For Global Peace with Social Justice in a Sustainable Environment

M. G. Bhandari 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

M. G. Bhandari and Mahatma Gandhi

M. G. Bhandari was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He had done a lot of works in guidance of Mahatma Gandhi. He co-operate to Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi wrote a lot of letters to M. G. Bhandari. I observe that you have over two hundred civil resistance prisoners in the extension. Many of these are intimate co-workers. I knew that you had already several from Poona but as they were important public men, I did not ask for meeting them. But with regard to the large number now admitted, an occasional meeting with them is a human want I may not resist. Exactly the same question occurred last year and after talks with Major Martin and then Major Doyle, permission was given to me to see these prisoners occasionally and in small batches of two or three. I repeat the request and I hope that the authorities will have no objection to my seeing these fellow-prisoners and workers, subject of course to the same restrictions as last year. 1

You have kindly given me a copy of the fresh instructions issued by the Government about the weekly visits. I appreciate the trust reposed in me regarding the determination as to who shall be considered political inmates of the Ashram. I am anxious to be true to the trust. But before I could do so, there should be a common definition of the adjective ‘political’ between the Government and me. I take ‘political’ to mean those who are politically minded and are actually taking part in politics as apart from civil resistance. For if by ‘political’ are meant those who have been heretofore imprisoned as civil resisters or are believers in the doctrine of civil resistance, then there is no non-political inmate in the Ashram. If, however, the meaning is as I have given it, there are only three political inmates. I mean Sjts. Mahadev Desai, Pyarelal and Devdas Gandhi. But if I may not see the first two, I may not see Devdas Gandhi for they are like Devdas to me. As it so happens, they are all incarcerated. I may also mention that at the present moment there are only boys and girls and the few adults who are reserved for looking after the youngsters and the multifarious industrial activities of the Ashram. It is difficult; too, for me to submit a list of non-Ashram friends till I know the definition that the Government has in mind of the term ‘political’. I shall await reply to this before I submit a fairly full list for approval. But, meanwhile, I give below illustrative names of those friends whom I regard as non-political and whom I would put in the same category as my relatives. Lady Thackersey, residence Yeravda Hill. She is a social worker. She helped me during my serious illness in 1923 when I was a patient in the Sassoon Hospital Prof. Trivedi of the Agriculture College, Poona. He stands to me in the same close contact as Lady Thackersey. Yeshvantprasad Desai, mill-owner residing in Matunga. He nursed me during the same illness and took up his abode in Poona for helping me. Pyare Ali and his wife were living in retirement at a retreat near Thana, where they have taken in a few Muslim orphans. They lived nearly a year at the Ashram. They are a deeply religious couple. These friends are in no sense political. Pending reply to this letter, I have written to the Manager of the Ashram to send those inmates who may wish to visit me. 2

When I gave you the three names, I did not think of the female ward at all. But there are many Ashram inmates in that ward. I would therefore for the time being drop out Sjt. Chhaganlal Joshi and have Shrimati Gangabehn Vaidya instead. 3 With reference to my letter of the 6th instant, I have the definition of the expression ‘Non-Political’ which I observe corresponds to mine, but I have yet to have the reply with reference to the five illustrative names submitted of non-Ashram friends who are likely to want to visit me or who I am likely to want to see. I shall be obliged if the reply can now be given. I am waiting for that reply to prepare the list desired by the Government. 4 I would like the accompanying letter to be delivered at once, if you approve of the contents. They are nothing but re-exhortation to break his fast and take ordinary food. 5

After all if a letter had to be written about getting the specialists here, Sardar Vallabhbhai thought that he should write the letter himself Hence the enclosed from him. You will see in that letter absence of any mention of 12 lb. loss of weight. Of course I wholly disagree with you and the other doctors that these local troubles have nothing to do with the digestive apparatus. As a layman I strongly hold the conviction that the nose trouble has much to do with the loss of weight. In Sardar Vallabhbhai’s case in spite of his strong will, I know that the constant and irritating attention that the trouble invites disturbs him as it would anybody. If nothing else, the disturbance itself would be a sufficient cause to put a person off his food. I know that in my case I should simply stop taking food if I had such trouble. I would impute it to something wrong in the stomach in spite of medical opinion to the contrary. All this however is merely by the way. 6

