Excerpts from Collected Works of Gandhi
1 DARYAGANJ, DELHI,
March 23, 1931
DEAR FRIEND,
It seems cruel to inflict this letter on you, but the interest of
peace demands a final appeal. Though you were frank enough to tell
me that there was little hope of your commuting the sentence of death
on Bhagat Singh and two others, you said you would consider my
submission of Saturday. Dr. Sapru met me yesterday and said that
you were troubled over the matter and taxing your brain as to the
proper course to adopt. If there is any room left for reconsideration, I
invite you attention to the following.
Popular opinion rightly or wrongly demands commutation.
When there is no principle at stake, it is often a duty to respect it.
In the present case the chances are that, if commutation is granted, internal peace is most likely to be promoted. In the event of
execution, peace is undoubtedly in danger.
Seeing that I am able to inform you that the revolutionary party
has assured me that, in the event of these lives being spared, that party
will stay its hands, suspension of sentence pending cessation of revolutionary murders becomes in my opinion a peremptory duty.
Political murders have been condoned before now. It is worth
while saving these lives, if thereby many other innocent lives are likely
to be saved and maybe even revolutionary crime almost stamped out.
Since you seem to value my influence such as it is in favour of
peace, do not please unnecessarily make my position, difficult as it is,
almost too difficult for future work.
Execution is an irretrievable act. If you think there is the slightest chance of error of judgment, I would urge you to suspend further review an act that is beyond recall.
If my presence is necessary, I can come. Though I may not
speak1
I may hear and write what I want to say.
“Charity never faileth.”
I am,
Your sincere friend,
STATEMENT ON EXECUTION OF
BHAGAT SINGH AND COMRADES
NEW DELHI,
March 23, 1931
Bhagat Singh and his companions have been executed and have
become martyrs. Their death seems to have been a personal loss to
many. I join in the tributes paid to the memory of these young men.
And yet I must warn the Youth of the country against following their example. We should not utilize our energy, our spirit of sacrifice, our
labours and our indomitable courage in the way they have utilized
theirs. This country must not be liberated through bloodshed.
About the Government I cannot help feeling that it has missed a
golden opportunity, to win over the rebels to its side. At least from
the point of view of the settlement, it was its duty to postpone indefinitely the carrying out of the death sentence. The Government has
by its own act dealt a severe blow to the settlement and has shown its
capacity to disregard public opinion once again and to exhibit the
great brute strength it possesses.
The reliance on violence is perhaps ominous and it suggests that
in spite of high-sounding and pious proclamations, it does not want to
part with power. But the people’s duty is clear.
The Congress must not swerve from the path it has chalked out
for itself. According to my view, notwithstanding the gravest provocation the Congress should endorse the settlement and test its capacity
to secure the result hoped for.
We must not put ourselves in the wrong by getting angry. We
must realize that commutation of the sentences was not a part of the
truce. We may accuse the Government of violence but we cannot
accuse it of breach of the settlement. It is my conviction that the grave
blunder committed by the Government has increased our power to
win freedom and Bhagat Singh and his comrades have embraced
death therefor. Let us not throw away this opportunity by doing anything in anger. It is beyond dispute that there will be a general strike
and we cannot honour the deceased patriots better than by taking out
absolutely peaceful and dignified processions.
[From Gujarati]
Gujarati, 29-3-1931
