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

280 · THE INDIAN STRUGGLE
unique spectacle to see how the heart of the entire nation
throbbed for one man. All sections of the Hindus were
stirred to activity as they had never been before. The most
important result of the 'epic fast' was to give a powerful
impetus to the movement for the eradication of untouch-
ability. During the fast such a colossal amount of sympathy
had been generated not only for the Mahatma personally but
for the cause of the depressed classes as well, that it would
have been a great pity if that sympathy had not been harnessed
into permanent channels of activity through the organisation
of the All-India Anti-Untouchability League.
While the Mahatma's fast had a remarkable effect on his
countrymen, in the international sphere it did not prove to
be an unmixed blessing. It served to advertise to a dis-
proportionate degree the issue of the depressed classes.
Hitherto the world had known only one issue relating to India,
the political issue—India's grievance against England. Now
the leader of the Nationalist movement himself announced
to the world that there was another issue—the internal issue
—of such vital importance to India that he was prepared to
stake his life for it. And British propagandists were not slow
to take advantage of the opportunity. In September 1932,
the whole of Europe was told that the Mahatma was fasting
because he was against granting certain rights to the un-
touchables.¹ Ever since then the European public have been
constantly fed with stories that India is a land full of internal
dissensions where not only Hindus and Moslems, but Hindus
themselves are perpetually fighting with one another and only
the strong hand of Britain is able to maintain peace and order.
The fast had another unfortunate effect which proved to
be more serious. It served to side-track the political move-
ment at a time when all possible attention should have been
devoted to it. If with the termination of the fast the Mahatma
had handed over the anti-untouchability work to friends
outside, the effect of the fast would not have been so harmful.
But when the leader himself began to conduct the anti-
¹ In many countries in Europe the writer has heard this remark made
by people generally interested in Indian affairs. At first he did not realise
the significance of this remark—but later on he found out that in September
1932, this story had been told all over Europe.