With reference to your inquiry about letter No. 27 addressed to Chhotubhai in an Ashram packet, I have to state that I cannot trace it among my papers. It must have been lost in passing from place to place. The letters are listed after they are collected. There is therefore little chance [of] any being left here. The missing letter contained my advice to Chhotubhai about his father who is suffering from obstinate constipation and softness of the brain. I do hope that it will be traced and sent to the Ashram, if found and passed as unobjectionable. 7 Thanks for promptly sending the two important telegrams. If you have authority to pass replies I would like you to send accompanying replies by express message. You will see in my reply to Rajagopalachari that I have said that he could come whenever he chooses. This I have done in the belief that the fact of your sending me a telegram asking for interview presupposes authority for you to grant it. In case you want to see the original telegrams I enclose them herewith and you will please return them to me tomorrow morning. 8

The enclosed is a message which I should like very much now to go if it is at all possible, and there might be no difficulty or delay seeing that it is addressed to the Government of India. 9 I would like the enclosed statement to be sent to the Associated Press for publication forthwith, if the Government approve of the course. 10 My wire to Sjt. Ghanshyamdas Birla which appears in the Bombay papers of today omits two key-words, viz., “from here” after the words “helpful instructions”. I see also that the omission has given rise to a misinterpretation of my meaning. Could you therefore please send a message to the Associated Press asking them to circulate the necessary correction? 11 I am sorry. I took silence at 1 p.m. so as to be free earlier tomorrow. Now the only thing possible is to see those who are coming and listen to what they say. I can reply by writing my answers. 12

Thank you for your note. I think I ought to see Reuter’s representative now, if you do not mind. 13

The orders you verbally conveyed to me at 12.30 this morning I interpret as follows: I am not to be allowed to see from this date any visitors regarding untouchability or any other public work, except Sjts. Ghanshyamdas Birla and Mathuradas Vasanji. Secondly Mrs. Gandhi should be forthwith removed to the Female Yard; all other visits to be regulated as before the fast, under the general instructions that were conveyed to me soon after my admission and amended thereafter. This means that I shall not have the privilege of seeing Shrimati Sarojinidevi, whose presence during my illnesses has produced a soothing effect on me, nor of my son Devdas and his intended wife, nor of the Ashram inmates who have been in attendance upon me during this crisis. I must confess that I was wholly unprepared for this very sudden and rude reminder that I was but a prisoner whose body was entirely at the mercy of the Government. I would like, however, the Government to know that I am still considered to be convalescent and under orders not even to move from my bed. I had hoped that at least during the convalescent period I would be saved all unnecessary shock to my nerves. However, this need not be a matter of moment to the Government and ought not to worry me overmuch, if at all. Indeed I am thankful for the medical attendance that the Government provided for me and the free attendance of visitors and friends during the fast. But what I cannot understand is this sudden stopping of all visits, even in connection with untouchability work, save those of Sjts. Ghanshyamdas and Mathuradas. The Government cannot be unaware of the phenomenal awakening that has taken place in the country, nor of the repercussions of the fast whose limitations have been but little understood and which is being blindly imitated by enthusiastic young men. I therefore hold it absolutely necessary that I should be left entirely free to see whomsoever I consider necessary regarding untouchability. The Government has not yet seemed to have revised their instructions regarding correspondence. Needless to say what applied to visitors regarding untouchability applies equally to correspondence. Nor need I add that I should not have the slightest objection to Government officials and interpreters attending any interviews I might have with visitors and my correspondence being scrutinized. As this is a matter of the greatest urgency, I hope that the Government will favour me with their decision at the earliest possible moment. 14

