All of us are now striving for "Swaraj" or Home Rule. We wish to be
masters of our own destiny. We want sooner or later the representatives
of the people of the country to govern it. There are some amongst us who
consider that Home Rule, is an immediate necessity. Others believe that
Home Rule, at present without the fulfilment of certain preliminary
conditions would be attended with disastrous results. But all are agreed
that we should work for it. The practical difficulties in the way of its
attainment due, partly to the relations between the various communities
in India, partly to the opposition of powerful interests and the period
that must therefore elapse before we overcome them render the discussion
of time, ignoring or brushing aside those difficulties, only of academic
interest. Mr. Gandhi's great influence is due to the popular belief in
the efficacy of his leadership to attain immediate Home Rule. To me his
Non-Co-operation Campaign appears to be an egregious blunder for which
we are already paying dearly. A long line of illustrious statesmen,
Indian and English have just succeeded in leading us out of the house of
bondage. How long we shall have to wander in the deserts we do not know.
But it is certain that Mr. Gandhi is not leading his followers in the
direction of the promised land. He is not only going in the opposite
direction but instead of toughening our fibre by a life of toil and
struggle is endeavouring to entirely emasculate us and render us
altogether unfit for the glorious destiny that, but for him and others
like him, is awaiting us.
This will be clear once the nature of his agitation is realised. For
that purpose, it is necessary to understand his mentality and his real
views on the problems of life and the various questions now in debate.
These are given in various books which have been published and in his
paper "Young India", edited by him. His "Indian Home Rule", was first
published in 1908. In a publication of 1921, he says "I withdraw nothing
except one word of it and that in deference to a lady friend." The
reason is the indelicacy of the expression....
The book is in the form of a dialogue between a Reader and the "Editor"
the latter being Gandhi himself.
Mr. Gandhi wishes to know the necessity of driving away the English,
_Reader_:--"Because India has become impoverished by their Government.
They take away our money from year to year. The most important posts
are reserved for themselves. We are kept in a state of slavery. They
behave insolently towards us, and disregard our feelings."
_Gandhi_:--"Supposing we get Self-government similar to what the
Canadians and South Africans have, will it be good enough?"
_Reader_:--"That question also is useless. We may get it when we have
the same powers. We shall then hoist our own flag. As is Japan so must
India be. We must own our navy, our army, and we must have our own
splendour. Then will India's voice ring throughout the world."
_Gandhi_:--"You have well drawn the picture. In effect it means this:
that we want English Rule without the Englishman. You want the tiger's
nature but not the tiger; that is to say you would make India English
and when it becomes English, it will be called not Hindustan but
Englistan. _This is not the Swaraj that I want._"
Nothing can be clearer. He does not want
the dominion status of Canada or South Africa
for India. He does not claim the independence
of Japan for India as he points out a few lines
below, "What you call swaraj is not truly
swaraj."
What is then the real "Swaraj" according
to Mr. Gandhi? He proceeds to develop his
views by illustrations.
He gives his views on the poverty of India.
He says Railways, Lawyers and Doctors have
impoverished the country, so much so that, if
we do not wake up in time, we shall be ruined.