Dr. Who - BBC New Series 25

Dr. Who - BBC New Series 25 by Ghosts of India # Mark Morris Read Free Book Online Page B

Book: Dr. Who - BBC New Series 25 by Ghosts of India # Mark Morris Read Free Book Online
Authors: Ghosts of India # Mark Morris
arm, or his simple homespun robe. Some even seemed happy merely to touch his footprints in the dust.
    Gandhi pressed his palms together in the traditional Hindu greeting and nodded first to Adelaide and then to the Doctor. They returned the greeting, the Doctor making no attempt to hide the soppy smile on his face.
    ‘It’s … a pleasure to meet you, sir,’ Adelaide stammered.
    ‘Oh, and quite definitely an honour,’ added the Doctor, stepping forward. ‘And I know you’re not into being idolised and all that, which, ironically, is one of the most brilliant things about you, but can I just say, for the record, cos this might be my only chance, that you, Mr Mohandas Gandhi, are one of the most amazing human beings who has ever lived, and who ever will live, and for my money you’re right up there with Will Shakespeare, Mother Teresa and Arthur Thorndike, the janitor from Basingstoke, who… oh, hang on, scratch that, he hasn’t been born yet.’ He opened his mouth to say more, but then caught Adelaide’s eye and grinned sheepishly. ‘Whoops, sorry. Babbling a bit. Always get like that when I’m
    overexcited. Ooh, still doing it. Sorry. OK, finished now.’
    He closed his mouth and pulled his fingers across his lips in a zipping motion.
    Gandhi bowed again and said, ‘Thank you for your greeting. Your words greatly honour me – but I’m afraid I don’t deserve them.’
    ‘Course you do,’ said the Doctor, ‘but let’s not bang on about it. I know what fans can be like. Except, can I just say, the Salt March in 1930… brilliant. Stroke of genius.’
    Gandhi smiled. ‘Actually, what I did was a very ordinary thing. I simply let the British know that they could not order me about in my own country.’
    ‘Yeah, but it was the way you did it,’ said the Doctor.
    ‘Non-violent, non-confrontational, non-cooperation.
    Amazing.’
    ‘Forgive me,’ said Adelaide, ‘but what was the Salt March?’
    The Doctor boggled at her. ‘Where have you been living? On the moon?’
    Adelaide blushed. ‘Oh, I’m aware of Mr Gandhi, and of his ongoing campaign. But I was only five years old in 1930, Dr Smith. I’m afraid my knowledge of the details of Mr Gandhi’s early life are a little rusty.’
    ‘Sorry,’ said the Doctor, realising he had embarrassed Adelaide. ‘Didn’t mean to be rude. The British declared it illegal for Indians to possess salt from anywhere other than the government’s salt monopoly – which was grossly unfair. After all, salt’s an abundant, readily available mineral. Why should people who have barely got two grains of rice to rub together have to pay for it? So
    Mohandas and a few of his mates… oh, do you mind if I call you Mohandas?’
    Gandhi laughed delightedly. ‘Not at all. First names are an indicator of friendship, are they not?’
    ‘Yes,’ said the Doctor, grinning. ‘Yes, they are.’
    ‘In which case, we should tell you ours,’ said Adelaide.
    ‘This is Dr John Smith and I’m Adelaide Campbell.’
    ‘But all my best friends just call me Doctor,’ said the Doctor quickly, and went on without a pause, ‘so anyway Mohandas here walked across India, picking up followers along the way. He walked two hundred miles in twenty-four days, all the way from Sabarmati to the coast at Dandi. By the time he got there, he had thousands of people with him. He went down to the beach and picked up a handful of salt that had been left by the tide. It was a brilliantly simple act of defiance against a stupid rule, and it riveted the whole of India. Millions followed his example. Right across the country, people of all castes started to make and sell their own salt. A hundred thousand were arrested and imprisoned. The authorities couldn’t cope. Within a few weeks of Mohandas picking up those few grains of salt, the whole of India was in revolt.’
    The Doctor came to a breathless halt, his eyes shining.
    Gandhi regarded him like a kindly and indulgent uncle.
    Quietly he said, ‘I

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