Page 62 - GANDHI A Biography for Children and Beginners

GANDHI – A Biography for children and beginners

city from violent disturbances. Gandhi studied the case of the workers. It was

mainly for the restoration of some allowances that they were drawing. Nearly

80% of these had been cut down. Meanwhile the cost

of living had gone up. Mill-owners were making higher profits. Gandhi pleaded

with the mill-owners to settle the matter through negotiations or arbitration.

They agreed, but went back on a flimsy and technical excuse. Gandhi had no
alternative but to advise labourers to strike. But he got workers to take a

solemn pledge not to go to work till their demands were met, not to resort to

violence under any circumstance. The workers took the pledge, and Gandhi
took up their leadership.

It was an uncommon struggle. There was no bitterness and no hatred. The

leaders of the owners as well as the employees met Gandhi every day. Gandhi
was continuing his efforts to persuade the employers. Everyday all workers

assembled at a prayer meeting, and Gandhi advised them on the state of the

strike and the duties of workers. Twenty days passed. Workers began to get

restive. Someone whispered that it was the workers who suffered by the
prolonged strike, not Gandhi who ate his meals and went about in cars. This cut

Gandhi to the quick. At the prayer meeting of the day, he announced that he

was giving up food. He would fast till the workers reiterated their
determination to stand by the pledge they had taken. It was not a fast against

the employers, to make them accept the demands of the workers. It was meant

to make workers realize the need to stand by the plighted word. Gandhi's

announcement resulted in a wave of repentance. Men and women were in
tears. They implored Gandhi to give up his fast. The fast also brought pressure

on the owners, though Gandhi did not want to influence

them with a fast. A compromise was arrived at. An arbitrator was appointed.
His award totally vindicated the demands that Gandhi had formulated, Gandhi

called the struggle a "Dharma Yuddha", because it was waged for justice, and

with the pure means of persuasion, love and voluntary suffering.

Gandhi was elected President of the Gujarat Sabha. His attention went to the

plight of the peasants in the Kheda district of Gujarat. Peasants were reeling

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