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“The time is out of joint ; ¬¬- O cursed spite,

That ever I was born to set it right.”

• Shakespear.

THE TEMPTRESS

A disclosure of

Solid facts concerning

THE BAWLA MUMTAZ TRAGEDY

Wrought by her Foul Heart behind

Her Fair Face.

By :- K. S. THACKERAY

Price : Six Annas

Copies can be had of :-

The Manager,

Prabodhan office,

345 Sadashiv peth,

Poona City

Printed and published at the Prabodhan Press,

345 Sadashiv Peth, Poona City,

By K. S. Thackeray

It is painful to witness the many who feed and fatten upon scandal, -who lacerate and suck the blood of the worthiest men, giving full Scope to their villainous weapons. for no end I can see, but because, being themselves in the sink of all vice and Iniquity, cowardly and behind a screen they would drag down to the same abominable vileness the fair reputation and honorable purposes of the most unblemished men and women. They play a game between truth and falsehood, between sincerity and sport: they make no difference between things good and evil; calling bitter sweet and sweet bitter; and, being themselves divested of virtue; of religion of honor, broken in name, which therefore they dare not avow, ruined in prospects, they do wreak the malignity with which the devil hath stocked them withal, in reward for their souls sold over to his service. 

- E Irving.

FOREWORD

In offering to the public this little book on the Bawla Mumtaz Tragedy, the writer is prompted by the one sincere and single motive of laying his finger on the bare truth of that affair. As time rolls on, the details of this piece of history may evaporate, and the filthy attempt to blacken the fair name of H. H. the maharaja   Tukoji Rao Holkar of Indore may so far be forgotten that its very existence may be questioned. It is, however, the duty of a historian faithfully to record an event so outstanding, to place it in the right perspective, and to see that its real meaning is not hidden from the public gaze. The task was not quite agreeable to the present writer; but the falsehoods, which were heaped upon the whole affair by designing men, made him realise that it was his bounden duty to undertake the work. lf this little book succeeds in enlightening the readers on the many knotty points connected  with this  tragedy, the writer will feel that all his voluntary labours are amply compensated for.

K.  S. Thackeray

PPABODHAN OFFICE,

345 Sadashiv Peth,

Poona city.

15th. Sept, 1925.

CHAPTER I

The Curtain Lifted

BACK BAY ! What a comfort to the people of Bombay! It is the only Place where the rich as well as the poor enjoy the cool of the evening- after the fatigue of the day. There the mighty ocean, thundering and roaring at a distance, ruthlessly dashes its tumultuous waves against the wall of the Bay, and tells in uncompromising terms to all who care to listen to it, that human life and all its tall talk of the invincibility of power and glory are airy nothings before the indomitable rules and ways of mother Nature. One stormy bump of the roaring wave and down comes the massive structure of the wall constructed by the fastidious brain of man. Yesterday the sea was as calm and meek as a saint; today it is as boisterous and stormy as an extremist or a Bolshevist. Whether it is ebb tide or neap tide, Back Bay is always the rendezvous of men women and children. Here one finds different stamps of people from a moody philosopher to a turbulent pickpocket; from the wealthiest to the penniless and from the gaudy dressed to one actually begging for a rag to cover his shame. There are the hawkers displaying all sorts of advertising methods to catch the eye of a prospective customer. There sings a veiled low caste woman some popular tunes to the accompaniment of Tubla and harmonium. Here a professional beggar blurts forth his piteous appeals for a copper coin and tries to evoke sympathy by closing his eyes tightly in pretence of born blindness. There goes a well-built shabby Gujarathi beggar, with a century old dame crawling along his side, praying to the passers-by for help with short pieces of ballads. Here sits by the side of the Khote Footpath a Sadhu clad in vermilion loin cloth, carelessly gazing on the crowd around him. There on the shore and the sands we see several groups of Parsi men and women merged in muttering Their prayers to the Sun and the Sea by flourishing their holy `kustees` up and down. Here one finds black Ayahs clad in snowy white garments lazily wallowing in the soft clean sand and watching their little wards playing and frolicking about; and there we notice some young "Politicians of tomorrow`` loosely   gossiping on Reading-Birkenhead scheme of Reforms. Here stands on an elevated place, a convert Christian Missionary, crying at the pitch of his voice with vehement accents and exaggerated gesticulations, to spread broadcast "The message of Jesus Christ`` ; and just opposite to him roars an Islam Missionary accusing the divinity of Jesus and Lord Krishna in preference to that of Mohomed Paigumbar. Not far from the cremation ground of late Mr. Tilak, are some boys and girls deeply engaged in building castles not in the air like their elders, but - of sand. Bands of young beautiful maidens, in attractive drapery and making the best of themselves in all respects, move to and fro laughing, smiling, frolicking and cutting jokes to their merriment.

Youths of similar moods follow these attractive bands and labour to make their existence felt by any and all possible means There sits lonely in his motor car, apparently a wealthy fat Bhatia, with his eyes gazing aimlessly on the vast expanse of the sea, and his face marred with care which seems to have sat heavily upon his brow. Here in a secluded corner lies an honest College Student deeply engrossed in his book, in thorough disregard of the bustle going around him. Far away from the congregation on the shore and seated on the top of some rocks in the sea, are noticed some Hindu widows full of youthful grace, sorrowfully brooding over the insults and injustice thrust on them by the arrogant Hindu Society for no fault of theirs. There goes a stream of men women and children towards the Babulnath ascent of steps, to offer salutations and prayers to God Shiva; and here beside the main cock of the Reservoir on hill, we spy a gang of notorious "Mavalis" of Bombay, cautiously thinking of hatching some conspiracy for their business of the night. The Band Stand attracts a number of ladies and gentlemen mostly from the Parsi Class, pretending to take a deep interest in those western musical tunes and showing an air of utter contempt for Indian Music as an out-of- date and useless means of entertainment. Turn your back on the Back Bay and come to the top of the Malabar Hill by the convenient ascent popularly known as "Shiri Road.`` 

Every evening Malabar Hill presents a show of the Blissful Kingdom of the God Cupid. Merry couples not necessarily married, make the Hill their pleasant retreat to exchange their plans of the future. The bowers of the Pherozsha Mehta Gardens are fully occupied by young lovers, whispering in inaudible language what they think of each other and how they could get themselves united by the celesital tie of marriage in the near future. Hear site alert an anxious maiden awaiting the blissful noise of her lover`s footsteps, who is already "too late." Her heart is a screen exhibiting several pictures of imagination some time inspiring   faith and some time terrorizing the tender susceptibilities of her mind with dreadful   scenes of an accident. In another bower we find an impatient youth, perturbed with excitement for not finding his "sweet love`` at the appointed moment; and not knowing whether she is detained at home by her "obstinate parents" or he is lost sight of by her in oblivion.

Hundreds of motor cars are flying defiantly with monstrous speed, crushing mercilessly under their stone-hearted wheels here a cock, a cat, a dog and there a hackney horse or an unfortunate pedestrian too. There goes a big bellied Bania, with his ship-sized turban towering on head, in his luxurious Rolls- Royce. In close chase runs a tidy Ford packed up to its, utmost capacity with sturdy jolly Khoja youths, with their mouths all red with betel-leaf chewing. Soo-oo-oos!! There flashed a swift Red Maxwell. Who were in it? Here rattles a fourth-hand lorry-like nameless Car, with its shabby and dirty driver struggling with the rusty and unwilling engine, enthusiastically giving lessons to some ambitious students within, on " how to keep the engine and the car in good clean order."

The soul of  Bombay concentrates itself on Back Bay and the Malbar Hill   every evening. Who can tell what all these innumerable people might be carrying   in their heads? Surely some may have no heads at all; but certainly many must have many things rolling in their heads. We can easily find a lean and solitary   mill-hand, with his frozen gaze fixed on the limitless horizon, finding out a remedy to escape the constant tortures of his pathan creditor. We cannot lose sight of a moderately dressed unit of the clerical Drudgery brooding over the prospects of “the next promotion” in view. Who has not seen a wealthy Bhatia, with his sullen face, clearly indicating his labours within to find out some sure way to recoup his financial losses during the last Sutta transactions? There they go; some men dressed like thorough gentlemen, posing themselves as undisputable units of the “pick of the society,” but hiding within their breasts the most disgusting plans of some conspiracy, murder or even incendiarism. Who can, therefore venture to diagnose the various currents which run through the minds of the people, who generally make a common cause to throng the shores of the Back Bay and the heights of the Malabar Hil1, with an ostentatious excuse of enjoying the bliss 0f evening seabreeze Bombay the Beautiful always carries within it the seeds of the foulest crimes, which when developed demonstrate their true nature, with Niagara-like impetus, somewhere amidst the throngs which congregate on the Back Bay every evening and linger till midnight. Viewed from the hill-top, Bombay certainly appears as attractive as some fabulous heavenly City on the earth. But behind her fair face lie hidden and unseen, thousands of heinous things which shock  humanity, when revealed. As there is nothing unusual in her outward. pomp and beauty, there is nothing surprizing to trace the worst of things in her bowels.

This is in short the stereotyped nature of Bombay life. It has so much anesthetized the mentality of the people that nothing breaks its tiresome monotony. Bombay values pleasure alto misery at an uniform rate of disinterestedness and indifference. There is no pleasure which is not tinted with intense` no silver lining in its. darkest clouds.

The tragic event now well-known as Bawla Murder ; which took place on the evening of 12th. January 1925, had in fact nothing unusual in it. Is Bombay quite immune from murders and similar ghastly acts of atrocity? Not a day passes without a murder in Bombay. Then why so much sensation and excitement over this murder? `Why should the whole of Bombay, the whole of India, nay even the indifferent shores of the British Isles be vibrating with its details? Why are the Bombay Journals making a crow of mere feathers over this ordinary incident? Murder in an Indian village may mean something serious; but what value His it in a thickly populated City like Bombay? It is in event of everyday occurrence. In the present instance a conspiracy has been located which caused this murder. But we are sure, there is every likelihood of another conspiracy `in existence under the chairs of those journals, who are still howling like vindictive wolves to seek the confiscation of a big progressive Indian State, simply on the score of this trifling incident of the murder of a man, whose worth the howling journalists have still to prove. Let us see, therefore, in short, how this crime was perpetrated.

