The Story

Of My Experiments
with Truth
An Autobiography
by
M K Ghandi
and Mahadev Desai (transator!
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Chapter 1
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE
The Gandhis belong to the Bania caste and seem to have been originally grocers. But for three
generations, from my grandfather, they have been Prime Ministers in several Kathiawad States.
Uttamchand Gandhi, alias ta Gandhi, my grandfather, must have been a man of !rinci!le. State
intrigues com!elled him to leave Porbandar, where he was "iwan, and to see# refuge in
$unagadh. There he saluted the %awab with the left hand. Someone, noticing the a!!arent
discourtesy, as#ed for an e&!lanation, which was given thus' (The right hand is already !ledged
to Porbandar.(
ta Gandhi married a second time, having lost his first wife. )e had four sons by his first wife and
two by his second wife. * do not thin# that in my childhood * ever felt or # new that these sons of
ta Gandhi were not all of the same mother. The fifth of these si& brothers was Karamchand
Gandhi, aliasKaba Gandhi, and the si&th was Tulsidas Gandhi. Both these brothers were Prime
Ministers in Porbandar, one after the other. Kaba Gandhi was my father. )e was a member of the
+a,as thani# -ourt. *t is now e&tinct, but in those days it was a very influential body for s ettling
dis!utes between the chiefs and their fellow clans men. )e was for some time Prime Minister in
+a,#ot and then in .an#aner. )e was a !ensioner of the +a,#ot State when he died.
Kaba Gandhi married four times in succession, having lost his wife each time by death. )e had
two daughters by his first and second marriages. )is last wife, Putlibai, bore him a daughter and
three sons, * being the younges t.
My father was a lover of his clan, truthful, brave and generous, but short/tem!ered. To a certain
e&tent he might have been given to carnal !leasures. 0or he married for the fourth time when he
was over forty. But he was incorru!tible and had earned a name for strict im!artiality in his family
as well as outside. )is loyalty to the state was well #nown. 1n 1ssistant Political 1gent s!o#e
insultingly of the +a,# ot Tha#ore Saheb, his chief, and he stood u! to the insult. The 1gent was
angry and as#ed Kaba Gandhi to a!ologi2e. This he refused to do and was therefore #e!t under
detention for a few hours. But when the 1gent saw that Kaba Gandhi was adamant, he ordered
him to be released.
My father never had any ambition to ac cumulate riches and left us very little !ro!erty.
)e had no education, save that of e&!erience. 1t best, he might be said to have read u! to the
fifth Gu,arati standard. f history and geogra!hy he was innocent. But his rich e&!erience of
!ractical affairs stood him in good stead in the solution of the most intricate 3uestions and in
managing hundreds of men. f religious training he had very little, but he had that #ind of
religious culture which fre3uent visits to tem!les and listening to religious discourses ma# e
available to many )indus. *n his last days he began reading the Gita at the instance of a learned
Brahman friend of the family, and he used to re!eat aloud some vers es every day at the time of
worshi!.
The outstanding im!ression my mother has left on my memory is that of saintliness . She was
dee!ly religious. She would not thin# of ta#ing her meals without her daily !rayers. Going to
Haveli/the .aishnava tem!le/was one of her daily duties. 1s far as my memory can go bac#, * do
not remember her having ever missed the Chaturmas. She would ta#e the hardest vows and
#ee! them without flinching. *llness was no e&c use for rela&ing them. * can recall her once falling
ill when she was observing the Chandrayanavow, but the illness was not allowed to interru!t the
observance. To #ee! two or three consecutive fasts was nothing to her. 4iving on one meal a day

during Chaturmaswas a habit with her. %ot content with that she fasted every alternate day
during one Chaturmas. "uring another Chaturmasshe vowed not to have food without seeing
the s un. 5e children on those days would stand, staring at the s#y, waiting to announce the
a!!earance of the sun to our mother. 6veryone #nows that at the height of the rainy season the
sun often does not condescend to show his face. 1nd * remember days when, at his sudden
a!!earance, we would rush and announce it to her, She would run out to se with her own eyes,
but by that time the fugitive sun would be gone, thus de!riving her of her meal. 7That does not
matter,7 she would say cheerfully, 7God did not want me to eat today.7 1nd then she would return
to her round of duties.
My mother had strong commonsense. She was well informed about all matters of state, and
ladies of the court thought highly of her intelligence. ften * would accom!any her, e&ercising the
!rivilege of childhood, and * still remember many lively discussions she had with the widowed
mother of the Tha#ore Saheb.
f these !arents * was born at Porbandar, otherwise #nown as Sudama!uri, on the 8nd ctober,
9:;<, * !assed my childhood in Porbandar. * recollect having been !ut to school. *t was with some
difficulty that * got through the multi!lication tables. The fact that * recollect nothing more of those
days than having learnt, in com!any with other boys, to call our teacher all #inds of names, would
strongly suggest that my intellect must have been sluggish, and my memory raw.
Chapter 2
CHILDHOOD
* must have been about seven when my father left Porbandar for +a,# ot to become a member of
the +a,asthani# -ourt. There * was !ut into a !rimary sc hool, and * can well recollect those days,
including the names and other !articulars of the teachers who taught me. 1s at Porbandar, so
here, there is hardly anything to note about my studies. * could only have been a mediocre
student. 0rom this school * went to the suburban school and thence to the high school, having
already reached my twelfth year. * do not remember having ever told a lie, during this short
!eriod, either to my teachers or to my school/mates, * used to be very shy and avoided all
com!any. My boo#s and my lessons were my sole com!anions. To be at school at the stro#e of
the hour and to run bac# home as soon as the school closed/that was my daily habit. * literally ran
bac#, because * c ould not bear to tal# to anybody. * was even afraid lest anyone should !o#e fun
at me.
There is an incident which occurred at the e& amination during my first year at the high school and
which is worth recording. Mr Giles, the educational *ns!ector, had come on a visit of ins!ection.
)e had set us five words to write as a s!elling e&ercise. ne of the words was (Kettle(. * had mis/
s!elt it. The teacher tried to !rom!t me with the !oint of his boot, but * would not be !rom!ted. *t
was beyond me to see that he wanted me to co!y the s!elling from my neighbour(s slate, for *
had thought that the teacher was there to su!ervis e us against co!ying. The result was that all
the boys, e& ce!t myself, were found to have s!elt every word correctly. nly * had been stu!id.
The teacher tried later to bring this stu!idity home to me. but without effect. * never could learn
the art of (co!ying(.
=et the incident did not in the least diminish my res!ect for my teacher. * was by nature, blind to
the faults of elders. 4ater * came to #now of many other failings of this teacher, but my regard for
him remained the same. 0or * had learnt to carry out the orders of elders , not to scan their
actions.

Two other incidents belonging to the same !eriod have always clung to my memory. 1s a rule *
had a distaste for any reading beyond my school boo#s. The daily less ons had to be done,
because * disli#ed being ta#en to tas# by my teacher as much as * disli#ed deceiving him.
Therefore * would do the lessons , but often without my mind in them. Thus when even the
lessons could not be done !ro!erly, there was of course no 3uestion of any e&tra reading. But
somehow my eyes fell on a boo# !urchased by my father. *t was Shravana Pitribhakti Nataka>a
!lay about Sharavana(s devotion to his !arents?. * read it with intense interest. There came to our
!lace about the same time itinerant showmen. ne of the !ictures * was shown was of Shravana
carrying, by means of slings fitted for his shoulders, his blind !arents on a !ilgrimage. The boo#
and the !icture left an indelible im!ression on my mind. ()ere is an e&am!le for you to co!y,( *
said to myself. The agoni2ed lament of the !arents over Shravana(s death is still fresh in my
memory. The melting tune moved me dee!ly, and * !layed it on a concertina which my father had
!urchas ed for me.
There was a similar incident connected with another !lay. $ust about this time, * had secured my
father(s !ermis sion to see a !lay !erformed by a certain dramatic com!any. This !lay/
Harishchandra/ ca!tured my heart. * could never be tired of seeing it. But how often should * be
!ermitted to go@ *t haunted me and * must have acted Harishchandrato myself times without
number. (5hy should not all be truthful li#e )arishchandra@( was the 3uestion * as#ed myself day
and night. To follow truth and to go through all the ordeals )arishchandra went through was the
one ideal it ins!ired in me. * literally believed in the story of )arishchandra. The thought of it all
often made me wee!. My commonsense tells me today that )arishchandra could not have been
a historical character. Still both )arishchandra and Shravana are living realities for me, and * am
sure * should be moved as before if * were to read those !lays again today.
Chapter 3
CHILD MARRIAGE
Much as * wish that * had not to write this cha!ter, * # now that * shall have to swallow many
such bitter draughts in the cours e of this narrative. 1nd * cannot do otherwise, if * claim to be a
worshi!!er of Truth. *t is my !ainful duty to have to record here my marriage at the age of
thirteen. 1s * see the youngsters of the same age about me who are under my care, and thin# of
my own marriage, * am inclined to !ity myself and to congratulate them on having esca!ed my lot.
* can see no moral argument in su!!ort of such a !re!osterously early marriage.
4et the reader ma#e no mista#e. * was married, not betrothed. 0or in Kathiawad there are two
distinct rites, betrothal and marriage. Betrothal is a !reliminary !romise on the !art of the !arents
of the boy and the girl to ,oin them in marriage, and it is not inviolable. The death of the boy
entails no widowhood on the girl. *t is an agreement !urely between the !arents, and the children
have no c oncern with it. ften they are not even informed of it. *t a!!ears that * was betrothed
thrice, though without my # nowledge. * was told that two girls chosen for me had died in turn, and
therefore * infer that * was betrothed three times. * have a faint recollection, however, that the third
betrothal too# !lace in my seventh year. But * do not recollect having been informed about it. *n
the !resent cha!ter * am tal#ing about my marriage, of which * have the clearest recollection.
*t will be remembered that we were three brothers. The first was already married. The elders
decided to marry my second brother, who was two or three years my senior,a cousin, !ossibly a

year older, and me, all at the same time. *n doing so there was no thought of our welfare, much
less our wishes. *t was !urely a 3uestion of their own c onvenience and economy.
Marriage among )indus is no sim!le matter. The !arents of the bride and the bridegroom often
bring thems elves to ruin over it. They waste their substance, they waste their time. Months are
ta#en u! over the !re!arations in ma#ing clothes and ornaments and in !re!aring budgets for
dinners. 6ach tries to outdo the other in the number and variety of courses to be !re!ared.
5omen, whether they have a voice or no, sing themselves hoarse, even get ill, and disturb the
!eace of their neighbours. these in their turn 3uietly !ut u! with all the turmoil and bustle all the
dirt and filth, re!resenting the remains of the feasts, because they # now that a time will come
when they also will be behaving in the same manner.
*t would be better, thought my elders, to have all this bother over at one and the same time. 4ess
e&!ense and greater eclat. 0or money could be freely s!ent if it had only to be s!ent onc e instead
of thrice. My father and my uncle were both old, and we were the last children they had to marry.
it is li#ely that they wanted to have the last best time of their lives. *n view of all thes e
considerations, a tri!le wedding was decided u!on, and as * have said before, months were ta#en
u! in !re!aration for it.
*t was only through these !re!arations that we got warning of the c oming event. * do not thin# it
meant to me anything more than the !ros!ect of good clothes to wear, drum beating, marriage
!rocessions, rich dinners and a strange girl to !lay with. The carnal desire c ame later. * !ro!ose
to draw the curtain over my shame, e&ce!t for a few details worth recording. To these * shall
come later. But even they have little to do with the central idea * have #e!t before me in writing
this story.
So my brother and * were both ta#en to Porbandar from +a,#ot. There are some amusing details
of the !reliminaries to the final drama e.g. smearing our bodies all over with turmeric !aste but *
must omit them.
My father was a "iwan, but nevertheless a servant, and all the more so because he was in favour
with the Tha#ore Saheb. The latter would not let him go until the last moment. 1nd when he did
so, he ordered for my father s!ecial stage coaches , reducing the ,ourney by two days. But the
fates had willed otherwise. Porbandar is 98A miles from +a,#ot, a cart ,ourney of five days. My
father did the distance in three, but the coach to!!led over in the third stage, and he sustained
severe in,uries. )e arrived bandaged all over. Both his and our interest in the coming event was
half destroyed, but the ceremony had to be gone through. 0or how could the marriage dates be
changed@ )owever, * forgot my grief over my father(s in,uries in the childish amusement of the
wedding.
* was devoted to my !arents. but no less was * devoted to the !assions that flesh is heir to. * had
yet to learn that all ha!!iness and !leasure should be sacrificed in devoted service to my !arents.
1nd yet, as though by way of !unishment for my desire for !leasures , an incident ha!!ened,
which has ever since ran#led in my mind and which * will relate later. %ish#ulanand sings'
(+enunciation of ob,ects, without the renunciation of desires, is short/lived, however hard you may
try.( 5henever * sing this song or hear it sung, this bitter untoward incident, rushes to my memory
and fills me with shame.
My father !ut on a brave face in s!ite of his in,uries, and too# full !art in the wedding. 1s * thin# of
it, * can even today call before my mind(s eye the !laces where he sat as he went through the
different details of the ceremony. 4ittle did * dream then that one day * should severely critici2e my
father for having married me as a c hild. 6verything on that day seemed to me own right and
!ro!er and !leasing. There was also my own eagerness to get married. 1nd as everything that
my father did then struc# me as beyond re!roach, the recollection of those things is fresh in my

memory. * can !icture to myself, even today, how we sat on our wedding dais, how we !erformed
the Saptapadihow we, the newly wedded husband and wife, !ut the sweet Kansarinto each
other(s mouth, and how we began to live together. 1nd ohB that first night.Two innocent children
all unwittingly hurled themselves into the ocean of life. My brother(s wife had thoroughly coached
me about my behaviour on the first night. * do not #now who had coached my wife. * have never
as#ed her about it, nor am * inclined to do so now. The reader may be sure that we were too
nervous to face each other. 5e were certainly too shy. )ow was * to tal# to her, and what was * to
say@ The coaching could not carry me far. But no coaching is really necessary in such matters.
The im!ressions of the former birth are !otent enough to ma#e all coaching su!erfluous. 5e
gradually began to #now each other, and to s!ea# freely together. 5e were the same age. but *
too# no time in assuming the authority of a husband.
Chapter 4
PLAYING THE HUSBAND
1bout the time of my marriage, little !am!hlets costing a !ice, or a !ie >* now forget how
much?, used to be issued, in which con,ugal love, thrift, c hild marriages, and other such sub,ects
were discussed. 5henever * came across any of these, * used to go through them cover to cover,
and it was a habit with me to forget what * did not li#e, and to carry out in !ractice whatever *
li# ed. 4ifelong faithfulness to the wife, inculcated in these boo#lets as the duty of the husband,
remained !ermanently im!rinted on my heart. 0urthermore, the !assion for truth was innate in
me, and to be false to her was therefore out of the 3ues tion. 1nd then there was very little chance
of my being faithless at that tender age.
But the lesson of faithfulness had also untoward effect. (*f * should be !ledged to be faithful to my
wife, she also should be !ledged to be faithful to me,( * said to myself. The thought made me a
,ealous husband. )er duty was easily converted into my right to e&act faithfulness from her, and if
it had to be e&acted, * should be watchfully tenacious of the right. * had absolutely no reason to
sus!ect my wife(s fidelity, but ,ealousy does not wait for reasons . * must needs be for ever on the
loo#/out regarding her movements, and therefore she could not go anywhere without my
!ermission. This sowed the seeds of a bitter 3uarrel between us. The restraint was virtually a sort
of im!risonment. 1nd Kasturbai was not the girl to broo# any s uch thing. She made it a !oint to
go out whenever and wherever she li#ed. More restraint on my !art resulted in more liberty being
ta#en by her, and in my getting more and more cross. +efusal to s!ea# to one another thus
became the order of the day with us, married children. * thin# it was 3uite innocent of Kasturbai to
have ta#en those liberties with my restric tions. )ow could a guileless girl broo# any restraint on
going to the tem!le or on going on visits to friends@ *f * had the right to im!ose restrictions on her,
had not she also a similar right@ 1ll this is clear to me today. But at that time * had to ma#e good
my authority as a husbandB
4et not the reader thin#, however, that ours was a life of unrelieved bitterness. 0or my severities
were all based on love. * wanted to makemy wife an ideal wife. My ambition was to makeher live
a !ure life, learn what * learnt,and identify her life and thought with mine.
* do not #now whether Kasturbai had any such ambition. She was illiterate. By nature she was
sim!le, inde!endent, !ersevering and, with me at least, reticent. She was not im!atient of her
ignorance and * do not recollect my s tudies having ever s!urred her to go in for a similar
adventure. * fancy, therefore, that my ambition was all one/ sided. My !assion was entirely

