For Global Peace with Social Justice in a Sustainable Environment

Donation and Mahatma Gandhi, Part-I

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No- 09404955338, 09415777229

E-mail-dr.yadav.yogendra@gandhfoundation.net, dr.yogendragandhi@gmail.com

Donation and Mahatma Gandhi, Part-I

Donation is a kind of gift. It will be in much form. Mahatma Gandhi had done a lot of social work with the help of such type donations. There are some details of it. Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “A handsome donation was sent to the Durban Women’s Patriotic League Fund for the volunteers who had gone to the front. Indian ladies contributed their quota by making pillow slips, vests, etc.”1 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “We read further in the cablegrams that the King walked through the slums of Dublin, visited the homes of the poor, and spoke to them words of sympathy. Nor did Their Majesties stop at mere words or sentiments of sympathy; they have translated them into a donation of £ 1,000 Now we are very apt to think that sovereigns can afford to give away money without feeling tile slightest pinch, but it is a well-known fact that, probably of all the first-class sovereigns in the world, the English King is the poorest, and when one adds to this the fact that there are a thousand and one calls on the purses of sovereigns, the donation, to our mind, is by no means an insignificant portion of Their Majesties’ acts during their tour in Ireland.”2 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The firm of Cadbury Brothers, of Cadbury Cocoa fame, is well known throughout the world. From small beginnings they have built up a huge concern. They are now the proprietors of the Daily News of London and belong to the baker sect. They have always spent a portion of their profits on improving the conditions of their employees. They have raised a fund of £60,000 to pay the pensions of their employees, of whom they have a large number, many of them very old and loyal. Where there is such appreciation of labour, small wonder that the workers should consider their master’s work as their own and do it with care and diligence.”3

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “With reference to the balance of the handbook fund lying at your disposal, will you kindly transfer it to the General Fund of the Committee and take it as a donation from the British Indian Association.”4 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I am very sorry that, in view of the heavy expenditure I have to incur on education in my own country, I cannot help the Aligarh College as much as I should like to. For the present, I shall give the College Rs. 500 every month. It is my advice that those whom I examined today should be sent abroad for extensive travel. They will prove successful in the future. In addition to the Rs. 500 a month, I now donate Rs. 20,000 to the College.”5 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Cash from Albert & Co., Fares to Germiston and donation 25 0 0 their donation will have grace only if they offer it with sincere concern for the benefit of the community or the country. We hope that the Memons who behaved with courage and upheld the honour of the community and the Memons from outside the Transvaal will explain to others who have submitted to the law what their duty is; and similarly persons belonging to the other communities who took out the registers [under the compulsion of the law] should also be approached by members of their respective communities as also by other Indians.” 6

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The Seva Sadan, a ladies’ organization, have sent Rs. 50 to the Transvaal for the support of the women and they will send a further donation. It was not advisable to pass a resolution at the Bombay women’s meeting as the wives of several officers were taking part.”7 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “If I want to deprive you of your watch, I shall certainly have to fight for it; if I want to buy your watch, I shall have to pay you for it; and if I want a gift I shall have to plead for it; and, according to the means I employ, the watch is stolen property, my own property, or a donation. Thus we see three different results from three different means.”8 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Everyone knows the fruit of Mr. Polak’s fine efforts in India. They have resulted in Mr. Tata’s donation of Rs. 25,000. In England, English ladies and gentlemen as also Indians have enlisted themselves as volunteers and go round from house to house. This meeting of British Indians of the Transvaal places on record it’s thanks to Ratan Jamshedji Tata, Esq., for his munificent and timely donation of Rs. 25,000 in aid of the struggle.”9

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “As soon as we arrived at Cape Town, your cablegram announcing the magnificent donation from Mr. Tata was received, and now I have your inquiry from Poona as to our requirements.”10 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “That India has been roused is evident from the generous gift of Mr. Ratanji Jamshedji Tata. By his big donation of Rs. 25,000 he has given a powerful impetus to our movement. He will probably be followed by other Indians. It would be some satisfaction if the fight were continued for the sake at any rate of Mr. Tata’s gift, not so much because of the amount itself as for the implication which the donation carries, and the impression that it will make on the world.”11

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The handsome donation sent by you was most welcome. I shall await particulars as promised by you. Your praise of Mr. Polak is undoubtedly well-deserved. He is a most wonderful man. His devotion to the cause is simply admirable. May I state that almost every letter that I receive from him speaks in the warmest terms about your work there?”12 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “By donating another sum of Rs. 25,000 for the Satyagraha campaign, Mr. Ratan Tata has demonstrated that he has the utmost sympathy for us and that he fully appreciates its value. Including his earlier donation, a total of Rs. l, and 25,000 has been offered in India. Two-fifths of this large sum was donated by Mr. Tata alone. Surely, this is no small gift.”13 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It is then for these experiments that I ask for your pecuniary support. I hope you will send me what you can, if you at all agree with any of the activities. You may earmark your donation if you wish.”14

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I have your letter and draft for Rs l, 500/-. I am grateful. Your donation will be earmarked for the spread of Hindi. If some other people send money for this specific purpose and some amount is saved, your donation will also be spent on other activities. I shall let you know if I have to go to Wardha again.”15 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “According to a report in The Bombay Chronicle, 2-4-1918, Gandhiji thanked Maharaja Holkar for his donation of Rs. 10,000 for propagation of Hindi.”16 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “In this great task, Shri Somnath’s donation has been a good help. With reference to what was said here about donations, I should like to say that, if we are sincere in our work, donations will come seeking us. I found disappointment in the report. It is an unhappy thing for the founders that, for a matter like money, they had to go begging for this small institution as far as Africa; for Ahmadabad, it is a matter of shame. The people here should have said that, while they were alive, they would never permit the founders to go to foreign countries for money. They owe it as a duty to give such a re-assuring promise. In my view, those in charge of the institution (do not need to go to Africa. They ought to collect the money from the citizens and, should they refuse, resort to Satyagraha against them. I am afraid the men on the managing body are not seasoned enough. They have everything in them but self-confidence. With faith in their own strength, they should melt the citizens’ hearts and get from them the money they need.”17

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “If the Rajas, Maharajas and the Diwans take up this work, I can keep the foregoing donation unspent; I may then have to request the donor to permit me to use it for another purpose.”18 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “For all this work, diligent and honest workers are required. Since people cannot afford to work without payment, the donation can be used to pay a living wage to honest workers, if available. The associations of voluntary workers in Kathiawar can give the fullest help in this matter. If a large committee consisting of respectable men and women, who would be prepared to work, can be formed for this purpose and if a sub-committee is appointed under it, the work can be done promptly. It is hoped that people willing to join in this work, with or without payment, will immediately write to us at the Ashram address.”19 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “At this stage a number of contributions were received from those present in the pandal. The following day, a Parsi philanthropist from Bombay, Shavaksha Bamanji, promised a monthly donation of Rs. 10,000 till the attainment of swaraj.”20

