{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 181,
  "chapterName": "1943. Resolutions of the All-India Conference of Indian Christians",
  "pageFrom": 374,
  "pageTo": 375,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 374,
      "ocrText": "374\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\namong the small minorities their claims in the past for a fair share\nof appointments have not met with adequate consideration. In\nparticular there are far too few members of our community in the\nservice of municipal and district Boards. And there is a strong\nfeeling among us that the Executive Council of the Governor-\nGeneral, which at present is a composite body representing different\ncreeds, groups and interests, should contain an Indian Christian\nrepresentative. We appeal to our non-Christian brethren as well\nas to Government to set right this crying wrong.\n181. RESOLUTIONS OF THE ALL-INDIA CONFERENCE\nOF INDIAN CHRISTIANS (1943 A.D.)\nDuring its meetings of 1943, the All-India Conference of Indian\nChristians gave attention to the political situation of that time and\nadopted the following resolutions. These concern the imprisonment\nof Mahatma Gandhi, the demand for assurance of independence\nfollowing the end of the war, and the demand that Christians be given\ndue share in appointments made on a communal basis, though they\nwould prefere that appointments should not be made on that basis.\nCited in The Indian Witness, Vol. 73, No. 12, March 25, 1943, pp. 92-93.\n1. This Conference congratulates Mahatma Gandhi at the\nsuccessful termination of his fast.\n2. In the hope and belief that Mahatma Gandhi will condemn\nviolence and will assist in a solution of the present political impasse,\nthis Conference is of opinion that the Government should release\nhim unconditionally without further delay.\n3. This Conference deplores and condemns the acts of violence\nwhich have been committed since last August in India. At the\nsame time it condemns the excesses committed in repressing the\nviolence.\n4. This Conference is of the opinion that a Round Table Confe-\nrence should be convened immediately in India to reach an agreed\nsolution of important constitutional problems; it should include\nrepresentatives of all important minorities and interests.\n5. This Conference calls upon the British Government to make\na clear declaration, as soon as possible, that India should attain full\nfreedom within two years after cessation of hostilities. Meanwhile\nit earnestly appeals to the leaders of the principal political parties\nand communities in India to come to an agreed solution on the\ncommunal problem. If such a solution is not reached, the question\nshould be referred for decision to an international Tribunal.",
      "status": "completed"
    },
    {
      "pageNumber": 375,
      "ocrText": "SOURCE MATERIALS\n375\n6. This Conference is and has been in favour of all appoint-\nments being made on merit and merit alone. So long, however,\nas communal considerations are taken into account in appointments\nmade by Government, the Railway and the Local Bodies, this\nConference demands that Indian Christians should have their due\nshare in all such appointments.\n7. This Conference reaffirms its adherence to the cause of\nthe allied nations against the axis powers. In order, however, to\nenlist the full co-operation of the people of India in the War efforts,\nit demands the immediate formation of composite Governments in\nthe centre, and in the provinces consisting of non-officials only,\nwith the sole exception of the Commander-in-Chief. Such compo-\nsite Governments should include a representative Indian Christian.\nThe non-inclusion in the Executive Council of the Governor-General\nof India in particular, of a representative of a community which is\nthe second largest religious minority in India is regarded with deep\nconcern by Indian Christians.\n8. This Conference gives its unqualified support to the ideal of\na free and independent India in a world brotherhood of nations\nand considers that after the war all Empire ideologies should be\neliminated as a menace to the future peace of the world.\n9. This Conference congratulates the Right Hon'ble Sir Tej\nBahadur Sapru, Mr. Rajagopalachariar, and the members of the\nStanding Committee of the non-parties Conference in the effort\nmade by them to find a way out of the present impasse, and requests\nthem to continue their efforts.\n10. This Conference records its deep sense of loss at the untimely\ndemise of Sir Sikander Hayat Khan and Mahadeo Desai, the\ninfluence of both of whom will be missed in their respective spheres\nin the service of India.",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}