centred on one woman, and * wanted it to be reci!rocated. But even if there were no reci!rocity, it
could not be all unrelieved misery because there was active love on one side at least.
* must say * was !assionately fond of her. 6ven at school * used to thin# of her, and the thought of
nightfall and our subse3uent meeting was ever haunting me. Se!aration was unbearable. * used
to #ee! her awa#e till late in the night with my idle tal#. *f with this devouring !assion there had
not been in me a burning attachment to duty, * s hould either have fallen a !rey to disease and
!remature death, or have sun# into a burdensome e&istence. But the a!!ointed tas# s had to be
gone through every morning, and lying to anyone was out of the 3uestion. *t was this last thing
that saved me from many a !itfall.
* have already said that Kasturbai was illiterate. * was very an&ious to teach her, but lustful love
left me no time. 0or one thing the teaching had to be done against her will, and that too at night. *
dared not meet her in the !resence of the elders, much less tal# to her. Kathiawad had then, and
to a certain e&tent has even today, its own !eculiar, useless and barbarous Purdah.
-ircumstances were thus unfavourable. * must therefore confess that most of my efforts to
instruct Kasturbai in our youth were unsuccessful. 1nd when * awo#e from the slee! of lust, * had
already launched forth into !ublic life, which did not leave me much s!are time. * failed li#ewise to
instruct her through !rivate tutors. 1s a result Kasturbai can now with difficulty write sim!le letters
and understand sim!le Gu,arati. * am sure that, had my love for her been absolutely untainted
with lust, she would be a learned lady todayC for * could than have con3uered her disli#e for
studies. * #now that nothing is im!ossible for !ure love.
* have mentioned one circumstance that more or less saved me from the disasters of lustful love.
There is another worth noting. %umerous e&am!les have convinced me that God ultimately saves
him whose motive is !ure. 1long with the cruel c ustom of child marriages, )indu society has
another custom which to a certain e&tent diminishes the evils of the former. Parents do not allow
young c ou!les to stay long. The child/wife s!ends more than half her time at her father(s !lace.
Such was the case with us. That is to say, during the first five years of our married life >from the
age of 9D to 9:?, we could not have lived together longer than an aggregate !eriod of three years.
5e would hardly have s!ent si& months together, when there would be a call to my wife from her
!arents. Such calls were very unwelcome in those days, But they s aved us both. 1t the age of
eighteen * went to 6ngland, and this meant a long and healthy s!ell of se!aration. 6ven after my
return from 6ngland we hardly stayed together longer than si& months. 0or * had to run u! and
down between +a,#ot and Bombay. Then came the call from South 1frica, and that found me
already fairly free from the carnal a!!etite.
Chapter 5
AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
* have already said that * was learning at the high school when * was married. 5e three brothers
were learning at the same school. The eldest brother was in a much higher class, and the brother
who was married at the same time as * was, only one class ahead of me. Marriage resulted in
both of us wasting a year. *ndeed the result was oven worse for my brother, for he gave u!
studies altogether. )eaven #nows how many youths are in the same !light as he. nly in our
!resent )indu society do studies and marriage go thus hand in hand.
My studies were continued. * was not regarded as a dunce at the high school. * always en,oyed
the affection of my teachers. -ertificates of !rogress and character used to be sent to the !arents

every year. * never had a bad certificate. *n fact * even won !ri2es after * !assed out of the second
standard. *n the fifth and si&th * obtained scholarshi!s and ru!ees four and ten res!ectively, an
achievement for which * have to than# good luc# more than my merit. 0or the scholarshi!s were
not o!en to all, but reserved for the best boys amongst those coming from the Sorath "ivision of
Kathiawad. 1nd in those days there could not have been many boys from Sorath in a class of
forty to fifty.
My own recollection is that * had not any high regard for my ability. * us ed to be astonished
whenever * won !ri2es and scholarshi!s. But * very ,ealously guarded my character. The least
little blemish drew tears from my eyes. 5hen * merited, or seemed to the teacher to merit, a
rebu#e, it was unbearable for me. * remember having once received cor!oral !unishment. * did
not so much mind the !unishment, as the fact that it was considered my desert. * we!t !iteously.
That was when * was in the first or second standard. There was another such incident during the
time when * was in the seventh standard. "orab,i 6dul,i Gimi was the headmaster then. )e was
!o!ular among boys, as he was a disci!linarian, a man of method and a good teacher. )e had
made gymnastics and cric#et com!ulsory for boys of the u!!er standards. * disli#ed both. * never
too# !art in any e&ercise, cric#et or football, before they were made com!ulsory. My shyness was
one of the reas ons for this aloofness, which * now see was wrong. * then had the false notion that
gymnastics had nothing to do with education. Today * #now that !hysical training should have as
much !lace in the curriculum as mental training.
* may mention, however, that * was none the worse for abstaining from e&ercise. That was
because * had read in boo#s about the benefits of long wal#s in the o!en air, and having li#ed the
advice, * had formed a habit of ta# ing wal#s, which has still remained with me. These wal#s gave
me a fairly hardy constitution.
The reason of my disli#e for gymnastics was my #een desire to serve as nurse to my father. 1s
soon as the school closed, * would hurry home and begin serving him. -om!ulsory e&ercise
came directly in the way of this service. * re3ues ted Mr. Gimi to e&em!t me from gymnastics so
that * might be free to serve my father. But he would not listen to me. %ow it so ha!!ened that
one Saturday, when we had school in the morning, * had to go from home to the school for
gymnastics at E o(cloc# in the afternoon. * had no watch, and the clouds deceived me. Before *
reached the school the boys had all left. The ne&t day Mr. Gimi, e&amining the roll, found me
mar# ed absent. Being as#ed the reason for absence, * told him what had ha!!ened. )e refused
to believe me and ordered me to !ay a fine of one or two annas >* cannot now recall how much?.
* was convicted of lying B That dee!ly !ained me. )ow was * to !rove my innocence@ There was
no way. * cried in dee! anguish. * saw that a man of truth must also be a man of c are. This was
the first and last instance of my carelessness in s chool. * have a faint recollection that * finally
succeeded in getting the fine remitted. The e&em!tion from e&ercise was of course obtained, as
my father wrote himself to the headmaster saying that he wanted me at home after school.
But though * was none the worse for having neglected e&ercise, * am s till !aying the !enalty of
another neglect, * do not #now whence * got the notion that good handwriting was not a
necessary !art of education, but * retained it until * went to 6ngland. 5hen later, es!ecially in
South 1frica, * saw the beautiful handwriting of lawyers and young men born and educated in
South 1frica, * was ashamed of myself and re!ented of my neglect. * saw that bad handwriting
should be regarded as a sign of an im!erfect education. * tried later to im!rove mine, but it was
too late. * could never re!air the neglect of my youth. 4et every young man and woman be
warned by my e&am!le, and understand that good handwriting is a necessary !art of education. *
am now of o!inion that children should first be taught the art of drawing before learning how to
write. 4et the child learn his letters by observation as he does different ob,ects, such as flowers,
birds, etc., and let him learn handwriting only after he has learnt to draw ob,ects. )e will then
write a beautifully formed hand.

Two more reminiscences of my school days are worth recording. * had lost one year because of
my marriage, and the teacher wanted me to ma#e good the loss by s#i!!ing a class a !rivilege
usually allowed to industrious boys. * therefore had only s i& months in the third standard and was
!rom!ted to he forth after the e&aminations which are followed by the summer vacation. 6nglis h
became the medium of instruction in mos t sub,ects from the fourth standard. * found myself
com!letely at sea. Geometry was a new sub,ect in which * was not !articularly strong, and the
6nglish medium made it still more difficult for me. The teacher taught the sub,ect very well, but *
could not follow him. ften * would lose heart and thin# of going bac# to the third standard, feeling
that the !ac#ing of two years( studies into a single year was too ambitious. But this would
discredit not only me, but also the teacherC because, counting on my industry, he had
recommended my !romotion. So the fear of the double discredit # e!t me at my !ost. 5hen
however, with muc h effort * reached the thirteenth !ro!osition of 6uclid, the utter sim!licity of the
sub,ect was suddenly revealed to me. 1 sub,ect which only re3uired a !ure and sim!le use of
one(s reasoning !owers could not be difficult. 6ver since that time geometry has been both easy
and interesting for me.
Sams#rit, however, !roved a harder tas#. *n geometry there was nothing to memori2e, whereas in
Sams#rit, * thought, everything had to be learnt by heart. This sub,ect als o was commenced from
the fourth standard. 1s soon as * entered the si&th * became disheartened. The teac her was a
hard tas# master, an&ious, as * thought, to force the boys. There was a sort of rivalry going on
between the Sams#rit and the Persian teachers. The Persian teacher was lenient. The boys used
to tal# among themselves that Persian was very easy and the Persian teac her very good and
considerate to the students. The (easiness( tem!ted me and one day * sat in the Persian class.
The Sams#rit teacher was grieved. )e called me to his side and said' ()ow can you forget that
you are the son of a .aishnava father@ 5on(t you learn the language of your own religion@ *f you
have any difficulty, why not come to me@ * want to teach you students Sams#rit to the best of my
ability. 1s you !roceed further, you will find in it things of absorbing interest. =ou should not los e
heart. -ome and sit again in the Sams #rit clas s.(
This # indness !ut me to shame. * could not disregard my teacher(s affection. Today * cannot but
thin# with gratitude of Krishnashan#ar Pandya. 0or if * had not ac3uired the little Sams#rit that *
had learnt then, * should have found it difficult to ta#e any interest in our sacred boo#s. *n fact *
dee!ly regret that * was not able to ac3uire a more thorough #nowledge of the language, because
* have sinc e reali2ed that every )indu boy and girl should !ossess sound Sams#rit learning.
*t is now my o!inion that in all *ndian curricula of higher education there should be a !lace for
)indi, Sams# rit, Persian, 1rabic and 6nglish, besides of course the vernacular. This big list need
not frighten anyone. *f our education were more systematic, and the boys free from the burden of
having to learn their sub,ects through a foreign medium, * am sure learning all these languages
would not be an ir# some tas#. but a !erfect !leasure. 1 scientific #nowledge of one language
ma#es a #nowledge of other languages com!aratively easy.
*n reality, )indi, Gu,arati and Sams #rit may be regarded as one language, and Persian and
1rabic also as one. Though Persian belongs to the 1ryan, and 1rabic to the Semitic family of
languages, there is a close relationshi! between Persian and 1rabic, because both claim their full
growth through the ris e of *slam. Urdu * have not regarded as a distinct language, because it has
ado!ted the )indi grammar and its voc abulary is mainly Persian and 1rabic, and he who would
learn good Urdu must learn Persian and 1rabic, as one who would learn good Gu,arati, )indi,
Bengali, or Marathi must learn Sams#rit.

Chapter 6
A TRAG EDY
1mongst my few friends at the high school * had, at different times, two who might be called
intimate. ne of these friendshi!s did not last long, though * never forsoo# my friend. )e forsoo#
me, because * made friends with the other. This latter friendshi! * regard as a tragedy in my life. *t
lasted long. * formed it in s!irit of a reformer.
This com!anion was originally my elder brother(s friend. They were classmates. * #new his
wea#nesses, but * regarded him as a faithful friend. My mother, my eldest brother, and my wife
warned me that * was in bad com!any. * was too !roud to heed my wife(s warning. But * dared not
go against the o!inion of my mother and my eldest brother. %evertheless * !leaded with them
saying, (* #now he has the wea# nesses you attribute to him, but you do not #now his virtues. )e
cannot lead me astray, as my association with him is meant to reform him. 0or * am sure that if he
reforms his ways, he will be a s!lendid man. * beg you not to be an&ious on my ac count.(
* do not thin# this satisfied them, but they acce!ted my e&!lanation and let me go my way.
* have seen since that * had calculated wrongly. 1 reformer cannot afford to have close intimacy
with him whom he see#s to reform. True friendshi! is an identity of souls rarely to be found in this
world. nly between li# e natures can friendshi! be altogether worthy and enduring. 0riends react
on one another. )ence in friendshi! there is very little sco!e for reform. * am of o!inion that all
e&clusive intimacies are to be avoidedC for man ta#es in vice far more readily than virtue. 1nd he
who would be friends with God must remain alone, or ma#e the whole world his friend. * may be
wrong, but my effort to cultivate an intimate friendshi! !roved a failure.
1 wave of (reform( was s wee!ing over +a,# ot at the time when * first came across this friend. )e
informed me that many of our teachers were secretly ta#ing meat and wine. )e also named many
well/#nown !eo!le of +a,#ot as belonging to the same com!any. There were also, * was told,
some high/s chool boys among them.
* was sur!rised and !ained. * as#ed my friend the reason and he e&!lained it thus' (5e are a
wea# !eo!le because we do not eat meat. The 6nglish are able to rule over us, because they are
meat/eaters. =ou #now how hardy * am, and how great a runner too. *t is because * am a meat/
eater. Meat/eaters do not have boils or tumours, and even if they s ometimes ha!!en to have any,
these heal 3uic#ly. ur teachers and other distinguished !eo!le who eat meat are no fools. They
#now its virtues. =ou should do li#ewise. There is nothing li#e trying. Try, and see what strength it
gives.(
1ll these !leas on behalf of meat/eating were not advanced at a single s itting. They re!resent the
substance of a long and elaborate argument which my friend was trying to im!ress u!on me from
time to time. My elder brother had already fallen. )e therefore su!!orted my friend(s argument. *
certainly loo#ed feeble/bodied by the side of my brother and this friend. They were both hardier,
!hysically stronger, and more daring. This friend(s e&!loits cast a s!ell over me. )e could run
long distances and e&traordinarily fast. )e was an ade!t in high and long ,um!ing. )e could !ut
u! with any amount of cor!oral !unishment. )e would often dis!lay his e&!loits to me and, as
one is always da22led when he sees in others the 3ualities that he lac#s himself, * was da22led by
this friend(s e&!loits. This was followed by a strong desire to be li#e him. * could hardly ,um! or
run. 5hy should not * also be as strong as he@

Moreover, * was a coward. * used to be haunted by the fear of thieves, ghosts, and ser!ents. * did
not dare to stir out of doors at night. "ar#ness was a terror to me. *t was almost im!ossible for me
to slee! in the dar#, as * would imagine ghosts c oming from one direction, thieves from another
and ser!ents from a third. * could not therefore bear to slee! without a light in the room. )ow
could * disclose my fears to my wife, no child, but already at the threshold of youth, slee!ing by
my side@ * #new that she had more courage than *, and * felt ashamed of myself. She #new no
fear of ser!ents and ghosts. She could go out anywhere in the dar#. My friend #new all these
wea#nesses of mine. )e would tell me that he could hold in his hand live ser!ents, could defy
thieves and did not believe in ghosts. 1nd all this was, of course, the result of eating meat.
1 doggerel of the Gu,arati !oet %armad was in vogue amongst us schoolboys , as follows' Behold
the mighty 6nglishman )e rules the *ndian small, Because being a meat/eater )e is five cubits
tall.
1ll this had its due effect on me. * was beaten. *t began to grow on me that meat/eating was
good, that it would ma#e me strong and daring, and that, if the whole county too# to meat/eating,
the 6nglish could be overcome.
1 day was thereu!on fi&ed for beginning the e&!eriment. *t had to be conducted in secret. The
Gandhis were .aishnavas. My !arents were !articularly staunc h .aishnavas. They would
regularly visit the Haveli. The family had even its own tem!les. $ainism was strong in Gu,arat, and
its influence was felt everywhere and on all occasions. The o!!osition to and abhorrence of meat/
eating that e&isted in Gu,arat among the $ains and .aishnavas were to be seen nowhere else in
*ndia or outside in such strength. These were the traditions in which * was born and bred. 1nd *
was e&tremely devoted to my !arents. * # new that the moment they came to # now of my having
eaten meat, they would be shoc# ed to death. Moreover, my love of truth made me e& tra cautious.
* c annot say that * did not #now then that * should have to deceive my !arents if * began eating
meat. But my mind was bent on the (reform(. *t was not a 3uestion of !leas ing the !alate. * did not
#now that it had a !articularly good relish. * wished to be strong and daring and wanted my
countrymen also to be such, so that we might defeat the 6nglish and ma# e *ndia free. The word
(Swara,( * had not yet heard. But * #new what freedom meant. The fren2y of the (reform( blinded
me. 1nd having ensured secrecy, * !ersuaded myself that mere hiding the deed from !arents was
no de!arture from truth.
Chapter
A TRAG EDY ! contd."
So the day came. *t is difficult fully to describe my condition. There were, on the one hand, the
2eal for (reform(, and the novelty of ma#ing a momentous de!arture in life. There was, on the
other, the shame of hiding li#e a thief to do this very thing. * cannot say which of the two swayed
me more. 5e went in search of a lonely s!ot by the river, and there * saw, for the first time in my
life / meat. There was ba# er(s bread also. * relished neither. The goat(s meat was as tough as
leather. * sim!ly could not eat it. * was sic# and had to leave off eating.
* had a very bad night afterwards. 1 horrible night/mare haunted me. 6very time * dro!!ed off to
slee! it would seem as though a live goat were bleating inside me, and * would ,um! u! full of
remorse. But then * would remind myself that meat/eating was a duty and so become more
cheerful.

