would pay in their subscriptions.

Experience showed that no one paid their dues just because they were asked. It was impossible to visit members outside Durban frequently. Their enthusiasm seemed to fade almost as soon as it arose. Even members in Durban had to be repeatedly reminded before they would pay their dues.

The task of collecting subscriptions lay with me, I being the secretary. And we came to a stage, when I had to keep my clerk engaged all day long in the work of collection. The man got tired of the job, and I felt, that if the situation was to be improved, the subscriptions should be made payable annually and not monthly, and that too strictly in advance. So I called a meeting of the Congress. Every one welcomed the proposal for making the subscription annual instead of monthly and for fixing the minimum at £3. Thus the work of collection was considerably facilitated.

As secretary, I was responsible for collecting subscriptions. Eventually, I had to keep my clerk busy collecting them all day. He grew tired of the work. I felt that, to improve the situation, subscriptions should be paid annually rather than monthly, and always in advance. So I called a meeting of the Congress. Everyone welcomed the proposal to make subscriptions annual rather than monthly and to set the minimum at £3. This made collection much easier.

I had learnt at the outset not to carry on public work with borrowed money. One could rely on people’s promises in most matters except in respect of money. I had never found people quick to pay the amounts they had undertaken to subscribe, and the Natal Indians were no exception to the rule. As therefore no work was done unless there were funds on hand, the Natal Indian Congress has never been in debt.

I learned early on not to carry out public work with borrowed money. In most matters, one could rely on people’s promises, but not when it came to money. I had never known people to pay their promised contributions promptly, and the Natal Indians were no exception. So we did no work unless we had the funds on hand. As a result, the Natal Indian Congress has never been in debt.

My co-workers evinced extraordinary enthusiasm in canvassing members. It work which interested them, and was, at the same time, an invaluable experience. Large numbers of people gladly came forward with cash subscriptions. Work in the distant villages of the interior was rather difficult. People did not know the nature of public work. And yet we had invitations to visit far away places, leading merchants of every place extending their hospitality.

My co-workers were extraordinarily enthusiastic about recruiting members. They enjoyed the work, and it gave them invaluable experience. Large numbers of people gladly came forward with cash contributions. Working in the distant villages inland was rather difficult. People did not understand the nature of public work. Yet we received invitations to visit faraway places, and leading merchants everywhere offered us hospitality.

On one occasion during this tour the situation was rather difficult. We expected our host to contribute £6, but he refused to give anything more than £3. If we had accepted that amount from him, others would have followed suit, and our collections would have been spoiled. It was a late hour of the night, and we were all hungry. But how could we dine without having first obtained the amount we were bent on getting? All persuasions were useless. The host seemed to be adamant. Other merchants in the town reasoned with him, and we all sat up throughout the night, he as well as we determined not to budge one inch. Most of my co-workers were burning with rage, but they contained themselves. At last, when day was already breaking, the host yielded, paid down £6 and feasted us. This happened at Tongaat, but the repercussion of the incident was felt as far as Stanger on the North Coast and Charlestown in the interior. It also hastened our work of collection.

On one occasion during the tour, we faced a difficult situation. We expected our host to contribute £6, but he refused to give more than £3. If we had accepted that amount, others would have done the same, and our collection efforts would have suffered. It was late at night, and we were all hungry. But how could we eat before getting the amount we were determined to collect? Nothing we said could persuade the host. He seemed determined not to give in. Other merchants in the town tried to reason with him. We all stayed up through the night, and both the host and we were determined not to give an inch. Most of my co-workers were furious, but they controlled themselves. At last, as dawn was breaking, the host gave in. He paid £6 and treated us to a feast. This happened at Tongaat, but the effects of the incident were felt as far away as Stanger on the North Coast and Charlestown in the interior. It also sped up our collection work.

But collecting funds was not the only thing to do. In fact I had long learnt the principle of never having more money at one’s disposal than necessary.

But collecting funds was not the only task. In fact, I had long ago learned never to have more money available than necessary.

Meetings used to be held once a month or even once a week, if required. Minutes of the proceedings of the preceding meeting would be read, and all sorts of questions would be discussed. People had no experience of taking part in public discussions or of speaking briefly and to the point. Every one hesitated to stand up to speak. I explained to them the rules of procedure at meetings and they respected them. They realised, that it was an education for them, and many, who had never been accustomed to speaking before an audience, soon acquired the habit of thinking and speaking publicly about matters of public interest.

