द इण्डियन स्ट्रगल / भारतीय स्वाधीनता संग्राम (नेताजी सुभाष चन्द्र बोस - ऐतिहासिक विश्लेषण)

MAHATMA GANDHI IN EUROPE 259
It has been already remarked that the last hope of a settle-
ment faded away when the Conservatives were returned to
power. Their estimate of the Indian situation as also of the
India leader, was quite different from that of the Labourites.
His goodness, his frankness, his fairness, his humble ways,
his profound consideration for his opponents—not only did
not impress John Bull, but was construed as weakness. His
habit of putting all his cards on the table was all right for
India and the Indians, but damaged his prestige among
British politicians. His proneness to confess his ignorance on
intricate questions of finance or law would have been all
right in the company of truth-seeking philosophers, but
lowered him in the estimation of the British public who
were accustomed to see their leaders looking more wise than
they really were. His repeated offer of wholehearted co-
operation at the Round Table Conference had a most tragic
effect and made them think—‘Gandhi is on his last legs.’
What impression could such a statement make on a veteran
politician in England? ‘I shall be here as long as I am
required, because I do not want to revive civil disobedience.
I want to turn the truce that was arrived at at Delhi into a
permanent settlement. But for heaven’s sake give me, a frail
man sixty-two years gone, a little bit of a chance. Find a little
corner¹ for him and the organisation that he represents.’²
If on the contrary, the Mahatma had spoken in the language
of Dictator Stalin, or Il Duce Mussolini or Fuehrer Hitler
—John Bull would have understood and would have bowed
his head in respect. As it was, the Conservative politicians
began to think: ‘Is this frail man in loin-cloth so formidable
that the powerful British Government should yield to him?
India was being ruled by a man who was fit to be a bishop
and so we had so much trouble. If only we had a strong man
at Delhi and at the India Office—everything would be all
right.’ This is how the Indian situation was summed up
after the General Election of October 1931. And all his
propaganda among Church dignitaries, professors and cranks
¹ It is to be regretted that they cornered him successfully.
² The Mahatma’s speech at the plenary session of the Round Table
Conference on November 30th, 1931.