My friend was not a man to give in easily. )e now began to coo# various delicacies with meat,
and dress them neatly. 1nd for dining, no longer was the sec luded s!ot on the river chosen, but a
State house, with its dining hall, and tables and chairs, about which my friend had made
arrangements in collusion with the chief coo# there.
This bait had its effect. * got over my disli# e for bread, forswore my com!assion for the goats, and
became a relisher of meat/dishes, if not of meat itself. This went on for about a year. But not
more than half a do2en meat/feasts were en,oyed in allC bec ause the State house was not
available every day, and there was the obvious difficulty about fre3uently !re!aring e&!ensive
savoury meat/dishes. * had no money to !ay for this (reform(. My friend had therefore always to
find the wherewithal. * had no # nowledge where he found it. But find it he did, because he was
bent on turning me into a meat/eater. But even his means must have been limited, and hence
these feasts had necessarily to be few and far between.
5henever * had oc casion to indulge in thes e surre!titious feasts, dinner at home was out of the
3uestion. My mother would naturally as# me to come and ta#e my food and want to #now the
reason why * did not wish to eat. * would say to her, (* have no a!!etite todayC there is something
wrong with my digestion.( *t was not without com!unction that * devised these !rete&ts. * #new *
was lying, and lying to my mother. * also #new that, if my mother and father came to #now of my
having bec ome a meat/eater, they would be dee!ly shoc#ed. This #nowledge was gnawing at my
heart.
Therefore * said to myself' (Though it is es sential to eat meat, and also essential to ta#e u! food
(reform( in the country, yet deceiving and lying to one(s father and mother is worse than not eating
meat. *n their lifetime, therefore, meat/eating must be out of the 3uestion. 5hen they are no more
and * have found my freedom, * will eat meat o!enly, but until that moment arrives * will abstain
from it.(
This decision * communicated to my friend, and * have never since gone bac# to meat. My
!arents never #new that two of their sons had become meat/eaters.
* ab,ured meat out of the !urity of my desire not to lie to my !arents , but * did not ab,ure the
com!any of my friend. My 2eal for reforming him had !roved disastrous for me, and all the time *
was com!letely unconscious of the fact.
The same com!any would have led me into faithlessness to my wife. But * was saved by the s#in
of my teeth. My friend once too# me to a brothel. )e sent me in with the necessary instructions. *t
was all !rearranged. The bill had already been !aid. * went into the ,aws of sin, but God in )is
infinite mercy !rotec ted me against myself. * was almost struc# blind and dumb in this den of vice.
* sat near the woman on her bed, but * was tongue/tied. She naturally lost !atience with me, and
showed me the door, with abuses and insults. * then felt as though my manhood had been
in,ured, and wished to sin# into the ground for shame. But * have ever since given than#s to God
for having saved me. * can recall four more similar incidents in my life, and in most of them my
good fortune, rather than any effort on my !art, saved me. 0rom a s trictly ethical !oint of view, all
these occasions must be regarded as moral la!sesC for the carnal desire was there, and it was as
good as the ac t. But from the ordinary !oint of view, a man who is saved from !hysically
committing sin is regarded as saved. 1nd * was saved only in that sense. There are some actions
from which an esca!e is a godsend both for the man who esca!es and for thos e about him. Man,
as soon as he gets bac# his consciousness of right, is than# ful to the "ivine mercy for the
esca!e. 1s we #now that a man often succumbs to tem!tation, however much he say resist it, we

But to go on with the story. 6ven this was far from o!ening my eyes to the viciousness of my
friend(s com!any. * therefore had many more bitter draughts in store for me, until my eyes were
actually o!ened by an ocular demons tration of some of his la!ses 3uite une&!ected by me. But of
them later, as we are !roceeding chronologically.
ne thing, however, * must mention now, as it !ertains to the same !eriod. ne of the reasons of
my differences with my wife was undoubtedly the com!any of this friend. * was both a devoted
and a ,ealous husband, and this friend fanned the flame of my sus!icions about my wife. * never
could doubt his veracity. 1nd * have never forgiven myself the violence of which * have been
guilty in often having !ained my wife by acting on his information. Perha!s only a )indu wife
would tolerate these hardshi!s, and that is why * have regarded woman as an incarnation of
tolerance. 1 servant wrongly sus!ected may throw u! his ,ob, a son in the same cas e may leave
his father(s roof, and a friend may !ut an end to the friendshi!. The wife, if she sus!ec ts her
husband, will #ee! 3uiet, but if the husband sus!ects her, she is ruined. 5here is she to go@ 1
)indu wife may not see# divorce in a law/court. 4aw has no remedy for her. 1nd * can never
forget or forgive myself for a having driven my wife to that des !eration.
The can#er of sus!icion was rooted out only when * understood Ahimsain all its bearings. * saw
then the glory of Brahmacharyaand reali2ed that the wife is not the husband(s bondslave, but his
com!anion and his hel!/mate, and an e3ual !artner in all his ,oy and sorrows / as free as the
husband to choose her own !ath. 5henever * thin# of those dar# days of doubts and sus!icions. *
am filled with loathing of my folly and my lustful cruelty, and * de!lore my blind devotion to my
friend.
Chapter #
STEALING AND ATONEMENT
* have still to relate some of my failings during this meat/eating !eriod and also !revious to it,
which date from before my marriage or soon after.
1 relative and * became fond of smo#ing. %ot that we saw any good in smo#ing, or were
enamoured of the smell of a cigarette. 5e sim!ly imagined a sort of !leasure in emitting clouds of
smo#e from our mouths. My uncle had the habit, and when we saw him smo#ing, we thought we
should co!y his e&am!le. But we had no money. So we began !ilfering stum!s of cigarettes
thrown away by my uncle.
The stum!s, however, were not always available, and could not emit much s mo#e either. So we
began to steal co!!ers from the servant(s !oc#et money in order to !urchase *ndian cigarettes.
But the 3uestion was where to #ee! them. 5e could not of course smo#e in the !resence of
elders. 5e managed somehow for a few wee#s on these stolen co!!ers. *n the meantime we
heard that the stal#s of a certain !lant were !orous and could be s mo#ed li# e cigarettes. 5e got
them and began this #ind of smo#ing.
But we were far from being satisfied with such things as these. ur want of inde!endence began
to smart, *t was unbearable that we should be unable to do anything without the elders(
!ermission. 1t last, in s heer disgust, we decided to commit s uicideB
But how were we to do it@ 0rom where were we to get the !oison@ 5e heard that Dhaturaseeds
were an effective !oison. ff we went to the ,ungle in search of these seeds, and got them.

6vening was thought to be the aus!icious hour. 5e went to Kedarji Mandir , !ut ghee in the
tem!le/lam!, had the Darshanand then loo#ed for a lonely corner. But our courage failed us.
Su!!osing we were not instantly #illed@ 1nd what was the good of #illing ourselves@ 5hy not
rather !ut u! with the lac# of inde!endence@ But we swallowed two or three seeds nevertheless.
5e dared not ta#e more. Both of us fought shy of death, and dec ided to go to Ramji Mandir to
com!ose ourselves, and to dismiss the thought of suic ide.
* reali2ed that it was not as easy to c ommit s uicide as to contem!late it. 1nd since then,
whenever * have heard of someone threatening to commit suicide, it has had little or on effect on
me.
The thought of suicide ultimately resulted in both of us bidding good/ bye to the habit of smo#ing
stum!s of cigarettes and of stealing the servant(s co!!ers for the !ur!ose of smo#ing.
6ver since * have been grown u!, * have never desired to smo#e and have always regarded the
habit of smo#ing as barbarous, dirty and harmful. * have never understood why there is s uch a
rage for smo# ing throughout the world. * cannot bear to travel in a com!artment full of !eo!le
smo#ing. * become cho#ed.
But much more serious than this theft was the one * was guilty of a little later. * !ilfered the
co!!ers when * was twelve or thirteen, !ossibly less. The other theft was committed when * was
fifteen. *n this cas e * stole a bit of gold out of my meat/eating brother(s armlet. This brother had
run into a debt of about twenty/five ru!ees. )e had on his arm an armlet of solid gold. *t was not
difficult to cli! a bit out of it.
5ell, it was done, and the debt cleared. But this became more than * could bear. * resolved never
to steal again. * also made u! my mind to confess it to my father. But * did not dare to s!ea#. %ot
that * was afraid of my father beating me. %o * do not recall his ever having beaten any of us. *
was afraid of the !ain that * should cause him. But * felt that the ris# should be ta#enC that there
could not be a cleaning without a clean confession.
* decided at last to write out the confession, to submit it to my father, and as# his forgiveness. *
wrote it on a sli! of !a!er and handed it to him myself. *n this note not only did * confess my guilt,
but * as#ed ade3uate !unishment for it, and closed with a re3uest to him not to !unish himself for
my offence. * also !ledged myself never to steal in future.
* was trembling as * handed the confession to my father. )e was then suffering from a fistula and
was confined to bed. )is bed was a !lain wooden !lan#. * handed him the note and sat o!!osite
the !lan#.
)e read it through, and !earl/dro!s tric#led down his chee#s, wetting the !a!er. 0or a moment he
closed his eyes in thought and then tore u! the note. )e had sat u! to read it. )e again lay down.
* also cried. * could see my father(s agony. *f * were a !ainter * could draw a !icture of the whole
scene today. *t is still so vivid in my mind.
Those !earl/dro!s of love cleansed my heart, and washed my sin away. nly he who has
e&!erienced such love can # now what it is. 1s the hymn says' (nly he 5ho is smitten with the
arrows of love. Knows its !ower.(
This was, for me, an ob,ect/lesson in Ahimsa. Then * could read in it nothing more than a father(s
love, but today * #now that it was !ure Ahimsa. 5hen such Ahimsabecomes all/embracing it
transforms everything it touches. There is no limit to its !ower.

This sort of sublime forgiveness was not natural to my father. * had thought that he would be
angry, say hard things, and stri#e his forehead. But he was so wonderfully !eaceful, and * believe
this was due to my clean confession. 1 clean confession, combined with a !romise never to
commit the sin again, when offered before one who has the right to receive it, is the !urest ty!e of
re!entance. * #now that my confession made my father feel absolutely safe about me, and
increased his affection for me beyond measure.
Chapter $
MY %ATHER&S DEATH AND MY DOUBLE SHAME
The time of which * am now s!ea#ing is my si&teenth year. My father, as we have seen, was
bed/ridden, suffering from a fistula. My mother, an old servant of the house, and * were his
!rinci!al attendants. * had the duties of a nurse, which mainly consisted in dressing the wound.
giving my father his medicine, and c om!ounding drugs whenever they had to be made u! at
home, 6very night * massaged his legs and retired only when he as#ed me to do so or after he
had fallen aslee!. * loved to do this service. * do not remember ever having neglected it. 1ll the
time at my dis!osal, after the !erformance of the daily duties, was divided between school and
attending on my father. * would only go out for an evening wal# either when he !ermitted me or
when he was feeling well.
This was also the time when my wife was e&!ecting a baby,/ a circumstance which, as * can see
today, meant a double shame for me. 0or one thing * did not restrain myself, as * should have
done, whilst * was yet a student. 1nd secondly, this carnal lust got the better of what * regarded
as my duty to my !arents, Shravana having been my ideal since childhood. 6very night whilst my
hands were busy massaging my father(s legs, my mind was hovering about the bed/room,/ and
that too at a time when religion, medical science and commons ense ali#e forbade se&ual
intercourse. * was always glad to be relieved from my duty, and went straight to the bed/room
after doing obeisance to my father.
1t the same time my father was getting worse every day. 1yurvedic !hysicians had tied all their
ointments, )a# ims their !lasters, and loc al 3uac #s their nostrums. 1n 6nglish surgeon had also
used his s# ill. 1s the last and only resort he had recommended a surgical o!eration. But the
family !hysician came in the way. )e disa!!roved of an o!eration being !erformed at such an
advanced age. The !hysician was com!etent and well/#nown, and his advice !revailed. The
o!eration was abandoned, and various medicines !urchased for the !ur!ose were of no account.
* have an im!ression that, if the !hysician had allowed the o!eration, the wound would have been
easily healed. The o!eration also was to have been !erformed by a surgeon who was then well
#nown in Bombay. But God had willed otherwise. 5hen death is imminent, who can thin# of the
right remedy@ My father returned from Bombay with all the !ara!hernalia of the o!eration, which
were now useless. )e des!aired of living any longer, )e was getting wea#er and wea#er, until at
last he had to be as# ed to !erform the necessary functions in bed. But u! to the last he refused to
do anything of the #ind, always insisting on going through the strain of leaving his bed. The
.aishnavite rules about e&ternal cleanliness are so ine&orable.
Such cleanliness is 3uite essential no doubt, but 5estern medical science had taught us that all
the functions, including a bath, can be done in bed with the strictest regard to c leanliness, and
without the slightest discomfort to the !atient, the bed always remaining s!otlessly c lean. * should
regard such cleanliness as 3uite consistent with .aishnavism. But my father(s insistence on
leaving the bed only struc# me with wonder then, and * had nothing but admiration for it.

The dreadful night c ame. My uncle was then in +a,#ot. * have a faint recollection that he came to
+a,#ot having had news that my father was getting worse. The brothers were dee!ly attached to
each other. My uncle would sit near my father(s bed the whole day, and would insist on slee!ing
by his bed/side after sending us all to slee!. %o one had dreamt that this was to be the fateful
night. The danger of course was there.
*t was 9A/DA or 99 !.m. * was giving the massage. My uncle offered to relieve me. * was glad and
went straight to the bed/room. My wife, !oor thing, was fast aslee!. But how could she slee!
when * was there@ * wo#e her u!. *n five or si& minutes. however, the servant #noc# ed at the
door. * started with alarm. (Get u!,( he said, (0ather is very ill.( * #new of course that he was very
ill, and so * guessed what (very ill( meant at that moment. * s!rang out of bed. (5hat is the matter@
"o tell meB( (0ather is no more.( So all was overB * had but to wring my hands. * felt dee!ly
ashamed and miserable. * ran to my father(s room. * saw that, if animal !assion had not blinded
me. * should have been s!ared the torture of se!aration from my father during his last moments. *
should have been massaging him, and he would have died in my arms. But now it was my uncle
who had this !rivilege. )e was so dee!ly devoted to his elder brother that he had earned the
honour of doing him the last servicesB My father had forebodings of the coming event. )e had
made a sign for !en and !a!er, and written' (Pre!are for the last rites.( )e had then sna!!ed the
amulet off his arm and als o his gold nec# lace of tulasibeads and flung them aside. 1 moment
after this he was no more.
The shame, to which * have refered in a foregoing cha!ter, was this of my carnal desire even at
the critical hour of my father(s death, which demanded wa#eful service. *t is a blot * have never
been able to efface or forget, and * have always thought that, although my devotion to my !arents
#new no bounds and * would have given u! anything for it, yet * was weighed and found
un!ardonably wanting because my mind was at the same moment in the gri! of lust. * have
therefore always regarded myself as a lustful. though a faithful, husband. *t too# me long to get
free from the shac#les of lust, and * had to !ass through many ordeals before * could overcome it.
Before * close this cha!ter of my double shame. * may mention that the !oor mite that was born to
my wife scarcely breathed for more than three or four days. %othing else could be e&!ected. 4et
all those who are married be warned by my e&am!le.
Chapter 1'
GLIMPSES O% RELIGION
0rom my si&th or seventh year u! to my si&teenth * was at school, being taught all sorts of
things e&ce!t religion. * may say that * failed to get from the teachers what they could have given
me without any effort on their !art. 1nd yet * #e!t on !ic#ing u! things here and there from my
surroundings. The term (religion( * am using in its broadest sense, meaning thereby self/
reali2ation or # nowledge of self.
Being born in the .ais hnava faith, * has often to go to the Haveli. But it never a!!ealed to me. *
did not li# e its glitter and !om!. 1lso * heard rumours of immorality being !ractised there, and lost
all interes t in it. )ence * could gain nothing from theHaveli.
But what * failed to get there * obtained from my nurse, an old servant of the family, whose
affection for me * still recall. * have said before that there was in me a fear of ghosts and s!irits.
+ambha, for that was her name, suggested, as a remedy for this fear, the re!etition of

