1. Letter to Kasturbhai Lalbhai 2. Interview To
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1. LETTER TO KASTURBHAI LALBHAI May 20, 1934 BHAI KASTURBHAI, I have written to Chamanbhai. I hope that you will prevent implementation of the Mill-Owners’ Association’s resolution. I will not let the tradition which has been followed for so many years be broken without sufficient reason. The insistence on paying Mr. Patankar his fee also seems to me to be derogatory to our good name. Vandemataram from MOHANDAS From the Gujarati original: S.N. 33150 2. INTERVIEW TO “THE HINDU” May 20, 1934 Gandhiji left Patna early morning by the Sealdah Express and was seen off by a large number of people. Tired as he was, he hardly failed, except for a brief while when he was asleep, to stretch his hand across the window at every passing station and ask for “coppers” for his Harijan work and got silvers in plenty. This was for darshan alone, but if one wanted a brief interview ten rupees cash down was the price. He said : In trains, I do nothing else except collect funds for Harijans. At Mokameh station, a Bengali rushed in and told Gandhiji that he had Rs. 1,001 to be given away to the Harijan Fund. The Mahatma was all smiles and stretched out his hand. But the Bengali gentleman said: “But you must come to Calcutta and take it. We shall give you plenty more.” [CORRESPONDENT :] Now that the All-India Congress Committee has passed a resolution accepting your statement of 7th April and making you sole civil resister on behalf of the Congress, can you kindly tell me how and when you propose to give effect to it if at all ? GANDHIJI: I cannot tell you how, because I myself do not know. So far as the date is concerned, it was fixed when I was put out of the Yeravda Prison. Beyond that all is a perfect blank to me as to anybody else. But I must repeat what I stated at the time I was discharged, that I would strain every nerve to prevent civil resistance from becoming a VOL. 64 : 20 MAY, 1934 - 15 SEPTEMBER, 1934 1 necessity. [C.] Your resolution1 sanctioning council-entry is different from the Ranchi resolution in so far as yours makes no reference to the White Paper and does not define the Congress attitude towards it. Can you tell me the signifiance of the resolution as apart from the Ranchi resolution and the attitude which in your opinion should be taken by Congressmen in regard to the Ranchi resolution? [G.] The Ranchi resolution was an independent resolution enabling the Swarajists to know their own mind and to enable them to function if it became impossible, from circumstances beyond the control of their organization, to obtain recognition from the All-India Congress Committee. But the All-India Congress Committee having been allowed to meet, there was no occasion for that body to adopt the resolutions of the Ranchi Conference. It was enough for the All-India Congress Committee to appropriate the Council Party and turn it into its own agency for the purpose of working the political programme of the Congress. And it was unncessary to define the attitude of the Congress towards the White Paper, as that attitude is well known. The Congress can accept nothing that is inconsistent with its objective, namely, the attainment of purna swarajya. Asked whether he intended the Swarajya Party to be dissolved, Mahatma replied : This question I have already answered in reply to your previous one. The Swarajists have become part of the Congress organization. By the time the interview concluded, the train had reached Jahajah where, it may be remembered, not long ago an anti-Harijan demonstration pelted stones at Mahatmaji’s car smashing the glass window. The demonstration today at this place was of the friendliest nature, more than a thousand people having gathered on the platform and continuously shouted “Mahatma Gandhi-ki-Jai” and pelted the author of the Harijan movement with flowers. Gandhiji, however, told the crowds that what he wanted was not flowers, but money. The Hindu, 21-5-1934 1 Vide “Resolution on Council-Entry”, 19-5-1934 2 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI 3. INTERVIEW TO “THE HINDUSTAN TIMES”1 May 21, 1934 Q. What are your impressions about the All-India Congress Committee meeting? A. Considering the revolutionary character of the two resolutions, the criticism was restrained, and the voting showed an extraordinary sense of responsibility and appreciation of facts. The attendance, too, was quite good. Q. Do you think it