With reference to the telegram from Maulana Abul Kalam Azad I send herewith the original and my reply to it. To be of any use the reply should go promptly or not at all. 15 As the Government have not granted the relief sought in my letter to Col. Doyle of the 24th inst. and unless it comes in the course of the day, the progressive non-co-operation adumbrated in that letter will commence from tomorrow. As stated in that letter, I shall begin by denying myself the special food issued to me. Will you kindly therefore have the goat’s milk stopped as from tomorrow? Besides this, just now I am only drawing sour limes and vegetables in common with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and sometimes taking a little brown bread from Sjt. Mahadev Desai’s ration. Sardar Vallabhbhai sends for the limes and vegetables and I have asked him not to send for my portion. In lieu of this, I shall take, for the time being and if they are issued to me, the morning kanji and the noon and the afternoon bhakri out of the ‘C’ class rations. I may not take anything else from the ‘C’ class rations, and I can only take during any twenty-four hours five ingredients besides salt, soda and water. The vegetables and dholl generally issued to ‘C ‘class prisoners contain more than three or four ingredients. These therefore I may not take. I do not propose to take anything specially prepared for special ‘C’ class prisoners. As a large amount of correspondence on untouchability, some of which is very important, has accumulated, and requires answering with a view to publication, I think that it is incumbent upon Government either to publish my correspondence with Government on the matter or to inform the public, in any other manner Government may choose, of my request and their refusal to accede to it. It is needless to add that I have scrupulously avoided, either directly or indirectly, the leakage of any information about the correspondence. 16

I do not want to have dysentery, but if I get it I should go through it. But at the slightest sign of it I shall stop all food. The non-co-operation has to be progressive. This course I have adopted to cause the Government the least possible inconvenience. I cannot live and not work for the removal of untouchability. But if the Government would that I died rather than I lived to work for removal of untouchability I cannot help it. 17 With reference to Government of India message handed to me by you last night I enclose herewith a reply which I request may be sent as an express wire. As you will gather from the wire I have already suspended the restriction on my diet and partaken of my usual food. If it is at all possible, I suggest that this wire to the Government of India may not await the opening of the office of the Inspector-General of Prisons. 18

During the fast week there were two telegrams received from Egypt, one from Madam Zaghloul and the other from Nahas Pasha. I cabled suitable replies to both. During that week all the important telegrams and my replies to them were handed to the Press. But just at present I observe that garbled versions of the telegrams mentioned above in a somewhat ludicrous form are going the round of the Press as if they were the true versions. They appear to be translations from Egyptian vernacular newspapers. I should like to supply the Press with true copies. Will you please ascertain from the Government whether these copies may be supplied by me to the Press? Of course they have reference to untouchability. I enclose herewith the text, barring Nahas Pasha’s wire which for the moment I cannot trace among my papers. The cutting herewith from the Indian Social Reformer containing the garbled version will give some idea of the original. 19

You have been receiving on my behalf the Vedic Magazine a Hindi monthly, Purushartha a Marathi monthly, both religious publications, Indian Review of Madras Hon’ble Mr. Natesan’s monthly and possibly other magazines. Now that I am permitted to do propaganda work regarding untouchability, I shall want these and other publications in order to enable me to keep myself in touch with public opinion as expressed in the Press and to combat, where necessary, criticism that may appear therein. You seem to doubt whether these papers and magazines that are already coming and which may come in answer to my appeal may under the recent decision of the Government of India be given to me. Will you please obtain the Government interpretation in the matter as early as possible? 20

