IV
I have to enter on some personal details in my own life, in order to make my own position absolutely clear. I had felt, with an ever-growing conviction, since I came out to India and was brought under the influence of Indian religious thought, the need of following quite literally Christ’s words concerning non-violence, and about loving even one’s enemies. During the later years, this inner conviction was put to the hardest test of all, because I had to determine whether I would take up arms in defence of my own country. After long months of doubt and questioning, I decided that, even though my own home in England were attacked, I must not defend it by any act of counter violence. It was this inner conviction in my own life,—a conviction, which has now become to me the very soul and centre of religion, —that prevented me from regarding with approval the attempted armed revolution-
