The first session of the first Bihar legislative assembly begun on July 22, 1937, five days after 17 Up Lahore Express had derailed at Bihta
leading to death of 65 passengers on the morning of July 17, 1937. It
was no wonder then that the session began with paying homage to the
victims of the train disaster. The session continued for a month.
Kumar Kalika Prasad Singh, elected from the landowners's constituency,
moved a resolution expressing "sympathy with the families of the victims
and appealing to the Government of India to appoint an inquiry
commission of experts and non-officials". The sitting was held in the
same chamber which houses the present assembly.
Khetra Nath
Sengupta expressed his solidarity with Biharis by saying 13 Bengalis had
been returned with Bihari votes. He said, "A large number of Bengalis
in Manbhum, Singhbhum and Santhal Parganas were living with Biharis as
brothers in spite of occasional outbursts of rivalry in matters of
public service.
Saiyad Mohiuddin Ahmad made the maiden speech
in the first assembly's first session by saying, "Chhotanagpur people
are political Harijans, with the HE governor acting as Mahatma Gandhi for us. We have been adjudged, declared and shunted aside as a backward people".
Sir Ganesh Dutt Singh, in his opening remarks, said, "The dark days of
diarchy have disappeared today and we are now enjoying midday sunshine
of provincial autonomy."
Mohammad Yunus, who was the first PM of Bihar
(March to July, 1397), congratulated Sri Krishna Sinha and wished a
good government would come under his leadership. "The aim and objects of
my party (Mohammdan Independent Party)
for obtaining Independence is in some respects even beyond the aims and
objectives of the Congress. My party desires complete Independence."
Sri Krishna Sinha said: We, the Congressmen elected here, have
programmes which have been announced from thousands of platforms. We
have our economic, social and political programmes."
Sachchidanand Sinha, who was appointed the acting speaker (not pro-tem) by Governor M G Hallett, traced the history of the Congress movement and said the "party was founded by most eminent Indians of the second half of 19th century."
When Mohammad Yunus raised a point of order saying strangers were
present in the House, Sachchidanand Sinha directed, "Except
photographers who are here with my permission, others must leave and the
photographers will not stay a moment longer than is absolutely
necessary."
Sinha asked the newly-elected members to take oath
of allegiance. To this, Tajmul Husain asked, "May I know whether we have
to take the oath in English or Hindi or Urdu or only in English." Sinha
replied, "In any language that he or she knows."
Jimut Bahan
Sen said, "Is not Bengali one of the vernaculars of the province, sir?"
Sinha replied, "I shall permit the member to take oath in Bengali."
Sri Krishna Sinha, elected from South Sadar Munghyr general rural,
Anugrah Narayan Sinha from Aurangabad general rural, Dr Saiyad Mahmud
from North Champaran Sadar Muhammadan rural, Jaglal Chaudhury from
southwest Purnea general rural (reserved) took the oath in that order.
Sir Ganesh Dutt Singh, elected from Patna division landholders
constituency, took the oath a day later.
Harendra Bahadur
Chandra and Saraswati Devi made their maiden speeches in Hindi and
Muhammad Shafi in Urdu. Saraswati Devi expressed her concern over the
poor condition of women in Bihar and asked the government to do justice
with them.
Munindra Nath Mookherjee, unattached to any party,
said he represented the interests of mines owners. Binodanand Jha, who
later succeeded Sri Krishna Sinha as CM, also talked of good governance
under the Congress leadership in Bihar.
The first session of
the first assembly had passed a resolution moved by Jaglal Chaudhury,
the then excise minister, for total prohibition in the state. ON July
23, 1937, Ram Dayalu Singh was elected uncontested as Speaker of the
Bihar assembly.
source:TNN
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