Two sages, two great-grandsons: When Gandhi met Tolstoy for the first time in Jaipur

As the assemblage leaned in, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, historiographer and professor, described the nonstop infinitesimal erstwhile his great-grandfather, M K Gandhi, archetypal encountered Leo Tolstoy’s words. “In 1909, Gandhi had arrived successful London connected a deputation,” helium recounted. “On the precise time helium landed, a melodramatic assassination of a British authoritative by an Indian nationalist rocked the city. Amid the turmoil, Gandhi stumbled upon a letter—a missive that urged India to cull unit and alternatively clasp emotion arsenic the lone way to liberation. It was written by nary different than Leo Tolstoy.”

“In that letter, Tolstoy quotes large texts from the Hindu faith, Krishna, the Gita, and besides from the bonzer enactment Thirukkural, the large Tamil classic,” Gopalkrishna Gandhi said.

Daniil Tolstoy, steadfast and steward of his great-grandfather’s literate legacy, nodded successful agreement. “By the clip Tolstoy wrote A Letter to a Hindu, helium was 80 years aged and had go profoundly disillusioned with unit arsenic a means of change,” helium said. “He had witnessed the brutalities of the 1905 Russian Revolution and was convinced that non-violence was the lone way forward. He immersed himself successful spiritual and ethical philosophy, adjacent learning past Greek astatine the property of 45, truthful helium could amended recognize the archetypal Gospel texts.”

The speech past turned to the celebrated correspondence betwixt Gandhi and Tolstoy, a bid of letters exchanged betwixt 1909 and 1910. “Every missive is remarkable,” said Subramaniam. “Tolstoy spent 7 months, wrote 29 drafts, and filled 400 pages earlier finalising A Letter to a Hindu. That is an bonzer magnitude of effort. Gandhi was profoundly moved and instantly wrote back.”

Gopalkrishna Gandhi work an excerpt from his ancestor’s archetypal letter, which began, “Count Tolstoy, I instrumentality the liberty of inviting your attention…”

“Gandhi was 40 erstwhile helium wrote those words, portion Tolstoy was 80. And yet, Gandhi leaned connected Tolstoy’s words arsenic if they were a pillar of strength. Much similar I leaned connected Daniil’s limb arsenic I climbed the steps onto this signifier today,” observed Gopalkrishna Gandhi. Laughter rippled done the assemblage astatine this candid admittance earlier Daniil Tolstoy picked up the thread.

“In his last missive to Gandhi, my great-grandfather reflected connected the motivation contradictions of society. He told a communicative of a bishop teaching children astir the Ten Commandments. When asked whether determination were exceptions to the commandment ‘Thou shalt not kill’, the bishop hesitated, yet conceding that sidesplitting was sometimes permissible successful warfare oregon successful dealing with criminals. Then, a young miss successful the assemblage responded, ‘No, determination is ne'er an juncture erstwhile you tin termination different quality being.’ That was the essence of Tolstoy’s belief,” Daniil Tolstoy said.

The speech past turned to the establishment of Tolstoy Farm. Gopalkrishna Gandhi said, “He acceptable up a workplace extracurricular Johannesburg wherever the families of Satyagrahis could unrecorded self-reliantly.” This farm, named successful honour of Tolstoy, became a sanctuary for those affected by the struggles successful South Africa.

“Daniil, your great-grandfather was gone by then,” Gopalkrishna said, “but his power was palpable. Tolstoy was truthful live successful Gandhi’s beingness that his workplace was a magnet for the South African Satyagraha campaign.”

The speech past turned to the modern relevance of their ancestors’ ideas. When asked if love-based absorption could inactive beryllium a solution successful today’s world, Daniil Tolstoy responded, “We trust connected subject and exertion to lick our problems, but these often make caller ones. Tolstoy’s thought of unconditional love, oregon agape, is possibly much applicable present than ever.”

Gopalkrishna Gandhi echoed this sentiment, citing modern examples of sportsmanship and camaraderie. “Neeraj Chopra, the Indian javelin thrower, precocious spoke of his Pakistani rival arsenic a brother. That is the tone of emotion and respect that Gandhi and Tolstoy championed,” helium said.