1. LETTER TO BAL KALELKAR ARNI, September 2, 1927 CHI. BAL, I got your letter and liked it very much. I could not reply immediately for want of time. I shall answer two of your questions. A brahmachari sacrifices all pleasures merely through faith or in obedience to his parents or a custom. There is obedience in his sacrifice, but not knowledge. And if he cannot bring himself to make for ever that sacrifice, he has freedom to enjoy pleasures within limits after completing his studies. A sannyasi makes the same sacrifice knowingly and willingly. He does not and cannot keep it open for him to return to pleasures after having abjured them. Both types of sacrifice are very essential to individuals as well as to society. Now the second question. Non-violence means not harming anyone in thought, word or action out of ill will or selfishness. If we wish or do ill to any stranger in the interests of our parents, that is violence. We can see and prove with the help of our know ledge that wishing or doing ill benefits neither the world nor our parents. Hence I had written that it was my belief we dis cover nonviolence the moment we realize that its root is to be found in wishing well to the world as much as to ourselves. You will thus see that we can of course prove independently that one should wish well to the world, but if we abide by the dharma of non-violence the responsibility to wish well to the world as well devolves on us even in pursuance of that dharma. If we understand this from our very childhood, our reason would admit it and the heart too would like it. That is to say, if we continue for ever the sacrifice which we have undertaken in good faith during the stage of brahmacharya we become sannyasis. Shankaracharya did this in the past. Dayanada did it in our own age. That we all cannot do so is due to our shortcoming and that constitutes an obstacle to doing good to the world. But we cannot do such things merely by exercising our reasoning. But if, with the help of our intellect, we imprint it day after day on our hearts and if it gets so imprinted, the whole world will not, even if it tried, be able to stop us from sacrificing our all. If any special problems arise, do tell me. Read this to all the pupils if you can. [From Gujarati] From the manuscript of Mahadev Desai’s Diary. Courtesy: Narayan Desai VOL. 40 : 2 SEPTEMBER, 1927-1 DECEMBER, 1927 1 2. SPEECH AT ARNI1 September 2, 1927 You love to get a little bit of a rag, or cocoanut, or anything that you can get as prasadam from temples from which, alas, all holiness has fled. I would ask you to transfer that spirit of humility and devotion to khaddar which is spun and woven in the living temple of Daridranarayana. Our temples have their proper place in our religion and society only in so far they enable us to reach out the hand of fellowship to the starving millions of India. But these very temples will be the instruments of forging our shackles if they become impassable barriers between the masses and us. If you will wear khaddar in true spirit you will purify yourselves and the temples. I need not explain to you now, how the removal of untouchability necessarily follows from this proposition. Young India, 8-9-1927 3. SPEECH AT ARCOT September 2, 1927 I am very thankful for the cordial reception and for the purse you have given me, but I am not satisfied with this amount. I know that there are many in this gathering who have not contributed to the Fund which is intended for our poor brethren. You must encourage spinning by wearing khaddar. I am very glad to find here that the Hindus and the Mussalmans have met together in mutual co-operation unlike in the North where communal hatred is prevailing. Yesterday when I had been to a Hindu temple on my way I was given the prasad by the gurukkal2. I told him that I am a pariah and asked him whether he would allow a pariah inside the temple. He laughed at me and said that he would do it gradually. I appeal to all men and women who have assembled here to treat the so-called pariah as our equal and move with him freely. Since I find no place to have this silver plate, I shall have it auctioned. Volunteers will come in your midst for collection and you 1 From Mahadev Desai’s “Weekly Letter” 2 Temple priest 2 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI can give whatever you please. As I have to go to another place I shall conclude my speech, once more thanking you for your gifts and addresses. The Hindu, 5-9-1927 4. LETTER TO BALWANTRAI MEHTA [After September 2, 1927]1 I have your letter. You may rest assured that I shall not take a decision hastily. I am now conveying all my doubts to everyone who should know them and am seeking assistance in coming to a decision. I make no distinction between K and Devdas. It is no pleasure to me to entertain any suspicion about K. K. and K are in fact related to me as children. Hence it is not at all possible that I shall decide anything in haste. Your argument does not appeal to me. You may know that I myself am a proof before you that sex does not discriminate bet ween the young and the old. Even today I have to erect all sorts of walls around me for the sake of safety. Despite this, I was in danger of succumbing a few years ago. Moreover, sexual desire does not bother about time either. Despite our belief that Bhai K’s ideas about brahmacharya, etc., were pure it is no wonder if ultimately he succumbed to desire. A young man whose case was almost similar confessed to me in Bangalore. He is regarded as a brahmachari. He is a darling of his family. No one can suspect him as things stand. He studies in the intermediate class. He has not been able to save himself from a widow who is related to him. He came to me saying, “Save me from this fever.” Despite having sworn to a friend, he fell again. Hence he sought refuge in me. What refuge could I provide? But that is a digression. What I have learnt is this: K had closer relations with K and her family than warranted. Both were reprimanded and both were convinced. Both agreed not to have such intimacy. In spite of this, they were seen secretly meeting each other. So Maganlal went on a fast. Notwithstanding this, they again met secretly. If my information is correct, I cannot get over my doubt. And if K has committed this slip such a man can in no time succumb to temptations of money. But 1 The source has this letter after the entries for September 2. VOL. 40 : 2 SEPTEMBER, 1927-1 DECEMBER, 1927 3 these are all my inferences based on a single premise. I cannot but have all sorts of doubt about a person who acts with deliberate dishonesty. I am still investigating. I am not unaware of Maganlal’s opinion which you quote. You are also aware that I have great confidence in his judgment. I shall write to him too. Now the question that either you or his father should reimburse the amount, if K has embezzled any, does not arise at all. I am considering only the ethical aspect of this question. Whatever I shall now write for Navajivan cannot but reflect my doubt; hence if you let me have some draft I shall consider and publish it, if I can. I have not made light of suicides. I know of only two occasions when suicide becomes a duty. There are many grounds for that opinion. A man who is helpless against indulgence and cannot control himself but has sense enough to bring about his end ought to do so. That would be his dharma. Likewise, when a beast of a man attempts to criminally assault a woman, it is her duty to save herself by committing suicide. Indeed I have very often quoted these two instances in the Ashram. And I think it is only proper. Even if K has committed all the three faults mentioned above, as far as the tenets of the Ashram are concerned the duty to commit suicide cannot be established nor that of running away. Atonement is the only duty in such a case but I know from the many letters K wrote to me that he has always opposed a number of rules observed in the Ashram. Blessings from MOHANDAS [From Gujarati] From the manuscript of Mahadev Desai’s Diary. Courtesy: Narayan Desai 5. TELEGRAM TO MIRABEHN MADRAS, September 3, 1927 MIRABEHN SATYAGRAHA ASHRAM, WARDHA YOU MAY GO BOMBAY FOR EXAMINATION APPENDIX AND EYES. WIRE CONDITION. BAPU From the original: C.W. 5266. Courtesy: Mirabehn 4 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI 6. TELEGRAM TO MIRABEHN MADRAS, September 3, 1927 TO MIRABEHN SAYTAGRAHA ASHRAM, WARDHA WIRE RECEIVED. DISTRESSED. GOD BE WITH YOU. EXPECT DAILY REPORTS. LOVE. ANDREWS JOINS. BAPU From the original: C.W. 5267. Courtesy: Mirabehn 7. SPEECH TO LABOUR, PERAVALLUR September 3, 1927 FRIENDS, I thank you for the address and the two purses.