Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/697

 THE GREAT SENTINEL. TO RABINDRANATH TAGORE.

��[In the October (1921) number of the Modern. Review, Rabindranath Tagore wrote an article " The Vail of Truth" criticising some features of the non-co- operation movement. Mr. Gandhi replied to the criticism in the Young India of the 13th October.]

The Bard of Shantiniketan has contributed to tha Modern Review a brilliant essay on the present move- ment. It is a series of word pictures which he alone can paint. It is an eloquent protest against authority, slave mentality or whatever description one gives of blind acceptance of a passing mama whether out of fear or hope. It is a welcome and wholesome reminder to all workers, that we must not be in-patient we must not impose authority, no matter how great. The Poet tells us summarily to reject anything and everything that does not appeal to our reason or heart, [f we would gain Swaraj, we must stand for Truth as we know it at any cost. A re- former who is enraged ^because his message is not accep- ted must retire to the forest to learn how to watch, wait and pray. With all this one must heartily agree, and the Poet deserves the thanks of his countrymen for standing up for Truth and Reason. There is no doubt that our last state will be worse than our first, if we surrender our reason into somebody's keeping. And I would feel extremely sorry to discover, that the country had unthinkingly and blindly followed all I had said or done. I am quite conscious

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