The tragedy owes its inception to a fair-faced and foul-hearted strumpet named Mumtaz Begum. On January 12th as usual, she was enjoying motor rides with her lover Mr. Abdul Kadar Bawla from this end of Bombay to that .At about 7 in the evening, while Bawla`s motor was flashing past the Hanging Gardens. on the Malabar Hill, a Red Maxwell car gave it a close chase and just near the curve opposite Malabar Hill Post Once, the latter bumped Bawla`s car from  behind and stopped it on the spot. The Maxwellians immediately besieged Bawla`s car, in which were sealed Bawla in the middle, and Mumtaz and his Secretary Mr. Mathews on his two sides. The besiegers immediately fired pistol shots at Bawla and his Secretary, and belaboured Mumtaz with knife strokes on her forehead. The scuffle soon resulted in bloodshed. Bawla fell down wounded. Mathews fainted. Mumtaz was dragged to the Maxwell car. But in the mean time, the pistol allots attracted a couple of European Sergeants on the spot from the Willingdon sports Club hard by. With a dash of bravery unique in men of their rank, the sergeants ran to the rescue of  Mumtaz and Bawla and boldly grappled with one culprit, who was consequently caught red-handed with the assistance of Police, who soon arrived on the scene of this bloody action. Other Maxwellians finding their plan frustrated, immediately bolted away with full speed Alicia disappeared. Bawlaj, Mumtaz and Mathews were taken to the hospital, and the culprit was sent to the cells, Bawla, in spite of prompt surgical aid, died a few hours later in the hospital. Mumtaz and Mathews, however survived their mortal ordeal of life. This is in short the story of the tragic event, which has steeped Bombay in particular and India in general, into so much sensation and excitement. Who were those Maxwellians ? Why wanted they. to murder Bawla ? Who is this strumpet Mumtaz ? Let us step into the clambers of the second chapter to study all these points in details, 

CHAPTER  II.

Who’s  Who’s

THE NEWS of the tragic event. spread through the vast city of Bombay, like wild fire. The night, however, passed without any special ground for extraordinary excitement, as  the Who Who of the persons involved in crime remained a sealed book till the next morning, When the morning papers appeared with bold  placards and sensational advertisements giving details in full. Even papers conducted by Tom Dick and Harry made a good cash business `that` morning. The Journals published articles full of burning excitements, exaggerated rumours and imaginary conclusions. The first imaginary conclusions. The first impressions were simple and amounted to mere sympathy for the dead and the wounded. People took it as no more than a lamentable result of some unknown rivalry in matters of love account strumpet. But no sooner did the relations of Mumtaz with Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar of Indore, painted with the most vilifying manner possible by almost all Anglo Vernacular Newspapers, come to light than the curiosity of the public reached its climax. The people had scarcely finished the reading of the story of the Sir Harising-Robinson case in London when this notorious Mumtaz affair brought the Maharaja Holkar to their notice. None, of course, were given the chance of fully discussing the pros and cons of the so-called relations; and every tyro in the street began to paint the Maharaja in the foulest colours, in the moralist. It must be borne in mind that it was the Harising case which lent so much odious colour to this point, and perverted the right  perspectives of public opinion. The Perversion of the facts owes its orgin to the acrimony of curtain newspapers, who always feed upon scandal, especially when it is in respect of Indian States, whom they hate as bitterly as the British rule it: Khalsa. Their trading on the Hollkar scandal resulted in good bushiness and they found the  Bawla Murder affair a sure and certain help to get time circulation of their papers increased. we have in our mind an infamous  Marathi Journalist, who `has escaped the tortures of actual starvation since he found in Bawla Murder and the Holkar scandal sufficient material to permit his cursed pen to dance at its pleasure, both in puerile articles and obscene cartoons. The irresponsible howlings of journals made the people almost overlook the tragic death of Bawla, and concentrate their attention on the further un-ravelling of some probable hideous details of the Holkar scandal. People were soon tutored to digest without a Shudder the most defamatory and obscene cartoons. published by some Marathi and Gujarati newspapers whose audacity when to the lengths of openly accusing the Maharaja as the prime mover of the conspiracy. It is not what justification they have. or what evidence they can put in support of this mischievous theory, which has already gone into bankruptcy topsy-turvy, when scrupulously thrashed in the chambers of the Sessions Court, as all are now well aware. Suffice it to say that more mischief is wrought by these mendacious journals than the pistol-shots and knife found of the culprits. More prejudice is `broadcasted by this pitiless pestilence of newspapers than the actual facts proved in the Court of Law.

The Bombay police, famous for `their masterly grip over criminal clues, at once fortified all possible avenues and lost no movement to scatter their hounds to trace the culprits and their den. The briskness displayed by them was most commendable. They discovered most of the clues in about a couple of ` days, and succeeded in locating the whole chain of the crime in about a week. They proved beyond doubt that the murder in question was an act, not of not of one man, but of a regular gang of some men. But it must be borne in mind that the Vigilance of the shrewd Bombay Police could not find even a passing shadow to carry the guilt of this dastardly attempt to the very throne of the Maharaja Holkar. The news-regshowling for the dethronement of Tukojirao Holkar, should either be bold to accuse the Bombay Police authorities of foul play and bribery, or withdraw the fangs of their malicious aspersions with apology if they still retain a particle of gentlemanliness in theme Let us, however, turn to the “Who’s Who”of the per- sons involved in this sensational tragedy, as without it, we shall not be in a correct position to diagnose the truth from the heap of lies manufactured by the mischievous news-rags. We shall first welcome Mumtaz Begum the notorious but  unfortunate Heroine of  this tragic drama.

Mumtaz Begum.

It is shame to compare this strumpet with Emperor Shehajahan`s consort   Mumtaz, of Historical fame, whose chastity and faith the memorable Taj meal of Agra still kings on the banks of Jamnabanana`s Mumtaz is a bloodthirsty Temptress, a regular Adventuress, whose motive is no greater thank to lure wealthy youths into the traps of her youthful grace squeeze as much wealth as she  could from them. She is the daughter of a professional songstress and dancer named Vazir Begtlm. It is common knowledge that songstresses carry on also the lucrative trade of prostitution though many prefer to hide it behind a transparent veil by keeping to regular husband. Vazir Begum, the mother of temptress Mumtaz, can scarcely be accused of chastity. even though she prides herself as the wife of a second husband in the person of  Mahomed Alli, who professes himself as a “Race punters”  The bud of Mumtaz`s youth blossomed while sloe was at endorse, and the Maharaja was pleased to give her the honour. Of remaining in his Royal Palace as his “concubine” Mr. Blake who once happened to be the Royal Guest of His Highness Tukojirao Holkar, describes the pomp and luxury of Mumtaz in a certain English Journal in following words :--

“Mumtaz enjoyed the choicest forms of luxury and pomp, Which Westerners can seldom even imagine. Out of the nine palaces of His Highness, she was at liberty to use any at any time as may please her pleasure. Hundreds of` maid servants were ready at her disposal to safeguard her comforts and carry out her wishes whatever they may be. Whatever she desirers, was forthwith procured disregarding the costs and consequences. Her drapery, chiefly of silk and velvet, was inconceivably costly and of the select fibre manufactulred specially at Banaras  and Kashmere. Her Jewellery was worth several lakes of Rupees, some pieces being specially imported from paris for her sake. A commodious and luxurious Rolls-Royce Car was ever at her command when she wanted to go out for her morning or evening trips. For long journeys, a special compartment attached to His Highness’ Special Train was always reserved on her”(Translative).

After ten years of such  luxurious life, it appears that Mumtaz happened to incur the displeasure of the Maharaja, for resons unknown. Any how she wanted to escape from the Indore palace and she contrived to do it at Dellii Station en route to Mussurie, were she was going under the orders of the Maaharaja, escorted by an officer of the state. No sooner did the train steam into the station than this women of conspiring ability, feigned swooning. The officer in charge hurriedly manage to remove her to the waiting room. While he was going to run for the doctor`s, Mumtaz got up on her legs of a sudden and raised a hue and cry to call in the British Police. She vehemently alleged that the officer in question .was taking forcibly where she did not want to go and appealed for British protection. The officer boldly denied all knowledge of any force or coercion and clearly told the Police authorities that he was escorting her to Mussurie by orders of his master His Highness the Maharaja Holkar The Police by all means were not and of course could not be the judges of such a peculiar situation. They told Mumtaz to go anywhere she liked.. Mr. Sule, the officer in charge, telegraphed his report to His Highness, who, it is reported, said  with great relief, at The “dragon at last is of for good.” From Delhi, Mumtaz went to Amritsar and after a short stay there, came down to Bomay to lead a life of actual prostitution. Her conspiracy, contrived with the secret help of her mother, step father, and similar other elements of the rougher type, was successful, inasmuch as she not only managed to fly away from the zenana-control Of the Maharaja, but which an extradition warrant of the Indore State still remains uncancelled. She was soon introduced to Mr. Abdul Kadar Bawla, a wealthy and pleasure-hunting youth of Bombay and she remained with him as his “kept” till his and her Dooms Day, the 12th of  January 

Who was Mr. Bawla ?         

Mr. Abdul Kadkr Bawla appears to be one of those beings, whom death brings prominently to the notic of the world. He was quite an unknown persons to the public at large till last day of his life Though his untimely death deserves warm tears pity and though we cannot but pity the end he met on account of his rash and unthoughtful habit of pleasure-hunting, yet there is every ground to say that the sensation created by his murder is not at all analogous to the position he held in public. What was he? Surely he could not be compared with Sardar Sir Lee Stack of Egypt nor was he of any importance and popularity, similar to those claimed by the late Mr. Jackson, the unfortunate Collector of Nasik. Mr. Bawla they say,was one of the wealthiest men in Bombay sure. Was the Late Sheriff and Banker of Bombay Dwarkadas Dharamsi less wealthy and less popular than Mr Bawala ?  Certainly not. But no such sensation was created, when Dwarkadas was classed among the ordinary –every casualities- occurring in Bombay and no more. Mr Bawla was the member of the Bombay Municipal Corporation. May Be. Seats in District Local Boards, Municipalities, and Legislative Council are the priviliegs of wealthy men only, that none need be told; but how the greatness of his personality can be sought to be justifiled by this argument we do not know. How many immoral wretches and steel-hearted members of the bourgeoisie should we point out from among the  lot of these Corporators,Councillors and socalled leaders ?.

It is foolish to elevate Bawala to the level and rank achived by the late Sir Pherozsha  Mehta. Readers should particularly bear in mind that so far as the easiest methods of self-advertising that go unhampered and unquestioned among wealthy people of Bawla s type are concerned, any empty-brained jack can pose himself as a John of the Corpotion simply on the strength of his opulence Though the public is still diffident to call a spade a spade, the  really intelligent element certainly values .such bourgeoisie in their true light. Opulence cannot at all be the Insurance. Policy of Mr. Bawla’s populaarity or his public worth, He may be an influential magnet in his own Memon community; so anybody He was a silent membar of the Corporation, they say. What can be expected of a man, who thought of nothing but the fair sex?. They say he was a Big Merchant; Bombay is superfluously flooded with them. He was, they say a Jolly Social .Friend in the tiffin club of the Corporation; certainly it may be a fact. But what dose all this go to prove? To sum up, we can Only say that Bawla was a healthy youth. A recklss hedonist. Persued his work, his vices, his pleasures, his fancies to his heart`s content. Enjoyed his father’s big estate and enormous wealth in any way he liked. That is all. What more ? We find the following information publishd in almost all news papers of Bombay, regarding the Wealth and character of Bawla.