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “When the people have one mind, ability of management, and recognize the necessity of non-violence, if only as a business proposition, swaraj is won. Finance is a matter of little consideration. For the Government does not bring money from heaven. It receives, to paraphrase an expressive Gujarati saying, an anvil weight of metal and returns a needle weight. And the pity and the disgrace of it is that even with that niggardly donation, it imprisons and emasculates the tender mind of the nation. Were it not for self-delusion, we would at least refuse to be party to the ruin of our own children. The municipality of Nadiad has shown how easy the whole process of nationalization of education is. Lala Daulat Ram’s articles have shown how easy the question of finance is, and how the ordinary fees are almost enough to conduct all our educational institutions. I hope that the object-lesson given by the municipality of Nadiad will not be lost upon other municipalities similarly situated.”21

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “According to her wont, Mrs. Kothawala attended the meeting at Godhra. She told me that she liked all my activities except non-cooperation and asked me to give a chance to Lord Reading. I said: “I certainly desire to give a chance to everyone. Lord Reading has only to do justice to get co-operation. Persuade him yourself that he should repent, apologize to the country for the crimes committed and do justice. No dispute will remain then.” “Tell me that you will give him a chance. Will you write to him and tell him that you will withdraw non-co-operation if he does justice?” I said: “I shall certainly do so when an opportunity offers itself. But Lord Reading knows as much.” On this condition, this good lady gave me Rs. 50. If only, on that condition, all women give as much, I think a crore of rupees will be collected immediately.”22

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “But even if, for that present, we leave weaving out of our calculation, it is certain that a school in which every pupil earns for it four rupees a month, that is, pays a fee of four rupees a month, will require no grant and no donation. It will become self-sufficient and the pupils will have to pay no fee in cash.”23 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The collections at Bhusaval and Sangamner could be taken as on the whole satisfactory, but at Yeola, I must say, the collections came almost to nothing. Yeola is a rich town. It has Gujarati business men settled there for the last 200 years and yet the amount collected there for the Tilak Swaraj Fund was the smallest. It is true, of course, that one person alone in Yeola gave Rs. 20,000 for a national school. But, then negotiations for the donation had been going on for a long time. The donor, besides, is well known for his charitable disposition. For the Tilak Fund, however, contributions were to be collected from the general public. The total collections from all, men and women, must have come hardly to Rs. 300, while a small village near Yeola, which we passed on the way, gave the same amount.”24

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Mr. Rustomji Jivanji Ghorkhodu of South Africa has cabled me Rs.12, 000 for the purpose of distributing spinning-wheels among the famine-stricken people of Gujarat. The reader will recall his munificent donation of Rs.40, 000 for schools. This donation has come in time, because the Famine Committee was hard pressed to meet the want. I hope that those who may not wish to subscribe to the Tilak Swaraj Fund as being for a political purpose will not hesitate to cory Mr. Rustomji's noble example and help the Famine Insurance Fund.”25 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The liquor-shop picketing has an intimate relation to Parsis. We will have to exercise great forbearance towards our Parsi countrymen. While we cannot stop picketing altogether, we must meet the liquor dealers in conference, understand their difficulties and explain our own. Mr. Godrej has earmarked his donation for liquor prohibition and the uplift of the suppressed classes. Let us not, therefore, think that all Parsis are necessarily hostile to the great temperance movement. At the present moment, an outbreak of violence is most to be feared from the temperance campaign, unless the Moderate ministers take their courage in both hands, refund all auction bids and close liquor-shops. I assure them that the movement can only be regulated, it cannot be checked. The people are bent on ending liquor-shops and treating as a crime all liquor-selling except as a medicine by chemists. It is a matter that brooks no delay.”26

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It is evident to me that the apology was offered under pressure, even as Sir Michael O’Dwyer was made to apologize to the late Council for his offensive remarks. Insincere and mechanical as the wording is, at that very sitting the magistrate broke his promise of giving the accused a patient hearing by expunging from his statement a passage which he did not like. His offer to pay Rs. 50/- to the Malabar Relief Fund for the sake of the loyalists if he was proved to be innocent shows the incorrigibility of the magistrate. The donation was meant to purge the offence committed by the magistrate. The “loyalists” could have nothing to do with the innocence or guilt of the accused. Why then should the donation be conditional upon proof of the accuser’s innocence? This assault by the magistrate raises an issue of the gravest import. Could such a man occupy the position of a magistrate for a single day under any civilized Government? Could for instance the Lord Chief Justice of England assault a prisoner being tried before him and still retain his high office? If the Government of India was not in reality a lawless and totally irresponsible government, the magistrate would have been suspended and prosecuted as a common felon”27

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I thank you for your letter offering one lakh spinning-wheels. I am sure that the fact of your very liberal donation will strike the imagination of India and particularly the Mussulmans. In forwarding your letter to the Bombay Provincial Congress Committee I shall ask the Secretaries to bear in mind your desire that the members of the Maiman Community should receive preference. I do not know whether you have fixed any particular sum in your own mind that you wish to devote for the purpose, for experience teaches me that a cheap spinning-wheel in time becomes an expensive wheel. A good wheel, substantial and heavy, will not cost less than six rupees. If, therefore, you do not want to make so large a donation I would suggest your reducing the number of charkhas. And I would also suggest you not using the whole of the amount you may wish to devote so much for spinning as for paying a somewhat higher rate to the poor women for the yarn that they might spin and for engaging a special staff for doing the work. This will enable you to use your donation practically under your supervision and in the most economical manner as is being done in Kathiawar. Of course, I venture to send you these observations for your guidance. The merit of your act is in no way affected by them.”28

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The reader must have seen Chhotani Mian’s letter to me donating one lakh of charkhas. Chhotani Mian deserves the warmest congratulations for his generous help. I have ventured to show to him how he can utilize the sum he might have set apart for the purpose. It is not a simple matter to distribute one lakh of charkhas in a useful way. They can only be given to deserving persons. Arrangements must therefore be made to supply slivers and collect yarn.”29 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “A correspondent writes to me about the donation for khaddar production of the profits of Rs. 50,000 of the Navajivan Press, and says that the profits show that the prices of the weeklies could have been considerably reduced so as to make them available to a larger public.”30

