Partial hand-corrected manuscript by Mohandas Gandhi, one page, 6.5 x 8.25, on the reverse of a letter written in an unknown hand. Gandhi strikes through several lines of the initial draft, marked as page "8" at the top, and pens a few lines in English pertaining to class and India's pervasive caste system. Gandhi writes, in part: "The rich & resourceful should [have] fellow feeling for the poor & never leave them in the lurch. They must all sink or swim together. Adversity should abolish all distinction of high and low or rich & poor. Then their refugee camps couple be models of sanitation and solid cooperation." In fine condition.
Consignor notes that this page originates from the estate of Indian freedom fighter V. Kalyanam, who worked with Gandhi at his ashram and was the last personal secretary (1943-1948) to Mahatma Gandhi. Kalyanam was responsible for drafting replies to letters that Gandhi received, which Gandhi then revised in his own hand. For thrift purposes, they used to write these types of rough notes or drafts on the backside of the letters sent to Gandhi.
In 1932, Gandhi founded the All India Anti Untouchability League—now known as Harijan Sevak Sangh ('Servants of Untouchables Society')—as part of his efforts to eradicate the concept of 'untouchability' from India's caste system. He put his close friend, the pioneering industrialist Ghanshyam Das Birla, in charge of the organization. The group's noble efforts have helped the depressed classes to access public places such as temples, schools, roads, and water resources that were previously available only to those of privilege.
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