I have therefore presented to you a weapon called the
bravery of suffering, otherwise called Non-co-operation.
It is a bravery which is open to the weakest among
the weak. It is open to women and children.
The power of suffering is the prerogative of nobody,
and if only 300 millions of Indians could show the
power of suffering in order to redress a grievous
wrong done to the nation or to its religion, I make
bold to say that, India will never require to draw
the sword. And unless we are able to show an
adequate measure of sacrifice we shall lose this battle.
No one need tell me that India has not got this power
of suffering. Every father and mother is witness
to what I am about to say, viz., that every father
and mother have shown in the domestic affairs matchless
power of suffering. And if we have only developed
national consciousness, if we have developed sufficient
regard for our religion, we shall have developed power
of suffering in the national and religious field.
Considered in these terms the first stage in Non-co-operation
is the simplest and the easiest state. If the
title-holders of India consider that India is suffering
from a grievous wrong both as regards the Punjab and
the Khilafat is it any suffering on their part to
renounce their titles to-day? What is the measure
of the suffering awaiting the lawyers who are called
upon to suspend practice when compared to the great
benefit which is in store for the nation? And
if thy parents of India will summon up courage to
sacrifice secular education, they will have given
their children the real education of a life-time.
For they will have learnt the value of religion and
national honour. And I ask you, the citizens
of Bezwada, to think well before you accept the loaves
and fishes in the form of Government offices set them
on one side and set national honour on the other and
make your service. What sacrifice is there involved
in the individual renouncing his candidature for legislative
councils. The councils are a tempting bait.
All kinds of arguments are being advanced in favour
of joining the councils. India will sacrifice
the opportunity of gaining her liberty if she touches
them. It passes comprehension how we, who have
known this Government, who have read the Viceregal
pronouncement, how we who have known their determination
not to give justice in the Punjab and the Khilafat
matters, can gain any benefit by co-operation, constructive
or obstructive, with this Government? But the
Nationalists, belonging to a great popular party,
tell us that if they do not contest these scats, the
moderates will get in. Surely, it is nothing but
an exhibition of want of courage and faith in our
own cause to feel that we must enter the councils
lest moderates should get in. Moderates believe
in the possibility of obtaining justice at the hands
of the Government. Nationalists have on the other
hand filled the platforms with denunciations of the
Government and its measures. How can the Nationalists