THE TWO GANDHIS CONFER 77

But Badshah Khan had a doubt. In every village
there is an element of self-seekers and exploiters who are
ready to go to any length in order to serve their selfish
ends. Could one proceed by ignoring them altogether or
should an attempt be made to cultivate them too ?

" We may ultimately have to leave some of them out,"
replied Gandhiji, " but we may not regard anybody as irre-
claimable. We should try to understand the psychology
of the evil-doer. He is very often victim of his circum-
stances. By patience and sympathy, we shall be able to
win over at least some of them to the side of justice. More-
over, we should not forget that even evil is sustained
through the co-operation, either willing or forced, of good.
Truth alone is self-sustained. In the last resort we can
curb the power of the evil-doers to do mischief, by with-
drawing all co-operation from them and completely iso-
lating them.

" This in essence is the principle of non-violent non-
co-operation. It follows, therefore, that it must have its
root in love. Its object should not be to punish the oppo-
nent or to inflict injury upon him. Even while non-co-
operating with him, we must make him feel that in us
he has a friend and we should try to reach his heart by
rendering him humanitarian service whenever possible.
In fact it is the acid test of non-violence that a non-violent
conflict leaves no rancour behind, and in the end the ene-
mies are converted into friends. That was my experience
in South Africa with General Smi^ts. He, started by being
my "bitterest opponent and critic. Today he is my warm-
est friend. For eight years we were ranged on opposite
sides. But during the Second Round Table Conference,
it was he * who stood by me and, in public as well as in
private, gave me his full support. This is only one in-
stance out of many that I can quote.

" Times change and systems decay. But it is my
faith that in the result it is only non-violence and things

* General Smuts happened to be present in London at that time
in connection with the Faraday Centenary celebrations over which
he presided.