Freedom's Battle eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 277 pages of information about Freedom's Battle.

Freedom's Battle eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 277 pages of information about Freedom's Battle.
I have therefore presented to you a weapon called the bravery of suffering, otherwise called Non-co-operation.  It is a bravery which is open to the weakest among the weak.  It is open to women and children.  The power of suffering is the prerogative of nobody, and if only 300 millions of Indians could show the power of suffering in order to redress a grievous wrong done to the nation or to its religion, I make bold to say that, India will never require to draw the sword.  And unless we are able to show an adequate measure of sacrifice we shall lose this battle.  No one need tell me that India has not got this power of suffering.  Every father and mother is witness to what I am about to say, viz., that every father and mother have shown in the domestic affairs matchless power of suffering.  And if we have only developed national consciousness, if we have developed sufficient regard for our religion, we shall have developed power of suffering in the national and religious field.  Considered in these terms the first stage in Non-co-operation is the simplest and the easiest state.  If the title-holders of India consider that India is suffering from a grievous wrong both as regards the Punjab and the Khilafat is it any suffering on their part to renounce their titles to-day?  What is the measure of the suffering awaiting the lawyers who are called upon to suspend practice when compared to the great benefit which is in store for the nation?  And if thy parents of India will summon up courage to sacrifice secular education, they will have given their children the real education of a life-time.  For they will have learnt the value of religion and national honour.  And I ask you, the citizens of Bezwada, to think well before you accept the loaves and fishes in the form of Government offices set them on one side and set national honour on the other and make your service.  What sacrifice is there involved in the individual renouncing his candidature for legislative councils.  The councils are a tempting bait.  All kinds of arguments are being advanced in favour of joining the councils.  India will sacrifice the opportunity of gaining her liberty if she touches them.  It passes comprehension how we, who have known this Government, who have read the Viceregal pronouncement, how we who have known their determination not to give justice in the Punjab and the Khilafat matters, can gain any benefit by co-operation, constructive or obstructive, with this Government?  But the Nationalists, belonging to a great popular party, tell us that if they do not contest these scats, the moderates will get in.  Surely, it is nothing but an exhibition of want of courage and faith in our own cause to feel that we must enter the councils lest moderates should get in.  Moderates believe in the possibility of obtaining justice at the hands of the Government.  Nationalists have on the other hand filled the platforms with denunciations of the Government and its measures.  How can the Nationalists
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Freedom's Battle from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.