For growth: Courage to trust the opponent

To understand the non-violent methodology of Dhiji, let us continue the discussion of the Noakhali incident. Jinnah and the Muslim League's call for 'direct action' fueled the Kolkata furor. Hindus and Sikhs were killed more in the first two days of the Kolkata massacre. But later there was a heavy loss of Muslims. There was a slogan of revenge for Kolkata. The Noakhali massacre was the result. Gandhiji reaches Kolkata to go to Noakhali. They were impatient to go to Noakhali. Bakri Eid festival was coming. At that time there was fear of communal riot. Bengal was ruled by the Muslim League. The Chief Minister of this government, Shaheed Suhrawardy, suggested Gandhiji to stay in Calcutta to ensure peace in Calcutta. The hand of the government was behind the 2 massacres of Noakhali. Gandhiji was not unaware of his notoriety that Chief Minister Suhrawardy had worked behind the Kolkata massacre. Some suggested that the Chief Minister's suggestion was a ploy to delay Gandhiji's departure to Noakhali. However, considering the suggestion of the Chief Minister, whose hands were not clean in the whole situation, he agreed to stay in Kolkata for a few days. It was his firm belief that if we do not fear our adversary despite the reasons for distrust, but trust with open eyes and continue to act accordingly till the end, that adversary will eventually respond to our faith in the same way. Gandhi followed his principles throughout his life. In general, we should not trust someone we have heard bad about or have a bad opinion of, and not give him a chance to do something to change our opinion of him. Gandhi did the opposite here. We should not even be ready to talk to such a person. Gandhi ji not only talks to Chief Minister of Bengal Shaheed Suhrawardy but tells him verbally what he does not like. Let's see the dialogue between them: Gandhiji: 'Shaheed Sahib, why does everyone call you the leader of gangsters? Nobody seems to have a good word for you!' During the Khilafat movement three decades ago, Suhrawardy, who described himself as Gandhiji's son, told Gandhiji during this crisis: 'Mahatmaji, don't people tell some things about you behind your back?' Gandhi replied smilingly: 'That may be so, but still some people call me Mahatma, but I have never seen a single man call you Mahatma, Shaheed Suhrawardy!' Without even turning his fur, the martyr replied, 'Mahatmaji, do not believe what people say about you in your presence!' After that, the martyrs came to know that those who knew him and who had the courage to call him a liar without letting their love for him diminish even an iota. Gandhiji shows the courage to trust the opposition and speak the truth even if he does not like it. Such courage is rare in politics. Do we behave like this in our family too? If we can act in this way, family relations will be very strong. We will finish this discussion in the next issue by discussing an incident that makes the nature of Gandhiji's non-violence clear.}