Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/979

 APPBBCIATIGNB 41 His attitude as a Hindu towards Mahomedans is well defined an the following letter addressed by htm to a Mahomedan correspondent :—·· " I never realise any distinction between a Hindu and a Mahomedan. To my mind both are sons oi Mother India. 1 know that Hmdus are in a numerical majority and that they are believed to be more advanced in knowledge and education Accord- nngly, they should be glad to give way so much the more to their Mahomedan brethren. As a man of truth, I honestly believed that Hindus should yield up to the Mahomedans what the latter desire, and they should rejoice in so doing We can excect unity only if such mutual large·heartedness is displayed. When the Hindu and Mahomedans act towards each other as blood-brothers, then alone can there be unity; then only can we hope for the ·dawn of Indxa." And.as has already been seen, Mr. Gandhi is prepared to shed has blood in order that the bonds of Hindu-Mahnmedan brother- hood might be the more firmly cemented. OHIVALRY Hts chivalry is at once the admiration of his friends and followers and the confusion of enemies. A telling example oi this was given when, in October, 1908. together with a number of compatriots. he was arrested and charged at Voiksrust, the ‘Tr.tosvatl border town. Mr. Gtndbi then gave the tollcwing evidence on behalf of his fellow-·countrymen whom be was defend- 1ng,and though he was not called upon to make these admis- sions ;·- " He tick the sole responsibility for having advised them to enter the Gilony. They hal largely been influenced by his advice, though, no doubt, they had used their own judgment, he thought that, in giving that advice, he had consulted the best interests oi the State He asked the accused to enter at a public meeting and individually. They probably, at that =ime, had no idea of entering the Colony. except, perhaps, one of them. He would certainly admit that he had assisted the accused to enter. He admitted aiding and abetting them to enter the Transvaal. He was quite prepared to suher the consequence of his action, as he always had been. Later, when giving evidence on his own heh ali, he said :—-—§ " In connection with my refusal to produce my registration certidoate and to give thumb-impressions or Hnger-impressions ; Ithink that as an omcer ot this Court, I owe an explanation. There have been differences between the Government and British Indians, whom I represent as Secretary of the British Indian Association, over the Asiatic Act, N0. 2 of 1907, and after due