Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/771

 tells me, therefore set fire to the Thana. The self- imprisoned constables had to come out for dear life and as they did so, they were backed to pieces and the mangled remains were thrown into the raging flames.

It is claimed that no non-co-operation volunteer had a hand in the brutality and that the mob had not only the immediate provocation but they had also general knowledge of the high-handed tyranny of the police in that district. No provocation can possibly justify the brutal murder of men who had been rendered defence- Jess and who had virtually thrown themselves on the mercy of the mob. And when Indian claims to be non- violent and hopes to mount the throne of liberty through non-violent means, mob-violence even in answer to grave provocation is a bad augury. Suppose the 4 non-violent* disobedience of Bardoh was permitted by God to succeed, the Government had abdicated in favour of the victors of Bardoli, who would control the unruly element that must be expected to perpetrate inhumanity upon due provocation ? Non-violent attainment of self-Govern- ment presupposes a non-violent control over the violent elements in the country. Non-violent non-co-operators can only succeed when they have succeeded in attaining control over the hooligans of India, in other words, when the latter also have learnt patriot- ically or religiously to refrain from their violent activities, at least whilst the campaign of non-co-opera- tion is going on. The tragedy at Chaura, therefore, roused me thoroughly.

'But what about your manifesto to the Viceroy .and your rejoinder to his reply V spoke the voice of 'Satan. It was the bitterest cup of humiliation to drink. 'Surely it is cowardly to withdraw the next day after

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