Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/880

 790 MISCELLANEOUS

myself bo be ft helpless creature. Only I wan to bo use India's and my strength for a better purpose.

Leb me nob be misunderstood. Strength does nob oo me from physical capacity. Id comes from an indo- mitable will. AD average Zulu is anyway more than a matoh for an average Englishman in bodily capacity. But he flaeB from an English boy, because he fears the boy's ravolver or those who will use it for him. He fears death and is nerveless in spite of his burly figure. We in India may in a moment realise that one hundred thousand English men need nob frighten three hundred million human beings. A definite forgiveness would therefore mean a definite recognition of our strength, With enlightened forgiveness must come mighty wave of strength in us, which would make ifa impossible for a Dyer and a Frank Johnson to heap affront upon India's devoted head. It matters little to me that for the moment I do not drive my point home* We feel too downtrodden not to be angry and revenge- ful. Bub I must nob refrain from saying that India can gain more by waiving the righb of punishraenb. We have better work bo do> a better mission bo deliver bo the world.

I am not a visionary, I claim to be a practical idealist. The religion of non-violence is nob meant merely for the Rishis and saints. Ib is meant for the common people as well, Non-violence is the law of our speoias as violence is the law of bha brube. Tde spirit) lies dormant in bhe brube and he knows no law but that of physical mighb. The dignity of man requires obedi- ence bo a higher law bo bhe strength of bhe spirit.

I have therefore ventured bo place before India bh ancient law of seU-saorifioe, For Sabyagrah and its off-

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