Iran 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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Iran and Mahatma Gandhi

Iran is an oriental country. A conflict is going on at present between the East and the West. A whirlwind from the West has overwhelmed us. Either we shall be swept away in it or we may resist it firmly and turn it back. The name of that whirlwind is “materialism” or the “ism” which looks upon money as its God. If we do not resist it but are lured into aping its ways, we shall become materialists, shall look upon money as our God and so perish. 1 And that is exactly what you have done. You have set up an Ashram for which a Parsi gave you the money. He was a Parsi like Hatimtai. Few could be as generous as he. He was as charitable as Bali raja and that great man of Iran. I am talking of Rustomji. His celebrated name will endure as long as the town of Sarbhon exists. It was not as if he had anything to do with you. But Parsi Rustomji took no notice whatever of differences of religion. When he got to know that the people of Bardoli were brave and self-denying, he sent the money. And from that money the workers of the two Ashrams you had built are being maintained. 2 

The freedom of India must be the symbol of and prelude to this freedom of all other Asiatic nations under foreign domination. Burma, Malaya, Indo-China, the Dutch Indies, Iran and Iraq must also attain their complete freedom. It must be clearly understood that such of these countries as are under Japanese control now must not subsequently be placed under the rule or control of any other colonial power. 3 If America tries to win friendship of other countries with the help of her money, and if China, Japan, Iran, India, Pakistan or any other country gets involved with her even in a small degree, both will come to grief. That is why I have been daily telling Rajendra Babu that import of food grains is the worst kind of slavery. There is nothing more degrading for a country than to beg from others when it cannot meet its requirements. 4 After they heard my suggestion the teachers of the Vidyalaya had a consultation with the girls. They did not compel anyone. But they decided to keep a fast on every Thursday and give in charity whatever they would be saving thereby. They would try to give whatever they were able to save. They also said that they would grow food on some land they had. They have taken upon themselves two tasks—to eat less and grow more food. I appreciated this much more than the blankets that have come from them. They were followed by the Ambassador of Iran and his wife. They sat for a little while but left behind a big pile of blankets. They wanted me to distribute the blankets if I could. I told them I was a beggar and would receive whatever was available and pass it on to the needy. 5

I have been receiving telegrams also from the U. S. A., Iran and London repeating the charge that the Muslims in Kathiawar have been subjected to terrible atrocities. Truthful people should not indulge in this kind of propaganda. And what has Iran got to do with what happen in India? 6 Today the Iranian Ambassador came to see me. He is a guest of the Government. He said, “Iran and India have always been friends. Both Iranians and Indians come of Aryan stock.” He is right. If we look at the Zend Avesta, we shall find many Sanskrit words in it. We have also had dealings with each other. The Ambassador said that India was the largest nation in Asia and that Iran sincerely wanted friendship with India. Gurudev had once paid a visit to Iran and he was very satisfied with the visit. The Ambassador told me that the relations between Iran and India ought not to be allowed to deteriorate. I asked him how that could be. Then he referred to an incident involving an Iranian in Bombay. There are many Iranians in Bombay. They run tea-shops there, which are visited by large numbers of Hindus, Muslims, Parsis and Christians. There seems to have been some rioting there. I do not know anything about it. I am told some Iranians were killed. Iranians are after all Muslims. So the rioters must have decided that it was quite all right to kill them. I asked him if he had any complaint to make about the way the Government handled the situation. He said he had none and that the Government had quickly brought the situation under control. He says the Government here too is good, that it has posted armed guards for the protection of the Muslims who are here. He says in Iran Hindu, Sikh and Muslim traders lived together in amity. Exaggerated reports from India are always going there. What may happen in future nobody knows. But the Government in Iran is keeping itself vigilant, and it does not want to weaken its friendship with India for whatever cause. 7

 

References:

1. Navajivan, 5-5-1921
2. Mahadevbhaini Diary, Vol. VII, pp. 101
3. Harijan, 9-8-1942
4. Bihar Pachhi Dilhi, pp. 353
5. Prarthana Pravachan—I, pp. 416
6. Prarthana Pravachan—II, pp. 166
7. Prarthana Pravachan—II, pp. 285