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Abstract
'The Peshawar Communist Conspiracy Cases' is a less known chapter in our freedom movement. In the beginning of the paper, the introductory note gives the background of the emergence of Communist Party of India (CPI) in Tashkent on 17 October 1920. The ten members of the CPI returned to India and were arrested.
The paper narrates the detailed story of the five conspiracy cases. The first case was Crown Vs Muhammad Akbar Qureshi in which Hafizullah Khan and his servant were tried and sentenced in May 1922. Another case was launched against Mohammad Akbar Qureshi on breach of jail discipline. The third Peshawar Conspiracy case against Akbar Shah and seven others began before the inquiring magistrate of Peshawar on 7 March 1923. Two years rigorous imprisonment each to Muhammad Akbar Shah and Gawhar Rehman Khan, while one year rigorous imprisonment each to Mir Abdul Majid, Ferozuddin Mansur, Habib Ahmad, Rafiq Ahmad and Sultan Mahmud was passed on 19 May 1923.
Similarly Crown vs. Mohammad Shafiq, was the fourth case. He was sentenced three years rigorous imprisonment. The fifth and final Peshawar Conspiracy case was launched against Fazal Elahi Qurban in 1927; he was given five years rigorous imprisonment. The accused filed an appeal against the conviction. The additional judicial commissioner maintained the conviction but reduced the sentence to three years of rigorous imprisonment.
In the conclusion, the paper tells about what happened to these persons when they completed their sentences. It states that Ferozuddin Mansur and Fazal Elahi Qurban continued with CPI. In post partition days, Qurban was expelled from the party while Mansur remained intact with the CPI.
The Peshawar Conspiracy Cases, 1922-27
Early 1920s was a formative phase for the communist movements all over the world. None of the new parties had any mass base at the time, and also lacked a clear cut perspective. In most colonial countries, the majority population was that of the peasantry while the working class was coming into existence. The industrial development of India was encouraged by the British to meet the war effort, forcing it to permit Indian bourgeoisie to set up a network of industry and a superstructure of railways, roads and communications.
It was against this background that the communist parties...