In my post titled- ‘Mahatma Gandhi in Defense of
Violence’, I had given details of an appeal by Mahatma Gandhi, one of the
greatest pacifists the world has known, asking people to join the army for World
War 1 (WW-1). In my subsequent post
titled ‘Forgotten stories of Indian soldiers in WW-1,’ I had brought to the
notice of the readers that Gandhiji had not received much response to his
appeal as per Mahadevbhai Desai’s diary and that this issue has not been
covered much in the fifteen volumes of Mahadevbhai’s diaries that I have read
so far.
I am sure that readers will be curious as much as I,
to know the outcome of the appeal to the people to join the army by Gandhiji.
The following excerpts from the autobiography of Shri. Indulal Yagnik
throws some light on the subject. Around the time of the war, the Kheda satyagraha
was lead by Gandhiji. It was from this area, active in Kheda satyagraha that
Gandhiji expected people to join the army in large numbers for WW-1.
Excerpts from Shri Indulal Yagnik’s
autobiography Part-2, translated from Gujarati by me.
Pages-122-135:
“On 6th June, soon after declaring the settlement of Kheda Satyagraha,
Gandhiji immediately left on the 10th to attend the regional war
(WW-1) convention in Mumbai. As per the instruction given to the Viceroy by Gandhiji
in the Delhi convention, Lokmanya Tilak and his co-worker Kelkar were also
invited in this convention. Therefore to see the happenings in this convention,
I too had gone to Mumbai.
“From the explanations received before the
convention by Gandhiji and Kelkar from Governor Willingdon, it was clear that the
kind of sportsmanship shown in Delhi will not be shown here; no advise from a
senior member representing the people will be taken on the framing of the
resolution. People will have the freedom only to speak on it. With all such news,
Gandhiji was suggested
to speak on one of the resolutions in the convention by the Government. In
order to think on the subject, a memorable private meeting was held in Mumbai
at Jamnadas Dwarkadas’s office.
“In this (meeting) along with Jamnadas, Tilak,
Kelkar, Horniman, other leading people of Mumbai were present. Tilak presented
his strategy in clear words. He said that in order to take the support of
people in the war (WW-1), he will recommend giving of self-rule in a humble way. And
if he will be stopped from doing this he would quarrel and boycott the meeting. This created a
dilemma for Gandhiji. He should also not cooperate with the Government, he
should also go to the convention and raise objection against the autocratic
policy of the Governor, he should also follow Tilak and boycott the convention-
and many such arguments and instructions were placed before him...After
listening-thinking on everything he declared his decision: “I should not do
anything in the meeting and that itself is equivalent to doing everything.”...
“...Things turned much worse than expected in the
convention. The Governor deviated from the main topic and declared that he does
not have any faith in the support declared by the members of the organization
named home rule league; the conduct of many is a hindrance in the work of the
war (WW-1); and their recent speeches have had the same impact on me...In this way the
Governor insulted the members of the league...Lokmanya Tilak got up to discuss
the first resolution and soon after
declaring his allegiance to the Shensha (King) in the first two
sentences, when he indicated Swaraj (self-rule) in the third sentence,
the Governor immediately informed that he will not allow any political
discussions! ...Lokmanya Tilak tried to speak again and when he failed, like a
leader with self respect...he left the convention quietly...after which
Kelkar....Shri Jamnadas Dwarkadas ...Mr Horniman...also left the convention...
“On 16th in order to oppose the
Governor’s such highhanded behavior a huge gathering of people assembled in
the city...strong objection was raised against the Governor for having doubted
the honesty of the members of the home rule league to help the empire and for
having insulted them publicly. Moreover another resolution was passed that “Till
the Hind Government’s current politics... does not change, till then the
leaders will find it difficult to get full support from the people for
the war (WW-1)."
“Due to this incident in Mumbai my mind was confused.
Previous month, during the Kheda struggle...in midst of critical war (WW-1) in order
to help the British empire, resolution for recruitment drive for the army was
placed before the Gujarat Sabha by Gandhiji and was made to pass...but in
Mumbai the insult by... of the league and eminent people like Tilak turned my
mind sour...for political workers like us, the step of recruitment for the army
felt totally inappropriate and impractical...but on returning to Nadiad when I
met Gandhiji, he explained to me that if the work of recruitment (for WW-1) is correct in
principle then we should not get deviated from the correct path at all due to
some Governor’s inappropriate words or actions. Immediately due to our
reverence for Gandhiji, all of us curbed our doubts and changed our minds and accepted this advice.
