The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Letter to a Hindu, by Leo Tolstoy

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: A Letter to a Hindu

Author: Leo Tolstoy

Commentator: M. K. Gandhi

Release Date: December, 2004 [EBook #7176]
Posting Date: April 6, 2009 [EBook #7176]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LETTER TO A HINDU ***

Produced by Chetan Jain

A LETTER TO A HINDU

THE SUBJECTION OF INDIA--ITS CAUSE AND CURE

_With an Introduction by_ M. K. GANDHI

By Leo Tolstoy

INTRODUCTION

The letter printed below is a translation of Tolstoy's letter written in
Russian in reply to one from the Editor of Free Hindustan. After having
passed from hand to hand, this letter at last came into my possession
through a friend who asked me, as one much interested in Tolstoy's
writings, whether I thought it worth publishing. I at once replied in
the affirmative, and told him I should translate it myself into Gujarati
and induce others' to translate and publish it in various Indian
vernaculars.

The letter as received by me was a type-written copy. It was therefore
referred to the author, who confirmed it as his and kindly granted me
permission to print it.

To me, as a humble follower of that great teacher whom I have long
looked upon as one of my guides, it is a matter of honour to be
connected with the publication of his letter, such especially as the one
which is now being given to the world.

It is a mere statement of fact to say that every Indian, whether he
owns up to it or not, has national aspirations. But there are as many
opinions as there are Indian nationalists as to the exact meaning of
that aspiration, and more especially as to the methods to be used to
attain the end.

One of the accepted and 'time-honoured' methods to attain the end
is that of violence. The assassination of Sir Curzon Wylie was an
illustration of that method in its worst and most detestable form.
Tolstoy's life has been devoted to replacing the method of violence for
removing tyranny or securing reform by the method of non-resistance to
evil. He would meet hatred expressed in violence by love expressed in
self-suffering. He admits o