Our Bapu - Mahatma Gandhi

Our Bapu
12. GANDHIJI ATTENDS THE ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE
"For eight months Gandhiji was in jail, and when he came out, the entire face
of the country had changed. Gandhiji had such a hold over the people that the
proud and arrogant British were compelled to come to terms with him.
The terms of the agreement required that a Round Table Conference should be
held in England in order to discuss the future of India. The Congress nominated
Gandhiji as their representative at the Conference. Gandhiji was conscious of
the trust which his countrymen had placed in him, and his last words to them
before he set sail for England were, 'I give you my solemn word that I shall not
betray the trust which you have reposed in me.'
Gandhiji arrived in London on the twelfth of September 1932. The newspapers
were full of news about him. Scores of pictures showing various sides of his life
appeared in them. One of the papers, however, published a false picture
showing him touching the feet of the Prince of Wales. Gandhiji smiled when he
saw that picture, and said, "I would most gladly bow my head before the
lowliest of my countrymen. I, would even pick up the dust from under the feet
of the untouchables whom we have despised and oppressed for centuries past.
But I will never touch the feet of the King of England, much less the Prince of
Wales.'
The Conference lasted for some time and Gandhiji presented our case with
great ability. In one of his speeches he told the Conference, 'I do not in any way
wish to belittle the British in India. But I certainly want that England should
look upon India as an equal and treat the people of India accordingly.'
Gandhiji Meets King
When the Conference ended, Their Majesties held a reception in honour of the
delegates to the Conference. Everyone that went to the reception was dressed
in his best suit of clothes, but Gandhiji appeared before the King of England,
wearing a Khaddar dhoti, a pair of the plainest sandals, and an ordinary
www.mkgandhi.org Page 45