The Making of the Mahatma Page #7

---

- No

Today those with coloured skins

need this passport...

but those whose skins are white

need only the passport of their skins

This is the equality we were promised

by Queen Victoria

We will not submit to this oppression

I will not submit to this Bill

And if any police officer comes

to take my wife's fingerprints...

I will die before

I let him enter my house

This is the war

of principles and Jehad!

To our mission!

- May Allah bring glory!

As Allah as my witness, I swear that

I will not give my fingerprints...

or carry a pass like a criminal. How

many of you are prepared to join me?

Haji Habib has asked you to take

an oath in the name of God

Each one must search his own heart

and only take this solemn oath...

because his conscience

allows him to do so

Not under any force. No

Our demands are just

Therefore our means must be truthful

Satyagraha (Non-violent Protest)

Is based on truth

And truth means that our action

cannot be violent

Violence only begets greater violence

It does not mean that we shall not

undergo any suffering

Because it is only through

suffering that...

we can change the hearts and minds

of those that oppress us

I ask each one of you to pray silently

to God within yourself...

to give us strength

to face the struggle ahead

Please do not register!

This is a black Bill!

We don't want any of our people

to submit to it. Please go back

Please do not register.

Don't do it

This is a black bill! Leave!

Do not register

Go! This is a black Bill

It's a black Bill!

Don't register

You are a merchant, Mr Cachalia?

- I was a merchant, until a few days ago

What happened?

- Your Honour...

what happened to him a week ago

is of no relevance to the case

The accused has refused to register

in terms of the Asiatic Act...

as he is required to.

- Your Honour, I intend to show...

that the two are interrelated.

- Proceed, Mr Gandhi

Mr Cachalia, would you please tell the court

what happened to you a week ago?

My creditors forced me to liquidate

all my assets to pay them out

Since then they have refused

to give me any more goods

I had to shut down my business.

They declared me insolvent

Were you insolvent?

- No, Your Honour

I paid them out.

20 shillings to the pound

This doesn't make sense.

- Your Honour, when an Indian...

refuses to register, the matter is not

confined to the law enforcing agency

All the prejudice of

the white community descend on him

Mr Cachalia's creditors declared him

insolvent, because...

in their own words, they resented

his involvement with Satyagraha

What is that?

- Passive resistance, Your Honour

Surely, they have a point there.

All that Mr Cachalia's creditors...

wanted was the security that he remains

solvent by not dabbling in politics

Was there any danger of

your becoming insolvent...

because you refused to register?

- No, Your Honour

What is your response

to the charge against you?

I cherish my freedom and my honour

I will never register

and I will never carry a pass

Your Honour, it would mean giving up

my freedom and demeaning my person

And I would never do that

I find you guilty as charged and

sentence you to 3 months hard labour...

with the option

of a fine of 300 pounds

Why aren't you working?

- I don't like this work

You don't like this work?

You bloody coolie!

If I say you work,

you better work

You piece of sh*t!

Pigs!

If I say you work,

you work!

Oh God!

What do you think this is?

Labour camp?

Silence in court

Proceed

In the case of Rex versus Gandhi, the

defendant entered the colony, and...

was ordered to register or leave within

48 hours on the 28th of December

He failed to do so

Any questions?

If the court permits,

I wish to make a statement

Please make it short

My compatriots have been tried

for the same offence

They have been sentenced to three

months' imprisonment and a heavy fine

If they have committed an offence then

I have committed a greater offence

I therefore ask for

the heaviest penalty

You ask for the heaviest sentence

under the law?

Yes sir

Silence in court

That is strictly out of proportion.

Your offence was contempt of court...

for having disobeyed that order

of December the 28th

And this essentially

a political offence

And had it not been

for your defiance of the law...

the court would have passed

a lightest possible sentence

In the circumstances, two months

simple imprisonment is fair

Victory to Gandhi Baba!

Victory to Gandhi Baba!

Long live Gandhi Baba!

Long live Gandhi Baba!

Salutations to our Motherland!

Salutations to our Motherland!

Gandhi...

I would like you to come to my office

Are you all right, Mr Gandhi?

As well as it could be

under the circumstances

General Smuts has sent me to you

with an offer

I discussed it with the president of

your association and the other leaders

They have left the matter entirely

in your hands

What is the offer?

- I have it here

Mr Gandhi for you, sir

So...

you are Mr Gandhi!

I'm sorry you've had

to suffer imprisonment

Suffering is part of living,

General Smuts

You know that as well as I do.

You have seen war

Yes, indeed. I understand you are

helping the British against us

And now you have come

to terms with them

You know Mr Gandhi,

I admire your people

They didn't lose heart

when their leader was in prison

They went on regardless

You can be proud of your followers.

- Yes, I am

Yet, you despise us.

- No, no, I don't. I assure you

I have studied law in England

just like yourself

Many of my fellow students

were Indians. Splendid chaps

But here, I represent

European interest

They want this law. If I defy them,

they will turn against me

That is democracy for you.

- Of course

Democracy is solely

the birthright of Europeans

I have consulted with General Bota

Once your people undergo voluntary

registration, I assure you...

I will repeal the act

No registration with fingerprints

This is an emotional issue

with my people

Where necessary, finger impressions

will have to given

But we will waive this

in exceptional cases

We will not tolerate harassment

of those who cooperate with us

General Smuts, so far we have been

dissuading people from registering

Now you want us

to persuade them to register

That's easier said than done

Well, that concludes our business

I will send you a draft of the Bill

for your comments

As of this moment, you are free to go.

- What about the others?

They will be released

tomorrow morning

I have a small problem

I have no money

How much do you need?

Just the fare to Johannesburg.

Thank you

Curious!

My friends, the truth of our struggle

has forced the government...

to release our people from jail

But as a compromise they insist that

we register ourselves voluntarily

After which, the Asiatic Act

will be repealed

First the government must take back the

Black Act, only then will we register

But then the Europeans may say that

General Smuts has given in to us

Rate this script:5.0 / 2 votes