GHANDI IN PRISON

Southland Times, Issue 18968, 15 June 1923, Page 15

GHANDI IN PRISON

RUMOURS INDIGNANTLY DENIED NOT SUFFERING FROM MELANCHOLIA In the course of a lengthy statement in 9pril to the Indian Press, Mr Shankarlal Banker who was a prisoner with Mr Gandhi in Yerovada Gaol, states that they were kindly and courteously treated by the prison authorities, and given the food they asked for. The doors of their cells were left open, and they were allowed an unlimited supply of books from outside. Later they were both allowed lights and bedsteads, and recently Mr Gandhi had been allowed a mosquito curtain. They had all the clothes and bedding they needed, and were allowed to do handspinning on their wheels as a voluntary occupation. Mr Gandhi was keeping in good health, and had been hurt at hearing the rumour that he was suffering from melancholia. The Mahatma had told him if he ever felt ill it would not be because of any lack of attention on the part o: the prison authorities, but because of his own carelessness or some inherent weakness in his constitution or because of climatic conditions. Mr Banker adds that Mr Gandhi is taking ail reasonable care of his health. Mr Banker refers, with regret, to the dark side of prison life, and says that while animal comforts are looked after Gandhi is mentally starved. The unnecessary isolation imposed upon him is severely felt by him, and he regards it as an additional punishment. Mr Banker complains that political prisoners are not allowed to use the newspapers or magazines giving political news or opinions. Just before his discharge the Government, in the course of a letter, stated that Mr Gandhi’s interview with Messrs Das, Nehru and Almal Khan had not been granted in the public interest, and that if Mr Gandhi wanted specially to see anybody he must submit the name to the Superintendent. Mr Gandhi does not want any agitation for any special concessions. He is fighting for what Le considers to be the rights of prisoners. He jolds that civil resisters when they gc to prison are like prisoners of war, and they may and should fight for their rights in a becoming manner. Whatever way the Government treats them makes no difference to the attitude of civil resisters, who ht.ve to bear their lot cheerfully in prison. Mr Banker refers to the alleged flogging of MulshiPeta prisoners in gaol, and says that Mr Gandhi feels that no man should be armed with such wide powers as are vested in the Superintendent of the gaol. He says he understands that some Mulsh’ Peta prisoners gave unnecessary trouble.

Concluding Mr Banker observes: —“I have no message from Gandn. either private or public, but I can say that Lis viewhave undergone no change. He swears by non-violence, the charka Hindu-Moslem unity, and the removal of untouchability. He spins regularly every day for four hours. He reads largely religious books. He has read the “Koran,” and is reading the Bible. He devotes one hour every day to the study of Urdu. He rises early in the morning, and begins the day with Ashram prayer and ends it similarly. He is firmly convinced that the salvation of India is impossible unless hand-spinning becomes universal, for without that industry it is impossible to get rid of the growing pauperism of the millions of this land, and without getting rid of that, India cannot regain or discover her soul.”