Madhusudan_Das

98 Madhusudan Das :
everywhere, which I gladly did. It was arranged that Gandhiji would
address the women of the town. I accompanied him to the meeting at
the Town Hall at Cuttack. In those days, there were not many Congress
ladies in Cuttack, nor were they financially well of as they are now
under the National Government. Very few ladies attended the meeting.
Gandhiji sat on a table and spoke to them for about 15 minutes. The
ladies put their pranam before him for Darshan. The collection was
about Rs.60. Seeing the small amount given by the Cuttack ladies he
was disappointed. I wanted to speak to him but restrained myself,
though I knew most of the ladies were not well off. They had paid what
they could.
That night my father, Mahatmaji, his Secretary and some others
were sitting on a carpet in our drawing room and talking. I was also
present there. Mahatma addressed me and said " I came specially to
Cuttack as your guest, for I want a favour from you." We looked the
surprise we felt. Then I said "I will certainly do what you want me to
do, if I am able." He said "In Patna, in Calcutta and even at Cuttack
those who know you have told me that you are the person who can help
me, so I want your help." I said "I am much honoured because of your
confidence in my ability, but I am sorry I cannot give you my promise
until I know the nature of the work and of my ability to do it." But he
was adamant and said he was sure I could do it for him. He said "I want
you to take up Charka and introduce it to the ladies of Orissa." With
folded hands I begged him to excuse me as I would not be able to make
it a success, when everyone says you can." I answered "Unless I put my
whole heart and soul into the work I cannot make it a success." He
asked "Don't you believe in Charka.:" I said" No, the Charka will never
bring salvation to India or solve its economic problems. But it is good
for the cultivators. They can grow cotton in their own fields, and can
make their own dhoties sarees and gamchas. But the middle and rich
classes will never take to it." Then he asked me again "If you do not
believe in Charka why are you wearing a khaddar Shari ?" I replied
"You are our honoured guest. I do not wish to appear before you in any
Shari which will be repugnant to your eyes." He asked "Am I to
understand that you will discard Khaddar as soon as I leave your house
?" I said "Yes." He kept quiet for a minute or two. Everyone present was
surprised at my boldness. Then Gandhiji said again "Very well, now I
shall ask from you another favour, will you do it ?" I said "Unless I