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GANDHI – A Biography for children and beginners
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Gandhi found the answer, — Britain must quit India. It is not for them to think
of what would happen if they left, when they left. India was there before they
came. India would look after itself when they left. For heaven's sake, quit.
Leave the country to God, or anarchy. But go. The country pricked its ears.
Here was the voice of revolution, a non-violent revolution.
Some leaders of the Congress were baffled. Even Jawaharlal and Azad were not
sure of the wisdom of the proposal. They thought that it might help the
enemies of democracy. Some Britishers condemned Gandhi as a fifth columnist,
an agent of the Axis powers and Japan. But Gandhi's erstwhile adversary against
whom he had fought for 20 long years in South Africa, General Smuts, said "It is
sheer nonsense to talk of Mahatma Gandhi as a "fifth" columnist. He is a great
man. He is one of the great men of the world."
Gandhi wrote and spoke explaining the reasons behind his proposal. He
explained it to the world through the interviews he gave to outstanding
columnists like Louis Fischer. His message echoed throughout the length and
breadth of the country. Faint hearts picked up courage. The nonplussed saw
that there was a way. In the course of a few weeks the country was electrified.
Students, young men and women, workers, villagers, — every section of the
people felt that the hour had come. The country depended on them. The future
depended on them. Gandhi told them that the hour had come to "do or die". It
was only when individuals went forth to seek death that nations lived. In a few
weeks, Gandhi had set the country on fire.
The Working Committee of the Congress met at Sevagram, and took the
momentous decision on the 14th of July. The resolution asking Britain to Quit
India was adopted by the All India Congress Committee at the Gowalia Tank
grounds at Bombay, on the 8th of August 1942. Gandhi had told the meeting
that he would meet the Viceroy and try to convince him. If he failed, he would
tell the country what to do. It would be an unprecedented mass upsurge, —
revolution, but strictly non-violent. Anything else will misfire and lead to a
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