Ramanama. * had more faith in her than in her remedy, and so at a tender age * began re!eating
Ramanamato cure my fear of ghosts and s!irits. This was of course short/lived, but the good
seed sown in childhood was not sown in vain. * thin# it is due to the seed by that good woman
+ambha that today Ramanamais an infallible remedy for me.
$ust about this time, a cousin of mine who was a devotee of the Ramayanaarranged for my
second brother and me to learn Ram Raks ha. 5e got it by heart, and made it a rule to recite it
every morning after the bath. The !ractice was #e!t u! as long as we were in Porbandar. 1s soon
as we reached +a,#ot, it was forgotten. 0or * had not much belief in it. * recited it !artly because of
my !ride in being able to reciteRam Rakshawith correct !ronunciation.
5hat, however, left a dee! im!ression on me was the reading of theRamayanabefore my father.
"uring !art of his illness my father was in Porbandar. There every evening he used to listen to the
Ramayana. The reader was a great devotee of +ama,/ 4adha Mahara, of Bileshvar. *t was s aid of
him that he cured himself of his le!rosy not by any medicine, but by a!!lying to the affected !arts
bilvaleaves which had been cast away after being offered to the image of Mahadeva in Bileshvar
tem!le, and by the regular re!etition of Ramanama. )is faith it, it was said, had made him whole.
This may or may not be true. 5e at any rate believed the story. 1nd it is a fact that when 4adha
Mahara, began his reading of the Ramayanahis body was entirely free from le!rosy. )e had a
melodious voice. )e would sing theDhas>cou!lets? and Chpais>3uatrains?, and e&!lain them,
losing himself in the discourse and carrying his listeners along with him. * must have been thirteen
at that time, but * 3uite remember being enra!tured by his reading. That laid the foundation of my
dee! devotion to the Ramayana. Today * regard the Ramayanaof Tulasidas as the greates t boo#
in all devotional literature.
1 few months after this we came to +a,#ot. There was no Ramayanareading there. The
Bha!avat, however, used to be read on every "kadashiday. Sometimes * attended the reading,
but the rec iter was unins!iring. Today * see that theBha!avatis a boo# which can evo# e religious
fervour. * have read it in Gu,arati with intense interest. But when * heard !ortions of the original
read by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya during my twentyone day(s fast, * wished * had heard it in
my childhood from such a devote as he is, so that * could have formed a li# ing for it at an early
age. *m!ressions formed at that age stri#e roots dee! down into one(s nature and it is my
!er!etual regret that * was not fortunate enough to hear more good boo#s of this #ind read during
that !eriod.
*n +a,#ot, however, * got an early grounding in toleration for all branches of )induism and sister
religions. 0or my father and mother would visit the Havelias also Shiva(s and +ama(s tem!les,
and would ta#e or s end us youngsters there. $ain mon# s also would !ay fre3uent visits to my
father, and would even go out of their way to acc e!t food from us non/$ains. They would have
tal# s with my father on sub,ects religious and mundane.
)e had, besides, Musalman and Parsi friends, who would tal# to him about their own faiths, and
he would listen to them always with res!ect, and often with interest. Being his nurse, * often had a
chance to be !resent at thes e tal#s. These many things combined to inculcate in me a toleration
for all faiths.
nly -hristianity was at the time an e&ce!tion. * develo!ed a sort of disli#e for it. 1nd for a
reason. *n thos e days -hristian mis sionaries used to stand in a corner near the high school and
hold forth, !ouring abus e on )indus and their gods. * could not endure this. * must have stood
there to hear them once only, but that was enough to dissuade me from re!eating the
e&!eriment. 1bout the same time, * heard of a well #nown )indu having been converted to
-hristianity. *t was the tal# of the town that, when he was ba!ti2ed, he had to eat beef and drin#
li3uor, that he also had to change his clothes, and that thenceforth he began to go about in
6uro!ean costume including a hat. These things got on my nerves. Surely, thought *, a religion
that c om!elled one to eat beef, drin# li3uor, and change one(s own clothes did not deserve the

name. * also heard that the new convert had already begun abusing the religion of his ancestors,
their customs and their country. 1ll these things created in me a disli#e for -hris tianity.
But the fact that * had learnt to be tolerant to other religions did not mean that * had any living faith
in God. * ha!!ened, about this time, to come acros s Manusmritiwhich was amongst my father(s
collection. The story of the creation and similar things in it did not im!ress me very much, but on
the contrary made me incline somewhat towards atheism.
There was a cousin of mine, still alive, for whose intellect * had great regard. To him * turned with
my doubts. But he could not resolve them. )e sent me away with this ans wer' (5hen you grow
u!, you will be able to solve these doubts yourself. These 3uestions ought not to be raised at your
age.( * was silenced, but was not comforted. -ha!ters about diet and the li#e in Manusmriti
seemed to me to run contrary to daily !ractice. To my doubts as to this also, * got the same
answer.(5ith intellect more develo!ed and with more reading * shall unders tand it better,( * said to
myself.
Manusmritiat any rate did not then teach me ahimsa. * have told the story of my meat/eating.
Manusmritiseemed to su!!ort it. * also felt that it was 3uite moral to #ill ser!ents, bugs and the
li# e. * remember to have #illed at that age bugs and such other insects, regarding it as a duty.
But one thing too# dee! root in me the conviction that morality is the basis of things, and that truth
is the substance of all morality. Truth became my sole ob,ective. *t began to grow in magnitude
every day, and my definition of it also has been ever widening. 1 Gu,arati didactic stan2a li# ewise
gri!!ed my mind and heart. *ts Prece!t/return good for evil/became my guiding !rinci!le. *t
became such a !assion with me that * began numerous e&!eriments in it. )ere are those >for me?
wonderful lines' 0or a bowl of water give a goodly meal' 0or a # indly greeting bow thou down with
2eal' 0or a sim!le !enny !ay thou bac# with gold' *f thy life be rescued, life do not withhold. Thus
the words and actions of the wise regardC 6very little service tenfold they reward. But the truly
noble #now all men as one, 1nd return with gladness good for evil done.
Chapter 11
PREPARATION %OR ENGLAND
* !assed the matriculation e&amination in 9::F. *t then used to be held at two centres,
1hmedabad and Bombay. The general !overty of the country naturally led Kathiawad students to
!refer the nearer and the chea!er centre. The !overty of my family li#ewise dictated to me the
same choice. This was my first ,ourney from +a,#ot to 1hmedabad and that too without a
com!anion.
My elders wanted me to !ursue my studies at college after the matriculation. There was a c ollege
in Bhavnagar as well as in Bombay, and as the former was chea!er, * decided to go there and
,oin the Samaldas -ollege. * went, but found myself entirely at sea. 6verything was diffic ult. *
could not follow, let alone ta#ing interest in, the !rofessors( lectures. *t was no fault of theirs. The
!rofessors in that -ollege were regarded as first/rate. But * was so raw. 1t the end of the first
term, * returned home.
5e had in Mav,i "ave, who was a shrewd and learned Brahman an old friend and adviser of the
family. )e had # e!t u! his connection with the family even after my father(s death. )e ha!!ened

to visit us during my vacation. *n c onversation with my mother and elder brother, he in3uired
about my studies. 4earning that * was at Samaldas -ollege, he said' (The times are changed. 1nd
none of you can e&!ect to succeed to your father(s !adiwithout having a !ro!er educ ation. %ow
as this boy is still !ursuing his studies, you should all loo# to him to #ee! the !adi. *t will ta#e him
four or five years to get his B.1. degree, which will at best 3ualify him for a si&ty ru!ees( !ost, not
for a "iwanshi!. *f li#e my son he went in for law, it would ta# e him s till longer, by which time
there would be a host of lawyers as!iring for a "iwan(s !ost. * would far rather that you sent him
to 6ngland. My son Kevalram says it is very easy to become a barrister. *n three years( time he
will return. 1lso e&!enses will not e&ceed four to five thousand ru!ees. Thin# of that barrister who
has ,ust come bac# from 6ngland. )ow stylishly he livesB )e could get the "iwanshi! for the
as#ing. * would strongly advise you to send Mohandas to 6ngland this very year. Kevalram has
numerous friends in 6ngland. )e will give notes of introduc tion to them, and Mohandas will have
an easy time of it there.(
$oshi,i that is how we used to call old Mav,i "ave turned to me with com!lete assurance, and
as#ed' (5ould you not rather go to 6ngland than study here@( %othing could have been more
welcome to me. * was fighting shy of my difficult studies. So * ,um!ed at the !ro!osal and said
that the sooner * was sent the better. *t was no easy business to !ass e&aminations 3uic#ly.
-ould * not be sent to 3ualify for the medical !rofes sion@
My brother interru!ted me' (0ather never li#ed it. )e had you in mind when he said that we
.aishnavas should have nothing to do with dissection of dead bodies. 0ather intended you for the
bar.(
$oshi,i chimed in ' (* am not o!!osed to the medical !rofession as was Gandhi,i. ur Shastrasare
not against it. But a medical degree will not ma#e a "iwan of you, and * want you to be "iwan, or
if !ossible something better. nly in that way could you ta#e under your !rotecting care your
large family. The times are fast c hanging and getting harder every day. *t is the wis est thing
therefore to become a barrister.( Turning to my mother he said ' (%ow, * must leave. Pray !onder
over what * have said. 5hen * come here ne&t * shall e&!ect to hear of !re!arations for 6ngland.
Be sure to let me #now if * can assist in any way.(
$oshi,i went away, and * began building castles in the air.
My elder brother was greatly e&ercised in his mind. )ow was he to find the wherewithal to send
me@ 1nd was it !ro!er to trust a young man li#e me to go abroad alone@
My mother was sorely !er!le&ed. She did not li#e the idea of !arting with me. This is how she
tried to !ut me off' (Uncle,( she said, (is now the eldest member of the family. )e should first be
consulted. *f he consents we will consider the matter.(
My brother had another idea. )e said to me' (5e have a certain claim on the Porbandar State.
Mr. 4ely is the 1dministrator. )e thin#s highly of our family and uncle is in his good boo#s. *t is
,ust !ossible that he might recommend you for some State hel! for your education in 6ngland.(
* li# ed all this and got ready to start off for Porbandar. There was no railway in those days. *t was
a five days( bulloc#/cart ,ourney. * have already said that * was a coward. But at that moment my
cowardice vanished before the desire to go to 6ngland, which com!letely !ossessed me. * hired a
bulloc#/c art as far as "hora,i, and from "hora,i * too# a camel in order to get to Porbandar a day
3uic#er. This was my first camel/ride.
* arrived at last, did obeisance to my uncle, and told him everything. )e thought it over and said '
(* am not sure whether it is !ossible for one to stay in 6ngland without !re,udice to one(s own
religion. 0rom all * have heard, * have my doubts. 5hen * meet thes e big barristers , * see no

difference between their life and that of 6uro!eans. They #now no scru!les regarding food.
-igars are never out of their mouths. They dress as shamelessly as 6nglishmen. 1ll that would
not be in #ee!ing with our family tradition. * am shortly going on a !ilgrimage and have not many
years to live. 1t the thres hold of death, how dare * give you !ermission to go to 6ngland, to cross
the s eas@ But * will not stand in your way. *t is your mother(s !ermission which really matters. *f
she !ermits you, then gods!eedB Tell her * will not interfere. =ou will go with my blessings.(
(* could e&!ect nothing more from you,( said *. (* shall now try to win mother over. But would you
not recommend me to Mr. 4ely@(
()ow can * do that@( said he. (But he is a good man. =ou as# for an a!!ointment telling him how
you are connected. )e will certainly give you one and may even hel! you.(
* cannot say why my uncle did not give me a note of recommendation. * have a faint idea that he
hesitated to co/o!erate directly in my going to 6ngland, which was in his o!inion an irreligious
act.
* wrote to Mr 4ely, who as#ed me to see him at his residence. )e saw me as he was ascending
the staircaseCand s aying curtly, (Pass your B.1. fist and then see me. %o hel! can be given you
now(, he hurried u!stairs. * had made elaborate !re!arations to meet him. * had carefully learnt u!
a few sentences and had bowed low and saluted him with both hands. But all to no !ur!oseB
* thought of my wife(s ornaments. * thought of my elder brother, in whom * had the utmost faith.
)e was generous to a fault, and he loved me as his son.
* returned to +a,# ot from Porbandar and re!orted all that had ha!!ened. * consulted $os hi,i, who
of course advised even inc urring a debt if nec essary. * suggested the dis!osal of my wife(s
ornaments, which could fetch about two or three thousand ru!ees. My brother !romised to find
the money somehow.
My mother, however, was still unwilling. She had begun ma#ing minute in3uiries. Someone had
told her that young men got lost in 6ngland. Someone else had said that they too# to meatC and
yet another that they could not live there without li3uor. ()ow about all this@( she as#ed me. * said'
(5ill you not trust me@ * shall not lie to you. * swear that * shall not touch any of those things. *f
there were any such danger, would $oshi,i let me go@(
(* can trust you,( she said.(But how can * trust you in a distant land@ * am da2ed and #now not
what to do. * will as# Bechar,i Swami.(
Bechar,i Swami was originally a Modh Bania, but had now become a $ain mon#. )e too was a
family advis er li#e $oshi,i. )e came to my hel!, and said' (* shall get the boy solemnly to ta#e the
three vows, and then he can be allowed to go.( )e administered the oath and * vowed not to
touch wine, woman and meat. This done, my mother gave her !ermission.
The high school had a send/off in my honour. *t was an uncommon thing for a young man of
+a,#ot to go to 6ngland. * had written out a few words of than#s. But * could scarcely stammer
them out. * remember how my head reeled and how my whole frame shoo# as * stood u! to read
them.
5ith the blessing of my elders, * started for Bombay. This was my first ,ourney from +a,#ot to
Bombay. This was my first ,ourney from +a,# ot to Bombay. My brother accom!anied me. But
there is many a sli!, (twi&t the cu! and the li!. There were difficulties to be faced in Bombay.

Chapter 12
OUTCASTE
5ith my mother(s !ermission and blessings, * set off e&ultantly for Bombay, leaving my wife
with a baby of a few months. But on arrival there friends told my brother that the *ndian cean
was rough in $une and $uly, and as this was my first voyage, * should not be allowed to sail until
%ovember. Someone also re!orted that a steamer had ,ust been sun# in a gale. This made my
brother uneasy, and he refused to ta#e the ris# of allowing me to sail immediately. 4eaving me
with a friend in Bombay, he returned to +a,#ot to resume his duty. )e !ut the money for my
travelling e&!enses in the #ee!ing of a brother/in/law, and left word with some friends to give me
whatever hel! * might need.
Time hung heavily on my hands in Bombay. * dreamt continually of going to 6ngland.
Meanwhile my cas te/!eo!le were agitated over my going abroad. %o Modh Bania had been to
6ngland u! to now, and if * dared to do so, * ought to be brought to boo#B 1 general meeting of
the caste was called and * was summoned to a!!ear before it. * went. %ow * suddenly managed
to muster u! courage * do not # now. %othing daunted, and without the slightest hesitation, * came
before the meeting. The Sheth/ the headman of the community who was distantly related to me
and had been on very good terms with my father, thus accosted me'
(*n the o!inion of the caste, your !ro!osal to go to 6ngland is not !ro!er. ur religion forbids
voyages abroad. 5e have also heard that it is not !ossible to live there without com!romising out
religion. ne is obliged to eat and drin# with 6uro!eans B(
To which * re!lied' (* do not thin# it is at all against our religion to go to 6ngland. * intend going
there for further studies. 1nd * have already solemnly !romised to my mother to abstain from
three things you fear most. * am sure the vow will # ee! me safe.(
(But we tell you,( re,oined the Sheth, (that it is nt!ossible to #ee! our religion there. =ou #now
my relations with your father and you ought to listen to my advice.(
(* #now those relations.( said *. (1nd you are as an elder to me. But * am hel!less in this matter. *
cannot alter my resolve to go to 6ngland. My father(s friend and adviser, who is a learned
Brahman, sees no ob,ection to my gong to 6ngland, and my mother and brother have also given
me their !ermission.(
(But will you disregard the orders of the caste@(
(* am really hel!less. * thin# the caste should not interfere in the matter.(
This incensed the Sheth. )e swore at me. * sat unmoved. So the Sheth !ronounced his order'
(This boy shall be treated as an outcaste from today. 5hoever hel!s him or goes to see him off at
the doc# shall be !unishable with a fine of one ru!ee four annas.(

