INDIA Runaway Disciple

Runaway Disciple

Of all his strange disciples the one who has caused Mahatma Gandhi the sharpest pangs of dismay is plump & pleasing Nilla Cram Cook, 23-year-old daughter of the late George Cram Cook, Iowa poet. At 19 Nilla Cram Cook married a Greek nobleman. Three years later she was converted to Hinduism under the name of Nilla Nagini and Devi, "The Blue Serpent Lady."

Her difficulty in adjusting her good intentions to her Iowa temperament caused sorrowing St. Gandhi to embark on a hunger strike seven months ago. Nilla repented and for five months slept on a bed of bricks in penance. Two months ago she erupted once more, turned up wild-eyed and dusty at the home of an astonished Hindu in Muttra only to disappear again.

Last week toothless little St. Gandhi writhed in embarrassment at news from New Delhi. A brand new automobile, ordered on approval, had gone roaring down the road 70 m.p.h., hit a bump, overturned. Out rolled Serpent Goddess Nilla, bruised, battered, but bitterly determined to lead her own life.

"I don't care what others say," cried she. "My heart is leaping for thrills. I want speed. I want to fly. I want to attend orchestra dances. . . . One day Gandhi stated that he had not put a fence around the cantonment and any girl could leave, so I took the hint. ... I have written to Gandhi fully concerning my change of heart including the flutter caused in meeting a man with beautiful eyes and brows."

To a New Delhi hotel keeper she announced that she thought of going into cinema, insisted that her name was Janet Gaynor.

Some comfort to harassed Mr. Gandhi was the arrest at Annand last week for the sixth time of Mrs. Gandhi, a disciple whose example of martyrdom grows more precious as other disciples desert the Mahatma. Since he deserted the popular cause of trying to free India for the unpopular one of trying to gain equality for India's "untouchables" his prestige has steadily waned. At Nagpur last month scurrilous Indians even pelted eggs at St. Gandhi, missed their mark.

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