Gandhi Before Gandhi

Author(s): Bipin Doshi, Priti Shah
Publisher: Jain Academy Educational Research Center Promotion Trust Mumbai

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GANDHI BEFORE GANDHI
Authors' note
Mr Virchand Gandhi's speech; Cassadaga Aug. 1894
In the era of the last part of the 19th Century, Christians of Europe and America did not have the access to the Indian story nor did they have any first hand information about India. Whatever they knew about us was based on sporadic writings of few curious and adventurous visitors who came to India. Sayings of these visitors were always influenced by their mind set and backgrounds. Their views were many times contaminated with glorifications for selfish motives. Many drew our picture as one which is radiant and shining and the others even drew darkest possible picture of our country. Missionaries, usually presented us as uncivilized and barbaric. Our religious faith, tradition, social systems and family structure were presented as absurd and full of superstition Missionaries in the name of God and under the garb of giving modern education and humanitarian activities were furiously trying mass conversions. They wanted to spread Christianity. To have more money and power they required to impress upon the other Christians that Indians are poor, uneducated and have no pure religion. No words were spared to describe us asimpure, immoral, ignorant, unequal-the list could be exhaustive. To dismantle and dispel this, Mr Virchand Gandhi tried to correct the mistaken impressions of our country.
Dear brothers and sisters, this is the last time that I shall appear before you in the regular programme of this great gathering. Since coming amongst you I have been busy, as you know, acquainting myself with your methods of thought and distinctive lines of public discussions on this free plat-form, and also in discussing in a limited way before select classes some of the philosophies of my own country. It is gratifying to me to find that on fair acquaintance we are not so far apart as probably many of you have been lead to suppose. I have yielded to your solicitations; not without much distrust of my ability to discuss with some freedom differences in religious life and in civilization, which mark our two nations. In my last public address from this platform I was permitted to give you in a brief manner some of the impressions that I had already received, respecting your great country, its people and its institutions. I confess, I was taken by surprise, in venturing to give those impressions but you drew me on by your kindness and respectful consideration, and I could not resist the desire to gratify what seemed to me a reasonable proposition. I did not come to this country to propagate the philosophy of my community or the religion of my people. I did not deem it a part of my mission to assume that role which distinguishes the missionaries for the most part, which you in your religious zeal, send to my country to enlighten our benighted minds. The spirit in which you have received my words emboldens me to take a further step in the line of removing obstacles in the way of a better understanding. In attempting this task I approach it in the spirit of fraternal love and will endeavor to present my cause in a manner to deserve at least your approval, if you do not fully agree with me.
I do not forget that in a sacred sense I am your guest, and it would pain me, and my people also, if I should inadvertently utter a word to rankle in your thought. I have received so much from you, and am so deeply impressed with the fair mindedness and tolerance of the American people, that I will even venture to correct what I conceive to be grievous mistakes in the public estimate of my people from certain points of view,
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