In Touch with Workers

Whilst I was yet winding up my work on the Committee, I received a letter from Sjts. Mohanlal Pandya and Shankarlal Parikh telling me of the failure of crops in the Kheda district, and asking me to guide the peasants who were unable to pay the assessment. I had not the inclination, the ability or courage to advise without an inquiry on the spot.

While I was still finishing my work on the Committee, I received a letter from Sjts. Mohanlal Pandya and Shankarlal Parikh. They told me that the crops had failed in the Kheda district. They asked me to guide the peasants who could not pay the assessed tax. I had neither the inclination, the ability, nor the courage to advise them without investigating the situation in person.

At the same time, there came a letter from Shrimati Anasuyabai about the condition of labour in Ahmedabad. Wages were low, the labourers had long been agitating for an increment, and I had a desire to guide them if I could. But I had not the confidence to direct even this comparatively small affair from that long distance. So I seized the first opportunity to go to Ahmedabad. I had hoped that I should be able to finish both these matters quickly and get back to Champaran to supervise the constructive work that had been inaugurated there.

At the same time, I received a letter from Shrimati Anasuyabai about working conditions in Ahmedabad. Wages were low, and the workers had long been campaigning for a raise. I wanted to guide them if I could. But I did not feel confident directing even this relatively small matter from so far away. So I took the first opportunity to go to Ahmedabad. I had hoped to settle both matters quickly and return to Champaran to supervise the constructive work begun there.

But things did not move as swiftly as I had wished, and I was unable to return to Champaran, with the result that the schools closed down one by one. My co-workers and I had built many castles in the air, but they all vanished for the time being.

But things did not move as quickly as I had hoped, and I could not return to Champaran. As a result, the schools closed one by one. My co-workers and I had made many grand plans, but they all came to nothing for the time being.

One of these was cow protection work in Champaran, besides rural sanitation and education. I had seen, in the course of my travels, that cow protection and Hindi propaganda had become the exclusive concern of the Marwadis. A Marwadi friend had sheltered me in his dharmashala whilst at Bettiah. Other Marwadis of the place had interested me in their goshala (dairy). My ideas about cow protection had been definitely formed then, and my conception of the work was the same as it is today. Cow protection, in my opinion, included cattle-breeding, improvement of the stock, humane treatment of bullocks, formation of model dairies, etc. The Marwadi friends had promised full cooperation in this work, but as I could not fix myself up in Champaran, the scheme could not be carried out.

One of these was cow protection work in Champaran, alongside rural sanitation and education. In my travels, I had seen that cow protection and the promotion of Hindi had become the exclusive concern of the Marwadis. A Marwadi friend had given me shelter in his dharmashala while I was in Bettiah. Other Marwadis there had interested me in their goshala (dairy). By then, my ideas about cow protection were firmly established, and my understanding of the work was the same as it is today. In my opinion, cow protection included cattle breeding, improving the stock, humane treatment of bullocks, setting up model dairies, and so on. My Marwadi friends had promised their full cooperation in this work. But I could not settle in Champaran, so the plan could not be carried out.

The goshala in Bettiah is still there but it has not become a model dairy, the Champaran bullock is still made to work beyond his capacity, and the so-called Hindu still cruelly belabours the poor animal, and disgraces his religion.

The goshala in Bettiah is still there, but it has not become a model dairy. The Champaran bullock is still forced to work beyond its capacity. And the so-called Hindu still cruelly beats the poor animal, disgracing his religion.

That this work should have remained unrealised has been, for me, a continual regret, and whenever I go to Champaran, and hear the gentle reproaches of the Marwadi and Bihari friends, I recall with a heavy sigh all those plans which I had to drop so abruptly.

I have always regretted that this work was never completed. Whenever I go to Champaran and hear the gentle reproaches of my Marwadi and Bihari friends, I sigh heavily. I remember all the plans I had to abandon so abruptly.

The educational work in one way or another is going on in many places. But the cow protection work had not taken firm root and so it has not progressed in the direction intended.

Educational work of one kind or another is going on in many places. But cow protection work had not taken firm root, so it has not progressed as intended.

Whilst the Kheda peasants’ question was still being discussed, I had already taken up the question of the mill-hands in Ahmedabad.

While the Kheda peasants’ issue was still being discussed, I had already taken up the issue of mill workers in Ahmedabad.

I was in a most delicate situation. The mill-hands’ case was strong. Shrimati Anasuyabai had to battle against her own brother, Sjt. Ambalal Sarabhai, who led the fray on behalf of the mill-owners. My relations with them were friendly, and that made fighting with them the more difficult. I held consultations with them, and requested them to refer the dispute to arbitration, but they refused to recognise the principle of arbitration.

I was in a very difficult situation. The mill workers had a strong case. Shrimati Anasuyabai had to fight against her own brother, Sjt. Ambalal Sarabhai, who led the mill owners’ side. I was on friendly terms with the mill owners, and that made it harder to fight them. I spoke with them and asked them to submit the dispute to arbitration, but they refused to accept arbitration as a principle.

I had therefore to advise the labourers to go on strike. Before I did so, I came in very close contact with them and their leaders, and explained to them the conditions of a successful strike:

I therefore had to advise the workers to go on strike. Before doing so, I got to know the workers and their leaders very well. I explained to them what was needed for a successful strike:

1. Never to resort to violence, 2. Never to molest blacklegs, 3. Never to depend upon alms, and 4. To remain firm, no matter how long the strike continued, and to earn bread, during the strike, by any other honest labour.

1. Never use violence, 2. Never harass strikebreakers, 3. Never depend on charity, and 4. Stay firm, no matter how long the strike lasts, and earn a living through other honest work during the strike.