0046.htm

MY PATH . 29

draining India of her wealth and of prolonging her servi-
tude.
Young India, 23-3-1922

MY PATH

It is my good fortune and misfortune to receive atten-
tion in Europe and America at the present moment. It is my
good fortune in that my message is being studied and un-
derstood in the West. It is my misfortune in that it is also
being either unconsciously exaggerated or wilfully distorted.
Every truth is self-acting and possesses inherent strength.
I therefore remain, unperturbed even when I find
myself grossly misrepresented. A kind European friend has
sent me a warning which shows, if the information given to
him be true, that I am being either wilfully or accidentally
misunderstood in Russia. Here is the message:

"The Russian representative at Berlin, M. Krestinsky, would
be asked by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to give an official
welcome to Gandhi (?) and to ^eprofit by the situation to under-
take Bolshevik propagandist activities among his followers*. Be-
sides, Krestinsky would be given the task of inviting Gandhi to
come to Russia. He is authorized to give a subsidy for the publication
of propagandist literature among the oppressed peoples of Asia;
and he is to found, for the purposes of the Oriental Club and Secre-
tariate, a purse in the name of Gandhi, for students who are of
his ideas (of the ideas of Gandhi or of those of Moscow?). Finally
three Hindus would be enlisted in this work. All this is published
in the Russian newspapers like the Rul of Oct. 18th."

The message gives the clue to the reports that I was
likely to be invited to visit Germany and Russia. I need not
say that I have received no such invitation at all., nor have
I the slightest desire to visit these great countries. I am
conscious of the fact that the truth for which I stand has
not yet been fully accepted by India. It has not yet been
fully vindicated. My work in India is still in the experi-
mental stage. In such circumstances any foreign adventure



	MY PATH . 29 draining India of her wealth and of prolonging her servi- tude. Young India, 23-3-1922

	13 MY PATH It is my good fortune and misfortune to receive atten- tion in Europe and America at the present moment. It is my good fortune in that my message is being studied and un- derstood in the West. It is my misfortune in that it is also being either unconsciously exaggerated or wilfully distorted. Every truth is self-acting and possesses inherent strength. I therefore remain, unperturbed even when I find myself grossly misrepresented. A kind European friend has sent me a warning which shows, if the information given to him be true, that I am being either wilfully or accidentally misunderstood in Russia. Here is the message: "The Russian representative at Berlin, M. Krestinsky, would be asked by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to give an official welcome to Gandhi (?) and to ^eprofit by the situation to under- take Bolshevik propagandist activities among his followers. Be- sides, Krestinsky would be given the task of inviting Gandhi to come to Russia. He is authorized to give a subsidy for the publication of propagandist literature among the oppressed peoples of Asia; and he is to found, for the purposes of the Oriental Club and Secre- tariate, a purse in the name of Gandhi, for students who are of his ideas (of the ideas of Gandhi or of those of Moscow?). Finally three Hindus would be enlisted in this work. All this is published in the Russian newspapers like the Rul* of Oct. 18th." The message gives the clue to the reports that I was likely to be invited to visit Germany and Russia. I need not say that I have received no such invitation at all., nor have I the slightest desire to visit these great countries. I am conscious of the fact that the truth for which I stand has not yet been fully accepted by India. It has not yet been fully vindicated. My work in India is still in the experi- mental stage. In such circumstances any foreign adventure