E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – His Life & TimesL. F.: 'It did not. Does that mean the Cabinet Mission's intentions were honest?'Gandhi: 'I do not retract anything from the original certificate I gave them...'L. F.: Toil are strongly constitutionalist now because you fear violence?'Gandhi: 'I say we must go into the Assembly and work it. If the British aredishonest they will be found out. The loss will not be ours but theirs andhumanity's.'L. F.: 'I think you are afraid of the spirit of the Indian National Army and SubhasChandra Bose (its hero who went to Germany and Japan during the secondWorld War.) It is widespread. He has captured the imagination of the youth andyou are aware of it and you fear that mood. The young generation isindocentric.'Gandhi: 'He has not captured the imagination of the country. It is too wide aterm, but a section of the youth and of the women follow him... The Almightyhas reserved mildness for India. "The mild Hindu" is used as a term of reproach.But I take it as a term of honour, just like Churchill's "Naked Fakir." Iappropriated it as a compliment and even wrote about it to Churchill. I toldChurchill I would love to be a naked fakir but was not one as yet.'L. F.: 'Did he answer?'Gandhi: "Yes, he acknowledged my letter through the Viceroy in a courteousmanner. But to resume... The unsophisticated women, untouched andunspoiled by civilization, so-called, are with me.'L. F.: 'But you admire Bose. You believe he is alive. (He had been reportedkilled in an airplane accident.)Gandhi: 'I do not encourage the Bose legend. I did not agree with him. I do notnow believe he is alive. Instinct made me believe to the contrary at one time,because he had made himself into a legendary Robin Hood.'L. F.: 'My point is this: Bose went to Germany and Japan, both fascist countries.If he was pro-fascist you can have no sympathy with him. If he was a patriotwww.mkgandhi.org Page 499