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| Benjamin Guy Horniman en.wikipedia.org |
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| asianetnews.com |
A Pragmatic Ally to Gandhi
In the wake of the First World War, the cost of living at all levels increased in Bombay and elsewhere and this impacted the wages, commodity prices, etc all at once, thus reducing the buying power of Bombay’s inhabitants,that constituted roughly 1.5 million. This led to labor unrest throughout Bombay, although collective action had been evident in previous decades.
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On the other side,sudden increase in cotton and grain prices made millowners and landlords happy and wealthier. This disparity was quite revealing. As for real estate, the boom increased the land prices many times and consequently the housing rent ,etc went up. The ensuing general strikes among bus and postal and tram workers, along with various industrial workers of all kinds put the public in a bind.The 1919 textile strike showed the power labor of movement and how it would affect productivity and companies' reputation.
Horniman on those occasions as an Editor participated in the rallies and supported the moral grounds of the indian workers when Gandhi was a bit hesitant during that period. Horniman Supported Public hosing funded by the government or private parties for workers of various sorts who were very much affected by rent hikes
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| Rowlatt Act x.com |
Horniman’s support for the Satyagraha campaign against the "Black" Rowlatt Act was rooted in his absolute disdain for repressive legislation. Through the Bombay Chronicle, he gave Gandhi a powerful platform to reach the urban masses. However, their partnership was marked by a fascinating intellectual tension. While Gandhi viewed Satyagraha as a spiritual process of self-purification and penance, Horniman viewed it as a potent, materialist weapon of political resistance. Yet another aspect was an awareness was created among the people and there was poor support for war efforts by the government. Much was of the British India government's revenue collected on the sail of India went to WWI to meet war accessories- uniforms, boots, tents, arms and ammunition,etc besides participation by the Indian soldiers in the European war zones. In reality the British government spent big chunk of indian tax payers money.
During the mass strikes in Bombay, Horniman urged direct action and labor mobilization, believing the city was a stage for civil disobedience. Gandhi, conversely, insisted on solemnity and ritual baths at Chowpatty Beach to ensure the movement remained non-violent and disciplined. Despite these differences, Horniman used his pen to defend the Satyagraha volunteers, arguing that the people’s "soul force" was the only legitimate response to the "brute force" of the Rowlatt Bills.
Deportation as a Badge of Honor
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Horniman’s unwavering commitment eventually led to his downfall in the eyes of the Raj. Following his defiance of press censorship regarding the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, he was forcibly deported to London on April 26, 1919. The impact of his leadership was so profound that Gandhi declared May 11, 1919, as "Horniman Day," calling for a nationwide hartal (strike) to protest the exile of "the fearless champion of the Indian cause." Even from London, Horniman continued to write, ensuring that the spirit of Satyagraha remained visible to the international community.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._G._Horniman
https://x.com/PIBBhubaneswar/status/1504713774602752000
by K. N. Jayaraman
