In London in minus four by Louis Fischer (Questions and Answers)

By Priyabrata Mishra -

IN LONDON IN MINUS FOURS

 Louis Fischer

Introducing the author


Louis Fischer (1896–1970) is an outstanding American writer, columnist, and analyst of world affairs. He occupies a unique place among Gandhiji’sadmirers in the West. He has closely studied the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi in his book life of Mahatma Gandhi (1950). 


Unit I
Warm-Up


Do you know that the Second Round Table Conference in London is an important landmark in the history of Indian freedom movement? It was held in London from7 September 1931 to 1 December 1931. Note that "In London in Minus Fours" forms a chapter in The Life of Mahatma Gandhi. In this essay, the author portrays the character of Gandhiji more as a humane human being than as a politician. Read the following unit of the text and note how the author relates Gandhiji'sarrival and stay at London as India's emissary to the Second Round TableConference:


The Text 


Gandhi sailed from Bombay on the S.S. Rajputana at noon on August 29,1931, accompanied by his youngest son, Devadas, his chief secretary, Mahadev Desai, who, he said, "out-Boswelled Boswell," Miss Slade, Pyarelal Nayyar, an aide, G.D. Birla, the textile millionaire, Pandit Malaviya, and Mrs. Naidu. Gandhi was proceeding as sole delegate of Congress to the Second Round table conference in London. No other delegates were necessary since he spoke for the organization and for a considerable segment of vocal India.


36 In London from September 12th to December 5th, he stayed, most of the time, at Kingsley Hall, an East Settlement House, as guest of Muriel Lester, who had visited him in 1926. Mornings he took walks through the nearby slum areas, and men and women on the way to work would smile at him and he engaged them in conversation and later came to their homes. Children called him "Uncle Gandhi" and sidled up to him and held his hand. One mischief -loving youngster called out,"Hey, Gandhi, where's your trousers"? The Mahatma had a good laugh.GlossaryS.S. Rajputana Steam Ship Rajputanaout-Boswelled Boswell Mahadev Desai seemed to outshine Boswell in the art of keeping diaries aide assistant segment section segment of vocal India large section of people who spoke in India's interest slum an urban area heavily populated by the poolside walk in a shy or nervous way. 


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Think it out


1. Why was Gandhi chosen as the sole delegate of Congress to the second round Table Conference?

  Ans. Gandhi was chosen as the sole delegate of congress to the second round table conference because he was the real spokesman of the organization. He also represented the vast majority of Indians who loudly spoke in India’s interest.

2. How did Gandhi befriend the men and women of the slum areas of London?

Ans. During his stay at Kinsley hall in London. Gandhi used to go on his morning walks. In the course of his morning walk, he was going through the nearby sum areas. On the way, he met many men and women who were going to work .they were drawn towards him. They smiled at him. He drew them into the conversation. A loving relation developed between them. Gandhi used to go to their homes and ultimately made friends with them.

Unit II


Warm-Up 


Do you know Gandhiji was humble in dress and simple in manners? Read the following unit of the text and note how Gandhiji was simple in his dress and had a unique approach to his goal of complete freedom for India:


The Text 


He was a wonderful newspaper copy, and journalists buzzed around him incessantly. One reporter questioned Gandhi about his dress. "You people," he replied, "wear plus-fours, mine are minus-fours." When he was invited to tea in Buckingham Palace with King George V and Queen Mary, all England was agog over what he would wear. He wore the usual loincloth, sandals, a shawl, and his dangling dollar watch. Subsequently, someone asked Gandhi whether he had enough on. "The King," he replied, " had enough on for both of us." He enjoyed himself everywhere. He had talks with Lord Irwin, wartime Prime Minister David Lloyd George, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Field MarshalSmuts, Bernard Shaw, and scores of others, and went down into the country near Reading to pay his respects to Colonel Maddock who had performed the appendectomy on him in Poona jail. Winston Churchill refused to see him. He also addressed innumerable public meetings and spent two memorable weekends at Oxford. In these and in the private conversations he tried, above all else, to explain what he meant by the independence of India. He would cut India off " from the Empire entirely, from the British nation not at all, if I want India to, gain and not to grieve. The Emperorship must go and I should love to be an equal partner with Britain sharing her joys and sorrows and an equal partner with the dominions. But it must be a partnership on equal terms." He was describing precisely and with remarkable precision, the status free India assumed in the commonwealth in 1948. He went even further; he saw what many of his followers have not yet discerned. "Isolated independence is not the goal," he asserted. "It is voluntary interdependence. Liberated colonies so treasure their newfound independence; they think it is a viable reality. But the law of nature in love, friendship, work, progress, and security, is creative interdependence.


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Think it out


1. What was Gandhi's reply to the journalists' question about his dress?

Ans. When One reporter questioned Gandhi about his dress. "You people," he replied, "wear plus-fours, mine are minus-fours." 

2. How was Gandhi dressed when he went to see King George V?

Ans.  When Gandhi went to see King George V, he was dressed in his usual loincloth, sandals, a shawl and his dangling dollar watch.


