The Danish Peace Academy
GANDHI AND NORDIC COUNTRIES
Collected by E. S. Reddy - EReddy@aol.com and Holger TerpLetter, March 17, 1922121
Sabarmati Jail,
March 17, 1922
My dear child,
Well, I hope you were all happy over the news of my arrest.122 It has given me great joy, because it came just when I had purified myself by the Bardoli penance123 and was merely concentrating upon no experiment but the proud work of khaddar124 manufacture, i.e., hand-spinning.125 I would like you to see the truth of the spinning-wheel. It and it alone is the visible outward expression of the inner feeling for humanity. If we feel for the starving masses of India, we must introduce the spinning-wheel into their homes. We must, therefore, become experts and, in order to make them realize the necessity of it, we must spin daily as a sacrament. If you have understood the secret of the spinning-wheel, if you realize that it is a symbol of love of mankind, you will engage in no other outward activity. If many people do not follow you, you have more leisure for spinning, carding or weaving.
With love to you all,
Bapu
Source:Speeches and Writings of M. K. Gandhi, page 747; Collected Works, Volume 23, page 99
121 Speeches and Writings of M. K. Gandhi (published by G.A. Natesan and Co., Madras), the source of this letter, does not indicate the name of the addressee. It appears to be written to Mrs. Esther Menon whom Gandhi used to address as “My dear child.”
122 Gandhi was arrested on March 10, and was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment on a charge of sedition. He was, however, released on February 5, 1924, because of health reasons.
123 Earlier, in Bardoli, Gandhi learnt of violence by the people of Chauri Chaura during civil disobedience and suspended the movement. He then fasted in penance from February 12 to 17.
124 handspun and hand-woven cloth
125 On February 12, the Working Committee of the Indian National Congress decided to launch a “constructive programme” which included, as one of the main activities, hand-spinning and manufacture of khaddar (hand-spun and hand-woven cloth) as a means to counter massive unemployment, underemployment and poverty in the country.
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