Satyagraha Camp,
Nadiad,
June 6, 1918.
- To,
- The Brothers and Sisters of Kaira District,
The struggle that the people of the district of Kaira entered upon on the 22nd of March last, has come to an end. The people took the following vow on that day :
"Knowing the crops of our village are less than 4 annas, we requested the Government to suspend the collection of revenue assessment till the ensuing year, but the Government has not acceeded to our prayer. Therefore we, the undersigned, hereby solemnly declare that we shall not, of our own accord, pay to the Government the full or the remaining revenue for the year. We shall let the Government take whatever legal steps it may think fit and gladly suffer the consequences of our non-payment. We shall let our hands rather be forefeited, than by voluntary payment allow our case to be considered false or our self-respect compromised. Should the Government, however, agree to suspend the collection of the second instalment of the assessment throughout the district, such amongst us as are in a position to pay will pay up the whole or the balance of the revenue that may be due. The reason why those who are able to pay still withhold payment is that, if they pay up, the poorer ryots may in a panic sell their chattels or incur debts to pay their dues, and thereby bring suffering upon themselves. In these circumstances, we feel that for the sake of the poor, it is the duty even of those who can afford to pay, to withhold payment of their assessment."
The meaning of this vow is that on the Government suspending collection of the revenue from the poor, the well-to-do should pay the assessment due from them. The Mamlatdar of Nadiad at Uttersanda, on the 3rd of June issued such orders, whereupon the people of Uttersanda, who could afford, were advised to pay up. Payments have already commenced there.
On the foregoing order having been passed at Uttersanda, a letter was addressed to the Collector stating that if orders like the one in Uttersanda were passed everywhere the struggle would come to an end, and it would be possible to inform His Excellency the Governor on the 10th instant?the day of the sitting of the Provincial War Conference?that the domestic difference in Kaira was settled. The Collector has replied to the effect that the order like the one in Uttersanda is applicable to the whole district. Thus the people\'s prayer has at last been granted. The Collector has also stated in reply to a query about Chothai orders that the orders will not be enforced against those who may voluntarily pay up. Our thanks are due to the Collector for this concession.
We are obliged to say with sorrow that although the struggle has come to an end, it is an end without grace. It lacks dignity. The above orders have not been passed either by generosity or with the heart in them. It very much looks as if the orders have been passed with the greatest reluctance. The Collector says :
- "Orders were issued to all Mamlatdars on the 25th April that no pressure should be put on those unable to pay. Their attention was again drawn to these orders in a proper Circular issued by me on the 22nd of May and to ensure that proper effect was given to them the Mamlatdars were advised to divide the defaulters in each village into two classes, those who could pay and those who were unable to pay on account of poverty.
If this was so, why were these orders not published to the people ? Had they known them on the 25th April, what sufferings would they not have been saved from! The expenses that were unnecessarily incurred by the Government in engaging the officials of the district in affecting executions would have been saved. Wherever the assessment was uncollected the people lived with their lives in their hands. They have lived away from their homes to avoid attachments. They have not even enough food. The women have suffered what they ought not to have. At times, they have been obliged to put up with insults from insolent Circle Inspectors, and to helplessly watch their milch buffaloes being taken away from them. They have paid Chothai fines and, had they known the foregoing orders, they would have been saved all the miseries. The officials knew that this relief for the poor was the crux of the struggle. The Commissioner would not even look at this difficulty. Many letters were addressed to him but he remained unbending. He said, "Individual relief cannot be granted, it is not the law." Now the Collector says :
- "The orders of April 25, so far as it related to putting pressure on those who were really unable to pay on account of poverty, were merely a re- statement of what are publicly known to be the standing orders of Government on that subject."
If this is really true, the people have suffered deliberately and through sheer obstinacy ! At the time of going to Delhi, I (Gandhiji), wrote to the Commissioner requesting him to grant or to issue orders to the above effect so that the good news could be given to His Excellency the Viceroy. The Commissioner gave no heed to the request.
"We are moved by the sufferings of the people, we perceive our mistake and in order to placate the people we are now prepared to grant individual relief", the officials could have generously said all this and endeared themselves to the people, but they have obstinately avoided this method (of winning them over). And even now relief has been granted in a niggardly manner, involuntarily and without admission of any mistake. It is even claimed that what has now been granted is nothing new. And hence we say that there is little grace in the settlement.
The officials have failed to be popular because of their obstinacy, because of their mistaken belief that they should never admit being in the wrong and because of their having made it a fetish that it should never be said of them that they had yielded to anything like popular agitation. It grieves us to offer this criticism. But we have permitted ourselves to do so as their friends.
But though the official attitude is thus unsatisfactory, our prayer has been granted and it is our duty to accept the concession with thankfulness. Now, there is only 8 per cent of the assessment remaining unpaid. It was a point of honour with us till now to refuse payment. Conditions having materially altered, it is a point of honour for a Satyagrahi to pay up the assessment. Those who can afford, should pay without causing the Government the slightest trouble and thus show that where there is no conflict between the dictates of conscience and those of man-made law, they are second to none in obeying the law of the land. A Satyagrahi some-times appears momentarily to disobey laws and the constituted authority, only to prove in the end his regard for both.
In making a list of those who are unable to pay, we should apply a test so rigid that no one can challenge our findings. Those whose incapacity for payment is at all in doubt should consider it their duty to pay. The final decision as to the inca-pacity for payment will rest with the authorities, but we believe that the judgment of the people will have its full weight.
By their courage the people of Kaira have drawn the attention of the whole of India. During the last six months they have had full taste of the fruits of observing truth, fearlessness, unity, determination and self-sacrifice. We hope that they will still further cultivate these great qualities, will move forward on the path of progress, and shed luster on the name of the Motherland. It is our firm belief that the people of Kaira have truly served their own cause, as well as the cause of Swaraj and the Empire.
May God bless you !
We remain Always in your service, M. K. Gandhi Vallabhbhai J. Patel.
