Anand T Hingorani & Mahatma Gandhi

Brief introduction & letters by Mahatma Gandhi

4/8/2014 Compiled By Deepak Ramchandani

Anand T Hingorani & Mahatma Gandhi

The Salt March, also mainly known as the Salt Satyagraha, began with the Dandi March on 12 March 1930, and was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a direct action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider Civil Disobedience Movement. This was the most significant organised challenge to British authority since the Non-cooperation movement of 192022, and directly followed the Purna Swaraj declaration of independence by the Indian National Congress on 26 January 1930. There were 80 first participants who joined Dandi March in year 1930, Anand T Hingorani was the only participant from Sindhi who was 24 years of age at that time. Anand T. Hingorani (1907), graduated from the Bombay University in 1929. He became an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi at an early age of 13 during the Non-co-operation movement of 1920 against the British rule, when he pledged himself to Swadeshi and life-long Khadi-wear. At the age of 22, Hingorani personally came under the magic spell of Gandhi, when the latter visited Sind in February 1929. He came into still closer touch with the Mahatma when he attended the Lahore Congress in December 1929 There he was invited by Gandhi to join his Ashram Sabarmati. Hingorani gave

up his law studies and became the inmate of Gandhi's Ashram in the first week of January 1930. In the Salt Satyagraha of 1930, Hingorani was the only one from Sind to join Gandhi's historic Dandi March, in the course of which he was chosen by Gandhi himself to be his Personal Secretary for some time. Hingorani participated in all the Civil Disobedience movements of Gandhi and courted imprisonment for no less than five times. He also did Harijan, village and social work for several years, and was also the Editor of Gandhi's Harijan Weekly for a brief period. Being a lover of Gandhi's writings from his very student days, he conceived an idea of collecting and systematising Gandhi's scattered writings under suitable heads in a series of attractive volumes. Gandhi highly appreciated his idea and blessed his effort. As a result, Hingorani launched his "Gandhi Series" in 1941, under which more than 50 titles have come out so far and met with unstinted acclaim all over the country and even abroad. Hingorani was fortunate to have enjoyed Gandhi's love in abundance. He is now 92, but even at this advanced age, he is energetically pursuing the mission of his life-to spread Gandhi's message all over the world. In 1941 Hingorani launched the 'Gandhi series' of 24 volumes by collecting Gandhiji's scattered writings and compiling them, with the blessings of Gandhiji himself. Letter wrote by Mahatma Gandhi to Anand T Hingorani Anand T. Hingorani was a one of the close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He lived with him in his ashrams. He discussed with Mahatma Gandhi on every important issues of life and problems. He requested to Mahatma Gandhi for daily thoughts. He collected it and published in a book. Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I could not trace your previous letter. If you will kindly write to me again putting the questions that you did in your previous letters, I shall try to answer your questions. Letters written by Mahatma Gandhi to Anand Hingorani from June-1926 to December-1947 1 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I remember having received during this tour the letter you refer to but travelling along with me it got itself lost in a pile of papers and escaped my attention altogether. Pray, forgive me. You certainly have my blessings, both you and your wife, and may you have a happy long life dedicated to the service of the motherland. So far as I can see, you were right

in leaving your fathers house and your father is also right in saying that you may not have it all your own way so long as you depend upon him even for maintaining you. My own feeling is that no boy is fit to be married so long as he is not capable of maintaining himself and is actually not so doing. I feel that even if a grown-up young man is living in his fathers house he should contribute his quota of labour to the household and earn his living so that both father and son feel interdependent and free to sever the joint life whenever either party so desires it. I do hope that you will not take up railway service. If you can put up with a life of hard toil you can certainly come to the Udyoga Mandir, see the thing for yourself and if it suits you, you can remain there. And if you can become acclimatized there your wife may follow. The law of the Udyoga Mandir requires strict celibacy even between husband and wife and therefore if your wife comes she would be expected to live apart from you. But if the Udyoga Mandir is too rigorous for you, you can still be accommodated in some national service if you will be content with a humble salary. 2 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Well written but this expensive note -book is of foreign make, I fear. You must learn to be thrifty. One pice ill spent is so much gone out of the pockets of the poor where it should belong. 3 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I hope that your firmness will last and will increase day after day. Take no hasty step and do not try to coax your wife to come. If she comes she must do so of her own absolutely free will. You know too that she will have to live separately from you. Let her also know that the impending struggle may upset all arrangements and may result in her having to go back soon. I hope you are keeping as well in body as you seem to be in mind. 4 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You are a good young man of promise. If the surrounding atmosphere responds, it will be well with you. I hope to go through your other diary. Look at my remarks on your who am I. 5 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You do not tell me how you fared physically. I have already written to you. I am glad Vidya is with you and has seen a little of the Ashram life. Tell me how you are in mind and body. 6 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I am glad you are feeling well in both body and mind. The greater your moral progress the greater will be Fathers reconciliation and happiness. The only way to serve elders and for that matter anybody else is to do the right thing without ostentation and never to feel irritated. I know this is more easily said than done. But it has got to be done. 7 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Of course you are in your place being there. If you are uniformly gentle, you will win Father over completely. You must not damage your health by denying yourself the food you may need. You may not accept