The order had no effect on me, and * too# my leave of the Sheth. But * wondered how my brother
would ta#e it. 0ortunately he remained firm and wrote to assure me that * had his !ermission to
go, the Sheth(s order notwithstanding.
The incident, however, made me more an&ious than ever to sail. 5hat would ha!!en if they
succeeded in bringing !ressure to bear on my brother@ Su!!osing something unforeseen
ha!!ened@ 1s * was thus worrying over my !redicament, * heard that a $unagadh va#il was going
to 6ngland, for being called to the bar, by a boat sailing on the Eth of Se!tember. * met the friends
to whose care my brother had commended me. They also agreed that * should not let go the
o!!ortunity of going in such com!any. There was no time to be lost. * wired to my brother for
!ermission, which he granted. * as#ed my brother/in/law to give me the money. But he referred to
the order of the Sheth and said that he could not afford to lose caste. * then s ought a friend of the
family and re3uested him to accommodate me to the e&tent of my !assage and sundries, and to
recover the loan from my brother. The friend was not only good enough to accede to my re3ues t,
but he cheered me u! as well. * was so than#ful. 5ith !art of the money * at once !urchased the
!assage. Then * had to e3ui! myself for the voyage. There was another friend who had
e&!erience in the matter. )e got clothes and other things ready. Some of the clothes * li#ed and
some * did not li#e at all. The nec#tie, which * delighted in wearing later, * then abhorred. The
short ,ac#et * loo#ed u!on as immodest. But this disli#e was nothing before the desire to go to
6ngland, which was u!!ermost in me. f !rovisions als o * had enough and to s!are for the
voyage. 1 berth was reserved for me by my friends in the same cabin as that of S,t. Tryamba#rai
Ma2mudar, the $unagadh va# il. They also commended me to him. )e was an e&!erienced man
of mature age and #new the world. * was yet a stri!ling of eighteen without any e&!erience of the
world. S,t. Ma2mudar told my friends not to worry about me.
* sailed at last from Bombay on the Eth of Se!tember.
Chapter 13
IN LONDON AT LAST
* did not feel at all sea/sic#. But as the days !assed, * became fidgety. * felt s hy even in
s!ea#ing to the steward. * was 3uite unaccustomed to tal#ing 6nglis h, and e&ce!t for S,t.
Ma2mudar all the other !assengers in the second saloon were 6nglish. * could not s!ea# to them.
0or * could rarely follow their remar#s when they came u! to s!ea# to me, and even when *
understood * could not re!ly. * had to frame every s entence in my mind, before * could bring it out.
* was innocent of the use of #nives and for# s and had not the boldness to in3uire what dishes on
the menu were free of meat, * therefore never too# meals at table but always had them in my
cabin, and they consisted !rinci!ally of sweets and fruits which * had brought with me. S,t.
Ma2mudar had no difficulty, and he mi&ed with everybody. )e would move about freely on dec#,
while * hid myself in the cabin the whole day, only venturing u! on dec# when there were but few
!eo!le. S,t. Ma2mudar #e!t !leading with me to associate with the !assengers and to tal# with
them freely. )e told me that lawyers should have a long tongue, and related to me his legal
e&!eriences. )e advis ed me to ta#e every !ossible o!!ortunity of tal#ing 6nglish, and not to mind
ma#ing mista#es which were obviously unavoidable with a foreign tongue. But nothing could
ma#e me con3uer my shyness.
1n 6nglish !ass enger, ta#ing #indly to me, drew me into conversation. )e was older than *. )e
as#ed me what * ate, what * was, where * was going, why * was shy, and so on. )e also advised
me to come to table. )e laughed at my insistence on ab,uring meat, and said in a friendly way

when we were in the +ed Sea' (*t is all very well so far but you will have to revise your decision in
the Bay of Biscay. 1nd it is so cold in 6ngland that one cannot !ossibly live there without meat.(
(But * have heard that !eo!lecanlive there without eating meat,( * said.
(+est assured it is a fib,( said he. (%o one, to my #nowledge, lives there without being a meat/
eater. "on(t you see that * am not as #ing you to ta#e li3uor, though * do so@ But * do thin# you
should eat meat, for you cannot live without it.(
(* than# you for your #ind advice, but * have solemnly !romised to my mother not to touch meat,
and therefore * cannot thin# of ta#ing it. *f it be found im!ossible to get on without it, * will far
rather go bac# to *ndia than eat meat in order to remain there.(
5e entered the Bay of Biscay, but * did not begin to feel the need either of meat or li3uor. * had
been advised to collect certific ates of my having abstained from met, and * as#ed the 6nglish
friend to give me one. )e gladly gave it and * treasured it for some time. But when * saw later that
one could get such a certificate in s!ite of being a meat/eater, it lost all its charm for me. *f my
word was not to be trusted, where was the use of !ossessing a certificate in the matter@
)owever, we reached Southam!ton, as far as * remember, on a Saturday. n the boat * had worn
a blac# suit, the white flannel one, which my friends had got me, having been #e!t es!ecially for
wearing when * landed. * had thought that white clothes would suit me better when * ste!!ed
ashore, and therefore * did so in white flannels. Those were the last days of Se!tember, and *
found * was the only !erson wearing such clothes. * left in charge of an agent of Grindlay and -o.
all my #it, including the #eys, seeing that many others had done the same and * must follow suit.
* had four notes of introduction ' to "r. P. $. Mehta, to S,t. "al!atram Shu#la, to Prince +an,itsinh,i
and to "adabhai %aoro,i. Someone on board had advised us to !ut u! at the .ictoria )otel in
4ondon. S,t Ma2mudar and * accordingly went there. The shame of being the only !erson in white
clothes was already too much for me. 1nd when at the )otel * was told that * s hould not get my
things from Grindlay(s the ne&t day, it being a Sunday, * was e&as!erated.
"r. Mehta, to whom * had wired from Southam!ton, called at about eight o(cloc# the same
evening. )e gave me a hearty greeting. )e smiled at my being in flannels. 1s we were tal#ing. *
casually !ic#ed u! his to!/ hat, and trying to see how smooth it was, !assed my hand over it the
wrong way and disturbed the fur. "r. Mehta loo#ed somewhat angrily at what * was doing and
sto!!ed me. But the mischief had been done. The incident was a warning for the future. This was
my first less on in 6uro!ean eti3uette, into the details of which "r. Mehta humorously initiated me.
("o not touch other !eo!le(s things,( he said. ("o not as# 3uestions as we usually do in *ndia on
first ac3uaintanceC do not tal# loudlyC never address !eo!le as (sir( whilst s!ea#ing to them as we
do in *ndiaC only servants and subordinates address their masters that wayC 1nd so on and so
forth. )e also told me that it was very e&!ensive to live in a hotel and recommended that * should
live with a !rivate family. 5e deferred consideration of the matter until Monday.
S,t.Ma2mudar and * found the hotel to be a trying affair. *t was also very e&!ensive. There was,
however, a Sindhi fellow/!assenger from Malta who had become friends with S,t Ma2mudar, and
as he was not a stranger to 4ondon, he offered to find rooms for us. 5e agreed,and on Monday,
as soon as we got our baggage, we !aid u! our bills and went to the rooms rented for us by the
Sindhi friend. * remember my hotel bill came to G D an amount which shoc#ed me. 1nd * had
!ractically starved in s!ite of this heavy billB 0or * could relish nothing. 5hen * did not li#e one
thing, * as# ed for another, but had to !ay for both ,ust the same. The fact is that all this while * had
de!ended on the !rovisions which * had brought with me from Bombay.

* was very uneasy even in the new rooms. * would continually thin# of my home and country. My
mother(s love always hunted me. 1t night the tears would stream down my chee#s , and home
memories of all sorts made slee! out of the 3uestion. *t was im!ossible to share my misery with
anyone. 1nd even if * could have done so, where was the use@ * #new of nothing that would
soothe me. 6verything was strange/the !eo!le, their ways, and even their dwellings. * was a
com!lete novice in the matter of 6nglish eti3uette and continually had to be on my guard. There
was the additional inconvenience of the vegetarian vow. 6ven the dishes that * could eat were
tasteless and insi!id. * thus found myself between Scylla and -harybdis. 6ngland * could not
bear, but to return to *ndia was not to be thought of. %ow that * had come, * must finish the three
years, said the inner voice.
Chapter 14
MY CHOICE
"r. Mehta went on Monday to the .ictoria )otel e&!ecting to find me there. )e discovered that
we had left, got our new address, and met me at our rooms . Through sheer folly * had managed
to get ringworm on the boat. 0or washing and bathing we us ed to have sea/water, in which soa!
is not s oluble. *, however, used soa!, ta#ing its use to be a sign of civili2ation, with the result that
instead of cleaning the s#in it made it greasy. This gave me ringworm. * showed it to "r. Mehta,
who told me to a!!ly acetic acid. * remember how the burning acid made me cry. "r. Mehta
ins!ected my room and its a!!ointments and shoo# his head in disa!!roval. (This !lace won(t do,(
he said. (5e come to 6ngland not so much for the !ur!ose of studies as for gaining e&!erience of
6nglish life and customs. 1nd for this you need to live with a family. But before you do so, * thin#
you had better serve a !eriod of a!!renticeshi! with /. * will ta#e you there.(
* gratefully acce!ted the s uggestion and removed to the friend(s rooms. )e was all #indness and
attention. )e treated me as his own brother, initiated me into 6nglish ways and manners, and
accustomed me to tal# ing the language. My food, however, became a serious 3uestion. * could
not relish boiled vegetables coo#ed without salt or condiments. The landlady was at a loss to
#now what to !re!are for me. 5e had oatmeal !orridge for brea#fast, which was fairly filling, but *
always starved at lunch and dinner. The friend continually reasoned with me to eat meat, but *
always !leaded my vow and then remained silent. Both for luncheon and dinner we had s!inach
and bread and ,am too. * was a good eater and had a ca!acious s tomachC but * was ashamed to
as# for more than two or three s lices of bread, as it did not seem correct to do so. 1dded to this,
there was no mil# either for lunch or dinner. The friend once got disgusted with this state of
things , and said' ()ad you been my own brother, * would have sent you !ac#ing. 5hat is the
value of a vow made before an illiterate mother, and in ignorance of conditions here@ *t is no vow
at all. *t would not be regarded as a vow in law. *t is !ure su!erstition to stic# to such a !romise.
1nd * tell you this !ersistence will not hel! you to gain anything here. =ou confess to having eaten
and relished met. =ou too# it where it was absolutely unnecessary, and will not where it is 3uite
essential. 5hat a !ityB(
But * was adamant.
"ay in and day out the friend would argue, but * had an eternal negative to face him with. The
more he argued, the more uncom!romising * became. "aily * would !ray for God(s !rotection and
get it. %ot that i had any idea of God. *t was faith that was at wor#/faith of which the seed had
been sown by the good nurse +ambha.

ne day the friend began to read to me Bentham(s #hery $ %tility. * was at my wits( end. The
language was too diffic ult for me to understand. )e began to e&!ound it. * said' (Pray e&cuse me.
These abstruse things are beyond me. * admit it is necessary to eat meat. But * cannot brea# my
vow. * cannot argue about it. * am sure * cannot meet you in argument. But !lease give me u! as
foolish or obstinate. * a!!reciate your love for me and * # now you to be my well/wisher. * also
#now that you are telling me again and again about this because you feel for me. But * am
hel!less . 1 vow is a vow. *t cannot be bro#en.(
The friend loo#ed at me in sur!irse. )e closed the boo# and said' (1ll right. * will not argue any
more.( * was glad. )e never discussed the sub,ect again. But he did not cease to worry about me.
)e smo#ed and dran# , but he never as# ed me to do s o. *n fact he as# ed me to remain away from
both. )is one an&iety was lest * should become very wea# without meat, and thus be unable to
feel at home in 6ngland.
That is how * served my a!!rentic eshi! for a month. The friend(s house was in +ichmond, and it
was not !oss ible to go to 4ondon more than once or twice a wee#. "r. Mehta and S,t. "al!aram
Shu#la therefore decided that * should be !ut with some family. S,t. Shu#la hit u!on an 1nglo/
*ndian(s house in 5est Kensington and !laced me there. The landlady was a widow. * told her
about my vow. The old lady !romised to loo# after me !ro!erly, and * too# u! my residence in her
house. )ere too * !ractically had to starve. * had sent for sweets and other eatables from home,
but nothing had yet come. 6verything was insi!id. 6very day the old lady as#ed me whether *
li# ed the food, but what could she do@ * was still as shy as ever and dared not as# for more than
was !ut before me. She had two daughters. They insisted on serving me with an e&tra slice or
two of bread. But little did they # now that nothing less than a loaf would have filled me.
But * had found my feet now. * had not yet started u!on my regular studies . * had ,ust begun
reading news!a!ers, than# s to S,t. Shu#la. *n *ndia * had never read a news!a!er. But here *
succeeded in cultivating a li#ing for them by regular reading. * always glanced over #he Daily
Ne&s' #he Daily #ele!raph' and #he Pall Mall (a)ette. This too# me hardly an hour. * therefore
began to wander about. * launched out in search of a vegetarian restaurant. The landlady had told
me that there were such !laces in the city. * would trot ten or twelve miles each day, go into a
chea! restaurant and eat my fill of bread, but would never be satisifed. "uring these wanderings *
once hit on a vegetarian restaurant in 0arringdon Street. The sight of it filled me with the same ,oy
that a c hild feels on getting a thing after its own heart. Before * entered * noticed boo#s for sale
e&hibited under a glass window near the door. * saw among them Salt(s Plea $r *e!etarianism.
This * !urchased for a shilling and went straight to the dining room. This was my first hearty meal
since my arrival in 6ngland. God had come to my aid.
* read Salt(s boo# from cover to cover and was very much im!ressed by it. 0rom the date of
reading this boo#, * may claim to have become a vegetarian by choice. * blessed the day on
which * had ta#en the vow before my mother. * had all along abstained from meat in the interests
of truth and of the vow * had ta# en, but had wished at the same time that every *ndian should be a
meat/eater, and had loo# ed forward to being one myself freely and o!enly some day, and to
enlisting others in the cause. The choice was now made in favour of vegetarianism, the s!read of
which henceforward became my mission.

Chapter 15
PLAYING THE ENGLISH GENTLEMAN
My faith in vegetarianism grew on me from day to day. Salt(s boo# whetted my a!!etite for
dietetic studies. * went in for all boo#s available on on vegetaranism and read them. ne of these,
)oward 5illiams( #he "thics $ Diet, was (biogra!hical history of the literature of humane dietetics
from the earliest !eriod to the !resent day.(*t tried to ma#e out, that all !hiloso!hers and !ro!hets
from Pythagoras and $esus down to those of the !resent age were vegetarians. "r. 1nna
Kingsford(s #he Per$ect +ay in Diet was also an attractive boo#. "r. 1llinson(s writings on health
and hygiene were li#ewise very hel!ful. )e advocated a curative system based on regulation of
the dietary of !atients. )imself a vegetarian, he !rescribed for his !atients also a strictly
vegetarian diet. The result of reading all this literature was that dietetic e&!eriments came to ta#e
an im!ortant !lace in my life. )ealth was the !rinci!al consideration of these e&!eriments to
begin with. But later on religion became the su!reme motive.
Meanwhile my friend had not ceased to worry about me. )is love for me led him to thin# that, if *
!ersisted in my ob,ections to meat/eating, * should not only develo! a wea# cons titution, but
should remain a duffer, because * should never feel at home in 6nglish society. 5hen he came to
#now that * had begun to interest myself in boo#s on vegetarianism, he was afraid lest these
studies should muddle my headC that * s hould fritter my life away in e&!eriments, forgetting my
own wor# , and become a cran#. )e therefore made one last effort to reform me. )e one day
invited me to go to the theatre. Before the !lay we were to dine together at the )olborn
+estaurant, to me a !alatial !lace and the first big restaurant * had been to since leaving the
.ictoria )otel. The stay at that hotel had scarcely been a hel!ful e&!erience, for * had not lived
there with my wits about me. The friend had !lanned to ta#e me to this restaurant evidently
imagining that modesty would forbid any 3ues tions . 1nd it was a very big com!any of diners in
the midst of whic h my friend and * sat sharing a table between us. The first course was sou!. *
wondered what it might be made of, but durst not as# the friend about it. * therefore summoned
the waiter. My friend saw the movement and sternly as#ed across the table what was the matter.
5ith considerable hesitation * told him that * wanted to in3uire if the s ou! was a vegetable sou!.
(=ou are too clumsy for decent society,( he !assionately e&claimed (*f you cannot behave yourself,
you had better go. 0eed in some other restaurant and await me outside.( This delighted me. ut *
went. There was a vegetarian restaurant close by, but it was closed. So * went without food that
night. * accom!anied my friend to the theatre, but he never s aid a word about the scene * had
created. n my !art of course there was nothing to say.
That was the last friendly tussle we had. *t did not affect our relations in the least. * could see and
a!!reciate the love by which all my friend(s efforts were actuated, and my res!ect for him was all
the greater on account of our differences in thought and action.
But * decided that * should !ut him at ease, that * should assure him that * would be clumsy no
more, but try to become !olished and ma#e u! for my vegetarianis m by cultivating other
accom!lishments which fitted one for !olite soceity. 1nd for this !ur!ose * undertoo# the all too
im!ossible tas# of becoming an 6nglish gentleman.
The clothes after the Bombay cut that * was wearing were, * thought unsuitable for 6nglish
society, and * got new ones at the 1rmy and %avy stores . * also went in for a chimney/!ot hat
costing nineteen shillings an e&cessive !rice in those days. %ot content with this, * wasted ten
!ounds on an evening suit made in Bond Street, the centre of fashionable life in 4ondonC and got
my good and noble/hearted brother to send me a double watch/chain of gold. *t was not correct to
wear a ready/made tie and * learnt the art of tying one for myself. 5hile in *ndia, the mirror had

