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Details
GANDHI, Mohandas. One autograph letter signed, one autograph postcard signed, and three postcards signed, to Tehmina Behram Khambatta, Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Vardha and n.p., 7 June 1926 - 8 June 1935, in Gujurati, altogether 3 pages, various sizes, in autograph, and three pages, 8vo, in other hands; with a retained draft of a letter from Tehmina Behram Khambatta to Gandhi, 17 August 1931; with translations.
'IN SOME CORNER [OF ME] THERE MUST BE A BIT OF VIOLENCE': messages on bodily suffering, self-sacrifice and 'God's horrifying side'. The earliest postcards concern the health of Tehmina Khambatta's husband (for whom see lot 73) -- 'Whether it is due to diet, or medicine, why should it bother us?' -- and her concerns over Gandhi's own health -- 'You have over-reacted to my climbing three stairs to see you. If we cannot inconvenience ourselves this little bit, our lives would have been in vain ... Joy and sorrow are entwined in our bodies. Only by enduring all this can we become stronger morally'. The autograph letter signed advises Tehmina in March 1930 on her duty of sacrifice to the cause: 'As far as possible, it is our duty to look after our body. But when you can fulfil your duty only by sacrificing your life, then sacrificing one's body is the best thing to do. Therefore it is my opinion that when such an occasion arises, you should both be ready to sacrifice your lives. Bear in mind that God gives ample strength to bear every hardship to anyone who fights for a just cause'. A dramatic message of August 1931 strikes a markedly pessimistic note: 'We cannot help seeing God's horrifying side also. There is an attack on our faith. It has to go through the test. Although there is a lot of non-violence in me, yet in some corner there must be a bit of violence also; that is why, momentarily, my self-confidence is shattered. I hope and pray it is not lost for ever. You must be with me in that'. The last postcard returns to the question of her husband's health.
Gandhi's postcard of August 1931 is evidently responding to a letter from Tehmina, included here, protesting at his declarations that 'something could happen that might make me insane or weak', and that 'My faith is rapidly dwindling': 'How can we accept such utterances from you?'. (7)
'IN SOME CORNER [OF ME] THERE MUST BE A BIT OF VIOLENCE': messages on bodily suffering, self-sacrifice and 'God's horrifying side'. The earliest postcards concern the health of Tehmina Khambatta's husband (for whom see lot 73) -- 'Whether it is due to diet, or medicine, why should it bother us?' -- and her concerns over Gandhi's own health -- 'You have over-reacted to my climbing three stairs to see you. If we cannot inconvenience ourselves this little bit, our lives would have been in vain ... Joy and sorrow are entwined in our bodies. Only by enduring all this can we become stronger morally'. The autograph letter signed advises Tehmina in March 1930 on her duty of sacrifice to the cause: 'As far as possible, it is our duty to look after our body. But when you can fulfil your duty only by sacrificing your life, then sacrificing one's body is the best thing to do. Therefore it is my opinion that when such an occasion arises, you should both be ready to sacrifice your lives. Bear in mind that God gives ample strength to bear every hardship to anyone who fights for a just cause'. A dramatic message of August 1931 strikes a markedly pessimistic note: 'We cannot help seeing God's horrifying side also. There is an attack on our faith. It has to go through the test. Although there is a lot of non-violence in me, yet in some corner there must be a bit of violence also; that is why, momentarily, my self-confidence is shattered. I hope and pray it is not lost for ever. You must be with me in that'. The last postcard returns to the question of her husband's health.
Gandhi's postcard of August 1931 is evidently responding to a letter from Tehmina, included here, protesting at his declarations that 'something could happen that might make me insane or weak', and that 'My faith is rapidly dwindling': 'How can we accept such utterances from you?'. (7)
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