‘Love’s Labour Lost’?

Mr. Chamberlain had come to get a gift of 35 million pounds from South Africa, and to win the hearts of Englishmen and Boers. So he gave a cold shoulder to the Indian deputation.

Mr. Chamberlain had come to get a gift of 35 million pounds from South Africa and win the hearts of Englishmen and Boers. So he gave the Indian delegation a cold reception.

‘You know,’ he said, ‘that the Imperial Government has little control over self-governing Colonies. Your grievances seem to be genuine. I shall do what I can, but you must try your best to placate the Europeans, if you wish to live in their midst.’

‘You know,’ he said, ‘that the Imperial Government has little control over self-governing colonies. Your complaints seem to be genuine. I will do what I can. But if you wish to live among the Europeans, you must do your best to appease them.’

The reply cast a chill over the members of the deputation. I was also disappointed. It was an eye-opener for us all and I saw that we should start with our work de novo. I explained the situation to my colleagues.

The reply discouraged the members of the delegation. I was also disappointed. The reply opened all our eyes, and I saw that we would have to start our work from scratch. I explained the situation to my colleagues.

As a matter of fact there was nothing wrong about Mr. Chamberlain’s reply. It was well that he did not mince matters. He had brought home to us in a rather gentle way the rule of might being right, or the law of the sword.

In fact, there was nothing wrong with Mr. Chamberlain’s reply. It was good that he spoke plainly. He had made us understand, rather gently, that might makes right, or that the sword rules.

But sword we had none. We scarcely had the nerve and the muscle even to receive sword-cuts.

But we had no swords. We hardly had the courage or strength even to endure sword cuts.

Mr. Chamberlain had given only a short time to the sub-continent. If Shrinagar to Cape Comorin is 1,900 miles, Durban to Capetown is not less than 1,100 miles, and Mr. Chamberlain had to cover the long distance at hurricane speed.

Mr. Chamberlain had allowed only a short time for the subcontinent. If Shrinagar to Cape Comorin is 1,900 miles, Durban to Capetown is at least 1,100 miles. And Mr. Chamberlain had to cover that long distance at breakneck speed.

From Natal he hastened to the Transvaal. I had to prepare the case for the Indians there as well and submit it to him. But how was I to get to Pretoria? Our people there were not in a position to procure the necessary legal facilities for my getting to them in time. The War had reduced the Transvaal to a howling wilderness. There were neither provisions, nor clothing available. Empty or closed shops were there waiting to be replenished or opened, but that was a matter of time. Even refugees could not be allowed to return until the shops were ready with provisions. Every Transvaaller had therefore to obtain a permit. The European had no difficulty in getting one but the Indian found it very hard.

From Natal he hurried to the Transvaal. I had to prepare the case for the Indians there and present it to him. But how was I to get to Pretoria? Our people there could not arrange the legal permission I needed to reach them in time. The War had reduced the Transvaal to a desolate wasteland. There was no food or clothing available. Shops stood empty or closed, waiting to be restocked or reopened, but that would take time. Even refugees could not be allowed to return until the shops were stocked with food. Every Transvaal resident therefore had to get a permit. Europeans had no difficulty getting one, but Indians found it very hard.

During the War many officers and soldiers had come to South Africa from India and Ceylon, and it was considered to be the duty of the British authorities to provide for such of them as decided to settle there. They had in any event to appoint new officers, and these experienced men came in quite handy. The quick ingenuity of some of them created a new department. It showed their resourcefulness. There was a special department for the Negroes. Why then should there not be one for the Asiatics? The argument seemed to be quite plausible. When I reached the Transvaal, this new department had already been opened and it was gradually spreading its tentacles. The officers who issued permits to the returning refugees might issue them to all, but how could they do so in respect of the Asiatics without the intervention of the new department? And if the permits were to be issued on the recommendation of the new department, some of the responsibility and burden of the permit officers could thus be lessened. This was how they had argued. The fact however was that the new department wanted some apology for work, and the men wanted money. If there had been no work the department would have been found unnecessary and would have been discontinued. So they found this work for themselves.

During the War, many officers and soldiers had come to South Africa from India and Ceylon. The British authorities considered it their duty to provide for those who decided to settle there. In any case, the authorities had to appoint new officers, and these experienced men came in quite handy. Some of them were quick and ingenious enough to create a new department. This showed their resourcefulness. There was a special department for Negroes. Why, then, should there not be one for Asiatics? The argument seemed quite plausible. When I reached the Transvaal, this new department had already opened and was gradually spreading its tentacles. The officers responsible for issuing permits to returning refugees might issue them to everyone. But how could they issue permits to Asiatics without the new department’s intervention? And if permits were issued on the new department’s recommendation, some of the permit officers’ responsibility and burden would be reduced. That was how they argued. The fact, however, was that the new department wanted some excuse for work, and the men wanted money. If there had been no work, the department would have been considered unnecessary and discontinued. So they found this work for themselves.

The Indians had to apply to this department. A reply would be vouchsafed many days after. And as there were large numbers wishing to return to the Transvaal, there grew up an army of intermediaries or touts, who, with the officers, looted the poor Indians to the tune of thousands. I was told that no permit could be had without influence, and that in some cases one had to pay up to a hundred pounds in spite of the influence which one might bring to bear. Thus there seemed to be no way open to me. I went to my old friend, the Police Superintendent of Durban, and said to him: ‘Please introduce me to the Permit Officer and help me to obtain a permit. You know, that I have been a resident of the Transvaal.’ He immediately put on his hat, came out and secured me a permit. There was hardly an hour left before my train was to start. I had kept my luggage ready. I thanked Superintendent Alexander and started for Pretoria.

Indians had to apply to this department, and a reply would come many days later. Many people wanted to return to the Transvaal, so an army of middlemen or touts sprang up. Together with the officers, they robbed poor Indians of thousands of pounds. I was told that no one could get a permit without influence. In some cases, even with influence, a person had to pay up to a hundred pounds. So there seemed to be no way for me to get a permit. I went to my old friend, the Police Superintendent of Durban, and said to him: ‘Please introduce me to the Permit Officer and help me get a permit. You know that I have been a resident of the Transvaal.’ He immediately put on his hat, came out, and got me a permit. There was hardly an hour left before my train was due to leave. I had kept my luggage ready. I thanked Superintendent Alexander and set out for Pretoria.

I now had a fair idea of the difficulties ahead. On reaching Pretoria I drafted the memorial. In Durban I do not recollect the Indians having been asked to submit in advance the names of their representatives, but here there was the new department and so they were asked to do so. The Pretoria Indians had already come to know that the officers wanted to exclude me.

I now had a fairly clear idea of the difficulties ahead. When I reached Pretoria, I drafted the petition. I do not remember the Indians in Durban being asked to submit their representatives’ names in advance. But in Pretoria there was a new department, so the Indians were asked to submit the names. The Pretoria Indians had already learned that the officials wanted to exclude me.

But another chapter is necessary for this painful though amusing incident.

But this painful, though amusing, incident needs another chapter.