THE RELEASE OF THE MAHATMA

THE release of Mahatma Gandhi is the talk of the day and many and necessarily somewhat conflicting are the emotions which the event has inspired among different sections of the public. On two points, however, all agree. One is that the release is a supreme, if a little belated, act of justice and of statesmanship. Had the government made the announcement as soon as it was definitely known that God had in His great mercy spared the life of the Mahatma for his own people, everybody would have acclaimed its action as quite timely. Had the announcement been made even in the Viceroy’s address to the Legislature on 31st January, the delay would have been intelligible, as there was undoubtedly a certain appropriateness in announcing an event of this importance in the Viceroy’s opening speech at the Legislature. But let it be frankly admitted that the delay, however unseemly and inexplicable, has not been attended with any actual untoward consequence. As it is, the Mahatma has decided to stay in the hospital for a fortnight more. Had he been released earlier, he would, of course, have done the same thing, and in the hospital, as we know, he has been treated with all the consideration due to so great a man and all the humanity which the circumstances called for. The credit for this must be delivered between the great and good doctor who, by saving the life of India’s noblest son, has earned a title to her ever-lasting gratitude and the government which, however it may have erred in its earlier treatment of the Mahatma, had from the moment of his removal to the hospital down to the moment of his release, acted exactly as its best friends could have wished.

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