“Bawla’s father left behind him wealth, which could be measured not by thousand or lacs but by Crores Abdul was the only son of his parents. Bred up in profuse opulence, he turned out a staunch pleastlrist. Uncontrolled indulgence since his cradle-day’s made a very bad impression upon his after-life. He developed a very hot and peevish temper, Which always kept his servants complaining and grumbling against him. He was an ambitious youth and laboured to be Great and popular (of course on the strength of wealth) It was for this purpose that his secretary Mr Mathews was engaged and he helped him to achieve this object to a great extent. When the Exchange Market showed signs of going down, Bawla got aal his wealth counted and found Forty Lakhs Rupees Cash in his possession. It is reported that out of this, 20 lakhs of Rupees were lavishly wasted by him for the sake of this notorious strumpet Mumtaz. Several of his sincere friends constantly urged upon him to get rid of that dragon; but all their entreaties proved of no avail

Ah !   What a nice specimen of gentalman ! Surely a worthy Corporator worth the worth of his voters. It he Corporation to ba proud of such is a units and it is a hunded times disgraceful for journals like the Bombay chronicle to herald him as one of the brightest Stars, who when viewed in a merciless but right perspective cuts such a sorry figure, as to force all the saner element of the country to cast their heads down in shame and disgust. Opulence, thy name down is shame.

There is another pioint worth considering On what principle did Bawla welcome Mumtaz? a paragon, a ‘pari’ of paradise? An unparalelled specimen of earthly beauty? A fountain of unquestioned Faith? Or did he entertain her as a helpless and forsaken woman pure innocence? To say that he welcomed her to his doors without the least knowledge of her past life fully gone into the details of her past life and the treachery she played against time faith of the Maharaja Holkarz before he condescended to offer his hand and evan life to her. One Allabux, a motor-drive was once giving motor-drive to this Temptress, when the pleasure-hunting Bawla happened to get a glimpse of her, and Him. “Love at first sight” was the only excuse which dragged Bawla to Mumtaz. It was quite in consonance with his nature, described above, that in the `flush of his just impressions as a pleasurista He did not at all give a ray of thought to what mortal. evil he was clasping in the person of a beautiful woman, whose conspiring and adventurous nature was. surely an open book to him. Probably he thought that he was a match for all the effects of the conspiring and adventures of Mumtaz. Or was he revelling in a sort of boasting it was to his honer and dignity that he patronised a prostitute who was once the concubine of a great Indian Prince? Or, was he of the same conspiring and adventurous spirit as that of Mumtaz? Since, he disregarded all probable and improbable consequences arising from his union with this notorious strumpet, it is evident that he determined to stake his all on his “all” --the fairfaced and foul-hearted dragon Mumtaz. It is reported that sincere welcomed Mumtaz into his house, he was forewarned, of course by the members of the conspiracy now exposed and justly penalized, by several anonymous letters, which too he simply threw into his wastepaper basket, and determined to ` cling fast and faithfully to a faithless strumpet.

In conclusion, we can only cast a tear of pity on the most tragic end this voluptuous youth met in an adventure, Which thought satisfied hts amorous and luxurious nature to some extent, at last victimised him in a manner not improbable in matters of such character. If we were not forbidden to talk ill of dead.we would surely have been justified to remark that in cultural scales poor Bawla was too trivial to justify he encomiums heaped on his grave by the Pro-lslam Journal Bombay Chronicle, and others of its feathers  

Let us open the doors of the third chapter and vllat the conspirators were doing there.

CHAPTER III

The Whys And Hows of The Conspiracy

“Conspiracy is unmitigated evil. No beam irradiates its Egyptian darkness; no smile lights up its masked and monstrous visage. It is the practice of demons –sometimes, alas ! in human shape, and the scorn of all honest and lovimg nature.’’                                                                 

Dr. DAVIES.

No Government,  whether British or Indian, could be said to be immune from the danger of conspirators. In British India the dens of conspirators have kept the C. 1. D. busy, day and night In indian States the situation, if anything, is, The aims and more intricate. objects of conspirators are not always uniform.

They crop up with different motives and complaints against tile party concerned. The eggs of conspiracies are usually hatched in the heat of some unrest, by persons of uniform grievance. These grievances are often a protest against hard and stiff administration of justice and law. Humanity, with all the intellectual progress achieved up to date, has not yet found means to administer justice which will please both the parties equally, .or will honour the guilty and the sufferer in equal proportions. In British territory, “unrest” is devoid of any meaning nowadays. It has lost all its serious aspects and can easily be manufactured by an ordinary journalist with but a few strokes of his pen. If the Satyagraha campaigns of Mulshi and Nagpur be taken as sure signs of some serious unrest, we are driven to the Conclusion that there are not less than two thousand conspirators scattered broadcast amongst us. Are not all the Satyagrahis still seething with unrest? Are they not foaming and fretting within themselves for the entire extinction of the Satanic British Raj from this land? Did they not want to break down the government machinery by their nonco-operation and its pet instrument the Satyagraha? If this is true of British territory, no more substantial excuse is necessary to. create unrest in Indian States. There it is the right of an ordinary convict to develop himself into a ‘Hater of the Rajah’ and make common cause with men of similar grievanccs. Among conspirators of the Indian States, could be found criminal offenders, political convicts, dismissed officers, unchartered pleaders, deposed Jehagirdars, deported Manlcaris, lnamdars, Kulkarnis and even priests whose interests have been affected in some way or other. In order to wreak reveng upon the Rajah and his administration, they co-operate secretly with some political agitators of British territory and utilise their Journals to expose the alleged maladministration of the State, and thus try their utmost to lower the Rajah in the eyes of the public. We cafe point out several Anglo Marathi newspapers at present trading .on such scandals and masquerading as democrats fighting for the rights of the people.

But the conspirators involved in the Bawla rewarder business are riot of this type. It does not at all appear to be a conspiracy to cause murder or any similar atrocious crime. The murder was distinctly an unforeseen consequenc of their chief motive which was if to take away Mumtaz from Bawla`s possession  Whatever the Law may hold, it is a question if these people could be said to have formed a conspiracy, in the sense in which this word is taken ordinarily to mean. In consequence of murdcr in question, the following men were arrested by the Bombay Police and tried by the Sessions Court, Bombay:- 

  1 Shafi Ahmad                                               Cavalry Risaldar, Indure –

                                                                          ( Culprit caught on the spot)

  2. Pushpasheel ponde:-                                    Durbar Manakari

  3. Bahadur shags.                                             State Motar Driver

  4. Akabar shahs:-                                              Citizen of Indor

  5. Shamrao Dighe                      Captain of Air Force  Indour 

  6. Mumtaz Mahomed                        C. I. D. Inspector Indore

  7. Abdul Latif:-                                           State Motar Driver

  8. Karamat khan:- Pay Seregent Imperial lancesrs

  9. Anandrao phanse                            Adjutant General

  10. Mahomed Shafi:-                            Bawla’s Motor Driver.

Out of these Nos. 1, 2 and 5 have been sentenced to be hanged, Nos. 3, 4, 7 and 9 awarded transportation for life and Nos. 6, 8 and 10 are acquitted.

Viewed from the cultural standpoint, except Nos. 2, 5 and 9, all others are mere dregs of society. They appear to be the hirelings of Messrs. Ponde, phanse and Dight, who hail from respectable families and held responsible posts under Idnore Government. It is. indeed unfortunate that these three gentlemen should. have indulged in a plan, upon which they apparentily hoped to build a fortune; but which as a matter of course, resulted in dastardly murder and consequently, proved utter ruin of their lives and ambitions. There are people in this world of a peculiar mentality. which inspires them to project adventurous schemes inspite of their obvious futility in the end. When. Fired by rash thoughts, they do not at all study the pros and cons or think thrice before they jump into. the field. They take every thing lightly betokening,, sure success and ultimate gain. Youth is the only period in man`s life when such impetuoosity of feelings  is really predominant.

Let us now turn to the evidence thrashed in the. Courts of Law, to find whether we could locate the origin of the conspiracy hatched by. Phanse and. others, and see what motives prompted them to do so.

In the statement of Mumtaz, We find three differers abstract utterances. They are in reference to Shankar Rao Gavade, formerly the Household Officer of His Highness the Maharaja Holkar, but now serving a term of seven years rigorous imprisonment in lndore Jail, on accotlnt of some serious charges like sedition and defalcation of State money. The statements purport to be:- 

(a) That Shankar Rao Gavde tried to violate Mumtaz`s modesty.

(b) That Shankar Rao persecuted her too much; and

(c) That though she had made a certain reference to him in her petition to the Bombay Commissioner of Police ( long before she left lndore ) she did not want to  say any thing more in that connection now.

What was that connection? why does she want to hush up this point now ? when did Shankar Rao try to violate her modesty and persecute her beyond toleration ? In our opinion, here lies the seed and origin of Phanse`s plot “to remove Mumtaz from Bombay to Indore.”    

The plot of Phanse whirls round the above three abstruse utterances of Mumtaz. Was she in secret love with Shankar Rao Gavde? Was that the reason which prejudiced the mind of the Maharaj, who certainly could not and cannot tolerate female infidelity? Did Mumtaz prefer to faith the Maharaja and co-operate with Gavde to hatch up some profitable conspiracy and turn against him like a furious dragon when she discovered that her object was far from being achieved? why were efforts made, not only by the conspirators themselves but even by the wife of Shankar Rao Gavade, piteously to appeal to Mumtaz to give an autograph letter to the Maharaja to relieve Gavade from the Jail ? And why did Mumtaz bluntly refuse to comply with her request ? This it important point of the relations of Mumtaz with Shankar Rao Gavade remains untouched throughout the proceedings of the case; but there are grounds to believe that if it had been disclosed, it would have thrown a flood of light on several of the black deads of Mumtaz and exposed her in her true colours to the world at large. Let us, however, see what the Ring-leader Phanse has to say in this respect. We reproduce below the conversation which passed between him and the Commissioner of Police, Bombay:-

Mumtaz prefer to break faith -tax . ..

           COMMISSIONER:-- For whom were you undergoing all these herculean labours?

