E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – His Life & TimesApparently, not all those present possessed the Socratic imperturbability, forProfessor Thompson says, 'I can still hear Lindsay's desperate tones, as he citedCromwell's appeal to the Presbyterian ministers—"In the bowels of Christ, Ibeseech you to think it possible that you may be mistaken"- and added, "Mr.Gandhi! Think it possible that you may be mistaken!" Mr. Gandhi did not think itpossible.'But Mahadev Desai was there, taking notes as usual, and he records Gandhi aspleading for 'the liberty to make mistakes'. On the other hand, Gandhi wasadamant in defending civil disobedience; he would never give it up. 'I will notpurchase my country's freedom at the cost of non- violence ' he told theprofessors who thought they could not Mistaken. You may be justified' Gandhiadmitted, 'in saying that I must go more warily, but if you attack thefundamentals you have to convince me'. They failed.In all Gandhi's public and private, official and unofficial utterances during hiseighty-four days in England, he tried, above all else, to clarify what he meantby the independence of India.'How far would you cut India off from the Empire?' a member of the audience atthe Raleigh Club asked.'From the Empire entirely,' Gandhi replied. 'From the British nation not at all, ifI want India to gain and not to grieve. The Emperorship must go and I shouldlove to be an equal partner with Britain sharing her joys and sorrows and anequal partner with the Dominions. But it must be a partnership on equal terms.'He advocated 'an honourable partnership... We can have a partnership betweenEngland and India... I still aspire to be a citizen not in the Empire, but in aCommonwealth, in a partnership if possible; if God will it, an indissolublepartnership, but not a partnership superimposed upon one nation by another...The Congress does not stand merely for isolated independence which may easilybecome a menace to the world... I would heartily welcome the union of Eastand West provided it is not based on brute force... England and India (shouldbe) bound by the silken cord of love- India as an independent partner wouldhave a special contribution to make in a world which is getting weary of warwww.mkgandhi.org Page 322