
E-text prepared by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org)
FREEDOM THROUGH DISOBEDIENCE
In the turbulent winter of 1922, a seasoned leader addresses a gathering of the Indian National Congress, his voice heavy with grief over Mahatma Gandhi’s recent imprisonment. He draws powerful parallels between the colonial trial of Gandhi and the ancient martyrdom of Jesus, framing the current struggle as a moral clash between conscience and an overbearing bureaucracy. The speaker’s reverence for Gandhi’s courage sets the tone for a passionate appeal to his fellow activists.
The address then turns to a sharp critique of the prevailing doctrine of “law and order,” which the speaker argues merely shields oppressive power. He contends that true freedom arises from deliberate, non‑violent disobedience to unjust statutes, urging the audience to move beyond passive compliance. Listeners are invited to consider how civil resistance can reshape a nation’s destiny, making the speech a compelling call to conscience at a pivotal moment in India’s fight for self‑rule.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (105K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2011-02-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1870–1925
A gifted lawyer who became one of Bengal’s best-known nationalist leaders, he helped shape India’s freedom movement with sharp political strategy and a strong belief in self-rule. Remembered as “Deshbandhu,” or “Friend of the Country,” he also played an important role in mentoring a younger generation of leaders.
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