For Global Peace with Social Justice in a Sustainable Environment

Jairamdas Doulatram and Mahatma Gandhi

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- dr.yadav.yogendra@gandhifoundation.net;

dr.yogendragandhi@gmail.com

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

Jairamdas Doulatram and Mahatma Gandhi

Jairamdas Doulatram (b. 1892); Congress leader from Sind; joined Non-co-operation movement in 1920; Minister of Food and Agriculture, Government of India; Governor of Assam. He was then Secretary, Sind Provincial Congress Committee. Jairamdas was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He worked in his guidance. Bhansali has sent me the accompanying notes. I would like you to go through them and add, amend or corroborate. It will help me to supplement my own jail experiences so that I may not give a mere rosy picture. Do also tell me when you write as to how you are getting on and tell me all about Dr. Choithram’s health. He must get well very quickly. 1 I enclose herewith a letter received from Sindh. Probably you know the ladies. As you will note, they ask me to bring their activity to the notice of those who have much to give. I do not put you under that category, but I thought I should pass the letter on to you so that, if it is a deserving activity, at least it does not remain without any notice by us. You will, therefore, please write to me and let me know what exactly this activity is and what you think of it. I do not want you to go out of your way to make inquiries. There is no hurry about the matter. I know that every moment of true workers is too precious to be spent in anything but the task immediately before them. Lalaji is coming to Andheri on the 27th instant. I am sorry I have not yet been able to frame the draft statement regarding Council-entry and Hindu-Muslim unity. I am afraid, therefore, that you will not see it before publication as I had hoped you would, but you will see it only after it is published. 2

In no case would I have made any specific mention of Sindh if I could not have shown the statement previously to you. Of course it is not yet ready. I shall therefore not be able to send you a copy before publication. Therefore there will be no reference to Sindh in it. I am looking forward to receipt of your letter which I hope will contain full information, as also good news about Dr. Choithram’s health. 3 Here is a copy of a letter received by me, which speaks for itself. Please let me know what truth there is in the charges, and if you do not know anything, please inquire and advise me as to what should be done. 4

You will have read in the papers of the visit to Bombay of Malaviyaji, Motilalji, Hakimji and other leaders. What is going on today at Andheri can hardly be described as a conference, though I have used that word myself in the columns of Young India. We are having desultory talks. Hakimji merely discussed the Hindu-Moslem problem. He is gone already. Malaviyaji is still here. He too talks only about Hindu-Moslem unity. Motilalji alone is naturally interested in the Council-entry because he has to shape his policy. We have, however, come to no conclusions, and I am not going to be in a hurry. I see that I cannot even draw up a tentative statement So much for the “conference” or the talks. A suggestion has been made that I should make no declaration of my views without a conference of young workers. The idea has appealed to me and I am thinking seriously of issuing a general invitation through Young India for some day this month for all workers who are interested in the Congress programme and who would give me the benefit of their advice. Please wire your opinion on this matter and send me also a convenient date. 5 I have neglected you altogether. I am ashamed of myself. But my utter helplessness is my only excuse. I shall be free only tonight after prayer. We therefore meet then. 6

I understand your difficulties and your struggles as I have always done and have therefore sympathized with you even whilst I have been powerless to give you any help or guidance. Personally, as I have implied in my letter to the President, I have not much faith in patched-up compromises brought about by mutual fear. And then, the contracts made by us, polished patriots, have no effect upon the masses, who either act under the impulse of the moment or under the guidance of mischief-makers. We, the so-called representatives of the people, build airy houses of our own imagination. But I suppose the imaginary is real to the one who sees it as such, and what is real is imaginary to him. A shadow is the real dog to the one who only sees his own self through the clear water and bleeds himself to death by straining every nerve in barking at his own shadow. When you are sufficiently sick of the business and tired, do come and pass a few days with me. I descend from this hill in the course of the week and shall be in Bangalore at least for one month. 7