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I approached a friend privately also and received a donation from him. I am still moving in the matter. I have already made a similar appeal to the readers of, Navajivan but, in my opinion, no one man’s efforts to collect funds can possibly be adequate to the amount of the relief required. The State alone can do it efficiently and it is for that reason that I have not hesitated to advise Congressmen to place their services at the disposal of any State agency. Private aid will come in fitly to supplement the work done by the State agency. It will not be for the first time in my life that I shall have identified myself with such relief work. I know enough of it to understand that relief will be necessary for many months to come.”31 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “But it has been urged that my proposal is not a mere labour proposal; it surreptitiously raises the pecuniary qualification. No matter how fine the yarn may be, the quantity for the year can never be brought down so low as to cost four annas. But the critics forget, that I have said in the article in which I sketched the proposal, that those who cannot afford cotton should have it given to them by the Provincial Congress Committees, so that the free gift of cotton would be under my plan a donation, not a subscription. Experience shows that it is perfectly possible for thousands to find sufficient cotton to spin 24,000 yards per year. The total of those who have sent their yarn to the All India Khaddar Board is nearly five thousand. They have not asked for cotton from the Khaddar Board. It is possible that some provinces have made arrangements for supplying spinners with cotton. If they have done so, there is nothing improper about it. For the chief thing is the labour for half an hour. The nation is not dying for want of raw products, but it is dying for want of labour and minimum skill. My proposal seems to jar, because we have not been used to toil with our hands and find it difficult to appreciate the possibilities of a whole nation voluntarily giving half an hour’s labour to a single national necessity. Surely there is nothing immoral about my proposal. There is nothing in it that can come to conflict with anybody’s conscience. There is nothing Herculean about it. Indeed, half an hour’s easy labour is too insignificant to become exacting for the most industrious worker. The most, therefore, that can be urged against the proposal is that the labour will be fruitless. Assume for one moment that it will be fruitless in terms of swaraj or immediate economic solution. But surely it is not fruitless if cheap khaddar can be brought out from the maunds of yarn received by the All India Khaddar Board from month to month. A single yard of cloth added to the national production cannot be called a fruitless effort.”32

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The students too met in conference. These were not merely of the national schools and colleges but they were principally from Government schools. Mr. Reddy, the President, had a scheme for utilizing the vacation and other leisure hours of students. His scheme was to commit the students (he would include the vakils also) to giving the nation at least 28 evenings every year, each volunteer to take up four villages in his neighborhood as his field of work. Mr. Reddy proposed a course of lectures on a variety of subjects. For the time being I would occupy the leisure hours of these volunteers for the spread of khaddar. But this service is not the only way the students and practicing vakils can help. Surely the least they can do is to use khaddar themselves and spin half an hour per day. The vakils and students over 21 years should become members of the Congress and those who are under age should send their yarn as donation either to their own committee or to the A.I.K.B.”33

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “if there are more poor people here than can be supplied by the donation now on hand, I will see to it that I get a bigger donation, provided all of you present here, promise to wear khaddar only. Now, that is the good thing we have given up, but which we must now restore. And I must talk to you about the bad thing we are refusing to give up.”34 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “You have taken a load of worry off my mind concerning the Muslim University. I would certainly not wish your donation to be the cause of dispute among your brothers. I shall not disclose your name.”35 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “This appeal is for donation of cotton, but it is more convenient to receive money. Moreover, the cotton which we buy for ginning is collected from one place and is, therefore, soft, so that in carding it half the labour required for carding the pressed cotton of bales is saved. I have actually seen some samples of cotton which could be used for spinning without first being carded.”36

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “But the most illuminating information was given to me by the documents that the business-like officials had prepared for presentation to me. The documents tell me a truthful, simple, unvarnished story of Congress work. One paper contains information about Provincial Congress Committee activities. In March last, it had a membership of 204 of which 114 were self-spinners and 90 gave yarn spun by others. In April, the membership fell to 132, self-spinners being 80 and the others 52. Thus there was a big drop among both the classes in one month. What it will now be remains to be seen. The committee reports 4 national schools in the province and donation of Rs. 5,000 from the trustees of the late Harishankar Vyas for untouchables. A sub-committee has been appointed to draft a scheme for the uplift of the untouchables.”37 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The public may be aware that the late Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das gave, during his lifetime, his mansion at Russa Road, situated on over 4 bighas of land, in trust for several public objects. We are informed by the trustees that the present value of the property is estimated at Rs. 3, 25,000 and that it is burdened with a debt of Rs. 2, 20,000. The net value of the donation is therefore about Rs. 1, 05,000.”38

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I have lately been calling on a number of rich people to collect donations for the Deshbandhu Memorial Fund. One of them was Shri Sadhuram Tularam. There I not only secured a generous donation, but also had occasion to talk to those present about religious matters. Untouchability was mentioned and it was said that something had appeared in the newspapers attributing to me the view that we should interline and intermarry with the so-called untouchables. What I said to disabuse them regarding this only seemed to surprise those who had raised the point, and they suggested that I might publish a summary of what I told them in the Hindi Navajivan. I have accepted the suggestion and give here the required summary.”39 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “In South Africa, when I was struggling along with the Indians there in the attempt to retain our self-respect and to vindicate our status, it was the late Sir Ratan Tata who first came forward with assistance. He wrote me a great letter and sent a princely donation,—a cheque for Rs. 25,000 and a promise in the letter to send more, if necessary. Ever since I have a vivid recollection of my relations with the Tatas and you can well imagine how pleasurable it has been for me to be with you, and you will believe me when I say that, when I part company with you tomorrow, I shall do so with a heavy heart, because I shall have to go away without having seen so many things, for it would be presumption on my part to say at the end of two days that I had really studied things here, I know well enough the magnitude of the task before one who wants to study this great enterprise.”40

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “There is also a residential school with 16 untouchable boys. Of these 6 pay Rs.5 each towards boarding expenses. The rest are free. They learn to card, spin and weave. In 1924, they span 1 4 mds. of yarn and wove 125 yards of khaddar. In 1924, there were 66 teachers, today there are 77 teachers. The total expenses were Rs. 22,254-8-4. Of this Rs. 1,250 monthly were contributed by the Mill owners’ Association being part of interest on Tilak Swaraj Fund contributed by its members and earmarked for the purpose of the welfare of the labourers. A donation of Rs. 60 per month was received from Mr. Brijvalabhdas Jekisandas. The rest was found by the Union. The residential school expenses were paid by the Provincial Congress Committee.”41 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I thank you for donation. If you will send it directly to the Secretary, A.I.S.A., Satyagraha Ashram, Sabarmati, it will be more convenient.”42 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The foregoing extracts have been culled and copied verbatim by Sri V. G. Desai from the voluminous evidence recorded by the Industrial Commission. If they move the reader he must become a member of the All-India Cow-Protection Association (Sabarmati), or if he can afford to pay more, he should send a donation so as to enable it to carry out the scheme adumbrated in these pages regarding tanneries where the hides of dead cattle only shall be manufactured into leather.”43

