Many people say that Gandhi fasted everywhere but did not fast to stop the partition. 'Why didn't Gandhi sit on a fast against Jinnah?' Those who say so probably do not know about Gandhiji's policy of fasting. Gandhi has told on this too.
Just as the same cloth will not fit every person, in the same way the same remedy cannot be used everywhere, nor can it be successful everywhere. Same game with fasting. Gandhi ji has been told that where to fast, where not, in front of whom to do it and not in front of whom.
In a letter to George Joseph on 12 April 1924, Gandhi says, “Fasting in satyagraha has well-defined limits. You cannot fast against a tyrant, for it will be as a piece of violence done to him. You invite penalty from him for disobedience of his orders, but you cannot inflict on yourself penalties when he refuses to punish and renders it impossible for you to disobey his orders so as to compel infliction of penalty. Fasting can only be resorted to against a lover, not to extort rights but to reform him, as when a son fasts for a parent who drinks. My fast at Bombay, and then at Bardoli, was of that character. I fasted to reform those who loved me. But I will not fast to reform, say, General Dyer who not only does not love me, but who regards himself as my enemy. Am I quite clear?”
Hope it becomes clear why Gandhi did not fast against Jinnah. He did not fast because Jinnah considered him his enemy. Even if he did the fast, Gandhi would have stayed and Jinnah would have let him die. Neither Jinnah was his friend or sympathiser he was determined in his task nor would it have any effect on those people who were in favour of Partition.
Like how many people hate Gandhi today. Had Gandhi been here today and fasted, these people would have allowed him to die too. Because hatred is such a thing that makes you a demon from human and you become only bloodthirsty for every person who has different opinion from you.
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