DISCUSSION WITH K. KELAPPAN

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09415777229, 094055338

E-mail- [e-mail];[e-mail]

 

 

DISCUSSION WITH K. KELAPPAN

 

 

Mahatma Gandhi discussed with K. Kelappan on December 29, 1932.

KELAPPAN: When I asked you to share my burden, I said nothing about the fast.

GANDHIJI: Others gave what they could. What had I to give other than a fast? So you should have known that I would be sharing your burden only in some such way. There is nothing wrong in this. The more I think over it, the more I feel that the complications I have created were necessary. Hinduism is dying before my eyes. If I want to revive it, what else is there for me to do? You don’t know what is going on inside me. You must wait and enquire and suffer. If I have to fast, you must put up with it. For the present the fast is postponed. What the future has in store, I do not know. Maybe, fasting will be unnecessary. Or I may feel that to undertake a fast for Guruvayur will be foolish and a waste of energy. You will benefit from the confusion I am causing you. The questions which Rajaji asked yesterday have set me thinking and maybe my statement will take a different shape. But you should let the matter rest here and set to work at once. Try to understand the inner meaning of the fast, of the eradication of untouchability and of temple-entry. I feel that if we can get rid of untouchability the right way, it will be the saving of Hinduism. Otherwise, there is going to be a fierce fight between caste Hindus and the so-called untouchables. The untouchables will fight with violent rage and hatred and in sheer desperation will try to obliterate Hinduism from the face of the earth. They are not going to deny Hinduism. They are also not going to embrace any other religion. But they will deny God. This strife will be fiercer than between Brahmins and non-Brahmins because they feel the pain more deeply. My fast may prevent such strife, though I do not know. Or it may not have any effect. But I did not go in search of the fast. I lay in bed thinking about an ugly decision of the Government and this question of yours came up before me and I plunged into it. At that time, I did not even know that it would call for a fast. You did right in acquainting me with all the facts. Other friends also sent me telegrams, which too was proper. Everything that has happened has been for the good.