VOL. 5 : 6 NOVEMBER, 1905 - 3 NOVEMBER, 1906
1
1. LETTER TO CHHAGANLAL GANDHI
[J
OHANNESBURG
,]
November 6, 1905
MY DEAR CHHAGANLAL,
Your letter to hand. I am returning the letter addressed toRevashankar. I shall ask Abhechand to take the papers back. He hasgone to Pretoria.You have done well in writing about Kitchin. Your argument isnot wrong. The facilities we have provided him are, generallyspeaking, too many. The money is being paid to him not for hisproficiency but because of my folly; and because there was no otherway of correcting my mistake. I did allow him to leave; but hepleaded with me that he was not in a position to do any other work,since he could not start work afresh in Johannesburg. Indubitably, hedid wind up the big business he had. Under these circumstances, Icould not bring myself to discharge him. So the best way I could findwas to give him as much in salary as would meet his normal expenses.However, either of us is free to terminate the arrangement by giving amonth’s notice. It means that, if the condition of the press gets worseand it does not show any income, I can dispense with his services at amonth’s notice. Even if the condition improves, there is no stipulationabout paying him more than £10, nor is it necessary. There is,therefore, no reason to believe that he will always draw the samesalary. We need not suppose that he and Polak will not be able to pullon together when the latter comes. If they cannot, Kitchin will have toleave. Polak will take at least two and a half years to go to Phoenix; itis, therefore, unnecessary for the present to think of that far-off eventuality. I envisage the possibility of a great change in ourcondition during that period. There was no other alternative when wegave Kitchin a house and land. His heart is in Phoenix. He no doubtlikes the life there. Please do not hesitate when you have to dosomething for him. We have to take into consideration the virtues of aman; we cannot bother ourselves about his drawbacks. We have to besatisfied if, by putting ourselves out, others can be made happy or canbenefit. There is no difficulty in giving two acres of land to any of you who wants it, that is, yourself, West, Bean or Anandlal. I think Ihave already explained this to you. Polak also has asked for two acres.This much I believe: if Kitchin stays, his nature will change and he willdo his work well. If, on the other hand, his nature does not improve,he will give in of his own accord. Do ask for further clarification, if
2
THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI
you need it. Always write to me unhesitatingly.Gokuldas is good by nature; but he has become very selfish andnarrow-minded because of his upbringing in the country. He seems tobe prejudiced against you. In spite of my repeated attempts topersuade him I find that the idea that “maternal uncle is crazy” isdeep-rooted in his mind due to the arrogant impetuosity of youth. Hismind is set more on making money. We have to be very careful andsee that his leanings become pure. You may watch him and guidehim. I believe he will put in hard work. He will not take anything fromthe press at present; at the same time, he will not work the whole day. Ihave told him that he is still a student and has to behave accordingly.He will, therefore, work for some time in the press, some time on theland and the rest he will devote to studies. It is necessary for him tohave a good knowledge of Gujarati, English and Tamil. I have askedhim to start with composing Tamil matter in the press. I shall write aletter about this to Pillay also. You may come, if possible, duringChristmas, after Gokuldas arrives there and has become conversantwith the work.How is West doing the job-work? Does he feel uncomfortable oris he cheerful? Who are doing the composing work for thenewspaper? How does Virji behave? Write to me about everybodythere. How is Bean doing? What is the position of the books now?How about Anandlal? I have written to him also about Gokuldas. I stillfeel that it will be better if you three brothers live together. But if thereis even the least possibility of bitterness resulting from doing so, youhave not to act on my suggestions. Gokuldas, of course, will stay withyou.Is Orchard still there in the house or has he left?I have sent the Tamil material, but I find that there will be somedifficulty for me in the matter. I saw that the man who did thetranslation has very little knowledge of the language. He felt verydiffident and said that it would be better if I did not entrust the work to him. It will be quite enough if Gokuldas and Pillay understand iteven after a strenuous effort. Gokuldas has learnt a little. The Englishmatter that I send from here will merely have to be translated there.Consult Pillay about this. Who has written for this week’s issue ?Does Hemchand give you satisfaction or not? Does he go outfor the collection of dues? Train him well.What has happened to Ramnath? I had written a letter to Ajodha.Has Jayashanker been able to procure any assistant or does hehave the same difficulty still? Give Bean whatever miscellaneousthings he wants. Send Moon’s report when you get it. Who is to sow
VOL. 5 : 6 NOVEMBER, 1905 - 3 NOVEMBER, 1906
3the land that has been ploughed ? Does the leakage in the roof continue or has it stopped ?Let me know if the shifting of the office to Mercury Lane hasaffected the flow of work. Do the whites come in greater numbers?
Blessings from
M
OHANDAS
[PS.]Govindji says that he is not getting the paper regularly.I sent more Gujarati matter yesterday.Do see what is written on the back of the first four sheets also.
From a photostat of the original Gujarati: S.N. 4262
2. CABLE TO KING-EMPEROR
1
[J
OHANNESBURG
,
Before
November 9, 1905
]
B
RITISH INDIANS, TRANSVAAL, TENDER TO HIS GRACIOUS MAJESTY HUMBLECONGRATULATIONS ON HIS SIXTY-FIFTH BIRTHDAY.
Indian Opinion,
11-11-1905
3. LONG LIVE THE KING-EMPEROR
Thursday, the 9th instant, was the sixty-fifth birthday of HisMajesty the King-Emperor. Loyal congratulations were offered fromall parts of his vast dominions. No monarch of modern times hascommanded the admiration and love of his subjects as King Edwardhas. When he ascended the throne, his position was a most difficultone, since he had to succeed Victoria the Good; but, during the shortspace that he has occupied his supreme position, he has carried out thetraditions left by that noble lady, and has shown that, even in acountry constitutionally governed, the King has many opportunitiesof serving his subjects, in a way possible only to one who, like HisMajesty, combines a real appreciation of the dignity of his exaltedstation with a more than ordinary ability. By his sound judgment andtact, he has materially assisted in promoting the world’s peace, and theprosperity of the British Empire. He has endeared himself to hissubjects the world over because, being lord of all, he has made himself the servant of all. In the whole history of the world, no throne has
1
The cable was sent by the Transvaal British Indian Association throughthe Colonial Secretary.
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356. INTERVIEW TO “THE TRIBUNE”1 for Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi-VOL005
This are the volumes form the revised - erroneous - version of the CWMG as published on the CD-Rom "Mahatma Gandhi - Interactive Multimedia - Electronic Book" in 1999. Page and volume nos. are not identical…
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