76 A PILGRIMAGE FOR PEACE
extent we realize non-violence ; but we can never become
wholly God. Non-violence is like radium in its action. An
Infinitesimal quantity of it imbedded in a malignant
growth, acts continuously, silently and ceaselessly till it
has transformed the whole mass of the diseased tissue into
a healthy one. Similarly, even a tiny grain of true non-
violence acts in a silent, subtle, unseen way and leavens
the whole society.
" It is self-acting. The soul persists even after death.
Its existence does not depend on the physical body. Simi-
larly, non-violence or soul force, too, does not need phy-
sical aids for its propagation or effect. It acts independently
of them. It transcends time and space.
" It follows, therefore, that if non-violence becomes1,
successfully established in one place, its influence will
spread everywhere'. So long as a single dacoity takes place
in Utmanzai, I shall say that our non-violence is not
genuine.
"The basic principle on which the practice of non-
violence rests is that what holds good in respect of your-
self holds good equally in respect of the whole universe.
All mankind in essence is alike. What is, therefore, possi-
ble for me is possible for everybody. Pursuing further
this line of reasoning, I came to the conclusion that if I
could find a non-violent solution of the various problems
that arise in one particular village, the lesson learnt from
it would enable me to tackle in a non-violent manner all
similar problems in India.
" And so I decided to settle down in Sevagram. My
sojourn in Sevagram has been an education for me. My
experience with the Harijans has provided me with what
I regard as an ideal solution for the Hindu-Muslim pro-
blem, which does away with all pacts. So if you can set
things right in Utmanzai your whole problem would be
solved. Even our relations with the English will be trans-
formed and purified if we can show to them that we really
do not stand in need of the protection for which their
police and the army are ostensibly kept."