Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/805

 " So far as the facts about * Bardoli decision ' have come to light, it appears the decision was arrived at either under the influsnce of Pundit Malaviya or under some far fetched notions of non-violence In the for- mer case the act is most unworthy, and in the latter it is most unwise. Is not the ideal of the Congress Swiraj and not Non-violence ? People have imbibed non- riolence generally, which surely must do for the Con- gress purpose, How the breaches like those at Bombay and Gorakhpur can make ths engine come to a standstill I cannot understand. And ?f M. Paul Richard is true as to your aspirations of a World Leader through non- violence even at the cost of Indian interest, it is surely unbecoming and, excuse me to say, dishonest

" And have you realised the effects of this sudden standstill? Mr. Montagu's threat comes for that, Lord Reading and his Government are harder to us than even before. It had almost yielded. As to the public, there is a general distrust prevailing among the classes and the masses. Surely it is difficult to make men play things of the hour and their disgust and disappointment show how the fight was carried on in right earnest. Don't you perceive that it is a shock and that two such shocks must enervate the combatants altogether ?

"Besides, I have heard the responsible Mussalmans talk of withdrawing co-operation even from the Hindus. The fight is religious with them. It is the * Jehad ', I should say. God's Command and the Prophet's is no joke to start and to stop the * Jehad ' at will. If the Hindus should retire, they say they must devise their own course, Will you take care to ease one heart that feels uneasy on this account ? "

It is impossible to withhold sympathy from the

�� �