Prosecutor: "'...Non-cooperation has one aim: the overthrow of
the [British] government. Sedition must become our creed. We must
give no quarter nor can we expect any.' Do you deny
writing it?"
Ghandi: "Not at all. And I will save the courts time by
stating under oath that to this day I believe that non-cooperation with
evil is a duty, and that I believe British rule of India is evil."
Prosecutor: "The prosectuion rests, my lord."
Judge: "I presume you are conducting your own defense, Mr.
Ghandi?"
Ghandi: "I have no defense, my lord. I am guilty as
charged. And if you truly believe in the system of law which you
administer in our country, then you must inflict on me the severist
penalty possible."
[The judge hesitates...seemingly overwhelmed and awed by Ghandi's
words.]
Judge: "It is impossible for me to ignore that you are in a different
category from any person I have tried...or are likely to try.
Nevertheless, I sentence you to six years in prison [murmoring and shouting
among those gatehered in the court] ...But if our Majesty's government
should, at some later date, see fit to reduce the term, no one will be better
please than I."