Madhusudan_Das

His Life and Achievements: 97
so I am not going to be influenced any more by you." Anyone would
have left his office after this, but I was not prepared to have his refusal,
I said, "Only a year more and you will leave India and I am sure when
you will think of your days in India if you do what I am asking you to
do, you will feel a great satisfaction. That you have done something for
the women of India. So will you not change your mind and help us ?"
He asked "Why not ask Dr. Gour to take up the Bill ?" I said " It will
not be so effective as it will be if it comes from the Home Member."
At last he promised to do so and I thanked him, and before I left Delhi
I saw all the members and canvassed for the Bill. When the Bill was
Introduced it met with no opposition from the House. Sir William had
then retired. The new Home Member remarked at the time that, he
wished all other Government Bills had such an easy passage as that
Bill, which was made into Law in half an hour's time without a single
dissenting voice. It was a great victory. Miss Hazra was the first lady
to practise in Courts of Law at Patna high Court and she thus earned
this unique distinction.
MAHATMA GANDHI'S VISIT TO CUTTACK.
In the winter of 1927 I came from Patna to Cuttack. My late
father Madhusudan Das's house was to be sold by auction. He was
ruined owing to his several industrial enterprises. As there was no
one to help him he incurred debts for which his houses had to be
sold, to meet his liabilities to the Maharaja of Parlakimedi.
Just at this time the local leaders of the Congress came to my
father to request him to accommodate Mahatma Gandhi and his staff
at our house. They knew my father's financial trouble but they did not
hesitate to put a new responsibility on his shoulders. My father's nature
was such that he would spend his last pice for others, sacrificing
himself for the cause of the country. But the Congress men never did
anything to appreciate his work. My father gladly agreed to have him
as his guest.
My father went to Ahmedabad in 1924 to seek help from
Mahatmaji for his industrial development. He promised to do
something for him but he could not do it. Had he been able to help my
late father, he would not have gone to his grave a disappointed man.
Gandhiji knew his troubles, but he was not able to help him. When he
was our guest I was asked by my father to accompany Mahatmaji