LAWYERS AND NON-CO-OPERATION

I have suggested another difficult matter, viz., that the lawyers should suspend their practice.  How should I do otherwise knowing so well how the Government had always been able to retain this power through the instrumentality of lawyers.  It is perfectly true that it is the lawyers of to-day who are leading us, who are fighting the country’s battles, but when it comes to a matter of action against the Government, when it comes to a matter of paralysing the activity of the Government I know that the Government always look to the lawyers, however fine fighters they may have been to preserve their dignity and their self-respect.  I therefore suggest to my lawyer friends that it is their duty to suspend their practice and to show to the Government that they will no longer retain their offices, because lawyers are considered to be honorary officers of the courts and therefore subject to their disciplinary jurisdiction.  They must no longer retain these honorary offices if they want to withdraw on operation from Government.  But what will happen to law and order?  We shall evolve law and order through the instrumentality of these very lawyers.  We shall promote arbitration courts and dispense justice, pure, simple home-made justice, swadeshi justice to our countrymen.  That is what suspension of practice means.

PARENTS AND NON-CO-OPERATION

I have suggested yet another difficulty—­to withdraw our children from the Government schools and to ask collegiate students to withdraw from the College and to empty Government aided schools.  How could I do otherwise?  I want to gauge the national sentiment.  I want to know whether the Mahomodans feel deeply.  If they feel deeply they will understand in the twinkling of an eye, that it is not right for them to receive schooling from a Government in which they have lost all faith; and which they do not trust at all.  How can I, if I do not want to help this Government, receive any help from that Government.  I think that the schools and colleges are factories for making clerks and Government servants.  I would not help this great factory for manufacturing clerks and servants if I want to withdraw co-operation from that Government.  Look at it from any point of view you like.  It is not possible for you to send your children to the schools and still believe in the doctrine of non-co-operation.

THE DUTY OF TITLE HOLDERS

I have gone further.  I have suggested that our title holders should give up their titles.  How can they hold on to the titles and honour bestowed by the Government?  They were at one time badges of honours when we believed that national honour was safe in their hands.  But now they are no longer badges of honour but badges of dishonour and disgrace when we really believe that we cannot get justice