Evening star., 1947-12-02
AGandhian Miracle
An American Observer Recalls the Dramatic Results in
Calcutta of the Spiritual Approach
Bv WilIiam Stuart Nelson
First OF t,Do articles.)

what had occurred was to be found m con-
tinued peace and good will.
Beginning on September l, we witnessed such
test. Prompted, according to reports by har-
rowing stories Of refugees from the infiamed
Punjab, strife began once more in Calcutta.
Fighting which started in single incident soon
spread to many parts of the city and the entire
community found itself gripped again by ter
ror. Then, like flash out OF the sky, came
Mr.. Gandhis decision to enter upon q fast
until peace should be restored. Calcutta was
stunned, frightened. Upon the people Of that
city depended the life Of the beloved Gandhi.
Upon them, as many knew well, depended in
large measure the immediate fate of India, for
strife in Calcutta meant strife in all Of Bengal
and general strife in Bengal meant undoubt-
edly violence throughout most of India.
To Dissuade Gandhi From Fasting.
This decision of Mr.. Gandhi was followed by
the most feverish search by the citizens for
the means to bring disorder to an end. Peace
professions coursed the streets, government
officials were in almost continuous session is
suing pleas and warnings, soldiers patrolled the
most affected areas, the press was united in
urging q return to sanity. Still there were
incidents. Groups entered into prayer and a
city-wide day Of prayer and fasting was pro-
posed Meanwhile delegations continued, with
out avail, the effort to dissuade Mr.. Gandhi
from his fast.
Gradually fruits of the earnest search for a
solution became evident. Not only were the
good people of the community lifted to the
level Of the best in them, but the bad people
began to reveal residue of goodness few
Of these later went to Mr.. Gandhi, confessed to
their participation in violence, gave UP their
weapons, and renounced any further associa-
tion with terrorism. About noon on Septem-
bsr 4, after "a hours Of comparative quiet, 4
group Of 40 or so such characters went to Mr..
Gandhi and not only pledged their nonpartici-
patton in violence, but offered their guarantee
against its return there. On the afternoon of
the same day Mr.. Gandhi broke his 73-hour
fast to the profound relief of good men every
where. Calcutta has since remained quiet.
On September 7, when Mr.. Gandhi, frail and
fast-marked, left Calcutta for Delhi and the
Punjab, thousands OF HinduS, Moslems and
others gathered with grateful hearts and tear
filled eyes to bid him good-by. Many Of them
had taken the VOW unto death to maintain the
communal harmony which he had re-estab-
lished. In temples, mosques and churches
prayers were said and on the previous day
thousands had participated in 4 day-long fast.
Bidding the people farewell he enjoined them
to continue the effort for peace even at the
cost Of their lives and to demonstrate that the
present calm was based upon true friendship
and love- The soldering and discipline, he
said, required by one whose only weapon was
love was infinitely greater than that required
when one is under the constraint Of the sword
from without. Love evoked an order from
within. The sword which imposed peace by
force only deepened division.
An Example of the Spiritual Approach.
Calcutta, victim of riots and famine will
now stand long as a testimony to the trans
forming power OF Mahatma Gandhi's spiritual
approach to human strife Whatever may be
his own questioning concerning the effective
ness Of the nonviolent approach, the people Of
Calcutta concur in the tribute expressed by
1.-THE Amrita Bazar Patrika," one Of the citys
dailies that In spite of his age he still possesses
the power ito consume the basest passions Of
human nature and transform them into the
noblest sentiments of love-"