Gandhi Again Resolves To Fast

Chronicle (Levin), 14 January 1948, Page 5

Gandhi Again Resolves To Fast

(N.Z.P.A.-

— ReiileT :

. CoDVright)

Received Tuesday, 7 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 13. Tndian public opinion wiu certamly be gravt'i v disturbed at Mr. Gandhi 's decision to fast f'ol' an imspecilied periou t roni January 13 in order to promote Jiindu-Moslem unity and under- ^ standing, says the Times Dellii corresf ® poudent. Mr. Gandhi is in his 79tl) year and altliouglGenjoying good health, in f ra.il uiul without' reserves of stivugth. Fasting for anv iength ol ° .'hue must sevafely strain his coustitutirm and it is certain tliat in lndia at inast, ii' not in Pakistan, tliat ihe leaders of all eonimuniies will get tog.'thcr to promote unity and dissuade Jiim froni" continuing the i'ast. East Auyiist vlien Galcutta sliowed signs ot living given ovor to Ilindu-Mosleni riotiug, .Mr. Gandhi, who was tlien in ( 'ali-utta, resorted to fasting and within a ti-u days the atmosphere had so im[iroved tliat lie was persuaded to desist. .-Mina1 then Bengal has lie-en eoniparatively free from communal trouble. The previous oceasion when Mr. Gandhi fasted was in February 19,43 when lie vas in gaol aiul wislied to register a protest against tlie Indian Governnif nt 's wai- poliev. Tliat fast lasted 31 days. Attev. announcing his fast, Mr. Buudhi wenl to see Earl Mountbatten an'ii was with liini sonie timo, says the Tinies Xo.w Dellii correspondeut. The Britisli L*nit-el Press Xew Dellii corresjiondent (juotes .Mr. Gandhi as saying' ihe. fast would end when lie was satislied there was a reunion of the hearts of all t'oininunities brought about without outside pressure. Ile added: "1 doii 't eniliark on it for the sake of the result it may bring. I do so bei-ause 1 mitst. Death for nie would be a glorious d(di\ eruuee rather tlian tliat I should tie a heljiless witness to the dest rui'tion of Iniiia — llinduism, Sikhism and Islam.'J