Mahatma Gandhiji's hand written letter to Mulshanker Nautmlal Kamdar (Mehta), of Jetpur, Kathiawad-Saurashtra (Now Gujarat) a freedom fighter. Below, the letter is translated from the language Gujarati into English.
Dated 23rd August 1937 letter # (240) 2585-1&2
“Dear Mulshanker,
It seems that I have not received your letter dated 19th of March.
It is very good that you have been putting lots of sincere effort into the work. Keep on doing great work.
I believe that marriage should be treated in a very spiritual and dedicated way and it is human duty to honour it. However, at the same time, parents cannot force or create pressures to marry or to marry a certain someone. At the same time, it is the duty of the children to respect and understand the value of their parent’s guidance.
In a matter of selection of bride/bridegroom, one may listen respectfully to what the parents have to say, but one should not marry if one is not inclined. In the same way, if the parents are not pleased with some relation, one should not enter in such a relation.
I do not hesitate to say that you can delay the marriage, so long as you do observe celibacy. But one should not cheat ones mind. If you get into circumstances in which one must go to jail while fighting the British to free India, then one who has the ability to sacrifice should only join this moment. Again, one must try to get the parents’ blessings and approval and if you do not get it then you must ask your conscious. Every case is different and without analyzing the details of every case, I cannot generalize my advice.
I feel all your questions are answered here. If you still need more details please write to me.
Bapu’s blessings”