Before Bapu, a Jew put Ahmedabad on nation's map

Although Gujarat became one of the important centres of the struggle for freedom after Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915, it was 13 years before that Joseph Benjamin, a Jewish resident of Ahmedabad, one of the key people in organising the 18th Session of Indian National Congress in Ahmedabad in 1902. Benjamin, along with noted Gujarati author Ramanlal Nilkanth, dared to propose Ahmedabad as the host for the 18th session of Congress, even though the city had not come out of the dreaded Çhhapanio Dukal or the 56-year long drought. It was for the first time that a session of Congress was held in Gujarat.

City-based historian Rizwan Kadri told DNA that Joseph Benjamin was an associate of Ramanlal Nilkanth and both had participated in the 1901 session of Congress in Calcutta. On the last day of the session, the host for the next session was to be announced. The duo, from Ahmedabad, dared even though the aftereffects of the dreaded drought were felt in the city. Ït was a humongous task as leaders from across the country were to come to Ahmedabad. They managed to make all the arrangements. It was the first national political session in Gujarat. It brought Ahmedabad into national prominence in the freedom struggle and was instrumental in generating political awareness, which resulted in to another session of Congress soon after in 1907 in Surat," said Kadri.

Later, Gandhi's arrival propelled the city on the map of the freedom struggle. The city again hosted the annual session of Congress in 1921. Later, in 1938, Haripura near Surat hosted the Congress session.

Joseph Benajamin was also one of the co-founders of Gujarat Sabha, a political organisation active in Gujarat. He along with Ramanlal Nilkanth was instrumental in setting up of League of Peace and Progress in Ahmedabad.