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INDIAN HOME RULE
INDIAN HOME RULE
BY M. K. GANDHI FIFTH EDITION AS. 6 GANESH & Co., MADRAS Books by C. F. Andrews The Claim for Independence Within or without the British Empire Price As. 8. Non-Co-operation The Whys and Wherefores Price As. 8. Indians in South Africa Helots within the British Empire Price As. 8. The Drink and Opium Evil Miss La Molte says : "A nation that can subjugate 300,000,000 helpless Indian people, and then turn them into drug addicts, for the sake of revenue, is a nation, which commits a cold-blo
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CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I
The Congress and Its Officials Reader : Just at present there is a Home Rule wave passing over India. All our countrymen appear to be pining for National Independence. A similar spirit pervades them even in South Africa. Indians seem to be eager after acquiring rights. Will you explain your views in this matter? Editor : You have well put the question, but the answer is not easy. One of the objects of a newspaper is to understand the popular feeling and to give expression to it; another is to ar
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CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II
The Partition of Bengal Reader : Considering the matter as you put it, it seems proper to say that the foundation of Home Rule was laid by the Congress. But you will admit that it cannot be considered a real awakening. When and how did the awakening take place? Editor : The seed is never seen. It works underneath the ground, is itself destroyed, and the tree which rises above the ground is alone seen. Such is the case with the Congress. Yet, what you call the real awakening took place after the
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CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
Discontent and Unrest Reader : Then you consider Partition to be a cause of the awakening? Do you welcome the unrest which has resulted from it? Editor : When a man rises from sleep, he twists his limbs and is restless. It takes some time before he is entirely awakened. Similarly, although the Partition has caused an awakening, the comatose has not yet disappeared. We are still twisting our limbs and still restless, and just as the state between sleep and awakening must be considered to be neces
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CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV
What is Swaraj? Reader : I have now learnt what the Congress has done to make India one nation, how the Partition has caused an awakening, and how discontent and unrest have spread through the land. I would now like to know your views on Swaraj. I fear that our interpretation is not the same. Editor : It is quite possible that we do not attach the same meaning to the term. You and I and all Indians are impatient to obtain Swaraj, but we are certainly not decided as to what it is. To drive the En
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CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V
The Condition of England Reader : Then from your statement, I deduce the Government of England is not desirable and not worth copying by us. Editor : Your deduction is justified. The condition of England at present is pitiable. I pray to God that India may never be in that plight. That which you consider to be the Mother of Parliaments is like a sterile woman and a prostitute. Both these are harsh terms, but exactly fit the case. That Parliament has not yet of its own accord done a single good t
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CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI
Civilization Reader : Now you will have to explain what you mean by civilization. Editor : It is not a question of what I mean. Several English writers refuse to call that, civilization which passes under that name. Many books have been written upon that subject. Societies have been formed to cure the nation of the evils of civilization. A great English writer has written a work called "Civilization: Its Cause and Cure." Therein he has called it a disease. Reader : Why do we not know this genera
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CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII
Why was India Lost? Reader : You have said much about civilization—enough to make me ponder over it. I do not now know what I should adopt and what I should avoid from the nations of Europe, but one question comes to my lips immediately. If civilization is a disease, and if it has attacked England why has she been able to take India, and why is she able to retain it? Editor : Your question is not very difficult to answer, and we shall presently be able to examine the true nature of Swaraj; for I
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CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII
The Condition of India Reader : I now understand why the English hold India. I should like to know your views about the condition of our country. Editor : It is a sad condition. In thinking of it, my eyes water and my throat get parched. I have grave doubts whether I shall be able sufficiently to explain what is in my heart. It is my deliberate opinion that India is being ground down not under the English heel but under that of modern civilization. It is groaning under the monster's terrible wei
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CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX
The Condition of India ( Continued ) Railways Reader : You have deprived me of the consolation I used to have regarding peace in India. Editor : I have merely given you my opinion on the religious aspect, but when I give you my views as to the poverty of India you will perhaps begin to dislike me, because what you and I have hitherto considered beneficial for India no longer appears to me to be so. Reader : What may that be? Editor : Railways, lawyers and doctors have impoverished the country, s
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CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X
The Condition of India ( Continued ) The Hindus and the Mahomedans Editor : Your last question is a serious one; and yet, on careful consideration, it will be found to be easy of solution. The question arises because of the presence of the railways, of the lawyers and of the doctors. We shall presently examine the last two. We have already considered the railways. I should, however, like to add that man is so made by nature as to require him to restrict his movements as far as his hands and feet
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CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
The Condition of India ( Continued ) Lawyers Reader : You tell me that, when two men quarrel, they should not go to a law-court. This is astonishing. Editor : Whether you call it astonishing or not, it is the truth. And your question introduces us to the lawyers and the doctors. My firm opinion is that the lawyers have enslaved India and they have accentuated the Hindu-Mahomedan dissensions, and have confirmed English authority. Reader : It is easy enough to bring these charges, but it will be d
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CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII
The Condition of India ( Continued ) Doctors Reader : I now understand the lawyers; the good they may have done is accidental. I feel that the profession is certainly hateful. You, however, drag in these doctors also, how is that? Editor : The views I submit to you are those I have adopted. They are not original. Western writers have used stronger terms regarding both lawyers and doctors. One writer has likened the whole modern system to the Upas tree. Its branches are represented by parasitical
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CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIII
What is True Civilization? Reader : You have denounced railways, lawyers and doctors. I can see that you will discard all machinery. What, then, is civilization? Editor : The answer to that question is not difficult. I believe that the civilization India has evolved is not to be beaten in the world. Nothing can equal the seeds sown by our ancestors. Rome went, Greece shared the same fate, the might of the Pharaohs was broken, Japan has become westernised, of China nothing can be said, but India
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CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XIV
How Can India Become Free? Reader : I appreciate your views about civilization. I will have to think over them. I cannot take in all at once. What, then, holding the views you do, would you suggest for freeing India? Editor : I do not expect my views to be accepted all of a sudden. My duty is to place them before readers like yourself. Time can be trusted to do the rest. We have already examined the conditions for freeing India, but we have done so indirectly; we will now do so directly. It is a
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CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XV
Italy and India Editor : It is well that you have instanced Italy. Mazzini was a great and good man; Garibaldi was a great warrior. Both are adorable; from their lives we can learn much. But the condition of Italy was different from that of India. In the first instance the difference between Mazzini and Garibaldi is worth noting. Mazzini's ambition was not, and has not yet been realised, regarding Italy. Mazzini has shown in his writings on the duty of man that every man must learn how to rule h
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CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVI
Brute-Force Reader : This is a new doctrine; that what is gained through fear is retained only while the fear lasts. Surely, what is given will not be withdrawn? Editor : Not so. The Proclamation of 1857 was given at the end of a revolt, and for the purpose of preserving peace. When peace was secured and people became simple-minded, its full effect was toned down. If I ceased stealing for fear of punishment, I would re-commence the operation so soon as the fear is withdrawn from me. This is almo
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CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVII
Passive Resistance Reader : Is there any historical evidence as to the success of what you have called soul-force or truth-force? No instance seems to have happened of any nation having risen through soul-force. I still think that the evil-doers will not cease doing evil without physical punishment. Editor : The poet Tulsidas has said: "Of religion, pity or love is the root, as egotism of the body. Therefore, we should not abandon pity so long as we are alive." This appears to me to be a scienti
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CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XVIII
Education Reader : In the whole of our discussion, you have not demonstrated the necessity for education; we always complain of its absence among us. We notice a movement for compulsory education in our country. The Maharaja of Gaekwar has introduced it in his territories. Every eye is directed towards them. We bless the Maharaja for it. Is all this effort then of no use? Editor : If we consider our civilization to be the highest, I have regretfully to say that much of the effort you have descri
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CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XIX
Machinery Reader : When you speak of driving out Western civilization, I suppose you will also say that we want no machinery. Editor : By raising this question, you have opened the wound I had received. When I read Mr. Dutt's Economic History of India I wept; and, as I think of it, again my heart sickens. It is machinery that has impoverished India. It is difficult to measure the harm that Manchester has done to us. It is due to Manchester that Indian handicraft has all but disappeared. But I ma
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CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XX
Conclusion Reader : From your views I gather that you would form a third party. You are neither an extremist nor a moderate. Editor : That is a mistake. I do not think of a third party at all. We do not all think alike. We cannot say that all the moderates hold identical views. And how can those who want to serve only have a party? I would serve both the moderates and the extremists. Where I should differ from them, I would respectfully place my position before them, and continue my service. Rea
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APPENDICES:
APPENDICES:
Some Authorities. Testimonies by Eminent Men. APPENDICES. Some Authorities. The following books are recommended for perusal to follow up the study of the foregoing:— Testimonies by Eminent Men. The following extracts from Mr. Alfred Webb's valuable collection, if the testimony given therein be true, show that the ancient Indian civilization, has little to learn from the modern:— Victor Cousin. ( 1792—1867 ). Founder of Systematic Eclecticism in Philosophy. "On the other hand when we read with at
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