Psychic Wave

Further, we must not let history repeat itself. Though we may not see, for we are too far removed from a time when much was the same, I am here to remind you...

In 1920, when propaganda and suppression threaten to destroy a nation, Mahatma Gandhi writes the following open-letter to all Englishmen in India. Here is Gandhi's wisdom on leadership as concerns his fellow countrymen, and Muslims alike.

 

Dear Friend,

 

I wish that every Englishman will see this appeal and give thoughtful attention to it.

 

Let me introduce myself to you. In my humble opinion no Indian has cooperated with the

British Government more than I have for an unbroken period of twenty-nine years of public life in the face of circumstances that might well have turned any other man into a rebel. I ask you to believe me when I tell you that my cooperation was not based on the fear of the punishments provided by your laws or any other selfish motives. It was free and voluntary cooperation based on the belief that the sum total of the British Government was for the benefit of India. I did all this in the full belief that acts such as mine must gain for my country an equal status in the Empire. So last December I pleaded hard for a trustful cooperation. I fully believed that Mr. Lloyd George would redeem his promise to the Mussalmans (Muslims) and that the revelations of the official atrocities in the Punjab would secure full reparation for the Punjabis. But the treachery of Mr. Lloyd George and its appreciation by you, and the condonation of the Punjab atrocities have completely shattered my faith in the good intentions of the Government and the nation which is supporting it.

 

But though my faith in your good intentions is gone I recognize your bravery and I know that: what you will not yield to justice and reason, you will gladly yield to bravery. See what this Empire means to India.

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• Exploitation of India's resources for the benefit o£ Great Britain

• An ever increasing military expenditure and a

• Civil Service, the most expensive in the world

• Extravagant working of every department in utter disregard of India's poverty.

• Disarmament and consequent emasculation of a whole nation, lest an armed nation might imperil the lives of a handful of you in our midst

• Traffic in intoxicating liquors and drugs for the purpose of sustaining a top heavy administration

• Progressively representative legislation in order to suppress an ever-growing agitation, seeking to give expression to a nation's agony

• Degrading treatment of Indians residing in your Dominions, and

• You have shown total disregard of our feelings by glorifying the Punjab administration and flouting the Mussalman (Muslim) sentiment.

 

I know you would not mind if we could fight and wrest the sceptre from your hands. You know that we are powerless to do that, for you have ensured our incapacity to fight in open and honourable (sic) battle. Bravery on the battlefield is thus impossible for us. Bravery of the soul still remains open to us. I know you will respond to that also. I am engaged in evoking that bravery. Non-cooperation means nothing less than training in self-sacrifice.

 

 

"You should know what ts going on in your midst.

Propaganda is being carried on

in anticipation of repression. I Invite you respectfully to

choose the better way and make common cause with the people..."

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Why should we cooperate with you when we know that, by your administration of this great country we are being daily enslaved in an increasing degree. This response of the people to my appeal is not due to my personality. I would like you to dismiss me, and for that matter, the Ali Brothers too, from your consideration. My personality will fail to evoke any response to anti-Muslim cry if I were foolish enough to raise it, as the magic name of the Ali Brothers would fail to inspire the Mussalmans (Muslim) with enthusiasm if they were madly to raise an anti-Hindu cry. People flock in their thousands to listen to us, because we today represent the voice of a nation groaning under iron heels. The Ali Brother were your friends as I was, and still am. My religion forbids me to bear any ill-will towards you. I would not raise my hand against you even if I had the power. I expect to conquer you only by my suffering. The Ali Brothers will certainly draw the sword if they could in defense of their religion and their country. But they and I have made common cause with the people of India in their attempt to voice their feelings and to find a remedy for their distress.

 

You are in search of a remedy to suppress this rising ebullition of national feeling. I venture to suggest to you that the only way to suppress it is to remove the causes. You have yet the power. You can repent of the wrongs done to Indians.

 

But this you cannot do w1less you consider every Indian to be in reality your equal and brother. I ask for no patronage. I merely point out to you, as a friend, an honourable (sic) solution of a grave problem. The other solution, namely repression, is open to you. I prophesy that it will fail. It has begun already. The Government has already imprisoned two brave men of Panipat for holding and expressing their opinions freely. Another is on his trial in Lahore for having expressed similar opinions. One In the Oudh District is already imprisoned. Another awaits judgment. You should know what ts going on in you midst. Propaganda is being carried on in anticipation of repression. I Invite you respectfully to choose the better way and make common cause with the people of India whose salt you are eating. To seek to thwart their aspirations, is disloyalty to the country.

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I am,

Your faithful friend.

M.K. GANDHI

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Source: Khipple, R. L. (n.d.). FAMOUS LETTERS - mkgandhi.org. Retrieved November 14, 2016, from http://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/famous-letters-of-mahatma-gandhi.pdf