For Global Peace with Social Justice in a Sustainable Environment

Dr. Hiralal Sharma and Mahatma Gandhi

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

E-mail- dr.yadav.yogendra@gandhifoundation.net;

dr.yogendragandhi@gmail.com

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

Dr. Hiralal Sharma and Mahatma Gandhi

Dr. Harilal Sharma was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He was a doctor of nature cure and did a lot of experiment with help of Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi liked his experiments and wanted to know the result of his experiments. You will be at the Ashram on Monday to find me away. I am sorry. But I am glad you have come. Please discuss the food question with those who were trying unfired food. You can stay as long as you wish at the Ashram. And if you will follow me you can come to Agra. I shall be there till 20th. We can discuss my failure. I should love to resume the experiment if I get proper guidance. Thanks, I had your book. The two principal volumes I have brought with me. 1 Shrimati Behn Amtussalaam sent me some time ago your pamphlets and the two volumes of your book, Light and Colour in the Medical World. I am grateful for your having treated Amtulbehn with extreme care and attention which she tells me you gave her. As for the literature on Light and Colour I can express no opinion, as I have no experience, worth the name, of this treatment. As I have not much faith in drugs and as I believe in the great healing power of the sun, naturally I would love to find that the methods you are advocating are sound and can bear investigation. If under the restrictions in which I am living I can make any experiments, I shall do so. 2

I would strongly dissuade you from going to Europe or America for finishing your study of natural healing. You have to do it here by perfecting your observations here and making original researches. Those who have done anything in this line in the West learnt from none but their own experiments. It is a vast mistake to suppose that by going to the West you can learn much of this art. It is yet in its infancy there too. But the first thing for you to do is to be your own healer. If you have a broken body, you will not be listened to by people. Surely your disease will yield to sun-baths and regimen. For my elbow I would not trouble you. Thanks all the same for offering your help. 3

What you have heard or read about nature institutions in the West is a case of distance lending enchantment to the scene. Of the best advertised institution, people of the place knew nothing when a friend enquired about it. This does not mean that there is nothing in them. My only point is that the whole of this science is yet in its infancy and that there is no common course adopted by these institutions. They are what they are through the original researches of their authors. We in India have to make our own researches in keeping with our surroundings. Whatever is to be gained from them can be easily learnt through their publications. As to your own health I simply gathered from your letter that it was not up to much. You cannot afford to go by the cases of orthodox physicians. You are a pioneer and will therefore have to show a record that would stand the most rigorous scrutiny. I am glad you have given up the idea of going to the West. Do build up your own body that in it will lead you to many discoveries. Your progress may be slow but it will be sure, if the foundation is sound. 4

Amtussalaam tells me you are likely to pass through Sabarmati in the near future. I would like you to stay for a few months in the Ashram and make your experiments and at the same time observe if the Ashram-life suits you and you, the Ashram. If you cannot do this, stay, if you can, for a few days for Amtul Salaam’s treatment. She has great faith in you. 5 Amtussalaam has forwarded your letter of the 15th instant to me and I was glad to receive it. You have indeed fulfilled your self-imposed vow, for the letter you have written to me is not for yourself. I have already advised Amtussalaam to proceed to Delhi and I hope that she will leave the Ashram at once, stay there till you can discharge her fully cured and then return to the Ashram. I quite appreciate your desire to fulfil your present obligations before you come down to the Ashram. 6

Amtussalaam being with you puts me at ease. She has such great faith in your ability to cure her. I do hope that she will be thoroughly restored to health. I hope that your troubles will be soon over. I am glad you are preparing yourself for the Ashram life. It will please me greatly if you could go to the Ashram. 7

What I would like you to do is to go over to the Ashram, see the patients who are still there and will be for some time, and see whether they can be treated there without being removed to a cooler climate. After all, it is not quite so hot in Ahmadabad as one may think till April. The nights are perfectly cool and I have not found even the summer to be trying. I have not hesitated to take my own cure in the Ashram more than once, even though I was advised by some doctors to go to a hill station or at least to a seaside place. But you shall judge for yourself, and then if you find it to be necessary I shall endeavour to select a cooler place. You’re going to the Ashram will serve a double purpose. You will know the place and surroundings and you will have your first experience of it. You will also be able to deal with cases of obstinate constipation which are common enough in the Ashram. There are two patients there who are chronic asthmatics and who do not generally go to watering places and try to keep as much as possible in the Ashram itself. You can go to the Ashram whenever you like, and if you want to take Amtussalaam with you, you can do that also. I am glad your daughter was cured of smallpox through natural treatment. If you propose to go to the Ashram, you have simply to send a telegram or a letter telling them when you will reach there. I will send a copy of this letter to the Manager. 8

