Gandhi Page #24

Gandhi has already started to come toward the podium. He is

greeted with mild applause, but already the convention is

performing like a convention now that the spell of Jinnah's

major speech has dissipated. As Gandhi reaches the podium,

Patel gestures him to it.

PATEL:

(politely)

Your journal has made a great impact.

Gandhi nods to him and acknowledges the residue of applause.

GANDHI:

I am flattered by Mr. Patel

(His grin.)

I would be even more flattered if

what he said were true.

He means about the journal.

Patel has wandered back toward the others, his mind already

on them. But he has half heard Gandhi's comment and turns --

a smile, a politician's flexibility --

PATEL:

(loudly; he is away

from the mike)

But it's true! I -- I read it...

often.

Again Gandhi grins -- and takes glasses from his sleeve.

This is the first time we have seen them. He has one slip of

paper with notes on it which he has put on the podium. He

puts his glasses on and faces the convention.

GANDHI:

Since I returned from South Africa,

I have traveled over much of India.

And I know I could travel many more

years and still only see a small

part of it.

On the platform, the whispered politics go on. On the floor

of the convention, some listen, some talk of other things.

GANDHI:

...and yet already I know what we

say here means nothing to the masses

of our country.

Nehru has turned, having caught that last remark. He touches

Patel on the shoulder "Listen."

GANDHI:

Here we make speeches for each other --

and those English liberal magazines

that may grant us a few lines.

And now they are beginning to pay attention on the floor of

the hall too.

GANDHI:

But the people of India are untouched.

Their politics are confined to bread

and salt.

Jinnah too is listening now -- aloofly, challengingly.

GANDHI:

Illiterate they may be, but they are

not blind. They see no reason to

give their loyalty to rich and

powerful men who simply want to take

over the role of the British in the

name of freedom.

There is dissent on the floor and on the platform -- but it

is muttered and English "polite." Gandhi goes on.

GANDHI:

This Congress tells the world it

represents India. My brothers, India

is seven hundred thousand "villages"

not a few hundred lawyers in Delhi

and Bombay. Until we stand in the

fields with the millions who toil

each day under the hot sun, we will

not represent India -- nor will we

ever be able to challenge the British

as one nation.

He takes off his glasses and folds them and in silence starts

back toward his place on the platform. A cameraman flashes a

picture, and someone begins to applaud; it is taken up here

and there, tepidly. On the platform, the leaders join in

perfunctorily. We see one peasant face (Shukla) -- which we

will come to know -- watching from the crowd of outsiders

who stand in the doorways.

Nehru, who has been looking at Gandhi with interest and some

surprise turns to Patel.

NEHRU:

Have you read his magazine?

PATEL:

No -- but I think I'm going to.

THE TRAIL TO GANDHI'S ASHRAM - EXTERIOR - DAY

An open touring car struggling along the bumpy trail. Nehru

drives, four friends as young as he with him, all dressed in

the same expensive, British manner.

FIRST FRIEND:

This can't be the way!

Nehru is looking a little harassed, from the ragging he is

taking and from the ride. The ashram is only half-finished,

the ground unworked, the buildings only partially completed

and the whole looking like some primitive frontier outpost.

They are finally brought to a halt by a goat that is tethered

right across the path.

SECOND FRIEND:

(a mocking quote)

Yes, I'm sure this is the direction

India is taking.

The others laugh; Nehru suffers.

SECOND FRIEND:

To think I almost got excited by Mr.

Jinnah when all this was awaiting

me.

ASHRAM - EXTERIOR - DAY

Nehru has half risen in his seat to address Charlie Andrews,

who, walking from one somnolent building to another, has

stopped dead at the sight of the car. He carries sheaves of

page proofs.

NEHRU:

We're looking for Mr. Gandhi!

CHARLIE:

Ah, you'll find him under the tree

by the river.

(He points off, then

glances at the car.)

You'd better leave the car -- the

ground is rather soft.

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