India 1926 (Apr 1) Mahatma Gandhi signed letter from Sabarmati Ashram along with cover to England with important content, reading “I thank you for your letter, It is perfectly true that very often things Indian are mis-reported and misrepresented. In the instance you have quoted, however, the President of the Congress is correctly reported. She did advocate a national militia. As a reformer wanting the whole world to accept Non-violence as its final creed, I do not hesitate to appear on platforms where even direct violence may be preached. I no more identify myself with all the violence that goes on in the world being in it. I hold that it is enough if I disassociate myself from every form of violence, mentally and physically, and express my disapproval whenever the occasion requires it. I do not know whether you know that the Congress creed is ‘attainment of Swaraj by peaceful and legitimate means’. Violence is therefore eschewed in its entirety in the national programme. But I must at the same time own that it does not mean that on the Congress platform people may not advocate the formation of a national militia for purposes of defence. From my own standpoint, a national militia is not necessary but people who do not believe in Non-violence as their final creed cannot possibly be made non-violent. The spread of non-violence depends upon cultivation of public opinion. Personally, I am satisfied that the spirit is daily growing inspite of appearances to the contrary“.

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