The Washington times., 1922-05-30


stove In a yard which some Arab
prisoners are using.
"Mahatmaji Is not allowed to see
any of the prisoners. He Is kept In
one Of the cells intended for solitary
conf ement and locked in during
the night. The cell has two venti-
lators, one near the roof and the
other near the floor. 1t has
veranda, beside which an area
marked out in the yard is allowed
for walking.
Giyen No Pillow.
mo articles are allowed from the
outside. Mahatmaji is not allowed
even his own bed. The superinten-
dent said a pillow was a luxury.
For utensils Mahatmaji has the
usual Jail mug and dish. He is,
however. allowed his own spoon.
"MahatmaJi is given no news
papers. The superintendent said that
no books of his own would be allow
ed. not even purely religious books.
He was not deprived OF his writing
paper and pen which he is just now
using only to learn Urdu by him.
self.
"Mahatmaji was in his single loin
cloth. He did not seem to us 70 be
ing good health, though the jailer
told us that he had gained in weightr
1T is clear that except in the mat
ter of food to the limited extent men,
toned by me, Mahatmaji Is treated
strictly, as a common prisoner under
the Bombay Jail code which in many
respects Is worse than the codes OF
other provinces. OF course Mahat-
mali told us he did not want any
complaints to be made about his life
in Jail. Our interview, however,
rudely awakened us to the realities
Of British Indian administration"
British Explain.
Soon after the foregoing report be-
came known to Gandhis followers,
according to the American commits
sion's reports, the British publicity
bureau issued n statement denying
that Gandhi was being pl-treated.
particular stress was laid in this
statement" a representative OF the
American commission said. ito the
fact that raisins and tea had been
supplied to Gandhi. Considering that
Gandhi gave up the use of tea and
a protest against the treatment Of
the coolies in the tea gardens and
coffee plantations, furnishing him
with tea was an insult rather than
kindness. Giving him his daily al
lowance of milk at one time ap-
pears like at act Of studied cruelty.
with no facilities for keeping II cool
and fresh, in a climate where milk
quickly spoils, because OF the terrific
heat, Gandhi is compelled. to take
this part Of his food allowance all at
one time.
Needless Cruelty.
Another piece of needless cruelty
and stupidity is to deny man OF
Gandhi's age and delicate health the
use of his bed. AS a consequence, he
is compelled to sleep on the floor OF
his cell, using one of the Two
blankets given him as a mattress and
the other for covering.
Many European residents OF Born
bay have protested against the treat-
ment of Gandhi, but so far without
effect. Indians throughout the coun-
try feel very bitterly about 1t, and In
many of the towns the leaders Of the
passive revolt against British rule
have had difficulty in preventing
demonstrations, which in the present
embittered state of the people, might
lead to grave consequences.
"Gandhi himself makes no protest.
Shortly before his removal from
Ahmedabad he wrote to c. F. An
drews, an English supporter Of the
passive revolt: I am as happy as
a bird! My ideal Of a Jail life is to
be cut off entirely from all connec-
ton with the outside world From
the report made by Mr.. Rajago-
palachariar 1t is evident the prison
superintendent at Yeravda is doing
his best to see that Gandhi's ideal.
are not harmed by any kindness or
humaneness of treatment"