Page:Mahatma Gandhi, his life, writings and speeches.djvu/169



MADRAS LAW DINNER

[Speech delivered by Mr. M. K. Gandhi on the occasion of "Madras Law Dinner" held at Madras on 24th April, 1915, under the presidency of the Advocate-General]:—


 * —During my three months' tour in India, as also in South Africa, I have been so often questioned how I, a determined opponent of modern civilisation, and avowed patriot, could reconcile myself to loyalty to the British Empire of which India was such a large part, how it was possible for me to find it consistent that India and England could work together for mutual benefit. It gives me the greatest pleasure this evening at this great and important gathering to re-declare my loyalty to the British Empire, and my loyalty is based upon very selfish grounds. As a passive resister I discovered that he has to make good his claim to passive resistance, no matter under what circumstances he finds himself, and I find that the British Empire 51