Mahatmaji’s solution

AT last we have an authoritative version of the solution which Mahatma Gandhi has offered to the most burning of Indian problems, the problem of bringing all educated, self-respecting and politically minded Indians on the same platform with a view to the attainment of Swaraj. In a magnificent article in Young India, the Mahatma gives an outline of his main proposals:

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(1) The Congress should suspend all the boycotts except that of foreign cloth till the session of 1925.

(2) It should, subject to (1), remove the boycott of Empire goods.

(3) The Congress should confine its activity solely to the propaganda of hand-spinning and hand-spun khaddar, the achievement of Hindu-Muslim unity and in addition its Hindu members’ activity for the removal of untouchability.

(4) The Congress should carry on the existing national educational institutions and, if possible, open more and keep them independent of government control or influence.

(5) The four-anna franchise should be abolished and in its place the qualification for membership should be spinning by every member for half an hour per day.

The implications of these proposals, as per the Mahatma, are:

(a) The Swarajists should be free to organise themselves without any opposition from the Congress or no-changers.

(b) The members of other political bodies should be invited and induced to join the Congress.

(c) The no-changers should be precluded from carrying on any propaganda, either direct or indirect, against Council entry.