I need you badly if you can possibly spare yourself from Council work. Malaviyaji and I have been considering the advisability of establishing an All-India Anti-untouchability Association. Jamnalalji, Rajagopalachari, Shankerlal, Rajendra Babu and others think likewise. There is no man to take up the work so suitable like you. Jamnalalji thinks that I must press you to come out at any cost. I won’t do that. But I thought I must place this proposition before you, and if the inner voice prompts you, then indeed I want you. But if you think you can better utilize your abilities for the service of the country by being in the Council, I have nothing to say. Just think the matter over well and let me know. If you come to a firm opinion which you can transmit to me by wire, you may even wire. 8 I have been too busy to attend to your letter of 2nd June. It is only because Vallabhbhai has called me to Bardoli that I have got a little breathing time to overtake arrears. I do find a flaw in your argument. You will not decrease the consumption of foreign cloth through our mills unless they come under our control, if only for the simple reason that they will, as before, palm off foreign cloth upon you as swadeshi when they find it cheaper than their own cloth or when they run short of their own cloth. There is no shorter way than the straightest way. Has not Euclid taught us that a straight line is the shortest distance between two points? You know that I tried hard to come to terms with the mill-owners but it was of no use. 9

I have glanced at the speech of which you have sent me a copy. Personally, I do not mind Devanagari and Urdu being optionally used. For, ultimately that script will survive whose users have greater vitality. The fact however is that I do not trouble myself about these things. I believe in subscribing to any solution that the leaders may evolve, so long as it does not commit me to a breach of any fundamental conviction. 10 I instructed Subbiah to send you my answer yesterday in reply to your letter. Your programme stands. I see you are compelling me to travel on Sunday night, that is, whilst I am silent. I would of course have preferred all suspension of travel for 24 hours, that is, during my slant hours. But if it cannot be done, I do not mind. What about that place in Sind at which through my stupidity I did not see the people who had assembled on the platform to see me at midnight whilst we were going back to Hyderabad? If that place has got to be done, that is, if the people want it, I am prepared to redeem the promise even if it means extension of a day unless you will take the day from the programme already sent. I do not know the whereabouts of Manilal. You will trace him and see to his going to Sind. Do you make the visit contingent upon his going to Sind, or am I to take the programme as an absolute fixture? Young India, 17-1-1929 Sjt. Jairamdas and other Sind friends pressed me whilst I was in Calcutta to go to Sind for the Lalaji Memorial collection. I could not resist the temptation. Though being pledged to tour for khadi I could not go to many places for this collection, I would not refuse the sporting offer from Sind. The collections for the Lalaji Memorial are creeping in, not pouring as they should have. It would be a shame if the five lacs are not forthcoming within a reasonable time. The donors have no excuse now for delaying, as they know exactly the purpose to which the collections are to be devoted. I am hoping therefore that the response from Sind will be generous enough to serve as guide to the other provinces. 11

I shall hope to carry out the programme. Manilal left this morning. Kikibehn has written to me asking me to stay with her in Karachi. I should be delighted to do so. But I am telling her that I shall have to go by what the Reception Committee arranges. You will now do whatever is necessary from the tour point of view. Kripalani is insisting that I should stay with Kikibehn and he will be writing to you also. If it is a matter of no consequence where I stay, of course I should love to stay with her. Gangabehn also wrote to me and I referred her to the Reception Committee. 12 Malkani advises me to abide by your programme and no other. He evidently does not know me still. But I knew you better before I began to know him as well. Hence his mistake is pardoned. Tell him. Ba, Pyarelal and Subbiah accompany me as far as I know at present. Narayandas has a programme for Karachi which needs overhauling. Govindanand wants me to visit Kotri. I am referring him to you. 13

I have taken charge of the Committee for Boycott of Foreign Cloth. I must have a whole-time secretary if that thing is to work. And I can think of nobody so suitable like you. Unless therefore you think that the country’s interest demands your presence in the Council, I would like you to resign at once and do the secretarial work. You may ask to be relieved at the end of this year though of course I would like you to remain on so long as I require you. Nine months’ absence from the Council ought not to matter much and may possibly be good for you even from Council standpoint. I do not want to or need to argue with you. Nor have [I] the leisure for it. Read all the pressure into this letter that you can, but after having done so, let yours be the unfettered decision. I shall accept it without complaint even though it may be adverse. If you are at all inclined to entertain my proposal favorably, please come to Sabarmati, if possible, in reply to this letter. I must leave for Burma on the 1st March at the latest 2^nd and I shan’t be passing through Bombay. Malkani joined me yesterday at Marwar Junction. 14