furniture that you do not need from Father but you should ask him to send you something that it will please him to send you and that you may need. You should have no hesitation in asking Father for gifts and should not take it ill if he refuses to give them. 8 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, The best way you can return Mothers love is to deny yourself the joy of her company and personal service to her. Till Father wants you under his roof, you are better away from home. I am sure mother will feel happy in the thought that you are doing well in body and mind. At the same time you should shed all irritation against Father. Do not count against him every remark he may make about you. You must cultivate a big heart. And then you will find that Father will be reconciled to you the sooner for your broadmindedness. 9 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You wont tire me at all. Jairamdas says you still do not feel that you are supporting yourself. You should throw off this tenderness. What you are getting is not a donation; it is what you earn. He who gives his best to the work he takes up and gets what he needs for living, earns it. If you were leading a luxurious life and getting paid for it, I would myself say that you were not living correctly. You must therefore get rid of this sensitiveness. I am glad you had all those precious hours with Jairamdas. The way to cultivate faith in God is to recognize our nothingness and thus be humble as a particle of dust. You know the prayer to Mother Earth in our morning verses. The best of us at his very best is a tiny thing and utterly helpless. And yet we are not so helpless the moment we know that we are sparks `from the Divine which is in us. Faith does not come from reason. Faith believes. Believe in God because those whose names we hold sacred have believed and testified. You will keep up a respectful correspondence with Father even though you may scent coldness on his part at times. 10 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Depression overtakes you because you think too much about things other than the task before you. This is a sign of unfaithfulness; you will cease to worry about any other thing the moment you realize that you are to devote yourself body, mind and soul to the duty undertaken by you. Truth demands this. 11 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I hardly think they have been intercepted. I have answered all your questions. I do hope you will get them all. For avoiding constipation try green leafy vegetables and tomatoes only without any protein food for two or three days. This plan has worked well with me. Alternatively try stewed French plums without anything else.

12 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Before you can throw off tenderness you will have to realize that it is bad. I am quite clear that you should not take Rs. 25 for clearing the debt to Father-in-law. There is no hurry about paying it off. It is good for you to nurse the feeling that you should pay. As you become hardy, you might save something out of Rs. 75. But you may not deny yourself necessaries. You will have an opportunity later of being able to repay the debt. 13 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, The problem you present is incredibly simple. With all your faults and limitations, you should unreservedly offer your and Vidyas services to Father whenever he can accept them. Only you must not interpose yourself between Father and Mother. If he wishes to retire for a while or longer you need not grieve. It is a natural and proper thing. It would be better if he took some social or humanitarian service. There need be no question of his approaching you or youre him. Let him know that you are his forever. The rest will be easy. As for your distraction the greater your faith in God and youre losing yourself in your task, the greater will be the inner peace. 14 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Your reply to Jairamdas is correct. But now that Vidyas people will not take back the money, the immediate problem is solved. Your idea to treat it as a gift to the nation is quite good. The right course now is so to shape and simplify your life that you will not henceforth have to fall back upon either father for pecuniary help. For the past you need not think of returning debt to the nation in coin but return it in kind, i.e., through your joint labour. And when you dedicate yourselves wholly to the nation you have repaid the debt. Is this clear? There is no question of being physically near me whilst you are out. If you become a prisoner again, even then there is only a remote possibility. Your satisfaction must be derived from serving not me personally but what I stand for. 15 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Why did you fall ill? You should make your mind and body disease-proof. I am glad you came in such close touch with Mirabehn. I expect to hear all about your experiences. I hope the illness has now entirely left you. 16 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I understand your craving. Some day let us hope you will have that satisfaction. Meanwhile write when you can. I will translate the speech for you some day. But not just now as you cannot publish it. A prisoner cannot write such things for publication. 17 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, The description of your sisters wedding was interesting. I hope that her husband has nothing of the spirit of the Sindhi youth who are reported to be cruelly exacting in their demands upon the parents of their wives. You will be naturally anxious to come to me. But I hope

you will restrain yourself as you are wanted there. So long as you are wanted, you must not think of coming to me. If I am able to settle down anywhere for a time, Vidya may come and be under observation for her health and complete her Hindi besides imbibing what there might be from the surrounding atmosphere. 18 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I hear all about you regularly through Mirabehn and occasionally through Jairamdas. I know that you are refraining from writing to me purely out of pity for me. I should not consider fathers letter disappointing. I think that he took up the correct position. But Jairamdas tells me that later he modified his view. I think that it is a sound rule for people who are well-to-do not to go to their friends living in public institutions except when they are ready to make a grant to those institutions at least equal to what their visit to such institutions might have cost them. It need not be done offensively and can be done gracefully. If father had simply come or sent your mother or your sister and asked them quietly to slip into your pocket a hundred-rupee note, it would have been still more correct. You must not be or feel feeble either in body or in mind. Nothing has to be done beyond your resolute refusal to feel weak. There was no foot-burn to be healed. The whole thing was a creation of the reporters imagination. It is good for Vidya to continue the diet of milk and fruit and even fruit alone if milk disagrees, till she has a real hunger and appetite for other food. But if she can go to Bombay for treatment under a nature-cure expert, it would, of course, be better. You must not consider yourself ill-starred. Think of the many millions who have not the opportunities that God has provided for you. It is the height of ingratitude to the Maker for anyone to consider him ill-starred. You must shake yourself free of this pessimism that overtakes you so often. 19 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I met Jairamdas yesterday and he told me that Vidya was worse and that milk was not agreeing with her. That was quite likely and I had, I think, in Karachi suggested that she might live on fruit alone for some time. But the very best thing is for her to put herself under the treatment of the nature-cure physician of Poona about whom I talked to Jairamdas and about whom Jairamdas has already written to you. I do not know him personally but I have great faith in Dr. Khambatta, whom the Poona physician treated for suspected cancer. You must not lose time over Vidyas treatment. 20 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I was so glad to see Vidya. She was looking very well indeed. I am now sending for your help, not for publication, a rendering of my speech on God. It is only a fragment of a fuller thing in Y. I. which you should see, if you have not already.

