The Making of the Mahatma Page #8

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Gandhi-bhai, what if Smuts

does not repeal the Act?

He said that he will.

We must have faith in him

We should not always

mistrust our enemy

Do we have to give our fingerprints?

- Yes and no

We must give our fingerprints but

those who feel that it is against...

your religion or conscience, may

just give their thumb impressions

What will you do?

- I will give all ten fingerprints

You traitor!

You have turned against us

You said that only criminals

give fingerprints

And now you want us

to become criminals!

Mir Alam, I have nothing against

fingerprints, but against being forced

If you force me to salute you,

I would be demeaning myself

But if I salute you of my own accord,

it shows my humility, my good manners

I have heard that you are getting

15,000 pounds to be betray us

We will never give fingerprints, nor

will we allow anyone else to do so

I swear,

as Allah is my witness...

I will kill any man

who applies for registration

Then you will have to kill me first

Because I'm going to be

the first one to register

Where do you think you are going?

- I'm going to register

By giving ten fingerprints?

- If you come with me...

I will get you a certificate

with only two thumb impressions

Traitor!

Traitor!

Are you all right, Mr Gandhi?

Reverend Doke!

- How do you feel?

All right

Just some pain in my chest

and my teeth hurt

Where's Mir Alam?

He's been arrested,

his companions as well

No, they should be released

That can be arranged later.

You are our concern now

I shall take you to my home.

- No, I can't

I can't.

- But you will be safer there

I have nothing to fear

How are you, Mr Gandhi?

Not well enough to make it

to your office, Mr Chamberlain

I wanted to be the first to register

I brought your papers with me

No one is willing to register

unless you do

First the signing

And then the fingerprints,

I'm afraid

You need this

Thank you

We've been betrayed! Smuts has

introduced a new bill in parliament

What are you saying?

- He has withdrawn the Black Act...

only to introduce a new one, calling

for compulsory registration...

of all Indians, even children.

- See Gandhi-bhai...

you were wrong to trust him.

- He gave me his word...

he would withdraw the act.

- You should've got it in writing

You are too trusting, Gandhi-bhai

A satyagrahi (Follower of non-violence)

has to trust his opponent...

even if his opponent plays him false

twenty times

You will one day meet your death

in satyagraha...

and drag poor mortals like us

along with you

What do we do now?

- Resume Satyagraha. What else?

I have here a telegram

from the Governor

Transvaal government regrets

determination of Asians...

to oppose new bill and announces

inability to withdraw bill

Please, please

Our demands have been rejected.

Two new bills have been passed

One to register all Asians

in South Africa

And the other to close the door...

to all those except indentured

labourers who may wish to come here

This is the most drastic kind of

legislation that could've been...

passed in the empire. If we submit

now then we shall be traitors...

to our country,

to God and to our oath

We have come here today

to get rid of our dog-collars...

to burn these certificates

of our humiliations

May I ask all those who wish to burn

their certificates to come forward?

Gandhi-bhai, I want to be the first

to burn my certificate

I was wrong to attack you as I did.

Please forgive me

Victory to Gandhi Baba!

Victory to Gandhi Baba!

Gentlemen, what are you here for?

- For our conscience' sake

Conscience be damned!

Strip

What...?

All of us together?

- Yes, all of you

What do you think? I'm going to

examine you individually?

Excuse me, sir.

I'm not feeling very well, sir

You are just too bloody fat

Some good hard labour

will soon put you right

Now strip!

Good to see you looking so happy,

Hari. It seems jail suits you

Bapu, I've been here more times

than you have

I hope this is the last time

Bapu...

after it is over, you must

allow me to study further

Why? You are helping our cause

better this way

Bapu, I want to prove my status,

like you did by studying in England

Why are you sending Chaganlal

to England and not me?

Chaganlal's family has sacrificed

everything to join us in Phoenix

Your cousin is single-handedly

running The Indian Opinion

His education will better our cause.

- You think he's devoted to the cause?

Once Chagan gets to England

he will not come back

Even now all he does is to complain

about us to everyone in Phoenix

Harilal does this,

Harilal does that!

And he says Mother makes the

presser boys do her personal work

All right, that's enough.

- What is going on?

No talking. Get on with your work

Disperse, all of you,

before I call the police

Mr Gandhi, you are attracting

too much attention here

We are taking you to another prison

Mr Gandhi, where are you going?

My little one!

Olive, come here

Why don't you eat?

I don't eat animal flesh

Why are you here?

You are suffering so much

What did you do?

I refused to carry the Dom pass

What about the others?

They don't want to carry them

You are ill

No, I just need some fresh air

You are a good man

Thank you

Open the door

Gandhi, your wife is critically ill

I have orders for your release. But

you must pay the fine first

That I will never do

If you will post a letter for me,

I would be very grateful

Very well

"My dear Kastur"

"I can only come if I agree to pay

the fine, which I refuse to do"

"If you keep up your courage

and take the necessary nutrition"

"you will recover

while I'm still in jail"

"If in keeping with my fate,

you pass away"

"I should only say that

I love you dearly"

"But even if you are dead,

you are alive to me"

"God willing, you will live.

Your devoted husband"

Stop pacing backwards and forwards

and wearing out the floor!

Get some sleep. You are

to be released in the morning

A small operation

will stop the bleeding

But she is very anaemic,

and she has lost a lot of weight

I can't risk giving her chloroform

Kastur...

have you heard what the doctor said?

If it is necessary let him do it

But first I must build up her

strength. I will give her Beef tea

No

Then it is impossible for me

to treat her

I will not risk her dying

under my care

Now, first we'll have to

change your diet

It would be good if you give up

salt and lentil

It will make you feel much better

You always want me

to give up things

It's only for your own good

Let it be.

Leave my lentil and salt

Why me? Even you can't give it up

All right...

then from today I shall give up

salt and lentil for a whole year

Good Lord!

Why did I provoke you?

I'll give up salt and lentil

But please take back your vow,

or I'll never forgive myself

Please

Kastur, don't blame yourself

A diet without salt and lentil

will only improve your health

And a vow once taken,

cannot be revoked

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