All Are Equal in the Eyes of God (Selections From Mahatma Gandhi's Writings)

According to Gandhiji untouchability is a snake with a thousand mouths through each of which it shows its poisonous fangs. Gandhiji always believed in removal of untouchability as an indispensable condition of attainment of swaraj. He used every platform to condemn this social evil prevailing among the Indian masses. This book presents Gandhiji’s perceptions on untouchability and its various manifestations, its socio-economic implications and the ways and means to remove it.

I feel honoured by being asked to write a foreword to this book.

It is a good idea to bring out a selection from Mahatma Gandhi's writings against untouchability under the title "All are Equal in the Eyes of God". I would suggest that this is translated into all Indian languages and widely published.

Untouchability is forbidden by Article 17 of our Constitution; and long before India became independent, social reformers and political thinkers preached that this stigma on the Hindu society must be removed at the earliest. It is a matter of regret, however, that 16 years after independence, although untouchability is now an offence under the law and has lost its edge, it is still widely practised in the rural areas. Gandhiji in his characteristic way practised what he preached and his words should be a powerful instrument for governmental as well as non-official agencies in the campaign for eradication of this evil.

**Contents and Sample Pages**