will be necessary for you to offer civil disobedience in pursuance of the permission given to you by the All-India Congress Committee? A. There is the 3rd August next in front of me, but what will happen that day is more than I can say2. I have no pre-conceived plans. Sufficient unto the day is the work thereof. Q. How do you look upon the emergence of the Socialist group within the Congress? Have you any message in this connection? A. I welcome the emergence. And if it acts, as I am sure it will act, with due restraint and in keeping with the special conditions of the country, it can only do good. I understand that it is pledged to non- violent methods to the exclusion of violent methods. Q. How do you expect Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai and Abdul Ghaffar Khan to view your advice to the country ? A. I have no doubt that, if they had been out they would have acted precisely as I have. How, being in jail, that is, being ignorant of the outside world at first hand, they would view its proceedings is surely an illegitimate question. The Hindustan Times, 22-5-1934 4. LETTER TO JAMNALAL BAJAJ May 21, 1934 CHI. JAMNALAL, I have read Elwin’s3 letter. I return it separately to save postage. After I have seen his institution it seems that we shall have to help him. 1 Gandhiji got down at Byree and walked to Gandhi Seva Ashram at Champapurhat. It being his day of silence, he wrote down his answers. 2 Vide footnote 2, “Speech at A.I.C.C. Meeting, Panta- I”. 3 Verrier Elwin VOL. 64 : 20 MAY, 1934 - 15 SEPTEMBER, 1934 3 From where does he get the money at present? How does he teach music? Who else is there with him besides Shamrao? Non-vegetarian food seems indispensable for him. He has not enough faith [in non-violence] to be able to live on fruit and milk. But he need not be denied help because of his food habits. If, however, he stops spinning or slackens in it, I don’t think we should ignore that. He may give up spinning entirely if he has not faith in it. I do not wish to say that he should be helped only if he continues to spin. What I want is that he must be truthful. All that is necessary is that whatever work is done, should be done sincerely. Elwin, being a good and simple-hearted man, may deceive himself. It is therefore necessary that friends should watch him. Dr. Ansari’s plan for a party1 must have been finalized. You should take enough interest in the matter at least to see that everything goes well. Rajaji also should take interest in it. Having brought in Malaviyaji, we should help him and also see that he does no harm, which he can either by delaying or acting hastily. Did you see the programme up to July? It will help workers at most places to see me if they wish to do so. Blessings from BAPU From a photostat of the Gujarati: G. N. 2933 5. LETTER TO VALLABHBHAI PATEL CHAMPAPURHAT (UTKAL), May 22, 1934 BHAI VALLABHBHAI, I got your letter the day before. It is about three o’clock just now. Everybody in the . .2 Ashram has fallen. We arrived here yesterday (Monday). Our good friend Masani of the Socialist Party is with us. He is returning to Bombay today. Agatha3 also is with us. She will leave in about four days. Ceresole4 will join today. He will remain 1 The Congress had appointed a Parliamentary Board under the presidentship of Dr. Ansari for contesting elections to the Central Legislative Assembly; vide p. 8. 2 Omission as in the source 3 Agatha Harrison 4 Pierre Ceresole, Swiss Engineer, who had come to India in connection with the Bihar earthquake relief work 4 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI with me for three or four days. Muriel1, too, is coming. She will stay for two days. I don’t give the names of the other local workers who are accompanying me. This tour on foot will end in Balasore on the 12th. It has been decided that after that we should stop walking and I should spend a few days in each province, doing the work from a fixed place. The programme is as follows: I should reach Bombay on the 14th and from there go to Poona on the 17th. Thereafter I go to Ahmedabad on the 26th and from there proceed to Sind. I will spend three days in Sind and three in Lahore and then go to the U. P. I am enclosing a copy of the programme. It is, however, subject to changes. I had called workers from all provinces to meet me in Patna. They were of the view that I must visit every province. It was finally decided that I should visit every province and stay in one place for a few days.