Mahatma Gandhi, his life, writings and speeches

by Mohandas K. Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi—1917.

MAHATMA GANDHI

HIS LIFE, WRITINGS AND SPEECHES

WITH FOREWORD

BY

MRS. SAROJINI NAIDU

GANESH & CO., MADRAS

All Rights Reserved

"I see in Mr. Gandhi the patient sufferer for the cause of righteousness and mercy, a truer representative of the Crucified Saviour than the men who have thrown him into prison and yet call themselves by the name of Christ."—Lord Bishop of Madras.

THE CAMBRIDGE PRESS, MADRAS

PUBLISHERS' NOTE

The publishers feel that no apology or justification on their part is needed for sending out this volume to the public. All who honour nobility of purpose and high rectitude of conduct, all who honour Mr. Gandhi, who is as an embodiment of them, will be glad to have in a collected form the writings and speeches of a man whose words still linger behind his deeds. This volume is by no means exhaustive. Mr. Gandhi's speeches and writings lie scattered in various places and the task of collection is not yet over. When sufficient material has accumulated the Publishers hope to issue a second volume.

In conclusion, the Publishers desire to express their thanks to a friend of theirs who is responsible for the life-sketch, and to Mrs. Sarojini Naidu for having contributed the beautiful foreword found at the beginning of this volume.

CONTENTS

PAGE

Foreword ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

i

v-lxxxviii

Life Sketch ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

Gandhi's Sense of Duty ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

1

Confession of Faith ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

2

Gandhi's Plea for the Soul ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

9

The Duties of British Citizenship ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

14

The Theory and Practice of Passive Resistance ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

17

Speech at the Johannesburg Banquet ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

22

Indians and their Employers ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

37

Reply to Madras Public Reception ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

45

Speech at the Madras Law Dinner ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

51

Advice to Students ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

53

Brahmans and Panchamas ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

60

Speech at the Nellore Conference ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

66

Reply to Bangalore Public ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

68

Mr. Gandhi on Mr. Gokhale ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

71

A Talk with Mr. Gandhi ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

75

Benares Incident ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

79

Indentured Labour ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

86

The Need of India ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

93

Social Service ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

106

Swadeshi ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

114

Economic vs. Moral Progress ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

128

Education Ancient and Modern ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

142

The Moral Basis of Co-operation ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

147

Indian Colonial Emigration ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

159

Indian Railways ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

166

Speech at Gujrat Educational Conference ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

175

Advice to Merchants ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

184

Vernaculars as Media of Instruction ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

187

APPENDIX I

The Struggle of Passive Resistance ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

191

APPENDIX II

Indian Committee and Mr. Gandhi ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

213

History of Passive Resistence ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

214

Future Work ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

215

Ahimsa ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

216

Civic Freedom ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

221

Women and Passive Resistence ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

223

APPENDIX III—Appreciations of Mr. Gandhi

Lord Ampthill ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

225

Mrs. Besant ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

226

Sir P. M. Mehta ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

228

Lady Mehta ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

229

Mrs. Sarojini Naidu ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

230

Mr. G. K. Gokhale ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

234

Babu Moti Lal Ghose ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

236

Hon. Moulvi A. Fazul Haque ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

237

Mr. Gandhi in London ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

237

Lord Gladstone ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

238

Mr. Bhupendranath Basu ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

239

Mrs. Sarojini Naidu ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

240

Gandhi's Reply ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

240

Gandhi's Letter to "India"—An Appeal for more Recruits ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

241

Farewell Reception at Westminister Palace Hotel ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

243

Sir Henry Cotton ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

244

Mr. Parikh ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

244

Mr. Charles Roberts ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

245

Mrs. Olive Schreiner ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

246

Gandhi's Reply ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

246

APPENDIX IV

Lord Hardinge on the South African Situation ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

249

The Rev. Lord Bishop of Madras on the South African Situation ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

252

APPENDIX V

Tolstoy on Passive Resistance ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

257

APPENDIX VI

Indigo Labour in Behar (Champaran Enquiry) ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

263

Index ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...

273

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Mahatma Gandhi	Frontispiece.
M. K. Gandhi, Barrister	xxi
Mrs. Doke	xli
Mrs. H. S. L. Polak	„
Mr. H. S. L. Polak	lxix
Mr. H. Kallenback	„
Miss Valiamma	lxxxi
Mrs. Sheik Meatab	„
Mr. A. H. West	41
Mr. Maganlal K. Gandhi	„
Mr. and Mrs. Gandhi	45
Harbatsingh	49
Mr. Budree Ahir	„
Mr. G. K. Gokhale	73
Rev. C. F. Andrews	87
Mr. W. H. Pearson	„
Rev. J. J. Doke	„
Sir M. M. Bhownaggree	197
Mr. Ratan Tata	„
Lord Ampthill	201
Mr. Hajee Hoosen David	227
Mrs. Annie Besant	„
Lord Hardinge	249
Count L. N. Tolstoy	257
Sir Rabindranath Tagore	„

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