59. Prayer against Atom Bombs

One of the last foreign press correspondents to interview Gandhiji before his death was Miss Margaret Bourke White of U.S.A. One of the questions she put to him was :

"Americans are filled with foreboding, particularly about atomic bombs. How could you use non-violence against atomic bombs ?"

Gandhiji answered : "How shall I answer that query? Atomic bombs could be met by prayerful action."

Question : "Would you pray while planes are overhead ?"

Answer : "I would come out in the open and let the pilot see that I have not the face of evil against him. The pilot, of course, cannot see my face at such a height, but that longing in my heart that he should not come to harm would reach up to him and his eyes would be opened. If those who were done to death in Hiroshima by the atom bomb had died with that prayerful action and died openly with prayer in their hearts without uttering a groan, the war would not have ended as disgracefully as it has. It is a question now whether the victors are really victors or victims. The world is not at peace. It is still more dreadful."