You know by now the late Dr. Mehta about whom I received so many telegrams when he died recently. I am trying to look after his affairs as far as possible from here. I have now to advise the members of Dr. Mehta’s family about the disposal of the estate he has left behind him. He was a diamond merchant and landed proprietor in Rangoon where he had settled many years ago. It is necessary for me to see some or all of those in the enclosed list in connection with his affairs. None of them has ever been engaged in politics, and with the exception of two the rest have business in Burma. As you are aware, before the fast I had dropped receiving weekly visits altogether. After the fast I have occasionally had such visits chiefly from my wife and children. But with reference to the enclosed list it might be necessary for me to see those who will come continually from day to day till the matter is settled. I trust that the Government will have no objection to my request being granted as early as possible. 21

You have kindly showed me a memorandum from Government in connection with my interview with the correspondent of The Hindu which refers to Lord Sankey’s letter. In the light of that memorandum I have read and reread the Government of India’s decision on my letters requesting facilities in regard to visitors and correspondence on removal of untouchability. I can see absolutely no inconsistency between the undertaking given by me and the reference to Lord Sankey’s letter in the interview. It would be found on a perusal of the interview that rather than in any shape or form depart from my undertaking I have expressed my inability, because of the undertaking, to deal with the letter except through the Government. I am however grateful to Government for having drawn my attention to what they consider is inconsistency between my undertaking and the reference to Lord Sankey’s letter in the interview in question. I would add that I am carrying out the undertaking in most difficult circumstances. Questions crop up in the course of interviews which have a vital bearing upon untouchability work, but which strictly speaking would be outside untouchability. I rigorously refrain from answering them even at the risk of being misunderstood and the cause [of] suffering. As it is, generally either you or the Jailor has been present at the interviews. You or he will perhaps bear me out when I state that I have scrupulously refused to give my opinion on any matter outside untouchability and have even refused to receive visitors, whether Indian or European, when I have known that they could not have anything important to say on untouchability or when they have desired a discussion on the political aspect of untouchability. I feel that in doing the last thing I have gone beyond the letter of the Government of India’s decision and my undertaking, but I know that the spirit of them would exclude discussion even on the political aspect of untouchability. I have here in mind the correspondence I am carrying on with Mr. Jenkins. Nevertheless if this reply does not satisfy the Government I suggest their sending an official to discuss with me exactly what the Government would have me to do in matters such as the one which is the subject-matter of this correspondence. And if consistently with my work I can carry out their wishes I would do so with great pleasure. My one desire in the midst of the extraordinary facilities given to me in extraordinary circumstances is, if it is at all possible, to earn at the end of the chapter a certificate from Government that the undertaking given by me had been carried out in an honourable manner. 22

With reference to my letter to you of the 14th instant submitting certain names for approval by Government as visitors in connection with the late Dr. P. J. Mehta’s estate, as the widow and the heirs of the estate are anxious for an early settlement of affairs of the deceased, may I request that the matter may be treated by the Government as urgent? 23 Mahadev has told me all about what you felt over yesterday’s gathering. I tried my utmost to keep the numbers inside of 25, but it was impossible to prevent the Shastris who had come from surrounding districts and they belonged to the Sanatanist School and therefore I had to walk warily. I had hoped that today would be the last day but I find that I have to prolong the period. They are coming on Monday. It taxed all my strength and tact to keep the number inside of 25 as I had promised. I shall try to keep it at that on Monday also and thereafter. But I can make no promise. I am fully aware that you have to act under instructions. But they should not be inconsistent with the orders of the Government of India. According to my reading of those orders, the number of visitors has been left open, to be regulated by me. I have been endeavouring to the utmost of my ability to suit your convenience both as to number and time, but occasions arise when it is impossible for me to restrict the number as you would wish. If therefore it is necessary for you to refer the matter to higher authority, you will please do so and receive instructions as to the meeting on Monday and thereafter. As the 2nd of January approaches, I know that the pressure is bound to increase. I would therefore like a fairly free hand leaving me always to realize that I am a prisoner and therefore may not arrange things as if I have no restrictions to submit to. But I would like you and the Government to feel with me that I can consult the convenience of the administration only so far as not to interfere with the progress of the movement in furtherance of which extraordinary facilities have been given to me. 24

With reference to the late Dr. Mehta’s estate I need to see the following parties in addition to the thirteen for whom permission has already been given:

(1) Padmabehn, Dr. Mehta’s grand-daughter.

