Page:Gandhi and Saklatvala - Is India different.pdf/20

 in the same direction automatically becomes a degenerate form of the original activities. Here again you must permit me to speak as man to man. What is Your Object ? You have created an influence over our countrymen in the lowest strata of society wider and deeper than anything else. However, what is your real object? If your object is metaphysical or religious, your policy should be to cultivate a psychology of obedience and reverence towards you and diffidence in themselves as compared to your great self. If your purpose is to give your share in the national and political work, your approach to the people should be on terms of absolute equality and your task must be to inspire confidence into them. From this point of view you must stop allowing people to address you as a Mahatma. I have heard from your many friends that you have never wished this word to be used, and no one really expects you to do other wise, but that does not mean that you should not or that you cannot suppress it immediately. You can easily refuse to receive letters so addressed, and you can easily refuse to attend functions where you are advertised with this appellation. You have only to declare your wish publicly instead of whispering about it to a few friends and the thing will be done.

With some experience of political propaganda and mass mentality, I am speaking to you in earnest that our first approach to the people must be based on the fact that our powers are not greater than that of others. If you go into a bunch of villagers and start out by being called and known as a brother you create a sense of confidence and self-reliance in them. If you go to them with a long story first spread by your friends about 21 days' fasting and then with a discovery of yourself as a Mahatma, even though the villagers may think about your charka with a superstitious awe, they acquire no confidence in themselves, and they will only believe that what you say or do is the task of such superior persons and high souls like yourself and not of ordinary mortals. Such a mentality spread wholesale over the country becomes most injurious in the long run.

You should rigorously stop crowds and processions of human beings, specially poor women and little children, passing vou with folded hands and downcast eyes. Once you