           PHANSE:-- of course, for my dear friend Mr. Shanker Rao Gavade, who  is at present in Indore jail. It was through his favours and efforts that 1 secured my present high position in life, wealth and every thing. It was my duty to seek his release. lf Kamalabai Saheb ( i. e. Mumtaz ) had .pardoned him, our Maharaja would have surely released Shgnker Rao. With this object in view, the meeting of the Maharaja and Kamala Bai Saheb was most essential. In this my effort I had to achieve three objects, viz. ( I ) Kamalabai Saheb should live in. perpetual luxury and Honour; ( 2 ) Shanker` Rao sould be released from the Jail, and lastly thereby  (3) I should seek my forttlne. Shanlcer Rao has been imprisoned on charges of defalcation of state. money.

           COMAIISSIONER : I do not make out what all this has to do with Kamala Bai Saheb ?

            PHANSE:-- It has by all means. I know all the secret things fully well. It was our firm belief that no sooner did Kamala Bai Saheb step into Indorse than Shanker Rao would be granted his freedom. Because, it is believed everywhere that it was on firm account of Shankar Rao that she absconded from Indore.

We can thus clearly see where the conspiracy oriinated. The ringleader Phanse leaves no clue whatsoever to Justify the mischievous clamours of some Khalsa New-rags, which are howling like jackals and. wolves to seels the deposition. of His Highness The Maharaja Tukojirao Hlolkar. as the probable instigator of the foul tragedy. Journalism when conducted on mischievous lines ls.

a danger to the state as well as the Society. One who wears the shoe knows where it pinches; and this is why the Press Act saw the barkings and howlings of these foul-hearted news-rags are analogous to the black deed perpetrated by the conspirators. We shall shortly prove that the bottling journals are by no means Saints, but regular hirelings of some other conspirators from the Indore State. Let us, for the time being, connive at these bark-ing dogs and follows the trend of our argument.

Those who have closely followed the proceedings. of the Bawla Murder Trial, can at once come to the irrefutable conclusion that the motive of the conspiraters, headed by Phanse, was to take away Mumtaz to Indore by some possible means as a stare guarantee. to effect the release of the imprisoned Shanker Rao Gavade, the beaefactor of Phanse. From another statement of his to the Commissioner of Police, it is clear that none of the members of  his conspiracy ever thought. Of any injury or brute force while carrying away their prize. Phanse even maintained that he had secret messages from Mumtaz herself of her willingness to by go in. Indore since she was kept by Bawla under Let. Constant threat of  his revolver. Whether these messages Were fraudulent or not, point is not clear in this respect, however, Natan Jan’s(Mumtaz aunt) statement helps us to some corroboration of Phanse argument. We reproduce below Natan jain’s statement:-- After Mumtaz came down to Bombay, I learnt from her neighours that she desired to the Maharaja to the effect, that I should be called over there if Mumtaz was wanted back, to which I got a reply “Come both.” Than umta sent me a Message with her servant, which promted me to send another telegram to the Maharaja to the effect that Zakaulla khan should be telegraphed to come downto Bombay. Mumtaz tells me that as soon as he comes here he will manage to removed her from the custody of Bawla by hook or crook I also got a letter written by my husband to this purport when accused by Barrister Jinha of “broker|ship” Natan Jan vehemently repudiated the charge and said in assertive terms to I am not a broker. It was on the clear insistence of Mumtaz, I informed Zakaulla of her willingness to go to Indore. `` This leads us to a definite conclusion that Mumtaz`s statemeat of the “unwillingness to go to Indore`` and her extreme attachment for Bawla and the luxuries he provide for her” was an after – thought and a sheer lie, to defend her own position involved in the case. To accuse this infidel strumpet of truthfulness is to alter the meaning of the word. It is clear from Natan Jan`s statement that the sudden change of front shown by to: notorious Mumtaz in her after- thought of to “unwillingness” from the original “willingness,” frustrated the activities of Phanse and plan.

The whole programme of the conspirators, when viewed from the beginning to its lamentable end, looks like an incitations. of what we generally see in Weastern Cinema pictures of Adventures. The rawminded and impetuous youths like Ponde and Dighe, who volunteered themselves to carry the final execution of the plan, do not appear to have ever conceived any idea that their motor, Trick would result in a murder. They thought that as soon as they could overtake Bawla`s motor, besiege it, and fire a couple of shots here and there, the inmates of the car would takes to their heels in terror and then they could easily catch their prize Mumtaz, (whom they sincerely believed to be willing to come with them,) place her in their Red Maxwell and be of with full speed, as is. often the case in Cinema Adventures. But soon their rash programme developed into a bloody scuffle, probably on account of the rude and violent conduct of their hireling Shafi Ahmad. Their wits scattered and they had no alternative but to bolt off when interfered with by the brave European sergeants on the spot. They proposed one way, but fate disposed otherwise.

In every Cinematographic D rams of Adventures, we know of a big estate, a mine, or a secrate treasure There is always one attractive heroine like Mumtaz, Then there is assuredly a gang or conspirators. Abjuring to, obtain the possession of that estate, mine or the treasure, as the case may be. There are sevral scuffles, to get hold of that heroine from the embrace of her lover. There are motor-chasings,  secret telegrams, bombing of bridges and all other detatils, similar to those we find exposed in the conspiracy under consideration. But poor messrs. Phanse & Co ! They wanted to translate these photographic tricks into practical actions and there they failed. Imitation is always dangerous; is it not? 

Not a fibre of evidence remained unthrashed in the Sessions Court, Bombay; and neither the “clear head” of intriguing Mumtaz, nor the convicts themselves, nor any of the witnesses` gave even a whispering suggestion in respect of the Maharaja Indore beyond that Mumtaz was his Concubine for ten years. The learned Judge is reported in some papers to have remarked that the root of the conspiracy was in Indore Yes. The conspirators themselves did not deny that There still exists in Indore, Shanker Rao Gavade the root-cause of Phanse`s plot. But is it not presulnuous and mischievous to conclude from this self-explanatory remark that the roots reach the very boots of His Highness the Maharaja Holkar? It is sign of insanity to put such malicious colours on the simple remark of the learned Judge.

Out of the nine convicts only three viz. Phanse ponde and Dighe hail from families of some respect and social status; rest are all rank loafers. Are the scandal-mongers under the impression that His Highness is so powerless and helpless as to seek the aid of such lowliest of mankind and that for bringing back a Notorious strumpet running aways with a booty of jewellery? 

These irresponsible quill-drivers must bear in mind thyat His Highness is an Indipendent sovereign Ruler of a State as big as Ireland. He is an Ally of the British Ernpire, and not a man having catch-penny Editions for his maintenance. Holkar`s hand is sufficiently powerful to drag any devil from the remotest corner of the world and exercise the overs of his State Law even into the territory of the British Allies, simply by an ordinary extradition warrant. It was not a very difficult task for that sovreign Ruler o arrest the notorious strumpet, if son he but wished it. what reason had he to indent upon the services of men lilce Shafi Ahmed, Abdul Latif and Mahomed Shaha ? They can best be honoured an as friends and comrades by the most deified and deported Angel of the Bombay Chronicle. He was the real patron of sucll specimens of humanity, as the “Briton v/s Chioncle” case has proved beyond doubt.

`Shankar Rao Gavade was no less a favorite of the Maharaja than Mumtaz. It was the Maharaja, who complemented him on some of his best abilities, by raising him to the highest situation of his life as Household Officer, from that of the lowest station as a menial, a Hujrya. How does a do “hujrya” become a Household Officer? It is a fit question to be asked by the people of Khalsa territory, where even the ablest Graduates and men of sharp intellect do not know, to beg for their day`s existence. It is all countries which are independent of foreign yoke that intellect and ability have some chances. of coming to light; certainly not in, Khalsa Territory. Even Shankar Rao, however, was not spared when he was found guilty of some serious offences. He was forthwith pulled down from the highest post and sent without an excuse to the Jail by the Maharaja whose uprightness, honesty and integrity of purpose are better known to his subjects than to the conspiring news-rags of the Khalsa who mislead the public by their irresponsible scribblings.

One more important point, and we close this Chapter. Those legal men, who know extradition warrants issued against the accused, riseding in the territory of foreign governments, can well understand our argument. When the extradition warrants ware issued by the Bombay Police Authorities, on the express sanction of the Presidency Magistrate, against these Officers of the Indore State, the Maharaja. certainly would have been within his powers either to reject them wholesale, or cause some hindrance in the way, by stretching the of terms of his Royal Treaty with the British Government as flexibly as a rubber band. The warrants were a not against ordinary citizens of his State, they were against some of the most important officers like the Captain of the Air Force and Adjutant General. Everybody thought that the process would take about letter of the Presidency Magistrate to the Political Agent, would succeed in bringing down the persons required in Bombay. But the upright Maharaja astonished the Bombay Police authorities by his immediate. sanction and even personal assistance to effect the `the arrests. it is reported that phanse was at large for three days and none could succeed in locating his. whereabouts.

But it was the Maharaja himself, who forthwith effected his arrest and handed him over to the police. What to all these actions or the Maharaja denote? Let our readers say impartially. was it an honest effort to see Justice being done in the matter ? Or was it sovereign else ? rights, who on demand from a foreign governments immedtely hands over some of his responsible officers for trial, must surely be praised as a truth loving and an impartial Ruler instead of being wickedly blackmailed on presumptuous excuses and farfetched imaginary conclusions, as a probable party to a crime`s the foulest nature like murdere 

Let us take it for granted that the Maharaja is the prime-movre of the conspiracy. But even the conspiration, soms of whom are now actually on the verge of death and spline undergoing sentence of deportation, do not tie the guilt at his hilt. To face death is no joke and the accused would have pleaded sound clames for leniency, had they but pointed their finger to the Maharajah. But they have not done so. Why ? Either there must be no ground for this vilest accusation against the Maharaja, or these convicts be deeply loyal and faithful to the pledge of their conspiracy. If the latter, they deserve to be ranked among many historical worthies like Khando Ballal, Dhanaji Jadhav, Murar Baji, Netaji Palkar and many others, who at the stake of thier lives vindicated the movements of their mincers Shivaji, Sambhaji and Rajaram, Are the scandalisers of the Maharaja prepared to hail Phanse, Ponde, and alight, and even shafi Ahmed, ask the MARTYRS of the day and raise a huge memorial for their dirty deed of the murder of Bawla ? There are two ways open to them. One, they should either raise these perpetrators of the foulest crime to. the level of Martyrs and be their devout worshippers, or forthwith withdraw their unfounded allegations against the fair name of the Maharaja Holkar with unsolicited apology, if they still retain a particle of gentlemanliness within them. It is cowardice, as loathsome as the murder itself, to instigate and enflame public opinion against His Highness the Maharaja Holkar by debauching the power of the pan.