Possibly result from the tea-party. But you will see my account of it in Navajivan issued today. Get somebody to read it to you. Of course the auditor and inspector will have to go to Sind also. I did discuss the Sind affairs with Motilalji. He was glad that I had gone into the thing and agreed that wherever there was irregularity, it should be put down. My note in Young India has, I hope, cleared the matter. With reference to your telegram, I am glad you are coming. I am leaving on the 1st March for Burma via Delhi. You should therefore try to come on before the 28th. More when we meet. Navajivan, 3-3-1929 In connection with the movement for boycott of foreign cloth, one good sign is that Shri Jairamdas has agreed to resign his seat in the Bombay Legislative Council and has accepted the secretaryship of the Boycott Committee. This is an occasion for the reader to rejoice. The Boycott Committee saw in Delhi itself the need for a secretary who would think of this work all the twenty-four hours and devote himself to it. I at once thought of Bhai Jairamdas. In my opinion, he is well qualified for such work. I wrote him just a short letter suggesting that it would be a good thing if he resigned from the Legislative Council for this great work. He sent me a telegram in reply informing me that he would come and see me. Before leaving Bombay and coming to see me he had made up his mind to resign. After some discussions with me he has returned to Bombay in order to make preparations and will have resigned from the Council by the 17th of March. So his work as secretary can be said to have begun since last Wednesday. I had not expected less then this from Bhai Jairamdas. The boycott movement can achieve success this very year if we all realize our duty from the sacrifice that Jairamdas has so promptly made. It is my firm belief that the boycott of foreign cloth is the one task which the nation as a whole can easily accomplish and which will be highly effective. Everything else is simply futile. To those who shake their heads I would only say: It is meaningless to shake one’s head over a task which can be undertaken and accomplished. 15

It is a matter of great pleasure to me as I hope it is to every nationalist that Sjt. Jairamdas has been able promptly to respond to my call on behalf of the Foreign-Cloth Boycott Committee to take up its Secretaryship and as a necessary corollary to give up his seat in the Bombay Legislative Council. Jairamdas is not a man to take up a cause he does not believe in His coming therefore as a whole-time worker is in my opinion a great gain to the movement. 16 Sjt. Jairamdas reports that out of 172 possible District Congress Committees only 27 have been sending reports of work done in connection with the foreign-cloth boycott movement inaugurated by the Congress, which is really the most important part of the Congress work in the sense that it affects the whole nation and it is a programme in which everyone can take part. It is moreover a programme whose successful working cannot but produce a tremendous impression both on ourselves and the rulers. Sjt. Jairamdas further states that repeated reminders fail to bring even acknowledgements. 17

I am sending today to Purushottamdas Tandon the covering letter. You will see in Young India the use I have made of some figures quoted by you in the Mysore Bulletin. There should be more work along this line. The very figures you have given can be still further worked out and they will show startling results. For instance the average income of 1 anna 7 pies means that the income of 11 crores who have four months in the year at least lying absolutely idle on their hands is much less than 1 anna 7 pies because the average includes the incomes of big zamindars and the fat salaries of highly placed officials as also the equally fat fees of doctors and lawyers. It should not be difficult for someone to work out these figures and find the average income of the 11 crores. It must be nearer 1 pie than seven. Surely, 66 crores for foreign yarn and foreign piece-goods is a wrong figure for the imports from England alone of piece-goods excluding yarn amount to nearly 60 crores. If you add to this imports of yarn from England and imports of yarn and piece-goods from Japan and Italy they are likely to be 100 crores, but this requires checking. Who has prepared these figures? Here is a copy of my itinerary revised to date. 18

I quite agree with you that it would have been better if Malkani had not joined the semi-official committee or could have avoided it. I have told him as much and I have told him also that so long as he is working for that committee the money sent from Gujarat must be held over. It cannot be spent through an official committee. I wish that Jamshedji had spared Malkani. It is not just to the donors in Gujarat to have their money left unused. It would be still more unjust and unlawful if I allowed it to be used through semiofficial channels. Jamshedji has written to me asking me to authorize Malkani to hand over the balance of Gujarat money to his Committee. I have written to him regretting my inability to comply with his request and regretting also that he should have drawn Malkani into the net and thus have lessened his capacity for service. Now you will do what you think is best. I hope you had a truthful and responsive atmosphere about you in Gujarat. 19

Jamshedji Mehta has written to me two letters giving me chapter and verse that his Committee is in no way official except that it has an official nominally as its president who was elected at a public meeting and not officially imposed. He tells me also that the whole responsibility is entrusted to the Executive Committee. Kripalani who paid a flying visit to Hyderabad recently confirms this. I therefore propose to lift the embargo on the Gujarat money held by Malkani but I am awaiting his letter. If meanwhile you have to say anything to me please write or telegraph. Here is a a copy of my programme. I can understand your difficulty about domestic affairs. You shall certainly attend to them but it is too early to say how things will shape themselves in December and January. We shall of course meet before then when we shall be able to discuss the programme for the next year. You will give me your impressions of your tour in Karnatak as also in Gujarat. 20

