Page:Masani - Gandhi's story.pdf/69



Gopal is the name of a peasant. Gopal lives on the soil. It is a hard life indeed for, no matter how hard Gopal toils, he can barely get enough money to feed his family. When the rains are poor and the crop fails, Gopal and his family are faced with starvation for they have no other way of earning their living. As it is, the little field that Gopal owns yields very little for it has been cultivated over and over again and the soil has lost its richness. The landlord is hard on Gopal. He insists on his paying all the taxes even when it has been a poor harvest. The rents and taxes are heavy indeed. Gopal has no fun and laughter in his life. Worries make him old before his time. The months of sowing, reaping and harvesting pass quickly enough for then Gopal works in the field, but the long summer days when the strong sun parches the land and it is not possible to cultivate it—these days drag heavily. Gopal has nothing to do. The boredom of these days is terrible.

Gopal is not just one peasant in India. There are