84

A PILGRIMAGE FOR PEACE

renouncing arms, it would be a red letter day In the his-
tory of India and the world. " For good or for ill, the
Pathan today has come to be regarded as a bogey-man by
the average person in India. In Gujarat and Kathiawad
children turn pale at the very mention of the Pathan. At
Sabarmati Ashram, we try to inculcate fearlessness
among the children. But I am ashamed to confess that
in spite of all our efforts we have not succeeded in making
them eradicate the fear of the Pathan from their hearts.
I have not been able to impress upon our Ashram girls
that they have no need to fear a Pathan. They try to
make a show of bravery. But it is only a make-believe.
During a communal disturbance they dare not stir out
of their homes if there is a report of even a casual Pathan
being about. They are afraid they would be kidnapped.
" I tell them that even if they are kidnapped they
must not be frightened. They should appeal to the kid-
napper's sense of honour to behave chivalrously towards
one who should be as a sister to him. If in spite of their
entreaties he persists in his evil intentions, (since all must
die some day), they can put an end to their life by biting
the tongue but not submit. They answer, ' What you say
is right. But it is all new to us. We have not the confi-
dence that at the proper time we shall be able to do what
you tell us/ If such is the case with the Ashram girls,
what must it be with others ? When, therefore, I hear
that a body of Khidmatgars has arisen among the Pathans,
who have completely renounced violence, I do not know
whether to believe it or not."
"What are the implications of renouncing violence
and what is the mark of a person who has renounced vio-
lence ? " he next asked. One did not become a Khudai
Khidmatgar by adopting that name or by putting on the
Khudai Khidmatgar's uniform, he told them. It needed
systematic training in non-violence. In Europe where
they had glorified killing into a noble profession they
spent millions on perfecting the science of destruction.
Their best scientists were pressed into its service. Even
their educational system was centred on it. They spent