Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/556

 DISTRIBUTION OF PROHIBITED LITERATURE

��The Satyagraha Committee advised that, for the time being, laws regarding prohibited literature and re- gistration of Newspapers may be civilly disobeyed. Accordingly Mr. Gandhi, President, and Secretaries of the Satyagraha Sabha, Bombay, issued on April 7, the following notice to organise, regulate and control the sale of these publications :

Satyagrahis should receive copies of prohibited literature for distribution. A limited number of copies can be had from the Secretaries of the Satyagraha Sabha. Satyagrahis should, so far as possible, write their names and addresses as sellers so that they may be traced easily when wanted by the Government for prosecution. Naturally there can be no question of secret sale of this literature. At the same time, there should be no forwardness either in distributing it. It is open to Satvagrahis to form small groups of men and women to whom they may read this class of literature. The object in selecting prohibited literature is not merely to commit a civil breach of the law regarding it but it is also to supply people with clean literature cf a high moral value. It is expected that the Government will confiscate such. Satyagrahis have to be as independ- ent of finance as possible. When therefore copies are confiscated, Satyagrahis are requested to make copies of prohibited literature themselves or by securing the assist- ance of willing friends and to make use of it until it is confiscated by giving readings to the people from it. It

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