Their Differences

Abstract

The three friends were completely united in their goals for India’s future. These were freedom, Hindu–Muslim unity, and the removal of untouchability. Occasionally Andrews, and even Tagore, pressed Gandhi about giving priority to the cause of abolishing untouchability. Tagore complained that social reform was taking a back seat to ‘khaddar’ and ‘economic recovery’. Andrews differed with Gandhi on the Khilafat question. All things considered, it was the purity of their friendship that kept all three of them ‘working’ continuously no matter what their differences were. Without that, how could Gandhi have written to Andrews: ‘I know what spiritual struggles mean for you.’