E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – His Life & Timesdoors. Gandhi got out of bed and opened the door of his room. He was face toface with enraged rioters. He touched his palms together in greeting. A brickwas thrown at him. It hit a Moslem friend standing by his side. One of therioters swung a lathi stick which narrowly missed Gandhi's head. The Mahatmashook his head sorrowfully- The police arrived; the police chief appealed toGandhi to retire to his room. Then the officers hustled the intruders out of thehouse. Outside, tear gas was used to disperse aJ1 unruly mob of Moslemsinfuriated by the presence of A bandaged Moslem who, they alleged, had beenstabbed by Hindus.Gandhi decided to fast.In a statement to the press on September 1, he said, 'T put in an appearancebefore a yelling crowd does not always* work. It certainly did not last night.What my word in person cannot do, my fast may. It may touch the hearts of allthe warring factions in the Punjab if it does in Calcutta. I therefore beginfasting from 8.15 tonight to end only if and when sanity returns to Calcutta.'It was a fast unto death. Unless sanity returned, the Mahatma would die.September 2, groups and delegations commenced streaming to Gandhi'sresidence. They would do anything to save his life, they said. That was thewrong approach, he explained. His fasts were 'intended to stir the conscienceand remove mental sluggishness'. Saving his life must be incidental to a changeof heart.Leaders of all communities and many organizations called on the Mahatma. Hereceived them all and talked with them. He would not resist from the fast untilcommunal harmony had been restored. Prominent Moslems and an official ofthe Pakistan Seamen's Union visited Gandhi and assured him they would work tokeep the peace. More Moslems came. The fast impressed them; it was for theirsafety and for the rehabilitation of their destroyed homes.On September 4, municipal officials reported to Gandhi that the city had beenabsolutely quiet for twenty-four hours. They also told him that as proof of theirwish for communal peace 500 policemen of North Calcutta, including the Britishwww.mkgandhi.org Page 539