Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/637

 turning out clerks for Government. If the parents are not ready for the sacrifice, if title-holders not ready, Swarajya is very nearly an impossibility. No nation being under another nation can accept gifts and kicks at the responsibi- lity attaching to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation. Immediately the conquered countiy realised in- stinctively that any gift which might come to it is not for the benefit of the conquered, but for the benefit of the con- queror, that moment it should reject every form of voluntary assistance to him. These are the fundamental essentials of success in the struggle for the independence for the coun- try, whether within the Empire or without the Empire. I hold a real substantial unity between Hindus and Mussal- mans infinitely superior to the British connection and if I had to make a choice between that unity and the British connection I would have the first and reject the other. If I had to choose between the honour of the Punjab, anarchy, neglect of education, shutting out of all legislative activity, and British connection, I would choose the honour of the Punjab and all it meant, even anarchy, shutting out of all schools etc, without slightest hesitation.

If you have the same feeling burning in you as in me for the honour of Islam and the Punjab, then you will unreservedly accept my resolution.

I now come to the burning topic viz. the boycott of the councils. Sharpest differences of opinion existed regarding this and if the house has to divide on it, it must divide on one issue viz. whether Swarajya has to be gained through the councils or without the councils. If we utterly distrust the British Government and we know that they are utterly unrepentant, how can you believe that the councils will lead 10 Swarajya and not tighten the British hold on India/

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