Page:Mahatma Gandhi, his life, writings and speeches.djvu/366

 

Mrs. Sarojini Naidu said that the Indian people were under a deep debt of gratitude to Mr. Gandhi's work in South Africa for justice and truth had been a source of inspiration to the people of India; Olive Schreiner had described him as the Mazzini of the Indian movement in South Africa, and Mrs. Gandhi appealed to them as the ideal of wifehood and womanhood. On behalf of the company present, Mrs. Naidu then garlanded Mr. and Mrs. Gandhi and Mr. Kellenbach.  Mr. Gandhi's in reply said:—

Mr. Gandhi, in returning thanks, referred to the great crisis which at the moment overshadowed the world. He hoped his young friends would "think Imperially" in the best sense of the word, and to their duty. With regard to affairs in South Africa, Mr. Gandhi paid a noble tribute to the devotion of his followers. It was to the rank and file that their victory was due. Those who had suffered and died in the struggle were the real heroes. He acknowledged the splendid help rendered by their fellow countrymen in India, especially that saintly politician Mr. Gokhale. Their noble Viceroy, Lord Hardinge had been a tower of strength to them. But their success would have been impossible had they not quickened the conscience of the people of South Africa by their passive resistance movement. 