3. What did Gandhi say in reply to the question of whether he had enough on during his meeting with the King?

Ans. During Gandhi’s meeting with King George v, someone asked him if he had enough on. Gandhi replied that the king had enough on for both for them.

4. How did Gandhi enjoy himself in London? 

Ans.In London Gandhi enjoyed himself everywhere in the company of the most dignified personalities of England. Among them were Lord Irwin, wartime prime minister David Lloyd George, the archbishop of Canterbury .field marshal smutd, bernard Shaw, and the like. Winston Churchill denied to meet him. He addressed many public meetings.


5. What was Gandhi's idea of Free India as a dominion in the Commonwealth? 

Ans.    Gandhi’s idea of free India as a dominion in the commonwealth was unique. He clearly but forcefully stated his stand on free India. The British emperor must leave India.he would love to be an equal partner with the dominions. he would like to have a partnership based on equal terms. He would not want to hurt England, but to share her joys and suffering. 


6. What did Gandhi mean by 'creative interdependence' of the member nations of the Commonwealth?

Ans.    Mutual help among the member nations of the commonwealth, Gandhi said was to need of the hour. Gandhi would love to see these nations bound by the mystical bond of love, friendship, work, progress and security. To him ‘creative interdependence ‘meant a better life. 


UNIT III


Warm-Up 


Do you know Gandhiji was accessible to all? Did he confine himself to the Round Table Conference only? Read the following unit of the text and note how Gandhiji spent his time in London: 


The Text 


Everywhere he made friends by his charm, frankness, humanity, and accessibility. He even walked into the lion's den in Lancashire where his agitation for khadi and against foreign cloth had caused painful unemployment. At a meeting of the textile mill workers, one man said, "I am one of the unemployed, but if I was in India I would say the same thing that Mr. Gandhi is saying," A delightful photograph taken outside the Greenfield Mill at Darwen shows Gandhi wrapped in white homespun from neck to knee, for it was cold, and squeezed in among cheering, applauding women, one of whom, to his embarrassment, is holding his hand. He made friends even among those he hurt. "I found that my work lies outside the Conference," he told a London audience. 'This is the real Round Table Conference… The seed which is being sown now may result in softening the British spirit and in preventing the brutalization of human beings." Mahadev Desai's diaries show that the Mahatma often got to bed at 2A.M., awoke at 3.45 A.M. for prayers, wrote letters and read papers, rested again from 5to 6, and had no respite from then till the next morning at 1 or 2 A.M. Small wonders that he occasionally slept at sessions of the Conference. He did not give it his best. The Round Table Conference was bound to fail. Lord Reading, a member of the British delegation, formulated the British purpose in one sentence: "I believe that the true policy between Britain and India is that we should in this country strive all we can to give effect to the views of India while preserving at the same time our own position, which we must not and cannot abandon. An irresistible force, India'syearning to be free, met an immovable object, Britain's wish to stay in India. That made agreement impossible. The British government had assigned two Scotland Yard detectives to guard Gandhi in England. They were special policemen, giants in size, who usually protected royalty. They grew to like 'the little man." Unlike most dignitaries, Gandhi did not keep them at arm's length or ignore them. He discussed public affairs with them and visited their homes. Before leaving England he requested that they be allowed to accompany him to Brindisi, Italy, whence he would sail for India. Their chief asked the reason why. "Because they are part of my family," Gandhi replied. From India, he sent each a watch engraved " With love from Mr. Gandhi.


Video in Odia



Think it out


1. Which qualities in Gandhi turned his opponents to friends?

  Ans. Gandhi believed in love and not hatred. He would not hurt the sentiments of his opponents.   He was full of warmth. He was extremely frank. He was a symbol of humanity. Everybody who came in contact with him felt his love for the world and paid him back with love. He had faith in himself. All these qualities in Gandhi turned his opponents to friends.

2. How did he make friends even among those he hurt?

Ans. He made friends even among those he hurt by maxing with them freely and lovingly.


3. What was Gandhi's work in London outside the Round Table Conference?

Ans.  Gandhi’s work in London outside the round table conference was very important. He aimed at softening the British attitude. He was trying his best to meet the people and preach the concept of love and faith among them. The government was treating human beings as beasts. He felt his meeting with the people outside the conference would sow the seeds of love and friendship for the future. It would help in changing the brutal British spirit in later years.


4. Why did the Second Round Table Conference fail to bring about an agreement?

Ans. The British government took a very tough stand in the second round table conference on India's demand for freedom. A member of British delegation clearly stated that Britain would never leave India while at the same time they would try their best to keenly understand India’s views.  The British policy was as clear as crystal. India’s eagerness to be free met with Britain’s stubborn wish to stay in the country therefore, the second round table conference failed to bring about an agreement.


5. How did Gandhi treat the Scotland Yard detectives? 

Ans. The British government provided two Scotland Yard detectives to guard Gandhi in England. Gandhi was very close to them. He was very free and frank with them and visited their homes. He treated them with warmth of love. He treated them as a part of his family. Gandhi sent each a watch from India and this revealed his deep personal love for two Scotland Yard detectives.

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