52 M. K. GANDHI that enthused the youth of Bengal who created a pro-» found sensation by throwing themselves in their thousands at the steps of the Calcutta University Hall, that the few who did attend the examination had to do so by walking over their bodies. One peculiarity of the programme was that emphasis was laid on each item as the occasion demanded. At one time it was the boycott of schools, again it was the collee- tion of a crore of rupees for the Swarajya Fund, a third time it was the burning of mill cloths and yet again it was the boycott of the Duke or the good Prince. Each was in turn to bring Swarajya within the year. Thus in February the agitation centred on the boycott of the Dulce of Connaught to whom Mr, Gandhi addressed a dignified if uncompromising letter. Mr. Gandhi wrote:-- Our non-participation in a hearty welcome to Your Royal Highness is thus in no sense a demonstration against your high personage, but it is against the system you come to uphold. I know individual Englishmen cannot even if they will, alter the English nature all of a sudden. If we would be the equals of Englishmen we must east off fear. We must learn to be self- reliant and independent of schools, courts, protection and patronage of a Government we seek to end if it will not mend. By May the spirit of lawlessness had spread far and wide and strikes and hartals became the order of the day. Mr. Gandhi, however, resolutely discountenanced all violence and he was seldom sparing in his admonition of those who took part in the incident at Malegaon and other places. Again and again, he spoke strongly against the spirit of non-violence which for a time broke out as often as he decried it in all earnestness. INTERVIEW wrru THE NEW VICEROY It was about this time too that Lord Chelmsford retired and his place was taken by Lord Reading, who came to India with a great reputation, An Ex-Lord Chief Justice oi England and sometime British Ambassador at Washington during the fateful years of war--·the new Viceroy inspired great hopes. His reputation for justice, strengthened by his repeated assurances, and his reputation for tactful dealing of delicate questions were just the things of