(2) Sjt. Kantilal A. Doshi, the son of the well-known Morbi shroff and engaged to be married to (1).

(3) Shrimati Vrajkunwar Ratilal Sheth, wife of Sjt. Ratilal Sheth for whom permission has already been granted. I hope that early permission will be received as I have to advise about the marriage of (1) with (2), and it is proposed to be celebrated in February. 25

There are two matters that I have discussed with you, with which you have told me you have no authority to deal. The first matter relates to the supply of newspapers to me in terms of the orders of the Government of India, giving me special facilities about untouchability propaganda. Somehow or other hitherto I have managed to cope with my work in spite of restrictions that you have been exercising about newspapers addressed to me. I have already drawn your attention to very important matters escaping my notice owing to the non-delivery of these papers. However careful your staff may be, they cannot always be sure of having all the cuttings relating to untouchability in the papers received. Some papers such as Dr. Ambedkar’s I have to look through fully and carefully. So far as I read the Government of India orders they contemplate no restrictions on the prompt receipt by me of correspondence and newspapers. It is obvious that I cannot carry on propaganda if I do not get such things in proper time. I therefore ask that all the newspapers received for me and which do not come under the heading of “prohibited literature” should be delivered to me as they arrive. Of course they may be taken away from me as soon as I have used them. I need hardly repeat the assurance that I have no use for them save for the one purpose to which all my energy and attention are being exclusively directed. I shall therefore thank you to obtain necessary and early instructions in the matter. The second matter is about the new weekly Harijan which is being published in Poona in the interest of the Servants of Untouchables Society. Its policy is naturally being controlled by me as it has been published at my instance. It has therefore to deal exclusively with questions relating to untouchability only and therefore it is a purely socio-religious weekly. I ask you whether copies could be sent to my associates and fellow-prisoners whether belonging to ‘B’ class or ‘C’ class. I would thank you if you will kindly ask for Government’s instructions on my request. I may draw the attention of the Government to the fact that in 1922 when I was admitted into this Prison as a convicted prisoner and when in all other matters except food and sanitary conveniences I had no facilities given to me except what were permitted to other prisoners, there never was any difficulty about my getting newspapers of a purely socio-religious character. I hope, therefore, there will be none this time about the giving of Harijan to my friends, the fellow-prisoners. Lastly, will you please convey my thanks to the Government for their very prompt attention to my letters about Shrimati Mirabehn (Slade) and Appasaheb Patwardhan? 26

As you know I have been endeavouring during my present incarceration to study the heavens. You have kindly allowed astronomical literature to come in to me. I need a fair-sized astronomical telescope. Lady Vithaldas has one and has kindly consented to give me a loan of it. Drs. Ramnathan and Desai of the Government observatory (Poona) who put the telescope right say that I won’t be able to use it unless they gave personal directions. They need to be with me for that purpose for about half an hour after the stars are observable. If there is any objection to this lesson being given to me in the yard in which I am kept during the night, it may be given in the yard reserved for untouchability interviews. I shall thank you if you will please ascertain the wishes of the Government in the matter. 27

I have more than once told you about the condition of Sardar Vallabhbhai’s nose. You know also how reluctant he is to talk about it. But we who know it are getting nervous. He suffers terribly whilst the attack lasts. All the remedies that you and Major Mehta suggested have been tried without success. The attacks are becoming more and more frequent and more and more troublesome. The worst attack was witnessed on Saturday last. The discharge from the nose and sneezing continued for more than thirty hours. The eyes were blood red and the nose naturally so. The whole day long he ate nothing, drinking only tea in the morning and having fruit and milk and boiled vegetable in the evening. He is not able to take his ordinary meals. I do feel that it is time that he was examined by his own specialists. Dr. Deshmukh is his general adviser and I should leave it to Dr. Deshmukh to bring such nose specialist as he likes. Dr. Damani has generally attended to his nose but I understand that he is suffering from smallpox and may not be available. Will you please send this to the Government for an early decision? 28

