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vol. title: Vol Four of The Theosophical Society of The Arya Samaj of Arya-wart vol. period: Sept 1878 – Sept 1879 pages in vol.: 350 |
< Expulsion of Mr. Hurrichand Chintaman from the Arya Samaj of Bombay (continued from page 8-183) >
greatly vexed and excited the members, who thereupon called upon him to conduct himself according to the written and standing rules of the Samaj and further warned him that if he should not do so they would not stop to push on the proceedings and business of the meeting without his assistance. The President, however, impudently spoke that they had no power to proceed without him and threatened that if they would do so they would have to answer for it somewhere else. He afterwards snatched the Circular Book from the Secretary’s hands and began to leave the rooms of the meeting with it. Some of the members, however, obstructed him and recovered the book from the man to whom the President had handed it over. Thus the President and four other members left the Samaj and used harsh and abusive language towards the Samaj as they left it. Mr. Mulji moved that as the President had acted unbecomingly in having irregularly retired from the Samaj, the Vice-President, Mr. Atmaram Bapu, should occupy the chair and open the proceedings of the day. In this he was supported by Mr. Sevaklal who upon request by the Secretary read to the members present the following correspondence:—
- Written requisition by fifteen members of the Samaj to the Secretary to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting to consider the conduct of the President.
- A letter by the 15 members to the President.
- A letter by the treasurer to the members of the Theosophical Mission.
- A letter by the Theosophical Mission to the treasurer.
- A Circular by the Secretary convening the meeting.
Mr. Atmaram Bapu said that it appeared proper to him in the interests of the Samaj to call for an expression of opinion from the Samajists on the conduct of Mr. Harichand Chintaman which, as evinced in the day’s meeting, and in the meeting of 2nd March and also in connection with the matter of the correspondence that had just been read, was anything but commendable, desirable, and gentlemanly. The motion was approved of by Mr. Jivandayal, who suggested that further steps should be taken, and was taken up by Mr. Sevaklal, who then formally proposed the substance of it for the vote of the members. The proposal of Mr. Sevaklal for removing Mr. Harichand from the Presidency was seconded by Mr. Anna Martand Joshi. The meeting unanimously adopted the proposal and passed a resolution to the same effect, and further resolved to communicate the resolution to Mr. Harichand Chintamon and to all the Samajists of Arya-varta.
Mr. Kalyanji Narayen then spoke that it was the business of the treasurer to keep all accounts of money matters and to receive and expend any sums of money on behalf of the Samaj, and that notwithstanding the knowledge of this fact on the part of Mr. Harichand he received and kept with himself without the knowledge of the Samaj and against all rules of common sense all moneys sent from abroad for the benefit of the Samaj. These acts of Mr. Harichand at last became known to the members who through their chief Secretary Dr. A. M. Kunte named a special committee to inquire into the matter. The Committee met on 2nd March in the Photographic Hall of Mr. Harichand, who gave evasive and rude answers to all questions put to him. Moreover without letting the Samaj know anything about it, he returned to the American Theosophist Mission all funds received from them in connection with the Samaj. All this piece of conduct on the part of Mr. Harichand, spoke Mr. Kalyanji, cast a sad reflection on the reputation of the Samaj and therefore he thought in the interests of the Samaj to propose that Mr. Harichand’s name be struck off the list of members of the Samaj. This proposal was seconded by Mr. Munchhashankar and put to the general vote. A resolution was then unanimously passed removing Mr. Harichand’s name from the list of members. This was resolved also to be communicated to Mr. Harichand. Mr. Atmaram Bapu then said that it appeared from the letter of the Theosophical Mission that a great deal of correspondence had been opened between the mission and Mr. Harrichand as President who ought to have, although he obstinately refused to do so, brought the correspondence to the knowledge of the Samaj or handed it over to the Secretary for filing it on record. The Samaj further had learnt that contrary to its wishes the President retained out of the Funds of the Mission in his hands sums to meet the postage and other charges borne by the Samaj in matter of the correspondence. These circumstances, said Mr. Atmaram, had cast a great slur unnecessarily on the name of the Samaj. All these sums should be accordingly repaid by the Samaj to the Mission who should be further informed that the Samaj in a body greatly regretted the conduct of their late President who brought a deal of unexpected trouble and shame to the door of the Samaj by his imprudence and ungentlemanly behavior. The suggestion was seconded by Mr. Panachand Anandjee and a resolution was then unanimously passed that the Secretary should see the letter contemplated by the suggestion of Mr. Atmaram was addressed to the American Mission. Thanks were proposed by Mr. Madhavrao Raghunath for Mr. A. Dalvi for his conduct in the chair and seconded by Mr. Purshottamdas Bhagwandass. The meeting then dissolved.