E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – His Life & Timesfor all, my fast with end'. He was not fasting against the British, for theGovernment had stated that if Hindus and Harijans agreed on a different andmutually satisfactory voting arrangement it would be accepted. The fast,Gandhi declared, 'is intended to sting Hindu conscience into right religiousaction'.On September 13 Gandhi announced that he would commence his fast untodeath on the 20th. India now witnessed something the world had never seen.On the 13th, political and religious leaders went into action. Mr. M. C. Rajah,an untouchable spokesman in the Legislative Assembly, identified himself withGandhi's position; Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, the great constitutional leader,petitioned the Government to release Gandhi; Yakub Hussain, a Moslem leaderin Madras, urged the Harijans to renounce the separate electorate; RajendraPrasad suggested that Hindus save Gandhi by giving Harijans access to theirtemples, wells, schools and the public roads; Pandit Malaviya convoked aconference of leaders for the 19th; Rajagopalachari asked the country to prayand fast on the 20th.Several deputations asked to see Gandhi in jail. The Government opened thegates and allowed full consultations with him. Devadas Gandhi arrived to act asintermediary with negotiators. Journalists also enjoyed unobstructed access toGandhi.Meanwhile Gandhi wrote copious letters to many friends in India and abroad.'There was no escape from it,' he said in a letter to Miss Slade. 'It is both aprivilege and a duty. It comes rarely to someone in a generation orgenerations.' He had been observing the cat family in the prison, he told MissSlade in the same communication. "We have an addition to the family, did I tellyou? There was a human touch about the mother whilst she was in pain and twoor three days after delivery. She would caress us and insist on being caressed. Itwas a pathetic sight. The care she bestows on the "baby" is very wonderful.Love from us all to you all, Bapu.'On the 20th, Gandhi awoke at 2.30 a.m. and wrote a letter to Tagore whoseapproval he craved. 'This is early morning 3 o'clock of Tuesday,' the Mahatmawww.mkgandhi.org Page 350