Mahatma Gandhi’s Interview to People’s War

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

 

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

E-mail- [e-mail];

[e-mail]

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

 

Mahatma Gandhi’s Interview to People’s War

 

 

 

M. N. TANDON: Failure at Simla has disappointed the people who looked to a change in the regime.

GANDHIJI: They should not be disappointed. The Congress took a correct attitude and has vindicated its national character.

M. N. T. Mutual apportionment of blame has begun between the Congress and the League leaders and the papers. Would this not embitter relations and dash hopes of any future settlement, thus drifting to a position of civil war and riots?

G. Mutual recriminations should not be indulged in though truth will have to be spoken. There is a danger of the situation drifting into a civil war. The clash at Delhi station before Maulana Azad’s compartment is a pointer. But the police should not be allowed to maintain order amongst us. But if riots take place what can we do? Riots have always been taking place. Even in the reign of riots and disturbances took place. This country is inhabited by a very large population of various conflicting ideas.

M. N. T. Civil disturbances of the older days were no comparison to those of today with their political and economic implications. Patriots of the Congress and the League would fight instead of uniting for people’s service, with the result that the people would lose faith in the honesty and patriotism of both. Their miseries would increase tenfold and the national movement would go to pieces.

G. Yes. We should make efforts not to let such a situation develop.

M. N. T. Do you hope that the Congress and the League will be able to settle in the near future?

G. We should all hope so.

M. N. T. The belief of the common man is that the Conference broke over the question of a single seat due to dissensions among the leaders.

G. It is wrong to say that the Conference broke over the question of one seat. The Congress fought for a principle.

M. N. T. Even if the Congress had to nominate only Hindu Congressmen, they could very well have represented the Nationalist Muslims and safeguarded their interests. There is no difference between Congressman and Congressman.

G. But we were seeking able men of all parties and communities. We did not bother which party got what number of seats.

M. N. T. You had accepted the Bhulabhai Formula of Congress-League parity and gave a public statement to that effect. But the Congress Working Committee agreed to Hindu-Muslim parity, proposed by Wavell, thus raising the rock of breakdown, since Congress and League could not agree to the nomination of one by the other. Is it a fact that the Working Committee disagreed with you and rejected the Congress-League parity formula?

G. Now you are dragging me into deep water. Yes. The truth is something like this. I shall write about it in the near future.

M. N. T. You perhaps know that the Communists’ main slogan all through the Conference has been “transform Hindu-Muslim parity into Congress-League parity” and they are making efforts in the direction.

G. They should continue their efforts.

M. N. T. On what grounds did your correspondence with P. C. Joshi break?

G. Who says it has broken down?

M. N. T. Has the Working Committee taken any decision regarding the Communists?

G. No. It has not taken any decision.

M. N. T. You know the ban of the U. P. Government continues on the three Communist weeklies in U. P.

G. Have they not yet lifted the ban? It is very wrong for the Government to do so.

M. N. T. Sjt. J. C. Gupta and others met you at Simla in connection with the release of pre-reform political prisoners who have already served 14 to 20 years of imprisonment. You have the power to get them released. G. Efforts should certainly be made to secure their release. It is wrong to say that I alone have the power to get them out.

 

Reference:

The Bombay Chronicle, 7-8-1945