GANDHI MOHANDAS K Letter Signed yours sincerely MKGandhi to

Sale 2394 - Lot 70

Price Realized: $ 10,625

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 5,000 - $ 7,500

"NO COUNTRY IN THE WORLD NEEDS AN ARMY" GANDHI, MOHANDAS K. Letter Signed, "yours sincerely / MKGandhi," to Dr. John Haynes Holmes ("Dear Dr. Holmes"), in English, expressing surprise at the accusation of having stated that an independent India should form an army and navy commanded by an American general, and noting that Mr. Fey had visited and left this morning. 2 pages, small 4to, written on the recto and verso of a single sheet; lower edge trimmed (without affecting text), folds. Sevagram, 27 April 1940

Set Alert for Similar Items

Additional Details

". . . I have no recollection of my having told Dr. Sherwood Eddy that 'in the event that India does get its independence, it would proceed to form an army & navy' & that I would 'invite an American general' to command these forces, if only because for years I have held the opinion that no country in the world needs an army for its defence, much less India. I am engaged in making an experiment proving the truth of my proposition. It is therefore highly unlikely that I could have made the statement imputed to me. But I see you have not had anything direct from Dr. Eddy. You have only heard some such statement attributed to him. I would therefore advise you to have it confirmed by Dr. Eddy for I should be painfully surprised if I found that he had made it. . . ."
In 1940, Holmes wrote to Gandhi concerning the claim--made by Sherwood Eddy in his book, I Have Seen God Do It (1940)--that Gandhi made statements to Eddy contradicting his expressed pacifism. In the July 28, 1940, issue of Harijan, Gandhi denied making any such statements and suggested that Eddy publish a correction.
Rev. Dr. John Haynes Holmes (1879-1964) was an American clergyman, author, and activist who met Gandhi in London in 1931, thereafter supporting him and his causes.