LETTER TO ARTHUR MOORE

492 Pages·1956·1.08 MB·English

1. LETTER TO ARTHUR MOORE
December 28, 1940
DEAR MR. MOORE1,
Many thanks for your reasoned letter. I see that we cannot agree
as to facts and, where we agree, we view them from different angles of
vision. Therefore we must for the time being agree to differ. ‘We shall
know each other better when the mists have rolled away.’ I know that
our friendship can easily bear the strain of our differences.
With compliments of the season.
Yours sincerely,
M. K. GANDHI
From a copy: Pyarelal Papers. Courtesy: Pyarelal
2. LETTER TO K. SURYAPRAKASA RAO
SEVAGRAM,
December 28, 1940
DEAR SHRI SURYAPRAKASA RAO,
Your postcard dated 24th instant. You must spin, wear khadi,
learn Hindi and do some constructive work while retaining your
present job.
Yours sincerely,
M. K. GANDHI
From a copy: C.W. 10275. Courtesy: K. Suryaprakasa Rao
3. LETTER TO S. RADHAKRISHNAN
SEVAGRAM, WARDHA,
December 28, 1940
DEAR SIR RADHAKRISHNAN,
I have just finished your convocation address which you so
kindly sent me. I liked it very much. Your language is all your own.
1 Editor, The Statesman
VOL. 80 : 28 DECEMBER, 1940 - 17 AUGUST, 1941 1
You will, however, let me say that I miss the strength which I would
expect from your pen or speech. The message of non-violence
demands the utmost strength without sting behind it.
Yours sincerely,
M. K. GANDHI
From a facsimile: Mahatma, Life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Vol. 6,
between pp. 8 and 9
4. LETTER TO J. B. KRIPALANI
SEVAGRAM, WARDHA,
December 28, 1940
MY DEAR PROFESSOR,
Why do you complain about my dealing directly with the
Presidents and issuing Press notes? There is nothing irregular in this.
And how cumbersome to do all these things through you? Mahadev
might have sent you copies. But you will pity him if you saw him at
work. And if and when he too goes!
You are overdue. I sent you a wire in reply to your letter. No
reply and no Kripalani!
I hope you found Sucheta1 in g[ood] he[alth].
Love.
BAPU
From the original: C.W. 10877. Courtesy: Girdhari Kripalani
5. LETTER TO PREMABEHN KANTAK
SEVAGRAM, WARDHA,
December 28, 1940
CHI. PREMA,
I got your fine letter. I will forward it to Dhotre2 and others and
then to Narandas.
1 Addressee’s wife
2 Raghunath Shridhar Dhotre, Secretary, Gandhi Seva Sangh
2 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI
I have heard that Sushila1 visited you. You must, therefore, have
come to know everything. Bhagavat2 also had written to me.
Sarojinidevi3 also had told me that spinning, prayers and so on
were going on regularly. I hope that all the women will come out [of
jail] with good health after having acquired great skill in constructive
work.
Prabhavati is here. She travelled a lot with Jayaprakash. She has
been here for three days. Jayaprakash will come either today or
tomorrow and take her away. She has benefited by your teaching and
your guidance. She will start her work from January 1. She had gone
out taking one month’s leave.
Don’t be guided by newspaper reports about my health. I am
quite all right. I am taking care of my health. So long as God wishes
to take work from me, He will keep me in health.
Ba is with me. She is calm. Lilavati is restraining her desire to
come here.
Mahadev and others are fine.
Blessings from
BAPU
From a photostat of the Gujarati: G.N. 10416. Also C.W. 6855. Courtesy:
Premabehn Kantak
6. LETTER TO SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE4
SEVAGRAM, WARDHA,
December 29, 1940
MY DEAR SUBHAS,
You are irrepressible whether ill or well. Do get well before
going in for fireworks.
I have not been in consultation with Maulana Saheb. But, when I
read in the papers about the decision, I could not help approving of it.
I am surprised that you won’t distinguish between discipline and
indiscipline.