CHAPTER IV      

The Concubine and her Child

MUCH ADO is made about nothing in respect of tlae point that “ Mumtaz was the coneculding of Maharaja Holkar” It is hurled against him as a sign or moral degeneration. We have to moral degeneration. We have see in this chapter what value this allegation has. What is a Concubine ? Webstar the recognized authority, gives in his Dictionary the followings definition  

Concubine:-- (1) A Wowman who cohabits with a man without being his wife; 

(2) as . wife of inferior condition; a lawful wife, but not united to the man by the usual ceremonie as and of inferior conditions such the Concubines of Abraham; and such concubines were allowed by the Roman Law.

It is a mistake to institute a comparison between the status of Mrs. Robinson of the Sir Hari Sing case and that of Mumtaz who was the Concbine of the Maharaja Holkar. he former falls under the cater gory of an adulteress almost a prostitute, while the latter enjoyed the privileges of a of concubine: `` Webster defines it Prostitution and hi Prostitute as under: 

Prosliltltion:-- The act or practice or prostituting. offering the. body to an indiscriminate intercourse with men; common lewdness of a female.

“An infamous wonan, having passes her youth in a shameless state of prostitution” Addison.

Prostitute :--  A women given to indiscriminate lewdness, a strumpet.       

With these two authoritative definitions before us, we leave to see unhat was the position of Mumtaz with the Maharaja Holkar. was she a concubine or a prestitute ? Concubine is necessarily a VIRGIN and is accepted is such, since she is entitled to all the claims and privileged of hi a lawful wife, though she is not united to the man by the psuat ceremonies.`` It is unite mischievous to place Sir Harising in the ` category of Holkar, inasmuch as Mrs. Robinson was a married woman who practiced adultery. with Sir Habiting; while the Maharaja Holkar welcomed Mumtaz as his concubine, Mumtaz being a virgin in the true sense of  that word. This is the reasons why Mumtaz was permitted to append the title “begum” to her name, instead of do “Jan”, which very nearly means. a “Prostitute”. Mumtaz was a Begum till her last day of. fidelity with the Maharaja and became a “Jan” when she preferred to descend to a regular life of prostiutton.

This vital difference between a Concubine and a Prostitute is miserably overlooked by many and consequently the relations of Mutntaz with the Maharaja Holkar have been grossly misunderstood and misunrepresented. Concubinage finds no condemnation as can act of immorality in any Dharms shastras, though the latter are very careful to particularitise it as “inferior”. In the case of rajah and Padshahs concubinage` is considered, for ages`, as an acts of honour. and dignity, and jn the pages of Indian History we find many princes, born of concubinage, inheriting Throne of their Royal Fathers in the absence of legstimate heirs. The Zenana of Mahomedan Padashahas and even of many Maratha Kings was full of such faithful concubines and it was treated by Padahahas and the public alike with as much reverence and honor as they could bestow upon the legitimate consorts and queens. Those who have studied the recent Tanjore Case of the Bhonsla Family (descendants of Vyankoji Raja, the brother of the Great Shivaji) will at once and find that inheritors the of that large Royal Estate are the progeny of coricubinage. We can point out several instances of eminent person. still gracing many important places of trust in indian States, who have Royal Blood in they but through the channel of concubinage.

A controversy is at present raging on the point of the Eight Concubines of Shivaji the Great. It is intraduced by Mr. S. M. Edwards, I.C.S. late Commissioner of Police. Bombay who takes a prominent rank amongst erudite historian scholars of to-day. The times of lndia, with its wellknown notorious character of magnifying even the most trifling defects of lndians especially of their worthies, whether dead or living, flung this point of Shivaji`s concubinage as a stiglma on his glorified name as a staunch moralist, and Indulged in a number of childish references ill-fitting its position as the Ablest Newspaper of india. Whether Eight or two is immaterial; but if histories to be relied upon, we have at least one distinct name of prince Madansing called the Raksha-putra of Shivaji He accompanied Queen Yesubai Saheb to Delhi, on hen arrest at Raigad. If Shivaji had not even a single concubine in his zenana, it is not known how this Raksha-putra could have been born at all? But the blind admired of Shivaji whom they now worship almost as God and not as Nationl Hero shall not swallow the bitter pill of Mr Edwards without some acrimony of far-fetched. Arguments Wha foul sin however, did Shivaji commit in entertaining in his zenana womens who were lewd or faithfuless to their marriage beds. As, said. above concubines. Are selected from among pure virgins of unquestioned fidelity and chastity, child no sane rationalist and even a scripturist would ever class Shivaji among those characters, who often stain the history of mankind. With their dirty deeds of prostitution, as we do not in, want any. silly excuse of to “Political necessity” to be put forward. In defance in refelled of the concubinage of Shivali. Let us look to the point from the current rational angle of vision Thoughit lays extreme stress on “mutual faith” between man and women and recognises fidelity in all its genuine aspects, it scarcely admits of the necessity of the so-called religious ritual as the only or the , bit medium to cement or sanction the perpetuity and. permanency of the nuptial knot. Whether any. religious ceremony is performed or not, if a woman faithfully passes her life with a man, and honestly discarges all her duties and functions of a regular chaste wife what law can dispossess her of her. rights if wifehood, or refuse her even the claims of maintence ( after the death of ,her lord. )? If the Law and religion call her “a wife of inferior condition” the rationalists care not. It is the FAITH, A, FAITH. And Faith alone which counts most, not the rtual nor public opinion. what does “Marrage by registration” mean ? It is valid even without the  ritual. All is merely hi pledge.signed, to satisfy the country’s law, in the presence of a Government Officer That’s all whatwever such a pledge of mutual fidility is declared before an officer of the state, or communicated to each other in camera means the same to a rationalist. Even the Hindu Law recognize the right for maintence of conculbin called (1) Avaruddha Stree (2) Upa petni (3)Bhoga Stree (4) Dasee, provided it is proved that she remained faithful to the man throughout her life Mumtaz Begum alias Kainalabai Saheb, as she was named in honour of her 

faith to the Maharaja Holkar, was ` entertained by him in his zenana as a pure virgin,  and  not as a strumpet. After ten years of contined fidelity, she broke her pledge and automatically went over into the ranks of open, prostitutes, shorn of all her prestige and glory. We cannot make out how in this respect the Maharaja Holkar stands liable to the derision. of every tyro in the street poising as an moralist ?

Mr. Blake compaliments His Highness Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar in the following unsolicited terms: -  

          The ,Maharaja of Indore is a gentleman of the most graceful and dignified type. He is an excellent. cricketer, with undying love for hunting and games. He is. entirely free from tobacco and, all other. intoxicating drugs.”

St Niha Sing the pioneer upright journalist and many other British and American tourists have jeulogised His Highness in similar strains. Since, he came to the throne, lndore State has made rapid strides of progress in education, industry, commerce, and all other lines of development, and today indore can well be called the Bombay of Central India. His Subjects love and adore him spontaneously. The Maharaja is always open for interviews even to an insignificant man in the street and freely mingles with the public without his regular body-guards. He is so confident of his people`s faith and loyalty towards him and his august throne, so meritoriously graced by Devi Ahilya of immortal fame, that he is not reported to have curbed their freedom by any autocratic legislation till now. ashen the turbulent add propaganda of Gandhi`s Non-co-operation was shakeing the very foundations of the British Empire in the Khalsa and keeping the administrative functionaries up day and night, to manufacture means to bridle it for good, His lightness Tukojirao Holkar, correctly foreseeing the true message underlying the Khaddar programme and anti-untouchability, encouraged his subjects to develope Khadi industry and remove the ban of untouchability from amongst them. To set an example, His Highness encouraged khadi of the Household, and prepared nice suits of Khadi of the best-spun texture for himself and his son. No doubt, he occasionally noticed a few turbulent extremists disturbing the currents of his people`s peace by their virulent speeches and movements; but he succeeded to keep that rough clement under proper control and within legitimate boundaries of constitutiolnalism simply by his calm, generous and amiable nature, which has engaged him so much to this subjects. His State is, of course, not. free from the usual danger of several conspiracies, and Mr. BLAKE remarks:--

“It is not unusual and improbable that. the Maharaja should and himself in the dark as regards several conspiracies carried on by his officers and servants if she Stats.”

If we do not mistranslate the strain expressed by the resolutions of many monstrous meetings held recently by the public, of Indore we can safely come to the conculusion that His Highness the Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar ranks amongst the best of Ruling princes in. India with overwhelming popularity and untarnished reputation as a just and upright sovereign Ruler of his State. During the non-co-opration days the whole of British India had become quite a hot-bed of discontent for the Prince of Wales to step in and wherever he went he recived nothing but a “forced welcome” from the hired people who were made. to throng the rought line of his processions and journeys. lt is false to say that Indore was not affected with the stormy waves of the unrest created by the said movement of the Khalsa territory. But it was a mist; and no sooner did the personality of thy Maharaja step forth to offer a cordial welcome to at The Emperor of Tomorrow” than it evaporated in. toto. Both the Went Prince of rules acid the Viceroy Lord Regaling heve experienced the loyal enthusiasm of the Indoreans have certainly carried with them excellent impressions of the popular hold which the Maharaja has.

over his subjects an all respects. with all. their parsonal knowledge of the life and character of the Maharaja it is extremely doubtful how far the prince of Wales, the Viceroy and even the King-Emperor would believe in the. False Rumor which. have been maliciously set. aflote by the dirty news rage  so far we have. no substantial of evidence before us to believe that the Britlsh Statesmen and the responsible heads in the Parliament have become so devoid of common sense as to succumb to any mischievous. Intrigue perpetrated by with Indian news-rags, whose status as representatives of genuine public opinion yet remains to be proved 

Let us now examine the details of the whys and hows of Mumtaz’s absconding. From her statement to the Sessions Court, we gather that of late the Maharaja had lost his interest in her and proved lukewarm in his love? Was there any ground for him to suspect infidelity in her? If that was the fact and a correctly located fact at that why should he continue to honour her as his concubine As a king and as a “ gentleman of the most graceful and dignified type”  to quote Mr.Blake,- Tukojirao Holkar was fully justified in connving at her existeance. It was a fix for him without any solution at hand. He had no alternative but to permit her to stay in his palace with all her luxuries and pump unabated simply to guard her from going but into the open world as a regular prostitute with all the unfortunate husbaned has no alternative but meekly to tolerate her existence and take precautions to see that the dragon gives no unnecessary publicity to her illicit relations with her paramour. Mumtaz’s infidelity appears to have been corroding the mind of the Maharaja for a very long time and it is but natural that when the report of her having fled away from Delhi Station reached His Highness, he exclaimed “My mind is now at ease. Let the dragon go to hell.”  Those fools who are now vying with one another in worshipping this strumpet Mumtaz as a Goddess Divine and publishing poemes in her praise, should give at least one ray of thair thought – if their thinking power is not completely bruised – to the most condemnable point of her infldelity before they persist in their slavish encomiums an irresponsible manner.

