Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/623

 robs you of ypur honour. That is the doctrine < of non-co- operation.

NoX-Co-OPERATION & THE SPECIAL CONGRESS

1 have been told that 1 should have waited for the declaration of the special Congress which is the mouth- piece of the whole nation. I know that it is the mouth- piece of the whole nation. If it was for me, indi vidual Gandhi, to wait, 1 would have waited for eternity. But I had in my hands a sacred trust. I was advising my Mussalman countrymen and for the time being I hold their honour in my hands. I dare not ask them to wait for any verdict but the verdict of their own Conscience. Do you suppose that Mussal- mans can eat their own words, can withdraw from the honour- able position they have taken up ? If perchance and God forbid that it should happen the Special Congress decides against them, I would still advise my countrymen, the Mussulmans to stand single handed and fight rather than yield to the attempted dishonour to their religion. It is therefore given to the Mussalmans to go to the Congress on bended knees and plead for support. But suppo rt, or no sup- port, it was not possible for them to wait for the Congress to give them the lead. They had to choose between futile vio- lence, drawing of the naked sword and peaceful non-violent but effective non-co-operation, and they have made their choice. I venture further to say to you that if there is any body of men who feel as I do, the sacred character of non- co-operation, it is for you and me not to wait for the Con- gress but to act and to make it impossible for the Congress to give any other verdict. After all what is the Congress/ The Congress is the collected voice of individuals who form ft, and if the individuals go to the Congress with a united voice, that will be the verdict you will gain from the Con- gress. But if we go to the Congress with no opinion because

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