A Present to His Royal Highness - The Prince of Wales — Page 9
9 Ever since this opposition has been on the increase, but the Community continued on the path of peace and order. During the period when Martial Law was in force in the Punjab and the situation was fraught with danger, so much so that in certain cases even Government officials were compelled to leave their posts and seek safety elsewhere, the members of this Community not only themselves continued loyal, but also induced a large number of other people to do the same. At some places the rioters inflicted loss and injuries on the members of the Community, but they could not shake them from their loyalty. A wave of renewed persecution followed and at some places a complete boycott of Ahmadees was decided upon. They were not allowed to rent houses from non-Ahmadees and even the bare necessaries of life were denied them. Shopkeepers refused to sell grain and other necessaries to them and they were not allowed to draw water from public wells. Washermen were prohibited from washing their clothes and sweepers were not permitted to sweep their houses and to attend to their sanitation. The boycott was enforced so strictly that in some cases little children had to remain without food and water for days. Still this Community did not renounce the way of peace and orderliness, and did not move hair’s breadth from the path of disinterested loyalty. Even at the present day it is persecuted in different ways and yet puts forth every effort which tends to strengthen the Government of His Majesty and, God willing, will continue to do so. August Prince! this Present, then, is made to you on