Page:Mahatma Gandhi, his life, writings and speeches.djvu/350

 A perusal of these pages ought to dispel any such notions from the mind of any fair man who has been misled into entertaining them. And with a better knowledge of the man there must come a better knowledge of the matter.—(Extract from the preface to Mr. Doke's book—Biography of Mr. Gandhi).

 By. BESANT

Mr. Gandhi's birth-day was celebrated at the Gokhale's Hall, Madras, in Oct. 1917, when Mrs. Besant before unveiling a portrait presented by Mr. G. A. Natesan spoke as follows:—

,—If Mr. Gandhi had known that this gathering was to be held, he would have objected to it very strongly, but we have to think of the country and not of Mr. Gandhi alone. If Mr. Gandhi chooses to develop so noble a character as he has done, he no longer belongs to himself: he belongs to the Motherland (Cheers), and there is nothing more inspiring especially to the young, than to have held up before them the example of such a man. We cannot permit him to live in the obscurity that he loves. His deeds make a light around him, and if he tries to hide himself in the dark, he shines so brilliantly there that the darkness only increases the radiance of the light that he sheds. (Cheers.) Hence, we feel that whatever his personal ideas may be, India cannot spare him bat must have him standing as an example of