CHAPTER XXXVII

THE AMRITSAR CONGRESS
HE Punjab Government could not
1 keep in confinement hundreds of Punjabis, who, under the martial law regime, had been clapped into jail on the strength of the most meagre evidence by tribunals that were courts only in name. There was such an outcry all round against this flagrant piece of injustice, that their further incarceration became impossible. Most of the prisoners were released before the Congress opened. Lala Harkishanlal and the other leaders were all released, while the session of the Congress was still in progress. The Ali Brothers too arrived there straight from
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541
their jail. The people’s joy knew no bounds. Pandit Motilal Nehru, who, at the sacrifice of his splendid practice, had made the Punjab his headquarters, and had done great service, was the President of the Congress; the late Swami Shraddhanandji was the Chairman of the Reception Committee.
Up to this time my share in the annual proceedings of the Congress was confined only to the constructive advocacy of Hindi by making my speech in the national language, and to presenting in that speech the case of the Indians overseas. Nor did I expect to be called upon to do anything more this year. But as had happened on many a previous occasion, responsible work came to me all of a sudden.
The King’s announcement on the new reforms had just been issued. It was not wholly satisfactory even to me, and was unsatisfactory to every one else. But I felt at that time, that the reforms though defective could still be accepted.
542 MY EXPERIMENTS WITH TRUTH
I felt in the King’s announcement and its language the hand of Lord Sinha, and it lent a ray of hope. But experienced stalwarts like the late Lokamanya and Deshabandhu Chittaranjan Das shook their heads. Pandit Malaviyaji was neutral.
Pandit Malaviyaji had harboured me in his own room. I had a glimpse of the simplicity of his life on the occasion of the foundation ceremony of the Hindu University, but on this occasion, being in the same room with him I was able to observe his daily routine in the closest detail, and what I saw filled me with joyful surprise. His room presented the appearance of a free inn for all the poor. You could hardly cross from one end to the other. It was so crowded. It was accessible at all odd hours to chance visitors who had the licence to take as much of his time as they liked. In a corner of this crib lay my charpai 1 in all its dignity.
1 A light Indian bedstead.
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But I may not occupy this chapter with a description of Malaviyaji’s mode of living, and must return to my subject.
I was thus enabled to hold daily discussions with Malaviyaji who used lovingly to explain to me, like an elder brother, the various viewpoints of the different parties. I saw, that my participation in deliberations on the resolution on the reforms was inevitable. Having had my share of responsibility in the drawing up of the Congress report on the Punjab wrongs, I felt that all that still remained to be done in that con¬ nection must claim my attention. There had to be dealings with Government in that matter. Then similarly there was the Khilafat question. I further believed at that time, that Mr. Montagu would not betray or allow India’s cause to be betrayed. The release of the Ali Brothers and other prisoners too seemed to me to be an auspicious sign. In these circumstances I felt, that a resolution not rejecting but accepting
544 MY EXPERIMENTS WITH TRUTH
the reforms was the correct thing. Deshabandhu Chittaranjan Das on the other hand held firmly to the view, that the reforms ought to be rejected as wholly inadequate and unsatisfactary. The late Lokamanya was more or less neutral, but had decided to throw in his weight on the side of any resolution that the Deshabandhu might approve.
The idea of having to differ from such seasoned, well-tried and universally revered leaders was unbearable to me. But on the other hand the voice of conscience was clear. I tried to run away from the Congress, and suggested to Pandit Malaviyaji and Motilalji, that it would be in the general interest if I absented myself from the Congress for the rest of the session. It would save me from having to make an exhibi¬ tion of my difference with such esteemed leaders.
But my suggestion found no favour with these two seniors. The news of my proposal was somehow whispered to
THE AMRITSAR CONGRESS 545
Lala Harkishanlal. 1 This will never da. It will very much hurt the feelings of the Punjabis,’ he said. I discussed the matter with Lokamanya, Deshabandhu and Mr. Jinnah, but no way out could be found. Finally I laid bare my distress to Malaviyaji. ‘ I see no prospect of a compromise,’ I told him, ‘ and if I am to move my resolution, a division will have to be called and votes taken. But I do not find here any arrangements for it. The practice in the open session of the Congress so far has been to take votes by a show of hands with the result, that all distinction between visitors and delegates is lost, while as for taking a count of votes in such vast assemblies, we have no means at all. So it comes to this, that even if I want to call a division there will be no facility for it, nor meaning in it.’ But Lala Harkishanlal came to the rescue and undertook to make the necessary arrangements. ‘ We will not,’ he said, ‘ permit visitors in the Congress pandal on the day on which
546 MY EXPERIMENTS WITH TRUTH
voting is to take place. And as for taking the count, well, I shall see to that. But you must not absent yourself from the Congress.’
I capitulated; I framed my resolution,
and in heart trembling undertook
to move it. Pandit Malaviyaji and Mr. Jinnah were to support it. I could notice, that although our difference of opinion was free from any trace of bitterness, and although our speeches too contained nothing but cold reasoning, the people could not stand the very fact of a difference; it pained them. They wanted unanimity.
Even while speeches were being
delivered, efforts to settle the difference
were being made on the platform, and notes were being freely exchanged among the leaders for that purpose. Malaviyaji was leaving no stone unturned to bridge the gulf. Just then Jeramdas handed over his amendment to me, and pleaded in his own sweet manner to save the delegates from the dilemma of a division.
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His amendment appealed to me.
Malaviyaji’s eye was already scanning every quarter for a ray of hope. I told him, that Jeramdas’s amendment seemed to me to be likely to be acceptable to both the parties. The Lokamanya to whom it was next shown said, 4 If