Growing Beard

[To a Sikh who asked him to grow hair and bread ]

I hold a totally different view from yours. Whatever value outward symbols had before, they do not and ought not to posses the superlative value that you seem to attach to the growing of hair and bread. For me I can see no reason whatever for departing from a long established practice which I have accepted for myself. I would far rather that people judged me by my deeds than by my outward appearance.

(This was written in Yeravda prison on April 28, 1932.)