To Multan Jail as a Convict

The next morning, the cases of the registered under-trial prisoners started in the jail itself. And the cases were disposed of very quickly. As far as I remember, all those cases were under the ordinance 17CA, or something like that. And everyone was sentenced to 6 months’ rigorous imprisonment. But some of them apologised and some were let off like that. A few hundred persons were sentenced to 6 months rigorous imprisonment.

But my case went on for a few weeks. I forget the name of the magistrate. He was an Englishman. When my case came up, in the meantime, as far as I remember, the Government had promulgated another ordinance. And it was 17CB. Under that the imprisonment could be up to 2 years, plus fine.

The magistrate asked whether I would like to defend my case.

I said: “No, not at all. I will never defend my case. There is nothing to defend.”

But he said: “There are a number of cases against you.”

I said: “It does not matter.”

Then he asked me: “What is your age?”

I said: “Twenty-five”.

He asked: “Are you married?”

I said: “Only last year I was married.” So the case started. And to my surprise quite a number of prominent lawyers came to defend me without anybody’s asking. Probably the lawyers had decided that they will defend such cases on their own. But there was not much to “defend”. Now I do not remember the details of my case. But a few details I remember.

In the first case the magistrate said, “You are sentenced to 6 months rigorous imprisonment,” and in the second case, after a few days, he said: “I am sorry, you are so young but I can’t help it. Now the sentence has been raised to 2 years! And you are so young…!”

From his eyes I could see that he became quite sympathetic. And again he said: “Alright, I sentence you to 9 months rigorous imprisonment.” Of course, the sentences had to run consecutively. Thus it became 15 months.

Then there was a third case. So he (the magistrate) was puzzled as to what to do now? He fined me five hundred rupees, or 3 months rigorous imprisonment.

But I said: “I can’t pay any fine.”

So he said: “Alright.”

Then the police said: “Sir, there are a few more cases against him.”

Then the magistrate said (irritatedly & impatiently): “Is it not sufficient? Can’t you withdraw these cases now? Is it not sufficient?”

And the police withdrew all other cases against me. In a few days we were all sent to the Multan Jail….and handcuffed throughout. And I must mention that for one month or three weeks, when all these cases were going on against me, my mother used to bring me food. And when she would see me in handcuffs she would cry and cry and shout at the police and abuse them like anything, and curse them: “They be ruined”, “Nobody may survive out of their families”, this and that.

I used to console her: “What is this! Why should you abuse these people. It is not their fault.” But she could not help.

So we were in the Multan Jail. ‘New Nail’ it was called and also its official name was ‘Habitual Jail’. It had been newly constructed. And we were very happy together because the entire building was new. There were about twelve wards in that building. And there were thousands of prisoners of many sorts.

Sharma: Mr Jauhar, last time you told us all about your cases before the District Magistrate. Could you tell us what was his name?

Chacha Ji: The name of the magistrate was F.D. Poole. He was an Englishman and he was Additional District Magistrate, Delhi.