E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – His Life & Timesno moral justification and understood from your own previous writings that thiswas also your view.'Besides, Gandhi had written that one may fast only against those who love you,not against a tyrant.By return post, Gandhi denied that his decision to fast was contrary to hisprevious writings. 'I wonder whether you yourself have read those writings...Despite your description of it as "a form of political blackmail", it is on my partan appeal to the Highest Tribunal for justice which I have failed to secure fromyou. If I do not survive the ordeal I shall go to the Judgment Seat with thefullest faith in my innocence. Posterity will judge between you as arepresentative of an all-powerful government and me a humble man who triedto serve his country and humanity through it.'Two days before the fast was to commence the Government offered to releaseGandhi for its duration. He and his associates in prison could go wherever theyliked. Gandhi refused. If he was released, he said, he would not fast.Thereupon, the Government announced that he would be responsible for anyresults; meanwhile, he could invite into the jail any doctors he wanted to haveand also friends from the outside.The fast commenced on February 10, 1943, a day later than scheduled. Thefirst day he was quite cheerful and for two days he took his customary morningand evening half-hour walks. But soon the bulletins became increasinglydisquieting- On the sixth day, six physicians, including British official doctors,stated that Gandhi's condition had 'further deteriorated'. The next morning SirHomi Mody, Mr. N. R. Sarker and Mr. Aney, three Indians in the Viceroy'sExecutive Council, whose membership indicated their pro-government and anti-Congress attitude, resigned from the Council in protest against the Governmentaccusations which had caused Gandhi to undertake the fast. A debate on thefast took place in the Central Legislature. From all over the country, theGovernment was bombarded with demands to release the Mahatma. Elevendays after the fast began, Linlithgow rejected all suggestions to liberateGandhi.www.mkgandhi.org Page 441