Page 102 - GANDHI A Biography for Children and Beginners

GANDHI – A Biography for children and beginners

allegations? If they had a shred of evidence they should put him on trial. If

found guilty, he would bear the consequences. Time was of the essence in

meting out justice. His correspondence with the Government only brought long
and tortuous replies, but not acceptance of the challenge to prove him guilty in

a court of justice.

Even before Gandhi settled down in the prison in the Aga Kkhan's Palace, he
was shaken by a tragic blow. Mahadev Desai, who had worked as his secretary,

almost from the beginning of his public work in India, died of a sudden heart

attack on the 15th of August. Desai had served Gandhi and the cause dutifully,
— recording Gandhi's interviews and speeches, helping him answer his

voluminous mail, writing continuously in the Young India and Harijan, and

helping Gandhi in the work of editing these journals, keeping accounts,

regulating appointments, keeping in touch with Congress workers and the
organisation for constructive work that Gandhi set up, maintaining contacts

with the high officials of the British Government and so on. Mahadev Desasi's

death was a truly irreparable loss for Gandhi.

As on the previous occasion when he was in prison Gandhi kept himself busy

with daily prayers, spinning, writing to the Government and detailed

discussions with his prison mates on matters of religion, political philosophy,
economic programmes, techniques of revolution, the ideal of a classless and

stateless society, and similar subjects. The Government had lodged some of his

colleagues with him, Kasturba was with him. Others who were with him at the

Aga Khan's palace included Sarojini Naidu, Mirabehn, Pyarelal Nayyar and
Sushila Nayyar. He read many books and discussed them with his colleagues. It

was during these days that he first read Marx's Das Capital. There were,

therefore, incisive and extensive discussions on Marx and Marxism, the Soviet

experiment, and the superiority of techniques and goals based on non-violence.

By February 1943, Gandhi felt that he had waited long enough for a reply from

the Government on his demand for an opportunity to clear himself of the
charges that the Government had levelled against him. He should do something

to vindicate himself. He decided to go on a fast of 21 days. It began on the 10th

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