Evening star., 1942-08-04
Gondhi Called M-|nformed
On International Questions
Knows |ndio and England Well, but Has Little
knowledge of U. S., Writer Declares

Writer Declares
cational and sanitary, all carried on
in the Gandhi tradition at mini
mum cost with the cheapest ma
terials and by the simplest meth
DDS. Gandhi tolerates no modern
machinery on his farm. There is
scarcely anything in his village,
except the telephone. which would
not have been available a thousand
years ago.
At one time Gandhi's friends
wanted to present him with a radio
set. But the old man would not
stand for any such extravaganza
Sad to say, that is probably one
OF the reasons why he is 50 badly
posted on foreign affairs.
The only information Gandhi re-
ceives from the United States. for
instance, comes in the form of a
few-very few-clippings and an oc-
casional magazine and what little
visitors can tell him. What Gandhi
has seen of the American press,
however, distresses him nightly.
Il sometimes despair" he said
wearily, "of understanding anything
coming from that direction"
Friend Of Jap Priest.
AS far Japan, Gandhis feelings
have been deeply affected by his
friendship with Jap Buddhist
priest. Noburu Tenzaki. who lived
at the aShram for some time and
was snatched away to an intern
ment camp at the beginning OF the
Pacific war. Unlike another jap
monk, whose stay at Sevagram was
abruptly terminated by the authori-
ties when he began displaying too
much interest in Toxic broadcasts.
Tenzaki, it seems, stuck strictly to
matters religious.
In an appeal to Japan to mend
its ways Gandhi today warns the
Japanese not to interpret his COM
Ing movement as the sign of a
willing welcome from India. There
Will be no such welcome, says Gand-
nj, though he recalls with pleasure
MS association with Tenzaki.
His natural smile, which is posi-
i've evidence OF his inner peace, en-
deared him to all OF us. Now, ow-
ing to your declaration of war
against Britain he has been taken
from US and we miss him as a dear
co-worker. He left behind him, as
a memory, his daily prayer and his
little drum accompaniment with
which we open our morning and
evening prayers"
That is Gandhi at his sentimental
peak. I attended one of his evening
services at Sevagram and, sure
enough, when the whole populat ton
OF the colony had settled themselves
IN a crosslegged square in the yard,
the meeting opened with the Budd-
hist prayer, Salute to God" sung in
Japanese to the beat of Tenzaki' S
drum. But Gandhi shows no favor
itism. There were Hindu prayers
and songs in several dialects. We
American correspondents were in
vited to sing Christian hymn, but
lack of confidence in our vocal pow
ers obliged us to decline.
Dreary Quality to Meeting.
The singsongy chanting, the thin
strains of the Indian guitar and the
dim light shed on the worshippers
by the oil lanterns gave the meeting a
dreamy quality which was abruptly
broken when some one briskly called
the roll, each devotee replying with
the number of yards OF cotton yarn
he or she had spun that day.
Gandhi spends most of his day
sitting or lying in his two-roomed
hut conferring with visiting lieuten-
ants and waiting for his inner
voice" to tell him the course of ac-
ton he should take He refuses to
take the fortnights holiday advised
by his physician, though he is get
ting all the rest possible in order to
meet the strain of his coming trip
to Bombay for the session of the
All-India Congress Committee.
Despite exhaustion, high blood
pressure and some loss of weight he
seems to possess considerable reserve
vitality. Mahadev Desai, his secre-
tary for quarter Of a century, told
me Gandhi is counting on his power
| Of relaxation, his abdominal mud
packs and dieting to restore his
health.
Has Great Prestige.
Travelling about India, one Is con-
stantly encountering evidence OF
the prestige that Gandhi enjoys,
even among his critics and enemies
In one small town, for instance, ]
called on prosperous young Indian
official, who voiced emphatically his
belief that Gandhi's movement
would be quickly suppressed. If Or
dered. he said he would assist in its
suppression. I noticed a portrait
of Gandhi suspended from his wall,
just under the picture Of Hindu
diety. I asked him what it meant.
These" he said pointing first to
the diety, next to Gandhi, are
Gods No. ! and T."
But what If Gandhi dies? Who
w,;1f e,,naAAd hiS,e ~ ackai