Madhusudan_Das

His Life and Achievements: 91
work in any way. I heard someone remarking behind him "The
Minister will get Rs 5,000/- a month whereas the Chairman will have
to do honorary work. Is this justice ? Why can't the Minister do
honorary work as the Chairman : I felt the justice of this remark and
repeated it to my father. He said, "They are right, my post ought to
be an honorary one." He approached the Viceroy and Governor on
the subject, but H.E. could not give his consent to this.
Now at the winter Council session of 1923 some members sent
up resolution to reduce the Ministers salary to Rs. 4,000/-. The
Governor would not consent to this and the Government whip was
asked to find out the strength of the voters for the resolution. My father
was asked by the Governor not to accept Rs. 4000/-. Both the Ministers
decided to resign if their salary was reduced to Rs. 4,000. My father
was quite willing to accept an honorary post, but not a reduced salary.
I went to the meeting with them. Great excitement prevailed in the
Council Chamber and the members were discussing the question with
geat heat. My father delivered his speech and said he would like to
have the honorary post, but would not consent to the cut motion. Inspite
of Sir Fakiruddins assurances that he would not accept the cut motion,
when he got up to speak, he said he was willing to accept Rs 4,000.
The Council was adjourned for an hour to allow the Ministers to come
to some agreed conclusion. I went with my father to his chamber and
asked him to resign. He said he would do so. I told him he should
first accept Rs. 4,000 to make Sir Fakiruddin's position safe and then
send in his resignation. In the meantime, Sir Hugh Macpherson who
was a Home Member and a Government whip met me in front of my
father's room and asked me about the decision of my father. I said he
would accept Rs. 4,000 as Sir Fakiruddin was willing to do so. He was
surprised. He said "why we have the majority and we would win, so
there is no question of accepting Rs. 4,000 ." I said win, so there is
no question of accepting Rs. 4,000." I said "It is no use trying to
persuade my father. He has decided to accept Rs. 4,000. So please
phone to the Governor about it." Sir Fakiruddin did not come to my
father's chamber to discuss the matter. Sir Hugh came to my father
and told him that H.E. wishes to know his decision. My father said
"Tell H.E. I accept Rs. 4,000." When the adjourned Council met there
was no further discussion on the subject as both the Ministers had
accepted the reduced salary. Then my father left the Council Chamber