Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/713

 nothing to do with the organised violence of the Govern- ment, I can have less to do with the unorganised vio- lence of the people. I would prefer to be cursed bet- ween the two

��II. MESSAGE TO THE CITIZENS OF BOMBAY.

��Shocked at the riot and bloodshed that he witnessed in Bombay, Mr. Gandhi issued the follow- ing appeal to the men and women of Bombay on the morning of the 19 th November.

Men and Women^of^ornBayr--It is not possible to describe the agony I have suffered during the past two days. I am writing this now at 3-30 A,M. in perfect peace. After 2 hours of prayer and meditation I have found.it. I must refuse to eat or drink anything but water, till the Hindus and Mahomedans of Bombay have made peace with the Parsis, Christians and Jews and till Non- Co-operators have made peace with co-operators. The Swaraj that I have witnessed during the last two days has stunk in my nostrils. Hindu-Muslim unity had been a menace to the handful of Parsis, Christians and Jews. The non-violence of the Non-Co-operators has been worse than violence of co-operators. For with non-violence on our lips we have terrorised those who have differed from us and in so doing we have denied our God. There is only one God for us all whether we find him through Koran, Bible, Zend Avesta, Talmud or Gita, and he is the God of Truth and Love.

I have no interest in living save for this faith in have spoken and written much against his institutions, especially the one he lias set up in India. I shall

�� �