THE GANDHI MONTH

WE heartily associate ourselves with the President of the Indian National Congress in his appeal for the observance of the period from the 18th of this month to the 17th of March as the Gandhi month. These observances have usually something arbitrary about them, but that does not prevent them from fulfilling the highly important purpose in the lives of nations and communities of awakening the slumbering spirit of introspection in some and self-improvement in others. In the present case, the Maulana has availed himself of the psychological moment when the whole country feels happy and cheerful over the release of its trusted and beloved leader to make a supreme attempt to get over the spirit of depression that for some time has obtained possession of the national heart and give a fillip to the national movement. The idea is a capital one, and we sincerely hope it will have a tangible effect on the situation. At the same time, we are free to confess to our misgivings in some particulars. In the first place, the notice which the Maulana has given to the country is far too short. It was on the 15th instant that he issued his appeal, which for the first time gave to the workers a complete idea of what they were expected to do. And within two days, that is, by the 17th, he expected all local areas in the country to be properly divided between the workers, and the special drive in respect of the enrolment of Congress members to be efficiently organised. Had the workers been all in a state of preparedness like an army on the eve of an engagement, which is expected any moment, this shortness of notice would not have mattered.