Iraq 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

E-mail- [e-mail];

[e-mail]                                    

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

 

Iraq and Mahatma Gandhi 

Mr. Gandhi . . . began his speech in Hindi amid shouts of Allah-o-Akbar and Sat Sri Akal. He said, Mr. Mahomed Ali had told them what was taking place at present in England. It was being considered how to secure all the approaches to India. If the Government was taking possession of Persia and Iraq, it was to ensure the perpetuation of India’s dependence. A man could not serve two masters. If Indians acknowledged the English as their masters, it meant that they had forgotten their great to whom they had sworn allegiance from their very birth. The only alternative before them now was to relinquish their God or to relinquish the Government. The only two ways to attain swaraj were the sword and non-co-operation. 1

We control more than a fourth of the world’s land and a quarter—460 million of its 1,852,000,000 inhabitants. 300,000 of our people rule 333,373,000 natives in India, Ceylon, British North Borneo, British Malaya, Palestine, Iraq and elsewhere in Asia—an area of over two million square miles. Put that in your pipe and smoke it! 2 I have your printed letter of 28th April last. I do not know anything of the previous ones. They were probably received whilst I was in jail. I wish your Association every success. Will you give me some idea of the number and the profession of Indians resident in Iraq and will you also tell me whether the relations between you and the Arabs are perfectly cordial? 3 

I thank you for your kind letter intimating dispatch of a consignment of dates. I know by experience the renown of Basrah dates. I am looking forward to the receipt of the consignment. 4 I wish I could think that. I do not agree that there is freedom in Iraq today. I do not read current history as you do. Nothing is of a permanent nature. One can only talk of good intentions when the war is over. I would love to see that Iraq at least had real complete independence after the war.

 

References:

1. The Tribune, 20-10-1920
2. Young India, 25-4-1929
3. Letter to Secretary, Indian Association, Iraq, May 26, 1931 
4. Letter to Governor of Basrah Province, Iraq, November 6, 1934
5. The Spectator, 6-3-1942