This day, 1922, the British
arrest Gandhi for sedition, yet can’t
destroy small spinning wheel—badge of his wish
to lead Hindu and Muslim’s peaceful chant
for freedom. As Mohandas meditates
in jail, India’s angry spindle hums.
At last let go, he doesn’t hesitate,
takes the charka’s drive wheel again, becomes
Mahatma in the world’s eyes,
opposes
partition and Pakistan’s forming, calls
for religious unity. Fear closes
around him, and in ’48 he falls
to Godse’s bullets. His ashes are spread,
some preserved. Khādī remains
in his stead.
Roger Armbrust
March 10,
2013