21 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, It was indeed good news that Father stayed with you. That must be enough. It is unreasonable to expect coincidence of views. Mutual respect and toleration is the only thing one may expect and for ones own part cultivate. Vidya must write regularly. You have said nothing about her. I hope you are getting more and more composed in mind. 22 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, They say dreams go by contraries. Naturally, therefore, there was nobody and no prisoner and no trial. The more we merely think of the duty in front of us the greater is the satisfaction from it. Absorption in the immediate duty is like brahmacharya, peace-giving and invigorating. 23 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I have come very near Vidya. She knows her course of action but has not enough courage to take it cheerfully. But she is struggling most bravely and I think successfully. She sits by me all the time I am at the Ashram. But she is not likely to see me tomorrow. And she will probably leave for Wardha tomorrow night. You need not worry about her. I do not know what can be sent you next week. If it is at all possible, I shall certainly send something. 24 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You must get rid of this malaria fiend root and branch. I do hope you did not overtax yourself in going to Multan. Vidya is opening out. She is no longer moody; has walks with me. She likes the club arrangement. She is keeping good health and so is Mahadev. You are not to have any anxiety about her. She is absorbing herself in useful service today. She is doing some serving for me. She is having her English lessons regularly. She got me to write to your mother a long letter. She churned her butter for the first time today. Therefore trust her to God. 25 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You have given me a good account. I can see from it how delighted Devdas must have been to receive news from an eye-witness. But I must confine this letter to the bombs which you say have burst upon you. You must not exaggerate things that come from Father. You have to be prepared for these things, and if you will but keep calm and yet firm, all the clouds will vanish. You should talk gently but firmly to both the parents and tell them that you must be allowed to regulate your future. They have given you a liberal education. They may not now quarrel with the fruits thereof. Having made your position absolutely clear in as humble a manner as possible, you should take your own line of action. You may avoid arrest in Karachi. After all, Hyderabad is your scene of action, and there you will act in consultation with friends. One thing you should avoid as a good satyagrahi. You may not consult your convenience or predilections in choosing the scene of action. You should therefore, dismiss the idea of courting arrest somewhere near Wardha. You may not do it outside Sind. It would be inconsistent with the spirit of Satyagraha. I

have discussed the whole situation with Vidya, and I think she agrees with me. I did not have to reason with her, but she volunteered the statement that when she resigned herself to your seeking imprisonment and her remaining in Wardha, she concurrently resigned herself not to see you during your incarceration. It would be enough, she said, if you are permitted to write to her as, of course, you would be, and I think that is the correct position even though you may not seek arrest in Karachi. Vidya is really getting on excellently. She does not look moody; she is not morbid and is feeling more and more cheerful. And I expect you too to be cheerful and to write cheerful letters to her. 26 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I got both your letters at the same time, i.e., last night. I am glad of your closer bond with Jairamdas. May it ever grow closer? It gives me great joy to find Jairamdas agreeing with me. He never agrees except through his whole heart. I know that I retain Dr. Choithrams devotion even when I cannot secure his agreement with my views. And I do not want his or anybodys mere mechanical assent to my proposals. Vidya will have to be both gentle and firm with Mahadev whilst he is growing. To bring up children is a great art. Vidya must master it. For the time being you should both be in Karachi. After I reach Patna, I shall know whether you are wanted. If you are, I shall send for you. If not, what to do will be considered. A paper which requires security to be given is no good. I am quite clear that no paper is wanted today. I think I have answered all your questions. 27 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I do not know that I owe a ny letters to you. I would love to have you with me, but you must bide your time. In the first place you must not come to me till your health is proof against disease in this trying tour. Chandrashankar got ill twice and he had finally to go for recuperation. Therefore get well and report. Meanwhile do what khadi and Harijan work you can there and make your knowledge of Hindi better than it is. The more you read my statement the more you will like it. It is no reflection on anybody. The step was inherent in Satyagraha at this stage. More when we meet. 28 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You see what I am doing. When you are well and can walk easily 10 miles per day and rough it in the villages you will come. Meanwhile you must assiduously study Hindi and card and spin. 29 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Jeramdas has supplemented it with news about both you and Vidya. I understand that you need Rs. 50 per month from July to October and thereafter would need Rs. 100 per month. I shall arrange for this sum to be paid to you. I want you to reduce your wants at least to the Ashram standard but not at the sacrifice of your or Vidyas or Mahadevs health. You should get yourself examined by a competent doctor and put your body in order. Concentrate on your work to the exclusion of everything else. If you do