With reference to Seth Jamnalalji’s transfer to Arthur Road Prison for medical examination, will you please ascertain from the Government whether I may correspond with him freely and receive letters from him freely in view of the daily interviews I was permitted to have whilst he was here, of course subject to the limitation of the correspondence strictly to his health and untouchability matters? 29 I got two wires yesterday about Seth Poonamchand Ranka, dated 6th inst. According to the postmarks on them they were delivered to you on the same date. You know how important they were. This delay baffles me. The only way I can somewhat undo its effect is to send a wire direct to Seth Poonamchand. But that I know is not covered by the Government orders. If you have the power to use the telephone or the wire I would request you to secure permission from the Government to dispatch the enclosed wire as an urgent message to Seth Poonamchand or the Superintendent of the Khandwa Jail at Government expense. This in my humble opinion is the least that is due to the fasting prisoner and me. I would ask for an early explanation of these delays in the handling of correspondence in reference to the life of a prisoner and authorized by Government. 30

You have told me that the Government has instructed you to convey to them urgently any wish I might have to express. You have also given me a copy of the instructions of the Government about the regulating of friends’ visits. This is my submission about the visits:

1. It is not fair to leave the initiative to me. In the present state of my mind I have no initiative about such visits. If, therefore, the Government wishes that I should receive visitors, they should inform the public that, if any member of the public specially desires to see me, they will give him the permission. Their names need not be referred to me. For, I will not thwart the wish of any friend to see me. It is highly probable that my children and other relatives as also inmates of the Ashram and other friends who are intimately connected with me through one or more of my many activities may want to see me. If Rajaji, for instance, who had already applied to the Government for permission to see me in connection with the communal problem, wants to see me about that matter or any other, I should be glad to see him. But even regarding him I would not take the initiative of submitting his name to the Government.

2. If the visitors are permitted to see me without any restrictions as to the matters they might discuss with me, the object of discussions would be largely frustrated if the discussions cannot be published. I would, of course, always and in every circumstance, myself rule out, without needing any external pressure, any discussion that can, by any stretch of imagination, be helpful to the Fascist powers, including Japan. If visits contemplating discussions are to be allowed, the declaration I have suggested to be made by the Government should obviously be made forthwith so that such visits may take place in the early stages of the fast.

3. It is possible that those who have been serving or nursing me in the Ashram or those who were attending on me during my previous fasts may want to stay with me to take part in the nursing. If they should so wish, they should be permitted. I see difficulty in the way of making public announcement on this point. If my proposal commends itself to the Government, I suggest their addressing Shrimati Janaki Devi, the widow of the late Seth Jamnalal Bajaj telling her that if anyone desires during my fast to take part in serving me, he would be permitted to do so on her submitting their names to the Government. She knows all those who have served me before. Then there are two other matters. I have been most anxious all these months to know all about the state of health of Shri Mathuradas Trikumji, ex-Mayor of Bombay, a grandson of one of my sisters long since dead. The Government may either let me have the information or they may permit Shri Mathuradas Trikumji himself to write to me, or if he is physically unable to do so, anybody may be allowed on his behalf to give me the fullest information. When I was arrested, his life was almost despaired of. I read in the papers, however, that he had undergone a successful operation. The other thing is in connection with the news that appears in The Bombay Chronicle received here today, that Professor Bhansali has embarked on another fast, this time out of sympathy with me. I would like, in order to save time, the Government to convey the following message to him by express wire or through telephone, whichever may be the quickest way: “I have just read about your sympathetic fast. You have just ended your very long fast over Chimur. You have made that your special task. You should therefore quickly rebuild your body and fulfil the self-allotted task. Leave God to do with me as He likes. I would not have interfered, if you had not just risen from a fast that might have proved fatal and if you had not imposed on yourself a special duty.” If the Government would comply with my request on this point, I would like them to send the message without any alteration and further to let me correspond with him if my message does not produce the desired result. 31