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “If India rendered willing service at the time of the War, its value is diminished by demanding gratitude, for it was rendered as a duty and “duty will be merit when debt becomes a donation.” The fact however is that the service was not willingly rendered. Force or the threat of it was a potent consideration that prompted it. It is the prudential restraint of Englishmen that they do not every time, on mention of these services, retort that we rendered them as beggar even as when officials on tour in the Indian villages impress labour. The people who were forced out of their homes in the Punjab to serve at the time of the War have little cause to be proud of their service, still less to evoke the gratitude of the British Government. The gratitude went to Sir Michael O’Dwyer who demanded and got his quota of recruits, cost what it might, from every district of the Punjab.”44

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I may say that each spindle or takli costs us about two to two annas and six pies each. If, therefore, you give me lac for us it would amount to a donation of at least Rs. 12,500 and according to the advice at my disposal it will cost you nothing less than Rs. 3,000 in all.”45 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Wherever you are if you are not wearing khaddar investing in some now and you help to reduce the stock all over India. If you have enough khaddar and do not need to buy any more, but if you have money to spare send your donation to the All-India Spinners’ Association and it will be used for khaddar production. If you have any minutes to spare, (and who has not?) give them to the spinning wheel yourself and send the yarn to the Association. If you have any friends whom you can influence, ask them to do all or any of the things I have just mentioned. Remember that by contributing to khaddar work you associate yourself with the poor people, you assist the cause of swaraj and you take part in perpetuating Deshbandhu’s memory.”46

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Of course you know about the loss incurred by the Servants of India Society. In this connection Srinivasa Sastri has asked me also to go round with a begging bowl. He has a right to ask me. I have already written in Young India, but Shastriji desires that I should write to my friends also. Although I do not approve of the political activities of the Society, I cannot forget the honesty, patriotism and sacrifice of its members and therefore I look upon it as a duty of every patriot to support and sustain it. If you hold the same opinion, do send some donation and, if possible, ask your other friends also to give something.”47 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I have your letters with cheques in all amounting to Rs. 7,575, being a portion of your three months’ salary as the Speaker of the Assembly together with the balance of the purse of Rs. 5,000 presented to you. You have asked me to spend the amount for ‘an object calculated to promote the national welfare in such manner as I may approve’. Since writing that letter, you have discussed with me personally your views about the use of your handsome donation. I have been taxing myself as to what I should really do, and I have finally come to the decision to let the amount-accumulate for the present. And I am therefore depositing the money in the agency account of the Ashram for six months certainly, so as to get a fair interest. And as soon as party feeling has eased, I propose to invite the co-operation of a few mutual friends and then in consultation with you and them to use the money for some commendable national purpose.”48

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Generally, trust funds are not used for advancing loans to private parties. As a trustee, Jamnalalji cannot advance loans from the trust fund in the way he might as a private individual to another individual, and that only to a friend. This is but right, as the experience of the world tells us. A donor must not regret, when in need of money, that he cannot draw upon the amount which he has given as donation. He should not even wish that he might be able to do so.”49 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “You should take immediate measures and get cured. Jamnalalji is coming here to improve his health. When he is here, I will see what the matter is with him. If you, too, come and stay here just for a few days, I may have some idea of your health. What should I say about your latest donation? I am simply filled with wonder. I understand what you say about Rs. 70,000. I will make every effort through the Spinners’ Association to return it. I have taken it that I do not have to worry about the sum of Rs. 30,000, which you have advanced to Satis Babu2. I had followed your argument about the Assembly. You must have got my reply to that letter. Shastriji wrote to me about the reply you gave him. I am both pained and surprised by what you say about the cause of the Calcutta riot. I was very pleased by Malaviyaji’s letter and the subsequent developments, too, were very good. I have decided to write on the subject.”50

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I regard this kind of argument as prostitution of a high ideal. No doubt the correspondent means well, but his over-anxiety about purity of woman makes him lose sight of elementary justice. What is kanyadan in the case of little children? Has a father any rights of property over his children? He is their protector, not owner. And he forfeits the privilege of protection when he abuses it by seeking to barter away the liberty of his ward. Again, how can a donation be made to a child who is incapable of receiving a gift? There is no gift where the capacity to receive is lacking. Surely kanyadan is a mystic, religious rite with a spiritual significance. To use such terms in their literal sense is an abuse of language and religion. One may as well take literally the mystic language of the Puranas and believe in the earth being a flat dish sustained on the hood of a thousand-headed snake and Divinity lying in soft ease on an ocean of milk for his bed.”51

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I had come entirely unprepared for these tokens of love, love not only for me, but for the poor, and my greatest joy is due to the shape these tokens have taken. The donation of Rs. 63-3-04 reminds me of a sacred donation that I received from the late Swami Shraddhanand for my work in South Africa and which represented the value of the labour of love rendered by his brahmacharis.”52 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It was not without regret that I had to withhold the pleasure from the readers of sharing the news contained in the following correspondence between Sjt. Vithalbhai Patel and myself.”53 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “A telegram has been received from Shri Vallabhbhai saying that a generous gentleman has donated Rs. 50,000 for the benefit of the suppressed communities, and another has donated Rs. 2,500. I saw in the papers that the name of the first donor is Mansukhlal Chhaganlal. It seems that the other has not thought it proper to let his name be known. I congratulate both these gentlemen. My conviction grows stronger day by day that such thoughtful donations are alone religious charities. It is a happy sign that the desire to make donations for religious causes is still alive among us. But we hardly know what religion is. I have often said that in this age much adharma is done in the name of dharma. On the one hand, therefore, we have to nurse the religious sentiment of the people and, on the other; we have to point out the right way for the exercise of that sentiment. Good intentions by themselves do not take one to heaven. There is a saying in English that the path to hell is paved with good intentions. There is much truth in this. Many thieves steal with good motives. Many are those who tell lies with good motives. Even a religious person like Yudhishthira makes the mistake of uttering a falsehood with a good motive, and for that he had to suffer the stink of hell. We see ourselves that numerous murders are committed with good motives. Hence, good intentions by themselves are unavailing. They should be accompanied by good deeds, and that is possible only if we have right knowledge. It would be good, therefore, if religious-minded men and women follow the example of these two donors, find out religious causes and support them.”54

