July 12, 1947 : Kanpur
Satsvarupa: It was inevitable that Srila Prabhupada would think of engaging Mahatma Gandhi in devotional service. Because of his lifetime of courageous, ascetic, and moral activities on behalf of his countrymen, Mahatma Gandhi had great power to influence the Indian masses. As a young man Srila Prabhupada had been a follower of Gandhi's, so he had a special feeling for him. Of course, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati had later convinced him to engage exclusively in devotional service. But now Srila Prabhupada felt his old friendship for Gandhi, even though Gandhi was a towering figure of worldwide fame and Srila Prabhupada unknown both to Gandhi and to the world.
On July 12, 1947, Srila Prabhupada wrote to Gandhi from Kanpur. "I am your very old friend although unknown to you, I am again writing to you in order to bring you to the rightful position deserved by you... If you really want to do some real good to the people in general all over the world, which shall include your ideas of unity, peace and non-violence, then you must give up the rotten politics immediately and rise up for the preaching work of the philosophy and religion of Bhagavad-gita without offering unnecessary and dogmatic interpretations on them..."
In all likelihood, Srila Prabhupada's letter would never reach him. Srila Prabhupada knew it. Sending a letter to Gandhi would be like putting a note in a bottle and sending it to sea. It would arrive in the flood of mail, and Gandhi would be too busy to see it. But Srila Prabhupada sent it nonetheless.
On July 12, 1947, Srila Prabhupada wrote to Gandhi from Kanpur. "I am your very old friend although unknown to you, I am again writing to you in order to bring you to the rightful position deserved by you... If you really want to do some real good to the people in general all over the world, which shall include your ideas of unity, peace and non-violence, then you must give up the rotten politics immediately and rise up for the preaching work of the philosophy and religion of Bhagavad-gita without offering unnecessary and dogmatic interpretations on them..."
In all likelihood, Srila Prabhupada's letter would never reach him. Srila Prabhupada knew it. Sending a letter to Gandhi would be like putting a note in a bottle and sending it to sea. It would arrive in the flood of mail, and Gandhi would be too busy to see it. But Srila Prabhupada sent it nonetheless.
Reference: Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Volume 1 - Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami & Srila Prabhupada's Letters
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