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Letter To Padmaja Naidu - Mahatma Gandhi
MY DEAR PADMAJA,
Your basket of oranges again! Seeing that you will insist on sending them no matter what I say. let me tell you that they are really a good variety—very juicy.
You have responded to the gentle driving by the poor little slave-driver. Even I could decipher your letter without difficulty. But I do not want you, please, to exert yourself when you are lying flat on your back. Any abomination will do. Even the abominations of loved ones are preferable to their silence. But when you are really ill, why not get some willing assistance? Anybody will gladly write to your dictation. Your mention of that magnificent story of the Buddha brings to mind many sacred things. Yes, I do dream many dreams. All may not be airy nothings or I would be crushed under the weight of the love I appropriate from people of all sorts and conditions—men, women, boys and girls.1 Sardar and Mahadev have more books than they can cope with. The former is absorbed like a diligent student in his Sanskrit studies; the latter in his French and Urdu thanks all the same on their behalf for your offer. It is no use, I fear, your wanting to see them. I wish it was possible.
Love from us all.
Yours,
SLAVE-DRIVER
SHRIMATI PADMAJA NAIDU
C/O SERVANTS OF INDIA SOCIETY
POONA CITY