Isher Dass

Isher Dass (1900 – 6 November 1942) was an Indian born member of the Legislative Council of Kenya between 1933 and his death in 1942. He was the first member of the Legislative Council to be assassinated.

Early life Dass was born in the Punjab, British India, to a Hindu Punjabi family. He enlisted in the British Indian Army at a young age, and served in France, Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Kenya In 1927 he met Alibhai Mulla Jeevanjee in London and was hired by him to sell radios in Kenya. The venture proved unsuccessful however Dass was soon made Jeevanjee's private secretary and then secretary of the Kenya Indian Congress. Within a year of becoming its secretary, Dass caused a split within the Congress. His militant agenda led to Patel, Shams-ud-Deen, Phadke and Tayabali Mulla Jeevanjee amongst others to leave Congress and found a new party. In 1931 as a member of a Kenya Asian delegation, he assisted Kenyatta and Parmenas Githendu Mockerie in submitting a list of grievances to the Join Committee. In July 1938 he was involved in the Kamba protests march in Nairobi and accused of instigating the riot which followed the arrest of Samuel Muindi Mbingu. On 6 November 1942 Dass was shot dead at his office at the Desai Memorial Hall in Nairobi by Saran Singh and Balwant Rai. Both assassins were later hanged for the crime.

Personal life He was married twice and his first wife, Lilly, was a Jewish lady of English descent. His second wife, Manorama was from Lahore.