Mahatma and Mahamana: Agreement within Differences

Mahatma Gandhi and Mahamana Malaviya were the two giants of the Indian public life, leading the national movement in their own ways, largely together, and at times through different paths. By the time Gandhi came back to India in January 1915, having proven himself as a Satyagrahi and crusader against oppression, Malaviya had established himself as a leading light of the national movement, a great patriot who was also committed to the cause of Sanatanism and Hindu unity. Both knew about the activities of each other with Malaviya vocally supporting Gandhi’s Satyagraha in South Africa, his struggle for securing equal rights for Asian immigrants and putting in a combined endeavour in fighting the laws related to indentured labour. From 1916 onwards began a long journey of camaraderie that spanned beyond the temporary hiccups reflected at times in the differences of methods to be followed in the anti-imperialist struggle. Gandhi was enamoured by Malaviya’s ascetically simple life, his patriotism, his devotion to swadeshi, his will to mitigate the evils of untouchability and his ability to mobilise funds for the cause that lay close to his heart, while Malaviya showed strong faith in Gandhi’s selfless struggle to achieve Swaraj, his desire to unify people, his emphasis on indigenous handicraft industries, and leading the movement for eradication of untouchability. Notwithstanding the temporary strains owing mainly to Malaviya’s non-conformism to the idea of boycott in the non-cooperation movement or his disenchantment with Congress’s position of neutrality on Communal Award, they continued to share an extremely warm relationship.