Gandhi and Harijan

September - October - 2014 Odisha Review

Gandhi and Harijan

Souribandhu Kar

Mahatma Gandhi, this name itself signifies Gandhi took over the helm, many were content reverence among lakhs and lakhs of people of to fall in line and nod to whatever he said and the world. He is known as the crusader for hardly thought it necessary to do their own peoples’ freedom in India and South Africa. thinking.” Professionally a barrister he turned to become a Gandhi became the invincible leader in social reformer, a prolific writer, a great journalist, the nationalist struggle against the British because champion of non-violent movement called of his understanding of the people and identifying satyagraha and the leading light in the cause of himself with the common man. Even Subhash India’s freedom struggle against the mighty British Chandra Bose, who opposed Gandhi and imperialism. Gandhi was a great communicator Gandhism commented as follows. and he used this skill very effectively through his writings both in newspapers, letters, speeches and “… When the Mahatma speaks, he does even in prayer meetings. He has contributed large so in a language that (the people) comprehend, number of articles through two weeklies i.e. Indian not in the language of Herbert Spencer and Opinion (South Africa) and Young India (India) Edmund Burke, as for instance, Sir Surendra Nath edited by him and also in Navajivan and Harijan. Banarjee would have done, but in that of the But we find his views were inconsistent at different Bhagvad Gita and the Ramayana. When he talks times because he reacted differently. He himself to them about Swaraj, he does not dilate on the admitted this saying : virtues of provincial autonomy or federation, he reminds them of the glories of Ramarajya (the “at times of writing I never think what I kingdom of the mythical king Rama) and they have said before. My aim is not be consistent with understand. And he talks of conquering through my precious statements on a given question, but love and Ahimsa (non violence), they are reminded to be consistent with my previous statement on a of Buddha and Mahavir and they accept him.” given question, but to be consistent with truth as it may present itself to me at a given movement. Gandhi understood the evil of The result has been that I have grown from truth untouchability and to eradicate that from the Indian to truth. I have saved memory from an undue Society, he started an organisation called All India strain.” Looking to this statement, perhaps Harijan Sevak Sangh. The work of Harijan Sevak Dr. Rajendra Prasad rightly admitted that “when Sangh was two-fold. One was the constructive

57 Odisha Review September - October - 2014 work and the other was propaganda. The aim of Talking about Harijan Gandhi argued, the Sangh was to educate the caste Hindus in “Harijan is not my weekly. So far as the proprietary favour of the complete removal of the rights are concerned, it belongs to the servants of untouchability. The constructive programme untouchables society and therefore I would like included education of Harijan Children, Vocational him (Ambedkar) to feel that it is as much his as of Training, Welfare Work, Housing, Temple Entry, any Hindus.” Common Drinking Water Supply Facility etc. and the propaganda was for holding meetings for Gandhi, in Harijan has discussed many bringing together caste Hindus and Harijans on issues confronting the nationalist movement. He one platform, organising Harijan Days, discussed subject like nation, nationalism and Procession, Demonstrations, Publication of national identity, the communal question, the future books and periodicals etc. state etc. which are relevant even today. Even he This is the reason for which he had started has his views on the Constituent Assembly in the ‘Harijan’ weekly as the mouthpiece of the servants Harijan which is a unique document. Even his of untouchables society. R.N. Shastri was a biographer, Tendulkar describes his numerous Poona-based social worker and a freedom articles in Harijan as the instrument of instructions fighter actively associated with the activities of the to Congress. servants of untouchables society. When Gandhi After Independence, Gandhi wrote in the started non-cooperation movement in 1920-22, Harijan. “India is now free. Now that the burden he was drawn to Gandhi and believed in his of subjection has been lifted, all the forces if good ideology. He look the initiative in the publication have to be marshalled in one great effort to build of the Harijan on the advice of Gandhi. a country which forsakes the accustomed method The weekly came out in 1933 and served of violence in order to settle human conflicts, a great purpose of defending The Poona Pact whether it is between two sections of the same coming out of The Communal Award 1932. people.” Gandhi formed the leadership of the Congress to accept The Poona Pact. The British Government Gandhi went on writing for the Harijan with the policy of “Divide and Rule” clearly found upto the last day of his life i.e. January 30, 1948. another expression in the Award. The Award After his demise C. Rajagopalchari, the Governor provided for the Government’s recognition to General of India announced in the journal, minority communities including the depressed “Harijan was Bapu’s voice. And when his body classes for separate electorate. The effort to has been consigned to the elements, Harijan canot separate the depressed classes from the rest of go on”. the Hindus by treating them as a separate political entity was opposed by all the nationalists. Gandhi went on fast and ultimately The Poona Pact was signed. Gandhi broke his fast on 26th September 1932. On resuming the publication of "Young India" Gandhi named the untouchables as Harijan. The word means a man Souribandhu Kar, Plot No.5012/5853, Gajapatinagar, of God. Bhubaneswar-751005.

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