History often rewards those who speak for the voiceless, even when their words are unwelcome.” In his 200th birth anniversary year, Dadabhai Naoroji stands tall not merely as a nationalist icon, but as a polymath, thinker, parliamentarian, social reformer, and above all, the conscience-keeper of colonial India.
The series, which tells the story of Mahatma Gandhi’s early life and the people who shaped his journey, received a warm response from the audience, earning a standing ovation at TIFF.
In a radical move Chittaranjan Das conceived of an accord with Muslims that allowed for greater representation for them in the legislative assembly and local bodies. The Bengal Pact of 1923, as this accord was named, generated strong resistance from amongst the Hindus. But he stuck to his guns and with Bose as his able assistant went around recruiting. Muslims to fill 80 per cent of the jobs for which recruitment had begun in the corporation. The Muslims hailed Das as the pact was cleared by the BPCC at its meeting on 18 December 1923.
