Preface

Haripura Congress Souvenir

Preface

The Haripura Congress Souvenir is the recorded wisdom of the Indian celebrities. A perusal of it will be a useful addition to the stock of mental wealth.

In the short span of our life it is not possible to gaze with the scientist, explore with the industrialist, experiment with the statesman and dream of martyrdom with the patriot. But one can avail himself of their career and the results of their labor. These are chronicled in the pages of his Souvenir and its study will make a profitable reading.

This volume will be useful both for the savant and the enquiring layman. It is a fact that there is no such work in print. There are some meager "Who's Who's" which make dull reading. There are expensive biographies, which can never become popular, because their price is prohibitive. This Souvenir meets the serious deficiency.

The leading features of the Souvenir are the development of the Congress Polity, the History of the Auxiliary Bodies of the Congress and the Pen-Pictures. The portraits are the most valuable feature of the book. A succinct biography is given of all persons who have made our motherland great.

Some might question the appropriateness of these biographical sketches appearing in the Congress Souvenir. The reason is obvious Congress is Nation and Nation is Congress.

The pen-pictures of the Congress Ministers and Congress Legislators claim the attention of the readers. As we go to press we hear the news of the resignation of the United Provinces and Bihar Cabinets. The fate of the other Congress Ministries is yet undecided.

I will be failing in my duty if I do not express my sense of thanks to Mr. G. Ramakrishan, the proprietor, Ramakrishna Bros., who made a novel departure in taking up this general publication. I was ably assisted in my work by Mr. K. A. Doraswamy, a journalist of rare abilities. I take this opportunity to thank the persons who have contributed the thought-provoking articles.

Y.G. Krishnamurti

Prafulla,
Deccan Gymkhana, Poona
15th February, 1937

Publishers Note

We are bringing out the Haripura Congress Souvenir as a mark of our devotion to the Congress. As far as our ken goes this is the first attempt made to publish the pen-pictures of the myriad persons who have ceaselessly worked for the welfare of our Motherland.

When we undertook this work of the first magnitude we felt it a cheerful task. The spirit of humility of Congressmen was a serious handicap to us in collecting information. But the immediate response of the various Congress organizations facilitated our work to some extent.

Owing to the short time we were not able to include the life sketches of many legislators, women celebrities, Congress workers and the newly elected A.I.C.C. members. To them we express out sincere regret. Further we had to drop the chapter on the work of the Congress Ministries as many important Bills are still under discussion. We hope to do full justice to all these in our next publication.

We owe our sense of thanks to Messrs. D. K .Parker and Ratansey Jetha of the New Jack Printing Works for having worked with unflagging zeal to make this Souvenir an artistic achievement' Mr. Poonawalla of the Commercial Engravers, Bombay, who executed our block work with astonishing speed and high efficiency and Mr. H. R. Mehta of the Swastik Advertisers for having secured the advertisements within the shortest period.

Our thanks are also due to Mr. K. G. Gokhale, Secretary, Parliamentary Board office, for having willingly cooperated in our patriotic endeavor.

Ramakrishna Bros.
Poona