MAHATMA - Volume 3 (1930-1934) - Mahatma Gandhi

MAHATMA - Volume 3 (1930-1934)
arrest, there is to be no mute passive non-violence, but non-violence of the
activest type should be set in motion, so that not a single believer in nonviolence
as an article of faith for the purpose of achieving India's goal should
find himself free or alive at the end of the effort to submit any longer to the
existing slavery. It would be, therefore, the duty of every one to take up such
civil disobedience or civil resistance as may be advised and conducted by my
successor, or as might be taken up by the Congress.
"So far as I am concerned, my intention is to start the movement only through
the inmates of the ashram and those who have submitted to its discipline and
assimilated the spirit of its methods. When the beginning is well and truly
made, I expect the response from all over the country. It will be the duty then
of every one who wants to make the movement a success, to keep it nonviolent
and under discipline. Every one will be expected to stand at his post
except when called by his chief. If there is a spontaneous mass response, as I
hope there will be, if previous experience is any guide, it will largely be selfregulated.
But every one who accepts non-violence whether as an article of
faith or policy, would assist the mass movement. Mass movements have, all
over the world, thrown up unexpected leaders. This should be no exception to
the rule. Whilst, therefore, every effort imaginable and possible should be
made to restrain the forces of violence, civil disobedience once begun this time
cannot be stopped and must not be stopped, so long as there is a single civil
resister left free or alive."
In the same issue of Young India he published his code of discipline for the
Congress volunteers. The satyagrahi must harbour no anger, must suffer the
anger of his opponent, putting up with assaults but refusing to retaliate; but he
must not submit, out of fear of punishment or the like, to any order given in
anger. He must refrain from insults and swearing, he must protect opponents
from insult or attack even at the risk of his life. He must neither resist his
arrest nor the attachment of his property, but if he has got any property in his
possession as a trustee, he must refuse to surrender it, even though in
defending it he might lose his life. As a prisoner he must behave in an
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