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Reminiscences
Of Gandhi
Four Anecdotes
- Jack C. Winslow
One characteristic incident of that visit remains
with me. Charlie and- I had left Bapu lying on the verandah, and Charlie was
telling me about an article he had just written for the Manchester Guardian
about the satyagraha movement then in progress in Travancore. In glowing terms
he had described how all eyes were now concentrated on this wonderful movement
and no one was interested any longer in the proposed Government reforms. "I'll
just go and show it to Bapu," said' Charlie, "before I send it off." Presently
he returned, thoroughly crest- fallen. "What did Bapu think of it?" I asked.
"Oh," said Charlie, "Bapu said: Charlie, it's what you'd like to be true; but it
isn't true!" With all Bapu's idea's went a strong strain of realism, which
Charlie Andrews sometimes, lacked.
During the fast which Bapu undertook for the alteration of the 'Communal Award'
for the Harijans, I went to see him in the prison at Yeravda. He was lying on a
cot in the open court under a tree; and, as I approach- ed, I struck my head on
an overhanging bough.
A few days later, I went again to see him; and, as I approached, Bapu lifted a
warning hand and said: "Mind the branch!" 'With visitors coming all day, it was
amazing that he could remember so trivial a matter concerning one unimportant
person!
When landing from the steamer on his way, to London for the Round Table
Conference, he was approached by a newspaperman desiring an interview. The
latter, in the course of conversation, commented playfully on the scantiness of
his attire in view of the rigours of the English climate. "It seems to me,"
replied the Mahatma with a smile, "that your plus fours are quite as amusing as
my minus fours."
While at Oxford, Bapu was invited by the Master of Balliol to speak to a number
of Oxford dons at his college. At the end of his address an opportunity for
questions was given. A young don, slightly swollen-headed through having
recently been made a Fellow of All Souls, commented a little scornfully that he
could not under- stand how Mr. Gandhi could possibly reconcile two particular
statements which he had made. Bapu smiled at him and replied in the politest
manner, "If you cannot understand, I will take you step by step,"-a remark which
the entire company. greeted with delighted laughter.
Lynton, 26-9-1948.
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