Page:Gandhi and Saklatvala - Is India different.pdf/28

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Economics of Khaddar

Lastfy about labour in the cities. Let there be no mis understanding. I am not opposed to organisation of labour, but as in everything else, I want its organisation along Indian lines, or if you will, my lines. I am doing it. The Indian labourer knows it instinctively. I do not regard capital as the enemy of labour. I hold their co-ordination to be perfectly possible. The organisation of labour that I undertook in South Africa, Champaran or Ahmedabad was in no spirit of hostility to the capitalists. The resistance in each case and to the extent it was thought necessary was wholly successful. My ideal is equal distribution, but so far as I can see it is not to be realised. I therefore work for equitable distribution. This I seek to attain through Khaddar. And since its attainment must sterilise British exploitation at its centre, it is calculated to purify the British connection. Hence in that sense Khaddar leads to Swaraj.

The Mahatma I must leave to his fate. Though a non- co-operator I shall gladly subscribe to a Bill to make it criminal for anybody to call me Mahatma and to touch my feet. Where I can impose the law myself, i.e., at the Ashram, the practice is criminal.


GANDHI ON TRADE UNION ORGANISATION

{{This letter from Gandhi arises out of several letters by Saklatvala about labour conditions in Ahmedabad, where Gandhi leads the local Labour movement and is keeping it outside the Indian T.U.C.}}

NANDI HILLS, May 1oth.

Dear Friend,

Shrimati Anasuyabai has sent me your letter to herself and your joint letter to her, Gulzarilal and Desai. I have read them both carefully. I had your own letter also. I could not reply to you earlier for want of your address.

As soon as I heard from Anasuyabai I put myself in com munication with Motilalji. I am daily expecting his reply You shall know it as soon as I receive it. I thank you for the confidence you repose in me, and it will be a joy to me if I can render any personal service to you ; but I am afraid my longing and ability to render service have to stop there.

So far as our ideals are concerned we stand apart. Whilst

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