I have come to serve you (New Delhi, October 1969) KHAN ABDUL GHAFFAR KHAN (1890–1988)

I have come to serve you (New Delhi, October 1969)
KHAN ABDUL GHAFFAR KHAN (1890–1988)

One of the legends of the Indian national movement, Khan Abdul Ghaffar
Khan was a total convert to Gandhi’s message non-violence. Anguished by
the growing violence in India and Pakistan, he came especially to India and
gave this speech in Delhi’s Ram Leela grounds to remind people about the
Mahatma’s message.

MAIN SPEECH

e purpose of my coming to this country is mainly to emphasize to you

Indians that you have departed from the path shown by your leader,

Mahatma Gandhi. I have not come to take anything. I have not come to

become your leader or your father. I have come to serve you and nobody can

deter me from doing this. If you do not accept my services the loss will be

yours. I want to offer my services to establish unity, love and affection

among the people of various communities.

e only purpose of my coming here was to protest against violence, mutual

distrust, and hatred. e love and affection of Indian people and the

remembrance of Gandhiji have attracted me to come here. Strange stories

are circulating in India and Pakistan about the purpose of my visit. I have

come to serve you. I have not come to take money from you. I have not

even come to ask help for Pakhtoonistan. e type of Pakhtoonistan we

wanted we are about to achieve.

Many people suggested to me that I should not go to India and lodge my

protest against violence. But I thought if I protest here how will it help

India and Pakistan. On the other hand if I go there and protest how it

would help the two countries. I came to the conclusion that I should go to

I d d f I h ll I h ld h If I I d I

India and if I have to protest at all I should protest there. If I go to India I

will be able to have consultations with the people of India. I have decided to

undertake a three-day fast to atone for the general atmosphere of hatred and

violence in India and the abandonment by the people of this country of the

path shown by Gandhiji.