1903

January

1

Gandhi reached  Pretoria.

1903

January

2

Waited on Assistant  Colonial Secretary but told that not being resident of the Transvaal, he could not be in  deputation.

1903

January

6

British Indian  Committee appealed to Lt.-Governor to permit Gandhi to be member of deputation to  Chamberlain.

1903

January

(prior to) 7

Memorial drawn up by  Gandhi presented by deputation led by George Godfrey.

1903

Memorial drawn up by  Gandhi presented by deputation led by George Godfrey.

1903

January

30

Wrote to Dadabhai  Naoroji, reporting on the deputations to Chamberlain and suggesting prohibition of  indentured emigration to Natal.

1903

February

5

Wrote, in letter to  Chhaganlal Gandhi, of the uncertainty of his stay in South Africa, which was 'no bed of  roses'.

1903

February

12

Interviewed  Lt.-Governor of the Transvaal concerning setting up of Bazaars.

1903

February

16

Decided to settle down  in Johannesburg, in view of public work, about this time enrolled to Bar of the Transvaal  Supreme Court.

1903

February

18

Communicated views on  Bazaars to Colonial Secretary.

1903

February

23

Forwarded to Dadabhai  Naoroji comprehensive statement on Indian Question in the Transvaal and Orange River  Colonies. Wrote to Gokhale that events in the Transvaal were progressing fast and he was  "in the thick of the fight".

1903

March

16

Dispatched periodical  statement to Dadabhai Naoroji on the situation in South Africa.

1903

April

25

Wrote in The  Vegetarian, offering tips to prospective emigrants to South Africa.

1903

Reported, in letter to  Colonial Secretary, police high-handedness towards Indian merchants in Heidelberg.

1903

April

27

Released to Press  letter about Heidelberg incidents.

1903

May

1

Forwarded to  Lt.-Governor petition of William Hosken and other European residents of Johannesburg about  Government Notice No. 356 of 1903 , and expressed view that legislation to regulate  immigration was more acceptable.

1903

May

6

Mass meeting held in  Johannesburg protesting against enforcement of anti-Indian laws which restricted Indians  to Bazaars, etc., and calling for their repeal.

1903

May

9

Gandhi forwarded  reports to Dadabhai Naoroji about Heidelberg and Johannesburg incidents, European petition  about Notice No. 356 and the Johannesburg Mass Meeting.

1903

May

10

Expressed, in letter  to Dadabhai Naoroji, readiness to accept, with modifications, legislation on Natal lines  to restrict immigration, and also principle of Bazaars if not imposed by law.

1903

Stated  in letter to Gokhale that he had settled in Johannesburg "under very great  difficulties". Requested him to study question of South African legislation to  restrict Asiatic immigration and to direct movement against it in India.

1903

May

16

Reported to Dadabhai  Naoroji Transvaal Government move to enforce collection of £3 registration tax.

1903

May

22

Led Indian deputation  to Lord Milner, Governor of the Transvaal, in connection with compulsory levy of  registration tax and general question of Indians in Colony.

1903

May

24

Informed Dadabhai  Naoroji of demands of Indian deputation to Lord Milner.

1903

May

31

Urged  in weekly communication to Dadabhai Naoroji need for relief to Indians from discrimination  in Orange River Colony. Reported enactment of Bazaar law by Cape Colony and emphasized  need to concentrate effort on repeal of existing legislation.

1903

June

4

Indian Opinion  commenced publication with Mansukhlal Nazar as editor.

1903

June

6

Gandhi cabled British  Committed, hoping that compulsory repatriation of ex-indentured Indians would not receive  sanction from Home Government.

1903

Opposed in periodical  statement to Dadabhai Naoroji compulsory return of ex-indentured Indians and stressed that  Location and Bazaar laws in Natal and the Cape Colony, if made permanent, would seriously  damage Indian interests.