In this way he won over the hearts of all colleagues and on 22nd Gandhiji
brought out the first leaflet on this subject and started this new activity (of
army recruitment for WW-1)...
“...By declaring such thoughts (in the leaflet), he expressed the hope of recruiting 12,000 people
out of the total population of seven lakh people in Kheda district... he
pressed upon the men and women of Kheda to elect able bodied people from the
villages and send their names (for army recruitment)...
“... Due to the absence of many colleagues, I
completed the urgent work of Navjevan and in the month of July came to Nadiad
and as per the advice of Gandhiji got active in the difficult work of (army)
recruitment.
“Gandhiji and the camp remained the same. But the strength of our workers reduced a lot. Earlier
the crowds of farmers and visitors that remained in the camp had reduced a lot.
No invitation came at all from the villages or to hold a public meeting. The
interest of those who had enrolled for recruitment also went down. The camp was
deserted: The commander in chief (Gandhiji) remained at his place but those heroes and
soldiers who obeyed his rule had disappeared.
“Under such circumstances,
Gandhiji’s sight rested on the true satyagraha center Navagam. In the
end the farmers of this place had gone to jail with Mohanlal happily and when
they were released, a huge public meeting was held there itself. Therefore resting
faith on that village, packing golpapdi (wheat, ghee and sugar cake) for
food, on the morning of 8th July, along with Mahadevbhai we walked ten
miles from Barejdi to that historic village. Out of modesty, old colleagues
came to meet and they discussed a lot. But no public meeting took place and
Gandhiji for having got a lot of free time, wrote many letters and had to return to
Nadiad after walking up to Barejdi again...
“...Tilak, Besant and such
eminent people adopted some kind of dual policy and all the prominent people of
the Naram (soft) as well as Garam (militant) groups remained aloof from
Gandhiji’s activity of army recruitment and so he developed loathing in his
heart. He remained detached from the Congress and with concentration and full faith
continued to play the tune of army recruitment.
“On July 22, when a month had
passed since the time of taking up the work of (army) recruitment, a second leaflet
was published by him on the subject. In it ... once again resting older
political doubts, in order to get self-rule quickly, all able bodied men were
requested to enroll in the army. But the extent of its failure can be brought to
light from the new experience at Navagam itself. Once again Gandhiji went to that
village with Mahadevbhai and Vallabhbhai. Now even the earlier interest among
the people did not remain. A big person
like Gandhiji would sit in the guest house the whole day and write
letters. But except for some faithful people
like Himabhai and few others, hardly anyone would go to meet them. Himabhai
would get material from the village and Vallabhbhai would cook and all three
would sit together and eat. This went on for three four days. Farmers who had
gone all out to fight against the Government did not like at all to march in
their support. At last Gandhiji had to leave this village empty handed...
“...While Gandhiji was engaged
in such tough work of recruitment, he got severe stomach pain on 17th
August. He suffered from a long illness...one day he seemed critical...he was
taken to Ahmedabad in the Mirzapur bungalow Shantisadan of Ambalal Sarabhai...there
he stayed for a few days while being nursed by Ansuyaben after which he
returned to the Ashram...
“...This is how the recruitment
battle (for army) got over prematurely. Nadiad’s
camp got wound up unceremoniously. After having got a tremendous victory in the
district over the issue of Mehsool, the Mahatma
gave a new message to the people from the top of the same (victory) wave. But
not a leaf turned as a result. The reason for this has
been explained by him itself in an implied way. In the public meeting at
Mumbai, Gandhiji had said the truth that this battle was not run by him or
Mohanlal Pandya but by the farmer of Kheda. In the last gathering Vallabhbhai
had honored the farmer as the main worker and winner of the struggle. That
farmer was livid at the age old atrocities of the Government and so he was
ready to fight himself...but for having been influenced by
historical circumstances, the same farmer was not moved at all when he got the
order to march in the opposite direction of (army) recruitment. By politely
refusing their favorite saintly man Gandhiji, they proved their true
fortitude...
End.
