Before the West dismisses Gandhi’s program as
one of an impractical dreamer, let it first reflect
on a definition of satyagraha by the Master of
Galilee:
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye
for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say
unto you, That ye resist not evil: {FN44-20}
but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek,
turn to him the other also.”
Gandhi’s epoch has extended, with the beautiful
precision of cosmic timing, into a century already
desolated and devastated by two World Wars. A
divine handwriting appears on the granite wall of
his life: a warning against the further shedding
of blood among brothers.
[Illustration—see gandhi2.jpg]
Mahatma Gandhi visited my high school with yoga training
at Ranchi. He graciously wrote the above lines
in the Ranchi guest-book. The translation is:
“This institution has deeply impressed my mind.
I cherish high hopes that this school will encourage
the further practical use of the spinning wheel.”
(Signed) Mohandas gandhi September
17, 1925
[Illustration—see gandhiflag.jpg]
A national flag for India was designed in 1921 by
Gandhi. The stripes are saffron, white and green;
the CHARKA (spinning wheel) in the center is dark
blue. “The CHARKA symbolizes energy,”
he wrote, “and reminds us that during the past
eras of prosperity in India’s history, hand
spinning and other domestic crafts were prominent.”
{FN44-1} His family name is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
He never refers to himself as “Mahatma.”
{FN44-2} The literal translation from Sanskrit is
“holding to truth.” Satyagraha
is the famous nonviolence movement led by Gandhi.
{FN44-3} False and alas! malicious reports were recently
circulated that Miss Slade has severed all her ties
with Gandhi and forsaken her vows. Miss Slade,
the Mahatma’s satyagraha disciple for twenty
years, issued a signed statement to the united
press, dated Dec. 29, 1945, in which she explained
that a series of baseless rumors arose after she had
departed, with Gandhi’s blessings, for a small
site in northeastern India near the Himalayas, for
the purpose of founding there her now-flourishing
KISAN ashram (center for medical and agricultural
aid to peasant farmers). Mahatma Gandhi plans
to visit the new ashram during 1946.
{FN44-4} Miss Slade reminded me of another distinguished
Western woman, Miss Margaret Woodrow Wilson, eldest
daughter of America’s great president.
I met her in New York; she was intensely interested
in India. Later she went to Pondicherry, where
she spent the last five years of her life, happily
pursuing a path of discipline at the feet of Sri Aurobindo
Ghosh. This sage never speaks; he silently greets
his disciples on three annual occasions only.
