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Mahatma Gandhi – His Chronology (कालक्रम) 1903

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YearMonthDayEvent / Incident
1903January1Gandhi reached Pretoria.
1903January2Waited on Assistant Colonial Secretary but told that not being resident of the Transvaal, he could not be in deputation.
1903January6British Indian Committee appealed to Lt.-Governor to permit Gandhi to be member of deputation to Chamberlain.
1903January(prior to) 7Memorial drawn up by Gandhi presented by deputation led by George Godfrey.
1903JanuaryMemorial drawn up by Gandhi presented by deputation led by George Godfrey.
1903January30Wrote to Dadabhai Naoroji, reporting on the deputations to Chamberlain and suggesting prohibition of indentured emigration to Natal.
1903February5Wrote, in letter to Chhaganlal Gandhi, of the uncertainty of his stay in South Africa, which was 'no bed of roses'.
1903February12Interviewed Lt.-Governor of the Transvaal concerning setting up of Bazaars.
1903February16Decided to settle down in Johannesburg, in view of public work, about this time enrolled to Bar of the Transvaal Supreme Court.
1903February18Communicated views on Bazaars to Colonial Secretary.
1903February23Forwarded to Dadabhai Naoroji comprehensive statement on Indian Question in the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies. Wrote to Gokhale that events in the Transvaal were progressing fast and he was "in the thick of the fight".
1903March16Dispatched periodical statement to Dadabhai Naoroji on the situation in South Africa.
1903April25Wrote in The Vegetarian, offering tips to prospective emigrants to South Africa.
1903AprilReported, in letter to Colonial Secretary, police high-handedness towards Indian merchants in Heidelberg.
1903April27Released to Press letter about Heidelberg incidents.
1903May1Forwarded to Lt.-Governor petition of William Hosken and other European residents of Johannesburg about Government Notice No. 356 of 1903 , and expressed view that legislation to regulate immigration was more acceptable.
1903May6Mass meeting held in Johannesburg protesting against enforcement of anti-Indian laws which restricted Indians to Bazaars, etc., and calling for their repeal.
1903May9Gandhi forwarded reports to Dadabhai Naoroji about Heidelberg and Johannesburg incidents, European petition about Notice No. 356 and the Johannesburg Mass Meeting.
1903May10Expressed, in letter to Dadabhai Naoroji, readiness to accept, with modifications, legislation on Natal lines to restrict immigration, and also principle of Bazaars if not imposed by law.
1903MayStated in letter to Gokhale that he had settled in Johannesburg "under very great difficulties". Requested him to study question of South African legislation to restrict Asiatic immigration and to direct movement against it in India.
1903May16Reported to Dadabhai Naoroji Transvaal Government move to enforce collection of £3 registration tax.
1903May22Led Indian deputation to Lord Milner, Governor of the Transvaal, in connection with compulsory levy of registration tax and general question of Indians in Colony.
1903May24Informed Dadabhai Naoroji of demands of Indian deputation to Lord Milner.
1903May31Urged in weekly communication to Dadabhai Naoroji need for relief to Indians from discrimination in Orange River Colony. Reported enactment of Bazaar law by Cape Colony and emphasized need to concentrate effort on repeal of existing legislation.
1903June4Indian Opinion commenced publication with Mansukhlal Nazar as editor.
1903June6Gandhi cabled British Committed, hoping that compulsory repatriation of ex-indentured Indians would not receive sanction from Home Government.
1903JuneOpposed in periodical statement to Dadabhai Naoroji compulsory return of ex-indentured Indians and stressed that Location and Bazaar laws in Natal and the Cape Colony, if made permanent, would seriously damage Indian interests.
1903June8Submitted petition to Transvaal Governor, detailing disadvantages of Asiatic Office, Bazaar Notice, and prohibition of land-ownership in Locations, and demanding abrogation of discriminatory legislation and restoration of freedom of life and trade.
1903June10Petition presented to Natal Legislature demanding amendment of draft ordinance for Municipal franchise classing Indians with Natives.
1903June23Suggested in petition to Natal Council modifications to Bill for restricting immigration.
1903June30Wrote to Haridasbhai Vora, reporting success in professional practice, referring to exacting nature of his public work and expressing preparedness to settle down in Johannesburg for decade or so.
1903July4Urged in letter to Gokhale the need of "a well-directed movement" throughout Indian to counteract agitation of interested parties in the Transvaal against relaxation of old anti-Asiatic laws.
1903June6Gandhi cabled British Committed, hoping that compulsory repatriation of ex-indentured Indians would not receive sanction from Home Government.
1903JuneOpposed in periodical statement to Dadabhai Naoroji compulsory return of ex-indentured Indians and stressed that Location and Bazaar laws in Natal and the Cape Colony, if made permanent, would seriously damage Indian interests.
1903June8Submitted petition to Transvaal Governor, detailing disadvantages of Asiatic Office, Bazaar Notice, and prohibition of land-ownership in Locations, and demanding abrogation of discriminatory legislation and restoration of freedom of life and trade.
1903June10Petition presented to Natal Legislature demanding amendment of draft ordinance for Municipal franchise classing Indians with Natives.
1903June23Suggested in petition to Natal Council modifications to Bill for restricting immigration.
1903June30Wrote to Haridasbhai Vora, reporting success in professional practice, referring to exacting nature of his public work and expressing preparedness to settle down in Johannesburg for decade or so.
1903July4Urged in letter to Gokhale the need of "a well-directed movement" throughout Indian to counteract agitation of interested parties in the Transvaal against relaxation of old anti-Asiatic laws.
1903July18Informed Dadabhai Naoroji of passing of Municipal ordinance despite Indian objection, and of Transvaal Government proposal to lay out 54 locations for Indians.
1903July25Informed Dadabhai Naoroji of Transvaal Legislative Council’s resolution to enforce Bazaar Notice.
1903August3Demanded in his weekly statement relaxation in respect of existing licenses, referred to continued difficulties of Transvaal Indian refugees and refuted Milner’s allegation of sanitary grounds for segregation policy.
1903August4Cabled British Committed, India and The Times of India about refugee problem.
1903August10Forwarded to Dadabhai Naoroji detailed clarification of cable of August 4.
1903August24Petitioned Chamberlain to withhold Royal assent to Immigration Restriction Bill passed by Natal Assembly.
1903September2Writing in Indian Opinion, expressed hope that no Indian would stoop to secure exemption from Bazaar Notice.
1903September7Demonstrated, in letter to Dadabhai Naoroji, against any acceptance in England of move for compulsory repatriation of indentured labor and payment of part wages in India.
1903November9Reported to Dadabhai Naoroji that sites chosen for Bazaars were in out-of-the way places.
1903November16Intimated in weekly letter to Dadabhai Naoroji that policy laid down in Milner’s dispatch of May 1903 was not being carried out.
1903December1Wrote to Indian National Congress at Madras that seriousness of situation in Natal should be realized and early and earnest efforts made to secure relief.
1903December11Mass meeting of British Indians requested protection to all existing licenses.
1903December12Gandhi cabled Dadabhai Naoroji about Government’s proposed amendment to Bazaar Notice proposing exemption for some Indians from liability to trade in Bazaars or Locations.
1903December17Appealed to Associate Chambers of Commerce at Pretoria seriously to consider amendment of Location Law.

 

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