Meetings were held once a month, or even once a week if needed. We would read the minutes of the previous meeting and discuss all kinds of questions. People had no experience taking part in public discussions or speaking briefly and to the point. Everyone hesitated to stand up and speak. I explained the rules for conducting meetings, and they respected them. They realized that the meetings were an education for them. Many had never been used to speaking before an audience. They soon developed the habit of thinking and speaking publicly about matters of public interest.

Knowing, that in public work minor expenses at times absorbed large amounts, I had decided not to have even the receipt books printed in the beginning. I had a cyclostyle machine in my office on which I took copies of receipts and reports. Such things I began to get printed, only when the Congress coffers were full and when the number of members and work had increased. Such economy is essential for every organisation, and yet I know that it is not always exercised. That is why I have thought it proper to enter into these little details of the beginnings of a small but growing organisation.

I knew that small expenses in public work could sometimes add up to large amounts. So I decided not to have even the receipt books printed at first. Instead, I used a cyclostyle machine in my office to make copies of receipts and reports. I began having such things printed only when the Congress had plenty of money and its membership and work had increased. Such economy is essential for every organization, yet I know it is not always practiced. That is why I have thought it worth describing these small details from the beginnings of a small but growing organization.

People never cared to have receipts for the amounts they paid, but we always insisted on the receipts being given. Every pie was thus clearly accounted for, and I dare say the account books for the year 1894 can be found intact even today in the records of the Natal Indian Congress. Carefully kept accounts are a sine qua non for any organisation. Without them it falls into disrepute. Without properly kept accounts it is impossible to maintain truth in its pristine purity.

People never cared to receive receipts for the amounts they paid, but we always insisted on giving them receipts. In this way, every pie was clearly accounted for. I believe the account books for 1894 can still be found intact in the records of the Natal Indian Congress. Carefully kept accounts are essential for any organisation. Without them, an organisation falls into disrepute. Without properly kept accounts, it is impossible to maintain truth in its original purity.

Another feature of the Congress was service of Colonial-born educated Indians. The Colonial-born Indian Educational Association was founded under the auspices of the Congress. The members consisted mostly of these educated youths. They had to pay a nominal subscription. The Association served to ventilate their needs and grievances, to stimulate thought amongst them, to bring them into touch with Indian merchants and also to afford them scope for service of the community. It was a sort of debating society. The members met regularly, and spoke or read papers on different subjects. A small library was also opened in connection with the Association.

Another part of the Congress’s work was serving educated Indians born in the colonies. The Colonial-born Indian Educational Association was founded under the Congress’s sponsorship. Its members were mostly these educated young people, who paid a small membership fee. The Association gave them a way to express their needs and grievances and encouraged them to think. It also brought them into contact with Indian merchants and gave them opportunities to serve the community. It was a kind of debating society. Members met regularly and gave talks or read papers on different subjects. A small library was also opened for the Association.

The third feature of the Congress was propaganda. This consisted in acquainting the English in South Africa and England and people in India with the real state of things in Natal. With that end in view I wrote two pamphlets. The first was An Appeal to every Briton in South Africa. It contained a statement, supported by evidence, of the general condition of Natal Indians. The other was entitled The Indian Franchise—An Appeal. It contained a brief history of the Indian franchise in Natal with facts and figures. I had devoted considerable labour and study to the preparation of these pamphlets, and the result was quite commensurate with the trouble taken. They were widely circulated.

The third feature of the Congress was propaganda. This meant informing English people in South Africa and England, and people in India, about the real situation in Natal. To that end, I wrote two pamphlets. The first was An Appeal to every Briton in South Africa. It described the general condition of Natal Indians, supported by evidence. The other was called The Indian Franchise—An Appeal. It gave a brief history of voting rights for Indians in Natal, with facts and figures. I spent considerable time and effort studying and preparing these pamphlets. The results were well worth the trouble. The pamphlets were widely circulated.

All this activity resulted in winning the Indians numerous friends in South Africa and in obtaining the active sympathy of all parties in India. It also opened out and placed before the South African Indians a definite line of action.

All this activity won the Indians many friends in South Africa and active support from all parties in India. It also showed South African Indians a clear course of action.