Parichand's Correspondence with The Mother

28 June 1939

To the Garden Service

I have read X's and Y's letters of this day and take this opportunity to formulate two remarks that I have made since some time already.

When I founded the Garden Service it was to put an end to the old dictatorial regime of a single man at the head of the service with all its results of arbitrary decisions and fanciful rules. But I seem to have failed in my attempt, because instead of a single big state, there have been formed several small states each one under a ruler and all the rulers quarrelling among themselves. Indeed since the beginning of the Garden Service scarcely one day has passed without a quarrel being brought to my notice; constantly I was hearing of hot discussions and quarrels about the most insignificant matters, the smallest things, the most petty disagreements—and always these points of dissension could have been settled by themselves, without a word of discussion, if each one had done his work quietly, free from vanity, self-esteem and a domineering spirit.

As a result and in spite of much effort, work and labour the general standard of the gardens seems to have much gone down. At any rate the only garden I see physically—that of the main compound—is far from being what it used to be when at its best. For the past few days, when I walk on the roof, I am seeing with much regret the back garden of the Library House unkept, almost unwatered—as if nobody was supervising the gardeners' work. This is said only as an instance and I am formulating no criticism of somebody in particular. It is the general spirit of the Garden Service that appears to be wrong and I fear that our attempt at democracy has been a failure. The remedy does not appear clearly, as yet. But as a transition it might be better to stop discussing, each one being busy with the portion of the work which is allotted to him and trying to carry it out as well as possible without attempting to impose his will on others. If in carrying out this programme some real problems arise they can be reported to me and I shall try to solve them.

Blessings

28 June 1939