been a lu&ury !ermitted on the days when the family barber gave me a shave. )ere * wasted ten
minutes every day before a huge mirror, watching mys elf arranging my tie and !arting my hair in
the correct fashion. My hair was by no means s oft, and every day it meant a regular struggle with
the brush to # ee! it in !osition. 6ach time the hat was !ut on and off, the hand would
automatically move towards the head to ad,ust the hair, not to mention the other civili2ed habit of
the hand every now and then o!erating for the same !ur!ose when sitting in !olished society.
1s if all this were not enough to ma#e me loo# the thing, * directed my attention to other details
that were su!!osed to go towards the ma#ing of an 6nglish gentleman. * was told it was
necessary for me to ta# e less ons in dancing, 0rench and elocution. 0rench was not only the
language of neighbouring 0rance, but it was the lin!ua $rancaof the -ontinent over which * had a
desire to travel. * decided to ta#e dancing lessons at a class and !aid down G D as fees for a term.
* must have ta#en about si& lessons in three wee#s. But it was beyond me To achieve anything
li# e rhythmic motion. * could not follow the !iano and hence found it im!ossible to #ee! time.
5hat then was * to do@ The recluse in the fable #e!t a cat to #ee! off the rats, and then a cow to
feed the cat with mil#, and a man to # ee! the cow and so on. My ambitions als o grew li#e the
family of the recluse. * thought * should learn to !lay the violin in order to cultivate an ear for
5es tern music. So * invested GD in a violin and something more in fees. * sought a third teacher
to give me lessons in elocution and !aid him a !reliminary fee of a guinea. )e recommended
Bell(s Standard "lcutinist as the te&t/boo#, which * !urchased. 1nd * began with a s !eech of
Pitt(s.
But Mr. Bell rang the bell of alarm in my ear and * awo#e.
* had not to s!end a lifetime in 6ngland, * said to myself. 5hat then was the use of learning
elocution@ 1nd how could dancing ma#e a gentleman of me@ The violin * could learn even in
*ndia. * was a student and ought to go on with my s tudies. * should 3ualify myself to ,oin the *nns
of -ourt. *f my character made a gentleman of me, so much the better. therwise * should forego
the ambition.
These and similar thoughts !ossessed me, and * e&!ressed them in a letter whic h * addres sed to
the eloc ution teacher, re3uesting him to e& cuse me from further lessons. * had ta#en only two or
three. * wrote a similar letter to the dancing teacher, and went !ersonally to the violin teacher with
a re3uest to dis !ose of the violin for any !rice it might fetch. She was rather friendly to me, so *
told her how * had discovered that * was !ursuing a false idea. She encouraged me in the
determination to ma#e a com!lete change.
This infatuation must have lasted about three months. The !unctiliousness in dress !ersisted for
years. But henceforward * became a student.
Chapter 16
CHANGES
4et no one imagine that my e&!eriments in dancing and the li#e mar#ed a stage of indulgence in
my life. The reader will have noticed that even then * had my wits about me. That !eriod of
infatuation was not unrelieved by a certain amount of self/intros!ection on my !art. * #e!t account
of every farthing * s!ent, and my e&!enses were carefully calculated. 6very little item such as
omnibus fares or !ostage or a cou!le of co!!ers s!ent on news!a!ers, would be entered, and
the balance struc# every evening before going to bed. That habit has stayed with me ever since,
and * #now that as a result, though * have had to handle !ublic funds amounting to la#hs, * have

succeeded in e&ercis ing strict economy in their disbursement, and instead of outstanding debts
have had invariably a sur!lus balance in res!ect of all the movements * have led. 4et every youth
ta#e a leaf out of my boo# and ma#e it a !oint to account for everything that comes into and goes
out of his !oc#et, and li#e me he is sure to be a gainer in the end.
1s * #e!t strict watch over my way of living, * could see that it was necessary to economi2e. *
therefore decided to reduce my e&!enses by half. My acc ounts showed numerous items s!ent on
fares. 1gain my living with a family meant the !ayment of a regular wee#ly bill. *t also included the
courtesy of occasionally ta#ing members of the family out to dinner, and li#ewise attending !arties
with them. 1ll this involved heavy items for conveyances, es!ecially as, if the friend was a lady,
custom re3uired that the man should !ay all the e&!enses. 1lso dining out meant e&tra cost, as
no deduction could be made from the regular wee#ly bill for meals not ta#en. *t seemed to me that
all these items could be saved, as li#ewise the drain on my !urse through a false sense of
!ro!riety.
So * decided to ta#e rooms on my own account, instead of living any longer in a family, and also
to remove from !lace to !lace according to the wor# * had to do, thus gaining e& !erience at the
same time. The rooms were so selected as to enable me to reach the !lace of business on foot in
half an hour, and so save fares. Before this * had always ta#en some #ind of conveyance
whenever * went anywhere, and had to find e&tra time for wal#s. The new arrangement combined
wal#s and economy, as it meant a saving of fares and gave me wal#s of eight or ten miles a day.
*t was mainly this habit of long wal#s that #e!t me !ractically free from illness throughout my stay
in 6ngland and gave me a fairly strong body.
Thus * rented a suite of roomsC one for a sitting room and another for a bedroom. This was the
second stage. The third was yet to come.
These changes saved me half the e&!ense. But how was * to utili2e the time@ * #new that Bar
e&aminations did not re3uire much study, and * therefore did not feel !ressed for time. My wea#
6nglish was a !er!etual worry to me. Mr >afterwards Sir 0rederic? 4ely(s words, (Graduate first
and then come to me,( still rang in my ears. * should, * thought, not only be c alled to the Bar, but
have some literary degree as well. * in3uired about the &ford and -ambridge University courses,
consulted a few friends, and found that, if * elected to go to either of these !laces, that would
mean greater e&!ense and a much longer stay in 6ngland than * was !re!ared for. 1 friend
suggested that, if * really wanted to have the satis faction of ta#ing a difficult e&amination, * should
!ass the 4ondon Matriculation. *t meant a good deal of labour and much addition to my stoc# of
general #nowledge, without any e&tra e&!ense worth the name. * welcomed the suggestion. But
the syllabus frightened me. 4atin and a modern language were com!ulsoryB )ow was * to
manage 4atin@ But the friend entered a strong !lea for it' (4atin is very valuable to lawyers.
Knowledge of 4atin is very useful in understanding law/boo#s. 1nd one !a!er in +oman 4aw is
entirely in 4atin. Besides a #nowledge of 4atin means greater command over the 6nglish
language.( *t went home and * decided to learn 4atin, no matter how difficult it might be. 0rench *
had already begun, so * thought that should be the modern language. * ,oined a !rivate
Matriculation class. 6&aminations were held every si& months and * had only five months at my
dis!osal. *t was an almost im!ossible tas# for me. But the as!irant after being an 6nglis h
gentleman chose to convert himself into a serious student. * framed my own time/table to the
minuteC but neither my intelligence nor memory !romised to enable me to tac#le 4atin and 0rench
besides other sub,ects within the given !eriod. The result was that * was !loughed in 4atin. * was
sorry but did not lose heart. * had ac3uired a taste for 4atin, also * thought my 0rench would be all
the better for another trial and * would select a new sub,ect in the science grou!. -hemistry which
was my sub,ect in science had no attraction for want of e&!eriments, 5hereas it ought to have
been a dee!ly interesting study. *t was one of the com!ulsory sub,ects in *ndia and so * had
selected it for the 4ondon Matriculation. This time, however, * chose )eat and 4ight instead of
-hemistry. *t was said to be easy and * found it to be s o.

5ith my !re!aration for another trial, * made an effort to sim!lify my life still further. * felt that my
way of living did not yet befit the modest means of my family. The thought of my struggling
brother, who nobly res!onded to my regular calls for monetary hel!, dee!ly !ained me. * saw that
most of those who were s!ending from eight to fifteen !ounds monthly had the advantage of
scholarshi!s. * had before me e&am!les of much sim!ler living. * came across a fair number of
!oor students living more humbly than *. ne of them was staying in the slums in a room at two
shillings a wee# and living on two !ence worth of cocoa and bread !er meal from 4oc#hart(s
chea! -ocoa +ooms. *t was far from me to thin# of emulating him, but * felt * could surely have
one room instead of two and coo# some of my meals at home. That would be a saving of four to
five !ounds each month. * also came across boo#s on sim!le living. * gave u! the suite of rooms
and rented one instead, invested in a stove, and began coo#ing my brea#fast at home. The
!rocess scarc ely too# me more than twenty minutes for there was only oatmeal !orridge to coo#
and water to boil for cocoa. * had lunch out and for dinner bread and cocoa at home. Thus *
managed to live on a shilling and three !ence a day. This was also a !eriod of intensive study.
Plain living saved me !lenty of time and * !assed my e&amination.
4et not the reader thin# that this living made my life by any means a dreary affair. n the contrary
the change harmoni2ed my inward and outward life. *t was also more in #ee!ing with the means
of my family. My life was certainly more truthful and my soul #new no bounds of ,oy.
Chapter 1
E(PERIMENTS IN DIETETICS
1s * searched myself dee!er, the necessity for changes both internal and e&ternal began to
grow on me. 1s soon as, or even before, * made alterations in my e&!enses and my way of living,
* began to ma#e changes in my diet. * saw that the writers on vegetarianism had e&amined the
3uestion very minutely, attac#ing it in its religious, scientific, !ractical and medic al as!ec ts.
6thically they had arrived at the conclusion that man(s su!remacy over the lower animals meant
not that the former should !rey u!on the latter, but that the higher should !rotect the lower, and
that there should be mutual aid between the two as between man and man. They had also
brought out the truth that man eats not for en,oyment but to live. 1nd some of them acc ordingly
suggested and effected in their lives abstention not only from flesh/meat but from eggs and mil#.
Scientifically some had concluded that man(s !hysical structure showed that he was not meant to
be a coo#ing but a frugivorous animal, that he could ta#e only his mother(s mil# and, as s oon as
he teeth, should begin to ta#e solid foods. Medically they had suggested the re,ection of all s!ices
and condiments. 1ccording to the !ractical and economic argument they had demonstrated that a
vegetarian diet was the least e&!ensive. 1ll these considerations had their effect on me, and *
came across vegetarians of all these ty!es in vegetarian restaurants. There was a vegetarian
Society in 6ngland with a wee#ly ,ournal of its own. * subsc ribed to the wee# ly, ,oined the society
and very shortly found myself on the 6&ecutive -ommittee. )ere * came in contact with those
who were regarded as !illars of vegetarianism, and began my own e& !eriments in dietetics.
* sto!!ed ta#ing the sweets and condiments * had got from home. The mind having ta#en a
different turn, the fondness for c ondiments wore away, and * now relished the boiled s!inach
which in +ichmond tasted insi!id, coo#ed without condiments. Many s uch e&!eriments taught me
that the real seat of taste was not the tongue but the mind.

The economic consideration was of course constantly before me. There was in those days a body
of o!inion which regarded tea and coffee as harmful and favoured cocoa. 1nd as * was convinced
that one should eat only articles that sustained the body, * gave u! tea and coffee as a rule, and
substituted cocoa.
There were two divisions in the restaurants * used to visit. ne division, which was !atroni2ed by
fairly well/to/do !eo!le, !rovided any number of courses from which one chose and !aid for a la
carte, each dinner thus costing from one to two shillings. The other division !rovided si&/!enny
dinners of three courses with a slice of bread. *n my days of strict frugality * us ually dined in the
second division.
There were many minor e&!eriments going on along with the main oneC as for e&am!le, giving u!
starchy foods at one time, living on bread and fruit alone at another, and once living on cheese,
mil# and eggs. This last e&!eriments is worth noting. *t lasted not even a fortnight. The reformer
who advoc ated starchless food had s!o#en highly of eggs and held that eggs were not meat. *t
was a!!arent that there was no in,ury done to living creatures in ta#ing eggs. * was ta#en in by
this !lea and too# eggs in s!ite of my vow. But the la!se was momentary. * had no business to
!ut a new inter!retation on the vow. The inter!retation of my mother who adminis tered the vow
was there for me. * # new that her definition of meat included eggs. 1nd as soon as * saw the true
im!ort of the vow * gave u! eggs and the e&!eriment ali# e.
There is a nice !oint underlying the argument, and worth noting. * came across three definitions
of meat in 6ngland. 1ccording to the firs t, meat denoted only the flesh of birds and beasts.
.egetarians who acce!ted that definition ab,ured the flesh of birds and beasts, but ate fish, not to
mention eggs. 1ccording to the second definition, meat meant flesh of all living creatures. So fis h
was here out of the 3uestion, but eggs were allowed. The third definition as all their !roducts,
thus covering eggs and mil# ali#e. *f * acce!ted the firs t definition, * could ta#e not only eggs, but
fish also. But * was c onvinced that my mother(s definition was the definition binding on me. *f,
therefore, * would observe the vow * had ta#en, * must ab,ure eggs. * therefore did so. This was a
hardshi! inasmuch as in3uiry showed that even in vegetarian restaurants many courses used to
contain eggs. This meant that unless * # new what was what, * had to go through the aw#ward
!rocess of ascertaining whether a !articular course contained eggs or no, for many !uddings and
ca#es were not free from them. But though the revelation of my duty caused this difficulty, it
sim!lified my food. The sim!lification in its turn brought me annoyance in that * had to give u!
several dishes * had come to relish. These difficulties were only !assing, for the strict observance
of the vow !roduced an inward relish distinctly more healthy, delicate and !ermanent.
The real ordeal, however, was still to come, and that was in res!ect of the other vow. But who
dare harm whom God !rotects@
1 few observations about the inter!retation of vows or !ledges may not be out of !lace here.
*nter!retation of !ledges has been a fruitful source of strife all the world over. %o matter how
e&!licit the !ledge, !eo!le will turn and twist the te&t to suit their own !ur!oses. They are to be
met with among all classes of society, from the rich down to the !oor, from the !rince down to the
!easant. Selfishness turns them blind, and by a use of the ambiguous middle they deceive
themselves and see# to deceive the world and God. ne golden rule is to acce!t the
inter!retation honestly !ut on the !ledge by the !arty administering it. 1nother is to acce!t the
inter!retation of the wea# er !arty, where there are two inter!retations !ossible. +e,ection of these
two rules gives rise to strife and ini3uity, which are rooted in untruthfulness. )e who see#s truth
alone easily follows the golden rule. )e need not see# learned advice for inter!retation. My
mother(s inter!retation of meat was, according to the golden rule, the only true one for me, and
not the one my wider e&!erience or my !ride of better #nowledge might have taught me.
My e&!eriments in 6ngland were conducted from the !oint of view of economy and hygiene. The
religious as!ect of the 3uestion was not considered until * went to South 1frica where * undertoo#

strenuous e&!eriments which will be narrated later. The seed, however, for all of them was sown
in 6ngland.
1 convert(s enthusiasm for his new religion is greater than that of a !erson who is born in it.
.egetarianism was then a new cult in 6ngland, and li#ewise for me, because, as we have seen, *
had gone there a convinced meat/eater, and was intellectually converted to vegetarianism later.
0ull of the neo!hyte(s 2eal for vegetarianism, * decided to start a vegetarian club in my locality,
Bayswater. * invited Sir 6dwin 1rnold, who lived there , to be .ice/President. "r. ldfield who was
6ditor of the #he *e!etarianbecame President. * myself became the Secretary. The club went
well for a while, but came to an end in the course of a few months. 0or * left the locality, according
to my custom of moving from !lace to !lace !eriodically. But this brief and modest e&!erience
gave me some little training in organi2ing and conducting institutions.
Chapter 1#
SHYNESS MY SHIELD
* was elected to the 6&ecutive -ommittee of the .egetarian Society, and made it a !oint to
attend every one of its meetings , but * always felt tongue/tied. "r. ldfield once said to me, (=ou
tal# to me 3uite all right, but why is it that you never o!en your li!s at a committee meeting@ =ou
are a drone.( * a!!reciated the banter. The bees are ever busy, the drone is a thorough idler. 1nd
it was not a little curious that whilst others e&!ressed their o!inions at these meetings, * sat 3uite
silent. %ot that * never felt tem!ted to s!ea# . But * was at a loss to #now how to e&!ress myself.
1ll the rest of the members a!!eared to me to be better informed than *. Then * often ha!!ened
that ,ust when * had mustered u! courage to s!ea#, a fresh sub,ect would be started. This went
on for a long time.
Meantime a serious 3uestion came u! for discussion. * thought it wrong to be absent, and felt it
cowardice to register a silent vote. The discussion arose somewhat in this wise. The President of
the Society was Mr. )ills, !ro!rietor of the Thames *ron 5or# s. )e was a !uritan. *t may be said
that the e&istence of the Society de!ended !ractically on his financial assistance. Many members
of the -ommittee were more or less his !roteges. "r. 1llinson of vegetarian fame was also a
member of the -ommittee. )e was an advocate of the then new birth control movement, and
!reached its methods among the wor#ing classes. Mr. )ills regarded these methods as cutting at
the root of morals . )e thought that the .egetarian Society had for its ob,ect not only dietetic but
also moral reform, and that a man of "r. 1llinson(s anti/ !uritanic views should not be allowed to
remain in the Society. 1 motion was therefore brought for his removal. The 3uestion dee!ly
interested me. * considered "r. 1llinson(s views regarding artificial methods of birth control as
dangerous, and * believed that Mr. )ills was entitled, as a !uritan, to o!!ose him. * had also a
high regard for Mr. )ills and his generosity. But * thought it was 3uite im!ro!er to e&clude a man
from a vegetarian society sim!ly because he refused to regard !uritan morals as one of the
ob,ects of the society. Mr. )ills( view regarding the e&clusion of anti/!uritans from the s ociety was
!ersonal to himself, and it had nothing to do with the declared ob,ect of the society, which was
sim!ly the !romotion of vegetarianism and not of any system of morality. * therefore held that any
vegetarian could be a member of the society irres!ective of his views on other morals.
There were in the -ommittee others also who shared my view, but * felt myself !ersonally called
u!on to e&!res s my own. )ow to do it was the 3uestion. * had not the courage to s!ea# and *
therefore decided to s et down my thoughts in writing. * went to the meeting with the document in

