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would not be possible for one to write about the matter in Nor. wegian papers, because the English authorities might resent it as interference in their concerns. It seems to me as if we have to do with a care of greed and that the only way of meeting it is what you mention; to stop the pilgrimage for sometime. That lesson is sure to be felt, because then the Palitana State will see its income diminished. I know that it will be a severe trial for you not to be able to visit the sacred bills, but then the holy Tirthankaras have shown us the way to resignation and self-restraint. I have never been in favour of civil disobedie. nce, because it is so hard to disassociate it from a feeling of illwill which is not in accordance with your exalted religion. You and people like yourself will not be capable of any such feeling, but your civil disobedience would not so much impress govern. ment as if you were joined by the rich laity. And among them I fear that civil disobedience would lead to hatred of the autho. rities which they had to disobey and perhaps even to violence. Such was the case when Mahatma Gandhi adviced civil. disobedience and the same deplorable results might follow if you were to advocate it. I belive that one of the greatest conceptions which India has given to the world is अहिंसा परमो धर्म : I spoke about afAT before your friends in Agra and there was then some talk about printing my lectures of which the manuscript was left with our friend Doshi. The police reported my speech to London as a political speech, and I was conseqnently shadowed everywhere when I was in India.
Therefore I should personally be glad if the lecture were print. ed, but I suppose that there were difficulties in the way. Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
