Reaching the Villages

As far as was possible we placed each school in charge of one man and one woman. These volunteers had to look after medical relief and sanitation. The womenfolk had to be approached through women.

Whenever possible, we put one man and one woman in charge of each school. These volunteers had to provide medical care and look after sanitation. Women had to be approached by women.

Medical relief was a very simple affair. Castor oil, quinine and sulphur ointment were the only drugs provided to the volunteers. If the patient showed a furred tongue or complained of constipation, castor oil was administered, in case of fever quinine was given after an opening dose of castor oil, and the sulphur ointment was applied in case of boils and itches after thoroughly washing the affected parts. No patient was permitted to take home any medicine. Wherever there was some complication Dr. Dev was consulted. Dr. Dev used to visit each centre on certain fixed days in the week.

Medical care was very simple. The volunteers had only three medicines: castor oil, quinine, and sulfur ointment. If a patient had a coated tongue or complained of constipation, they were given castor oil. For a fever, they were given castor oil first, followed by quinine. For boils and itching, the affected areas were washed thoroughly, and sulfur ointment was applied. No patient was allowed to take any medicine home. Dr. Dev was consulted whenever there was a complication. He visited each center on certain fixed days of the week.

Quite a number of people availed themselves of this simple relief. This plan of work will not seem strange when it is remembered that the prevailing ailments were few and amenable to simple treatment, by no means requiring expert help. As for the people the arrangement answered excellently.

Quite a few people made use of this simple treatment. This approach will not seem strange when we remember that there were only a few common ailments. These responded to simple treatment and did not require expert help. The arrangement worked very well for the people.

Sanitation was a difficult affair. The people were not prepared to do anything themselves. Even the field labourers were not ready to do their own scavenging. But Dr. Dev was not a man easily to lose heart. He and the volunteers concentrated their energies on making a village ideally clean. They swept the roads and the courtyards, cleaned out the wells, filled up the pools near by, and lovingly persuaded the villagers to raise volunteers from amongst themselves. In some villages they shamed people into taking up the work, and in others the people were so enthusiastic that they even prepared roads to enable my car to go from place to place. These sweet experiences were not unmixed with bitter ones of people’s apathy. I remember some villagers having frankly expressed their dislike for this work.

Sanitation was a difficult problem. The people were not prepared to do anything themselves. Even the field workers were unwilling to clean up their own waste. But Dr. Dev was not easily discouraged. He and the volunteers focused their efforts on making a village perfectly clean. They swept the roads and courtyards, cleaned out the wells, and filled in nearby pools. They gently persuaded the villagers to find volunteers among themselves. In some villages, they shamed people into taking up the work. In others, the people were so enthusiastic that they even prepared roads so my car could travel between places. But these pleasant experiences were mixed with the bitterness of people’s indifference. I remember some villagers openly saying that they disliked this work.

It may not be out of place here to narrate an experience that I have described before now in many meetings. Bhitiharva was a small village in which was one of our schools. I happened to visit a smaller village in its vicinity and found some of the women dressed very dirtily. So I told Mrs. Gandhi to ask them why they did not wash their clothes. She spoke to them. One of the women took her into her hut and said: ‘Look now, there is no box or cupboard here containing other clothes. The sari I am wearing is the only one I have. How am I to wash it? Tell Mahatmaji to get me another sari, and I shall then promise to bathe and put on clean clothes every day.’

It may be worth sharing an experience here that I have described at many meetings before. Bhitiharva was a small village where we had one of our schools. I happened to visit a smaller village nearby and found some women wearing very dirty clothes. So I asked Mrs. Gandhi to ask them why they did not wash their clothes. She spoke to them. One woman took her into her hut and said: ‘Look, there is no box or cupboard here with other clothes in it. The sari I am wearing is the only one I have. How can I wash it? Tell Mahatmaji to get me another sari, and I will promise to bathe and put on clean clothes every day.’

This cottage was not an exception, but a type to be found in many Indian villages. In countless cottages in India people live without any furniture, and without a change of clothes, merely with a rag to cover their shame.

This cottage was not unusual. It was typical of cottages found in many Indian villages. In countless cottages across India, people live without furniture or a change of clothes, with only a rag to cover themselves.

One more experience I will note. In Champaran there is no lack of bamboo and grass. The school hut they had put up at Bhitiharva was made of these materials. Some one—possibly some of the neighbouring planters’ men—set fire to it one night. It was not thought advisable to build another hut of bamboo and grass. The school was in charge of Sjt. Soman and Mrs. Gandhi. Sjt. Soman decided to build a pucka house, and thanks to his infectious labour, many cooperated with him, and so a brick house was soon made ready. There was no fear now of this building being burnt down.

I will note one more experience. Bamboo and grass are plentiful in Champaran. The school hut they had built at Bhitiharva was made of these materials. One night, someone set fire to the hut. It was possibly someone working for the neighboring planters. It did not seem wise to build another hut of bamboo and grass. Sjt. Soman and Mrs. Gandhi were in charge of the school. Sjt. Soman decided to build a pucka house, a solid brick building. His enthusiasm for the work inspired many others to help, and the house was soon ready. There was no longer any fear that the building would burn down.

Thus the volunteers with their schools, sanitation work and medical relief gained the confidence and respect of the village folk, and were able to bring good influence to bear upon them.

Through their schools, sanitation work, and medical care, the volunteers gained the villagers' trust and respect. This allowed them to have a positive influence on the villagers.

But I must confess with regret, that my hope of putting this constructive work on a permanent footing was not fulfilled. The volunteers had come for temporary periods, I could not secure any more from outside, and permanent honorary workers from Bihar were not available. As soon as my work in Champaran was finished, work outside, which had been preparing in the meantime, drew me away. The few months’ work in Champaran, however, took such deep root that its influence in one form or another is to be observed there even today.

But I must admit with regret that my hope of establishing this constructive work permanently was not fulfilled. The volunteers had come for short periods, and I could not find any more from outside. Nor were any permanent unpaid workers available from Bihar. As soon as I finished my work in Champaran, work elsewhere drew me away. That work had been taking shape in the meantime. Even so, the few months of work in Champaran took such deep root that its influence can still be seen there today in one form or another.