For Global Peace with Social Justice in a Sustainable Environment

Anne Marie Petersen and Mahatma Gandhi

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar, Professor, Editor and Linguist

Gandhi International Study and Research Institute, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

E-mail- dr.yadav.yogendra@gandhifoundation.net;

dr.yogendragandhi@gmail.com

Mailing Address- C- 29, Swaraj Nagar, Panki, Kanpur- 208020, Uttar Pradesh, India

Anne Marie Petersen and Mahatma Gandhi

Anne Marie Petersen, who along with Esther, worked in South India; was an inmate of Sabarmati Ashram for some time. I was delighted to hear from you after a long absence. As soon as I heard that you wanted Miss Faering to join you during Xmas, I had no hesitation in saying that she should respond to your wish. I can thoroughly appreciate the Christian sentiment that friends and relations should gather together and have sweet communion during the Xmas season. I must confess to you that Miss Faering’s presence in the Ashram is uplifting for us all. She is such a good-natured loving girl with all the loftiest aspirations that anyone can be capable of. We are all looking forward to meeting her again. I only wish that she will be able to keep her health here and become a better and a stronger Christian for her presence at the Ashram. As I have so often told her, her living at the Ashram can be justified only if she not only retains undiminished her Christianity but that, in the environment of the Ashram, it becomes purer and more refined than ever before. I consider myself a Hindu of Hindus. I believe that I have a fine perception of the truth of Hinduism and the priceless lesson I have learnt from it is that I should not wish that others may become Hindus but that they become best specimens in their own faith. I hold an unfortified day cast in your lot with me here. Let not the Indian summer frighten you. I can easily arrange for you to pass the two hottest months of the year in a cool place. There are many such in India. They are not inaccessible. 1

I know that if you did not write it is not for want of affection but it is because of affection. I have you often in my thoughts. Yes, Maganlal’s death is a heavy blow, if I am to consider this to be a Godless universe and we a purposeless creation; but when I realize that the hand of God is in everything, the grief itself turns to joy and gives me zest for greater service, greater dedication. 2 It is not at all certain that I have launched on active politics. I do not know what part I have to play during the year. The next month will perhaps decide. You are needlessly anxious about my dietetic experiment. Believe me that experiment too is under God’s guidance as I understand it. You are quite right about the time-limit. Let us see what is in store for us at the end of the year. I am sorry that Esther is not yet quite restored. I knew about the operation for her appendicitis. Menon was expected to do no less than what he has been doing. However, I am glad that he has come up to the expectation. You have surmised well about the European visit. In 10 days I shall know definitely whether I am to go to Europe or not. But you are quite right. It would be only as a representative of free India that I should go to Europe. But here too God’s will be done. The Danish sisters are here. They have been here for the last 4 or 5 days. They are passing a week here at the Ashram. 3

I was delighted to hear from you after a long time. My collapse had nothing to do with my health. It was purely the welling up of emotion in me that overpowered me for the moment. This has happened to me more than once. I am keeping quite fit and there is no cause for anxiety. Do not stop writing for fear of taking up my time. Only don’t expect me always to reply. Had I gone to Europe I should certainly have sought out Esther and Menon. But God is great and merciful. At the right moment, he lifted the weight off my shoulders. 4 I enclose herewith letter from Esther which I have no doubt you will like and prize. We shall all look forward to their coming in autumn and it will be a great relief to me. Mary Barr wrote to me that she was likely to accompany you during your visit to Kashmir. I hope it is coming off and that it will do you good and give you a little bit of bracing air and rest to your tired limbs and mind. 5

Bapu was very glad to have your letter of 3rd inst. He is sorry he cannot write to you himself as he has been forced to further curtail his work owing to overstrain. In fact he has almost reached the limit of his capacity and has had nature’s warning signals which he cannot ignore. He does not want to undertake a fast, but he is faced with a moral dilemma and he is praying to God for light. He will not undertake the fast unless he has the clearest indication that it is the will of God. I hope you had a favourable response from the trustees of the Kasturba Memorial Fund with regard to your proposal about your school. What you write about Ba is but too true. You will certainly come whenever you feel like coming. 6 Why are you so foolish as to take in what a third party says? Kasturba is a wholly non-sectarian organization. Who was the third party who gave you to understand that only Hindus could apply? The thing has to come before me. It has not yet. If you have applied send me a copy of the application too. You know that Aryanayakam is a Christian? Raihana Tyabji is a trustee So much for the Trust. When there is independence, why should you fear the majority? If you have God with you and the majority have not, should you still fear and if both have God between them who should fear whom? Is there then any question of majority and minority? 7 I have got all your papers now. I see that it is nobody’s fault at the Centre. Anyway I am on the track now. 8

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