E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – His Life & Timesbegan. 'I enter the fiery gates at noon. If you can bless the effort I want it. Youhave been a true friend because you have been a candid friend often speakingyour thoughts aloud... Though it can now only be during my fast, I will yet prizeyour criticism, if your heart condemns my action. I am not too proud to makean open confession of my blunder, whatever the cost of the confession, if I findmyself in error. If your heart approves of the action I want your blessing. It willsustain me...'Just as Gandhi posted this letter he received a telegram from Tagore: 'It isworth sacrificing precious life', it read, 'for the sake of India's unity and hersocial integrity... I fervently hope that we will not callously allow such nationaltragedy to reach its extreme length. Our sorrowing hearts will follow yoursublime penance with reverence and love.'Gandhi thanked Tagore for 'your loving and magnificent wire. It will sustain mein the midst of the storm I am about to enter.'At 11.30 the same morning, Gandhi took his last meal; it consisted of lemonjuice and honey with hot water. Millions of Indians fasted for twenty-fourhours. Throughout the country prayers were sung.That day, Rabindranath Tagore, whom India and Gandhi affectionately calledThe Poet', addressed his school at Shantiniketan and said, 'A shadow isdarkening today over India like a shadow cast by an eclipsed sun. The people oa whole country is suffering from a poignant pain of anxiety, the universality ofwhich carries in it a great dignity consolation. Mahatmaji, who through his lifeof dedication has made India his own in truth, has commenced his vow extremeself-sacrifice.'Tagore explained the Mahatma's fast.Each country has its own inner geography where her spirit dwells and wherephysical force can never conquer even an inch of ground. Those rulers whocome from the outside remain outside the gate... But the great soul...continues his dominion even when he is physically no longer present... Thepenance which Mahatmaji has taken upon himself is not a ritual but a messagewww.mkgandhi.org Page 351