Yes, you may bring your draft resolution for the Working Committee’s consideration. It will be a great step if we can avoid the scandal of one province sending as delegates the wastage of other provinces. I like too your idea of inviting a few friends outside the Working Committee. Will you make up a list? I am concentrating hard on finding a civil disobedience formula. I hope to find it soon. I feel that we must do something during the year consistently with non-violence. We must run the boldest risks But of this more when we meet. You will come a day or two earlier please. Choithram must keep his health. He must not get excited as he did when he was inviting the Congress to Karachi. 21 In the first place, I do not know that outside India under any civilized government, authority has been given to the police forcibly to take away from people anything unless it is of a dangerous character. I know that Salt Acts do give such powers. That merely illustrates my view. A barbarous act does not become less so by having the authority of law, and the practice of indecent torture is utterly intolerable and calculated to exhaust the patience of any people. The obvious fact is that Government [do not] want peace. I observe that Mr. Jairamdas Doulatram has come in for a bullet wound in the thigh. I am delighted it is Mr. Jairamdas Doulatram rather than some unknown person to have been thus injured. Mr. Jairamdas is one of the greatest persons to be found in all India. If he was in the crowd, he was there not to incite people to violence but to prevent it. 22

There is a bit of good news in the reports from Calcutta and Karachi. Jairamdas has received a bullet wound in his thigh. I have not known anyone more pure-hearted than he. The intelligence he possesses and the prestige he enjoys are as great as his purity. He is a member of the Congress Working Committee; he is the secretary of the committee for the boycott of foreign cloth. He is a staunch votary of non-violence. In this struggle, the sacrifice of such persons is expected. So I regard Jairamdas lucky that he was the first to receive a bullet-wound. If there was a riot he surely did not go there to instigate it but rather to try and quell it. It is good that he has been injured. Young India, 24-4-1930 Jairamdas, receive bullet wounds. Jeramdas’s injury gave me unmixed joy. It is the injury to leaders that would bring relief. The law of sacrifice is uniform throughout the world. To be effective it demands the sacrifice of the bravest and the most spotless. And Jairamdas is of the bravest and the cleanest. I therefore could not help wiring when I heard of Jeramdas’s wound that a wound in the thigh was better than prison and wound in the heart better still. 23

The Deshseva Mandal of Sind has published a little pamphlet on the economic condition of the Bhils of Sind. It consists of two articles written by Sjt. Jairamdas Doulatram after a careful study on the spot of the condition of the Bhils living in Tharparker district of Sind. The tract is a desert. “The profession of agriculture in the desert“, writes Sjt. Jairamdas,“is nothing but a stupendous struggle against nature.” “The average net yield of cultivation in that tract is not more than Rs. 5 per acre. It is not every year that he (the cultivator) cultivates the whole area.” “With a sandy soil, low rainfall, locust pest, and cheaply priced crops, the khaddar can rarely keep his head above water.” “I have come across all types of Bhils, those, very few ones, who are for the time being out of debt, those who are in permanent debt and live a semi-starved life and lastly those who are living in hopeless pauperism. I cannot do better than give to the reader a few hard facts about specific villages. 24

If I am to write, for the time being you must be satisfied with dictated letters. I have yours of 23rd June. I met Jairamdas yesterday and he told me that Vidya was worse and that milk was not agreeing with her. That was quite likely and I had, I think, in Karachi suggested that she might live on fruit alone for some time. But the very best thing is for her to put herself under the treatment of the nature-cure physician of Poona about whom I talked to Jairamdas and about whom Jairamdas has already written to you. I do not know him personally but I have great faith in Dr. Khambatta, whom the Poona physician treated for suspected cancer. You must not lose time over Vidya’s treatment. 25 I was delighted to see your handwriting after such a long time. I hope you are keeping quite well. Is the donation of Rs. 5,000 from Sjt. Uttamchand Gangaram to be announced in the Harijan, and if so, in what terms? Is Dr. Choithram able to move about? Give him love on account of us all. Premi had become a regular correspondent, but of late she is frozen up. Ask her why she has been silent. 26

