That Wonderful Sight!

Thus, while on the one hand, the agitation against the Rowlatt Committee’s report gathered volume and intensity, on the other, the Government grew more and more determined to give effect to its recommendations, and the Rowlatt Bill was published. I have attended the proceedings of of India’s legislative chamber only once in my life, and that was on the occasion of the debate on this Bill. Shastriji delivered an impassioned speech in which he uttered a solemn note of warning to the Government. The Viceroy seemed to be listening spell-bound, his eyes rivetted on Shastriji as the latter poured forth the hot stream of his eloquence. For the moment it seemed to me as if the Viceroy could not but be deeply moved by it, it was so true and so full of feeling.

Meanwhile, protests against the Rowlatt Committee’s report grew louder and more intense. At the same time, the Government became increasingly determined to act on the report’s recommendations, and the Rowlatt Bill was published. I have attended India’s legislative chamber only once in my life, for the debate on this Bill. Shastriji gave a passionate speech in which he issued a solemn warning to the Government. The Viceroy seemed spellbound, his eyes fixed on Shastriji as he poured out his eloquent words. For a moment, it seemed to me that the Viceroy could not help being deeply moved. Shastriji’s speech was so truthful and full of feeling.

But you can wake a man only if he is really asleep; no effort that you may make will produce any effect upon him if he is merely pretending sleep. That was precisely the Government’s position. It was anxious only to go through the farce of legal formality. Its decision had already been made. Shastriji’s solemn warning was, therefore, entirely lost upon the Government.

But you can wake a man only if he is really asleep. If he is only pretending to sleep, nothing you do will have any effect. That was exactly the Government’s position. The Government was concerned only with going through the farce of legal formalities. It had already made its decision. Shastriji’s serious warning therefore had no effect on the Government.

In these circumstances mine could only be а cry in the wilderness. I earnestly pleaded with the Viceroy. I addressed him private letters as also public letters, in the course of which I clearly told him that the Government’s action left me no other course except to resort to Satyagraha. But it was all in vain.

Under these circumstances, my voice could only go unheard. I pleaded earnestly with the Viceroy. I wrote him both private and public letters. In those letters, I made it clear that the Government’s action left me no choice but to resort to Satyagraha. But all my efforts were in vain.

The Bill had not yet been gazetted as an Act. I was in а very weak condition, but I decided to take the risk of a long journey when I received an invitation from Madras. I could not at that time sufficiently raise my voice for meetings. The incapacity to address meetings standing still abides. My entire frame would shake, and heavy throbs would start on an attempt to speak standing for any length of time.

The Bill had not yet been officially published as an Act. I was very weak, but when I received an invitation from Madras, I decided to risk the long journey. At the time, I could not raise my voice enough to speak at meetings. I still cannot address meetings while standing. Whenever I tried to speak standing for any length of time, my whole body would shake and my heart would pound.

I have ever felt myself at home in the South. Thanks to my South African work I felt I had some sort of special right over the Tamils and Telugus, and the good people of the South have never belied my belief. The invitation had come over the signature of the late Sjt. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar. But the man behind the invitation, as I subsequently learnt on my way to Madras, was Rajagopalachari. This might be said to be my first acquaintance with him; at any rate this was the first time that we came to know each other personally.

I have always felt at home in the South. Because of my work in South Africa, I felt I had some special claim on the Tamils and Telugus. The good people of the South have never given me reason to doubt that feeling. The invitation was signed by the late Sjt. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar. But on my way to Madras, I learned that Rajagopalachari was the man behind it. One might say that this was my first acquaintance with him. At any rate, it was the first time we came to know each other personally.

Rajagopalachari had then only recently left Salem to settle down for legal practice in Madras at the pressing invitation of friends like the late Sjt. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar, and that with a view to taking a more active part in public life. It was with him that we had put up in Madras. This discovery I made, only after we had stayed with him for a couple of days. For, since the bungalow that we were staying in belonged to Sjt. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar, I was under the impression that we were his guests. Mahadev Desai however corrected me. He very soon formed a close acquaintance with Rajagopalachari, who, from his innate shyness, kept himself constantly in the background. But Mahadev put me on my guard. ‘You should cultivate this man,’ he said to me one day.

