Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/271

 ORIGIN OF THE MOVEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA 18 i

t?olen, Gompefctftion between passive registers does no* exhaust: them. The sword of passive resistance does not) require a soabbardjand one cannot be forcibly dispossesfl- -ed of it)

��THE ORIGIN OF THE MOVEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

As to how the movement originated in South Africa, here is Mr. Gandhi's statement :

Some years ago, when I began to take an active parb in the public life of Natal, the adoption of this method occurred to me as the beet; course to pursun, should petitions fail, bub, in the tben unorganised con- dition of our Indian community, the attempt) seemed useless. Hare, however, ia Johannesburg, when the Asiatic Registration Act was introduced, the Indian com- munity was so deeply stirred, and so koit together in a common determination to resist it, that) the moment) Deemed opportune Some action they would take ; it} seemed to be best for the Colony, and altogether right), that their action should not) take a riotous form, but) that) of Passive Resistance, They had no vote in Pat- ilament, no hope of obtaining redress, no one would lie* ten to their complaints. Tbe Christian churches were indifferent), so I proposed this pathway of suffering, and after much discussion, it) was adopted. In September, 1906, there was a large gathering of Indiana in the old Empire Theatre, when the position was thoroughly faced, and, under the inspiration of deep feeling, and on the proposal of one of our leading men, they swore a solemn oath committing themselves fco Pasaiva Resistance,

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