this you will derive the keenest joy from it and that will by itself be a great help towards re-building your body. 30 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You have given me a tragic tale of your woes. That a little ringworm should develop into a frightful thing passes comprehension. Generally speaking it yields to simple treatment inside of two or three days. Have you not placed yourself under a competent doctor? And you ought not to trifle with your piles. It is a very simple operation, and if a competent surgeon advises that you should go through the operation at once you should do so without demur. I see that your letter is dated the 16th instant. It was received only yesterday. Evidently the letter takes a long time to reach Karachi and therefore I am sending the following telegram: Hope ringworm cured. Under surgical advice undergo piles operation immediately. You can publish the message on God. If you like you can copy the full text from Young India. As you know, selections from Young India have been published in book form. This message is among the selections. I am not writing separately to Vidya, but she ought to. I hope she and Mahadev are all right. Unless you are in a hurry I want to delay sending funds till Jamnalalji is discharged from the hospital or till he is in a position to transact business. 31 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I am looking forward to seeing you with Jairamdas as soon as you are discharged. But dont worry the doctors over your discharge. Let there be a complete recovery. I must not attempt to write to Vidya just now as I want every minute that I can spare. 32 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Matriculates and others should labour with their hands and earn an honest livelihood. A student should refuse to marry and brave all difficulties till he has the urge for marriage. 33 Father has just seen me. He has decided to work for the A. I. V. I. A. He is full of hope. He offers to build for you a floor over the present house wherein you can live your own independent life, and wishes to support you too. I want you to accept the proposal. I hope you will take care of yourself and be thoroughly restored. 34 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I understand the situation. You must get out of Fathers house without bitterness or reproach. Mother you cannot help. Your interference can only make matters worse. If she would leave his roof, you can take her in. Your maintenance will be all right. Payment from me can be returned. You need not enter into his private life. Vidya should get well at once. Write to me when you have taken up separate abode. Let Jairamdas share this with you and write to me.

35 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, And this is second reply. You must be weak. You must stick to your work at any cost. Your maintenance will come. I am glad Vidya has gone to Multan. 36 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, What nonsense! What more encouragement did you and Vidya need beyond saying you may come? Come both of you or one of you whenever you like. Have of me what is possible. 37 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, No matter how weak a person is in body, if it is a shame to flee, he will stand his ground and die at his post. This would be nonviolence and bravery. 2. No matter how weak he is, he will use what strength he has in inflicting injury on his opponent and die in the attempt. This is bravery but not non-violence. 3. If when his duty is to face danger, he flees, it is cowardice. 4. In the first case the man will have love or charity in him. In the 2nd and 3rd cases there would be dislike or distrust and fear. 38 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I must dictate this if I am to reach you at all today. It is bad Thing these continuous attacks for Vidya. I hope that the special treatment at Delhi did well. It would certainly be good if you could accept Valjis invitation. I am glad, too, that you have hope from your Harijan work in Karachi. Personally I am opposed to taking cost of clothing for Harijans. I refuse to treat them as forelorn paupers. And when I have to provide anything in the shape of clothing, I always resort to khadi but it is not possible to lay down a law for all. You must, therefore, use your own judgment in every case of this kind and do what appears to you to be proper or refer to Jairamdas. And when in doubt always err on the right side. 39 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, The pamphlets are well got up. I am glad that From Yeravda was sold out so quickly. You must not allow your constipation to persist. You must take serious steps to get rid of it not by drugging yourself but by proper dietetics. Wheat bread, prunes, pure and raw milk and plenty of leafy vegetables raw and cooked ought to see you through. I have a letter from Vidya, which still waits answering. I do hope she is getting on well. 40 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Of course you come when you can. Only here in the Harijan colony you may be crowded out. There will be an influx of visitors presently. And of me you will have precious little in the way of talking. Hope you are both getting well. 41 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, How could you be so cruel to Vidya or her to you and herself and to her progeny? Must love find such unlovely expression! Or are the protagonists of contraceptives justified in their furious advocacy of them? Can love not deny itself? Has it no such power? Or is there absence of love where there is absence of self-restraint? sic Or is love powerless before the

