The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 11
[ 1 t ] Daudi, and so many other prominent Muslim leaders and Khilafatists to oppose the Nehru Committee. The reason, why I choose to dwell on the point in detail, is because I feel pained to see millions of Indians being driven in this matter like so many dum� cat �le_ A handf, ll of people assembles here or there and publishes their decisions in glaring headlines as the pro nouncements of the Leaders of the Nation. No one steps out and raises his little finger in protest and asks '' \v'h0 made you our leaders?'' Perhaps nowhere under the sun are the people at large treated with so much humi liation, indignity and contempt. It is assumed that the country is the property of a noisy few, at liberty to deal with it as they like to do. My as·:onishment knew no bounds when at the last Unity Conference I noticed soree of the gentlemen assembled there, actually upbraiding the rest for their not showing due regard to the:r leaders meaning their own worthy-selves. Several times I felt impelled to ask, '� Well sir, who made those gentlemen the leaders of the rest? '' But the dictates of propriety restrained me. I, however, did avail myself of the occa sion and delivered in Simla a lecture on the subject and drew attention to the deplorable conditions obtaining in our country. These attributed not to a lack of leaders but to a dearth of fol1owers. I said that in our country every body who dabbles in politics, assumes the role of a leader, whether or not, there is a fallowing to be counted upon. Prior to this on the occasion of the arrival of the Simon Commission, I had suggested the formation of Moslem Associations in every town and village, com prising of members of every shade of opinion, in order to serve as media for the ventilation of collective views and Prevent the noisy few from passing off their own views as the public opinion of the Mussalmans. •