There seems to be between Khan Bahadur Kateli and me a conflict in the understanding of Government instructions about interviews. From the correspondence and instructions you were good enough to read to me, I had gathered that those who were permitted to visit me were not restricted as to the nature of discussion or its duration, a Government representative, if necessary, being present. Where I am physically unable to carry on discussion I leave it to Shri Pyarelal to finish it. Naturally also the visitors who are intimately connected with me are seen and talked to by my wife. I personally can do very little talking. Doctors, for one thing, have to limit it to the fewest possible minutes. The Khan Bahadur’s instructions are that the talk must be confined only as between them and me. If such is the position, it is hopeless. Thus Seth R. D. Birla came and so did Shri Kamalnayan Bajaj. They know all about the trusts that I used to regulate. Naturally I took the opportunity of their visits and instructed Shri Pyarelal accordingly, and he has been talking to them regarding them. The Khan Bahadur had a very delicate duty to perform. He did it firmly but as gracefully as was possible under the circumstances. The Khan Bahadur also says, he has strict instructions not to allow visitors to take any notes or papers. During the remaining days of the fast and convalescence, I would like, if possible, to be undisturbed by such things. I would, therefore, like clear instructions which Khan Bahadur and I can mutually understand. I have no desire to go behind them. Shri Devdas Gandhi, my son, has permission to stop at the Palace as long as he likes. During the permission period he talks during odd minutes when he thinks he can. Naturally the Khan Bahadur cannot be present at those times. I have asked Shri Pyarelal to show him all the correspondence that has passed between the Government of India and the Government of Bombay and me. I had also the intention of supplying him with copies of such correspondence. But since the Khan Bahadur’s prohibition, pending Government instructions, I have asked my son not to take any copies. 32

You were good enough yesterday, my day of silence, to tell me that the Government had restricted to my two sons the admission of outsiders at the breaking of the fast tomorrow. Whilst I am thankful for the concession, I am unable to avail myself of it. For, as the Government knows, I make no distinction between sons born to me and numerous others who are as dear to me even as they are. I told you three or four days ago that, if the Government allowed any outsiders to be present at the breaking of the fast, they should allow all nearly fifty who are at present in Poona, and who have been allowed to visit me during the fast. I see that that was not to be. 33 With reference to this morning’s conversation about Kanu Gandhi’s presence with me during the convalescence period, not extending beyond a month according to the doctors’ opinion, I beg to say that, if the Government will not permit him to stay with me during that period, I am afraid, I must go without his services however valuable they are. I must confess that I do not like this kind of treatment which seems to me to be one of the sharp reminders, even during my helpless period, for which I am quite aware I am solely responsible, that I am a prisoner. But even a prisoner may give himself the privilege of denying himself conveniences whose acceptance may humiliate him, as the offer to give a substitute for Kanu Gandhi seems to do. 34

In the Government of India’s letter to me dated March 213, 1944, there occur these two passages: It was on January 28 that they were first informed that Mrs. Gandhi had asked for the services of Dr. Dinshaw Mehta. . . . If Dr. Dinshaw Mehta was not called in earlier, it was due to the view originally expressed by both Col. Bhandari and Dr. Gilder that his services would not be of any use, but he was summoned as soon as the Government doctors revised that opinion. The arrangements for the funeral were understood here to be in accordance with your wishes. The Government made enquiries on the point and were informed that you had no special preference between the first two alternatives mentioned in your letter. Dr. Gilder has no recollection of his having given the opinion attributed to him. I have never expressed indifference as to whether the deceased was cremated in the consecrated public cremation ground or in the jail compound which this camp is. Can you please throw light on the discrepancies? 35

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