MONTAGU-CHELMSFORD REFORMS AND THE SIKHS, The first time the elective principle was introduced to choose representatives for legislative bodies in India was with the introduction of the scheme known as Morley-Minto reforms of 1909. By then the Muslims had succeeded in persuading Lord Minto, Governor-General of India, that since they were in a minority, proper representation should be ensured them by reserving for them seats which they alone could contest and for which they alone could vote, with weightage given them to offset the Hindu preponderance in numbers. The Chief Khālsā Dīwān, speaking on behalf of the Sikhs, asked for similar concessions for them. The Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab supported the dīwān and wrote to the Governor-General that "In the Punjab the Sikh community is of the greatest importance and it should be considered whether any and what measures are necessary to ensure its adequate representation." But no notice was taken of the Chief Khālsā Dīwān's representation nor of the Lieutenant-Governor's recommendation. Under this scheme, Muslims were conceded separate representation as also weightage in provinces in which they were in a minority as well as at the centre but these concessions were denied to Hindus and Sikhs in the Punjab.
㰀瀀 挀氀愀猀猀㴀∀䌀∀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀ऀ䤀渀 㤀㜀 眀栀攀渀 䔀搀眀椀渀 匀愀洀甀攀氀 䴀漀渀琀愀最甀 猀甀挀挀攀攀搀攀搀 匀椀爀 䄀甀猀琀椀渀 䌀栀愀洀戀攀爀氀愀椀渀 愀猀 琀栀攀 匀攀挀爀攀琀愀爀礀 漀昀 匀琀愀琀攀 昀漀爀 䤀渀搀椀愀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 椀渀琀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 爀攀猀瀀漀渀猀椀戀氀攀 最漀瘀攀爀渀洀攀渀琀 椀渀 䤀渀搀椀愀 眀愀猀 搀攀挀氀愀爀攀搀 琀漀 戀攀 琀栀攀 最漀愀氀 漀昀 䈀爀椀琀椀猀栀 瀀漀氀椀挀礀⸀ 䴀漀渀琀愀最甀 瘀椀猀椀琀攀搀 䤀渀搀椀愀 猀漀漀渀 愀昀琀攀爀⸀ 䠀攀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 䜀漀瘀攀爀渀漀爀ⴀ䜀攀渀攀爀愀氀Ⰰ 䰀漀爀搀 䌀栀攀氀洀猀昀漀爀搀Ⰰ 瀀爀攀瀀愀爀攀搀 愀 爀攀瀀漀爀琀 眀栀椀挀栀Ⰰ 瀀甀戀氀椀猀栀攀搀 椀渀 䨀甀氀礀 㤀㠀Ⰰ 挀漀渀挀攀搀攀搀 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀椀瀀氀攀 琀栀愀琀 眀栀愀琀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 最椀瘀攀渀 琀漀 琀栀攀 䴀甀猀氀椀洀猀 挀漀甀氀搀 渀漀琀 椀渀 愀渀礀 昀愀椀爀渀攀猀猀 戀攀 搀攀渀椀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 匀椀欀栀猀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 眀爀漀琀攀 㨀 ∀吀栀攀 匀椀欀栀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 倀甀渀樀愀戀 愀爀攀 愀 搀椀猀琀椀渀挀琀 愀渀搀 椀洀瀀漀爀琀愀渀琀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀㬀 琀栀攀礀 猀甀瀀瀀氀礀 愀 最愀氀氀愀渀琀 愀渀搀 瘀愀氀甀愀戀氀攀 攀氀攀洀攀渀琀 琀漀 琀栀攀 䤀渀搀椀愀渀 愀爀洀礀㬀 戀甀琀 琀栀攀礀 愀爀攀 攀瘀攀爀礀眀栀攀爀攀 椀渀 愀 洀椀渀漀爀椀琀礀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀 栀愀猀 猀栀漀眀渀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀礀 瘀椀爀琀甀愀氀氀礀 最漀 甀渀爀攀瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀攀搀⸀ 吀漀 琀栀攀 匀椀欀栀猀Ⰰ 琀栀攀爀攀昀漀爀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀洀 愀氀漀渀攀Ⰰ 眀攀 瀀爀漀瀀漀猀攀 琀漀 攀砀琀攀渀搀 琀栀攀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 愀搀漀瀀琀攀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 挀愀猀攀 漀昀 䴀甀栀愀洀洀愀搀愀渀猀⸀⸀⸀∀㰀⼀瀀㸀ഀഀTo consider the report, the Chief Khālsā Dīwān convened a representative conclave of the Sikhs at Amritsar on 18 September 1918. In the memorandum which was prepared on their behalf, government was urged to carry out the assurance given them. The Punjab Legislative Council debated the Montagu-Chelmsford proposals in its joint committee. To baulk the Sikhs, the Muslim leader, Sir Fazl-i-Husain, moved a resolution that the Muslim proportion in the Punjab Legislative Council be based on the Lucknow Pact. The Sikh representative, Sardār Gajjan Siṅgh of Ludhiāṇā, proposed that the words "subject to the just claims of the Sikhs" be added to the resolution. The amendment was opposed by both Muslim and Hindu members, and was lost when put to vote.