The absconding of Mumtaz.from the Palace of Indore, probably with some costly Jewellery belonging to the Maharaja, as is defiantly alleged undoubtedly is relieved His Highness, but the incidents was not so lightly taken by his subjects and his adherents who love him more than the slaves of the Khalsa territory can belive It was a torture to the lndoreans to see their Kamala baisaheb honoured for ten years as the concubine of the Maharaja, leading the life of an ordinary strumpet in Bombay. The people took it as a thing of constant mortification. Sir Hukumchand, Kt. in his presidential speech delivered recently in the monstrous meeting of the Gyara Punches said that some respectable of the State waited upon His Highness to ascertain his view if he. would like their taking some steps to induce her back to Implore. But the Maharaja disliked the idea and said to 1 do not want her back it all. As regards the jewellers taken allay by her, my State Courts are competent enough to recover it and negotitions are in force in the matter. There`s no need for any one to move in this respect on any excuse” This responsible statement of a responsible citizen of the unique worth and influence of Sir Hukumchand, is certainly far more reliable than the irresponsible bowlings of the newsrage, whose informants have received their information from some conspirators of the lndore State.

Oh, my dear child.

Scandlisers of the Maharaja have found in the stillborn child of Mumtaz a nice excuse to add fuel to. their fury. An effort is made in some quarters to interprete the death of her female child as a murder effected by the orders of His Highness; though’ the testimony of the lady doctor and the nurses is that  the child was actually stillborn What necessity had the Maharaja to get the Child killed ? with thunder bolt would nave fallen on the Indore State if Mumtaz`s `child have lived? Evan if it had been a male-child instead of the female one was it entited to the Royal inheritance?  Not at all There we would have had an Indian Duke of Monmouth! Was the destruction of the child of a concubine? No son or daughter of a concubine or an illegimate wife has ever claimed inheritance to his or her father’s thorone Mumtaz’s child would have certainly lived and passed as an illegitimate child of Maharaja without any trouble either tc itself or to the state In short, the child itself and we can only pity the brains which are painting this trifling event with foulest colours to blackmail the fair name of the Maharaja. Indeeed black ink turns whitewhen placed in contrast with a foul heart!                                        

Mumtaz Bewildered.

 It is no wonder to see that Mumtaz Begum has been like a fish out of water, since the tragic death of her paramour and protector Bawla. Under such circumstances, it is but natural that she should be at her wit`s end. Besides, her future life must be a perplexing problem to her as it very unlikely that a sane man would ever espouse her hand in marriage it is on account of Mumtaz that. a conspiracy of a drastic nature saw the light of the day and poor Bawla was nipped in the bud of his youth. Anyhow, the first part of this melodrama is almost over and the second will probably now begin and it is in connection with certain costly Indore Jewellery which she has purloined while given to her for wearing in his capacity as the Maharaja Holkar’s concubine this is an act of criminal breach of trust and a warrant to this effect still remains uncancelled with the Indora Government Mumtaz as all know is a to “clear  headed” damsel her petitions to different officials making that son personas concerned in the conspiracy are not produced in the Court of Justice and so praying for protection, are nothing but feats of trickery. Some how or other, she wants to escape the calamity of that warrant which is still pending in her name with the governments of Ignore. Besides, fortunately or unfortunately her present strong-hold is in Bombay which inbounds in legal luminaries who would give her any legal advice, so long as her silver current is unrestricted. But such devious paths to avert calamity that is sure to befall her some day or do the other are to no purpose. Indore Goverment has the same right to execute a warrant in the British territory as the British Goverment has in the indian States. lndore Government did its level bast to help the British Police in finding out the culprits of the Bawla Murder Conspiracy of whice Mumtaz was the central figures Mumtaz, it is reported, has tendered one petition to H. E.  the Viceroy for protection, but it must be well. borne in mind that H. E.`s .government. Is not so dull as not to understand these Machiavelien tactics.

CHAPTER V                              

Journalist Jobbery

BEFORE we scrutinize the villainous role to played by some Bombay journals in respect of the Bawla Murder tragedy, we desire to acquaint our readers with the facts about the Journalism in the Deccan and what value it has acquired as a powerful wielder of public opinion is altogether a Western gift to the conservative India. Roughly speaking it has made its existence felt to some legitimate extent. But like all other professions, it is of late handled in the, Deccan mostly by Persons of inferior abilities and low standard of educational calibre. Mere quill-driving has unfortunately become a sufficient qualification sible professions The incompeteancy of the Deccan people is manifest from the fact that they have a always indented upon the hired services of Hornimans and Holsingers to edit their English papers if different parties. This is tantamount to expessing one’s thoughts and. sentiments through. The mercenary mouths of childe foreign hirelings, whose chife motiv is no other than that of earnings money and of walking away when their individual points of view clash against those of the proprietors or organizers.   The condition of the Marathi Pepares is too wretched to deserve any comments. It is a shame to see men of worthless character and bottomless social status blackmailing the sanctity of a journalist chair in Maharashtra. Here one needs no special breedillg or qualification to pick up this of cheap popularly. Any human being who could place words after words, and thus coin. sentences after sentences, starts a newspaper an struts forth an a journalist. whom the Tilakite camp. hails as a Patriot, provided he is a chitpawun or at least at Brahmin. Out of the hundred Deccan news papers which. daily crowd. the writer`s table not more than 4 or 5 deserve any notice; the rest are all rubbish waste. of energy paintings, paper and ink. The old adage.

“ Be A PHYSICIAN IF YOU CANNOT BEG”

Should now safly be change into:-

 “ BE A JOURNALIST IF YOUCANT”T BEG BORROW OR STEAL.”

Of late the number of Marathi newspapers is overwhelmingly increased. But that is no sign of any national awakening or`overflowing erudition. These numberless rags should on no account be calculated as the representative mouth-pieces of the Deccan public opinion. Nothing of the kind. Journalism has become totally incompetent to earn a decent living on the strength of thair much talked of “intellectual superioriority” now seriously challenged by the rising Non-Brahmin element. Most of the Deccan Editors are Brahmin youths who were convicted of sedition, false cheques, forgeries, perjuries, and known for a quack patriofisin such as has been displayed in unlawful movement like the .1908 conspiracies, Mulshi Peta and Nagpur. Satyagrahas. In the rank and file of the Deccan Journalists, we notice all types of men helpless graduate down to the mischievous priest. There we see many worthless lawyers and single or double grttduates, who under the garb of patriots have been making their fortunes simply by feeding upon the .public funds collected under hunreds of false national excuses. whose patriotism is based upon convictions and Jailbirsm. There are again. many who finding their existence in social spheres condemned and hissed at.

Both by thair relative and neighbours, for some of both by their misdeeds, pose themselves as respctable Journalists and staunch patriots (Desha Bhaktas). There. are some silant and innocent looking creatures, whose proficiency in duping the ignorant masses and squeezing their are poverty-stricken purses to the last. farthing under excuses of “Swaraj” is well known` throughout the length and , breadth of the Deccan. There are some whose conspiring tactics have more than half dozen times been exposed and punished by Goverment in short, Marathi Journalism, with a few exceptions, is as; degenerated and rotten as a priest’s mentality. and why should it not be ? It is almost actually in the hands of priestly Brahmins A Brahmin whomsoever educated and bred up in whatever salubrious atmosphere of rationalism, cannot get rid of his bonebred love of notoriety and narrow-mindedness. They have utilised the weapon of Journalism In the most irresponsible and arrogant manner; and no wonder, that was their characterstic under hierarchical government of the Peshawas when regal powers were actually usurped by them as their caste-right              

It is a historical fact that Brahmins are totally unfit for and undeserving of any powers By nature; fully displayed and demonstrated durng the black days of the peshwa Rule they have proved themselves to be narrow minded. Unscrupulous,  and avaricious to the farthest limit. Their arrogance is tactical, while their duplicity and. manipulations of heart end tongue are still an unsolved mystery Goethe country at large. Though their claim for self-sacrifice and entering persistence deserves some praise, their secret motives of self-aggrandizement are most disgusting. From the times of Shivaji the Great, if not before that, they have been remarkable for their stark vindictiveness. It if natural, therefore, that they should use the professions of journalism as a means of sure and sound measure to hypnotise public opinion and preserve their hold of pure Brahmanical supremacy unquestioned over the masses for ages to come, if not eternally. 

With such an element at the helm of the journalism of the Deccan, instigated by the courteous yet malicious perversion of facts by heartless Anglo Indian Journals, one can easily surmise, even without studying the consequences we refer to below, what a volume of mischief might have been wrought by the Marathi journalists in Bawla tragedy affair.Already this Brahmin journalistic camp has engendered a peculiar venom against all governing powers, except theirs own chimerical “Swaraj” Outwardly some of them no doubt, pose as the champions of the liberty of the people and the princes of Indian States, but in their heart of hearts they are the rank enemies of all such powers, since they are not the remnants of their belvoed peshwa Raj It is true that a couple of respectable Brahms journal like the KESARI refrained from taking any part in the Bawla Murder controversy; but in our opinion, they lacked the courage in to enlighten publics opinions. Which was daily victimised on the altar of prejudice by their own chikan-journalists. Pyramid-silence and white-Hall indifference cannot always be takan to mean good faith. It is also true that Brahmins were conspicuous by their entire Absence throughout to operation of the conspiracy which effected Bawla’s death; but what a notorious repetitions of history it is, that in thorough consonance and unbroken continuity of` the thorough priestly mischief perpetrated during 1892-1896 against late Shivajirao Holkar, the sequel of the Bawla tragedy should inspire a number of Brahmin journalists to pick up the present Sovereign Ruler of Indore as their target to hurl blasphemous against him ? lf it is not a repetition of history what is it ?