1903

June

8

Submitted petition to  Transvaal Governor, detailing disadvantages of Asiatic Office, Bazaar Notice, and  prohibition of land-ownership in Locations, and demanding abrogation of discriminatory  legislation and restoration of freedom of life and trade.

1903

June

10

Petition presented to  Natal Legislature demanding amendment of draft ordinance for Municipal franchise classing  Indians with Natives.

1903

June

23

Suggested in petition  to Natal Council modifications to Bill for restricting immigration.

1903

June

30

Wrote to Haridasbhai  Vora, reporting success in professional practice, referring to exacting nature of his  public work and expressing preparedness to settle down in Johannesburg for decade or so.

1903

July

4

Urged in letter to  Gokhale the need of "a well-directed movement" throughout Indian to counteract  agitation of interested parties in the Transvaal against relaxation of old anti-Asiatic  laws.

1903

June

6

Gandhi cabled British  Committed, hoping that compulsory repatriation of ex-indentured Indians would not receive  sanction from Home Government.

1903

Opposed in periodical  statement to Dadabhai Naoroji compulsory return of ex-indentured Indians and stressed that  Location and Bazaar laws in Natal and the Cape Colony, if made permanent, would seriously  damage Indian interests.

1903

June

8

Submitted petition to  Transvaal Governor, detailing disadvantages of Asiatic Office, Bazaar Notice, and  prohibition of land-ownership in Locations, and demanding abrogation of discriminatory  legislation and restoration of freedom of life and trade.

1903

June

10

Petition presented to  Natal Legislature demanding amendment of draft ordinance for Municipal franchise classing  Indians with Natives.

1903

June

23

Suggested in petition  to Natal Council modifications to Bill for restricting immigration.

1903

June

30

Wrote to Haridasbhai  Vora, reporting success in professional practice, referring to exacting nature of his  public work and expressing preparedness to settle down in Johannesburg for decade or so.

1903

July

4

Urged in letter to  Gokhale the need of "a well-directed movement" throughout Indian to counteract  agitation of interested parties in the Transvaal against relaxation of old anti-Asiatic  laws.

1903

July

18

Informed Dadabhai  Naoroji of passing of Municipal ordinance despite Indian objection, and of Transvaal  Government proposal to lay out 54 locations for Indians.

1903

July

25

Informed Dadabhai  Naoroji of Transvaal Legislative Council’s resolution to enforce Bazaar Notice.

1903

August

3

Demanded in his weekly  statement relaxation in respect of existing licenses, referred to continued difficulties  of Transvaal Indian refugees and refuted Milner’s allegation of sanitary grounds for  segregation policy.

1903

August

4

Cabled British  Committed, India and The Times of India about refugee problem.

1903

August

10

Forwarded to Dadabhai  Naoroji detailed clarification of cable of August 4.

1903

August

24

Petitioned Chamberlain  to withhold Royal assent to Immigration Restriction Bill passed by Natal Assembly.

1903

September

2

Writing in Indian  Opinion, expressed hope that no Indian would stoop to secure exemption from Bazaar  Notice.

1903

September

7

Demonstrated, in  letter to Dadabhai Naoroji, against any acceptance in England of move for compulsory  repatriation of indentured labor and payment of part wages in India.

1903

November

9

Reported to Dadabhai  Naoroji that sites chosen for Bazaars were in out-of-the way places.

1903

November

16

Intimated in weekly  letter to Dadabhai Naoroji that policy laid down in Milner’s dispatch of May 1903 was  not being carried out.

1903

December

1

Wrote to Indian  National Congress at Madras that seriousness of situation in Natal should be realized and  early and earnest efforts made to secure relief.

1903

December

11

Mass meeting of  British Indians requested protection to all existing licenses.

1903

December

12

Gandhi cabled Dadabhai  Naoroji about Government’s proposed amendment to Bazaar Notice proposing exemption  for some Indians from liability to trade in Bazaars or Locations.

1903

December

17

Appealed to Associate  Chambers of Commerce at Pretoria seriously to consider amendment of Location Law.