Boxing and Mahatma Gandhi

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar, Professor, Editor and Linguist

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

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

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Boxing and Mahatma Gandhi

 

 

Boxing is one of the popular games of the world. Two people fighting each other by following some rules regulations. Mahatma Gandhi liked it very much. We published the report of a boxing match in America between a Negro and a white. Millions had assembled to enjoy the spectacle. Among them were both old and young, men and women, rich and poor, government officials and common citizens. Many of them had travelled all the way from Europe. What did they see? Two men were hitting each other and displaying their brute strength. The people of America went mad over this show, and America is reckoned a very civilized country! What did the spectators gain from this show? We can offer no satisfactory answer to this question. There are some who hold that the body is strengthened through demonstrations of this kind and people learn how to defend themselves. A little reflection will show that this is altogether a mistaken notion. It is, of course, good to harden the body, but that cannot be done through boxing matches in public. There are many other means, and natural ones, of strengthening the body. This is no more than a pretext. The truth of the matter is that people enjoy seeing a fight and give their adoration to physical strength only. They think nothing else can match it.

In thinking thus, they deny the soul and therefore deny God. The only epithet that can be applied to such a people is “barbarous”. There is very little to learn from them. We certainly do not wish to say that there were no such shows in ancient times. But everyone knew and admitted them to be barbarous. No wise men went to them. They were attended only by boys and woolly-headed young men. On the other hand, the show in America was attended by grown-up people. Lengthy telegrams were dispatched to newspapers at a huge cost. The reports were followed with interest by millions. Thus, the show was not looked upon as something uncivilized; on the contrary, it was regarded as a mark of civilization. This, in our view, is the extreme limit of barbarism. However strong the bodies of Jefferies and Johnson, they may be reduced to wrecks in an instant. They will then be of little use. It is doubtful if the millions who had assembled at the show ever thought of this even in their dreams. 1 

The parties appear in Nagpur to be equally matched. Even so, they will soon find that perpetual boxing is not a profitable performance. Surely there are sane Hindus and sane Mussalmans enough in Nagpur to adjust their differences and forget past wrongs, Attacks on isolated individuals is a new development like the desecration of temples. Most quarrels are of a momentary nature and are due to excitement over some trifles. But attacks on individuals who have done no wrong are evidence of calculation and prearranged plans on either side. But I must forbear till we have an authorized version from both parties. I can only hope that the saner members will leave no stone unturned to come to amicable and lasting terms. 2 

As soon as we landed, some youngsters recognized me and shouted ‘Gandhi, Gandhi’. About half a dozen men rushed to the spot and joined in the shouting. Mr. Laughton feared that the crowd might swell and hailed a rickshaw. I had never liked the idea of being in a rickshaw. This was to be my first experience. But the youngsters would not let me get into it. They frightened the rickshaw boy out of his life, and he took to his heels. As we went ahead, the crowd continued to swell, until it became impossible to proceed further. They first caught hold of Mr. Laughton and separated us. Then they pelted me with stones, brickbats and rotten eggs. Someone snatched away my turban, whilst others began to batter and kick me. I fainted and caught hold of the front railings of a house and stood there to get my breath. But it was impossible. They came upon me boxing and battering. The wife of the Police Superintendent, who knew me, happened to be passing by. The brave lady came up, opened her parasol though there was no sun then, and stood between the crowd and me. This checked the fury of the mob, as it was difficult for them to deliver blows on me without harming Mrs. Alexander. 3

It was open to the Viceroy to disarm me by freeing the poor man’s salt, tax on which costs him five annas per year or nearly three days’ income. I do not know outside India anyone who pays to the State Rs. 3 per year, if he earns Rs. 360 during that period. It was open to the Viceroy to do many other things except sending the usual reply. But the time is not yet. He represents a nation that does not easily give in, that does not easily repent. Entreaty never convinces it. It readily listens to physical force. It can witness with bated breath a boxing match for hours without fatigue. It can go mad over a football match in which there may be broken bones. It goes into ecstasies over blood-curdling accounts of war. It will listen also to mute resistless suffering. It will not part with the millions it annually drains from India in reply to any argument, however convincing. The Viceregal reply does not surprise me. 4

 

References:

 

1. Indian Opinion, 23-7-1910
2. Young India, 4-9-1924
3. Chapter III: THE TEST
4. Young India, 12-3-1930