Truth About India by Verrier Elwin

Author:Verrier Elwin [Elwin, Verrier]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, General
ISBN: 9781351859912
Google: cv2fDgAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2017-04-07T16:21:27+00:00

3. GANDHI’S SECOND TELEGRAM

I thank His Excellency for the wire in reply to mine of 29th instant. It grieves me, for His Excellency has rejected in a manner hardly befitting his high position an advance made in the friendliest spirit. I had approached as a seeker wanting light on questions in which I desired to understand Government version of very serious and extraordinary measures to which I made reference. Instead of appreciating my advance His Excellency has rejected it by asking me to repudiate my valued colleagues in advance by telling me that even if I” became guilty of such dishonourable conduct and sought an interview I could not even discuss these matters of vital importance to the nation. In my opinion, the constitutional issue dwindles into insignificance in the face of Ordinances and acts which must, if not met with stubborn resistance, result in utter demoralization of nation. I hope no self-respecting Indian will run risk of killing national spirit for doubtful contingency of securing a constitution, to work which no nation with stamina may be left. Let me also point out that as to Frontier Province your telegram contains a narration of facts which on face of them furnish no warrant for arrests of popular leaders, passing of extra-legal Ordinance making life and property utterly insecure, and shooting unarmed peaceful crowds for daring to demonstrate against arrests of their trusted leaders. If Khan Saheb Abdul Ghaffar asserted right to complete independence it was a natural claim and a claim made with impunity by Congress at Lahore in 1929 and by me with energy put before British Government in London. Moreover, let me remind the Viceroy that despite the knowledge on the part of Government that Congress mandate contained such a claim, I was invited to attend London Conference as the Congress delegate. Nor am I able to detect in a mere refusal to attend the Durbar a crime warranting summary imprisonment. If Khan Saheb was fomenting racial hatred it was undoubtedly regrettable. I have his own declarations to the contrary made to me, but assuming that he did foment racial hatred he was entitled to an open trial where he could have defended himself against the accusation. Regarding the United Provinces, His Excellency is surely misinformed, because there was no no-rent campaign authorized by Congress, but whilst negotiations were proceeding between the Government and the Congress representatives the time for collecting of rents actually arrived and rents began to be demanded freely. Congressmen were, therefore, obliged to advise tenants to suspend payment pending the result of negotiations, and Mr. Sherwani had offered on behalf of the Congress to withdraw this advice if the authorities on their own initiative suspended collections pending negotiations. I venture to suggest that this is not a matter which can be so summarily dismissed as your wire has done. The controversy in the United Provinces is of long standing and involves the well-being of millions of a peasantry known to be economically ground down.

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