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It is a happy augury for the future of khadi in Mysore that the State has given a donation of Rs. 500/- towards the expenses of the Exhibition, and that the Director of Industries has become a member of the Exhibition Committee. Indeed the economic and the philanthropic side of khadi is so overwhelmingly important that it is a wonder that Rajas and Maharajas have not given the movement the support that it deserves. Everybody agrees that millions of villagers require a supplementary occupation. Scores of paper schemes are being hawked about the country for achieving village reconstruction. But not one scheme has the universal application that khadi has. And so far as I am aware, not one scheme is being tried on the scale that khadi is being tried. It is not a small achievement to be able to show that the khadi scheme is at work in at least 1,500 villages.”55 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It may or may not be as you say. None the less I do feel that if we have the capacity to make this donation it could be done only anonymously. If our small institution could make such a large donation, it would have an impact on others and this may arouse jealousy, obviously it could not be emulated. Generally, a donation is announced so that others may follow suit. Else it is merely showing off.”56

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It may or may not be as you say. None the less I do feel that if we have the capacity to make this donation it could be done only anonymously. If our small institution could make such a large donation, it would have an impact on others and this may arouse jealousy, obviously it could not be emulated. Generally, a donation is announced so that others may follow suit. Else it is merely showing off. With Gandhiji in Ceylon, pp. 90 I am grateful for the generous purse you have presented to me. It is meant for finding work for the starving millions of India. These consist of Hindus, Mussalmans and Christians. Therefore you have, by giving me this donation, established a link between these starving millions and yourselves and in doing so you have done a thing which is pleasing to God. It will be a very feeble link if you do not know the purpose for which this is going to be used. These moneys are utilized for finding work among men and women for the production of cloth like that you find on my person. But all this money will be useless if you cannot find the people to wear khadi so manufactured. It is possible now for us to satisfy every taste and fashion. If you will forge a lasting and continuing link with the masses of India you will henceforth clothe yourselves in khadi.”57

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “When the South African Europeans mobbed and lynched me on my landing at Durban in 1896 Parsee Rustomji harboured me and my family at grave risk to his person and property. The mob threatened to burn his house, but nothing daunted Rustomji who gave us shelter under his roof. Ever since, throughout his lifelong friendship with me he helped me and my movements and in 1921 his was the biggest donation to the Tilak Swaraj Fund from an Indian abroad. Mr. (afterwards Sir) Ratan Tata sent me a cheque for Rs. 25,000 when I most needed it during the Satyagraha in South Africa. And Dadabhai Naoroji. How can I describe my debt to him? He took me to his bosom when I was an unknown and unbefriended youth in England, and today his grand-daughters are a tower of strength to me in my khadi work.”58 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “There are today two hundred students studying in the central institution and seventy-four in the city branch. There are more-over two night-schools which draw nearly two hundred students. The Jamia has a staff of twenty-three workers. The highest salary being paid is Rs. 265, the lowest being Rs. 35. The idea constantly before the Principal is to have volunteers who would draw just enough for their wants. The salaries amount in all to Rs. 2,300 per month, the house rent is Rs. 425 per month. The total monthly expenditure is Rs. 4,800. The regular income, including boarding fees Rs. 1,300, is Rs. 2,700. There is thus a deficit of Rs. 2,100. This was somehow met whilst Hakim Saheb was alive. Before the teachers create for themselves a name and a prestige enough to command help, the deficit must be met by the public. And the memorial cannot be considered lasting till the Jamia has a building of its own. The subscribers will, therefore, in deciding the amount of donation bear in mind what is required. Dr. Ansari tells me that the Central Bank has generously offered to receive subscriptions for the Ajmal Jamia Fund and to cash all cheques and drafts at par in all its branches. The address of the treasurer is 395, Kalbadevi Road, Bombay. Finally, all donations received will be held by the treasurer on behalf of us four as trustees and will be given only after a proper trust-deed is created on behalf of the Jamia.”59

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “You ask me whether I would again come to Ceylon if one lakh rupees worth of khadi is taken up by the people there. I have no doubt that the generous people of Ceylon are quite capable of taking up more than a lakh rupees worth of khadi because there is nothing strange about [it], but what will induce me to come back to Ceylon is another donation to khadi. Buying of khadi is merely exchanging, valuable as that is, and donation to khadi enables me to widen the sphere of work among the poorest classes.”60 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I thank you for your letter of 2nd December which was received some days ago with a postal order for Rs. 1,190. Please convey my thanks to the donors for their donation for khadi as also for their assurance that a similar donation will be renewed from year to year.”61 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Now about your donation. I did not know that you were a pucka Bania by choice. But you little knew that you were dealing with a still more pucka Bania voluntarily acting as the agent of Daridranarayana. You say that you had announced a donation to the Ashram of Rs. 500 on the marriage of your son and you propose, to use the language of law, wrongfully to divert part of the funds to the payment of a debt voluntarily incurred by you with Sjt. Manilal Kothari. How can a donation be utilized for discharge of a debt whether moral or legal? And what connection can you promise to pay the All-India Spinners’ Association have with the Ashram which represents multifarious activities tanning, dairying, farming, experiments in hygiene, cotton-growing, ginning, carding, spinning, weaving, dyeing, printing, carpentry, smithy, conducting educational experiments, looking after widows, taking care of so-called untouchables, etc.? And why such a donation, not paid on the date on which it was announced, should not carry double interest in the hands of the donor who from date of announcement becomes a trustee? You will please deal with these conundrums before I can deal with your cheque finally. And I would ask you in deciding this question to consult Mrs. Dunichand, who, when I had the pleasure of being under your roof, was found to be less Bania-like than you have proved to be.”62

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I have your kind letter enclosing your donation, for both of which I thank you. There was no occasion for you to apologize for the smallness of the donation. The smallest donation in monetary value is a big thing when it comes from a big heart as I am sure yours has done.”63 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The monetary help received also is not much, as you can notice from Young India. The substantial help received has been from personal friends only, not from the general public. Every donation and yarn contribution is published periodically in the pages of Young India. Both the tannery and the goshala in the Ashram are partly helped by the funds collected.”64 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “In marked contrast to the communiqué comes the letter addressed to me by Sjt. Vithalbhai Patel announcing a handsome monthly donation of Rs. 1,000 so long as the struggle lasts. Throughout his brilliant career as the Speaker of the Assembly Sjt. Vithalbhai Patel has upheld the rights of the people.”65 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I consider it necessary to invite them to India and make them acquainted with the country. For such purposes I do not wish to make use of your donation. Bhai Jugalkishoreji takes pleasure in such matters. If you deem it proper, send him all the letters. We have to send them £200. If he wishes to make this donation the amount will have to be sent promptly.”66

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Now about your questions : Even though the cause for which a donation was given may have been fulfilled, the balance left cannot be used at the will of the donee, even though the cause for which he uses it is superior to the cause that is fulfilled. For, what the donee may consider superior may be bad cause in the estimate of the donor. I have just now an instance of that character on which I had to decide yesterday. A gentleman gave Rs. 10,000 in connection with national schools to Jamnalalji. That amount of money is still unused. Jamnalalji wants to make use of that money for national education, but for national education which includes the untouchables. This is a superior cause as you, Jamnalalji and I would consider. But I have advised that without the donor’s permission, seeing that the money is still unused, it cannot be used. And the donor is certain not to give his permission because of the disturbing introduction of the so-called untouchables. If Jamnalalji utilizes the money for a purpose which the donor had never intended, he would be wrong and guilty of the breach of the vow of asteya.”67