㰀瀀 挀氀愀猀猀㴀∀䌀∀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀ऀ吀栀攀 瀀甀戀氀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䴀漀渀琀愀最甀 䌀栀攀氀洀猀昀漀爀搀 爀攀瀀漀爀琀 眀愀猀 昀漀氀氀漀眀攀搀 戀礀 琀栀攀 愀瀀瀀漀椀渀琀洀攀渀琀 漀昀 䘀爀愀渀挀栀椀猀攀 䌀漀洀洀椀琀琀攀攀Ⰰ 甀渀搀攀爀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀椀爀洀愀渀猀栀椀瀀 漀昀 䰀漀爀搀 匀漀甀琀栀戀漀爀漀甀最栀Ⰰ 琀漀 最漀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 洀愀琀琀攀爀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀漀洀瀀漀猀椀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 渀攀眀 氀攀最椀猀氀愀琀甀爀攀猀⸀ 䤀琀 栀愀搀 琀栀爀攀攀 䤀渀搀椀愀渀 洀攀洀戀攀爀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 渀漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀洀 眀愀猀 愀 匀椀欀栀⸀ 圀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 匀椀欀栀猀 瀀爀漀琀攀猀琀攀搀Ⰰ 匀愀爀搀☀⌀㈀㔀㜀爀 匀甀渀搀愀爀 匀椀☀⌀㜀㜀㐀㤀最栀 䴀愀樀☀⌀㈀㤀㤀☀⌀㜀㜀㠀㤀栀☀⌀㈀㤀㤀☀⌀㈀㔀㜀 眀愀猀 琀愀欀攀渀 愀猀 愀 挀漀ⴀ漀瀀琀攀搀 洀攀洀戀攀爀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 倀甀渀樀愀戀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 琀栀攀椀爀 搀攀洀愀渀搀 昀漀爀 漀渀攀ⴀ琀栀椀爀搀 漀昀 琀栀攀 琀漀琀愀氀 渀甀洀戀攀爀 漀昀 渀漀渀ⴀ漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀 猀攀愀琀猀 栀攀氀搀 戀礀 䤀渀搀椀愀渀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 倀甀渀樀愀戀Ⰰ 㜀 漀甀琀 漀昀 㘀㜀 渀漀渀ⴀ漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀 猀攀愀琀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 䄀猀猀攀洀戀氀礀 漀昀 䤀渀搀椀愀 愀渀搀 㐀 猀攀愀琀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 䌀漀甀渀挀椀氀 漀昀 匀琀愀琀攀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 匀椀欀栀 挀漀洀洀甀渀椀琀礀 爀攀洀愀椀渀攀搀 氀愀爀最攀氀礀 甀渀昀甀氀昀椀氀氀攀搀⸀ 吀栀攀 䘀爀愀渀挀栀椀猀攀 䌀漀洀洀椀琀琀攀攀 爀攀挀漀洀洀攀渀搀攀搀 㔀 瀀攀爀 挀攀渀琀 䌀漀甀渀挀椀氀 猀攀愀琀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 匀椀欀栀猀⸀ 䤀渀 䈀椀栀☀⌀㈀㔀㜀爀 愀渀搀 伀爀椀猀猀☀⌀㈀㔀㜀 眀栀攀爀攀 琀栀攀礀 昀漀爀洀攀搀 渀漀 洀漀爀攀 琀栀愀渀 氀 瀀攀爀挀攀渀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 琀漀琀愀氀 瀀漀瀀甀氀愀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 䴀甀猀氀椀洀猀 眀攀爀攀 最椀瘀攀渀 ㈀㔀 瀀攀爀 挀攀渀琀 猀攀愀琀猀 戀礀 琀栀攀 䘀爀愀渀挀栀椀猀攀 䌀漀洀洀椀琀琀攀攀⸀ 䤀渀 琀栀攀 倀甀渀樀愀戀 眀栀攀爀攀 琀栀攀礀 挀漀渀猀琀椀琀甀琀攀搀 ㈀ 瀀攀爀挀攀渀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 瀀漀瀀甀氀愀琀椀漀渀 愀渀搀 眀攀爀攀 漀琀栀攀爀眀椀猀攀 愀渀 椀洀瀀漀爀琀愀渀琀 昀愀挀琀漀爀 椀渀 琀栀攀 氀椀昀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 瀀爀漀瘀椀渀挀攀Ⰰ 匀椀欀栀猀✀ 猀栀愀爀攀 眀愀猀 昀椀砀攀搀 愀琀 愀 戀愀爀攀 㔀 瀀攀爀 挀攀渀琀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀ഀഀTo get this invidious distinction rectified, the Sikhs made representations to the government. The Chief Khālsā Dīwān made a last effort to influence the British government to revise its decision. A deputation consisting of Sardār Sewārām Siṅgh, Sardār Shivdev Siṅgh Uberoi, Sardār Sohan Siṅgh of Rāwalpiṇḍī and Sardār Ujjal Siṅgh was sent to England in 1920 to place the Sikhs' case before the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Indian Reforms, but nothing availed. The only satisfaction the delegation could derive was the knowledge that the Committee had on its own initiative increased the Sikh representation in the Punjab by two.