The Bawla murder would certainly have passed off with casual notice, such as crimes of this nature generally receive, had the Bombay Press kept within legitimate bounds its greed of circulation, and refrained from making capital out of ungentlemanly scandalising. but they too had behind them their secrate wire-pullers with peculiar personal grudges and  undying prejudices Since the day of the and lamentable tragedy, the local journals of Bombay particularly some rude tumultuous Marathi organs conducted by the element referred to above, carried very regrettable campaign to prejudice the public mind. They published several irresponsible and obscene. cartoons wrote imaginary novels, poems, econimums, sarcasms and a hundred. and one unjustiflied reports as coming from their “own correspondents” No sooner.did they commence their spiteful howlings against the Maharaja Holkar instead of against the proper culprits then actually arrested than other imitating papers of the Presidency and elsewhere followede suit. They.took all the sermons broadcasted by the mischievous section of the Bombay Press to be as holy as the Bible, the Koran or the Puran, and added fuel to the fire. As regarded the Anglo-lndian papers, they carry a fame of ever showing an unsympathetic attitude In all matters concerning Indians proper, and Hindus in ` pertitular. The same rule applies to Pro-Islamic papers like the Bombay Chronicle and the Daily Gasette of Karachi. A slight suggestive whisper from this coiner was a sufficient incentive to the begg arly Marathi Organs to go ten miles further to fling the worst of accusations against the Maharaja whom they` blakemailed without shame or disgust this hallucination entirely deprived the people of their balance of mind and the powers of independent and impartial thinking. The constant hallooing at last resulted in creating a sort of vindictivencess against the accused --a state of affairs entirely unfair and uncongenial to the proper conduct of justice During the trial the counsel for the accused brought this to the notice or the learned Judge and requested him to take immediate steps to put a stop to that irresponsible tomtoming. But it was then too late The mischief was wrought long before that Public .opinion was blurred and surcharged with a number of prejudices, fables and facts mixed together. Is our opinion the mischievous campign of the Bombay news-rags stands accused of having prejudice? the conduct of justice one way or the other. We feel no hesitation in remarking that the Bombay.journals turned Bombay the Beautiful into Bombay the prejudiced. It is unfortunate that they. should de moristrate their vindictiveness in such a spitful mainner as to challenge the well earned reputation of Bombay as the Guiding star of country`s oplnion 

The mischief wrought by the Bombay press did not at all pass without censure from a few upright and impartial Journalists whose. sense of duty has served as a beacon to Young India for years past. In the Bengallee edited by Mr. Bepin Chandra Pal, appeared the photographs of Bawla, and Mumtaz. No sooner did Mr. Pal find them in his paper, publised of course, without his knowledge or directions, he forthwith expressed his regret In following words: -

“This has been done in my absence and without my knowledge and authority and I express my sincere regret for the prominent publication of the portraits of Mr. Bawla and. Mumtaz Begum that have no title to this notice.

Shriyut Ramanand Chatterji, the upright Editor of the Modern Review while writing a note on “Bombay Malabar Hill murder”, after expressing his indignation for the foul, deed perpetrated, puts forth his vehement criticism against the news-rags who traded on the scandal as below:--    

But we cannot appreciate the publication in the papers of the portraits of the woman and her murdared lovers and details of her past life She right have Been the mistress of more Maharajas. But even that would not have made her a heroine whose career would deserve to be recorded day after day in column of the numerous news papers. If the newspaper readers desire to feed. on garbage wallow in salicious filth, surely it is not the busianess of journalists to supply such stuff (MR. February 1925p228-29) Again while referring to “Mrs. Robinson’s case on the same page Babu Ramanandji gives another instance of Western Journalistic degeneration which may well be comared with the unjournalist conduct of the Deccan newsrage:-- 

“…Owing to the notorieity which these facts. brougtht the adulteress, Mrs. Robinson a. Paper.  Called? The Sunday Chronicle got her to contribute to serially an account of her life and immoral adventures. It betokens a very degreded state of. society that a. woman and her husband should with other person form a conspiracy of this disgraceful character, to fleece an ass of a, libertine. And it betokens still deeper. drgradation that a public print should find it possible and profitable to

print an account of her vicious, life written. by. herself what sort of homes are. those into which such a paper finds ready entrance ? We have no desire to throw stones at. English Society, seeing that, if Bombay,s Mumtaz Begum had possessed any literary talent, some enterpriseing Indian paper would have most probably secured her as a contributor.”

The Modern Review cannot well understand the trickery of the priestly journalism of the deccan. If the strumpet cannot write herself there are hundreads of volunteers wandering after Jobs. .with their pens ready to help her, Take the case of that married maiden Sundarabai of Cawnpore. She, according to her Father’s statement to the Indore Court, is. trained upto the second standard Marathi; yet, is it not wonderful and amazing .that she would publish numberless complaints of her alleged misfortunes through Marathi and English papers worded in Bolshevist strains guised wirepullers alld conspirators.

THE RAJASTHAN an outspoken weekly of Delhi in its issue of July 7th  1925, censures the Bombay press, which has mischievously mixed the Indore state Reform” with the Mumtaz affair, and protests against their “sinister attempts doggedly made to discredit the name of H.H. the Maharaja Holkar and embroil him in the case as below: - 

“Malice and calumny have attempted to prove that the many-sided reforms, which have been just introduced In the Holkar State, are a sequel to the Malabar Hill tragedy and they are only meant to counteract malicious propaganda of calumniating Maharaja Holkar.

Only wilful ingenuity can make such reflections on the honesty of purpose with which Maharaja Holkar has practically realised the legitimate rights of his subjects. Whatever might be the connections of Mumtaz the infamous heroine of the drama. which culminated in a ghastly tragedy and once more brought home to men what a great curse to them was the seductive beauty of women, -with Indore in the past, there is nothing to prove that the ruler of Indore had directly or Indirectly encouraged in any way the authors of the murderous plot

We painfully notice that in a certain section of the press sinister attempts are being doggedly made to discredit the name of H.H. Maharaja Holkar and embroil him in the case. We stand for the prestige of the Indian Princes as much as for the welfare of their subjects. We therefore, think it all the more necessary to protest against the malicious propaganda started to malign him, so that he may be immune from the injury it is capable of doing. For the present, how ever, it should surfice to remind our readers that in view of the above facts it is wrong to suppos at the the reforms, which Maharaja Holkar has offered to his people without their asking, are not a free gift to them or that an outside pressure has forced his hands to part with a portion of his authority, which none could disputers

The blame of the whole mischief cannot be fully tied to the pens of the editors to carried the spiteful campaign. They had their partners in the affair. They theire the victims of some bad people who hate the Indian States and their Princes. Wire-pullers, in the present case, were obviously some conspirators from the Indore State itself when these conspirators found that the notorious Mumtaz affair was a fit handle to average their alleged grievances through time medium of the press, they forthwith shook off their lethargy and polished their pens. They made as if a common cause with the newsrags to wreak their revenge by keeping the latter supplied avidly volumes of fabricated reports and mischievous notes.  The papers did not care to verify the truth of such scandalous sprinklings and gave them wide publicity. knowingly or unknowingly. The conspirators revoked the dead controversies if the time of the late Shivajirao Holkar. They ventured to fling the to “Death of one Mr. Booti” as a parallel to Bawla Murder, though the entire falsity of the former was proved beyond doubt 30 years ago to the satisfaction of the government of India and the Parliament. They put on a different mischievous `version on the Resignation of the Regal pawers by late Shivajirao Holkar in favour Of his prince the present popular Maharaja. Even efforts were made by this section or at the offenders of the Indore State” to instigate one Miss Sundarabai Nigoskar to revive her fabulous complaints against the lndore State. Suffice it to say that the Bombay Press relying too much on these their “correspondents obviously the State Conspirators --played the most contemptible part in exaggerating the situation and proved Once for all its total incapacity to represent public opinion which, in fact, never shares the views they Often express.

CHAPTER   VI

THE British Government and their Indian Allies,

A CLOSE STUDY of the treaties concould between the British Government 

and the Indian Princes, makes it Quite clear that the latter are the Allies of the former Whether this relation of the pure comradeship with the Indian Princes was observed or not in right honesty by the British Government atleast till the introduction of Montford Reforms does not fall Within the purview of the present discussion. Enough to say that the Indian Princes are the allies of the British Empire and not merely feudatories or subordinate chife.During the grate Europian war of 1914 the British Empire and its chife functionaries from the King Empire down to a Provincial Governor, all treated the Indian Princes as their Allies With a view to safeguard the prestige and Izjat of these from being maliciously attacked by irresponsible persons in the press the Government of India passed an Act called “ The Indain States (protection against Disaffection) Act 1922. THE Chife function of this Act is “ To prevent the dissemination by means of books news – papers and other document of matter calculated to bring into hatred or contempt or to exite disaffection against Princes or Chife of States in India or The Goverments or Administrations established in such States.” This Act or course does not forbid any fair and bonafide criticism. But it is Indeed a question how far the scandalous attemts of the Khalsa press against His Highness the Maharaja Holkar could be said to carry with them faireness and bonafides when the motive of these attempts is thoroughly scrutinized. It was a regular blasphemy, stepping beyond the limites of mere disaffection and still the attitude of the Government of India was stoically calm throughout the long period of the campaign which has now forced the public to express thair condemnation though several meeting The Bombay Government under whose jurisdiction the press the press played this most undignified part of blackmailing the Maharaja Holkar, has been noted for extreme sensitiveness in scenting “ danger to public safety” in an advertrisement carrying garbed sense of “ obscenity ” in a certain newspaper. It is the same vigilant Government. Which forthwith permitted Mr.Painter of Dharvar Firing fame, to take legal teps against the Bombay Chronicle  for having published certain reports which in the just opinion of this government amounted to defamation of that Collecter no sooner did Kesari offer a few honest words of criticism on the judement of the Lohagaon Firing tragedy, than the Bombay Government deemed it wise and necessary to drag the Editor to the Courts of Law and get him fined a sum of Rs. 5000, in vindication of the Izjat of the High Court and the British Government. We can quote similar other instances proving the tenderest susceptibilities of the Bombay Government ; and it is the same government which has connived at the tomfoolery of the mischivoussection of the Bombay press vividly shown in painting the Maharaja Holkar in the foulest colours in thorough disregard of the high position of this Rulling Prince – their Ally. It is a mystery not easily to be solved. 

Do the Bombay Government and also the Government of India still think that the mailicious and notorious campaign of Khalsa press against their powerful Ally the Holkar was less defamatory, less obscence (and so not coming within the meaning of the said Act so as “to bring him into hatred or contempt”) than what Chronicle and Kesari have been accused of being in their respative spheres? Did they or their ever-awake watchdogs on the press consider the cartoons and obscene pichres published by certain news-rage of Bombay as not amounting to a crime punishable under any of the section of the holy Indian Penal Code ? To render an Ally having equal sovereign status and self-governining powers, liable to the most scandalous attacks of the Khalsa ress in British Territory without the least intervention or immediate checking shows an almost unfortunate indifference on the part of Government.

