Page:Mahatma Gandhi, his life, writings and speeches.djvu/213



[Mr. M. K. Gandhi delivered an address to the students at the Y. M. C. A. auditorium, Madras (1915) with the Hon. Rev. G. Pittendrigh in the chair, in the course of which he said]:—

I did not know what subject to choose. A friend has handed me a slip here, asking me whether I would not enlighten the students on the Benares incident. I fear that I shall have to disappoint that friend and those of you who associate yourselves with that view. I do not think you need lay any stress upon that incident. Those are the passing waves which will always come and go. I would rather this morning, if I can possibly do so, pour my soul out to you with reference to something which I treasure so much above everything else. To many students who came to me last year, I said I was about to establish an Ashrama somewhere in India, and it is about that place that I am going to talk to you to-day.

I have felt during the whole of my public life that what we need, what any Nation