Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/682

 592 NON-CO-OPERATION

would have long ago repented for their heinous deeds, Ven as we have for every crime committed by our people in Amritsar, Kasur, Viramgam, Ahmedabad, and recently in Malegaon. I entertain no false hopes or misgivings about ths Government. If the Govern- ment were to-morrow to arrest the AH Brothers, I would stjll justify the apology, The have acted on the square, and we must all do likewise. Indeed, inas- much as the Government are still arresting people for .disaffection, they are arresting the AH Brothers.

The writer is, again, not taking a correct view of Non-Co-operation in thinking that Non-Co-operators, who are in gaol, are less fortunate than we who are outside. For me, solitary confinement in a prison cell, without any breach on my part of the code of Non-Co- operation, or private or public morals, will be freedom. For me, the whole of India is a prison, even as the Aaster's house is to his slave ; a slave to be free must continuously rise against his slavery, and be locked up in his master's cell for his rebellion. The cell-door is the door to freedom, I feel no pity for those who are suffering hardships in the gaols of the Government. Innocence under an evil Government must ever rejoice on the scaffold. It was the easiest thing for the Brothers to have rejected my advice, and embraced the opportunity of joining their comrades in the gaols. I may inform the reader that, when during the last stage of the South African struggle, I was arrested, my wife and all friends heaved a sigh oFrelief. It was in the prisons of South Africa, that I had leisure and peace from strife and struggle.

It is perhaps now clear, why the Non-Co-operation prisoners may not make any statement to gain the\r freedom*

�� �