I am glad you are coming at last to the Ashram. Do please bring your child, and I shall be delighted if the place is found to be suitable both by you and him. Narandas warns me that the principal patients are just now out of the Ashram. I do not mind it at all. There are many things for you to examine and see from the nature-cure standpoint, and there is the common complaint about constipation which you would be able to deal with. I am glad you have driven out Amtussalaam superstition that she is suffering from T. B. She has a very vivid imagination and she conjures up evil where there is none. I want from your presence in the Ashram much more than mere treatment of a few patients. A firm believer in nature-cure myself, I would like to find in you a kindred spirit given up wholly to truthful research without any mental reservations. And if I can get such a man with also a belief in the Ashram ideals, I could regard it as a great event. I know you too are approaching the visit in that light. You will therefore please make yourself thoroughly at home at the Ashram and study it in every detail. It is my belief that a nature-cure man should be able to vanquish the climate. Millions of human beings ought to be able to live healthy life by understanding the laws of adaptability to the climate in which they find themselves. They cannot have changes that rich men can afford and I cannot imagine nature to be so cruel as to be partial to the rich and indifferent to the poor. On the contrary I believe in the Biblical saying that “it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven”, and another Biblical verse says that “the Kingdom of Heaven is within you”. Therefore I have always imagined that laws of nature are simple and understandable and capable of being followed easily by the millions. I would ask you therefore to approach the Ashram with the set purpose of discovering the means of preserving or regaining health in the ordinary Indian climate. 9

I am glad that you would be in the Ashram soon; if you are not already there by the time this reaches the Ashram. I hope you have brought with you your four-year-old daughter also and I hope that the little boy stuck up for his sister. I would call him very unchivalrous if he did not insist upon her being with him. You will please make yourself at home in the Ashram and express to Narandas freely all your requirements. 10

It does you great credit. You have pictured to me the ideal physician. Yes, by all means wash Amtussalaam clothes, if necessary. Though in the Ashram, she is solely under your care. Do please insist on her taking proper rest and the prescribed diet. I would like you critically to examine everything in the Ashram and give me your impressions. Study the health of every inmate who will let you examine him or her. Of course you will frankly tell me of cases that may be beyond your skill. I would like you to examine Kusumbehn. She is today under Dr. Talwalkar’s treatment. But I would like you to tell me what you would have her to do, if she puts herself under you. Then there is Jamnabehn. She is a chronic asthmatic. She can be treated by you now if she will put herself under your care. Then there is Ramabehn. She has an enlarged shoulder-bone. I do not yet visualize her trouble. Possibly her case is beyond your province. If it is not, please tell me what you would have her do. Lastly, there is Anandi who has just had an operation for appendicitis. She is having my treatment only, as the others do more or less. These are the special cases I would like you to see as soon as you can and tell me all about them. There are others, too, who require attention now about you. While I would like you to throw yourself into the Ashram routine, you must not go beyond your strength and you will take everything easy. Have your special needs supplied. I would feel deeply hurt if, for want of care, your own health was endangered. You will make me feel at ease, if you will treat the Ashram as your home and express your needs. I would like you to accompany Bhagwanji once and see Harijan quarters and examine the ailing ones there and their sanitation. I wish your children had both accompanied you. But that now later, if all goes well. 11

