Chander is a History Buff Episode 3

 

Chander is a History Buff Episode 3

In continuation of my series of sharing history from the antique books from shelf, this episode covers a book review and a pre independence political history behind it! I consider this book as a museum piece in my collections. The readers will agree with me, once they read the full content of this blog.

A brief note about the book:

Title: EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN INDIA   1936 – 1937 Being Further Essays and Writings

By JAWAHARLAL NEHRU  - Publisher : KITABISTAN,  17-a, Kamala Nehru Road, Allahabad & 20-21, Tooks Court, Cursitor Street, London, E.C.4

First Published in 1938, Printed at : Allahabad Law Journal Press, Allahabad, Printer: M.D.Pandey

Price : Not printed but an ink mark in the front page says Rs.2/2

Cloth bound in green colour contains 300 pages.

Before going to the special history of the book, let me review the book in brief.

In the PREFACE itself Jawaharlal Nehru starts with “ The title given to this collection of old essays and statements is apt to mislead. This book is not a history of the past eighteen months in India, nor is it the story of a tourist’s visit to India”.

In March 1936 JN returned from Europe and functioned as President of National Congress. In his own words he says. “This period has been an eventful one in the ever changing drama of Indian politics, and perforce I have had to play a prominent part in it. …New ideas have spread, new hopes have risen, new conflicts and difficulties have had to be faced, new problem require solution. A history of this period would be worthwhile.”

The Contents covers 44 essays by JN.  There are many interesting topics for us to read and learn the history and enjoy the language of JN. I wish to mention selective headings of the essays which pulled me to dwell into the subject.

First  essay starts with “ In a Train” and few others are: To my Friends and Critics, The New Offensive, Congress and Socialism, Reality, Students and Politics, A Message to Socialists, Fascism and Empire, The Arabs and Jews in Palestine, The Congress and Muslims, A Question of Manners, Bombing and Kindnapping on the Frontier, Salaries and Public Servants, The Question of Language and the closing essay, The Right Perspective.

This book is worth reading to understand the political history in India in that period as JN himself said. Readers may try out to grab a copy from internet sources.

Now I am coming to history of the book and not the content. This is more interesting for historians, antique book collectors. This book played a part of a freedom fighter from Madras , now Tamil Nadu. The freedom fighter is none other than our past Chief Minister of Madras , Shri.Kamaraja Nadar. He was imprisoned in Vellore Central Prison during August 1942 and this book was “Permitted “ by the Jail Authority to give to Kamaraja Nadar. The proof : Hand written in blue ink as : Permitted , Vellore Central Prison and initialed. In red ink it is written: Kamaraja Nadar  17.8.42 ( I don’t know whether it is Shri Kamaraj’s signature!) .

My further research to confirm the evidence found on the book, that is whether this book is actually given to Shri.Kamaraj, and how come this book comes to a pavement shop, where I bought for Rs.20, so many years before. To be frank, when I bought this book, neither myself nor the vendor do not know the value of the information and historical importance of the book!

Allow me to share the information I got from various websites and at last I found the information I presumed is true. Two links are given to claim my proof that this English book was given to Shri Kamaraj for reading in the Vellore Central Prison on 17.8.1942. Who brought the book for Shri Kamaraj is not known and it is an unknown history. Moreover Shri Kamaraj learned English from the fellow prisoners is evident in many clippings.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._Kamaraj

Quote:

….In 1942, Kamaraj attended the All-India Congress Committee in Bombay and returned to spread propaganda material for the Quit India Movement. The police issued orders to all the leaders who attended this Bombay session. Kamaraj did not want to be arrested before he took the message to all district and local leaders. finishing his work and sent a message to the local police that he was ready to be arrested. He was arrested in August 1942. He was under detention for three years and was released in June 1945. This was his last prison term. Kamaraj was imprisoned six times by the British for his pro-Independence activities, that added up to more than 3,000 days in jail.

 https://www.winentrance.com/general_knowledge/kamarajar.html

Quote:

“In this jail term he started reading books to enhance knowledge in various subjects. Kamraj also learned English from fellow prisoners.”

The above book is having an antique value with a great history of India and its freedom fighter Shri Kamar’s prison life.

Shri K.Kamaraj's association with our family in 1972. He was present to my elder sister's wedding on 26th June 1972, as he is so close to my brother-in-law's father, Shri N.R.M.Swamy(standing in the left extreame) an  Advocate and Ex.M.P of Congress party since 1952, the first Republic of India. 

Added to the above book, I would like to share another book “ INDIA AND THE WORLD” – Essays by Jawaharlal Nehru, published the year 1936 by George Allen & Unwin Ltd., Museum Street, London, printed in Great Britain by Unwin Brothers Ltd.,WOKING.

The 14 contents are: Presidential Address to the National Congress, 1929, Whither India 1933, Presidential Address to the National Congress, 1936, Prison-Land, 1934, The Mind of a Judge, 1935, Quetta, 1935, First Letter to Indira, The Last Letter to Indira, Mahatma Gandhi 1936, A Letter to an Englishman, India and the World, 1936, A Visit to England, 1936, The Way to Peace, 1936, Indian Problems, 1936.

Each one of the essay is unique in subject and the narration by JN is very good. Find a copy and get to know more of India and the World in that turbulent time, from JN’s own words.

A photo gallery of both the books are for your viewing pleasure.

Chander will meet the readers again through his next episode!