When a Governor Is Good

Whilst on the one hand social service work, of the kind I have described in the foregoing chapters, was being carried out, on the other the work of recording statements of the ryots’ grievances was progressing apace. Thousands of such statements were taken and they could not but have their effect. The ever growing number of ryots coming to make their statements increased the planters’ wrath, and they moved heaven and earth to counteract my inquiry.

While the social service work described in the preceding chapters continued, we were also making rapid progress in recording the tenant farmers’ grievances. We took thousands of statements, and they were bound to have an effect. The growing number of tenant farmers coming forward to make statements made the planters increasingly angry. They did everything they could to obstruct my inquiry.

One day I received a letter from the Bihar Government to the following effect: ‘Your inquiry has been sufficiently prolonged, and should you not now bring it to an end and leave Bihar?’ The letter was couched in polite language but its meaning was obvious.

One day I received a letter from the Bihar Government saying, in effect: ‘Your inquiry has gone on long enough. Should you not now end it and leave Bihar?’ The letter was polite, but its meaning was obvious.

I wrote in reply that the inquiry was bound to be prolonged, and unless and until it resulted in bringing relief to the people, I had no intention of leaving Bihar. I pointed out that it was open to Government to terminate my inquiry by accepting the ryots’ grievances as genuine and redressing them, or by recognising that the ryots had made out a prima facie case for an official inquiry which should be immediately instituted.

I wrote back that the inquiry was sure to take a long time. I had no intention of leaving Bihar until the inquiry brought relief to the people. I pointed out that the Government could end my inquiry by accepting the tenant farmers’ grievances as genuine and addressing them. Alternatively, it could recognize that the farmers had made a prima facie case for an official inquiry and launch one immediately.

Sir Edward Gait, the Lieutenant Governor, asked me to see him, expressed his willingness to appoint an inquiry and invited me to be a member of the Committee. I ascertained the names of the other members, and after consultation with my co-workers agreed to serve on the Committee, on condition that I should be free to confer with my co-workers during the progress of the inquiry, that Government should recognise, that by being a member of the Committee, I did not cease to be the ryots’ advocate, and that in case the result of the inquiry failed to give me satisfaction, I should be free to guide and advise the ryots as to what line of action they should take.

Sir Edward Gait, the Lieutenant Governor, asked to see me. He said he was willing to appoint a committee of inquiry and invited me to join it. I learned the names of the other members and consulted my co-workers. I then agreed to serve on three conditions. First, I had to be free to consult my co-workers during the inquiry. Second, the Government had to recognize that I remained the ryots’ advocate while serving on the Committee. Third, if I was not satisfied with the outcome of the inquiry, I had to be free to guide and advise the ryots on what action to take.

Sir Edward Gait accepted the condition as just and proper, and announced the inquiry. The late Sir Frank Sly was appointed Chairman of the Committee.

Sir Edward Gait agreed that the condition was fair and appropriate, and announced the inquiry. The late Sir Frank Sly was appointed chair of the committee.

The Committee found in favour of the ryots, and recommended that the planters should refund a portion of the exactions made by the planters which the Committee had found to be unlawful, and that the tinkathia system should be abolished by law.

The Committee ruled in favor of the tenant farmers. It recommended that the planters repay part of the money they had unlawfully taken from the farmers. It also recommended that the tinkathia system be abolished by law.

Sir Edward Gait had a large share in getting the Committee to make an unanimous report and in getting the agrarian bill passed in accordance with the Committee’s recommendations. Had he not adopted a firm attitude, and had he not brought all his tact to bear on the subject, the report would not have been unanimous, and the Agrarian Act would not have been passed. The planters wielded extraordinary power. They offered strenuous opposition to the bill in spite of the report, but Sir Edward Gait remained firm up to the last and fully carried out the recommendations of the Committee.

Sir Edward Gait played a major role in securing a unanimous Committee report. He also helped get the agrarian bill passed in line with the Committee’s recommendations. Without his firmness and all the tact he brought to the task, the report would not have been unanimous. Nor would the Agrarian Act have been passed. The planters had extraordinary power. Despite the report, they strongly opposed the bill. But Sir Edward Gait remained firm to the end and fully carried out the Committee’s recommendations.

The tinkathia system which had been in existence for about a century was thus abolished, and with it the planters’ raj came to an end. The ryots who had all along remained crushed now somewhat came to their own, and the superstition that the stain of indigo could never be washed out was exploded.

The tinkathia system had existed for about a century. It was now abolished, and the planters’ raj ended with it. The ryots, who had been oppressed all along, now regained some of their rights. The superstition that the stain of indigo could never be washed out was also destroyed.

It was my desire to continue the constructive work for some years, to establish more schools and to penetrate the villages more effectively. The ground had been prepared, but it did not please God, as often before, to allow my plans to be fulfilled. Fate had decided otherwise and drove me to take up work elsewhere.

I wanted to continue the constructive work for some years, establish more schools, and reach the villages more effectively. The groundwork had been laid. But God did not see fit to let my plans succeed, as had often happened before. Fate had other plans and drove me to work elsewhere.