Your Hindi letter made me extremely happy. It is astonishing that your first letter in Hindi is in such a clear hand. And your Hindi too is quite good; how is it so? I have read your letter and the prescriptions with care. The Gandhi family is not unacquainted with nature cure. But this is only a polite statement. Their faith is not much, but that too cannot be said of all. What can them and other poor fellows do? Whatever knowledge and love of nature cure they possess is only because of me. But my knowledge is so incomplete that I become helpless in emergency cases. I have never had the time to make a systematic study of the science. But I have acquired a smattering of it because of my interest in it. Owing to my deficiency I have ever been in search of an expert in nature cure. One such doctor was Hanumanta Rao, a devoted and a good man. He died a victim of his own cures. His knowledge was insufficient but his faith was unique. Next came Gopala Rao. He has established a clinic and settled at Rajahmundry. Pinning my faith on him I conducted a foolish experiment. I gave an account of it in the newspapers too. The acquaintance with Gopala Rao has disheartened me. Gopala Rao is a man of conviction but his knowledge is very limited, and the pity of it is that he is not fully conscious of his limitations. Now I have found you. I do not want you to leave me. I want you to stay on in the Ashram and recognize with humility the extent of your knowledge. First win the confidence of the Ashram inmates and then invite the public for your cures. If you are not urgently required to return, you can cure a few patients at any rate before going away. But you can certainly stay on if you like the Ashram and Narandas takes a liking to you. I am not concerned whether your understanding of nature cure is perfect or incomplete. What I want is Truth. There is no harm if we proceed only to the point within our reach, and remain content with that. There is no reason why your wife should not come and live at the Ashram if she is prepared to abide by its rules. I shall write a letter to her too and enclose it with this. You did well in going to the Harijans with Bhagwanji. If possible, you should come to see me at the earliest possible opportunity before you leave the Ashram. We can then discuss what should be done about the health problems of the Harijans You may come on any day except Sunday. We can meet in the afternoon. I am awaiting your suggestions regarding the Ashram diet. I want to make the diet there complete in respect of health requirements. The idea of keeping Harijan children in the Ashram has always been there but not many such children can be found you can advise those who conceal their ailments to bring it to light; and those who cannot subdue their passions may leave for good. I am considering what to do about Kusum. As regards Ramabehn you can prescribe the treatment you choose if you have no doubts as to the diagnosis and the cure of her trouble. The same applies to Jamnabehn. It will be excellent if you can induce Amina to give up rice and other starchy foods and tobacco. She uses it in the morning to clean her teeth. What you did about the report in Bombay newspapers of your arrival was all right and quite fitting. 12

I am sending a wire today. I would advise you to stay on at the Ashram during the fast and overcome lethargy. Activity is the only remedy for that. The Ashram can provide enough work. Acquaint Narandas with all that you observe in the Ashram. I heard of your fast; it was all right but discipline requires that the manager be consulted in such matters. My faith in nature-cure goes back to forty years ago. What I meant was that my faith in your cure will be strengthened by its success in the Ashram. Do write the pamphlet for the Ashram. 13 I was surprised when Devdas told me you had gone to the Ashram. I gave Devdas a letter for you, which he had to post. I hope you got the letter. In that letter I told you I had deliberately omitted to say one thing. It has now become my duty to say that to you. You know N.’s life. I have sent her to the Ashram so that she can be, if at all possible, protected against herself. In her letter received day before yesterday she told me that when she met you, you excited in her the animal passion. This need not mean any condemnation of you at all. How can a man help himself if a woman on seeing him has her lustfulness excited? It is given only to the rarest human beings to possess such innate purity that they would never be the occasion for exciting the lust of even the most depraved women. I write this, therefore, not to blame you but to warn you against having anything whatsoever to do with N. I hope you will take my letter that Devdas had posted to you in the right light. Your letter which you left to be given to me confirms the opinion I formed of you after our meeting. Let me add that somehow or other you created a bad impression on everybody you met here. But all that may be utterly unjust to you, so long as Narandas truthfully guides you and you him and the Ashram in general. If, on the other hand, he does not like you or you do not like him or the Ashram in general, you should shun it, even though you are treating some patients there. If you have developed a dislike for the Ashram, the whole purpose of your being there is frustrated. It would be too selfish for me to have you there for the sake of a few patients. 14

Do come after ten days. I have no idea where I shall be. You will learn from the newspapers. Make independent arrangements for your stay. I hope your problems have been resolved. 15 I am writing this in a moving train. There does not seem to be any hitch now in your leaving for Wardha. Amtussalaam has well and truly fallen sick. I shall meet her on Monday. Could you possibly come to Madras before going to Wardha if she has not recovered by then? Send me a wire if you can come. I do not wish to inconvenience you for nothing. She has an amazing faith in you. 16 My advice to you is to use the house Jamnalalji suggests. You should take the children too. Your duty is to look after them. You should use the tent if one is provided. Your day must be spent wholly in the Ashram. I find your temperament is such that you can adjust anywhere. I want you to reach the Ashram soon. I have to take plenty of service from you. I want to know your wife too. I pass through Wardha on the 10th instant. You can try to arrive there by that date. I wish to send Amtussalaam when you are at Ashram. 17

