14

SEPRATION OF SINDH FROM

BOMBAY PRESIDENCY- BRIEF
HISTORY
dgramchandani

SEPRATION OF SINDH FROM BOMBAY PRESIDENCY- BRIEF HISTORY
During 1800s the demand for separation of Sindh had emerged that got stronger and in
1919 Montague-Chelmsford reforms fell short of expectations of Sindhs province, thereby
making it a popular demand by Sindhis at every forum. Finally, the first major success of
recognition came on 26 December, 1923 when Indian National Congress in its session at
Kanpur agreed to the principle of re-organization of provinces on linguistic basis and
demanded the separation of Sindh from Bombay Presidency. This was followed by All India
Muslim League session held at Aligarh on 30-31 December, 1925 where resolution in
support of Sindhs separation from Bombay Presidency was unanimously passed.
Following is a summarized chronology of separation of Sindh from Bombay Presidency:
1917: Question regarding separation of Sindh was first time raised in Congresss session
held in Karachi
1918: Sindh Provincial Councils sub-committee recommended Sindh becoming
autonomous province based on a detailed report it prepared
1919: Montague-Chelmsford Reforms fell just short of expectation regarding Sindhs
separation
1923: Congresss session at Kanpur officially recognized Sindhs demand for separation and
supported it
1925: All India Muslim League passed a resolution unanimously that supported Sindhs
separation from Bombay Presidency
1927: Delhi Muslim Conference put forward proposals to agree to Joint Electrorate
provided Sindh separated from Bombay Presidency
1928: All Parties Conference formed Nehru Committee that recommended separation of
Sindh, not on communal grounds but on economic. Hindu Mahasaba protested it fearing
Hindus will become minority in Sindh.
1928: A conference involving all communities was called on 18 June in Karachi reached a
pact called Sindh Hindu-Muslim Pact, signed and confirmed by 26 prominent leaders
belonging to Hindu, Muslim and Parsi communities. The pact demanded Joint Electorates
and separation of Sindh from Bombay Presidency.
1928: Simon Commission visited Karachi on 12 November and co-opted two Muslims
members, Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto and Sayed Miran Mohammad Shah. Sindh Muhammadan
Association prepared detailed report in support of Sindhs separation and was presented
to the commission by Ayub Khuhro. Professor Chhablani opposed the move on financial
grounds. Two committees were formed by Bombay Legislative Council to support Simon
Commission; Bombay Central Committee clearly supported separation of Sindh while
Bombay Provincial Committee opposed the separation. Simon Commission, though in
agreement of separation, didnt recommend it until detailed examination of administrative
and financial was completed.
1929: In January, All Parties Muslim Conference was called by Mian Muhammad Shafi and
Liaqat Ali Khan. It was presided by Sir Agha Khan and Jinnahs 14 points were central to
this conference. The 9th point demanded separation of Sindh.
1930: Meeting convened by Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto on 31 May at Hyderabad was attended
by Nawabs, Sardars, Zamindars and leading persons of lower four districts of Sindh. A
special resolution in support of Sindhs separation was passed.
1930: In the first Round Table Conference, Sindh was represented by Sir Shahnawaz
Bhutto and Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah. To look into Sindhs separation, a sub-
committee was formed headed by Earl Russel and comprised of Sir Agha Khan, M. A.
Jinnah, Mohammad Shafi, Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah and Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto.
Committee recommended Sindhs separation and expert committee comprising of Miles
Irwin and Harris was formed to look into financial viability of Sindh after separation.
1931: Conference of Muslim members of Congress held at Lacknow in April supported the
demand for separation of Sindh.
1931: Second Round Table conference couldnt reach to any settlement but agreed to hold
a conference of Sindhs leaders to look into ways to cover financial deficiencies of Sindh
after separation, as indicated by the expert committees report.
1932: The agreed conference of Sindhs leaders was held in April at Karachi and its report
said that Sindh would require 80 lacs annually for 15 years from Indian government
to finance its deficit.
1932: First Sindh Azad Conference was held on 18 April under chairmanship of Sheikh
Abdul Majid Sindhi that pressed the demand for Sindhs separation. Another Sindh Azad
Conference was held on 20 August by Sir Shahzawaz Bhutto that decided to
observe September 10 as Separation Day; that day was observed enthusiastically and
meetings were held in all major cities to support separation, though Hindu communities
campaigned against it.
1935: Select Committee by British Government invited M. A. Khuro and Professor
Chhablani to present their cases regarding Sindhs separation. Khuhro successfully
presented the case for separation while Professor Chhablani could not impress the
committee. In April, government decided to separated Sindh and constitute it as a
separate autonomous province. A committee under Sir Hugh Dow was formed comprising
Mr. Mocovila, A. I. Brice, Mr. Kola, Sir Abdullah Haroon, Ayub Khuhro and Rai Bahadur
Hiranand Khemsingh. The committee was tasked to form machinery for the new province
of Sindh.
1935: British Parliament passed Government of India Act 1935 in October and Sindh was
declared a separate province with effect from Aptil 1, 1936. First governor was Sir Lancelot
Graham and his advisory committee consisted of Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto, Ghulam Hussain
Hidayatullah and Diwan Hiranand.
1935: All India Muslim League session at Howrah on 21 October welcomed the decision
1936: Hindu communalists opposed the separation in a conference held on 26 January in
Karachi