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I have your letter and the packet of pencils. You have correctly guessed when you say that I might not approve of your method of raising funds for clearing your debt. It would seem to me to be easier to make a direct appeal for a donation than to sell a particular thing at double or treble its cost price. In either case an appeal to one’s charitable instincts has got to be made. Why then mix it up with the selfish instinct? But I may not argue.”68 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Shri Nagindas Amulakhrai has always taken interest in national education. He has even donated money to it frequently. He has now contributed one lakh of rupees. He had gifted this large amount in order that it should be utilized, at my discretion, for increase of knowledge. With his consent I have entrusted it to the Vidyapith and nominated five representatives to look after its administration. I compliment Shri Nagindas for this donation. It is my belief that, having regard to the task we wish to accomplish through the Vidyapith, people cannot contribute enough to its funds. We may not be able to see today tangible results of the existence of the Vidyapith. However, a time will certainly come when everyone will take note of the contribution made by the Vidyapith in the cause of national growth for its aim is worthy and selfless workers are engaged in promoting it.”69

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Mr. Diwan A. Mehta brought a collection (Rs. 270) made from among the Indian passengers on board s.s. Pilsna to be handed to me on the condition that if the Bardoli struggle was over the money should be utilized for some social work of my choice. I have earmarked the donation for untouchability work, and I thankfully make this acknowledgment here as it could not very well appear in the Bardoli fund collection list that is printed from week to week as supplement to Young India.”70 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I am sending you the sandals and the veshti you are so insistent on, deducting the postage from your donation.”71

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “You will see in the pages of Young India the appeal issued for a national Memorial for Lalaji. Sheth Ghanshyamdas Birla has started it with a handsome donation of Rs. 15,000. I am hoping that the appeal will meet with generous response.”72 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “We propose to utilize the first proceeds for the first object and the rest for the second and the third respectively. But it is open to any donor to earmark his donation and it will be utilized according to his or her wish.”73 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I have accepted the offer of a donation of Rs. 10,000 as help in manufacturing khadi in the area around Kathar”74 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The school cannot be placed on a sound footing even with this donation. At least another sum of Rs. 50,000 has to be collected. To do so should not take even two hours. There are so many well-to-do Gujaratis in Rangoon that they will have no difficulty at all in collecting that amount.”75 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I forgot to write to you about Chhaganlal Gandhi. Perhaps you do not know that the sum which he has handed over contains a part that is of the nature of stolen money. It represents the value of some jewellery and interest. I would not consider it wrong to return this sum, nor have any of us the right to do so. The money should be taken to have been spent. As a trust, we have a right to accept a donation. In order to return a donation, we should have some moral or legal basis. In this case we have neither. We can give a pension to Chhaganlal. It may even be our duty to do so. We should find out what Chhaganlal intends to do and what he wishes. I wrote to him last week.”76

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It follows from the foregoing that there should be a standard spinning wage in all Andhra for counts below 12. For finer counts, fancy rates may be given and when given should be charged against their khadi. In this connection it is useful to mention the generous donation of Rs. 1,500 made by Raja Nayani Venkataranga Rao Bahadur of Munagala at Hyderabad (Deccan) for the special purpose of running a small technical department in Andhra. It would now appear to me as if he knew instinctively what a desideratum such a department was in Andhra. With the charkha in so many vogues in Andhra there is no reason why it cannot run the best department of the type in all India. Only it must have men with an abiding faith in the wheel and an iron determination to master the science. If this technical department is to be opened, it is necessary to send one or two promising young men for training to Sabarmati, Sodepur or some such place.”77

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “We should make use of this Directory. We do not lack funds for rendering service to the Antyajas. The donation of Shri Rameshwardas Birla has not been fully spent. In fact, service to the Antyajas is similar to khadi work; if there is faith many young men can earn a livelihood out of it. Thousands of pure and hardworking Hindus who do not get polluted or tired by this work can earn their livelihood by doing it. But where do we find capable Hindu teachers to run an Antyaja school? Everywhere I see adventurous Kutchis laying railway lines. But where are the artisans and the contractors to dig wells at market rate for the Antyajas? Any such teachers, masons, workers and contractors should write to Thakkar Bapa and get their names registered in his office. No one should misinterpret this article. Anyone who wishes to give a donation may gladly do so. But the aim of publishing this Directory is to gauge the extent of our sins and enlarge the band of workers in the field.”78

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Shri Rameshwardas has sent me Rs. 25 in memory of the death of his uncle’s daughter with a desire that the above book may be sent to suitable places with the addressees being asked to bear the postage. The book will be sent, as far as the money lasts, to those managers of goshalas or others who serve the cow in some other way if they send a stamp of Re. 0-1-3 together with their names and addresses. Correspondence in this matter should be addressed to the Secretary, Goseva Sangh, Udyoga Mandir, and Sabarmati. I give below the gist of what Shri Rameshwardas writes in Hindi in the same letter since it deserves to be pondered over: There is also this reason why I make the above donation. Nowadays we make go-dan2 in honour of the dead. But I believe the cow is not at all served thereby. There are no pastures nowadays; hence Brahmins are not able to maintain cows to the last and in the end they are delivered into the hands of the butcher. Therefore today true god an consists in promoting service of the cow. One way of doing so is to distribute widely books like Goraksha kalpataru. I do hope that Hindu society will understand this, and will order this book, read it, think over it and take the measures proposed in it.”79

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “A meeting of the Goseva Sangh was held in the Udyoga Mandir on May 28, and the following constitution was approved. It is desirable that many should join this Sevak Sangh. It is at the same time necessary to sound this warning that one cannot become a worker merely by tendering money, yarn or leather by way of subscription. Among the duties of a Sevak which have been set down, some are compulsory and some, though necessary, have been included merely as voluntary. Only those who carry out the compulsory duties and try to observe the voluntary ones can join as members. For those who are fired by a desire to serve the cow, the obligations are not difficult to carry out. What should they do who are at present unable to carry out the compulsory duties, but are keenly desirous of maintaining a close connection with the Sangh? This question had been raised at the meeting of the Sangh. For that purpose, a class of helpers has been provided. I hope, however, that those who cannot become helpers will send donation as in the past and continue doing so.”80 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “A donor has written an anonymous letter under the name “Natural Feeling “and sent a hundred rupees. Of this amount, Rs.50 is meant for the Lalaji Memorial, Rs.10 for the Maganlal Memorial and Rs.25 for relief of distress in the south and Rs.15 for cow-protection work. I thank “Natural Feeling “for this anonymous donation. I have very often written that the habit of writing anonymous letters is very bad, that is should not at all be encouraged, that it is a sign of cowardice. But the anonymous letter of “Natural Feeling “deserves none of these reproaches. The action of “Natural Feeling “is one example of the fact that there are in the world very few things which are solely good or solely bad at all times and at all places. It is desirable that people should follow the example of “Natural Feeling”. Donors love to see their names in newspapers.”81

