Elmhirst was a student of History. He discussed some stages of the civilization of human history. Man was born in the world. He collect his food and fuel from earth.But if human being robbed its wealth indiscriminately, it will loose all its wealth and wil gradually became poor and this will have its effect on the health and environment of human being. Therefore if we collect anything from the world, we return to the earth in the form of fertiliser, irrigation, and by purification of the ponds.In other words his discussion went against the policy of Gandhiji. Leonard said that it was foolishness to refuse the offer given by the Government because they didnot understand the sorrows and sufferings of the villagers. Progress should come from the bottom - the village-volunteers should not be advised to perform the the work of the sweepers, they should also be trained to improve their methods of work.
His activities and statement of lecture created confusion amongst the boarders of Ashram.
The strong Gandhites Nepal Chandra Roy spoke high of him while he passed a night in Surul. A college student named Sastyen Basu left the college at the call of Gandhiji and was doing service to villagers of Surul but being unsatisfied he joined in the Library to work.Rabindranath asked him to go Surul, he then wanted to know from Andrews who alson advised him to do the same thing.
Rabindranath constructed a song for the farmers of Surul, " Amra chash kari anande" which was appreciated by all.
