Evening star., 1947-09-05
| Next Fast Unto Death,
! Gandhi Warns al End
OF 73-Hour Ordeal
BY the Assoeioted Press

/
CALCUTTA, India. Sept. Mo-
handas K. Gandhi has warned the
warning communal factions In India
and Pakistan that his next fast will
'be unto death"
He ended a 73-hour fast last
night, started in protest against an
outburst of Moslem- Hindu violence
In Calcutta, amid indications that
comparative quiet was prevailing In
most sections of the two new do
minions, except in the partitioned
Punjab.
Mr.. Gandhi, who is regarded vir-.
tually as a saint by Hindus, broke
his fast with a glass of sweet lime
Juice after conference with Chak-
ravarthi Rajagopalachari, governor
general. and p. c. Ghosh, premier
of West Bengal; J. A. Kripalani,
Congress Party president, and H. s.
Suhrawardy, former Moslem pre-
mier Of Bengal, with whom Gandhi
is living as demonstration Of
Moslem- Hindu amity.
THE Mahatna has broken his
fast under strict conditions" Mr..
Suhrawardy announced after the
conference. He has held important
leaders in Calcutta responsible for
peace in their areas"
The communal leader responsible
for the next "untoward" incident,
Mr.. Gandhi declared, must be the
first to Jump into the fire"
Violence Laid to Hoodlums.
The men who conferred with Mr..
Gandhi informed him, they said,
that it was their honest convic.
ton" that Mondays outbursts in
Calcutta were not Of a communal
nature, but "the mischief of cer-
tain interested hoodlums and out
siders."
Onicials said Calcutta had been
quiet since Wednesday night. There
were scattered outbursts OF violence
yesterday in Bombay, New Delhi and
Karachi, but the situation was de-
scribed as for the most part quiet.
In the bloody Punjab, however,
tales of almost unbelievable butchery
were reported and officials Of both
India and Pakistan, fearful of worse
to come, undertook joint action to
restore order in the rich, divided
province where virtual anarchy
reigns.
The awful stories OF bloodshed,
butchery and arson which have
come from the Puniab have been
blamed by officials for the renewed
outbursts this week in other regions
of India and Pakistan.
Mr.. Gandhi's plans to 60 to the
Punjab were postponed because Of
the Calcutta outburst and his fast,
with Mr.. Gandhi commenting:
AN urgent summons has called
me to Punjab. But since the Cal
cutta bubble seems burst, with what
face can I 60 to Punjab?"
After the fast ended, however,
his personal physician, DR.. D. K.
Mehta, said "Gandhi desired to
start his journey to Punjab Friday
morning but has been persuaded to
tarry until there is an improve
ment in his health"
Gandhi Feeling Weak.
This morning, the doctor said,
Mr.. Gandhi had sone orange juice
and vegetable soup and although,
he was feeling weak and rundown
there were no complications" from
the fast. DR.. Mehta said he would
be required to avoid strain for two
more days.
S. Chatterjee, a public relations
officer for Mr.. Gandhi, disclosed
that among the messages received
during the fast was one from King
George VI, who expressed prayers
of success for Gandhi's mission and
inquired for his health"
Within half an hour after the
fast ended about q dozen OF the
alleged 'hoodlums" from both Hindu
and Moslem communities approach
ed Gandhi with large bundles which
they placed near his feet and begged
his pardon for past sins. They swore
to lead a good life in the future.
A police inspector who examined
the bundles said they contained q
dozen hand grenades of American
manufacture and a Stem gun with
ammunition. The gun, he said
bears marks of frequent use and
surely killed many innocents in
H communal riots"