24
PARTISAN REVIEW
"Consider the sacrifices of the great Bapu" (a shout rose at the
mention of his name), "the saint who lived among us, how
his
frail
body endured torment after torment, languished in prison, lay starv–
ing and tortured, and how, always defiantly, he sprang again to the
head of our ranks, to reaffirm our faith and to lead our struggles. Con–
sider these things, and then ask yourselves: are you willing?"
"Willing!" roared the crowd.
"Then this is what you must do!" cried Satya, without waiting
for the shout tot die down. "This is what you must do!" He threw
his
voice over the roar of the crowd. "Disobey! Adhere to our disobedience
program, but extend it. Extend it into every comer of your lives.
Do not recognize their language. When they issue a command in
their own tongue-when one says, 'Open the door' or 'Get off the
street,' do not understand; do not obey. When the signs say 'whites
only' in the comfort station, in the theatre, in the park, do not read,
do not understand, do not obey. Also when the sign says 'natives only';
and as for facilities that are put at the public's disposal without regard
to color, to native or foreigner, ruler or ruled, do not use them. We
all wear clothes of our own manufacture, refusing to touch what their
hands have spun. So, also, must we avoid them. Not only must you
disobey overt commands, you must avoid even unconscious opportu–
nities for obedience and cooperation. Just as the touch of Midas
turned all things into gold, so must your touch make all things an–
archic. Disobedience is our gold. Disobey! Refuse to return or recog–
nize the nod of condescension in the street, the luxury of friendly
greeting with which the administrator pampers you. Do not hold out
your hand to the fallen, raise .your cap to the lofty, bow to the power–
ful. Despise and
di~obey
!"
"De~pise
and disobey!" cried the crowd, recognizing a new
slogan.
The troops had begun to move. Several groups had marched,
rifles slung, onto the hills and taken up commanding positions. The
administrators in the stands had dismissed the translators and had
gathered together, conferring among theffiiSelves. Native runners,
naked except for loin cloths and turbans to which their badges were
pinned, could be seen leaving the field, bearing messages in official
envelopes. The native pullers had been disaffected by Satya's speech;
they now refused to operate the ropes, which they had left swinging
idly over the stands. A few of the bamboo squares stood upright over–
head, balancing in the wind, and casting no shade.
"You have learned disobedience of the major laws-governing