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Harbhai is Nanabhai’s colleague at Dakshinamurti Bhavan. Nanabhai has fallen ill. Following the talk we had at Wardha about this school I am sending him on to you. You were to consider what assistance you could give to this institution. I have today sent an assurance to Nanabhai taking it that you will make a donation. You will learn all the details from Harbhai, see the accounts of the institution and do whatever you consider proper. Sheth Ramanlal Keshavlal of Petlad (Gujarat) accompanied by Bhim-jibhai, representative of Messrs Ranchhoddas Dayaram & Sons at Chittagong, Sjt. Harivallabh C. Shah and others came to Abhay Ashram, Comilla, on their way back from Silchar and Sylhet . . . . The method of work followed by the Ashram appealed to them, and they appreciated very much the idea of giving a sort of permanent relief to the agriculturists by the introduction of spinning wheels, of which the Ashram has decided to have one thousand, and the idea of giving paddy for husking by which they can anyhow earn an honourable living instead of depending on doles. Shethji and Bhimjibhai were pleased to announce a donation of Rs. 2,550 on the following heads: 1. For 200 spinning-wheels Rs. 550; 2 for paddy-husking work Rs. 1,250; 3. for two huts for the Ashram Rs. 500; and 4. for khadi debt of the Ashram Rs. 250. This is merely a sample of what is being received by me.”82

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Sind has had a second disaster. I have purposely refrained from saying a word hitherto. The floods have this time wrought greater mischief than before. Only familiarity has made us indifferent. The distress however is not less felt by the afflicted on that account. Professor Malkani has sent me some harrowing details of the havoc wrought by the floods. The latest news is that cholera has followed in the wake of the floods. I suggest to the donors who have been sending donations for the Assam flood relief that they combine their donations for both the areas and leave me to apportion the amounts in the best manner I know. And unless or the other list, I shall treat the donation as jointly for both. Whatever is received for Sind will be disbursed through Professor Malkani. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel has already sent Rs. 10,000 out of the late Gujarat Famine Fund.”83

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The People's Flood Relief Committee, which did some useful work during the floods of 1927, has been revived. It started with a generous donation of Rs. 10,000 from the Gujarat Provincial Congress Committee and has since collected a sum of about Rs. 15,000 in Sind. But misfortunes never come single, and rains, pests and pestilence have disorganized the trade of Karachi and Hyderabad. The zemindars are unable to pay because of the losses of crops, and the merchants are hard hit by cholera in Upper Sind and floods in the Punjab. We are therefore obliged to appeal for funds outside our province. There was a noble response from Bombay during the floods of 1927, when the People's flood Relief Committee received nearly 2 lakhs of rupees from the Bombay Central Relief Fund. The distress is much more acute now, and my Committee is confident that its appeal for funds will not be made in vain.”84

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Do you know the beautiful story of Nachiketa in the Upanishads? His father was a miser. He once gave as a donation a cow that was a burden to him. Nachiketa gently asked his father why he had done so and what he expected to gain by such a donation.”85 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It has also several schools where boys for Cambridge Senior are prepared. It has too the famous Anglo-Vedic College founded in 1904 with an attendance of over 800 boys owing its existence to the munificent sole donation of 2 lakhs by the late Thakur Poonamsinghji Negi. It has the Kanya Gurukul, an offshoot of the Kangri Gurukul and conducted amid great difficulty by Shrimati Vidyavati Devi. And when Gandhiji reached Dehradun it was holding a political conference with Sjt. Purushottamdas Tandonji as its President. Gandhiji was to stay there only for a day.”86

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The other companions had come to the conclusion that it would be wrong to make me stop at your door or anywhere else for receiving single donations when you could have easily paid your donation at the public meeting or sent your donation to the place of my sojourn. You can easily imagine the embarrassment caused to me if I was called upon to go to individual houses to receive purses of Rs. 21. You can understand how physically impossible it would be if such requests were multiplied and there is no reason why others should not do what one man takes in his head a fancy for doing. I must confess to you that had I known that I was being taken to the house where it was decided I was not to be taken I would have refused to receive the purse. Now of course the thing is finished. My letter to you is for future guidance.”87

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “My impression is that I had given instructions to write to the Vidyapith accordingly, but the sum has not been acknowledged in the manner desired and was shown as a donation by Sjt. Rameshwardas in the note published. He was uneasy at this. For one thing, he thinks that the credit of having made a donation to the Vidyapith is too much for him to accept. Moreover, he does not have the means to make such donations. He fears that some persons, happening to read the mistaken acknowledgement published in his name, might seek such other donations, and it would not be nice to have to disappoint them. Hence Rameshwardas desires the true facts to be published, which I do here. In this case, directly or indirectly, even if the donation was for propagation of khadi, the religious merit earned belongs to Rameshwardas alone. However, a person who is particular about the uprightness of his worldly transactions would of course ask for the correction desired by Rameshwardas. That has been made here and I hope it will satisfy him. And let me take this opportunity to tell the well-wishers of the Vidyapith that the purse of the Vidyapith has not yet been filled and that they should fill it.”88

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The Majoor Mahajan used to be paid the interest on the National School funds. That pleased me and I believe you too were pleased. But now that money has stopped coming in. I had asked M. Sheth not to stop it. Nevertheless it was stopped. The objection was that the mill-owners should have a say in its management—this was of course a difference of principle. It is for the Mahajan to decide how the Majoor School should be run. Moreover, it is they themselves who run it. Even the inspectors have been satisfied. I too have inspected it. I have noticed progress every time. Be that as it may, we cannot have a hand in managing the affairs of an institution to which we make a donation. For then it ceases to be a donation.”89 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Your cable was given to me only yesterday. As a prisoner, I may not write to you as fully as I would like. All therefore I can say is that if you knew the circumstances as much as I do, you would not press me to go to the R.T.C. I should be perfectly useless there. I see nothing in the viceregal statement to give me any cause for hope. The fact is swaraj is for us to take. It cannot come by way of donation.”90