Rajagopalachari had recently left Salem to practice law in Madras. Friends like the late Sjt. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar had urged him to move so he could take a more active part in public life. We stayed with Rajagopalachari in Madras, but I discovered this only after we had been there for a couple of days. The bungalow where we were staying belonged to Sjt. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar, so I thought we were his guests. Mahadev Desai corrected me. He soon became well acquainted with Rajagopalachari, who was naturally shy and always kept himself in the background. But Mahadev alerted me to his importance. ‘You should get to know this man,’ he said to me one day.

And so I did. We daily discussed together plans of the fight, but beyond the holding of public meetings I could not then think of any other programme. I felt myself at a loss to discover how to offer civil disobedience against the Rowlatt Bill if it was finally passed into law. One could disobey it, only if the Government gave one the opportunity for it. Failing that, could we civilly disobey other laws? And if so, where was the line to be drawn? These, and a host of similar questions, formed the theme of these discussions of ours.

And so I did. Every day, we discussed plans for the fight. But at the time, I could think of no other action beyond holding public meetings. I could not see how to practice civil disobedience against the Rowlatt Bill if it became law. We could disobey it only if the Government gave us the opportunity. If the Government did not, could we disobey other laws through civil disobedience? And if so, where would we draw the line? These and many similar questions were the subject of our discussions.

Sjt. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar called together a small conference of leaders to thrash out the matter. Among those who took a conspicuous part in it was Sjt. Vijayaraghavachari. He suggested that I should draw up a comprehensive manual of the science of Satyagraha, embodying even minute details. I felt the task to be beyond my capacity, and I confessed as much to him.

Sjt. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar called a small meeting of leaders to discuss the matter. Sjt. Vijayaraghavachari played a prominent part in the discussion. He suggested that I write a comprehensive manual on the science of Satyagraha, including even the smallest details. I felt the task was beyond my ability, and I told him so.

While these cogitations were still going on, news was received that the Rowlatt Bill had been published as an Act. That night I fell asleep while thinking over the question. Towards the small hours of the morning I woke up somewhat earlier than usual. I was still in that twilight condition between sleep and consciousness when suddenly the idea broke upon me—it was as if in a dream. Early in the morning I related the whole story to Rajagopalachari.

While I was still thinking about these matters, news came that the Rowlatt Bill had been published as an Act. That night, I fell asleep while considering the question. In the early hours of the morning, I woke up a little earlier than usual. I was still half asleep when the idea suddenly came to me. It was as if I were dreaming. Early that morning, I told Rajagopalachari the whole story.

‘The idea came to me last night in a dream, that we should call upon the country to observe a general hartal. Satyagraha is a process of self-purification, and ours is a sacred fight, and it seems to me to be in the fitness of things that it should be commenced with an act of self-purification. Let all the people of India, therefore, suspend their business on that day, and observe the day as one of fasting and prayer. The Musalmans may not fast for more than one day; so the duration of the fast should be 24 hours. It is very difficult to say whether all the provinces would respond to this appeal of ours or not, but I feel fairly sure of Bombay, Madras, Bihar and Sindh. I think we should have every reason to feel satisfied even if all these places observe the hartal fittingly.’

‘Last night, an idea came to me in a dream. We should call on the country to observe a general hartal. Satyagraha is a process of self-purification, and ours is a sacred fight. So it seems right to me to begin the fight with an act of self-purification. Let all the people of India therefore suspend their business on that day and spend it fasting and praying. The Musalmans may not fast for more than one day, so the fast should last 24 hours. It is very difficult to say whether all the provinces would respond to our appeal. But I feel fairly sure that Bombay, Madras, Bihar and Sindh would respond. I think we would have every reason to be satisfied even if all these places observe the hartal properly.’

Rajagopalachari was at once taken up with my suggestion. Other friends too welcomed it, when it was communicated to them later. I drafted a brief appeal. The date of the hartal was first fixed on the 30th March 1919, but was subsequently changed to 6th April. The people thus had only a short notice of the hartal. As the work had to be started at once, there was hardly any time to give longer notice.

Rajagopalachari immediately liked my suggestion. Other friends also welcomed it when they heard it later. I drafted a short appeal. The hartal was first scheduled for 30 March 1919, but was later moved to 6 April. People therefore had only short notice of the hartal. The work had to begin at once, so there was hardly any time to give longer notice.

But who knows how it all came about? The whole of India from one end to the other, towns as well as villages, observed a complete hartal on that day. It was a most wonderful spectacle.

But who knows how it all happened? All of India, from one end to the other, observed a complete hartal that day, in towns and villages alike. It was a truly wonderful sight.