1 Sushila Pai
2 Manager, Saswad Ashram
3 Sarojini Naidu
4 This was in reply to the addressee’s letter dated December 23; vide “Letter From
Subhas Chandra Bose”, 23-12-1940 Mukundlal Sircar, with Gandhiji’s approval,
released the correspondence to the Press.
VOL. 80 : 28 DECEMBER, 1940 - 17 AUGUST, 1941 3
But I quite agree with you that either of you is more than a
match for the Maulana Saheb as far as popularity is concerned. But a
man has to put conscience before popularity. I know that in Bengal it
is difficult to function effectively without you two. I know, too, that
you can carry on even without the Congress. But the Congress has to
manage somehow under the severe handicap.
Suresh1 wrote to me that Sarat was coming. I have been waiting.
He can come any time he chooses, and so can you too. You know,
you will be well looked after here.
As for your Bloc2 joining civil disobedience, I think, with the
fundamental differences between you and me, it is not possible. Till
one of us is converted to the other’s view, we must sail in different
boats, though their destination may appear, only appear, to be the
same.
Meanwhile let us love one another, remaining members of the
same family that we are.3
Yours,
BAPU
The Hindu, 24-2-1941
7. LETTER TO DEVDAS GANDHI
SEVAGRAM,
December 29, 1940
CHI. DEVDAS,
I got your letters. It is enough for me that you understand my
love. If you are ignorant, you alone are not to blame. I am equally to
blame, am I not? Has not the education of all you brothers remained
incomplete? I do not regret that. I am aware of it. You too have been
1 Suresh Chandra Banerjee
2 All-India Forward Bloc
3 In his reply dated January 10, 1941, Subhas Chandra Bose said: “I am glad to
receive your letter . . . not so much for the contents, as for the clarification of your
views. . . . It is not merely my personal desire to offer hearty and sincere
co-operation, but it is the desire of many who stand with me. For doing this, it is
neither necessary nor desirable to surrender or abandon our political principles and
connections. . . . In the previous struggle, many worked shoulder to shoulder with
ardent Gandhi ites while differing from them on several important questions. Why
should not this happen again? I beg of you to reconsider your decision. . . .” Vide also
“Letter to Mukundalal Sircar”, 16-2-1941.
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the victims of my experiments. But is not that true of the whole of
India? Critics say that I am destroying the country.
Pyarelal’s statement contains pure truth. It was not drafted to
prove anything.
The letter1 to Hitler also was prompted from within. There is no
bitterness in it at all. But it certainly states what I believe to be truth.
Your scepticism in this regard does not pain me. It is a virtue to see
only the good in others. But if we see the bad and still cover it up,
isn’t that a vice? Was it not I who used to sing ‘God Save the King’?
After much experience, I have come to see the darker side.
I have received the Government’s reply2. I am sending you a
copy of it. It is poisonous. I am in no hurry to see the letter to Hitler
published. It is enough for me that you are ready. I will write to you
when the time for you comes.
What you have said in the letter to Mahadev about your policy is
correct. There is no need for you to stand alone. It is better to take a
stand which others can share. I cannot send Mahadev to take your
place. My suggestion was quite different. But that also cannot be done
now. You may play whatever part you can. This is but the beginning
of the country’s fight. The worst is yet to come. Let us see how long
God keeps me. God knows what work He wants from me. I merely
dance to His tune.
Blessings from
BAPU
From a photostat of the Gujarati: G.N. 2023
8. LETTER TO SIR J. G. LAITHWAITE
SEVAGRAM, WARDHA,
December 30, 1940
DEAR MR. LAITHWAITE,
I thank you for your letter3 of 27th instant, received yesterday.