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Do not mind the length of your letters. You won’t 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.”91 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Bhansali has been testing you a good deal. I got two Godrej boxes. I have written to the dealers to inquire for more. You may use the donation by Soniramji for any cause that you think well. Inform him to what account you credit the sum. Take Nayan to a doctor, if necessary. She must be helped to get rid of her fever. Your solution concerning Kashinath seems all right.”92 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Don’t expect any donation from Ahmadabad. What I would like you to do is to discuss the whole thing with Mr. Birla. You should also find out ways and means of interesting the middle class Bengali and the zamindar class in the khadi work as also in the amelioration of all the poor people.”93

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “She writes to me to say that she has sent 15 dollars. If you have received the sum, or when you receive it, credit it to her name. Preserve her address. Note it in the account book itself. Her condition for the donation is that we should convert boys to Christianity, give them Christian names and use the money to help them. I have replied to her that we can never do what she suggests. If she sends a cheque, it would be much better to return it. Think about this. I will tell her that her gift will be credited to her name but that, if she does not withdraw her condition, the sum will be returned to her. As I write this, I feel that we should return the sum no matter with what conditions it is offered. You should, therefore, return it. I will write and tell her that the sum will be returned.”94

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I appeal to the generous public of Bombay to come to the rescue of the flooded Bengal. Donation may be sent to Dr. P. C. Ray, College of Science, and Calcutta.”95 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It was a privilege to meet you and speak to your congregation. Your people did give the donation to me and if I transfer the collection to you, why should you be troubled? I could not have made better use of the gift.”96 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The friend is again wrong when he talks about meeting English sacrifice with Indian sacrifice. I am reminded of a striking sentence of Dr. Chalmers: “Duty will be merit when debt becomes a donation.” I hold that it is the duty of England to return to India what she has taken away from her. There is no sacrifice in the discharge of that obligation. But so long as Englishmen believe that, whatever measure of freedom England grants means so much sacrifice on the part of England, so long will there be no meeting ground between the two countries, because England will not be able to come up to India’s credit balance against England.”97

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Whilst it would be the most proper thing to get 1,000 donors who would contribute Rs. 2,500 or 1,250, as the case may be, for full five years’ expenses, it is not necessary to confine oneself to the letter of Mr. David’s scheme, so long as its spirit is observed. The central point of the scheme is that there should be a decent fund at once collected from caste Hindus for the higher education of a select number of Harijan boys or girls. I, therefore, invite subscriptions for the scheme. They will be duly acknowledged in these columns. Donors should send moneys to the Manager, Sjt. A. V. Patwardhan, marking the envelopes ‘the David Scheme’. Acknowledgements will be published from week to week, and the money will be handed to the Central Board for their disposal strictly in accordance with the donor’s instructions. As soon as the first full subscription is received, I would advise the Central Board to make its selection. Donors may make their own choice of the Province from which Harijan boys or girls may be selected, or they may even make their own selection of such boy or girl and hand the donation to the Central Board or Provincial Board for disbursement to, and supervision of, the candidate so selected.”98

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “My correspondent is bitter in discussing what he considers to be the extravagant management of the different organizations that have come under his lash. As an expert organizer that I may claim to be, I have been generally guided by the rule that the cost of administration, that is, overhead charges, should never exceed 10% of the receipts— 5% being the ideal—the balance going to the cause which brought the organization into being. I suggest this test to the Central Board and the Provincial Boards and all other independent Harijan organizations run by caste Hindus. Let it not be said of us that we spend more on running the organizations than upon Harijans themselves. Let us see to it that, out of every Rs. 100 received as donation for the Harijan cause Rs. 90 go straight into the pockets of Harijans. Therefore, our officials should be largely volunteers, never highly paid wherever paid service is required. Wherever it is possible, we should get Harijans. We should select candidates and train them. The correspondent says that peons in the organizations inspected by him are not drawn from the Harijan ranks.”99

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “If the report that a Brahmin lady has generously come forward with her donation for the construction of a public bath-room is true, it would delight the heart of Sjt. Hiralal Shah, who has been energetically pursuing his proposal for bath and change of clothes for sweepers after they have performed their daily task.”100 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I understand now what to do about the transfer for funds to you. Besides the money lying at the Press, I have received an anonymous donation of Rs. 500 today to be used for the cause at my discretion. I am having that too transferred to the Board to be used subject to the donor’s condition.”101 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “A friend who wants to remain anonymous sends Rs. 500 to be used at my discretion for the Harijan cause. The money is being forwarded to the Central Board to be used subject to my approval.”102

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I have had two cheques for the David Scheme, in all Rs. 5,000, Rs. 2,500 from Shri Suvta Devi and another Rs. 2,500 from Shri Janaki Devi. The first donation is to be utilized for a Rajputana Harijan student, if one with proper qualifications is available, otherwise for a Harijan student in the Bombay Presidency. The second donation is to be used preferably for a Harijan student from C. P., Marathi, failing that, from C. P., Hindustani, both failing, for any Harijan student. I have also Rs. 100 from Janaki Devi to be used for Harijan cause at my discretion. I have handed the amounts to Thakkar Bapa and verbally given also the instructions accompanying the donations. This is however for your record. I have still Rs. 500 to be sent to you of which I have already given you advice, and I am hoping that Thakkar Bapa withdrew from the Arya Bhushan Press the sum of Rs. 1,044 which was the advance given on behalf of Harijan.”103

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I was delighted to see your handwriting after such a long time. I hope you are keeping quite well. Is the donation of Rs. 5,000 from Sjt. Uttamchand Gangaram to be announced in the Harijan, and if so, in what terms?”104 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “From the certificates enclosed by you it would appear that you do not belong to the Harijan class, and if you do not, no part of the donation of the Rs. 500 referred to in your letter will be available to you, but there is no reason why the general funds of the Society should not be used for the purpose indicated in your letter. If therefore you do not belong to the Harijan class, you should approach the Bombay Branch of the Society and satisfy it of the reasonableness of your application.”105

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The reader will be glad to learn that Shrimati Suvta Devi, the widow of the late Sheth Ramnarayanji, has sent a cheque for Rs. 2,500/- for the David Scheme. The donor desires that preference should be given to Harijan student from Rajputana, if one possessing the necessary qualifications can be found. Another cheque for Rs. 2,500/- has been received from Shrimati Janaki Devi, the wife of Sheth Jamnalalji. Her preference is for a Harijan student from C. P., Marathi, failing that, from C. P., Hindustani. I tender my congratulations to the donors for their donation and hope that their example will be followed by other wealthy persons. I may state that a selection Board is in process of being formed.”106 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I am glad you had a visit from the Yuvaraja and a donation3 and that you had a donation from Shri Purushottamdas Thakurdas also. 3 Yuvaraja of Mysore had visited the Deena Sangh schools and had given a donation of Rs. 500. A full report by the addressee was published in.”107

References: