Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/558

 MESSAGE AFTER ARREST

��Mr. Gandhi was arrested at Kosi on his way to Delhi on the morning of the IQth April and served with an order not to enter the Punjab and the District of Delhi and to restrict himself to the Bombay Presidency. The officer serving the order treated him most politely, assur- ing him it ivottld be his most painful duty to arrest him, if he elected t<> disobey, but that there would be no ill-will between them. Mr. Gandhi smilingly said that he must eleit to disobey as it was Jiis duty, and that the officer ought also to do ichat was his duty. Mr. Gandhi then dictated t/ie following message to Mr. Desai, his Secretary, laying special emphasis on his oral message tJiat none shall resent his arrest or do anything tainted with untruth or violence which is sure to draw the sacted cause. The message reads :

To my countrymen. It is a matter of the highest satisfaction to me, as I hope to you, that I have received an order from the Punjab Government not to enter that Province and another from the Delhi Government npt to enter Delhi, while an order of the Government of India has been served on me immediately after which restricts me to Bombay. I had no hesitation in saying to the officer, who served the order on me, that I was bound in virtue of the pledge to disregard it, which I have done, and I shall presently find myself a free man, my body being taken by them in their custody. It was galling to me to remain free whilst the Rowlatt Legis- lation disfigured the Statute Book. My arrest makes me free. It now remains for you to do your duty

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