He replied: "I do not think it is of very great value but it will help and of course I am in favor of everything that tends to bring people closer together but religion is one thing in the East and another thing in the West, and I do not see just how you are going to make religion function in this larger way." I then told him how much we wanted his cooperation and help in our undertaking and I asked him if he thought the effort to bring together the religions of the world was of as much of value as we considered it. I have not had time yet to read more than a little of it but I know all about the meeting that was held in Geneva." The book you sent me I am sure will prove of value. I am very much interested in what you are trying to do. Noticing my hesitation, he looked up at me and said: "Do not hesitate to ask me any question that you want. I already knew what he would say to most questions that could be asked and yet I wanted his opinion. Any question put to him must seem trivial and insignificant. For the first time in meeting individuals I found myself at a serious disadvantage. The remembrance of his weakness in person, of the scornful things I had heard said of him seemed doubly cruel in the presence of the man himself. I myself admit I felt a bit out of place and a little uncomfortable as I thought of this little man before me who has suffered so much, who has given up so much, who is constantly denying himself, who has one ideal before him and that is to better the lot of suffering humanity. There were eight or ten people in this room some sitting, others standing, all of them gazing upon him almost with an air of worship. This wheel is the symbol of our task but do not let it interfere now with our conversation." I am trying to work out the destiny of a whole people. Motioning to his spinning wheel he said: "I must spin. He thanked me and said he was always glad to get personal remembrance from those friends scattered throughout the world. I told him that I brought greetings from Mr. He wears large glasses his front teeth are gone his hair is cropped close with just a little left on the back his eyes are piercing and there is a friendliness about him that at once makes you feel friendly disposed toward him. As he looked up at me and held out his hand I had the impression of peering into the face of one of the kindliest souls I have ever met. He was sitting flat on the floor, his legs crossed under him, busily turning the spinning wheel. He was practically naked, having on nothing except a loin cloth, but as it was rather chilly he had a length of rough cloth thrown about his shoulders. He is a little man, I should think not much over five feet six or seven inches in height, and does not weigh much more than a hundred pounds. I entered the room and was in the presence of Mahatma Gandhi. Atkinson, I have been expecting you all day." Just as he stepped inside the room a voice called out: "Come in, Mr. I stepped up on to the verandah and the young man told me to wait a minute and he would see. We passed through the grounds and around by a lower path until we came to a low, one-story building with a wide verandah. He said to me: "Come this way." Apparently there are so many people visiting Gandhi that his associates rather resent the intrusion. Andrews, had written to him, and that although I had not received any reply I was quite sure he was prepared to receive me. I told him I had written from Bombay and that several friends, including Dr. I arrived at The Ashram a little before four o'clock, was met at the gate by a young man who immediately asked me if I had an appointment with Mr. This name has been changed to Udyoga Mandir, which means a place where one learns to serve and think. The name, The Ashram means place of retirement. Subbiak, took me all over the grounds and into all the buildings connected with Gandhi's school and institution. Gandhi and had over an hour's conversation with him, after which his secretary, Mr. Tuesday, January 15, 1929Īfter luncheon I went to Sabarmati and visited The Ashram where I met Mr. But he was also politely skeptical of the idea that a conference of the world's religious leaders would bring about any real change. Gandhi was very welcoming, gracious, and forthcoming, giving him an exceptionally long interview, despite all the demands on his time. In this fascinating excerpt he records the afternoon he spent with Mahatma Gandhi, including a tour of The Ashram. His purpose was to learn about Eastern religions, to meet as many religious leaders as possible, and to enlist them to join together to help create a lasting peace after the cataclysm of World War I.Ītkinson kept a travel diary that he titled, "Notes by the Way ," which is stored in the Carnegie Council archives. Henry Atkinson, president of the Church Peace Union (now Carnegie Council), embarked on a trip through Asia which lasted over five months.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |