Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/289

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one's birth. Similarly we have to get; justice ab the bands of Government by Buffering hardships. We must) suffer hardships like brave men. What I have to say is, resort} to the right means, aud that very firmly, in order to remove the distress through which the Gujarat people are passing. It is my conviction thai, if we tell the truth to the British Government, it oan ultimately be convinced, and if only we are firm in our resolve, rest assured that Kaira people shall suffer wrongs no more, (Loud cheers).

��THE VOW OF PASSIVE RESISTANCE

As a result of the persistent refusal of Government to' recognize the serious state of affairs in Kaira and grant a suspension of revenue, a passive resistance movement was inaugurated under Mr. Gandhi's lead. At the meeting on the 22nd March, 191 8> at Nadiad, Mr. Gandhi exhorted the ryots to resort to Satyagraha, and over 300 men sign- ed the following declaration :

Knowing that the crops of our villages are less than four annas we had requested the Government to suspend the revenue collection till the ensuimg year. As however Government has not acceded to our prayer, we, the under- signed, hereby solemnly declare that we shall nob pay the full or remaining revenue, bub we will *& the Government take such legal steps as they may think fit to collect the same and we sh*ll gladly suffer all the consequences of our refusal to pay. We shall allow oar lands to be confiscated, but we shall not 1 , of our own accord, pay anything and thereby losa our self-respect

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