The Chinese Schools and Factionalism within the Community

Summary

Factionalism within the Chinese community in Calcutta had discernible impact on Chinese schools in the city. During the 1950s, the divisions were drawn based on support for either the Guomindang or the Communists, an outcome of the civil war within China that led to the establishment of Communist rule in Mainland China and the formation of the Guomindang government in Taiwan. Some in the Chinese community in Calcutta supported the Guomindang government, and others the People's Republic of China.

One episode mentioned in the Yindu Huaqiao shihua (1958: 35–6) that highlights not only the conflict between these two factions, but also the Indian government's delicate position in maintaining order among the Chinese population in Calcutta involved Li Weibin. A leading figure within the Calcutta Chinese community, Li Weibin had been involved in the founding of the local Chineselanguage newspaper called Yindu ribao, and also played an important role in the establishment of the Overseas Chinese School and the Zhongzheng School. For over twenty years, starting from 1936, he served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Meiguang School. His involvement with the celebrations commemorating the ‘victory’ of Taiwan over the People's Republic of China in the conflict on Jinmen Island in the Taiwan Straits in September 1954 led to his detention by the Indian government.

The celebration took place at the Jiaying Huiguan on 10 October, a day also known as the ‘Double Ten Day’, which marked the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1911 and is recognised as the national day of Taiwan. A lavish dinner was held to celebrate the two events. Li Weibin was one of the main organisers and delivered a ‘rousing’ speech at the celebration. Within one week there were rumours that he and two other key people involved in the celebrations would be arrested. At first, most people thought this was meant to intimidate the proGuomindang faction in the city. But, on the night of 30 October, the Calcutta police took Li Weibin into custody.