Send him papers and a brief account of what is going on. The amounts to be sent to Anand I have forgotten. I told him there should be some delay because of Jamnalal’s illness. But if you remember them tell me. 27 What about the Nagar ashram? Thakkar Bapa wants me to produce over Rs. 1,000/- for it as I did before. He has a right to do so. But I am trying to discover a way out. Have you any suggestion and about the future? Bapa wants me to approach Sheth Shivratan. Will you guide me? 28 I am glad Anand is free. I have bad news about Gidwani. Gangabehn wrote a pathetic letter. I sent a telegram in reply, and I have now full particulars from Gidwani. There seems to be no danger, but he is bed-ridden. I hope Kumarappa gave you all the particulars about the proposed Board of the Association I do hope that the publication of the constitution will now be expedited. 29

This is Jawaharlal Nehru all over. He means nothing. He did not invite a discussion on my view of statute of Westminster. But his moods we know and must learn to tolerate cheerfully. I have written to Anand. He is the author of his own grief. The best way to bring his father round is to forget him. It is also the best way to soothe and serve him. He must also firmly tell his mother that she must not grieve over the separation. She must not mind people or rather society’s talk. She may not listen to him but if after having given her that advice, she does persist in nursing her grief, Anand should not worry. As to Vidya, I do not believe in prolonging the existence of the body at any cost or without purpose. A lingering death is worse than a quick death brought about by disregarding or refusing the highly artificial aids that the so-called science has provided. I have written in that strain to Anand. Perhaps you too will be shocked over this last view on preservation of the body. But is the view I have held and enforced for years. I enforced it in Mira’s and Nanavati cases when both bodies were said to be perishing. Form a microfilm. 30

You should have no worry on you while you are rebuilding your body. In this we may well copy Englishmen. Out of office they forget the office cares and every day come fresh to work. If they get ill they know that they must rest and trust that without them the nation’s business will go on as usual. This is true Gita living. It is the soundest economy. Yes, I remember the two girls. Know that it was not Premi who prompted my wire. I had made up my mind when Girdhari gave me the account. Premi’s letter added zest to the wording of the wire. Premi made a definite promise to write to me in Hindi. She has now a rare opportunity of learning it there and so has you all. Premi will have no letter from me till she has redeemed her promise. Love to you all and the Kripalani. 31 People may not accept my statement. But I do claim that I take ample rest and regulate my life. The blood-pressure was not due to overwork. I have not got the mental poise prescribed by the Gita. A certain class of events generally considered trivial upsets me as nothing else can. There was just such an event. People may laugh at it but for me it was no laughing matter. 32

Somehow I feel it is wrong to go to Hyderabad. Mothers are often more affectionate than wise. But if not to fulfil her wishes disturbs you, I suppose you must go to Hyderabad. Is Indore not possible? Why not Mather an? Nasik or Deolali are good. So is Sinhagad for that matter and you having Dinsha Mehta’s help there. How I wish you could make up your mind soon. 33 Please see that I get a car for Gosibehn at the latest at 1.30 p. m. She has to transact business at Maganwadi and then entrain for Bombay. I hope Devi and Premi have arrived safe and sound. 34 You will not overstrain yourself. Do conserve your energy. Amtul Salaam has told me your love towards her and how you all rained torrents on her. Your letter on the situation I understand. She is now under treatment. I won’t send her back till she is quite fit. But neither she nor I will be happy till Sind is free from senseless murders. Her heart is in Sind. 35

I had sent a minor to Sind and I thought she had returned a major. That was the impression created on my mind by a letter she wrote and to which I had replied. She has sent you a copy of my reply. But her action belied my interpretation as she herself perceived. She saw that mine was an over-liberal interpretation to which she could in [no] way live up. Hence she remains what she went as a minor requiring delicate care and attention. She will be sent back when her health is fully restored and when you and Maulana Saheb think she can come. Her life is dedicated to the cause of peace in Sind to the extent of stopping terrorism of which wanton murders are but a symptom. You will not endanger your health in thinking of Amtul Salaam. She is in God’s hands. 36

The thorny crown that I wanted to put upon your head has come upon me. The Executive won’t have you or anybody else but me. They want the same man for the sun and the planets. But you must be in the A.I.V.I.A. as also in the A.I.S.A. if you are not in the latter. Hope you are flourishing and following what I write in Harijan. I wish you; Devi and Premi will make up your Hindi and Urdu. How high would Premi have gone if she had given one quarter of the years to Hindi and Urdu just as she has given to English? The knowledge then gained would have flown to the masses. Now it is dammed and damned too. 37

