Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/566

 476 EARLIER INDIAN SPEECHES

contribution will be a slight token of our repen- tence. I hope and pray that no one will evade this contribution on the plea that he has had no part in those v/icked acts. For if such as those who were no party to these daeds had all courageously and bravely gone forward to put down the lawlessness, the mob would have been checked in their career and would have immediately realised the wickedness of their doings. I venture to say that, if instead of giving money to the mob out of fear, we had rushed out to protect buildings and to save the innocent without fear of death, we could have succeeded in so doing. Unless we have this sort of courage, mischief makers will always try to intimidate us into participating in their misdeeds. Fear of death makes us devoid both of valour and religion. For want of valour is want of religi- ous faith. And having done little to stop the violence we have been all participators in the sins that have been committed. And we ought, therefore, to contribute our mite as a mark of our repentence. Each group can collect its own contributions and send them on to me through its collectors. I would also advise, if it is possible for you, to observe a twenty-four hour's fast in slight expiation of these sins. This fast should be ob- served in private and there is no need for crowds to go to the bathing ghats.

I haye thus far drawn attention to what appears to be your duty. I must now consider my own. My res- ponsibility is a million times greater than yours, I have placed Satyagraha before people for their acceptance, and I have lived in your midst for four years. I have also given some contribution to the special service of Ahmeda- bad. Its citizens are not quite unfamiliar with my views.

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