How shall I write a long letter? Where is the time for it? Give the enclosed letter to Draupadi Devi. The boy and the girl will receive true education from the self-control of the two of you. They will get enough education by living with you. It does not imply that they should not get such education as they can in the Ashram. But that should supplement your efforts. You must treat the sick you find in the Ashram. I want to utilize your skill fully. Your work will increase as you gain the confidence of the people there. You both have to learn all the processes of the charkha. My book on nature cure has been received at the Ashram. You may, if you want to, make use of any treatment prescribed therein. It will be good to send for Krishna. 18

I shall of course keep writing to Amtussalaam. But I am now relieved of anxiety for her. Prescribe for her the treatment you think best. The whole problem will be solved if she is cured. Keep writing to me as to how you are getting on. I did write a long letter to you. 19 I instructed Narandas to send a reply to your letter. You should certainly treat Ramdas as you think best. Keep writing to me. Your sacrifice should be only within your capacity. You can assuredly come to me when I am settled somewhere for a certain length of time. 20 Amtussalaam has much praise for you and only one complaint, i. e., you have lost much weight and that you have cut down on your food. I would like to say only this much that exposing the body to unnecessary hardship is as much a crime as the pampering of it. Hence all that is required to conserve the body should be done. All this was written four days ago. I have your letter now. You can come to me whenever you wish but without deserting the patients there. My itinerary must be with you. My work will keep me here till June 12, after that possibly in Bombay. It will take some time for your wish to fructify. I want you to gain in steadfastness. But all this can only be talked over. For the time being it is to the good that you are winning the hearts of the people there. 21

Go slow. Dwarkanath tells me that you have taken up too many burdens. I think the letter from Surendra too contained a similar complaint. To perform service to our utmost and to take it as well is beneficial to all in every way. Keep writing to me. You must regard it as your dharma to take the requisite amount of milk and other articles of food. 22 I have no objection to your going to Khurja. I understand now your remark to Ramdas that you would look after the expenses. I suppose it meant that I had undertaken the responsibility of that expense quite correct if it did. There should be one more proviso that the expenditure should be within limits. The letter from Ramdas gives me to understand that the minimum amount required would be Rs. 300 a month. The expenditure is too high in my view. After all we have to take the requisite sum from Jamnalalji. How can I burden him or anyone else to this extent? It would be better that Ramdas goes away to South Africa. He will, somehow or other, get well there. You too may go if you can obtain the passport. It should also be understood about nature cure that it is practicable even for the poor. It is very painful for me to write all this but I see no alternative. The affection between you and Ramdas is a test for you too, while I am of course not exempt from it. My opinion is crystallizing into this, that you should remain at Wardha and manage everything within a limited amount. The expenses on Ramdas and Nirmala should not exceed Rs. 100 and the same goes for you too. Whatever is possible within this limit should be done. Do not do anything through ignorant attachment. Ramdas will become all right when his future is settled. Others in similar circumstances have been cured thus; Ramdas too will be cured. In all this your decision and judgement are essential as Ramdas is placing more and more confidence in you. 23

There is no longer any necessity, I suppose, of answering all your letters. But you may send me those you want to be dealt with. I do not see any impropriety in accepting from one’s brothers the financial help they can offer without hesitation. So they may give what help they can. It is not right that you should feel yourself exiled there. This attitude, if not corrected, is bound to have a bad effect on Ramdas. Why do you think we have all hampered your work? For myself, I have endeavoured to give you as much encouragement as I could. You must tell me if I have unwittingly done something to the contrary. How it is that Devi is suffering from typhoid, and, if he is, don’t you have any treatment for it? You may treat the children as you think best, I have no wish to interfere unduly. 24

I am sorry for the mistake I made in addressing the letter. It should not have occurred. Send me your views about Ramdas’s condition. Your sending the money to Amtussalaam was not right. No longer do you have any funds to make donations. Moreover Amtussalaam is in no such predicament as to warrant any help. I pointed out to her that she should not have taken money thus and she has understood. Friendship never implies that we pamper our mutual weaknesses. Its aim is to ennoble one another. I regard it as a subject of study for the nature-cure practitioner. The naturopath recognizes physical, mental and spiritual ills and treats them mainly by developing inner powers. He takes the help of earth, water, ether, fire and air. It should be impossibility for him to be instrumental in spiritual degeneration. Consider the case of Amtussalaam from this viewpoint. She has a weak heart. It is a disease. She has a weakness for squandering money yet feels reluctant in accepting funds from the family. Sending her money is contributing to her downfall, while not sending it will help her progress. So a naturopath would not send money. 25

