Robbery in the Name of Religion- 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

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Robbery in the Name of Religion- Mahatma Gandhi

 

I give below extracts from a letter which Shri Chhotalal Gandhi of Ankleshwar has written to me regarding the Harijans of Sajod. While the wound of Talaja is still fresh, here is another. Everywhere it is the same. The law says that Harijan Hindus enjoy equal civil rights with caste Hindus. Even the officials are ready to help. But the fanatic Hindus seem to care little for the law or order of the officers. How to overcome such utter ignorance? Ahimsa seems defeated and love seems to dry up. But I find the pen quoting the lines: “As long as the elephant relied on his own strength, it availed him not” and “Rama is the strength of the weak” and they comfort me. Ahimsa is true ahimsa only if it keeps shining even in the midst of darkness all around. The remedy for himsa is ahimsa, for hatred love and for untruth truth, as the remedy for cold is sunshine. If there are sincere, religious-minded reformers in Sajod, they are sure to win in the end. Let the fanatic caste Hindus do as they please. The reformers should shelter the oppressed Harijans. They should rigidly adhere to the rule that they will refuse to avail themselves of any facility not permitted to the Harijans. They should of course secure for the latter officers’ help whenever necessary.

They should plead with the caste Hindus to keep within proper limits. Let the orthodox Hindus take bath or do any other expiation if the Harijans exercise their rights and enter a public place. The Shastras do not enjoin punishment of the Harijans. They only say that anybody who regards himself polluted should take a bath. No Shastra suggests that we should harass or beat the person by whom we regard ourselves polluted. This is so simple a thing that the reformers should have confidence in themselves and, keeping within the bounds of ahimsa, go on doing their duty. The suggestion to send some well-known public worker to Sajod and the nearby places is certainly a good one. But visits by the leaders in Ankleshwar taluka itself are likely to produce better results than a visit by someone sent from a distant place. We cannot always rely on such outside help. Ultimate success will depend on the ceaseless vigilance, ability and capacity for self-restraint of the local workers.

Reference:

Harijanbandhu, 23-9-1934