July-September, 2018 Editor : Prof. Jahar Sen §¡õyòܲ ≠ ç•Ó˚ ˆ§l Contribution : Rs. 20/- !Ó!lÙÎ˚ ≠ 20 ê˛yܲy GANDHI NEWS ày¶˛# §ÇÓyò ç%°y•zÈüˆ§ˆÏ≤Wz¡∫Ó˚ñ 2018 §)!ã˛˛õe 1. Editorial : Remembering Little Gandhis 5 2. Message of Mahatma Gandhi on Equality and Unity of Religions 11 3. Gandhiji’s Struggle against Untouchability 29 4. Gandhi explains the significance of Harijan Movement 45 5. Sisir K. Dhar ≠ The Way the World is Moving and the 57 Insight and Foresight of Mahatma Gandhi (to be continued) 6. çy!ï˛Ó˚ ≤Ã!ï˛ Ù•ydy ày¶˛#Ó˚ ˙!ï˛•y!§Ü˛ xy•¥yl 69 7. ày¶˛#!çÓ˚ §ˆÏD !ÓˆÏlyÓy ˲yˆÏÓÓ˚ ≤ÃÌÙ §y«˛yÍܲyÓ˚ 73 8. Tentative Plan of Action for Celebration of 77 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi EDITORIAL Remembering Little Gandhis With each day I realize more present from it Gandhiji, as seen in their and more that my work and as reflected from their style of mahatmaship, which is a mere living. In so doing, perhaps, we may find adornment depends on others. I out some saplings from where may have shone with the glory bloom a new Gandhi-age ready to evolve borrowed from my innumerable itself in this world.” co-workers. However, no one Pande has analysed the life and has done more to add to this works of some prominent disciples of glory than Maganlal. Gandhi, such as Maganlal Gandhi (d. 23 M. K. Gandhi : Collected works Vol. April 1928) Acharya Vinoba (11 36, PP 279-281. September 1895-15 Nov. 1982), Jayant Pande in his Narahari Parikh (7 Gandhi and his October 1891-15 July disciples (National 1957), Mahadev Desai Book Trust India, 1995) (1 january 1892-15 has reminded us that the August 1957), disciples of Gandhi are Kishorelal Mashru wala innumerable and this (5 October 1890-9 fact, in itself, is a “a Sept. 1952), Mirabehn pointer to a direction for (1892-20 July 1982), anyone to explore the Ravishankar treasure of the lives of Maharaj (25 these peroons and February 5 Gandhi News˘ày¶˛# §ÇÓyò l Vol. 13, No. 2 l ç%°y•zÈüˆ§ˆÏ≤Wz¡∫Ó˚ñ 2018 1884-1986), Badshah Khan, Masruwala, Laljibhai Parmar, Jiwatram Bhagwandas Purusottam Gandhi, Rukmini Bajaj, Kripalani (1888-19 March 1982), Manibehn Patel, Prabhudas Gandhi, Zakir Husain (February 1897-3 May Ramjibhai Bathia, Ratnaji Nagji, 1969), J.C. Kumarappa (4 January 1892- Chhaganlal Jadav, Champabehn Mehta, 30 January 1960) and Jugatram Dave Manibehn Parikh, Janakidevi Bajaj, (Sept. 1892-1985). The examples cited Tribeni behn Mehta, Ganga behn Suresh in this book are illustrative and not Joshi, Ashabhai Patel, Binubhai Shah, exhaustive. All of them were ardent Chhotubhai Patel, Munnalal Shah, disciples of Gandhi. Indeed, they Ramchandra Apte, Abbas Sushal, themselves were little Gandhis. Many of Nandalal Patel, Ambalal Patel, Balkoba them were not his blind followers. They Bhave, Dattowa Dastane, Appa introduced in Gandhian thoughts what Patwardhan, S.D. Bisen, Gajanan may be termed as parallel discourse. Mabankar, Balbant Singh, Tulsi Meher, In 1972, a book entitled ‘‘Sàbarmati Kundar Diwan, Jagadish Verma, Jagrup. âshram Snehamilan Saï Smaranã’’ was A valuable list of the names and published under the auspices of addresses of three hundred seven Sàbarmati âshram Surakshà Ane inmates of the Ashram has been Smàrak Trust, Harijan Ashram, provided in the last chapter of the book. Ahmedabad. This book contains an The inmates who lived here hailed from introductory note on Ashram Culture. As different parts of India. They were many as forty eight eminent inmates of subsequently associated with several the Ashram who stayed there from time organisations stared by Gandhi himself : to time narrated their reminiscence in the Majdoor Mahajan Sangh in this book. Their names are as follows : Ahmedabad, the Charka Sangh, All India Pushpa G. Nayak, Satyadebi, Neemu Khadi and village Industries Board, bahen Seth, Nirmala Desai, Shashikanta Harijan Sevak Sangh, Nai Talim Sangh, Mehta, Nayan Bhansali, Mangala Hindi Pracharini Sabha, Achhut Nibaran Desai, Banamala Desai, Uma Samiti, Adim Jati Sevak Sangh, etc. Agarwal, Madalasa Narayan, They were the saplings of little Gandhis Narayan Desai, Nilkantha who preserved and transmitted the 6 Gandhi News˘ày¶˛# §ÇÓyò l Vol. 13, No. 2 l ç%°y•zÈüˆ§ˆÏ≤Wz¡∫Ó˚ñ 2018 Gandhian legacy for posterity. Bangladesh) can boast of a An investigation and analysis of the large number of Gandhian life and works of little Gandhis are Karmayogins. Satish Chandra integral to the study of the Gandhian Dasgupta was the most well known theory of social change. The little figure as a Gandhian Karmayogin. As Gandhis identified themselves with early as 1933 Gandhi described him as Gandhi as Gandhi himself identified “a valued and well-known co-worker. with them. They identified their interests His non-violence is deep-rooted and he with larger social interests. They is one of the truest of men it has been my promoted