Jamnalalji has been operated upon and he is in a Bombay hospital. About Ramdas, I have wired that the proper thing may be done. I do not feel it would be your dharma to come away leaving Devi in this condition but I cannot insist on my view in this matter. Every man forms his own code of conduct as a father. What more can I write? We can continue the discussion in person or through letters. 26 I did not mind your not visiting me, rather I appreciated it. I took it that you wished to save my time. I do not see much reason for calling the doctor. You ought to know the processes of examining the urine and the stools. But I am sending a letter; you may certainly use it if you want to. I shall write to Ba and advise her to express her opinions freely. I had already told her to do so. I shall at once inform you of whatever Ba writes to me. Enquire into the arrangement at Jamnagar and write to me. I shall find out the details later and write about it. I quite like your intention of cooking for yourself but you must not be adamant about it. What do you cook? I shall let you know immediately the news I receive from Phoenix. You can send for Draupadi when it is all fixed up. I had written to her. If you have gained some experience and things are progressing well so that Ramdas need not at all go to South Africa, Draupadi can be immediately sent for. We shall know something definite on Monday. 27

I also saw your letter to Prabhavati regarding the keys. I was already apprehensive about catching fever. Anyway, it is now a fact and I hope it will be only to the good. It was quite right to get him treated by the doctors. You have to be patient. The doctor’s instructions must be adhered to, you have only to turn yourself into a nurse and follow them. This augurs well in every way. God alone controls the results. I must get a letter from you daily. For the time being, how can I even mention South Africa? But I shall keep up the effort of clearing the way and we shall wait and watch. 28

I read your letter after cleaning my teeth. I could not go through the whole of it yesterday. Such is my plight these days! I have replied to your wire of yesterday. The same answer holds for today too. Be patient. If you move from there, Ramdas’s health will deteriorate. This is my opinion from a distance. Surendra is there on the spot, his advice must be followed. What I mean is that you should be a silent nurse. As long as Ramdas is happy with you, you must remain at his side even facing the insults of the doctors. Go on informing of all the developments. Tolerate Ba. I had forewarned you about the developments there. It will be good even now to send Kanu here. But in all this you must be guided by Surendra. Being far away, I am in a quandary. I am aware that people are scared of me. That is why I want to dissociate myself from the Congress and for the same reason I like to live away from people; but all this cannot be forced. Everything will be as God wills. Your last remark is wholly right. Who am I to become responsible for the destiny of India or of any man? But despite this, my ignorant attachment may be pushing me unwittingly into such illusions. If, after considering all circumstances, you think you must leave Ramdas, you should visit me on your way. We shall then discuss about Draupadi and the children. I too am concerned with their welfare. But we shall not be hasty in anything; we shall discuss the future too. 29

This letter will be handed over by Shri Hiralal Sharma. He is proceeding to America to gain further knowledge of nature cure. He wants to live in poverty and if possible even earn his living. He may be supplied with the names and other details of the sanatoria there were also some introductions if possible. Shri Sharma had never been out of India. 30 There is a letter from Bhai Vichitra from which I gather that you have raised a grand structure. But you have no one to help you. The question is what and how much you will be able to do by yourself. Who can bear your expenses? How and from where can I draw money for what does not look promising? I am convinced that you should do what you can with your own efforts. At times I feel that I have entered your life only to disorganize it. You belong neither here nor there which means you have lost your moorings. Now forget me and make your own decision. I shall make the final decision regarding the trust after hearing from you. 31

I shall hear what you have to say but my faith in your ability is diminishing. I find that you do not meet any naturopaths. You now fight shy of coming here. I have been of the opinion that a naturopath should be so endowed that he can mix well with others and be completely free from pride and anger. I feel you have both in good measure. Still, you should go on doing your work. Produce results and remove my doubts and fears. The money you have been paid, you have been paid. From now on I am not going to beg for donations for you. You are quite capable of raising funds. So collect the funds and carry on your work. Win the trustee’s confidence. I am observing silence. 32 Vichitra had written to me. I cannot open a clinic for you. I have explained everything to you. I know your ability. I know your shortcomings too. Do whatever you can on your own strength. I did what I could. I shall be happy if your work gets going, that is to say, if the poor are served. I do not feel like writing more.

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