Page 49 - GANDHI A Biography for Children and Beginners
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GANDHI – A Biography for children and beginners
a Pathan who had taken the pledge of resistance stepped forward, asked
Gandhi what he was about to do, and felled him with severe blows. Gandhi
exclaimed 'Hai Ram' and fell unconscious. He was removed to the house of a
Christian missionary, Rev. Doke. When he regained his consciousness, Gandhi
made two requests. One was that Mir Alam and his assistant should not be
prosecuted, but should be forgiven. The other was that he (Gandhi) should be
taken to the Asiatic Registrar so that he might be the first to register. But his
physical condition was such that he could not be taken to the office of the
Registrar. Gandhi then wanted that the Registrar should be requested to go to
his bed side. The Registrar came, but advised Gandhi to wait till he was well
enough. But Gandhi would not agree. He had to be the first to register as he
had promised to do. But he could not lift his swollen and bruised hand. His hand
was lifted up and placed on the spot, and he signed and gave his finger prints.
Mr. Channey, the white Registrar, wiped his tears as he saw Gandhi sign. This
was not the last time Gandhi brought tears of affection and admiration to the
eyes of his adversaries.
But Gandhi's Indian critics were proved right. General Smuts betrayed Gandhi.
As soon as he found that a large number of Indians had registered voluntarily,
the General brought in a Bill to validate voluntary registration in the eyes of
the law, and announced that the Black Act (on registration) would not be
repealed. Gandhi was truly tricked. The honour as well as the future of the
Indian community was in danger. It seemed as though they had defeated
themselves.
Gandhi rose to the occasion. He found a dignified way of exposing the General's
perfidy and vindicating the honour, intentions and courage of the Indians. He
declared that the Indians would stop registering and would publicly burn the
certificates of registration that had been issued to them, thus voluntarily
defying the Government and inviting them to take action against them under
the Act. A mammoth meeting was arranged at the grounds of the Hamidia
mosque, and a cauldron was set up near the dais. An ultimatum was sent to the
Government. From suffering in silence and petitioning, Gandhi had led the
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