Discussion of Mahatma Gandhi with Dr. Rajendra Prasad

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

E-mail- [e-mail];

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

 

 

Discussion of Mahatma Gandhi with Dr. Rajendra Prasad

 

 

GANDHIJI: You won’t count nearness to Patna an advantage. We want to go to the village. Is Bihar going to drag us back?

RAJENDRA PRASAD: Time is very short, the city affords various conveniences, and there would be less expenditure. But that means that we change the policy we have been carrying out for the last three years? Why not Brindaban itself? Sonepur was discussed but it is a glorified village. I want you in the heart of a village. Don’t emulate Haripura and Faizpur. You should excel both in simplicity and in freedom from splendour. Visitors are a problem, especially in Bihar where we would have lakhs of them. You should make arrangements for them as the Aryasamajists do. They ask everyone to come with their provisions, lanterns and so on. They only provide them accommodation (under the trees) and water. For this last no water-works are necessary. Whatever you do, do not accept defeat and run to Patna. No need for electricity at all, and as we meet in winter no fans would be needed. Start work from 8 to 11, and then from 2 or 3 to 7. A little winter’s sun would be more agreeable than otherwise. No, you must try your best to change your decision for Phulwari. Everyone must be asked to bring his or her own lantern. You can say beforehand you can give so much and no more. Even so we should have to spend a lot on construction. We must afford protection against cold? Why not use your grass for warmth both above and below? There should be no need for cots excepting for the ill and the infirm. And we won’t get money. Both zamindars and Kisan are against us. Gate money will be much less.

I do not agree. Have it somewhere but not near a city. And you have had tube-wells here very cheaply. We will have tube-wells, but we have to cope with the need of nearly 60,000 gallons per hour. But electric light may be dispensed with. I hate it. We must not think in terms of illumination. Make the place attractive in other ways during the day. Don’t copy what is bad. No one will blame you if you have no fireworks and no illuminations. You want cleanliness and simple wants satisfied. Give the simplest food. But I agree that you must spend on water. Collect one pice per head from each of the 70,000 villages and satisfy your needs. Then it will be a Congress worth going to or seeing. Decide on the principle of a village. I don’t mind where it may be, and you will gain strength by getting every village to contribute its mite. Volunteer corps must be enough and efficient. They must be experts in sanitation. No smell and no dirt must be allowed. Organization of this must begin early. The volunteer corps will cost us a good deal probably Rs. 50,000. I don’t mind it, but the ultimate benefit accruing will be great. There should be no wastage in training. We may forget uniforms, etc. which goes to waste, but the body of youth for our service is for all time an asset of no mean value. Therefore don’t stint in water and volunteers. Even the simple huts put up here have cost a lot. I hear so. But there must have been some mismanagement somewhere if it has become so expensive.

Our problem is of rain which generally comes then. Patna would have been convenient from that point of view. We could shift into pukka buildings in case of need. There is no escape from it now. Manage somehow. Don’t give hot water, don’t give fruit, and don’t give any delicacies. Give me the contract for fruit. If anyone comes to me for it, I shall ask him to return to Bombay.

 

Reference:

 

Harijan, 24-6-1939