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An Insight into the mind of Gandhi through Questions and Answers

Q

"Bapuji, you dedicated your whole life for the freedom of India. But how come you did not participate in the subsequent celebrations on August 15, 1947?"

A

Our freedom was a hard fought one and I always felt that we should be worthy of it. I did not want India torn to pieces with religious hatred. The communal riots at Noakhali pained me deeply. I felt that suffering caused by Indians was no less painful than the sufferings caused by the British and  development of mutual understanding and respect among our people was as important as getting rid of the foreign rule.

Editor's Note:  The India became free, after the British divided the sub-continent into India and Pakistan and a large migration of people took place based on their religion. Communal riots broke out and there was violence. In what is considered as the epitome of his career by some scholars, Gandhi took to fasting  and brought peace to war torn Bengal.

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