my !oc#et. So far as * recollect, * did not find myself e3ual even to reading it, and the Pres ident
had it read by someone else. "r. 1llinson lost the day. Thus in the very first battle of the #ind *
found mys elf siding with the losing !arty. But * had comfort in the thought that the caus e was
right. * have a faint recollection that, after this inc ident, * resigned from the -ommittee.
This shyness * retained throughout my stay in 6ngland. 6ven when * !aid a social call the
!resenc e of half a do2en or more !eo!le would stri# e me dumb.
* once went to .entnor with S,t. Ma2mudar. 5e stayed there with a vegetarian family. Mr.
)oward, the author of #he "thics $ Diet , was als o staying at the same watering!lace. 5e met
him, and he invited us to s!ea# at a meeting for the !romotion of vegetarianism. * had
ascertained that it was not considered incorrect to read one(s s!eech. * #new that many did so to
e&!ress themselves coherently and briefly. To s!ea# e, temprewould have been out of the
3uestion for me. * had therefore written down my s!eech. * stood u! to read it, but could not. My
vision became blurred and * trembled, though the s!eech hardly covered a sheet of foolsca!. S,t.
Ma2mudar had to read it for me. )is own s!eech was of course e&c ellent and was received with
a!!lause. * was ashamed of myself and sad at heart for my inca!acity.
My last effort to ma#e a !ublic s!eech in 6ngland was on the eve of my de!arture for home. But
this time too * only succeeded in ma#ing myself ridiculous. * invited my vegetarian friends to
dinner in the )olborn +estaurant referred to in these cha!ters. (1 vegetarian dinner could be had,(
* said to myself, (in vegetarian restaurants as a matter of course. But why s hould it not be
!ossible in a non/ vegetarian restaurant too@( 1nd * arranged with the manager of the )olborn
+estaurant to !rovide a strictly vegetarian meal. The vegetarians hailed the new e&!eriment with
delight. 1ll dinners are meant for en,oyment, but the 5est has develo!ed the thing into an art.
They are celebrated with great eclat, music and s!eeches. 1nd the little dinner !arty that * gave
was also not unaccom!anied by some such dis!lay. S!eeches, therefore, there had to be. 5hen
my turn for s!ea#ing came, * stood u! to ma# e a s!eec h. * had with great care thought out one
which would consist of a very few sentences. But * could not !roceed beyond the first sentence. *
had read of 1ddison that he began his maiden s!eech in the )ouse of -ommons, re!eating (*
conceive( three times, and when he could !roceed no further, a wag stood u! and said, (The
gentleman conceived thrice but brought forth nothing.( * had thought of ma#ing a humorous
s!eech ta#ing this anec dote as the te&t. * therefore began with it and stuc# there. My memory
entirely failed me and in attem!ting a humorous for having #indly res!onded to my invitation,( *
said abru!tly, and sat down.
*t was only in South 1frica that * got over this shyness, though * never com!letely overc ame it. *t
was im!os sible for me to s!ea#imprmptu. * hesitated whenever * had to face strange audiences
and avoided ma#ing a s!eech whenever * could. 6ven today * do not thin# * could or would even
be inc lined to #ee! a meeting of friends engaged in idle tal#.
* must say that, beyond occas ionally e&!osing me to laughter, my constitutional shyness has
been no disadvantage whatever. *n fac t * can see that, on the contrary, it has been all to my
advantage. My hesitancy in s!eech, which was once an annoyance, is now a !leasure. *ts
greatest benefit has been that it has taught me the economy of words. * have naturally formed the
habit of restraining my thoughts. 1nd * can now give mys elf the certificate that a thoughtless word
hardly ever esca!es my tongue or !en. * do not recollect ever having had to regret anything in my
s!eech or writing. * have thus been s!ared many a misha! and waste of time. 6&!erience has
taught me that silence is !art of the s!iritual disci!line of a votary of truth. Proneness to
e&aggerate, to su!!ress or modify the truth, wittingly or unwittingly, is a natural wea#ness of man
and silence is necess ary in order to surmount it. 1 man of few words will rarely be thoughtless in
his s!eechC he will measure every word. 5e find so many !eo!le im!atient to tal# . There is no
chairman of a meeting who is not !estered with notes for !ermis sion to s!ea#. 1nd whenever the
!ermission is given the s!ea#er generally e&ceeds the time/limit, as#s for more time, and #ee!s
on tal#ing without !ermission. 1ll this tal#ing can hardly be said to be of my benefit to the world. *t

is so much waste of time. My shyness has been in reality my shield and buc#ler. *t has allowed
me to grow. *t has hel!ed me in my dis cernment of truth.
Chapter 1$
THE CAN)ER O% UNTRUTH
There were com!aratively few *ndian students in 6ngland forty years ago. *t was a !ractice with
them to affect the bachelor even though they might be married. School or college students in
6ngland are all bachelors, studies being regarded as incom!atible with married life. 5e had that
tradition in the good old days, a student then being invariably #nown as a brahmachari. But in
these days we have child/ marriages, a thing !ractically un#nown in 6ngland. *ndian youths in
6ngland, therefore, felt as hamed to confess that they were married. There was also another
reason for dissembling, namely that in the event of the fact being # nown it would be im!ossible
for the young men to go about or flirt with the young girls of the family in which they lived. The
flirting was more or less innocent. Parents even encouraged itC and that sort of association
between young men and young women may even be a necessity there, in view of the fact that
every young man has to choose his mate. *f, however, *ndian youths on arrival in 6ngland indulge
in these relations, 3uite natural to 6nglish youths, the result is li#ely to be disastrous, as has often
been found. * saw that our youths had succumbed to the tem!tation and chosen a life of untruth
for the sa#e of com!anionshi!s which, however innocent in the case of 6nglish youths, were for
them undesirable. * too caught the contagion. * did not hesitate to !as s myself off as a bachelor
though * was married and the father of a son. But * was none the ha!!ier for being a dissembler.
nly my reserve and my reticence saved me from going into dee!er waters. *f * did not tal# , no
girl would thin# it worth her while to enter into conversation with me or to go out with me.
My cowardice was on a !ar with my reserve. *t was customary in families li#e the one in which *
was staying at .entnor for the daughter of the landlady to ta#e out guests for a wal#. My
landlady(s daughter too# me one day to the lovely hills round .entnor. * was no slow wal#er, but
my com!anion wal#ed even faster, dragging me after her and chattering away all the while. *
res!onded to her chatter sometimes with a whis!ered (yes( or (no(, or at the most (yes, how
beautifulB( She was flying li# e a bird whilst * was wondering when * should get bac# home. 5e
thus reached the to! of a hill. )ow to get down again was the 3uestion. *n s!ite of her high/heeled
boots this s!rightly young lady of twenty/five darted down the hill li#e an arrow. * was
shamefacedly struggling to get down. She stood at the foot smiling and cheering me and offering
to come and drag me. )ow could * be s o chic#en hearted@ 5ith the greatest difficulty, and
crawling at intervals, * somehow managed to scramble to the bottom. She loudly laughed (bravo(
and shamed me all the more, as well she might.
But * could not esca!e scatheless everywhere. 0or God wanted to rid me of the can#er of untruth.
* once went to Brighton, another watering/ !lace li#e .entnor. This was before the ventnor visit. *
met there at a hotel an old widow of moderate means. This was my first year in 6ngland. The
courses on the menuwere all described in 0rench, which * did not understand. * sat at the same
table as the old lady. She saw that * was a stranger and !u22led, and immediately came to my
aid. (=ou s eem to be a stranger,( she s aid, (and loo# !er!le&ed. 5hy have you not ordered
anything@( * was s!elling through the menuand !re!aring to ascertain the ingredients of the
courses from the waiter, when the good lady thus intervened. * than#ed her, and e&!laining my
difficulty told her that * was at a loss to #now which of the courses were vegetarian as * did not
understand 0rench.

(4et me hel! you,( she said. (* shall e&!lain the card to you and show you what you may eat.( *
gratefully availed myself of her hel!. This was the beginning of an ac3uaintance that ri!ened into
friendshi! and was #e!t u! all through my stay in 6ngland and long after. She gave me her
4ondon address and invited me to dine at her house every Sunday. n s!ecial occasions also
she would invite me, hel! me to con3uer my bashfulness and introduce me to young ladies and
draw me into convers ation with them. Particularly mar#ed out for these c onversations was a
young lady who stayed with her, and often we would be left entirely alone together.
* found all this very trying at first. * could not start a conversation nor could * indulge in any ,o#es.
But she !ut me in the way. * began to learnC and in course of time loo# ed forward to every Sunday
and came to li#e the conversations with the young friend.
The old lady went on s!reading her net wider every day. She felt interested in our meetings.
Possibly she had her own !lans about us.
* was in a 3uandary. ()ow * wished * had told the good lady that * was marriedB( * said to myself.
(She would then have not thought of an engagement between us. *t is, however, never too late to
mend. *f * declare the truth, * might yet be saved more misery.( 5ith these thoughts in my mind, *
wrote a letter to her somewhat to this effect'
(6ver since we met at Brighton you have been #ind to me. =ou have ta#en care of me even as a
mother of her son. =ou also thin# that * s hould get married and with that view you have been
introducing me to young ladies. +ather than allow matters to go further, * must confess to you that
* have been unworthy of your affection. * should have told you when * began my visits to you that *
was married. * #new that *ndian students in 6ngland dissembled the fact of their marriage and *
followed suit. * now see that * should not have done so. * must also add that * was married while
yet a boy, and am the father of a son. * am !ained that * should have #e!t this #nowledge from
you so long. But * am glad God has now given me the courage to s!ea# out the truth. 5ill you
forgive me@ * assure you * have ta# en no im!ro!er liberties with the young lady you were good
enough to introduce to me. * #new my limits. =ou, not # nowing that * was married, naturally
desired that we should be engaged. *n order that things should not go beyond the !resent stage, *
must tell you the truth.
(*f on recei!t of this, you feel that * have been unworthy of your hos!itality, * assure you * shall not
ta#e it amiss . =ou have laid me under an everlasting debt of gratitude by your # indness and
solicitude. *f, after this, you do not re,ect me but continue to regard me as worthy of your
hos!itality , which * will s!are no !ains to deserve, * shall naturally be ha!!y and count it a further
to#en of your #indness.(
4et the reader #now that * could not have written s uch a letter in a moment. * must have drafted
and redrafted it many times over. But it lifted a burden that was weighing me down. 1lmost by
return !ost came her re!ly somewhat as follows'
(* have your fran# letter. 5e were both very glad and had a hearty laugh over it. The untruth you
say you have been guilty of is !ardonable. But it is well that you have ac3uainted us with the real
state of things. My invitation still stands and we s hall certainly e&!ec t you ne&t Sunday and loo#
forward to hearing all about your child/marriage and to the !leasure of laughing at your e&!ense.
%eed * assure you that our friendshi! is not in the least affected by this incident@(
* thus !urged myself of the can#er of untruth, and * never thenceforward hesitated to tal# of my
married state wherever necessary.

Chapter 2'
AC*UAINTANCE +ITH RELIGIONS
Towards the end of my second year in 6ngland * came across two Theos o!hists, brothers, and
both unmarried. They tal# ed to me about the (ita. They were reading Sir 6dwin 1rnold(s
translation #he Sn! Celestialand they invited me to read the original with them. * felt ashamed,
as * had read the divine !oem neither in Sams# rit nor in Gu,arati. * was constrained to tell them
that * had not read the (ita, but that * would gladly read it with them, and that though my
#nowledge of Sams#rit was meagre, still * ho!ed to be able to understand the original to the
meaning. * began reading the (itawith them. The verses in the sec ond cha!ter *f one Ponders on
ob,ects of the sense, there s!rings 1ttractionC from attraction grows desire, "esire flames to fierce
!assion, !assion breeds +ec#less nessC then the memory all betrayed 4ets noble !ur!ose go, and
sa!s the mind, Till !ur!ose, mind, and man are all undone. made a dee! im!ression on my mind,
and they still ring in my ears. The boo# struc# me as one of !riceless worth. The im!ression has
ever since been growing on me with the result that * regard it today as the boo#par e,cellencefor
the #nowledge of Truth. *t has afforded me invaluable hel! in my moments of gloom. * have read
almost all the 6nglish translations of it, and * regard Sir 6dwin 1rnold(s as the best. )e has been
faithful to the te&t, and yet it does not read li#e a translation. Though * read the (itawith these
friends, * cannot !retend to have studied it then. *t was only after some years that it became a
boo# of daily reading.
The brothers also recommended #he -i!ht $ Asiaby Sir 6dwin 1rnold, whom * #new till then as
the author only of #he Sn! Celestial , and * read it with even greater interest than * did the
Bha!avad!ita. nce * had begun it * could not leave off. They also too# me on one occasion to
the Blavats# y 4odge and introduced me to Madame Blavats#y and Mrs. Besant. The latter had
,ust then ,oined the Theoso!hical Society, and * was following with great interest the controversy
about her conversion. The friends advised me to ,oin the Society, but * !olitely declined saying,
(5ith my meagre #nowledge of my own religion * do not want to belong to any religious body.( *
recall having read, at the brothers( instance, Madame Blavats#y(s Key t #hesphy. This boo#
stimulated in me the desire to read boo#s on )induism, and disabused me of the notion fostered
by the missionaries that )induism was rife with su!erstition.
1bout the same time * met a good -hristian from Manches ter in a vegetarian boarding house. )e
tal# ed to me about -hristianity. * narrated to him my +a,#ot recollections. )e was !ained to hear
them. )e s aid, (* am a vegetarian. * do not drin#. Many -hristians are meat/ eaters and drin#, no
doubtC but neither meat/eating not drin#ing is en,oined by scri!ture. "o !lease read the Bible.( *
acce!ted his advice, and he got me a co!y. * have a faint recollection that he himself used to sell
co!ies of the Bible, and * !urchased from him an edition containing ma!s, concordance, and
other aids. * began reading it, but * could not !os sibly read through the ld Testament. * read the
boo# of Genesis, and the cha!ters that followed invariably sent me to slee!. But ,ust for the sa#e
of being able to s ay that * had read it, * !lodded through the other boo#s with much difficulty and
without the least interest or understanding. * disli#ed reading the boo# of %umbers.
But the %ew Testament !roduced a different im!ression, es!ecially the Sermon on the Mount
which went straight to my heart. * com!ared it with the (ita. The verses, (But * say unto you, that
ye resist not evil' but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right chee#, turn to him the other also.
1nd if any man ta#e away thy coat let him have thy clo#e too,( delighted me beyond measure and
!ut me in mind of Shamal Bhatt(s (0or a bowl of water, give a goodly meal( etc. My young mind
tried to unify the teaching of the (ita' #he -i!ht $ Asia and the Sermon on the Mount. That
renunciation was the highest form of religion a!!ealed to me greatly.

