Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/335

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remarks I may make. But, claiming as I do to be one of Mr. Gokhale's disciples, you will forgive me if I say a few words which are personal tit-bits. It was on board the Gronprinz some years ago that I found myself in the master's company together with a common friend, Mr* Kallenbach, a German. (Laughter.) Let me say that all Germans are not fiends ; nor are all German soldiers fiends. Mr. Kallenbach is a German and a soldier, but I feel that no purer-minded person to-day walks the earth in Europe than Mr Kallenbach (Hear, hear.) He was accepted as a worthy companion by Mr. Gokhale, who used to play with him the game of coits. Mr. Gokhale had just then, during the voyage from England to Capetown, picked up that game, and he very nearly gave Mr. Kallenbach a beating in the game. (Laughter)* I fancy that was a drawn game between them ; and, let me add, Mr. Kallenbach, so far as I am aware, is one of the cleverest players of coits m South Africa. Just after that we had our meals at which Mr. Gokhale was talking to me with re- ference to the result of the game. He thought I never indulged in such sports and that I was against them. He expostulated with me in kind words and said, "Do you know why I want to enter into such competition with Europeans ? I certainly want to do at least as much as they can do, for the sake of our country. (Hear, hear.) It is said, rightly or wrongly, that we are inferior people in many matters, and so far as I can do it" and this he said in all humility l( l certainly want to show that we are at least their equals, if not their superiors." That was one incident. On board the same steamer we were engaged in a hot discussion in connection with our dear motherland, and he was mapping out *for

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