To granddaughter Manu

Purify Thyself

It is good that you saw Harilal’s sorry plight with your own eyes. I knew everything already. However let us not give up hope. For with God all things are possible. If there is any merit still to Harilal’s credit, it will make itself felt. We must not pamper him nor feel false pity for him. If only we become purer ourselves, our purity is bound to exercise a beneficial influence over him. You must be tough and write to Harilal that you cannot have anything to do with him so long as he has not given up drink. He might rise from his stupor if all of us adopted such a strong attitude. A drunkard often gives up drink if he feels a severe shock.