Page 84 - GANDHI A Biography for Children and Beginners
P. 84
GANDHI – A Biography for children and beginners
He was against the plan of the British Government to create permanent
divisions in India through a "Communal electorate" in which Muslims, Hindus and
people of other communities would elect their own representatives separately.
There would be no common electorate. This would mean that there would be
no union of hearts and no common vision. India would never evolve a common
image. This was the surest way of breaking up India and continuing in
command. He said that for the same reasons he was also against the creation of
separate electorates for the so-called untouchables.
Great Indians like Srinivasan Sastry, Akbar Hydari, Dr. Ambedkar and others
were present. But the Conference could not come to common conclusions. That
was what the British Government wanted. But nationalist India felt thwarted.
While the Conference was going on, Gandhi had the opportunity to meet
leading figures in British society. He spoke at Oxford, at the London School of
Economics and at Eton.
At the house of Lindsay, the master of Balliol, he met the leading professors
and intellectuals of Britain — Dr. Gilbert Murray, Gilbert Salter, Prof. Coupland,
Edward Thomson and others. They were amazed ai the calm and clarity with
which Gandhi answered every question, however profound or provocative it
was, without so much as a frown or twitching of the skin on his face. He met
leaders in other fields like Charlie Chaplin and the great playwright, Bernard
Shaw. All these visits and talks enabled the people of Britain to see Gandhi
through their own eyes and to feel the impact of his uncommon personality.
On his way back to India he decided to spend a few days with the great French
writer and philosopher, Romain Rolland who had written a biography of Gandhi
even before meeting him. They spent many days at Villanenue exchanging their
perceptions and sharing apprehensions and aspirations.
Gandhi was invited to a 'Tea Party' that the King- Emperor of England held for
the delegates to the Conference. Representatives of the Government tried to
press Gandhi to dress in a three-piece suit for the occasion. Gandhi refused. He
said that he had come to the Conference as a representative of the poor people
www.mkgandhi.org Page 83
