INTERVIEW WITH HALIDE EDIB ADIVAR

[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

 

INTERVIEW WITH HALIDE EDIB ADIVAR

 

 

HALIDE EDIB: How will you fight the curse of mechanization, Gandhiji? How will you keep human beings human souls?

GANDHIJI: It is all implied in my non-violence, Hindu- Muslim unity, the removal of untouchability and giving back to the villagers what belongs to them. The Harijan activity and the movement for the revival of village industries come naturally to me because of non-violence. It is cruel, it is sinful, to think of mechanization in a country of 350 million human beings. Every human being is a machine, only it should be kept oiled and in proper trim. That is what I am trying to do. Political freedom, I am sure, you are going to win but mechanization, I am afraid, might get hold of India. Then, there is no escape from violence. I saw it as long ago as 1908, and ever since I have shaped all my activities in terms of non-violence. Complete mechanization is impossible in India without its resulting in violence in some shape or other.

I know, I know. But it’s so difficult. The soul has to be preserved. I have

Written a play called Masques and Souls. There are more masques than souls, but if you will prepare a nursery of souls, it would be all to the good. Oh yes, if we can find even one true witness to the Truth. I am not very optimistic, for the opposite side is very strong. I have never lost my optimism. In the seemingly darkest hours, hope has burnt bright within me. You cannot kill your own hope, I know. You are absolutely right. I cannot kill the hope myself. I must say I cannot give an ocular demonstration to justify the hope. But there is no defeat in me. There will never be, I am sure, there will never be.

 

Reference:

 

Harijan, 25-1-1935