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Dec. 30, 1917-Jan.1. At the Calcutta All India Muslim League session moved a Resolution calling on the Government to redeem Montagu's pledge for the immediate introduction of a Bill, embodying the Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League scheme of Dec 1916 as the first step and for fixing a time limit for the establishment of responsible Government "provided always that the principle of adequate and effective representation of the Muslim community is made sine qua non in any scheme of reform"; criticized Curtis Scheme. Expressed similar views at 32nd Indian National Congress session Delhi, while Seconding the Resolution on self-government.
Feb. 6. Participated in discussion on a Resolution in ILC, regarding redistribution and constitution of provincese on linguistic basis to secure complete success for self-government.
Feb. Appointed on deputation to meet Viceroy against the restrictions imposed on Tilak and Bepin Chandra Pal to enter Punjab and Delhi; deputation also expressed concern that Ali Brothers had not been released.
Feb. 27. Participated in the debate, in ILC, on K.K. Chanda's motion on the extension of Calcutta HC's jurisdiction to Khasia and Jaintia Hills of Assam.
March 5. Spoke on Cinematography Bill, and on the inclusion of certain Indian subjects among those for Indian Civil Service examination, in ILC.
March 8. Supported, with some reservations, the Financial Statement, 1918-19, in ILC.
March 13. Spoke on a motion on introduction of free and compulsory education after the War in ILC.
March 14. Participated in discussion on Indian Income Tax Bill, in ILC.
March 18. Spoke on Indian defense Force Bill and on a Resolution regarding East Indian Railway Company's contract, in ILC.
March 19. Participated in discussion on Indian Soldiers (Litigation) Bill, in ILC.
April 8. Presided over a public meeting held by Home Rule League at Bombay to protest against the Government's refusal to permit Tilak to proceed to England for presenting Home Rule League's viewpoint on the War.
April 19. Married Ruttenbai daughter of Sir Dinshaw Petit, in Bombay. Ruttenbai embraced Islam on 18 April at City's Jamia Masjid at the hands of Maulana Nizam Ahmad Khajandi.
April 22. Signed a manifesto, along with 18 other Home Rule League members, demanding from His Majesty's Government the establishment of a full responsible Government in India within a definite period to be fixed with the Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League Scheme as the first stage, and urged that bill to this effect be introduced in the Parliament/Parliamentary at once.
April 27-29. Attended the War Conference in Delhi; called to enlist support of Indian political leaders; for the prosecution of the War vote of thanks for Viceroy was passed on his motion.
April 30. On Government's demand to recruit Indian soldiers for the Empire's defiance in the War Conference., convened by Viceroy at Delhi, moved a counter Resolution demanding that India's participation in War be linked with Britain's earlier promises for constitutional reforms in India. The Resolution was however ruled out of order by Viceroy.
June 10. Participated in Bombay War Conference and entered into an altercation with Lord Willingdon, Government of Bombay; on the issues of loyalty of Home Rule League, Indianisation of Civil Services and Restoration of responsible Government in India.
June 15. Addressing a public meeting in Bombay, accused the government of not being earnest, saying that "your method and policy are all wrong."
June 17. In protest against Willingdon's insulting behaviour towards Tilak, declined his invitation to speak at a meeting on the South African question.
July 13. Sent telegrams to Prime Minister Secretary of State and Viceroy, urging them to withdraw the order refusing permission to Home Rule League's delegation to proceed to England.
July 23. In a press statement, criticized the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms proposals, and pleaded for such constitutional reforms which should aim at legislative control over the Executive .
Aug. Expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed dyarchy system in Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms published in Indian Review Allahabad).
Sept. 4. Spoke on Cotton Cloth Bill, in ILC.
Sept. 5. Participated in discussion on Hindu Marriages Validity Bill, in ILC.
Sept. 7. Spoke in support of Banerjea's Resolution on appointment of House Committee to consider and recommend on Reforms Report, in ILC, and suggested certain improvements.
Sept. 9-10. Participated in a debate, in ILC, on the financial assistance in respect of the cost of Military Forces raised or to be raised in India.
Sept. 11. Spoke on Resolution regarding early release of Indian Indentured Labor in Natal and Cotton Cloth Bill, in ILC.
Sept. 19. Speaking, in ILC, on a motion by Khaparade for appointment of a Committee to report on the effects of Press Act 1910, said: "I do not wish for a single moment that any culprit who is guilty of sedition, who is guilty of causing disaffection, who is guilty of causing race-hatred, should escape, but at the same time I say, protect the innocent, protect those journalists who are doing their duty and who are serving both the public and the government freely, independently, honestly which is an education for any Government ."
Sept. 23. In ILC, spoke on and opposed Khaparde's Resolution that the consideration and disposal of the Report of the Sedition Committee (Rowlatt Committee Report) be kept in abeyance and that a thorough and searching inquiry be undertaken by a mixed Committee of an equal number of official and non-official Indians into the working of the Criminal Investigation Department, and said "that the sole purpose of appointing the Rowlatt Committee was not to discover that there were criminal conspiracies in the land.... But... the real object ...was to determine how to deal with this kind of offenses when we return to normal times...."
Sept. 25. Spoke, in ILC on Resolution for voting congratulations to Allied Forces.
Oct. Nov. Supported Madan Mohan Malaviya for the presidentship of the Delhi (1919) Congress.
Nov. 8. Asked Stanley Reed, Editor Times of India (Bombay), in a letter signed by 29 public leaders, not to arrange farewell for Lord Wellington, Government of Bombay as the public was not in his favor.
Nov. 11. Armistice to end the World War I was signed.
Dec. 10. Published a letter in The Bombay Chronicle in which he revealed how Gokhale had "many discussions" with him before his death on the question of preparing a unified constitutional formula which would command the consensus of all the political forces in India. Also that they agreed to use "the same expression and same language" for the "agreed common formula" in their public utterances.
Dec. 11. Played the leading role along with his wife and many others in disrupting the farewell meeting for Lord Wellington in the Bombay Town Hall; the meeting ended in pandemonium.
Dec. 25 (?) In an interview with Montagu, urged him to hold a conference at Delhi at which he should take leaders into confidence about the incarceration of the Ali Brothers.
Dec. 26-31. Attended Congress session which nominated him Member of All India Congress Committee.
Dec. In recognition of his leading role in the anti Wellington farewell
agitation, a sum of Rs.65,000 was raised through public subscription within
one month for a hall, named "J Peoples Memorial Hall", in Congress House
Compound, Bombay, which was declared open by Annie Besant. The appeal for
donation was made by B.D. La'am, a Parsi Attomey, and the sum was donated
by the citizens of Bombay. -