Your letter raises a fundamental question. I can fully appreciate
the fact that His Excellency could only hold the view he does. The
1 Vide “Letter to Adolf Hitler”, 24-10-1940
2 Vide footnote 2, “Telegram to Sir J. G. Laithwaite; also the following item.
3 Vide footnote 2, “Telegram to Sir J. G. Laithwaite”, 24-10-1940
VOL. 80 : 28 DECEMBER, 1940 - 17 AUGUST, 1941 5
despair of Indian nationalists like me has been that British
functionaries could not be persuaded to see the other side of the
shield. And so the distance between them and nationalists is growing
in spite of all efforts to the contrary. The present struggle is the latest
attempt among many to induce the makers of the British Empire to
see things through nationalist eyes. Such attempt must be continued
till the truth is brought home to them. Why should they constitute
themselves the judges of their work among and on us? The ordinary
rule is that those should be the final judges who are the beneficiaries
and not the self-styled benefactors.But I must not enter into the
interminable discussion of a question on which the British rulers and
we must for the present differ.
But that difference can be no reason for gagging me. I sought
for the assistance because all the means of communication are under
the Government control. I was unprepared for the prohibition against
the Indian Press. I was prepared for the gag outside. His Excellency
must be the sole judge of the effect on the bona-fide war effort of my
letter to Herr Hitler being published in the world in the manner I had
intended. But I observe from your letter that the gag has been placed
not for reasons of high policy but because, in His Excellency’s
opinion, my characterization of British rule is not true to facts. This is
a dangerous doctrine of which the logical result would be suppression
of all honest opinion except at the will of the executive head of the
State or his deputy or deputies. This has evidently no bearing on the
war issue. I may draw His Excellency’s attention to the fact that the
sentiments expressed by me in the open letter to Herr Hitler are those
I have expressed often enough in the columns of Harijan and
elsewhere. My booklet called Hind Swaraj1 or Indian Home Rule
contains similar sentiments.
I should like to know, if I may, whether my interpretation of
your letter is correct.
I may mention that I had copies of the letter prepared for
distribution to the Press. But owing to the Press Adviser’s note I
refrained from distributing the copies. I have sent a copy only to my
son forbidding its publication for the time being. I do not want
surreptitious publication, nor do I want to resort to open defiance, so
1Vide “Hind Swaraj”, 22-11-1909
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long as it is at all possible consistently with the interests of the national
cause as I conceive it. I shall, therefore, anxiously await a line from
you.1
Yours sincerely,
M. K. GANDHI
From a microfilm: Lord Linlithgow Papers. Courtesy: National Archives of
India
9. LETTER TO GLADYS OWEN
SEVAGRAM, WARDHA,
December 30, 1940
MY DEAR GLADYS,
Your letter. Though we are crowded, I shall squeeze you in. Do
come on the 5th whenever you like.
Love.
BAPU
From a photostat: G. N. 6197
10. LETTER TO LAKSHMI SATYAMURTI
SEVAGRAM, via WARDHA,
December 30, 1940
MY DEAR LAXMI,
I must forgive you for writing in English. But you must hurry
up with your Hindi. Tell Father2, it will be a shame if he does not fully
recover during the rest he has imposed on himself.
Love.
BAPU
KUMARI LAKSHMI
C/O SHRI S. SATYAMURTI
TYAGARAYANAGAR
MADRAS
From the original: S. Satyamurti Papers. Courtesy: Nehru Memorial Museum
and Library. Also C.W. 10276. Courtesy: Government of Tamil Nadu
1 For the addressee’s reply; vide “Letter From Sir J. G. Laithwaite”, 4-1-1941
2 S. Satyamurti, a political prisoner, undergoing treatment in General Hospital,
Madras
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11. LETTER TO MOHAMMAD DILAWAR KHAN1
December 30, 1940
DEAR FRIEND,
Yes, Shri Khurshedbehn2 talked a great deal about you and your
kindness. May I send a Copy of your letter3 to your friends?
Yours sincerely,
M. K. GANDHI
From a copy: Pyarelal Papers. Courtesy: Pyarelal
12. LETTER TO MANILAL GANDHI
SEVAGRAM, WARDHA,
19404
CHI. MANILAL,
Sister Mary Barr is one of our hard working co-workers. Take
her home. Give her whatever help she needs.
