Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/619

 SPEECH AT MADRAS 529-

therefore, venture to sdggest this beautiful unanswerable method of non-co-operation.

Is IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL

I have been told that non-co-operation is unconstitu- tional. I venture to deny that it is unconstitutional. On the contrary, I hold that non-co-operation is a just and religious doctrine ; it is the inherent right of every human being and it is perfectly constitutional. A great lover of the British Empire has said that under the British constitution even a successful rebellion is perfectly constitutional and he quotes historical instances, which I cannot deny, in support of his claim. I do not clairr, any constitutionality for a rebellion successful or otherwise, so long as that rebellion means in the ordinary sense of the term, what it does mean, namely, wresting justice by violent means. On the con- trary, I have said it repeatedly to my countrymen that violence, whatever end it may serve in Europe, will never serve us in India. My brother and friend Shaukat Ali believes in methods of violence ; and if it was in his power to draw the sword against the British Empire, I know that he has got the courage of a man and he has got also the wisdom to see that he should offer that battle to the British Empire. But beca use he recognises as a true soldier that means of violence are not open to India, he sides with me accepting my humble assistance and pledges his word that so long as I am with him and so long as he believes in the doctrine, so long will he not harbour even the idea of violence against any single Englishman or any single man On earth, I am here to tell you that he has been as true as his <word 'and has kept it religiously, I am here to bear witness that he has been following out this plan of non- violent non-co-operation to the very letter and I am asking lodiato tfoHow this iron-violent non-co-operation. I tell

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