Tej Bahadur Sapru and M.R. Jayakar wished for peace between the congress and the government. They met the viceroy and visited Gandhi and tried to negotiate a settlement. While Gandhiji sounded accommodating on the constitutional issue, he clearly not given his whole mind to it and insisted that Jawaharlal’s should be the final voice. So the peacemakers Sapru and Jayakar proceeded towards the Nehrus, father and son, in Naini prison and found them unwilling to talk of settlement. They insisted that Gandhi must be a party to any talks. The viceroy had no objection to their visiting Gandhiji. By special train, the two Nehrus went to Poona and had talks with Gandhiji. After three days of talk a decision was taken that with same conditions, Gandhiji will go to London to attend Round Table Conference. But viceroy rejected all conditions and hence Jawaharlal and Motilal were taken back to Naini Jail by special train.
Motilal released on ground of ill-health
A few days later, Motilal was released on grounds of ill-health because under the strain his condition worsened day by day. He went to Mussoorie with his family except for Kamla, who with her health deteriorating stuck to her tasks in Allahabad. After one month Jawaharlal get the permission to see his father in Mussoorie. It was a nice get-together of the family members. Jawaharlal’s sister Vijay Laxmi and daughter Indira Priyadarshini were also in Mussorrie. Finding all of them together Motilal feeled extreme happiness.
While returning from Mussoorie Jawaharlal was served with an order under section 144 at Dehradun, as he was leaving; when he got off at Lucknow, another order under section 144 was awaiting him; and next morning at Allahabad he was presented with yet another order. He attended a Kisan conference and spoke there and then; after attending a mixed gathering of peasants and town folk he was carried off to his old headquarters of Naini. The total sentence was two years rigorous imprisonment and, in addition, five months in default of fines. This was his fifth term.
Motilal’s death
The first Round Table Conference was being held in London at this time. To congressmen in prison, it was unreal and shadowy, constituting itself into committees which considered in detail various aspects of an undemocratic draft constitution. The working committee passed an uncompromising resolution. From inside prison Jawaharlal did not know much of outside happenings. Congress leaders were being released in accordance with the consensus at the Round Table Conference that the Congress should be brought in for the next one. Gandhi and Jawaharlal were free but they found Motilal’s condition worse than ever, though his spirit was indomitable. He had gone to Calcutta to consult eminent doctors. His heart, lungs and liver had all been affected. He stayed on in Calcutta, but on Kamla Nehru’s arrest he went back to Allahabad. Everyone was dismayed by his look. All the expert medical help, all the devotion of his family and friends, all the attention that Gandhiji and Jawaharlal could bestow on him failed to save him. On February 4, he was taken reluctantly to Lucknow for deep X-ray treatment and there on February 6, he died amidst a flurry of consultation. Gandhi felt more bereaved then anyone else and declared, “O rock of ages, envelop me.” From now, on, Jawaharlal was more than ever on his own. On hearing the news of Motilal’s death, lakhs of people marched towards Anand Bhawan. All of them had tears in their eyes. Motilal’s body covered with tri-colour was kept for last sight. Gandhiji was sitting near the body of Motilal. Later the funeral took place on the banks of river Ganga.
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