Gandhi in his own words

BOOK EXTRACT

Edited, introduced and annotated by Gopalkrishna Gandhi, this book contains short selections from a range of his grandfather M K Gandhi's writings "" letters, speeches, essays, articles, diary entries "" covering the great variety of subjects that interested the Mahatma, and on which he had invariably strong opinions, not all of which are widely known.

(Gandhi undertook a nationwide tour for raising funds in support of his Harijan work from November 1933 to February 1934. Addressing public meetings, he appealed for cash and jewellery gifts and also auctioned gifts for him brought to those meetings.)

Badagara, Malabar, 13 January 1934
...I cannot recall a scene more touching than that of the Harijan cause. I had just finished my speech at Badagara. In it I had made a reasoned appeal to the women present for jewellery. I had finished speaking and was selling the presents received when gently walked up to the platform Kaumudi, a girl 16 years old.

She took out one bangle and asked me if I would give my autograph. I was preparing to give it, when off came the other bangle. She had only one on each hand. I said, "You need not give me both, I shall give you the autograph for one bangle only." She replied by taking off her golden necklace.

This was no easy performance. It had to be disengaged from her long plait of hair... "But have you the permission of your parents?" I asked. There was no answer. She had not yet completed her renunciation. Her hands automatically went to her ears and out came her jewelled ear-rings amid the ringing cheers of the public, whose expression of joy was no longer to be suppressed. I asked her again whether she had her parents' consent to the sacrifice.

Before I could extract any answer from the shy girl, someone told me that her father was present at the meeting, that he was himself helping me by bidding for the addresses I was auctioning and that he was as generous as his daughter in giving to worthy causes. I reminded Kaumudi that she was not to have the ornaments replaced. She resolutely assented to the condition.

As I handed her the autograph, I could not help prefacing it with the remark, "Your renunciation is a truer ornament than the jewellery you have discarded." May her renunciation prove to have been an earnest of her being a true Harijan sevika.

Wardha, 21 September 1935
In 1891 after my return from England, I virtually took charge of the children of the family and introduced the habit of walking with them "" boys and girls "" putting my hands on their shoulders. These were my brothers' children.

The practice continued even after they grew old. With the extension of the family, it gradually grew to proportions sufficient to attract attention.... Recently two co-workers who came to Wardha suggested that the practice was likely to set a bad example to others and that I should discontinue it on that account.

Their argument did not appeal to me. Nevertheless I did not want to ignore the friends' warning. I, therefore, referred it for examination and advice to five inmates of the Ashram. Whilst it was taking shape a decisive event took place.

It was brought to my notice that a bright university student was taking all sorts of liberties in private with a girl who was under his influence, on the plea that he loved her like his own sister and could not restrain himself from some physical demonstration of it. He resented the slightest suggestion of impurity.

Could I mention what the youth had been doing, the reader would unhesitatingly pronounce the liberties taken by him as impure. When I read the correspondence, I and those who saw it came to the conclusion that either the young man was a consummate hypocrite or was self-deluded.

Anyway the discovery set me a-thinking. I recalled the warning of the two co-workers and asked myself how I would feel if I found that the young man was using my practice in its defence... Whilst I do not believe in a brahmacharya which ever requires a wall of protection against the touch of the opposite sex and will fail if exposed to the least temptation, I am not unaware of the dangers attendant upon the freedom I have taken...

THE OXFORD INDIA GANDHI: ESSENTIAL WRITINGS
Editor Gopalkrishna Gandhi
Publisher OUP
PRICE Rs 850