Saquib Salim

“I beg you to adopt our program. It is the natural growth of your own ancient culture. It is the fulfillment of Mahatma Gandhi's great scheme of life. I say, realize yourself as Aryan, Arya which was once the source of all common culture on this earth. From Iran to Assam, including Afghanistan and Nepal let us have a sense of common unity. Then, fraternize with the rest of Asia.”

This is Raja Mahendra Pratap as quoted in the edition of World Federation of July-August 1935

Contrary to popular perception Raja Mahendra Pratap, the man who played an important role in the formation of a Provisional Government of India in exile at Kabul in 1915 and tried to raise an army with other revolutionaries, was an admirer and ally of Mahatma Gandhi, a proponent of non-violence. Their relationship of mutual admiration can be traced back to the First World War era when Mahatma Gandhi was known as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in South Africa.

Raja notes in his memoirs, “In 1912, I offered my services to Mr. Gokhle, to go to South Africa and help Mahatma Gandhi in his campaign by getting myself arrested. I had heard about Mr. Gandhi from Mr. Polak who came earlier to collect some funds. Mr. Gokhle told me that he did not know there were also such men in North India. He, however, advised me not to go to South Africa. He kindly accepted my offering of one thousand rupees.”

When Raja was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1932 his citation read, “In 1913 he took part in Gandhi's campaign in South Africa.”

This was not a one-sided love affair. Gandhi also held the Raja in high esteem. In 1929, Gandhi wrote, “Raja Mahendra Pratap is a great patriot. For the sake of the country, this nobleman has chosen exile as his lot. He has given up his splendid property in Vrindavan for educational purposes. Prem Maha-vidyalaya now conducted by Acharya Jugalkishore is his creation. The Rajasaheb has often corresponded with me.”

The same year, in November, Gandhi went to Prem-Mahavidyalaya (the educational institution set up by Raja) to unveil his portrait. He paid rich tribute to his sacrifice and patriotism at the ceremony while addressing the students.

Records show that Gandhi and Raja were always in contact through letters. They discussed the methods for anti-colonial struggle. At times they agreed while sometimes there were disagreements. In 1925, Gandhi wrote to Raja, “I continue to hear from you from time to time. I know that we differ in our outlook on life. I know there are as many minds as there are men. But as cold and heat cannot co-exist in the same place at the same time and in the same circumstances, so can violence not coexist with non-violence at the same time and place and in the same circumstances.”

Raja also had his reservations about Gandhian methods. In a letter to Gandhi, published in Young India, Raja wrote, “Many people in India today deliver some very fine sermons on the beauties of ahimsa(non-violence); however, they do little to destroy the himsa (violence) of the British. I say all such persons are abettors and aid to all that crime which the British commit in India against the weak, the hungry, and the helpless.

"Of course, no one can deny that our great leader Gandhiji has a very sincere desire to serve the Indian nation. However, I am afraid that his methods alone, unsupported by some more energetic active program, cannot bring relief to the people.

"I highly appreciate and strongly endorse the Khadi movement of Gandhiji….

"I must, however, add that we need much more. We have to destroy in the true spirit of ahimsa all that British organization which is himsa personified.

"Let the nation as a whole strive to that end. At the earliest possible moment let us put an end to the British brutality in India, in fact in the whole world. Let everyone perform his duty according to his natural endowments…. I can only say; Let everyone try his or her best to destroy all himsa. This is ahimsa.”

Despite these differences in methods, both leaders had great respect for each other. Raja during the Second World War, in 1939, told a Japanese audience, “God wants me to this act. And now, if the news is correct, our Mahatma Gandhi after the painful silence of over one year has stirred up. They say he has started the campaign of civil disobedience .... This is the time to act. Let us act concertedly from Japan to Turkey, in cooperation with Germany and Italy and with the silent consent of the U.S.S.R. Working thus, the historic State of Iran, which had historic relations with ancient China, and Afghanistan, which was once the center of Buddhism and which is today equally devoted to Islam, will cooperate with us. Nepal will surely work with us when Nepal is assured of our good intentions. All our troubles come due to wrong and long British propaganda. You start cleaning up the Far East of all the British influence. Occupy Hong Kong and Singapore.

"And phone or send a radio message to Iran, Afghanistan, and Nepal to move from their sides against the British in India. Our Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi will disrupt the British administration. But I say, we should not wait for anybody, now when brave and brainy Germans are hammering the head of the British empire in London, now when the youths of ancient Italy, modern Italy, are cutting open the arteries of the British empire in the Mediterranean, we cannot wait, we must go forward carrying everything before us as a flood rushing down a valley does..”

One can admire that Raja was explaining the plan of Subhas Chandra Bose-led Azad Hind Fauj with the help of Japan, Iqbal Shedai, and Ajit Singh-led Indian Legion in collaboration with Italy and the Quit India Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in June 1939.

Raja reportedly told a public meeting in Japan after the War, “I did not doubt that the experiment of India was as great if not greater as the revolutions of China and Russia. India also expects to bring about a world revolution. It is indeed a revolution of human feelings. Mahatma Gandhi is out to revolutionize the human heart!”

With the defeat of Japan in 1945, Raja was arrested as a Prisoner of War. When Gandhi came to know of this he located him and urged the British Empire to release Raja.

In a letter dated 12 January 1946, Gandhi wrote to Raja, “I would like to know from you whether you are allowed to receive visitors. Goswami has enquired about you to find out your whereabouts and suddenly within two days of this enquiry, I got your letter. Are you permitted to tell me whether you are to be tried or how long you are to be detained? From your letter, I gather that you are keeping well and are being well treated. Are you kept in company with others or are you by yourself? Your friends and advisers would certainly like to know all about you.”

The letter was handed over to Raja through the American Red Cross and his release was secured. Dr. Anil Rawat notes, “In 1946 Mahendra Pratap was allowed to return to India and he immediately rushed Wardha to meet Mahatma Gandhi.”

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The mutual respect for differences in methods to achieve the same goal can be judged from Raja’s words which he told to A. M. Sahay in Japan, “I said that the present technique of non-violence and fasting was unsuited to a war situation. I recommended cooperation with Iran, Afghanistan, and Nepal and understanding with Japan, Italy, and Germany in case of war. But we would not do anything to harm the great leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. Let him march forward and try to get what he can from the British. His victory is our victory. From outside we will do what we can to bring complete independence to India.”