1. FOREWORD TO “AHAR ANE POSHAN”1 When Dr. Kumarappa has given such an excellent introduction, what more is there for me to say? But Shri Jhaverbhai’s2 love would not leave me alone. For his sake I have gone through the pamphlet from beginning to end. I was not inclined to argue over technical details. Dr. Sushila was with me. I made her read out to me the entire thing. She made a few suggestions which occurred to her. Jhaverbhai made the necessary improvements. This means that this pamphlet hears the stamp of Dr. Sushila and Dr. Manu Trivedi3. I liked the pamphlet. Its language is simple and lucid. I hope that this pamphlet will be read by thousands. M. K. GANDHI SEVAGRAM, March 4, 1945 From a photostat of the Hindi: G.N. 1358. Also Pyarelal Papers. Courtesy: Pyarelal 2. NOTE TO GOPE GURBUXANI4 March 4, 1945 Conscience has to be awakened. There are rules and observances for the purpose. Not everyone can be said to have his conscience awakened. From a photostat: G.N. 1320 1 “Diet and Nutrition”. This was, however, not used in the book. Another foreword which Gandhiji wrote in Gujarati was published instead; vide “Foreword to Ahar Ane Poshan”, 7-3-1945. 2 Jhaverbhai Patel. He was in charge of the oil-presses in Maganwadi. 3 Manshankar 4 The addressee who was staying at the Sevagram Ashram had asked: “Truth is God, but what is Truth? Is it a thing which appeals to our conscience?” VOL. 86 : 4 MARCH, 1945 - 28 MAY, 1945 1 3. LETTER TO MUNNALAL G. SHAH March 4, 1945 CHI. MU., See my revised [statement] and then speak to me. Blessings from BAPU From a photostat of the Gujarati: C.W. 5838. Courtesy: Munnalal G. Shah 4. LETTER TO GOPALASWAMI AYYANGAR SEVAGRAM, March 5, 1945 DEAR FRIEND, I was delighted to hear from you. I entirely agree with you regarding the States. As to foreign rule, I could not open the subject with Q.A. Jinnah. He has excluded the States from his calculation. You have not expected me to give any thought to the rest of your scheme. For my opinion is that when the whole of foreign rule goes from the whole of India, then only we shall be free to think with a true sense of responsibility. Yours sincerely, M. K. GANDHI SJT. GOPALASWAMI AYYANGAR WINDSOR PLACE NEW DELHI From a copy : Pyarelal Papers. Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. Courtesy: Beladevi Nayyar and Dr. Sushila Nayyar 2 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI 5. NOTE TO GOPE GURBUXANI1 March 5, 1945 Why is it easier to go down or slip down than to rise up step by step? By subduing the flesh, i.e., the beast. From a photostat: G.N. 1321 6. LETTER TO AMRITLAL V. THAKKAR SEVAGRAM, March 5, 1945 Herewith the statement on Orissa. Whatever changes it was possible to make have been made. Ramabehn intends to take the responsibility. We have therefore to place it before the committee. Chi. Mridula most probably knows about it. The medical part of it will have to be shown to the doctors. BAPU From a copy of the Gujarati: Pyarelal Papers. Courtesy: Pyarelal 7. LETTER TO DINSHAW K. MEHTA SEVAGRAM, March 5, 1945 CHI. DINSHAW, I have your letter. You did well in writing to Kaleswara. My visit to Bangalore is not going to come about. And if it does, it will be for those people to decide where I put up. But you simply reply to them: “His going there unlikely.”2 It seems I have forgotten to write about, the teacher-student relationship. I am not worthy to be anyone’s teacher. But if you consider yourself my student and conduct yourself accordingly, how can I stop you from doing so? 1 The addressee had asked: “Why is it easier to pick up vice than virtue? How should one rise from the grossness to which the flesh is prone?” 2 This is in English. VOL. 86 : 4 MARCH, 1945 - 28 MAY, 1945 3 You should certainly not feel disappointed if your expectations are not fulfilled. You have had glorious success. And where I am, there cannot be disappointment. Let us see what happens in April. Blessings from BAPU From a copy of the Gujarati: Pyarelal Papers. Courtesy: Pyarelal 8. LETTER TO GULBEHN D. MEHTA SEVAGRAM, March 5, 1945 CHI. GULBEHN, I was happy to have your letter. Had Sushila not seen Dinshaw, I would not have known about his distress. In fact there was no cause at all for him to be distressed. Nothing had been lost. Now you have to give him courage. How can you afford to lose heart? You will bring Ardeshar with you in April. Won’t you? One may say he is now fairly grown up. It is beginning to be quite hot during the day here. Blessings from BAPU From a copy of the Gujarati: Pyarelal Papers. Courtesy: Pyarelal 9. LETTER TO JHAVERBHAI PATEL SEVAGRAM, March 5, 1945 CHI. JHAVERBHAI, On the reverse is the Foreword.1 I wrote it yesterday. I remember having written something like it before. Are you sure it is not in your note book? Blessings from BAPU From a photostat of the Gujarati: G.N. 1368. Also Pyarelal Papers. Courtesy: Pyarelal 1 Vide “Foreword to Ahar Ane Poshan”, 4-3-1945. 