㰀瀀 挀氀愀猀猀㴀∀䌀∀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀ऀ䴀漀渀琀愀最甀ⴀ䌀栀攀氀洀猀昀漀爀搀 爀攀昀漀爀洀猀 栀愀搀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 瀀愀猀猀攀搀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 氀攀最椀猀氀愀琀椀瘀攀 瀀爀漀挀攀搀甀爀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 昀漀爀洀 漀昀 䜀漀瘀攀爀渀洀攀渀琀 漀昀 䤀渀搀椀愀 䈀椀氀氀Ⰰ 㤀㤀⸀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 戀攀椀渀最 挀漀渀猀椀搀攀爀攀搀 戀礀 愀 樀漀椀渀琀 猀攀氀攀挀琀 挀漀洀洀椀琀琀攀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 琀眀漀 䠀漀甀猀攀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䈀爀椀琀椀猀栀 倀愀爀氀椀愀洀攀渀琀Ⰰ 椀琀 眀愀猀 瀀愀猀猀攀搀 戀礀 琀栀攀 䠀漀甀猀攀 漀昀 䌀漀洀洀漀渀猀 漀渀 㔀 䐀攀挀攀洀戀攀爀 愀渀搀 戀礀 琀栀攀 䠀漀甀猀攀 漀昀 䰀漀爀搀猀 漀渀 㠀 䐀攀挀攀洀戀攀爀⸀ 㤀㤀⸀ 䤀琀 爀攀挀攀椀瘀攀搀 刀漀礀愀氀 愀猀猀攀渀琀 漀渀 ㈀㌀ 䐀攀挀攀洀戀攀爀 㤀㤀⸀ 吀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 攀氀攀挀琀椀漀渀猀 甀渀搀攀爀 琀栀攀 渀攀眀 䄀挀琀 琀漀漀欀 瀀氀愀挀攀 椀渀 一漀瘀攀洀戀攀爀 㤀㈀ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 渀攀眀 爀攀昀漀爀洀猀 挀愀洀攀 椀渀琀漀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀椀漀渀 漀渀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 搀愀礀 漀昀 琀栀攀 礀攀愀爀 㤀㈀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀ഀഀUnder the new constitution, the Punjab Legislative Council with a total membership of 93 had 18 Sikh members including 3 nominated by the Lieutenant-Governor. In the Central Assembly of 145 members, 3 were Sikhs; and there was a solitary Sikh, Sardār Jogendra Siṅgh, in the 60-member Council of States. Sardār Sundar Siṅgh Majīṭhīā, a nominated member of the Punjab legislature, was appointed Revenue Minister.
㰀⼀昀漀渀琀㸀ഀഀ䈀䤀䈀䰀䤀伀䜀刀䄀倀䠀夀㰀瀀 挀氀愀猀猀㴀∀䌀∀㸀㰀漀氀 挀氀愀猀猀㴀∀䌀∀㸀㰀氀椀 挀氀愀猀猀㴀∀䌀∀㸀 䬀栀甀猀栀眀愀渀琀 匀椀渀最栀Ⰰ 㰀椀㸀 䄀 䠀椀猀琀漀爀礀 漀昀 琀栀攀 匀椀欀栀猀 㰀⼀椀㸀Ⰰ 瘀漀氀⸀ 䤀䤀⸀ 倀爀椀渀挀攀琀漀渀 㤀㘀㘀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀഀ
K. S. Thāpar