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

 

 

Ramanand Chatterjee and Mahatma Gandhi 

 

 

Ramanand Chatterjee was editor of Modern Review. He was very impressed by Mahatma Gandhi and his activities. He wrote many articles. I am ashamed to have to confess that I have not yet been able to approach Dr. Sunderland’s manuscript. I have kept it on my desk and it always stares me in the face. But I do not know when I shall be able to go through it. I will keep the corrections you have sent me with manuscript. 1

The Hindi Prachar Conference that met in Calcutta during the Congress Week lasted not more than two hours and had only two speeches, one by Sjt. Subhas Chandra Bose who in spite of the busy time he had with his volunteers and the Congress reception work made time for becoming the Chairman of the Reception Committee of this Conference. The other was by me as President. Sjt. Bose’s speech was printed. He read the Devanagari script without difficulty. His pronunciation was almost faultless. The address was short and businesslike. He effectively disposed of the calumny that Bengal was indifferent to Hindi by reminding his audience that it was Bhudev Mukerji who strove to popularize Hindi and Devanagari script in Bihar, it was Navinchandra Ray who strove likewise in the Punjab, it was Swami Shri Chintamani Ghosh who was responsible in the United Provinces for the publication of many useful Hindi books, it was Justice Sharadacharan Mitra who was the father of the idea that there should be one script for all India and that it must be Devanagari, it is Amritlal Chakravarti who is issuing a Hindi newspaper, it is Ravindranath Tagore who has published the popular translation of some of Kabir’s songs, it is Sjt. Kshitish Mohan Sen of Shantiniketan who has made and is still making researches in the writings of Hindi saints, it is Sjt. Nagendranath Vasu who is issuing his monumental Hindi Encyclopedia and it is Sjt. Ramanand Chatterjee who is issuing a Hindi monthly called Vishal Bharat. He recognized the necessity of Hindi for establishing touch with labour. He ended by promising to be the first to enlist him for learning Hindi. 2 

An article written by Shri Ramanand Chatterjee, Editor, Modern Review, has appeared in Widow’s Cause, an English paper published from Lahore. The article suggests that widows should be allowed to remarry up to the age of thirty-five. Is this right? 3 I received your letter of 26th November only today. You want me to give you 1000 words. It is like drawing 1000 live teeth at present. And you wanted this for your Xmas number. Does it not mean I am too late? But if I am not, to find time for writing out something of the size you want is physically impossible. Every minute is remortgaged. I have forgotten all about the promise but I would gladly fulfil it if you can wait and send me a reminder, if you find that I am still not resting somewhere near Yeravda in January. 4 

Under great stress I was able today to scribble the enclosed. You may do what you like with it. I hope you are giving the movement your unreserved support and blessing. 5 I must trouble you once more. You must have seen Dr. Ambedkar’s alternative to the panel system in the Yeravda Pact. I should esteem you opinion on his suggestion, if not for public at least for my private use. 6

 

References:

 

1. Letter to Ramanand Chatterjee, September 22, 1928
2. Young India, 10-1-1929
3. Hindi Navajivan, 11-7-1929
4. Letter to Ramanand Chatterjee, December 16, 1929
5. Letter to Ramanand Chatterjee, March 18, 1930
6. Letter to Ramanand Chatterjee, April 24, 1933