MAHATMA GANDHI’S19. SPEECH AT PRAYER MEETING NEW DELHI,

July 7, 1947

BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

Last evening I told you why it was that the prospect of freedom that is about to be ours did not fill me with joy. Today I wish to tell you   how you   can  turn  a  bad  thing  into  a  good  thing.  What has happened has happened. Nothing is to be gained by brooding over it or blaming others.   In  legal   terms   it  will  be  only  a few days before freedom comes  into  effect.  All  the  parties  have  arrived  at  an agreement and  they  cannot  go back upon  their  word.  Only God  can undo what man has decided to do.

The easiest way would be for the Congress and the League to

come to an understanding without the intervention or the help of the

Viceroy. In this the League would have to take the first step. I do not

in the least imply by this that the decision about Pakistan should be

undone. It should be taken as final, no more open to discussion now.

But if ten representatives of either party sit together in a mud hut and

resolve   that   they will  not   leave   the  hut   till   they have   arrived  at  an understanding, then I can say that the decision they arrive at will be a thousand times better than the present Bill which is before the British Parliament and which envisages the setting up of two Dominions. If all the Hindus   and Muslims  who  come   to  see  me  or  write   to me  do not deceive me, then it is clear that no one is happy with the division of India. They all accept it against their will.

There is also another method, perhaps as difficult. The army is

going to be divided—the army which so far had one single purpose—

whatever that purpose might have been. This division of the army

certainly fills the heart of every patriot with fear and misgivings. Why

are two armies being created? Are they to defend the country against

foreign aggression or are they to fight against each other and prove to

the world that we are good only for fighting and killing each other?

I have deliberately painted before you this frightful picture so

that you may be warned. The way to escape this is, at any rate in my

view, attractive. Will the Hindu masses and all those who have taken

part in the struggle for freedom passes the test today? Will they rise up

and say that they have no need for an army or at least take a pledge

that this army will not be used against their Muslim brethren whether

they be living in India or Pakistan. By saying this they will turn their

thirty-year-old weakness into strength. Maybe the method I suggest

will be considered foolish.  However, I must say that God has the

power to turn foolishness into wisdom as He has done so many times

in  history.  Those who have set out on the dangerous course of

dividing the army should pay heed to what I say