We are habituated to pass resolutions without acting on them – 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

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

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

 

We are habituated to pass resolutions without acting on them – Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi declared to oppose Simon Commission. He went to every part of India for aware to the people. He reached Hardoi, one of the famous district of Uttar Pradesh on dated 11 October, 1929 and spoke at Political Conference that “We are habituated to pass resolutions without acting on them. I advise you to give up this mentality. This is one main obstacle in our path of progress. Had we fulfilled our promises of 1921, we should have attained swaraj long before. Another occasion is approaching on the people of this province as it is your province which has given the President of the next Congress. The responsibility is all the greater on the youth. Pandit Jawaharlal belongs to your province. At the same time, he is a youth. If you want to preserve your prestige and his too, you have to act as you say. You have already passed a resolution on untouchability. I hope you will pass similar resolutions on Hindu-Muslim unity and boycott of foreign cloth, which is possible only if you use khaddar. If you pass these resolutions, you have to abide by them. I hope and pray that you be prepared for the great struggle before us. 1

Next day Mahatma Gandhi spoke on subject Khaddar and Untouchability: Duty of Indian Municipalities on behalf of this question “What can Indian municipalities do in the matter of khaddar and untouchability?

Mahatma Gandhi spoke:

1. By prescribing the use of khaddar for the uniform of its employees. This will be effective only if the members will themselves wear khaddar.
2. By making all purchases of cloth for hospitals and the like in khaddar only.
3. By introducing the takli and carding-bow in all the schools under its control.
4. by removing all duty upon khaddar and by giving grants to khaddar depots within municipal limits.

In the matter of untouchability a municipality can help…

1.  by promoting the reform by insisting upon inspectors of municipal schools securing admission therein of a minimum number of ‘untouchable’ boys and girls.
2.  By opening model schools especially for the instruction of ‘untouchable’ children.
3. By opening night schools for grown-up ‘untouchables’ in its employ.
4.  By inducing trustees of temples to open them to ‘untouchables’, and where this is not possible, by building attractive temples in suitable places, specially for the use of ‘untouchables’, but generally for public use, and encouraging the public to make use of these temples in common with the ‘untouchables’.
5.  By giving grants to schools, temples and clubs, etc., that would specially cater for ‘untouchables’.

But this untouchability will soon be a thing of past. Hindu society has become conscious of the hideous wrong done to man by this sinful doctrine. Hundreds of Hindu workers are devoting themselves to the uplift of these suppressed classes. Among them may be named late Swami Shraddhanandji and the late Lala Lajpat Rai. These, however, may not be regarded as orthodox. Pandit Madan Mohan Malviyaji, who is accepted by all Hindus as an orthodox Hindu, has thrown in the weight of his great influence on the side of reform. Everywhere one sees the process of emancipation silently but surely and steadily going on. The so called higher-class Hindus are conducting schools and building hostels for them, giving them medical relief and serving them in a variety of ways. The effort is absolutely independent of the Government and is part of the process of purification that Hinduism is undergoing. Lastly, the Indian National Congress adopted removal of untouchability as a vital part of its constructive programmed in 1920. It may not be superfluous to add that while untouchability is undoubtedly a grave social wrong, it has no legal sanction behind it. So far as I am aware, there is no legal disability against the ‘untouchables’.

The reformer has still a stiff task before him in having to convert the masses to his point of view. The masses give intellectual assent to the reformers’ plea, but are slow to grant equality in practice to their outcaste brethren. Nevertheless, untouchability is doomed, and Hinduism is saved. And, as I have indicated above, our municipalities can do much to bring about this salvation. 2

He honored in Regional High School and spoke to women also. He inaugurated Khadi Bhandar, Hardoi on same day.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote letters to Amal Hom – Editor of Kolkata Municipal Gadget, Fredrik Stuntmen – Austria, Hariji Govil – United State of America, Tag Vend Guard – Denmark, Eleanor M. Hug – Washington, USA, Hennery S. Salt – England, K. V. Swami – Parla khimedi, Edle Kaufman, C. Vijyaraghavachariyar – Selam, Chhaganlal Joshi – Ahmadabad. 

References:

1. The Bombay Chronicle, 14-10-1929
2. The Calcutta Municipal Gazette, Fifth Anniversary Number, Saturday, 23rd

November, 1929