INDIAN POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1932, Page 5

INDIAN POLICY

GANDHI’S PROTEST . REPLY BY PRIME MINISTER. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 12. A threat by Gandlri to fast unto death, as a protest -against the Govermntent’te communal settlement, is made in the eoriAsponde/nce released for publication to-dlnjy. ... !(ft v A feature of the Government’s proposals, which led Gandhi to adopt this course, wa,s the special electoral treatment provided for the depressed classes, who although within the Hindu system, are ‘‘untouchable.” Gajndhi’s first -letter to Sir S. Floare, dated March 11, says: ‘‘l hold that a separate electorate- i,s harmful for them, and for Hinduism, whatever it may be from a purely political standpoint. To appreciate the harm that Separate electorates would do to them on© has to know how they are distributed among the so-called caste Hindus and 1 how dependent they are on the latter. So flar as Hinduism is concerned separate electorates would simply vivisect and disrupt. For me, the question of these classes is predominantly moral and religous. J therefore respectfully inform His Majesty’s Government that.in the event of their decision Creating a separate electorate for depressed classes I must fast unto death, So far -as I can see now, my discharge from imprisonment would not make the duty of fasting any the less imperative.” A further letter from Gandhi, to the Prime Minister, whom lie addressed as “Dear. Friend,” written on August 18, la-fter the Government's decision had been announced, says: “I have to resist your decision witli my life. The only way I can do so is by declaring a perpetual fast unto death, from food of any kind, save water without Salt and soda. This fast will cease if during its progress the British Government of its own motion, or under pressure of public opinion, revise the decision and withdraw their scheme of communal electorates for depressed classes, whose- representatives should he elected- under a common franchise. No matter how unwise it is, my proposed fast will come into operation on September 20 next, unless the Government’s decision meanwhile is revised. I -ask that this letter and my letter to 'Sir S'. Ho-are be published. I want public opinion to he affected by my letters, hence my request for their early publication. I .regret the decision I have taken, but as a man of religion, I have no other; course left open to me.”

The Prime Minister, in. (a. reply' cabled September 8, expressed surprise and regret at Gandhi’s letter, and proceeds:- “I eftnnot \ help thinking you have written it under a misunderstand, ing as to what the. decision of His Majesty’s Government as regards the depressed classes really implies. We have always understood you were irrevocably opposed to the permanent segregation of the deprcj&cd classes from the Hindu community. You yourself stated in your letter of March 11, you were not against their representation in legislatures. ‘■‘Under the Government scheme, the depressed classes will remain pa v of the Hindu community, and will vote with the Hindu electorate on equal footing, but for the first twenty years, while stil Iremainiing electoralily part of the Hindu community, they will receive through a limited number of special constituencies, means of safeguarding their rights and interests. That, ,we are convinced, is ne *■«- sary under "present conditions. We deliberately decided l against the creation of what you describe communal electorate for depressed classes. “As I understand your attitude you propose to adopt the erireme course of starving yourself to death, not in order to secure tli’at the depressed classes should have joint electorates with other Hindus, because that is already provided for, nor to maintan the unity of Hinduism, which is also provided for, but solely to prevent the depressed classes who admittedly suffer from terrible disabilities today, from being able to secure a limited number of representatives of their own choosing, to speak on their behalf to the legislatures which will have the dominating influence over their future.”

Gandhi, replying on September . 9, regrets that Mr MacDonald put upon his contemplated step an interpretation which never crossed his mind, and adds: “Without arguing. I affirm for me this matter is one of pure religion. The mere fact of the depressed classes having double votes does not ji-otect theip, dr Hindu society in general, from being disrupted.,!.-What I am against in their statutory sopors tion even in limited form, from the Hindu fold, so long as they choose to b. long to it. I therefore am compelled reluctantly to adhere to my decision.”

Cone 1 ml in er, Gandhi stays: “Many other parts of the Government's decisions are open to very grave object-'ons, only T do not consider 'them to be cause fur action from me, such as my conscience is prompted to in the matter cf tlio depressed classes. ”