10 Friday, April 29, 1983 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS . h I eunsIssues Had Impact on Ind in s Gandhi • By JOSEPH SARGON (Copyright 1983, JTA, Inc.) (Editor's note: Joseph I. Sargon, born in Bom- bay, India, was managing editor of the Jewish K SMART CHARTER TO LAS VEGAS H.M.H. & F. 557-5145 Tribune. He also repre- sented the Jewish Tele- graphic Agency in India and the World Jewish Congress. He now resides in Brookline, Mass.) The movie "Gandhi," which recently won the Academy Award as the best film of 1982, brings back personal memories and places into dramatic focus the life story of India's great spiritual and political leader, Mahatma (Great Soul) Gandhi, whom I had the opportunity to meet and interview when I lived in India. The "Jewish Tribune," the organ of Indian Jewry, edited by my brothers and myself for a number of years, carried first-hand re- ports and statements on Gandhi's views pertaining to the Jews, including the Manor Twin Lakes, WI 10ersilik vataoil fun JUNKETS! 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(to be used up by May 31, 1984) For Reservations Call: GOLDSTEIN TRAVEL 559.2770 Lathrup Landing Plaza corner of Eleven Mlle and Evergreen Road then "Palestine Question" and Hitler's ruthless drive against the Jews which caused grave concern and to which at times he made reference through the medium of correspondence and in his well-known pub- lication "Harijan." Some of these events, which may not be famil- iar, are recalled because they tend to give an in- sight into Gandhi's atti- tude towards the Jews, about which so little has been written. Gandhi, who embraced poverty, not only changed the history of India but also initiated a new kind of revo- lutionary movement which made a tremendous impact on the minds of millions and succeeded in its aim of driv- ing the British out of India and the establishment of an independent India. Gandhi could not have succeeded in all that he achieved but for a "weapon" peculiarly his own which he called "Satyagraha." Trans- lated it means "Soul Force." He explained Satyagraha is the vindication of truth, not on the infliction of suffering on one's opponent but on one's self. The opponent must be "weaned from error by patience and sympathy." This was unprecedented philosophy, unique in its conception and successful in its aim of wrestling from Great Britain the indepen- dence of India after 200 years of authoritative rule by "passive resistance and non-cooperation." I recall the events that marked the drive to attain India's. independence, saw the brutality perpetrated against defenseless people, was in the midst of riots that raged at that time, and wit- nessed the incredible man- ner in which the powerful machinery of the mighty British administration — "on whose empire the sun never set" — completely paralyzed by non-violent means by a man whom Winston Churchill de- scribed as "a seditious fakir" (religious mendic- ant). I recall seeing Gandhi striding half-naked up the steps of the Viceroy's palace to negotiate with the repre- sentative of the King Em- peror. He "twisted the tail of the British lion" by passive resistance, civil disobedi- ence and non-cooperation. Very little has been is the fact that there was a written or said _about special constituency for Gandhi in his relation to Jews in the Cochin Legisla- the Jews among whom he ture where Jewish tax- had many friends and for payers elected their own whom he professed con- candidates. In particular, cern and understanding. the Jews of Malabar, from He considered himself a the Fifth to Fifteenth Cen- good friend of the Jews tury, enjoyed the benefits of and at times he was ap- a virtually independent proached by them for ad- principality ruled over by a vice and guidance con- member of their own race. cerning their problems. During Hitler's persecu- As a matter of fact, one of tion, more than 600 German his physicians was an Jews were given asylum in eminent Jew and one of India. They found employ- the books he took with ment as technicians in the him the many times he textile mills and oil indus- was in prison, was "A try. Among the refugees Book of Jewish there were many doctors. Thoughts" by the late True to the spirit of Indian Chief Rabbi Dr. J. H. hospitality, at a meeting of Hertz. Incidentally, in the medical and dental pro- Gandhi's victorious fessions after a lengthy dis- struggle for Indian rights cussion, it was resolved "to in South Africa, one of his extend to the duly qualified many Jewish friends was doctors heartfelt sympathy Herman Kallenbach who in their misfortune as a re- was "second in charge of sult of political persecution" the Satyagraha move- and an opportunity to prac- ment." tice in the country. It was When prohibition was pointed out that this was in first introduced in Bombay the traditional hospitality in 1939, the question arose of India which went back regarding wine to be used many centuries when a for Kiddush by Jews: The haven of refuge was af- Jewish community, always forded to the victims of per- well-treated, raised the secution. issue and pointed out that In the Indian National important religious and Congress politicians took sacred requireinents were interest in the events in served in the use of wine. Palestine. Moslem organ- Gandhi did not wish to izations occasionally interfere with Jewish reli- passed resolutions of gious susceptibilities so he sympathy for the Arabs got into touch with Jewish there. And as every friends in South Africa and "good Indian" com- asked for an authoritative pletely hated England opinion from the then and her imperialism, Chief Rabbi in South Af- they, therefore, were rica, the late Dr. J. L. obliged to side- with the Landau. The Chief Rabbi Arabs. Gandhi and even sent his report and Gandhi Pandit Jawaharlal expressed his satisfaction. Nehru, were no excep- The Jews in India then tion. numbered no more than The disorders in Pales- 30,000 in a vast population tine were widely reported in of nearly 400 million. For the Indian press and over many centuries Jews Zionism and the Balfour were always well-treated, Declaration were blamed enjoyed religious freedom, for the trouble in the coun- and did not suffer anti- try by the Moslems. Al- Semitism in any form or though engrossed in the manner. They occupied internal policy of India many important offices and and the fight he led for her made an invaluable contri- independence, the "Pales- bution, out of all proportion tine Question" and Hitler's to their numbers, to the wel- persecution of the Jews re- fare and progress of India. ceived Gandhi's special at- Records shows that they tention and were frequently came to India after the de- referred to by him in his struction of the Second well-known journal "Hari- Temple. Of special interest ] n. Windsor Bar-Han Unit Meets `Gandhi' Printed in Paperback Grove Press has just released a paperback version of "Gandhi — The Screenplay" by John Briley. The book includes a brief foreword by Sir Richard Attenborough, director of the Academy Award-winning movie. It also includes eight pages of black-and- white photographs from the film. Celebrating the membership increase in the Windsor Friends of Bar-Ilan, are, standing from left: Max Levine; Jacob Rosenthal, chairman; Rabbi Ira Grussgott; Paul Zlotoff, guest speaker; Rabbi Samuel Stollman; David Glanz and Sam Cohen; and seated, from left: Harry Sigal, Fred Radnoti, Charles Zalev, Morris Tabachnick and Abraham Kaufman.