Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-26
Gandhi's Views on India
Leader of Civil Disobedience Campaign Says Purpose
of Movement Is to Force Conference,
Lending to independence.

ties have violated the persons Of people
who have refused to part with salt held
generally in their fists. To open theiI
fists, their knuckles have been broken
their necks have been pressed, they have
been even incendently assaulted until
they have been rendered senseless. Some
of these assaults have taken place In
the presence of hundreds and thousands
of people who, although well able to pro-
tect the victims and retaliate, being I'M
der a pledge of non-violence, have not
done so.
1t is true that violence has broken
out in Calcutta, Karachi, Chittagong
and now Peshawar. The Calcutta and
Karachi events should be isolated from
Chittagong and Peshawar. The CAL
cutta and Karachi incidents were an
impulsive outburst on the arrest Of
popular leaders. The Chittagong and
Peshawar incidents, though also caused
for some reason, seemed to have been
serious and well planned affairs, though
wholly unconnected with each other,
Chittagong being in the extreme east
and Peshawar being on the northwest
border of India.
These disturbances have so far not
affected other parts of India where
civil disobedience has been going on in
organized fashion and on a mass scale
since the 9Th inst. The people in
other parts have remained non-violent
in spite Of great provocation. At the
same time I admit that there Is need
for caution, but can say without the
least hesitation that consistently with
the plan of civil disobedience every
precaution conceivable is being taken
to prevent civil disobedience from being
used as an occasion for doing violence.
Volunteers for Peace.
It should be noted that in Karachi
seven wounded persons, of whom two
have died Of their wounds, were vol
unteers engaged lin keeping peace and
restraining mob furies. It Is the opin-
ion of eyewitnesses that the firing in
Karachi was wholly unjustified and that
there was no firing in the air or al
legs in the first instance. In fact the
government have lost no opportunity
Of incensing the people. Many of the
best, the purest and the most self-sac-
rificing leaders have been arrested and
imprisoned, in many instances with
mock trials. Sentences, though for
the same offense, have varied with the
idiosyncrasies of the magistrate. In
several instances they have been for
on well known citizens
The enthuiasm of the people has
up to now increased with every convic-
ton. Thousands of people regard the
manufacture of contraband salt as part
OF their daily routine. In any other
part of the world, with q government
at all responsible to public opinion, the
salt tax would have been repealed long
since, but whether now or later, re-
pealed it will be II the present existing
atmosphere Of resistance abides as 1t
promises to do.
That this is movement Of self
publication is abundantly proved by the
fact that women have come into 1t in
large numbers and are organizing the
picketing Of liquor shops. Thousands
have taken VOWS to abstain from In
toxicating liquor. In Armadabad, q
strong labor center, the receipts Of the
canteens have dropped to 10 per cent
and are still dropping.
Boycott Is Spreading.
A similar manifestation is taken up In
the question of the boycott Of foreign
cloth. 1t Is spreading all over India.
People are making bonf1res of the
foreign cloth in their possession. Khadi
namely Eandspun cloth, is SO much in
demand that the existing stock is we'll
nigh exhausted. Each spinning wheel
is much in demand and people are be-
ginning to realize more and more the
necessity Of reviving hand spinning in
the cottages Of the 100000 villages OF
India.
In my humble opinion a struggle SO
free from violence has a message far
beyond the borders of India. / have
no manner of doubt that after all tire
sacrifice that has already been inside
since April 6, the spirit of the people
Will be sustained throughout until India
has become independent and flee to
make her contribution 70 the progress
Of humanity.