The Late Sahu Chhatrapati of Kolhapur, was one of those popular Princes of the Deccan who suffered heavily at the hands of the Brahmin blackmailers as his worthy predecessors Sambhaji I. had Pratap Sinha of Satara did before him. Their characters, their life and their actions have been so grossly misrepresented by the “articulate community” the Brahmins, that these princes have always been held up as devils among men instead of being recognized as what they really were, the benefactors of humanity The late shahu Chatrapati in his life-time supplied ample material for the Deccan Priestly press to wreak their revenge upon him to thire heart’s content. Consequently none but he had specially studied and han an experience of the doubtful relation between the Princes and the British Government of India’s hands were forced to seek the repeal of the Press Act, the late Shahu Chhatrapati submitted a note to Government (dated july 1920) on this point We reproduce the note with complimnts to professor A.B. Latthe, M.A., the authore of “the Memoirs of Shahu Chhatrapati” p.553:-----

“The present policy of Government, I learn is not to make notice of such things (i.e. the vilifying campaign of the Khalsa priestly press aganst the Indian Princes.) That is exactly the position these people (representatives of the priestly press in the councils.) want and which I do not want. Thereby they get an opportunity of scandalizing me and creating a false impression about me especially while I cannot take any step to get the public sympathy with me nor I can get any newspapers to write inmy favour. I think my case has become just like that of an old cab-horse whoworked honestly and was been tied by the nack and hoofs, the native way of stabling a horse underneath a tree where he is pricking the horse or let the horse go free without cutting his tail and without binding him in the native way of stabling.”

Again in September 1921, he submitted another strong note to Government. Its show where the wind blows and how the Princes are left unprotected against the press agitators of the Khalsa:-

“ Government are making adequate provision for protecting their subjects from being harassed and terrorized by political agitators and mischief-mongers by declaring certain Volunteer Associations unlawful Government are taking every precantion and rightly, to see that the Army or the Police is not affected by any evil influences.

Government are taking prompt steps against seditious news-papers and many papers, as a consequence, have ceased publication. But the same consideration is not, I am constrained to say, shown to the Princes who are as important an asset to Government as their Army, or police and deservesimilar protection

“ No one can envy the lot of the Princes. The Extremists are doing thire utmost to intimidate the Princes and force them to join their side……………To quote my own instance, the extremist press which is never tired of mailigning me is very much annoyed at the success of the Shivaji Memorial at Poona. For obvious reasons, they have selected me among the Princes as the target on which to wreak their spite. There can be no administration without some defects. The Brahmin papers under the pretext of criticizing my administration are making all sorts of allegation against me for the simple reasone that I have not yielded to their threats or machinations. Their venomous attacks against me and my family can neither be called fair comment nor legitimate criticism; they are unmitigated calumny. These are not recent attacks but I cannot forget or forgive them. Some of the Princes, like myself follow a definite polcy of sternly excluding the agitators from their territories and that is why they are hostile to us.

“ One of the remenies, no doubt, open to the Princes for their protection is to have recourse to the ordinary Criminal Law Courts in British India. But their dignity and status do not permit them to do so. The agitators in British India take advantage of this anomalous position and launch attacks against them with impunity. Another reason why the Princes are unwilling to avail themselves of the Britsh Law Courts is that they do not like to undergo the humiliation of cross-examination which may insinuate many thing which may be untrue.”    Ibid p.556. volI.

This clearly brimgs home to us what the real situation of these Indian Priences is whether there exists the Princes, Protection Act or not Things have not been improved a bit since the days of late shahu Maharaja.Under the circumstances, our readers may safely picture to their minds the late Shivaji Rao Holkar found himself when filthily abused by the Khalsa Press of 1892 days It is most discouraging and disappointing to find the British Government adopting the unjustified attitude of a bystander, fied scandal against their Allies, the Indian Princes,  on whose resources they fall like licensed jani Dosts in times of emergency.

But why should the indifferent British Government respect the sentiments and prestge of those people who haveno self-respect for each other? The entire absence of this quality among the Hindus especially has caused their political ruin. From time immemorial, they have always indulged in disrespecting each other. Their political history is full of which is inherent in them Even today they ars not free from it They take pleasure in disrespecting each other which always keeps them divided and disconcerted as prey to every invader. The British Beaurocracy finds its mainstay here on this national vice of mutual disrespecting people should engage themselvesa day and night to spread broadcast thousand of imaginary excuse of maladministration, autocracy and even tyranny alleged to be going on unbridled in Indian States.

This inhuman tendancy of disrespecting and self-hating owes its origin to the current self-hating owes its origin to the current self-emasclating preachings of the notorious “Priestly” Hindu Dharma. Thetutors of this dirty vice are the Brahmins. Today it is they who are foremost in fostering this spirit of disrespect among the masses. It is they, who have throughout the whole Maratha Period scandaliesd every Soveregin Rajah. The perversion of the History of Sambhaji I desposition of Pratap Sinha Chhatrapati of Satara, the unbearable vilification of late Shivajirao Holkar and the unbearable vilification of the late Shau Chhatrapati of Kolhapur all these unfortunical incidents are the outcome of nothing but Brahmanical mischief. It is a peculiary trained mentalitywhich today is fanning the fire of the controversy known as Brahmins v/s Non Brahmins These Brahmins never felt the pinch of shame to proclaim that “ In Kolhapur no man’s life or wife is safe” Kesari – the mouth-piece of the Deccan orthodox p[riestly came—openly called the late shahu Maharaja Treacherous Chhatrapati. H.H. Sayajirao Gaikwad was similarly abused by this notorious camp when he stopped the “Khichadi alms” to the idle Brahmins of Baroda. The sea storm of abuse and scandal against the late Shivajirao Holkar was more fierce and brutal than the present one. The then Bombay press published so many obscene cartoons. and pictured news than the public was retried into. looking upon the late Shivajirao Holkar as a living demon feeding upon the blood of his subjects. He was represented as getting a blooming virgin shaved mercilessly by a barber in his presence. He was pictured as ordering the pleaders of his state yoked to a stone-crushing roller. He was sketched in pichures ordering the levelling down of Hindu temples, burning the houses of Brahmins, arresting respectable Brahmin ladies while they were going for their religious Haladi Kunku snatching the turbans .of the Brahmins and placing the same on the heads. of scavengers, and scavenger`s basket of night-soil on the heads of the lsrahmins. Pictures depicting the pictures as people of Indore running with their life and property to the Railway stations in death-stricken agonies, and similar such hundreds of foolish and mischievous things. were published. One who recollects all those past Brahmanical michiefs expressed in the then Bombay Press, will not wonder why the priestly press of today took so much pains in the notorious repetition. of that painful history. Priestly mentality is a. regular carbuncle on the back of social, religious and. political life of the Deccan and it stands accused of having tutored the Hindu society in developing that particular vice of disrespect for one another. Since the Hindus disrespect one another and prefer to live a life of disconcerted organization, we shall not be surprized to see the Brltish mentality disrespecting the prestige of the Indian Princes, especially the Hindu Princes, when their co-religionists labour to lower them down in public estimation.

It is almost a faishion of the day to accuse States of any thing and every thing. Great misunderstanding regarding the conduct of the goverment in Indian States prevails in Khalsa India. It owes its currency in to the tactics of the Political agitators.  They not only Condemn the system of government, but paint the Rajahs in most despicable colours. Every tyro of khalsa India with an air of statesmanship considers himself privileged to mischiefs. This is of course vary unfortunate The Times of India ( 13th June 1918 ) in an able article says:-

“Political problems should be judged calmly and in relation to realities, and it will never do to. carried away by fine catch -words and phrasesok Defects takers are bound to be in any organizations and its working, but such defects should be rectified in the light of better knowledge and experience. Indian States have at least one merit in their fallout and that is the test of time. They have been in existence for centuries and the writer is unaware of It is almost a fashion of the and any desire on the part of the people if the States or even of British india that they should be wiped off the slate. They have at any rate done one thing, they have afforded Indians opportnitis of training in statesmanship which they did not possess elsewhere, and that is no small service that the States have rendered to india.”

They talk of maladministration in Indian state. They accuse the Princes of wasting the public money personal luxuries both moral and immoral. They cry at the pitch of their voice time infamous. slogans “Down with these Native States.” And why? They say there is maladministration there. And where is it not? No administration, whether British or indian, can boast of its genuine purity without: some grave black defects allergic. To say that Khalsa territory enjoys Utopian administration, and the Indians States groan under its Satanic rule, is. to betray want of common sense. Every administrition has its fair and foul sides. we can certainly and a parallel to the recent Alwar State firing of Nimuchana, in the notorious Dharwar bring. The Indian. States deserve to be congratulated for not having a provided a single instance of the Jallianwalla Baug massacre. Sundarabai Nigoskar case, which has in been flung by herself and her wire-pullers the. khalsa journalists as the foulest crime of the Indore state, loses all its severity and even importance, when compared with the most tragic rape perpetrated by rascal Adsool on poor Jijabai. If the murder of Bawla, which is painted by some vindictive element of Bombay as the only one of its kind in India, be taken to justify all the filthy abuse hurled against the Maharaja Holker, one would like to know what steps did the anti-state agitators of the Khalsa take to bring the perpetrators of the Jallianwalla Baug massacre to books ? Has the Chauri-chura riots any reference to the maladministration in British India? lf the notorious Mumtaz scandal be deemed sufficient to demand the neck and blood of a sovereign Rulel. of the status of His Highness the Maharaja of encore, one would certainly like to know. why the pseudomoralists could not flourish the Jijabai Rape tragedy as an evident excuse to prove the utter incompetency of the Britishers to rule India ? Even after sending seven culprits to the gallows for one murder of an unimportant man like Bawla, those who still hunger and thirst for the Royal blood of endure, were dead cold like stone statues when Dyers and Odwyers of Punjab fame escaped scat-free with magnificent ensigns if at holes. Do these scandalmongers think that murders and other atrocious crimes pass unpunished in Indian States?

As regards the Maharaja Holkar, his sense of humanity and kindness is evident in the fact that hi has put a stop to the barbarous custom of hanging the offenders on the gallows. There are about a quarter dozen such  offenders, published by the Sessions Court of Indore to be hanged, serving only a lifelong` term of imprisonment in the Jail. To accuse such a humane Maharaja with some thing bordering on actual murder, is nothing short of a mentality rotten to the core with brutal and beastly elements. There are conspiracies, murders, rapes, zuloofn, arrogant officialdom in indian States as well as in British Khalsa. No administration can escape their ravages. But that can seldom justify a cry of maladministration. Can any body say with any weight of argument or voice of authority that the Jallianwalla massacre had any nothing to do with H. E. the viceroy ? was the Dharwar firing ordered by H. E. the Governor of Bombay ? What responsible officer gave a permit to scoundrel Adsool to commit inhuman rape on unfortunate Jijabai ? How many abductions of men women and children, how many murders on account of lave affairs, how many suicides and how many conspiracies are daily unravelled by the British Police in British In Indian Territory? Thousands and even more. But can that be taken to mean maladministration in British india? Surely not.