Dr. Choithram Gidwani

by Krishna Utamsinghani
About Dr. Choithram Gidwani, I read with interest some messages in your current issue from Mr. Narain Wadhwani, Mr. Gulab Mirchandani and Ms. Parvati Bhojwani- Earlier, I had also read Mr. Arjan Daswani’s message.
My grandparents who have passed away, always spoke of Sindh with love. They also mentioned with affection about Dr. Choithram Gidwani who apparently organized a band of people to assist Sindhis to leave Sindh when the mass exodus took place after Partition and to assist Sindhis to settle in India.
Unfortunately, I never asked for details from my grandparents about those times and it is all a hazy memory to us who were born long after the Sindhi Hindu exodus from Pakistan.
My more knowledge of Choithram came from some messages which Valu Sippy and many others sent on some Sindhi Email lists like Sindhi International which was run, I think, by Lekhraj Aziz and Sindhi-L run possibly by Nadeem Jamali. In some of those messages Valu Sippy mentioned how Choithram rushed to Gandhi when Congress leaders would not be considerate to Sindhi refugees and Gandhi obliged Choithram to repeat the statement, "I am a Sindhi". Gandhi also gave Choithram letters to Congress leaders and others to assist Sindhi refugees. Even then, many Congress leaders were not very enthusiastic to help though some did, privately due to Gandhi’s recommendation and Choithram’s persistence.
Quite some time later, as Valu Sippy’s messages indicated, Gandhi went on a fast to persuade India to pay an amount of Rs. 50 crores to Pakistan as claimed by Pakistan from the Reserve Funds left with India Govt. after the end of the British Rule, and also to improve relations among Hindus and Muslims. In midst of this fast, India Govt agreed to pay Pakistan’s claim but Gandhiji refused to give up his fast unless definite action was taken to improve Hindu-Muslim relation and for that purpose he wanted to see a memorandum signed by all refugee leaders that they will personally ensure communal peace and harmony. Every known Refugee leader signed but Dr. Choithram refused and sent back the emissaries of Nehru and Patel empty-handed. Valu’s account says, Mr. V.Shankar, I.C.S. who was Secretary to Patel in Home Ministry came to Choithram and said, "Vallab Bhai Patel is not to be trifled with" and Choithram’s reply was, "How long should Sindhis, then, be trifled with ?" (Valu Adds: V.Shankar and Vallab Bhai Patel are well known as very tough and he referred also to the tough stand they took with Princely States to pressure their merger with India and the Police action against Goa and Hyderabad Deccan; but apparently V. Shankar parted from Choithram on good terms after a long chat). Soon, Vallab Bhai Patel came to Choithram waving the Memorandum Appeal and asked "What do you want ?" Choithram, according to Sippy said, "I want much but for the moment, you must ask Nehru to grant to Sindhis the right as displaced persons with full rights of citizenship in India." Patel replied, "Why do I have to ask Nehru ? That is my portfolio, my subject in my Ministry. Sign this Appeal now and first thing tomorrow morning you will have the order you are seeking." Thereupon, Choihram said, "With all my heart" and immediately signed the Appeal. Indeed, Vallab Bhai Patel kept his word and it is said that next morning he went to the Ministry at dawn, and the order was signed by him before 9AM with a copy delivered to Choithram soon after. By this Order, all hurdles were removed and none could then stand in the way of Sindhis being the legal citizens of India with full rights as citizens.
I think I should also refer to Jai Samtani’s postings on Sindh-L and/or Sindhi-Internatinal etc. Jai said "even Choithram’s colleagues were shocked at his delay in signing the Appeal to end Gandhi’s fast, particularly as Gandhi had listened to Choithram’s plea to help Sindhi refugees and besides, Gandhi had always said that ‘Choithram is like a son to me’ which is also reported in Sindh Story by K.R. Malkani at page 110 - though in a different context". However Samtani adds, "Choithram explained this: ‘I would die for Gandhiji and would have rushed to sign the appeal even if no one else did but those that came to me were politicians with politics on their mind. Did they listen to Mahatma on Partition ? So with Politicians, I was forced to play politics. What else !"
I understand some have continued to be judgmental about the few hours’ delay that Choithram took to sign the appeal to end Gandhi’s fast. I personally view his action perhaps as he himself viewed it though some have said that he did not extend the love he received from Gandhi.