E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – His Life & TimesIndian participation in the Civil Service was increased and promises of furtherincreases were made. But Indians decided that, on the whole, dyarchy was stillthe British monarchy.Nevertheless, Gandhi took kindly to the King's proclamation °f the impendingconstitutional changes and wanted the 1919 Amritsar Congress to accept them.He trusted Britain's good intentions. 'To trust is a virtue,' he said. 'It is weaknessthat gets distrust.' But when he heard that C. R. Das, the famous Bengalnationalist, Jinnah and Tilak were opposed, he shrank from opposing such welltriedand universally revered leaders.'I tried to run away from the Congress,' Gandhi reveals his autobiography.Gandhi was prevailed upon to stay, for he had become the rock on whichCongress rested. The session was attended by 7031 delegates, anunprecedented number, and many hailed from farms and city shops. Gandhiwas their idol. They felt closer to him than to the renowned lawyers. Only Tilakcould still question Gandhi's way.Tilak advocated acceptance of the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms with a view toproving their inadequacy.This was not the Gandhian way. If you accepted something, you had to do sowithout mental reservations and give it a fair trial. If you did not want it, youhad to fight it no matter who else wanted it.The delegates supported Gandhi. But he disliked defeating Tilak. In a dramaticmoment, Gandhi turned to Tilak who was sitting on the platform. Gandhi waswearing a small cap of white homespun that resembled an aviator's cap; it laterbecame known as the 'Gandhi Cap' of Indian nationalists. Gandhi dropped hiscap on the ground as a gesture of obeisance and pleaded with Tilak to approvea compromise. Tilak succumbed.The compromise thanked Montagu for his part in the reforms and undertook toco-operate with the new dyarchy scheme in such a manner as to expand it intofull parliamentary government, but Lord Chelmsford, who had exoneratedGeneral Dyer, was condemned for mismanaging Indian affairs and his recall waswww.mkgandhi.org Page 214