“Gandhi wanted to solve it, but you rejected”

Guest, July 11, 1973, London: Like poverty and this lack of balance between rich and poor, how these problems can be solved?

Prabhupada: Gandhi wanted to solve it, but you rejected. Gandhi wanted them to cultivate, village organization. He started that Wardha asrama. You have rejected. What Gandhi can do? That was a good proposal, to remain satisfied in one’s own place. That was Gandhi’s proposal, that “Don’t go to the city, town, for so-called better advantage of life. Remain in your own home, produce your food, and be satisfied there.” That was Gandhi’s policy. The economic problem he wanted to solve by keeping cows, by agriculture, by spinning thread. You want food, shelter and cloth. You produce here, and remain here. Don’t be allured by the capitalists and go to cities and be engaged in industries. But Jawaharlal Nehru wanted overnight to Americanize the whole India. That is the folly.

Guest: I agree.

Prabhupada: Yes. The Congress side, the followers of Gandhi, should have followed Gandhi’s principle. From political point of view only. Village organization. But they won’t do that.

Devotee: Ksira?

Guest: Oh.

Prabhupada: That’s all? You don’t need more?

Guest: No.

Prabhupada: The… Actually, by destroying the Manchester millionaires, Gandhi gave opportunity to the Ahmedabad millionaires. And the consumers, instead of purchasing Manchester cloth at one, eight per pair, now they are purchasing thirty rupees pair. This is advancement. I know. My father had cloth business. The Manchester cloth, very nice cloth. One rupee, six annas per pair, retail sale.

Guest: Now same thing for thirty rupees.

Prabhupada: Just see. And where the money going? To the Ahmedabad capitalists. That’s all.

Guest: Yes.

Prabhupada: So frying pan. From frying pan to the fire. (Guest laughs) You see.

Guest: Yes, quite true.

Prabhupada: Everything is due to lack of God consciousness.