Blessings from
BAPU
From a photostat of the Gujarati: G.N. 4916
13. LETTER TO CHIMANLAL N. SHAH
Silence Day [l940]5
CHI. CHIMANLAL,
Did you send for Mathuradas6 to explain to him his work? If
not, when do you intend to send for him?
Blessings from
BAPU
From a photostat of the Gujarati: G.N. 10662
1 Deputy Commissioner of Bannu, North-West Frontier Province
2 Khurshed Naoroji, grand-daughter of Dadabhai Naoroji
3 In this, dated December 24, the addressee had complained about the unhelpful
attitude of the local Congress Committee members in restoring law and order in the
area.
4 As in the source
5 In the G. N. series, the letter has been placed last among those of 1940.
6 Mathuradas Purushottam
8 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI
14. LETTER TO KRISHNA CHANDRA
[1940]1
CHI. KRISHNACHANDRA,
A measuring-tape is a good thing. We do not want to give up
everything modern. The tape needs some improvement. Assign the
work to Bharatanandji2 [for making] improvements in order to
facilitate its use by the rural folk. The rest will be done by
Sushilabehn. If it is possible it might perhaps be better to have all
water boiled. It is good to follow the rule to the extent possible.
According to the analysis of the experts the wells here remain polluted
throughout the year. That is another reason why there has been no
case of typhoid ever since boiled water began to be used.
BAPU
From a photostat of the Hindi : G.N. 4409
15. LETTER TO KASHINATH TRIVEDI
Tuesday, [1940]3
BHAI KASHINATH,
Received your letter. I am sending this much today. The booklet
is all right but the absence of the table of contents is a great fault. Let
Ramnarayan look after the Hindi Navajivan and you join the Ajmer
struggle. I would like that arrangement. You should not go till it
becomes absolutely necessary. At present, men are required there also.
Mahadev has gone.
Blessings from
BAPU
From a copy of the Gujarati : G.N. 5287
1 From the contents; vide letters to the addressee in “Letter to Krishnachandra”,
1-6-1940 and “Letter to Krishnachandra”, 1-6-1940
2 Maurice Frydman, a Polish engineer who became a follower of Gandhiji
3 From the reference to the Ajmer struggle; vide “Danger Signal”, “Letter to
Haribhau Upadhyaya”, 21-4-1940, “The Ajmer Trouble” and “Ajmer”
VOL. 80 : 28 DECEMBER, 1940 - 17 AUGUST, 1941 9
16. LETTER TO ARUN CHANDRA GUHA1
[On or before January 2, 1941]2
No quantity please. I can assure victory, if the quality is assured.
The battle has just begun, and it will be a long and arduous
affair.
The Hindu, 4-1-1941
17. LETTER TO K. SURYAPRAKASA RAO
January 2, 1941
You need not join the Society referred to in your letter. You can
remain independent and do some constructive work without joining
any society.3
With blessings.
Yours sincerely,
M. K. GANDHI
From a copy: C.W. 10384. Courtesy: K. Suryaprakasa Rao
18. LETTER TO KUNVARJI K. PAREKH
SEVAGRAM, via WARDHA,
January 2, 1941
CHI. KUNVARJI,
I was very happy to read your letter. Be careful about your diet
and safeguard your health. I am certain you will pay the money.4 How
is Kanti?
Blessings from
BAPU
From a photostat of the Gujarati: S. N. 9744. Also C. W. 724. Courtesy:
Navajivan Trust
1 The letter was in reply to the one from the addressee, Secretary, Bengal
Provincial Congress Committee, in connection with the preparation of a list of
satyagrahis in the province. The letter was reported under the date-line “Calcutta,
January 2”.
2 ibid
3 Vide also letter to the addressee, “Letter to Margarete Spiegel”, 9-7-1940
4 The addressee had contracted tuberculosis and was sent to Mysore Sanatorium
for treatment.
10 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI