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Mahatma Gandhi And The Nationalist Movement
“A voice in the wilderness”
Mahatma Gandhi knew that his was “a voice in the wilderness” but he nevertheless continued to oppose the idea of Partition:
But what a tragic change we see today. I wish the day may come again when Hindus and Muslims will do nothing without mutual consultation. I am day and night tormented by the question what I can do to hasten the coming of that day. I appeal to the League not to regard any Indian as its enemy... Hindus and Muslims are born of the same soil. They have the same blood, eat the same food, drink the same water and speak the same language.
Speech at Prayer Meeting,
7 September 1946, CWMG, Vol. 92, p. 139
But I am firmly convinced that the Pakistan demand as put forward by the Muslim League is un-Islamic and I have not hesitated to call it sinful. Islam stands for the unity and brotherhood of mankind, not for disrupting the oneness of the human family. Therefore, those who want to divide India into possible warring groups are enemies alike of Islam and India. They may cut me to pieces but they cannot make me subscribe to something which I consider to be wrong.
Harijan, 26 September 1946,
CWMG, Vol. 92, p 229
1. Which concern of Mahatma Gandhi has been expressed in this excerpt?
2. What arguments did he give against partition?
3. What appeal did he make to the Muslim League? What arguments did he advance for it?
1. This excerpt expresses the concern of Mahatma Gandhi about the future partition of India.
2. Mahatma Gandhi gave the following arguments :
(a) The demand for Pakistan, put forward by the Muslim League, was un-Islamic and sinful. Islam stands for the unity and brotherhood of mankind. It is sinful to disrupt the oneness of the human family.
(b) Those who want to divide India into different warring groups, are the enemies of both Islam and India.
(c) They can cut my body to pieces but they cannot compel me to accept what is wrong.
3. Mahatma Gandhi appealed to the Muslim League not to regard nay Indian as its enemy. He stated that the Hindus and the Muslims were born on the same soil. They had the same blood. They ate the same food. They took the same water. They also spoke the same language. So, Mahatma Gandhi exhorted the Muslim League not be prejudiced towards the Indians.
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