GANDHI’S PAST REVIEWED.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1932, Page 5

GANDHI’S PAST REVIEWED.

SEVERAL TIMES IN GAOL.

SEDITION AND DISOBEDIENCE

Mr Mohandas Karameliand Gandhi, the Indian Nationalist Leader, is 62 years of age. He has served several terms of imprisonment for seditious utterances. After studying law in don lie was called to the Bar in the Tuner Temple, and practised at Bombay. He abandoned law owing to conscientious smiptes. He visited South Africa, where, on behalf of 15,0!;0 fellow-countrymen, lie organised a passive resistance campaign For twenty years he acted as their champion and suffered imprisonment In April, 1914, legislation was introduced in South Africa which removed the principal grievances of the Indians In December, 1914, Gandhi returned to India and opened a retreat. Soon after lie took a prominent part .in the non co-operation movement against the Rowlatt Act of 1918, and became leader of the Indian Natronalist organisation. He became the ruling spirit in the campaign for “Swaraj” (home rule), and organised an active anti-British policy which included the refusal of political and economic co-operation with the authorities, refusal to pay taxes, to serve in the ai'my, to hold public offices, ol‘ ito btly British goods. In 1922 when his ftOn-co-operation policy had become less popular, he prepared to replace it by a scheme for mass disobedience, meanwhile reaching pacifism and nonresistance. He did not always succeed in restraining his adherents, and the movement led to hifi arrest. In March, 1922, Gandhi was sentenced to six year’s imprisonment. He .was released, however, in February, 1924. In 1926 he broke silence to refute a suggestion that “bis first act, if be were Emperor of India, would be to exclude Europeans.” He then set forth his policy: Disarmament; friendly relations with the frontier tribes; a tariff on foreign cloth; prohibition ; better treatment for the “untouchables”; and the locking of the Hindu and Moslem leaders in a room to settle their differences. In 1928 he re-entered politics and, as a result of his persuasive activities, the National Congress on January 1, 1929, adopted his proposals for mass organisation, prohibition of liquor, and the boycott of foreign cloth. In March he incited a Calcutta mob to make a bonfire of foreign cloth collected throughout the city.. Riots followed. On the last day of the year the National Congress passed Gandhi’s resolution demanding complete independence, a boycott of the Legislatures, and the launching of a civil disobedience campaign. In March, 1930, Gandhi sent an ultimatum to the Viceroy (then Lord Irwin) announcing the intention to start a civil disobedience campaign as a protest against the British Governmentis failure to grant Dominion status to Jtidla. On May 3th., 191)0, Gandhi was arrested in liis wimp near Jnlapur, and taken to gaol- The arrest, as was that of tlijs week, was made under an Act of 1827, which empowered the Government to place any person under retraint without judicial trial for State reasons, particularly for the preservation of the country’s tranquility.

REASON FOR- ARREST

“A MARTYR- TO HIS CAUSE.”

LONDON, January 5

“The Times” in a leading article, emphasises that Gandhi has lost control of the Congress, and says that he is probably contented to see -what a little martyrdom will do. “The Times” adds: “No government worthy of the name, could doubt as to the course that it should take after Gandhi’s declaration; but it is grotesque to describe the action taken as a “declaration of war,” when it merely showed resistance to the Congress in its impudent and intolerable claim. Gandhi’s non-contribution to the work of the India Round Table Conference at London, proveu that nothing can at present he expected from the Congress leaders, hut their attitude will change, and Britain's I prsegtige will be higher in the eyes of 1 the world for exhausting every means | of eliciting all Indian opinions, wnUo j pursuing Its own chosffn. course of j constitutional progress, despite attempts to create chaos.”

CONGRESS DECLARED ILLEGAL

CALCUTTA, January 5

The Government of India has declared the Indian Congress Working Committee and the numerous affiliated Congres bodies to be unlawful associations.

The situation is quiet throughout •the country, . but the troops and tho police are standing by for emergencies.

PICKET LAW DEFIED. CALCUTTA, January 5. ’Twenty pickets of Calcutta elotn shops have been arro-sted.

PRESS APPLAUD ARREST

LONDON, January <1

It is understood it hat Lord \\ ill i ngdnn is acting with the RrUTh Government’s full knowledge and consent |r j no*, expected in official quartets that the arrest, will have nearly such important inaction..- us previoiwl.v, because the Government lias prolited b.v last vein' s experiences. Gandhi a power has waned since the Hound Table Coni' 'renee. London newspapers generally ajt|dand the arrest.