In 1930 Mohandas "Mahatma Gandhi led a nonviolent march in India protesting Britain's colonial triggering moment for the targer civil disobedience movement that eventually con todas las pendence
from Britain in 1947. Shortly before the Salt March, Gandhi had written to Viceroy Lord Irwin, the
representative of the British crown in India. The passage below is the conclusion of that letter. Read the
passage carefully. Write an essay that analyzes the rhetorical choices Gandhi makes to convey his
message to Lord Irwin that the taxes should be reversed.
I know that in embarking on non-violence, I shall
be running what might fairly be termed a mad risk
though they undoubtedly are for the consideration of
any scheme of Government they have little bearing
But the victories of truth have never been won
without risks, often of the gravest character,
on the greater problems which are above communities
Conversion of a nation that has consciously or
and which affect them all equally. But if you cannot
unconsciously preyed upon another, far more
see your way to deal with these evils and my letter
makes no appeal to your heart, on the eleventh day
numerous, far more ancient, and no less cultured
than itself, is worth any amount of risk
of this month, I shall proceed with such co-workers of
50 the Ashram' as I can take, to disregard the provisions
I have deliberately used the word conversion. For of the salt laws. I regard this tax to be the most
10 my ambition is no less than to convert the British
iniquitous of all from the poor man's standpoint.
people through non-violence, and thus to make them As the independence movement is essentially for the
see the wrong they have done to India. I do not seek poorest in the land, the beginning will be made with
to harm your people. I want to serve them even as I 55 this evil. The wonder is that we have submitted to the
want to serve my own. I believe that I have always cruel monopoly for so long. It is, I know, open to you
15
served them
to frustrate my design by arresting me. I hope that
I served them up to 1919, blindly. But when my there will be tens of thousands ready, in a disciplined
eyes were opened and I conceived non-co-operation, manner, to take up the work after me, and, in the act
the object still was to serve them. I employed the 60 of disobeying the Salt Act, to lay themselves open to
same weapon that I have, in all humility, successfully the penalties of a law that should never have
20 used against the dearest members of my family. If I disfigured the statute book.
have equal love for your people with mine, it will not
I have no desire to cause you unnecessary
long remain hidden. It will be acknowledged by them, embarrassment, or any at all, so far as I can help. If
even as members of my family acknowledged, 65 you think that there is any substance in my letter, and
they had tried me for several years. If the people if you will care to discuss matters with me, and if to
25 join me, as I expect they will the sufferings they
will
that end you would like me to postpone publication
undergo, unless the British nation sooner retraces its of this letter, I shall gladly refrain on receipt of a
steps, will be enough to melt the stoniest hearts.
telegram to that effect soon after this reaches you.
The plan through civil disobedience will be to
70 You will, however, do me the favour not to deflect me
combat such evils as I have sampled out. If we want from my course, unless you can see your way to
30 to sever the British connection it is because of such
conform to the substance of this letter.
evils. When they are removed, the path becomes easy. This letter is not in any way intended as a threat,
Then the way to friendly negation will
be open. If but is a simple and sacred duty, peremptory on a civil
the British commerce with India is purified of greed, 75 register. Therefore, I am having it specially delivered
you will have no difficulty in recognizing our
by a young English friend who believes in the Indian
35 independence. I invite you then to pave the way for cause and is a full believer in non-violence and whom
Providence seems to have sent to me, as it were, for
immediate removal of those evils, and thus open a
the very purpose.
way for real conference between equals, interested
only in promoting the common good of mankind
1 A spiritual retreat or monastery for a community of Hindus
through voluntary fellowship and in arranging terms
2 The India Salt Act (1852) enforced the British colonial government's monopoly on
40 of mutual help and commerce equally suited to both.
the collection, manufacture, and sale of salt in Indu
You have unnecessarily laid stress upon communal
problems that unhappily affect this land. Important
after the