Page 118 - GANDHI A Biography for Children and Beginners

GANDHI – A Biography for children and beginners

among Hindu and Muslim extremists. But Gandhi's work in Bihar, Calcutta and

Delhi had brought about a change in the attitude of his Muslim critics. They

now looked upon him as the saviour of Muslims in India. Even the people and
leaders in Pakistan had begun to hail Gandhi as 'the great man of India', the

Mahatma.

However, fanatics and extremists among the Hindus had become more bitter
about Gandhi. They accused him of being soft to the Muslims. They thought he

was anxious to please Muslims, and was willing to sacrifice the interests of

Hindus to protect the Muslims. Many of them were opposed to the virtues of
tolerance and non-violence that Gandhi propagated as characteristics of the

Hindu tradition. During his campaign against untouchability, and at other times,

they had accused him of betraying Hinduism. Many of them believed that Hindu

interests should rule in India, that India was Hindu India. Partition and the riots
that occurred in its wake had given them an opportunity to inflame communal

hatred and openly advocate aggression and retaliation. Gandhi believed that

retaliation would imprison the country in a cycle of mutual hatred and efforts

at mutual annihilation. This was not sane or humane; nor was it consistent with
what he understood of Hinduism and Indian nationalism.

His Hindu detractors knew that he had immense influence with the
Government; even more intense influence with the masses. The masses looked

upon him as the incarnation of the soul of India; as a demigod.

Some looked upon him as the avatar of Vishnu. They began to feel that the evil
influence of such a person should be removed, if necessary, by doing away with

him.

There were enough reports with the Government, and in the press, to indicate
that these forces might try to assassinate Gandhi. The Government offered

police protection. Gandhi declined it, saying that his life was in the hands of

God. Moreover, as he had already said when Mir Alam had tried to assassinate
him in South Africa, "To die by the hand of a brother, rather than by disease. It

cannot be for me a matter of sorrow. And if, even in such case, I am free from

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