Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/814

 724 NON-CO-OPERATION

INDIA IS AND MUST BE NON-VIOLENT. I am writing this on the third day of my fast. My heart tells me that Hindus, Mussulmans. Sikhs, Jews, Christians, Parsis and others can attain Swaraj, serve the Khilafat and redress the Punjab wrong only by truth and non-violence. If we abandon them we cannot help others, not even Ghasi Mustapha Kemal Pasha If two unequals compete the weaker must either be killed or subdued. Even a gnai cannot change his nature at once. If the world were to act according to its true nature what can force do ? I am repeating the same old truth that India cannot attain Swaraj by physical force. Even to entertain a hope that physical force will succeed amounts to violence, India is by Nature non- violent. Knowingly or unknowingly she is intent on Non-Co-operation by means wholly non-violent and truthful. Nobody imitated the people of Ahmedabad and Viramgaum and none will imitate the mad people of Chaun-Chaura. Though violence is not in India's nature it has become a disease Mustapha Kemal Pasha is using the sword, because the Truks are trained to violence and ha\e been fighting for the last so many centuries. But India has been non-violent for thousands of years. We need not here discuss which nation adopted the right course. There is room for both viol- ence and non-violence in this wide world even as the soul and body find room in life.

Now we must get Swaraj by the easiest and the shortest method. India cannot .change her nature in a moment. I am firmly of opinion that it will take some yttgas to make India free by the sword. If the Indian Mussulmans will adopt Mustapha Kemal Pasha's methods, I am sure they will corrupt Islam. There is

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