demands of animal passion? You and Vidya are embodiments of emotion. Should emotion take such undesirable turns? What is done cannot be undone. You have now to nurse the child to maturity and nurse Vidya to such health as may be still her lot. That is the least you would do. But I ask you to consider calmly the questions I have framed. If Vidya had no appetite but she could not resist your approach, I would far rather tolerate bigamy than a stormy satisfaction of the animal in you through a helpless mate. I am powerless to say more or to say anything less. You will share this with Jeramdas. I am not writing to him separately. 42 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I am not angry. I am filled with pain and dismay. Your letter does not mend matters. If you felt for Vidya, your duty was clear even if she was the temptress. You were the guardian of her health. What I stated about contraceptives was not to suggest that you believed in them. It was the measure of my grief that if noble natures like you could not exercise self-restraint, the case for contraceptives came to wear the robe of respectability. Suppose I yield so to some temptation or pity and a frail woman conceives, will not the case for contraceptives seem to be overwhelming? The difference between the two cases will be only one of degree except that my fall will be infinitely more unpardonable than yours. You must be as practical as you are sentimental; otherwise your sentiment will be nonsensical and may easily become a weakness and a vice. Of course poor Vidya has my blessings. Let his name connote your and Vidyas victory over the flesh. 43 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I am sorry for Vijays death and yet not quite so. He came to punish man and discharge his debt. His task having been finished the poor infant has gone. Let us shed a tear. My blessing was not available for the act. It was and is ever available for you and Vidya. And if it means anything let it be a shield against repetition of the blunder. Your case has turned me upside down. Both of you have led me to bank so much upon you. I do not yet despair. 44 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, The hardness of my heart is only apparent. I would not apply hair oil to a wound from which Kanu was suffering. He howled. I was unbending. I was cruel, the boy had enough! But in truth I was kind. What is the use of my calling you here without cause? Your agony is mental. Brothers and sisters often live apart and are happy. Husband and wife do likewise when a joint life becomes impossibility. Even Vidyas illness is no cause for grief. You must therefore learn to be brave and cheerful in the face of domestic or other affliction. I do hope Vidya will become well. A cooler climate after April will no doubt be necessary.

45 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Your writing is good. It can be improved. I feel sorry for Vidya. But we have to be patient in everything. I have sent you a telegram. Do take Vidya to a hill-station what is the matter with Jairamdas? Why does he not write? 46 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Vidya must quietly stay there, whether she gets well or not. You cannot find a better place than Bhowali. It is good for the child also. Both of you should study the Ramayana and understand it properly. 47 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Your handwriting is better than Vidyas. The Hindi is also good. If you try a little more, you will have a fairly good knowledge of Hindi. In Nainital you should also have enough practice in speaking Hindi. Have some practice also in reading Hindi. Read a Hindi newspaper and the Ramayana. You will be doubly benefited by reading Harijan Sevak. 48 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I like your decision. It is not at all bad to do business to earn ones living. It is the duty of a son to fulfil the desire of his father unless it is impure. Fathers desire that you do some business and stand on your own feet is proper. I believe that a person who earns his living and supports his family by honest means also renders service to the nation. Therefore I want you to do your business with interest. Make Father happy and while doing your business render service to Harijans as far as possible. Whatever money you send to me I will digest. But if you are unable to send any, I shall not starve. Do as it suits you. 49 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Why English? I thought you wanted a few lines for some book. What can I say about the whole series? Shall I praise a collection of my own writings? My blessings are always with you. Why are you not satisfied with this? 50 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Therefore neither the telegram nor the letter was of any use. You have always my blessings in whatever you do. Pyarelal wrote to you a few lines, so why do you feel hurt? I am busy over so many activities that I am unable to cope with them. So even if you get a few lines you should be glad. I am sorry to learn about your ears. Accept Gods will. As for the book, do as you think proper. It is good that you have good relations with Father. Come whenever you want. Be happy. Serve according to your capacity. 51 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Amtul Salaambehn is proceeding to Sind to give her life in preventing the murders that are taking place in Sind. She is to go to some Muslim friend and will appeal to Haji Sir Abdulla Haroon to help her in the attempt. You will help her in every way. Take her to Kikibehn also and do everything you can for her.

52 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Your ears are getting worse and worse; it is not good. There is a place in Bombay where I want to send you for treatment. If you can come soon, write to me. Here are a few words: I like the idea of collecting my writings under suitable heads as has been done by Anand Hingorani. The reader cannot but appreciate the labour he has given to securing attractive printing and binding. 53 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Non-violent conduct requires toleration of and even generosity towards the opponent whether he is father or any other. Contrary conduct is a species of violence. Most of our difficulties arise from our ignorance. Unregulated sentiment is waste like unharnessed steam. 54 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You have to learn the art of not feeling pained at anything. That means absence of feeling of pleasure. The more you cultivate that equimindedness, the better instrument you will be of service. 55 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Your imagination is your enemy. You gave me no cause for displeasure. Then what right had you to think that I was displeased? At least refrain from taking things for granted. I was on the spot to be asked and I would have made you laugh. Now dont do it again. Giving t he portrait of your sister would look vulgar. But if it would please Father then you may even be vulgar. You send him my opinion. 56 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Since you have written in English I answer likewise. You must cease to grieve. You should summon to your aid all you have read and digested. Here is a true thought a lady has sent me. Inwardly digest it. Vidya is not dead. She has gone elsewhere leaving the body which she was in habiting and taking another suitable to her estate. Of course, you will come when you have finished the course of treatment. I am making slow progress. 57 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You must not brood over Vidyas death nor get disconcerted. If she was the inspiration of your life whilst she was in the flesh, she must be more so having gone to her resting place. That to me is the meaning of the true union of souls. The classic example is that of Jesus and, in modern times, of Ramakrishna. They became greater influences after their death. Their spirit did not die, nor is Vidyas dead. You must, therefore, leave off sorrowing and think of your duty in front of you. Do not think of running to me whilst you are having your treatment and whilst I am having mine. You will come when I go to Sevagram. 58 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Vidya was a very virtuous woman. She had a golden heart and a keen urge for sacrifice. Her love was as vast as the ocean. You have to live up to her expectations.