4 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI 10. LETTER TO MANZAR ALI SOKHTA SEVAGRAM, March 5, 1945 BHAI MANZAR ALI1, I have gone through the whole thing. Here the question is one of principle. I am sure that an intellectual can do better than an artisan. If he does not, then he cannot become an administrator. The entire history of England bears testimony to this. But I will not interfere. If your experience tells you to do otherwise, do so. The Trust is all right. Blessings from BAPU From a copy of the Hindi: Pyarelal Papers. Courtesy: Pyarelal 11. NOTE TO GOPE GURBUXANI March 5, 1945 Brahmacharya plays an important role in subduing the brute within us. This is my definition: Brahmacharya is that path by which we realize the Brahman. This path lies in completely controlling the five sense organs, the five moter organs and the eleventh, the mind. I have deliberately replied in Hindustani.2 From the Hindi original: G.N. 1322 1 A Congress Worker of U. P. 2 The addressee had asked: “What part does brahmacharya play in the subjugation of the flesh and what is your definition of the word brahmacharya for married people?” VOL. 86 : 4 MARCH, 1945 - 28 MAY, 1945 5 12. INTERVIEW TO ORIENT PRESS March 5, 19451 When asked by the representative of the Orient Press on what he had to say about the recent warning given to local Congress workers by the District Magistrate, Nagpur, 2 Gandhiji said: Congressmen who have associated for the fulfilment of our constructive programme need not be agitated over what local governments say or do. Whether their policy is merely local or represents the Centre, they should learn to shed fear. The District Magistrate’s strictures if they are properly reported are undoubtedly revealing. They need not alarm us. In reply to another question as to how without any political action and only by social and economic improvement the country could reach its destined goal as revealed by him in his statement published on 20th February,3 Gandhiji replied: I must refer you to my statement and you may ask yourself whether, if the programme is universally responded to, it will not lead to swaraj. Indeed the Muslim League and even the Government should join in its prosecution if they are honest about independence. When asked what he thought about anti-Indian propaganda carried on in America by Britishers Gandhiji replied: Anti-Indian British propaganda should not matter if we are truthful. The Hitavada, 6-3-1945 1 The Hindu, 6-3-1945, however, reports this under the date March 4, 1945. 2 The Additional District Magistrate, Nagpur, had told Congressmen that activities banned in the name of the Congress could not be carried on in the name of any camouflaged Congress organization. He had mentioned such organizations as the Nagpur Provincial Congress Representative Committees,the Political Prisoners’ Aid Committee and Congress Ward Committees and warned that action could be taken against them under the Restrictions and Detention Ordinance. 3 Vide “Statement to the Press”, 17-2-1945. 6 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI 13. A LETTER March 6, 1945 My guidance is of no use for you. I do not know your staying capacity or your father’s. Hence you should act as you think proper. You know my general advice as I see from your letter. M. K. GANDHI From a copy: C.W. 10520. Courtesy: Government of Assam 14. LETTER TO ADRIENNE SEVAGRAM, March 6, 1945 DEAR ADRIENNE, Your sweet note. You will be doing well if you will never swerve from the truth you have found with sufficient labour. Love. BAPU From a copy: Pyarelal Papers. Courtesy: Pyarelal 15. LETTER TO CHIMANLAL N. SHAH SEVAGRAM, March 6, 1945 CHI. CHIMANLAL, What do you mean when you say, “Leave aside the question of sleeping together”? I do not know how to solve your difficulty. Why don’t you explain it to me more clearly? There is no need now for Balvant Sinha to go to Nathji1. But if there is, let him go with such other persons as you choose to send. Come over at 3.30 Blessings from BAPU From a photostat of the Gujarati: G.N.