interests of good fortune to meet.” The others, sacrificing their citation in connection with own self-interest. Thus the award of Jamnalal they acquired a moral Bajaj Award for the year power to act fearlessly. The 1978 evaluates his works in Gandhian path of golden letters : socialisation transformed A true disciple of Mahatma their relationship with the Gandhi, a venerable rest of the society. “The pioneer in the field of rural leadership of such reconstruction, and an individual transforms the outstanding research Satish Chandra entire power structure of scientist, Satish Chandra the society in question. Gandhian Das Gupta represents the movement created exemplary commingling of the streams of individuals who provided leadership at Science and Satyagraha. By all levels of society”. (T. K. N. Unnithan. choosing Sri Satish Chandra Change without Violence : Gandhian Dasgupta for the Jamnalal Bajaj Theory of Social Change. Shri Jamnalal Award for pioneering research Bajaj Institute of Studies in Ahimsa. done on the application of Monograph-5. Gujrat Vidyapith, 1987, science and technology for pp. 62-63). rural development the Bengal (both West Bengal and Jamnalal Bajaj 7 Gandhi News˘ày¶˛# §ÇÓyò l Vol. 13, No. 2 l ç%°y•zÈüˆ§ˆÏ≤Wz¡∫Ó˚ñ 2018 Foundation is proud to honour one of the great scientific innovators and humanists of our land, in whom, at 99, the light still shines bright. On 14 January 1880 Satish Chandra was born at Kurigram in the district of Rangpur, now in Bangladesh. He passed his entrance examination from Gandhiji and Satish Chandra Kurigram. As a student of Ripon institution as a pioneering chemical College, Calcutta he came in touch with industry in India. Surendra Nath Banerjee as his teacher. He was a remarkable genious who In the Presidency College of Calcutta, he engaged himself in all sorts of creative found in Professor Prafulla Kumar Ray activities. The manufactures that he an everlasting source of inspiration. He invented include instruments for college came in contact with Satish Chandra laboratories, fire extinguishers which Mukherjee of Dawn Society. Dasgupta were exported to Mesopotamia during was deeply influenced by the life and the first world war, tubewell equipment, works of Mukherjee. caffeine from waste tea-leaves, printing In 1906 Dasgupta was appointed inks, alkaloids, strychnine alkaloids, and Superintendent of Bengal Chemical Ferro alum for purification of water at works which was established by Prafulla Palta water works. Gandhi instructed Chandra Ray to serve the cause of the him to enrich the constructive Swadeshi Movement. He worked here programme under P.C. Ray at the Bengal for eighteen years. Rajsekhar Bose was Chemical. Dasgupta took to spinning. the manager of Bengal Chemical. Handlooms were installed inside the Both Dasgupta and Bose, under factory. Both Dasgupta and Bose helped the inspiring leadership of P.C. P. C. Ray in the publication of a book on Ray, helped to develop this the application of dyes on khadi. 8 Gandhi News˘ày¶˛# §ÇÓyò l Vol. 13, No. 2 l ç%°y•zÈüˆ§ˆÏ≤Wz¡∫Ó˚ñ 2018 In 1926 Khadi Pratisthan was conversion of fallow lands in formally inaugurated in Sodepur Ashram Bankura in West Bengal into by Gandhi. Under the inspiring fertile lands. In 1979 Bidhan leadership of Dasgupta Khadi Pratisthan Chandra Krisi Viswavidyalaya conferred developed rapidly as a trust organization on him the degree of Doctor of Science dedicated to the task of revival of (Honoris Causa). The citation in Bengals cottage industries. It had connection with this award mentioned branches in different parts of Bengal. It that he “has developed a novel and a very was a pioneer organisation in cheap technique of reclamation of red, implementing the Gandhian Constructive Laterite and fallow waste lands at programme in different parts of Bengal. Some of his experiments in Khadi Pratisthan were highly successful. The following experiments deserve special mention : improved mustard seed crusher, hides and skins, manufacture of sugar Gandhiji at Sodepur Ashram cane and palm molasses, jute batching oil, manufacture of twisted Barkura with indigenous material he Jute yarn as a cottage industry and an turned the land green which was once improved and comparatively cheap gobar completely barren.” gas plant without bricks. In Wardha His contribution to litterature Ashram’s Research Institute where he deserves special mention. He wrote a served as a director, Satishchandra book entitled Home and Village Doctor developed a new method of to enable the poor rural people to manufacturing good quality paper from treat themselves at a low cost. bamboo pulp. He launched a scheme of Two volumes of his Cow in land reclamation in 1966 which aimed at India was recommended 9 Gandhi News˘ày¶˛# §ÇÓyò l Vol. 13, No. 2 l ç%°y•zÈüˆ§ˆÏ≤Wz¡∫Ó˚ñ 2018 for veterinary studies.