Mahatma Gandhi’s Discussion with Chiang Kai-shek and his wife

[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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Mahatma Gandhi’s Discussion with Chiang Kai-shek and his wife  

 

I would not think of asking you to come to the Government House,” said the Generalissimo. “We would come again, after you have had your meal and rest.

Gandhiji replied: But I have had my meal on the train in order to give you the whole of my time here, and I would suggest, if it were not inconvenient to you, to stay here, have an Indian meal with us, and we can then talk until the minute of my departure. We can thus save the time of going to and coming back from Barrackpore. And so the guests stayed on . . . and talked with Gandhiji until the moment of his departure for the station . . . . Part of the time was taken up by Gandhiji in explaining the genesis and course of Satyagraha and non-co-operation, and also in demonstrating to the Generalissimo and the Madame the action of his “weapon of war” a weapon which, as he explained, “makes no noise, which does not kill, but which, if anything, gives life”. The Madame watched the working of the dhanush takli and said: “You will have to teach me this.” Come to Sevagram, and I shall teach it to you. Let the Generalissimo leave you here as his ambassador, and I adopt you as my daughter for half an hour or so the official interpreter who accompanied the Generalissimo interpreted him.

Then, said Gandhiji: But surely ours is not a formal official talk. Why should not the Madame interpret you? “Now, now, Mahatmaji, that is devastating”, she said. “Now I know how everyone succumbs to you. My husband is most taxing. Whenever there is something very difficult to interpret, some delicate nuances of his thought to be conveyed, I must interpret him. But for one year I have been having an easy time asking the official interpreter to do it for me.”

Said Gandhiji, laughing: That means that you are a faithless wife. “Surely,” retorted the Madame, “he did not marry an interpreter, he married a woman.” The Generalissimo was sure that non-co-operation was good for India, but he was not sure that it would serve equally well for other countries unless of course they were like India in their circumstances and environments. He was naturally full of indignation at what Japan had done and was doing in China, and he had grave fears of India having to go through China’s terrible fate if the Japanese overran India. It was not possible for Gandhiji to discuss the whole of our non-violent technique, but he left the Generalissimo in no doubt that Japan or Germany would be confronted with fierce non-co-operation or civil resistance. “Your civil resistance,” said the Generalissimo, “is not mere passivity, I am sure. But these foes may not listen to active civil resistance, and may make even the preaching of non-violence impossible.” All I can say is that God gives me the guidance to react to situations as they arise. Though, therefore, I cannot say how exactly I will react in case of an invasion, I know that God will give me the proper guidance. But this talk cannot, I know, satisfy you. I would invite you to come to Sevagram where we can discuss the subject quietly for days. I know of course that it is an impossible request, for you cannot possibly stay. “Who knows,” said the Madame, “we may be back here sooner than later. And after all Calcutta is only 12 hours from Chunking.” As he bade a hearty good-bye to the distinguished visitors,

Gandhiji said: Then you will pay me a monthly visit. “Where’s my wheel?” said the Madame, “where’s my wheel?” as she was leaving the Birla Park.

Gandhiji said: You shall have it. I shall send it on to you from the station. 

 

Reference:

Reference: Harijan, 1-3-1942