31. A Retort Courteous

During his visit to the Sabarmati Ashram in January 1930 the Poet Rabindranath Tagore remarked to Gandhiji : "I am seventy now, Mahatmaji, and so am considerably older than you."

"But," said Gandhiji, with a hearty smile, "When an old man of 60 cannot dance a young poet of 70 can dance.""That is true," said the Poet, and added : "You are getting ready for another arrest cure. I wish they give me one."

"But," said Gandhiji, "you don't behave yourself," and there was a peal of laughter among the inmates of the Ashram who were listening to the repartees of these two greatest sons of India.