Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/328

 POLITICS AND THE PEOPLE.

Mr. and Mry, Gandhi on their way to Tranquebar arrived at Mayavaram on the 22nd May, 1915, and they werr presented with an address by the citizens of tht .town In the lourse of his reply. Mr. Gandhi said :

It was quite by accident that I had the great pleasure of receiving an address from my 4 Panchama brethren, and there, they said that they were without convenience for drinking water, they were without con- venience for living supplies, and they could not buy or hold land. It was difficult for them even to approach Courts. Probably, the last is due to their fear,, but a fear certainly not due to themselves, and who is then responsible for this state of things ? Do we propose to perpetuate this state of things ? Is it a part of Hindu- ism ? I do not know. I have now to learn what Hinduism really is. In so far as I have been able fo study Hinduism outside India, I have felt that it is no part of real Hinduism to have in its hold a mass of people whom I would call " untouchables." If it was proved to ms that this is an essential part of Hinduism, I for one would declare myself an open rebel against Hinduism itself. (Hear, hear.)

Are the Brahmins in Mayavaram equal minded to- wards the Pariah and will they tell me, if they are so equal minded, that others will not follow ? Even if they say that they are prepared to do so but others will not follow, I shall have to disbelieve them until I have revised my notions of Hinduism. If the Brahmins ihemselves consider they are holding high position by

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