Page:Mahatma Gandhi, his life, writings and speeches.djvu/163

Reply to Madras Public Reception in South Africa. The drafters of this beautiful address have, I venture to say, exaggerated out of all proportion the importance of the little work that I was able to do in South Africa. (Cries of No, No). As I have said on so many platforms, India is still suffering under the hypnotic influence produced upon it by that great saintly politician, Mr. Gokhale. He assured in my favour a certificate which you have taken at its surface value and it is that certificate which has placed me in a most embarassing position, embarassing because I do not know that I shall be able to answer the expectations that have been raised about myself and about my wife in the work that lies before us in the future on behalf of this country.

But, Sir, if one-tenth of the language that has been used in this address is deserved by us, what language do you propose to use for those who have lost their lives, and therefore finished their work, on behalf of your suffering countrymen in South Africa? What language do you propose to use for Nagappan and Narayanaswami, lads of seventeen or eighteen years, who braved in simple faith all the trials, all the sufferings, and all the indignities for the sake of the honour of the 47