Arrest of Mr Sajjad Zaheer

    National Archives of India has started a portal named Abhilekh Patal for researchers to go through the archives which have been digitised.

    I read a document regarding a question asked in the Parliament of Britain, House of Commons which was to be replied on 7th December, 1936 about the arrest of Mr. Sajjad Zaheer, noted socialist leader and an acclaimed write who was associated with Progressive Writers Movement. 

The question was asked by Mr. James Maxton who was a left wing politician and leader of Independent Labour Party. 

The question was as follows:

" To ask the Under Secretary of State for India, whether he will state the reason of the arrest of Mr. Sajjad Zaheer, Moslem Socialist Leader in the United Provinces (U.P)."

For preparing the reply, a telegram from Secretary of States office in London was sent to Home Department, Viceroy of India. The Home department sought inputs from Chief Secretary, UP and following was the reply given by the government.

"  Orders sanctioning the prosecution of Mr. Sajjad Zaheer under section 124 A of Indian Penal Code were issued by the Government of UP on 17th November, 1936 for a subversive speech delivered by him on 7th October. The orders were subsequently withdrawn by the local government on receipt of an undertaking by from Mr. Zaheer's father that he would not offend again in the same way."

Section 124 A of Indian Penal Code which is still applicable in this 21st Century India deals with sedition. 

The text of Section 124 A is as given below:

"Section 124 A in The Indian Penal Code—Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards,  the Government established by law in [India], shall be punished with [imprisonment for life], to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine."

What is notable in the whole document is the newspaper clippings from the newspaper leader (Lucknow edition). On 25th November, 1936 , the newspaper reported that on the basis of Syed Sir Wazir Hasan's (father of Mr. Sajjad Zaheer who was retired Chief Judge of Oudh Cheif Court) undertaking  that his son would not indulge in any speech or publishing any matter which may cause hatred or contempt or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government, the prosecution was withdrawn. 

In the very same newspaper Mr. Sajjad Zaheer disowned the responsibility for any such undertaking given by his father and the said undertaking was given by his father without his knowledge. He said that after this news he went to Lucknow to inform his father about his stand and said that he will plead not guilty and abide by the congress point of view as a congressman for the cause of freedom of speech and liberty. 

Such was the zeal of freedom fighters who fought for India's independence that they went against their parents. 

Source:  https://www.abhilekh-patal.in/jspui/handle/123456789/2698628?searchWord=mulsim&backquery=[query=mulsim&rpp=20&sort_by=dc.date.accessioned_dt&order=desc]