Demonstration on Indian political prisoners

Correspondence and printed material associated with a demonstration organised by the Indian Workers Association at Hammersmith Town Hall in March 1965 to protest against attacks on civil liberties in India, and to raise awareness about the imprisonment of political opponents to the government, including communists, trade union leaders and others seen as a threat to the government.

Papers are arranged in chronological order, and consist of:
/1 letter from Barbara Haq, Movement for Colonial Freedom, to Jagmohan Joshi discussing arrangements for a public meeting organised by the Indian Workers Association to be held in Birmingham 10 January 1965. The letter includes the names and contact details of Members of Parliament who might be prepared to get involved with the campaign, and the name of a speaker for the meeting, 1 January 1965

/2-/4 copy letters from Jagmohan Joshi to Dr. H. Johnson; John Platts-Mills; and Bertrand Russell, concerning the public meeting on restoring civil liberties in India to be held in Birmingham on 10 January. The letters are dated 4 January 1965

/5 letter from Bertrand Russell, Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, to Jagmohan Joshi in reply to his letter of 4 January. He states his opposition to the mass arrests that have taken place in India and includes a statement to be read at the meeting, 7 January 1965

/6 telegram from Tony Ambatielos to Jagmohan Joshi sending greetings to Idris Cox, 7 January 1965

/7 letter from Tony Ambatielos to Jagmohan Joshi consisting of a message to be read out at the public meeting in Birmingham on 10 January 1965 which refers to his own imprisonment in Greece under the Karamanlis regime

/8 copy letter from Jagmohan Joshi to supporters, quoting the statement by Bertrand Russell read at the public meeting organised by the Indian Workers Association in Birmingham on 10 January 1965, and asking for people to speak at a meeting following the demonstration to be held in London on 28 March 1965. This letter is dated 20 January 1965

/9 letter from Illtyd Harrington, Greater London Council, to Jagmohan Joshi confirming that he will try to attend the meeting following the 28 March demonstration, 6 February 1965

/10 letter from the political attache, High Commission of India, to the Indian Workers Association acknowledging receipt of a petition regarding arrests of members of the Communist Party of India, 9 February 1965

/11 letter from a sympathiser giving reasons for declining Joshi's invitation to speak at the meeting on 28 March, despite supporting the campaign for the restoration of civil liberties in India, 10 February 1965

/12 letter from Alan Sillitoe declining Jagmohan Joshi's invitation to attend the meeting following the 28 March demonstration due to another engagement, 12 February 1965

/13-/22 letters from various Members of Parliament in reply to Jagmohan Joshi's letter inviting them to attend or speak at the meeting following the 28 March demonstration. There are letters from John Horner, MP for Oldbury and Halesowen; Jeremy Thorpe, MP for North Devon; Bob Edwards, MP for Bilston; Hugh Jenkins, MP for Putney; William Warbey, MP for Ashfield; Eric Heffer, MP for Walton; Renee Short, MP for Wolverhampton; Julius Silverman, MP for Birmingham Aston; Will Griffiths, MP for Manchester Exchange; Anne Kerr, MP for Rochester and Chatham. Letters are dated February 1965

/23-/24 letters from trade union leaders in reply to Jagmohan Joshi's letter inviting them to attend or speak at the meeting following the 28 March demonstration. There are letters from Ernie Roberts and Reg Birch, of the Amalgamated Engineering Union. Both men agree to speak in a personal capacity at the meeting. Letters are dated February 1965

/25 letter from an unidentified writer stating agreement with Bertrand Russell's statement quoted in Jagmohan Joshi's letter of 20 January, but declining his invitation to speak at the meeting following the 28 March demonstration, 16 February 1965

/26 letter from the editor of 'The Draughtsman', the organ of the Draughtsmen's and Allied Technicians Association, declining Jagmohan Joshi's invitation for him to speak at the meeting following the 28 March demonstration, 18 February 1965

/27-/28 letters from Christopher Farley, Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, to Jagmohan Joshi offering possible speakers for the meeting to be held on 28 March, and apologising for not being able to offer help in organising the meeting, due to a lack of resources, February-March 1965

/29 letter from Rev. David Head, Birmingham Central Mission, declining Jagmohan Joshi's invitation to speak at the meeting on 28 March, but expressing support for the campaign, 24 February 1965

/30 letter from Ivor Montagu, expressing support for the campaign but declining the invitation to speak at the meeting on 28 March, 25 February 1965

/31-/32 letters of support for the campaign against the imprisonment of Indian communists, from the Birmingham Branch Committee of the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers and Coppersmiths, and the Electrical Trade Union, March 1965

/33 letter from Reg Birch, Amalgamated Engineering Union, to Jagmohan Joshi asking for further details about the meeting on 28 March at which he has offered to speak, 17 March 1965

/34-/35 letters from the secretary to Christopher Farley, Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation to Jagmohan Joshi explaining that a misunderstanding about the timing of the meeting means that Farley will now not be able to speak, 18 March and 26 March 1965

/36 Indian Workers Association circular to all branch secretaries signed by Avtar Jouhl, giving information about the demonstration and meeting for the restoration of civil rights in India, and asking members to mobilise support for this event, 19 March 1965

/37-/38 letters of support from the Amalgamated Engineering Union, 23 March 1965, and the Young Communist League, 25 March 1965

/39 letter from R. Palme Dutt, Communist Party of Great Britain, to Jagmohan Joshi accepting his invitation to speak at the meeting for the release of Indian Communist prisoners on 28 March. the letter is dated 23 March 1965

/40 letter form Idris Cos to Jagmohan Joshi discussing possible trade union speakers for the meeting on 28 March. This letter is dated 23 March 1965

/41 letter from Dave Ashby, Young Socialists, discussing arrangements for the group to join the 28 March demonstration. The letter is dated 26 March 1965

/42 circular letter to trade unions in Birmingham from Jagmohan Joshi enclosing leaflets giving information about the 28 March demonstration and meeting to protest against the attack on civil liberties in India, and expressing the hope that trade union branches will send representatives on the demonstration

/43-/45 leaflets for the demonstration and rally organised by the Indian Workers Association in London, and the meeting at Hammersmith Town Hall on 28 March 1965 to protest against attacks on civil liberties in India and the imprisonment of political opponents of the government. The leaflets give the route of the march, the names of the speakers at the meeting, and information about the background to the current political situation in India

/46 circular letter addressed to 'colleagues' from Jagmohan Joshi asking for support at the rally on 28 March in connection with civil rights in India, and referring to support the Indian Workers Association have received from political parties, youth movements, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament branches and others

/47 copy letter from Rattan Singh, President, and Jagmohan Joshi, General Secretary, of the Indian Workers Association to the High Commissioner of India, enclosing copies of resolutions on civil rights in India passed by the association and supported by other named groups, to be conveyed to the Indian government, 28 March 1965

/48 typescript list of individuals and organisations receiving press statements following the 28 March demonstration to protest against attacks on civil liberties in India

/49 statement issued by the Indian Youth League, Birmingham 'Calling on all Progressives to protest at arrests of Indian Communists and discussing the disruption of elections in Kerala

/50 anonymous draft typescript speech given at the 28 March demonstration on behalf of someone unable to be present at the event. The speech gives details about the current political situation in India

/51 circular letter from Prem Singh, Assistant General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association thanking supporters for attending the event on 28 March. The letter is dated 2 April 1965

/52 circular letter to members of the Central Executive Committee of the Indian Workers Association giving details about the next meeting, to be held on 6 June 1965, and including an agenda. The meeting will discuss the demonstration on civil rights in India that was held on 28 March 1965.