|
|
1894 |
April |
|
While preparing case for his client, Dada Abdulla,
realized paramount importance of facts, or truth, in
legal practice. Convinced of folly of litigation, had
the dispute settled by arbitration. His
professional engagement over, returned to
Durban. |
|
1894 |
|
|
At farewell party saw announcement in The Natal
Mercury of impending disfranchisement law and urged
Indian merchants present to resist it. Was persuaded by
them to extend his stay by a month to lead their
struggle - a fateful decision. |
|
1894 |
|
|
At this time took to serious religious study.
Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God Is within You overwhelmed
him. Corresponded with Christian friends in England.
Also wrote to religious thinkers in India, like
Raychandbhai whose replies to his questions on Hinduism
reassured him. |
|
1894 |
May |
22 (?) |
At meeting of prominent Indian merchants set up
committee to agitate against discriminatory
legislation. |
|
1894 |
June |
27 |
Sent telegrams to Speaker of Natal
LegislativeAssembly, Prime Minister Robinson and
Attorney-General Escombe, asking for postponement
of consideration of Franchise Law Amendment Bill till
Indian petition was presented. Discussion of Bill
deferred by two days. |
|
1894 |
June |
28 |
Submitted to Legislative Assembly petition, signed by
500 Indians, opposing Bill and asking for Commission of
Enquiry. |
|
1894 |
June |
29 |
Waited in deputation of Premier; requested for week's
time to present the Indian case more exhaustively.
|
|
1894 |
July |
1 |
Attended and addressed meeting of Indians in Field
Street. |
|
1894 |
July |
3 |
Led deputation to Natal Governor and urged him not to
sanction the Franchise Bill which received third reading
in Assembly. |
|
1894 |
July |
5 |
Initiated correspondence with Dadabhai Naoroji
seeking his intervention in England on behalf of South
African Indians. |
|
1894 |
July |
6 |
Indians presented second petition to Legislative
Council pressing for the rejection of the Franchise
Bill. |
|
1894 |
July |
7 |
Franchise Bill received third reading in
Council. |
|
1894 |
July |
10 |
Petitioned Governor requesting postponement of
dispatch of the Bill to the Imperial Government for
Royal assent, pending Indian petition to the
latter. |
|
1894 |
July |
17 |
Submitted to Natal Government lengthy mass petition
signed by 10,000 Indians, addressed to Lord Ripon,
Secretary of State for Colonies. |
|
1894 |
|
|
Settled down in Natal to continue public
work. |
|
1894 |
August |
22 |
Established Natal Indian Congress to carry on
sustained agitation against discriminatory legislation,
becoming its first Secretary; also Colonial-born
Indians Association. |
|
1894 |
September |
3 |
Allowed by Supreme Court to practice in Natal Courts,
despite opposition by Natal Law Society. In court, asked
to remove turban, obeyed to conform to court practice
and to reserve his strength for "fighting bigger
battles". |
|
1894 |
September |
19 |
Appeared in Gopi Maharaj case, probably his first in
South Africa, and won. But subordinated legal career to
public work. |
|
1894 |
November |
26 |
Indicated growing interest in Esoteric Christianity
by becoming agent for selling its literature. |
|
1894 |
December |
prior to 19
(prior to 19) |
Addressed documented "Open Letter" to Natal
Legislators. |
|
1894 |
December |
19 |
Circulated appeal among Europeans in Natal for
sympathetic approach to problem of Indian
settlers. |