59 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Gods grace descends on those who do His work. You have to do Gods work. Do you ever ply the charkha? Plying the charkha constitutes the greatest yajna. You should ply it even while weeping. Meditate over this today. Do as Pandit Shiv Sharma have directed. He has prescribed harmless remedies. 60 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, One can do anything when one is peaceful and happy. But the charkha is the support and solace of the unhappy and the hungry. You must not abandon it when you are in grief. I shall write to Kewalramani. Get me to do so in the afternoon. 61 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You should make your time-table so as not to leave a moment free. That is the real love for the departed. Look at the Englishmen. They also love their dear ones. But they devote themselves to service all the more when they lose their dear ones. 62 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, We do not know if the dead send anything to the living; but the living do. Hence we should never weep after their death. Gods grace is gained by doing His work. This is done by serving the afflicted in thought, word and deed. 63 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Consider what a poor man would do in your situation. He would labour twice as much if he lost his wife. He too is a devotee of God. The inner joy comes from doing Gods work. We should place ourselves in the position of the poor. You should look upon your deafness as a gift from God. Even a moments idleness should be looked upon as theft of Gods treasure. I know no other way to inner or outer happiness. Do you follow all this? Or would you like me to write in English? The best way to celebrate the date is for you to devote yourself wholly to spinning or some ashram labour of your choice and connect Ramanama with it. 64 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Today is an auspicious day for you. I had often made Vidya cry. She would weep like you and implore me to give her Gods vision. I chided her and told her to see God in the charkha and not expect to see Him merely by sitting near me. She understood it in the end. We are machines as well as mechanics. The body is the machine and the soul the mechanic. Today you have to take machine-like work from your body and render an account to me. 65 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, A man can positively see God through the object of his meditation. The charkha is the best symbol and it produces tangible results too. Institutions like the Ashram, etc., thrive because one needs the support of others. Physical nearness is not always necessary for such support. Some find it

through correspondence, some through meditation and still others through the noble words of the dead, just as we meet Tulsidas every day. 66 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, There is no harm in sitting near me but on such occasions do ply the takli as Mahadev and Kripalani used to do. Then you will not be stealing from Gods time. The takli is our silent companion. Without making any noise it keeps turning out yarn which the world needs. While plying the takli we can see and hear everything. I would go so far as to believe that with Gods grace, being absorbed in this sacrificial activity even your hearing may be restored to you. But if you become such a karma yogi, you would hardly care for your ears. The guru in the form of a monkey shuts his ears deliberately since the surrounding noise comes in his way. 67 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, The secret of my peace and sense of humors lies in my unflinching faith in God, that is, Truth. I know that by myself I can do nothing. How can I be unhappy when God dwelling within me impels my every act? I know too that whatever He makes me do is ultimately for my own good. I should be happy in this awareness. If God has taken away Ba, it is for her good as well as mine. Hence Bas loss should not cause me grief. And so also you should consider it a sin to grieve over Vidyas death. 68 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Be engaged in more physical work. By all means carry on your studies and teaching but work a lot on the takli and charkha. Clean the vegetables. Participate in the work of the Ashram and see God in whatever you do, since God is omnipresent. 69 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, From yesterdays experience learn the lesson that you are not to go anywhere alone. Take someone along with you maybe a boy or, say, a girl. And keep yourself absorbed in a lot of physical work. Weeping is no good. Be cheerful like Nandini. 70 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I have come to the conclusion that in your present state you had better stay here and try to come out of your shell. You will do justice to Vidya when you forget her and in so doing your true love for her will reveal itself. Your ears are connected with your mind. Maybe, if you devote all your time to service your ears will open up. Take interest in all the activities of the Ashram and mix with everybody. 71 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Yes, you can take out what you want from my writings. This work is good but you must do a lot of physical work. It is very harmful to keep thinking of Vidya and go on weeping. That remembrance is good which elevates the atman and awakens it. The nature of atman is sat (truth) chit (awareness from heart, duly experienced) and ananda (bliss). The test of both lays in bliss the inner bliss which finds outward expression. If you

