194 THB OHAMPARAN ENQUIRY
knowledge ' and this I shall continue to satisfy BO long as I am left free.
Mr. Gandhi appeared before the Magistrate on the 18th instant and read the following statement before the Oourt :
With the permission of fche Oourb I would like to make a brief statement showing why have taken the very serious step of seemingly disobeying tha order made under 8, 144 of bh Gc P, la my humble opinion ib is a question of difference of opinion between the looal administration and myself, I have entered the country with motives of rendering humanitarian and national service, I have done so in response to a* pressing invitation to coma and help the ryots, who urge they are not being fairly treated by the indigo planter, I oould nob render any help without studying the problem. I have, there- fore, come to study it with the assistance, if possible, of the administration and the planters, I have no obher motive and 1 cannot believe that my coming here can in any way disturb public peace or cause loss of life. I claim to have considerable experience in such matters. The administration however, have thought differently. I fully appreciate their difficulty, aad I admit too, that they can only proceed upon the information they receive, As a law-abiding oit>iz3n, my first instinct would be as it was, to obey the order served upon me. I oould not do so without doing violence to my sense of duty bo those for whom I came I feel that I could just now serve them only by remaining in their midst. I oould nob, therefore, voluntarily retire. Amid this oonflob of duty I oould only throw the responsibility of removing me from them on the administration. I am fully conscious t* f.ha faoh that a person* holding in the publio life of
�� �
