The daily worker., 1930-06-20
WHO IS GANDFII AND WHOM
DOES HE REPRESENT?
Rv LEON PLATT.

believer in "non-violence" as a humanlst and
even as a revolutionary and fighter against
Imperialism. The true political role of Gandhi
in the present revolutionary situation in India
must be made clear to the workers of the
capitalist countries. The task of the revolt
tionary movement is to expose the treacherous
role of Gandhi and the Indian National Con
gress. The imperialist role of the British La
Dor Government and the entire Second Inter
national is clear. Even the bourgeoisie is
forced to admit that the imperialist role of
the socialist international is becoming ever
more clear to the oppressed masses in the col
onies:
"Gradually-perhaps even too slowly-the
oriental world is going to realize that the
Empire continues to exist, despite a so-called
Socialist CABINET and that in fundamental
matters involving imperial unity the Labor
Government retains the same objectives as
the Conservative"
The role of Gandhi and the Indian National
Congress is not yet completely clear to the
masses, yet we can already see that the Indian
proletariat and peasantry are rapidly freeing
themselves from the influence of the native
bourgeoise and are putting up a struggle for
hegemony in the National independence Move
ment.
1t would be even incorrect to state that
Gandhi is prinCipled pacifist 'non'reslster.
H1StOrlcaI 1acUS QOn I snow ITlS, Cdllunl Is
only ''non-resster" and pacifist in of
revolutionary struggle of the masses against
capitalist and feudal exploitation. In instances
of capitalist attacks upon the working class,
Gandh is in complete accord with the of
force and violence on the part of the bourg
eoisie. A few examples of Gandhi's treachery
will prove that. In the Zulu uprising and in
the Boer War of 1899-1901 Gandhi participated
actively in the service of imperialism and his
native gentry. He then organized sanitary de-
tachments of Indian coolies to help defeat the
struggles of the Beers.
During the last world war, Gandhi was one
of the most active recruiting agents for British
imperialism to supply cannon fodder in order
that Great Britain may win the war. In his
book "The Story of My Life With Truth"
Gandhi states:
Il recognize that in this hour of its dan
ger, we must give ungrudging and un-
equivocal support to the Empire. E. If |
could make my countrymen retrace their
steps l would make them withdraw all con-
gress resolutions, and not whisper Home
Rule, or responsible government during the
pendency of war l would make India offer
all her abe-bodied sons as a sacrifice to the
Empire at this critical moment"
In 1921, during the uprising of the Molly
peasants against their landlords, during which
one landlord was killed, Gandhi forgot his
credo of non-resistance and said: "The Molly
insurrection gives us another lesson, namely
that every man must learn the art of self-de-
Tense" Of course, here was the question Of
the defense of the feudal landlords against the
insurrection of this pauperized peasantry.
Today when Gandhi advances his policy of
non-violence it is because he knows that the
native bourgeosie whom he represents cannot
rule and exploit the Indian masses without the
ofR RrifiSb rialc and
ly does not want to drive out British imperial
ism completely.
In numerous instances Gandhi very closely
cooperated with the Indian Government in sup
pressing the struggle of the masses against
imperiaist exploitation. In the uprisngs Of
1920-21 which took place in the various parts
of India, Gandh worked hand in glove with
the British Government against the revolution
ary masses
In 1921, Gandhi and his National Congress
adopted resolution in which he actually con-
demned the revolutionary struggle in the dis
trict of Chauri-Chaura in which some British
policemen were killed and expressed his sym
pathy with the henchmen of British imperial
ism. They stated:
The working committee of the Congress is
in great grief over the inhuman conduct OF
the mob Tread the revolutionary masses) of
Chauri-Chaura who bastardly have killed po-
licemen and burned the police headquarters"
Prior to his campaign of civil disobedience
and violation of the salt tax laws, Gandhi
has presented to the Indian Viceroy Lord r.
win, memorandum with eleven demands. An
analysis of these demands will prove concu-
sively that these are demands of the native
bourgeoisie and not of the exploited Indian
masses. Among his eleven demands there is
one which calls for higher tariff rates on i'm
ported textile products. This demand is put
forward with the sole purpose of giving the
native textile capitalist the monopoly over the
home market. His campaign against foreign
cloth is a policy of enrichment of the native
textile interests unable to compete with Man
chester, cloaked in the mantel of nationaism
The demand for the abolition of the salt
tax is made not with the view of Tightening
the burden of the masses but of giving to the
native bourgeoisie another source of revenue
for their capitalist enrichment The character
of Gandhi's demands is best being character
ized by the official organ of the Indian large
oourgeoisie Bombay Chronicle which writes on
Feb TO- 1880 the following:
do we require further proof of unity
when political leaders and practical business
men equally recognize many as seven
points out of the eleven demands put forward
by Mahatma Gandhi, while not single prac-
tical business man will object to the remain
der" Quoted by Safaroff, Communist Inter-
nationaD.
The present struggle of Gandhi and the Ma
sional Congress against British Imperialism is
precisely struggle between the Indian native
hon for :.