do not get peace here it would be better to go to Andhradesh early. I believe there you will get satsang and treatment as well. If you do not, leave the place. 72 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Nandini is living, having been brought up by her grandmother. Her mother had died after giving birth to her. Therefore it was my duty to distribute bananas. The memory of Vidya makes you cry and therefore it will be mere attachment if you distribute bananas. If you want to do something for Vidya, I should advise you not to buy bananas but save the amount for those who are really famished. One has to act keeping in mind the individuals concerned. This is the test of good behaviour. Give each one according to his deserts. 73 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Your duty is obvious. Father is of course being looked after. You must try to get well. You will stay here or go to Andhra only to persist in this effort. Mother though alone is not helpless. Your son is being looked after. Separation has to be endured. God willing you will get well and all those who are separated today will be united. Having realized this, give up worry and be cheerful with the conviction that God does everything and what He does is for our good. 74 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Weeping and laughing come from the heart. When grieved one weeps. One must turn that grief into joy and laugh. Hence the need for Ramanama. Surrender all to Him and there is only joy. Why grieve over the loss of hearing? You are saved from hearing a lot of drivel. What is relevant you get through the written word? Moreover I believe that if there is joy within, the ears will of themselves regain the power of hearing. 75 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I saw Vidyas mobile samadhi. It is good but I am inclined towards the simple and subtle. Let it be if you get peace and solace from it. It is also transient and if you can free yourself of attachment for it your love for Vidya will become further purified. You will better understand Vidyas true nature and your oneness will become clearer. A photograph shows difference. By identifying yourself with the unmanifest Vidya that is with her spirit non-difference can be attained. If you can keep the ashes in a little box which can be put in a pocket you may do so. You do not have to do this because I am saying so, but only if you yourself fully understand its meaning and its importance. Only then can it profit you. What I mean is your peace and your joy should increase more with this sacrifice. If this does not happen then let things be as they are. 76 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Do not take to heart what Mother says. All mothers say things like this. Laugh over it. To worship God in His invisible form, watch

the stars every night and look at the sun early in the morning. Mingle Vidya with the vision. Has not Vidya too gone up? The Saptarshi is there and so is the Arundhati. Though it is an imagination it helps. 77 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Inspect everything in Andhra and meet the patients. If you find anything lacking in the matter of sanitation report it to the doctor, undergo the treatment he advises and if you do not find it good come back. 78 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You are going not only to have your ears treated but for nature cure in a wider sense. My opinion is that your deafness is closely connected with the state of your mind. Nature cure includes mental activity. In this sense uttering Ramanama, reading the Gita, and so on, are parts of nature cure. Perhaps Rajujis centre will provide this. I have a feeling that Raju looks at nature cure in a spiritual way. You too should make such an effort. Give up all other thoughts. Go there determined that you will be cured and you will get back your hearing. Take the treatment that Raju advises and eat what he says you should. Do some reading and writing. Leave all thoughts of Vidya, Father, Mother, myself and Mahadev (son). You will be doing well to them all by giving up their thought. Detachment will help cure your ears. Do not think about the ears. Think about work. Try and remove the shortcomings you notice in Rajus centre. Get to know the patients there. Speak to Gokhale or Babaji. Learn the Gita from them. Learn Telugu. We from the North neglect the four Southern languages. It is a great mistake. In short you are going to Andhra for a new life. You must give there what you have taken from here and you have to bring here what you find there. Do spinning and other allied work regularly. What more? God is with you. 79 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, The more we trust in God the happier shall we be. The vaidyas, etc., are there, but they keep us away from God. That is why I preferred to send you three there. Nature cure treatment brings us nearer to God. Even if we give that up I have no objection but why should we avoid fasting? Nature cure treatment means going towards Nature, towards God. Let us see where I arrive. I shall do as I feel prompted. 80 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Let us hope that in the end you will all benefit by having gone there. I am not able to make out anything. Sharma has written a long letter. He is very confident. But if the doctor says that you can leave him and can continue the treatment at home then by all means come in February. You may do what you think proper. I am not going anywhere in February, but it is another matter. I am well. You three are in my thoughts.

81 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Why should you write in Hindi only to me? It is unnatural. You have time. Write in Hindi to those who know Hindi, in Sindhi to Sindhis and to others in English if you so wish. I have written to you that you may come by all means. And in my opinion it would be better if Gokhale and Babaji also came. Since it is all the same, why should we leave those two there? They also look upon that place as a prison. I have not sent them to jail. All three of you should come. Probably Amtul will arrive tomorrow. 82 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, (1) This pen belongs to Ba. (2) I like it but the question is how I can do it. (3) For you and Sarojini. She too is unhappy. Anand T. Hingorani .today they have to 1take to constructive work to reach the people. Can such people be taken into organizations doing constructive work? (5) Some want to use constructive work to mobilize people for violent revolution. Will they have a place in such organizations? (6) Is it the duty of the Congress to try and secure release of those convicted on charges of violence even if such people have not given up faith in the ways of violence? (7) Some feel you were hasty in condemning acts of sabotage that you have in a way disowned workers who had indulged in these acts, with the result that people have stopped giving help to their families. What do you have to say? (8) Some so-called Gandhian in Maharashtra not only condemns violent activities but even make fun of them which hurts the dignity of young men who were involved in these activities. 83 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Beware of the boy who is with you. Get some translations done so long as you do not receive something from Bhai Jivanji. How are you? 84 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, How is the boy sent from here? Does he work? How is it about your food? How do you feel? How are Father and Mother? I am all right. How is Bharat? 85 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, It is good you wrote to Jivanji. About your health I still feel it would have been better if you had stayed at Bhimavaram. Gokhale is there, and keeping well. Babaji is not there. He should have also stayed at Bhimavaram. Go there if you can. If there is peace in Karachi and your health is all right, then I have nothing to say. 86 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, How can I forget? Do I not have to write for you daily? I do not like your illness. There is danger in treating oneself. Do as I have written to Gangi. Now, when you go to Dr. Raju, take his treatment. Recover now with the doctors treatment. 87 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You will have received mine. Now I shall not so much as mention Bhimavaram. You got fever; the doctor came; now there is

