486. Tyler, HAMPDEN AND BUNYAN

We have, on an earlier occasion, cited the examples of these three men.¹The chains that bind us
would certainly snap even if a single person from amongst us did inSouth Africa a hundredth part of
what these men did for their country.

Wat Tyler lived in the twelfth century². Once the King ofEngland imposed a heavy tax on farmers.
The tax was unjust, and Tyler resolved not to pay it. Many farmersjoined him. An army was sent
against Tyler and his men. Tyler was killed, but the burden of taxon the farmers was ultimately
removed. This event gave the people an awareness of their strength,further results of which were
seen during the seventeenth century.

At that time, King Charles was the ruler of England and he wanted towage wars in foreign lands.
As his treasury had become empty, he imposed Ship Money. Hampden, arich gentleman of great
prestige, saw that, if Ship Money were paid, the King's demands wouldgo on increasing and the
people would suffer. He therefore refused to pay the tax, and manyjoined him in this. Though some
of them agreed to pay the tax, Hampden remained firm and was prosecuted.The judges sentenced
him, declaring that he had committed a crime in not paying the tax.Despite the sentence, Hampden
did not pay the tax. Hampden and his companions went to gaol and thepeople congratulated them.
Like them, the people too remained firm. Many did not pay the tax andthere was a great revolt. The
King became nervous and the whole matter was re-considered. It wasrealized that thousands of
people could not be sent to gaol. He therefore got the earlier judgmentreversed by other judges and
Hampden was set free. The seed of the struggle for freedom that hesowed grew into a mighty tree.
As a result of the struggle he put up, Cromwell emerged and Englandacquired real power and the
people were given a large share in the governance of the country. Hampdendied fighting for his
country; he remains immortal.

John Bunyan was a saintly man. His only interest was prayer God. Hesaw the terrible religious
oppression prevailing at the time, that is, in the seventeenth century.He did not think it proper to do
the bidding of the Bishops. He hearkened only to the call of God. Partedfrom his wife and children, he
remained in Bedford Prison for years. There he wrote the most beautifulbook in the English
language. Today hundreds of thousands of men derive solace by readingit. It is written in such
simple language that children and grown-ups alike can read it withjoy. The place where Bunyan was
imprisoned has now become a place of pilgrimage for the English. Bunyanhimself suffered but he
freed his people from suffering and sorrow. It is because of saintlypersons like Bunyan that people
in England today enjoy freedom in matters of religion.

A people that has produced such a trinity - why should it not enjoyself-rule? If these men suffered so
much hardship, it would not be too much for the Transvaal Indians togo to gaol or to suffer some
loss in trade. If they do not, they will earn a bad name. If they do,their chains will break.
[From Gujarati]
Indian Opinion, 20-10-1906

Vide "The Duty of Transvaal Indiana", 461-2. Wat Tyler lived in thefourteenth century.