I shall keep you to the 1st July. Devibehn should religiously practice writing Hindi every day even if it is 10 minutes by the watch. She will find a vast improvement. You know the Persian characters because Sindhi is written in it with slight changes. Why do you not write in Urdu then? In the Ashram here a splendid Urdu atmosphere has been created. Pyarelal has become the Maulvi. As you know he is original in many things he does and so he is in teaching Urdu. The way he imparts Urdu instruction has created special interest among the inmates and almost all, including little children, attend the class. Therefore, if you write in Urdu there will be no difficulty in deciphering your letters. I can but I take time. Pyarelal and Amtul Salaam are to the manner born. Nevertheless I do not want to put an undue strain upon your loyalty. Therefore do not exert yourself to write in Urdu unless you feel the impulse from within. What you say about the Hurs and Pagaro is most instructive as also very painful. How are we to make a nation out of this material? The problem becomes tremendous from the non-violent standpoint. What you are doing in the way of constructive work is good. I am sure your search will result in giving you a village after your liking. Chandwani is expected here any day between 9th and 15th instant. Maulana wires to say he is calling a W. C. Meeting on the 17th. Wardha heat has already commenced. It will be a sorrowful meeting of the W. C. without Jamnalalji. Your notes about the questions addressed to you and your answers, I return. I think your answers are all correct. I cannot improve upon them. If you can stand the strain of a journey I would certainly like you to attend the meeting of the A.I.V.I.A. I hope Premi will pass her exam with distinction. Mahadev is all right. 38

The house in Panchgani is too small for my large family. I am therefore happy when members of my family make their own arrangements. This does not mean that you, Devi or Premi are not to come. What I mean is that if you can accommodate yourselves with someone in Panchgani, you should do so. I hope all are well. 39 I started looking for a house for you yesterday itself. I have been successful. The help came from Dinshaw Mehta. Now that you will not be a burden, you may come. You will stay with me. You may stay outside also. We shall see about it when you come. Let Devibehn and Premi also come. It will not be necessary for them to run away. I understand that there is no room at Pundit’s. Even if there is, it will not be needed. I heard that you were ill only after I reached here. You will recover here. 40 Where is the time? You have to go to Lucknow startled me and I am writing this in the morning after the prayer. May Premi get well? Inscrutable are the ways of God. Let us trust in Him and find happiness amidst sorrow, Let us do our duty with detachment. 41

He says that the ban on sending yarn in large quantities to him was imposed because of the new rules preventing posting of yarn or cloth from one province to another and also in order to save postage. He says if you can get over the rules and expense and send the yarn if everyone insists on this to him through someone who happens to be coming his way you may do so. But he would prefer you to have the yarn woven into cloth and your proposals which are sound should be adopted. You may send the dhotis, etc., to him for his personal use when anyone can bring them. In regard to the signatures they cannot be had for less than Rs. 5 each. Signature money can only go to the Harijan cause. Khadi auctioned or yarn or cloth donated at the Jayanti, all goes to the A. I. S. A. I hope I have made Bapu’s wishes clear. I am not keen on going but Bapu feels I should go and take advantage of doing work by the way so to speak. Bapu is all right again, I am glad to say. Of course he gets tired easily. But this place admits of good massage and treatment for him as also more protection from visitors than most others and the climate is better than that of Sevagram in August, September and October. According to present plans he leaves for Sevagram on the 19th and after 9 days there leaves for Bengal, arriving in Calcutta on November 2nd. But this depends on what progress Sardar makes this week. Up till now there is no real improvement in his case but Bapu is hopeful that he will improve if he stays on. 42

We cannot give up the flag. A procession or drums may not be necessary but it is our duty to hoist the flag in a peaceful manner. More can be said only after observation. I am going to Bengal. I do not know when I shall return. 43

1. You have to do all your work in Hindustani. You should speak Hindustani, deliver speeches in Hindustani and write letters in Hindustani.

2. Live a natural and simple life.

3. The administration here is in a mess. Clean it up if you can.

4. The police problem is not resolved. It should be settled.

5. Maybe, the officers are not loyal enough. See about it.

6. All Ministers should do all work jointly.

7. Dr. Mahmud and Ansari have not resolved their differences. Meet them both.

8. Take care of the interests of minorities.

9. The problem of zamindars has not been solved.

10. Remember, you are not only a constitutional officer. There are Biharis. They have a right to demand all sorts of service from you and they should get it.

11. Do not forget village industries and khadi. Go to villages and move about with people as one of them. There should be prohibition.

12. This does not mean that you should ruin your health. Meet Muslim Leaguers freely.

13. Your secretary should be efficient and should not be of any party. Now your ahimsa will be tested. 44

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