Page:Gandhi and Saklatvala - Is India different.pdf/30

 The idea is to take from capital labour's due share and no more, and this not by paralysing capital, but by reform among labourers from within and by their own self-conscious ness ; not, again through the cleverness and manoeuvring of non-labour leaders, but by educating labour to evolve its own leadership and its own self-reliant, self-existing organisa tion. Its direct aim is not in the least degree political. Its direct aim is internal reform and evolution of internal strength. The indirect result of this evolution when, if ever it becomes complete, will naturally be tremendously political.

I have not, therefore, the remotest idea of exploiting labour or organising it for any direct political power of first class importance when it becomes a self-existing unit. Labour, in my opinion, must not become a pawn in the hands of the politician on the political chess-board. It must, bv its sheer strength, dominate the chess-board. And that can only happen if I can retain the intelligent and voluntary co-operation of the workers in Ahmedabad, and if our joint effort ultimately succeeds.

This is my dream. I hug it because it gives me all the consolation I need, and the policy I have outlined, you will recognise, is a direct outcome of my implicit belief in and acceptance of non-violence. It may be all a delusion ; but it is as much a reality with me as life itself so long as I do not see it as delusion, but see it as the only life-giving force.

You will now see why I cannot, even if I had the power, respond to your appeal for dividing the funds collected by me in accordance with your suggestion. But I may tell you that I have not even the power.The funds have been collected purely for Khadi work, and it would be criminal misappropriation on my part to divert them to any other use.

This letter may not please you. I shall be sorry if it does not. But I regard you as a fellow-seeker after truth, and if my reading of you is correct, there is no reason why my having told you the whole truth and nothing but the truth, should not please you immensely. It is not given to all of us to agree with one another in all our opinions ; but it is given to every one of us to tender the same respect for the opinions and actions of our fellows as we expect for our own. Yours sincerely, M. K. GANDHI.