nothing to say. Do as the doctor advises and get well. I am in correspondence with Jivanji. I am not free to do what I like. Whatever is done will be done with deliberation. 88 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Why the question when you will meet Vidya? Were you attached to Vidyas body? It had got to perish. If it was to the atman, then the atman is immortal. Shake off your sleep, wake up and you will see that Vidya is already with you. 89 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Since Jairamdas is out I see no need to write to you. Abha has kept one skein of yarn for you. Vidya was good but cannot take the place of God. I am an iconoclast. So I wanted you to forget Vidya. But we see God in numerous images. You have chosen to see God in the image of Vidya. So long as the delusion persists who can make you understand? If you can forget her easily do so. Then Vidya will rise and also you. Nowadays my movements are very uncertain. So please do not come. Stay there and recover and do what service you can. Jairamdas has gone to Lucknow taking Premi with him. 90 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You have to go inward to the heart and find peace there. What is the use of the peace you may find with me and which may then be lost? Stay on there, doing what you can and be at peace. Sushilabehn is in Bombay at present. She will be coming today or tomorrow. 91 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You cannot get peace from my letters or my presence. If you get any it will be transient. Peace cannot come from without. Peace is that which comes from within. Neither Vidya nor I can give that peace; God alone can. 92 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, My blessings are always with you. You will do much work after you recover. Think only of God. You will then have found Vidya and served her. 93 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, It is very good that your faith has increased and also your peace. I am writing the daily thought. I hope to complete what is left. After that I want to be quiet. 94 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I regret that your weakness persists as much as before. What can you do about it? Live as God wills. It will be good if the new lady brings you some peace. Do not regret your lack of hearing. Look upon it as a blessing. Address your letters to Poona or Sevagram.

95 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, He wishes happiness to you both and hopes you will serve the country. He hopes that marriage might improve your hearing. Bapu did not think it necessary to send a wire. Hope you are both well. 96 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, About youre falling down and breaking the toe, what shall I call it, the grace of God or your carelessness! If you had come here we would surely have found some time to talk. What will happen in Poona I do not know? I shall reach there on the 28th or 29th. Why should you cry when you have Gangi? Why should you not take it that in Gangi Vidya has returned to you? Now it is not a question of forgetting Vidya. Gangi is Vidyas image. She does as much work of service as Vidya did. She has married you at the instance of Vidya. What more do you want? Surrender all your worries to God and become carefree. 97 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I shall go to Uruli on the 1st. I shall return from there for the death anniversary of Tilak Maharaj. Again Uruli on 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th. Wardha on the 5th. These two days I am busy with the ministers. Such being the situation, how can I find time for a talk? I can meet you alone but the question is of finding the time. How much time do you want? I must have some idea. Come tomorrow at one oclock; I shall try. 98 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, You have not lost me. Gangi is a good girl. I am only hoping that you will not look upon her with lustful eyes and all will be well. The real peace has to come from within. Do not think of Vidya, the figure of flesh and blood, but of her permanent self. Steady your nerves and Gangi will be a tower of strength to you. 99 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I continue to write the Thought for the Day. It does not look good Mahadev being ill. I hope he has recovered by now. Your foot will be all right. I have not received the album yet. 100 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, I also got the notebook you have sent for the daily thoughts. This I am writing in the morning at 3 oclock. Your toe must be all right now. However many troubles you may have, you must be happy. What can I write about Mahadev? God will give him back his strength. I am writing to him. 101 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Dont worry if you have not been able to write to me. Gangi will not be able to do anything here. It is enough if she looks after you and does whatever she can from there. I think I have already written to you. 102 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, What do you two want to do in Delhi? I shall have little time to talk. I have become perfectly useless for such things now. If

success attends my effort in Bihar and Noakhali I shall live. Where would you want to stay in Delhi? Who are they? What is he doing? I do not know what is going to happen in Delhi. I have only two with me this time. Let us see. Supposing that your hearing is restored, why not the million deaf people also should have the restoration? And how would it benefit humanity? Do you know that Beethoven the great musician was deaf? You are worrying about nothing. But that is my view. You must do what you think is best for you. In your place I should welcome this deafness. You are spared much useless hearing. There is no harm in friends writing what they wish to tell you. 103 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, After the prayers and now I am d ictating this. I cannot answer all the questions. I can offer no solace to you. One who has lost faith in oneself has only Ramanama to fall back upon. So great is the value of repeating Gods name that one may die with it on ones lips and yet stand to gain. So my advice to you and Gangi is that you should do whatever you reciting His can name all the time. Everything about me is uncertain. 104 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, Is Gangi well? What foreword can I write for my writings? Ask someone else. If you want to go to America for your ear trouble, you may go. Why do you want my permission? One can do as one wish. I am returning the Press cutting. 105 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, If that is so, go to America and see what can be done about it. If you can appreciate the blessing of not hearing, then there is no need to go anywhere. What you need to know you can know with Gangis assistance.