This reading whetted my a!!etite for studying the lives of other religious teachers. 1 friend
recommended -arlyle(s Heres and Her. +rship. * read the cha!ter on the )ero as a !ro!het
and learnt of the Pro!het(s greatness and bravery and austere living.
Beyond this ac3uaintance with religion * could not go at the moment, as reading for the
e&amination left me scarcely any time for outside sub,ects. But * too# mental note of the fact that *
should read more religious boo#s and ac 3uaint myself with all the !rinci!al religions.
1nd how could * hel! #nowing something of atheism too@ 6very *ndian #new Bradlaugh(s name
and his so/called atheism. * read some boo# about it, the name of which * forget. *t had no effect
on me, for * had already crossed the Sahara of atheism. Mrs. Besant who was then very much in
the limelight, had turned to theism from atheism. * had read her boo# H& / became a
#hesphist.
*t was about this time that Bradlaugh died. )e was buried in the 5or#ing -emetery. * attended
the funeral, as * believe every *ndian residing in 4ondon did. 1 few clergymen also were !resent
to do him the last honours. n our way bac# from the funeral we had to wait at the station for our
train. 1 cham!ion atheist from the crowd hec#led one of these clergymen. (5ell sir, you believe in
the e&istence of God@(
(* do,( said the good man in a low tone.
(=ou also agree that the circumference of the 6arth is 8:,AAA miles, don(t you@( said the atheist
with a smile of self/assurance. (*ndeed.( (Pray tell me then the si2e of your God and where he may
be@(
(5ell, if we but #new, )e resides in the hearts of us both.(
(%ow, now, don(t ta#e me to be a child,( said the cham!ion with a trium!hant loo# at us.
The clergyman assumed a humble silence. This tal# still further increased my !re,udice against
atheis m.
Chapter 21
NIRBAL )E BAL RAM
Though * had ac3uired a nodding ac3uaintance with )induism and other religions of the world, *
should have #nown that it would not be enough to save me in my trails. f the thing that sustains
him through trials man has no in#ling, much less #nowledge, at the time. *f an unbeliever, he will
attribute his safety to chance. *f a believer, he will say God saved him. )e will conclude, as well
he may, that his religious study or s!iritual disci!line was at the bac# of the state of grace within
him. But in the hour of his deliveranc e he does not #now whether his s!iritual disci!line or
something els e saves him. 5ho that has !rided himself on his s!iritual strength has not seen it
humbled to the dust@ 1 # nowledge of religion, as distinguished from e&!erience, seems but chaff
in such moments of trial.

*t was in 6ngland that * first discovered the futility of mere religious #nowledge. )ow * was s aved
on !revious occasions is more than * can say, for * was very young thenC but now * was twenty
and had gained some e&!erience as husband and father.
"uring the last year, as far as * can remember, of my stay in 6ngland, that is in 9:<A, there was a
.egetarian -onference at Portsmouth to which an *ndian friend and * were invited. Portsmouth is
a sea/!ort with a large naval !o!ulation. *t has many houses with women of ill fame, women not
actually !rostitutes, but at the same time, not very scru!ulous about their morals. 5e were !ut u!
in one of these houses. %eedles to say, the +ece!tion -ommittee did not #now anything about it.
*t would have been difficult in a town li#e Portsmouth to find out which were good lodgings and
which were bad for occasional travellers li# e us.
5e returned from the -onference in the evening. 1fter dinner we sat down to !lay a rubber of
bridge, in which our landlady ,oined, as is customary in 6ngland even in res!ectable households.
6very !layer indulges in innocent ,o#es as a matter of course, but here my com!anion and our
hostess began to ma#e indecent ones as well. * did not #now that my friend was an ade!t in the
art. *t ca!tured me and * also ,oined in. $ust when * was about to go beyond the limit, leaving the
cards and the game to themselves. God through the good com!anion uttered the blessed
warning' (5hence this devil in you, my boy@ Be off, 3uic#B(
* was ashamed. * too# the warning and e&!ressed within myself gratefulness to my friend.
+emembering the vow * had ta#en before my mother, * fled from the scene. To my room * went
3ua#ing, trembling, and with beating heart, li# e a 3uarry esca!ed from its !urs uer.
* recall this as the first occasion on which a woman, other than my wife, moved me to lust. *
!assed that night slee!lessly, all #inds of thoughts assailing me. Should * leave this house@
Should * run away from the !lace@ 5here was *@ 5hat would ha!!en to me if * had not my wits
about me@ * decided to act thenc eforth with great cautionC not to leave the house, but somehow
leave Portsmouth. The -onference was not to go on for more than two days, and * remember *
left Portsmouth the ne&t evening, my com!anion staying there some time longer.
* did not then #now the essence of religion or of God, and how )e wor#s in us. nly vaguely *
understood that God had saved me on that occasion. n all occasions of trial )e has saved me. *
#now that the !hrase (God saved me( has a dee!er meaning for me today, and still * feel that *
have not yet gras!ed its entire meaning. nly richer e&!erience c an hel! me to a fuller
understanding. But in all my trials of a s!iritual nature, as a lawyer, in c onducting institutions, and
in !olitics * can say that God saved me. 5hen every ho!e is gone. (5hen hel!ers fall and
comforts flee,( * find that hel! arrives somehow, from * #now not where. Su!!lication, worshi!,
!rayer are no su!erstitionC they are acts more real than the acts of eating, drin#ing, sitting or
wal#ing. *t is no e&aggeration to say that they alone are real, all else is unreal.
Such worshi! or !rayer is no flight of elo3uenceC it is no li!/homage. *t s!rings from the heart. *f,
therefore, we achieve that !urity of the heart when it is (em!tied of all but love(, if we #ee! all the
chords in !ro!er tune, they (trembling !ass in music out of sight(. Prayer needs no s!eech. *t is
itself inde!endent of any sensuous effort. * have not the slightest doubt that !rayer is an unfailing
means of cleaning the heart of !assions. But it must be combined with the utmost humility.

Chapter 22
NARAYAN HEMCHANDRA
$ust about this time %arayan )emchandra came to 6ngland. * had heard of him as a writer. 5e
met at the house of Miss Manning of the %ational *ndian 1ssociation. Miss Manning #new that *
could not ma# e myself sociable. 5hen * went to her !lace * used to sit tongue/tied, never
s!ea#ing e&ce!t when s!o#en to. She introduced me to %arayan )emchandra. )e did not #now
6nglish. )is dress was 3ueer a clumsy !air of trousers, a wrin#led, dirty, brown coat after the
Pars i fashion, no nec#tie or collar, and a tasselled woolen ca!. )e grew a long beard.
)e was lightly built and short of stature. )is round face was scarred with small/!o&, and had a
nose which was neither !ointed nor blunt. 5ith his hand he was constantly turning over his beard.
Such a 3ueer/loo#ing and 3ueerly dressed !erson was bound to be singled out in fashionable
society.
(* have heard a good deal about you,( * said to him. (* have also read some of your writings. *
should be very !leased if you were #ind enough to come to my !lace.(
%arayan )emchandra had a rather hoars e voice. 5ith a smile on his face he re!lied@( (=es,
where do you stay@( (*n Store Street.( (Then we are neighbours. * want to learn 6nglish. 5ill you
teach me@( (* shall be ha!!y to teach you anything * can, and will try my best. *f you li#e, * will go
to your !lace.(
(h, no. * shall come to you. * shall also bring with me a Translation 6&erc ise Boo#.( So we made
an a!!ointment. Soon we were close friends.
%arayan )emchandra was innocent of grammar. ()orse( was a verb with him and (run( a noun *
remember many such funny instances. But he was not to be baffled by his ignorance. My little
#nowledge of grammar could ma#e no im!ression on him. -ertainly he never regarded his
ignorance of grammar as a matter for shame.
5ith !erfect nonchalance he said' (* have never felt the need of grammar in e&!ressing my
thoughts. 5ell, do you #now Bengali@ * #now it. * have travelled in Bengal. *t is * who have given
Maharshi "evendranath Tagore(s wor# s to the Gu,arati s !ea#ing world. 1nd * wish to translate
into Gu,arati the treasures of many other translations. * always content myself with bringing out
the s!irit. thers, with their better #nowledge, may be able to do more in future. But * am 3uite
satis fied with what * have achieved without the hel! of grammar. * #now Marathi, )indi, Bengali,
and now * have begun to #now 6nglish. 5hat * want is a co!ious voc abulary. 1nd do you thin#
my ambition ends here@ %o fear. * want to go to 0rance and learn 0rench. * am told that language
has an e&tensive literature. * shall go to Germany also, if !ossible, and there learn German.( 1nd
thus he would tal# on unceasingly. )e had a boundless ambition for learning languages and for
foreign travel.
(Then you will go to 1merica also@(
(-ertainly. )ow can * return to *ndia without having seen the %ew 5orld@(
(But where will you find the money@(

(5hat do * need money for@ * am not a fashionable fellow li#e you. The minimum amount of food
and the minimum amount of clothing suffice for me. 1nd for this what little * get out of my boo#s
and from my friends is enough. * always travel third class. 5hile going to 1merica also * shall
travel on dec#.(
%arayan )emc handra(s sim!licity was all his own, and his fran#ness was on a !ar with it. f !ride
he had not the slightest trace, e&ce!ting, of course, a rather undue regard for his own ca!acity as
a writer.
5e met daily. There was a considerable amount of similarity between our thoughts and actions.
Both of us were vegetarians. 5e would often have our lunch together. This was the time when *
lived on 9Fs. a wee# and coo#ed for myself. Sometimes when * would go to his room, and
sometimes he would come to mine. * c oo#ed in the 6nglish style. %othing but *ndian style would
satis fy him. )e would not do withoutdal. * would ma# e sou! of carrots etc., and he would !ity me
for my taste. nce he somehow hunted out mun!coo#ed it and brought it to my !lace. * ate it
with delight. This led on to a regular system of e& change between us. * would ta#e my delicacies
to him and he would bring his to me.
-ardinal Manning(s name was then on every li!. The doc# labourers( stri# e had come to an early
termination owing to the efforts of $ohn Burns and -ardinal Manning. * told %arayan )emchandra
of "israeli(s tribute to the -ardinal(s sim!licity. (Then * must see the sage,( said he.
()e is a big man. )ow do you e&!ect to meet him@(
(5hy@ * #now how. * must get you to write to him in my name. Tell him * am an author and that *
want to congratulate him !ersonally on his humanitarian wor#, and also say that * shall have to
ta#e you as inter!reter as * do not #now 6nglish.(
* wrote a letter to that effect. *n two or three days came -ardinal Manning(s card in re!ly giving us
an a!!ointment. So we both called on the -ardinal. * !ut on the usual visiting suit. %arayan
)emchandra was the same as ever, in the same coat and the same trousers. * tried to ma#e fun
of this, but he laughed me out and said'
(=ou civili2ed fellows are all cowards. Great men never loo# at a !erson(s e&terior. They thin# of
his heart.(
5e entered the -ardinal(s mansion. 1s soon as we were seated, a thin, tall, old gentleman made
his a!!earance, and shoo# hands with us. %arayan )emchandra thus gave his greetings'
(* do not want to ta# e u! your time. * had heard a lot about you and * felt * should come and than#
you for the good wor# you done for the stri#ers. *t has been my custom to visit the sages of the
world and that is why * have !ut you to this trouble.(
This was of course my translation of that he s!o#e in Gu,arati.
(* am glad you have come. * ho!e your stay in 4ondon will agree with you and that you will get in
touch with !eo!le here. God bless you.(
5ith these words the -ardinal stood u! and said good/bye.
nce %arayan )emchandra came to my !lace in a shirt and dhti. The good landlady o!ened the
door, came running to me in a fright this was a new landlady who did not #now %arayan
)emchandra and said' (1 sort of a madca! wants to see you.( * went to the door and to my

sur!rise found %arayan )emchandra. * was shoc#ed. )is face, however, showed nothing but his
usual smile.
(But did not the children in the street rag you@(
(5ell, they ran after me, but * did not mind them and they were 3uiet.(
%arayan )emchandra went to Paris after a few months( stay in 4ondon. )e began studying
0rench and also translating 0rench boo#s. * #new enough 0rench to revise his translation, so he
gave it to me to read. *t was not a translation, it was the substance.
0inally he carried out his determination to visit 1merica. *t was with great difficulty that he
succeeded in securing a duc# tic#et. 5hile in the United States he was !rosecuted for (being
indecently dressed(, as he once went out in a shirt and dhti. * have a recollection that he was
discharged.
Chapter 23
THE GREAT E(HIBITION
There was a great 6&hibition at Paris in 9:<A. * had read about its elaborate !re!arations, and *
also had a #een desire to see Paris. So * thought * had better combine two things in one and go
there at this ,uncture. 1 !articular attraction of the 6&hibition was the 6iffel Tower, constructed
entirely of iron, and nearly 9,AAA feet high. There were of course many other things of interest,
but the Tower was the chief one, inasmuc h as it had been su!!osed till then that a structure of
that height could not safely stand.
* had heard of a vegetarian restaurant in Paris. * engaged a room there and stayed seven days. *
managed everything very economically, both the ,ourney to Paris and the sight/seeing there. This
* did mostly on foot and with the hel! of a ma! of Paris, as also a ma! of the guide to the
6&hibition. These were enough to direct one to the main streets and chief !laces of interest.
* remember nothing of the 6&hibition e&ce!ting its magnitude and variety. * have fair recollection
of the 6iffel Tower as * ascended it twice or thrice. There was a restaurant on the first !latform,
and ,ust for the satisfaction of being able to say that * had had my lunch at a great height, * threw
away seven shillings on it.
The ancient churches of Paris are still in my memory. Their grandeur and their !eacefulness are
unforgettable. The wonderful construction of %otre "ame and the elaborate decoration of the
interior with its beautiful scul!tures cannot be forgotten. * felt then that those who e&!ended
millions on such divine cathedrals could not but have the love of God in their hearts.
* had read a lot about the fashions and frivolity of Paris. These were in evidence in every street,
but the churches s tood noticeably a!art from thes e scenes. 1 man would forget the outside noise
and bustle as soon as he entered one of these churches. )is manner would change, he would
behave with dignity and reverence as he !assed someone #neeling before the image of the
.irgin. The feeling * had then has since been growing on me, that all this #neeling and !rayer
could not be mere s u!erstitionC the devout souls #neeling before the .irgin could not be

worshi!!ing mere marble. They were fired with genuine devotion and they worshi!!ed not stone,
but the divinity of which it was symbolic. * have an im!ression that * felt then that by this worshi!
they were not detracting from, but increasing, the glory of God.
* must say a word about the 6iffel Tower. * do not #now what !ur!ose it s erves today. But * then
heard it greatly dis!araged as well as !rais ed. * remember that Tolstoy was the chief among
those who dis!araged it. )e said that the 6iffel Tower was a monument of man(s folly, not of his
wisdom. Tobacco, he argued, was the worst of all into&ic ants, inasmuch as a man addicted to it
was tem!ted to commit crimes which a drun#ard never dared to doC li3uor made a man mad, but
tobacco c louded his intellect and made him build castles in the air. The 6iffel Tower was one of
the creations of a man under such influence. There is no art about the 6iffel Tower. *n no way can
it be said to have contributed to the real beauty of the 6&hibition. Men floc#ed to see it and
ascended it as it was a novelty and of uni3ue dimensions. *t was the toy of the 6&hibition. So long
as we are children we are attracted by toys, and the Tower was a good demonstration of the fact
that we are all children attracted by trin#ets. That may be claimed to be the !ur!ose served by the
6iffel Tower.
Chapter 24
&CALLED&,BUT THEN -
* have deferred saying anything u! to now about the !ur!ose for which * went to 6ngland, vi2.
being called to the bar. *t is time to advert to it briefly.
There were two conditions which had to be fulfilled before a student was formally called to the
bar' (#ee!ing terms,( twelve terms e3uivalent to about three yearsC and !assing e&aminations.
(Kee!ing terms( meant eating one(s terms, i.e. attending at least si& out of about twenty four
dinners in a term. 6ating did not mean actually !arta#ing of the dinner, it meant re!orting oneself
at the fi&ed hours and remaining !resent throughout the dinner. Usually of course every one ate
and dran# the good commons and choice wines !rovided. 1 dinner cost from two and si& to three
and si&, that is from two to three ru!ees. This was considered moderate, inasmuch as one had to
!ay that same amount for wines alone if one dined at a hotel. To us in *ndia it is a matter for
sur!rise, if we are not (civili2ed(, that the cost of drin# s hould e&ceed the cost of food. The first
revelation gave me a great shoc#, and * wondered how !eo!le had the heart to throw away s o
much money on drin#. 4ater * came to understand. * often ate nothing at these dinners, for the
things that * might eat were only bread, boiled !otato and cabbage. *n the beginning * did not eat
these, as * did not li#e themC and later, when * began to relish them, * also gained the courage to
as# for other dishes.
The dinner !rovided for the benchers used to be better than that for the students. 1 Pars i student,
who was also a vegetarian, and * a!!lied, in the interes ts of vegetarianism, for the vegetarian
courses which were served to the benchers. The a!!lic ation was granted, and we began to get
fruits and other vegetables from the benchers( table.
Two bottles of wine allowed to each grou! of four, and as * did not touch them, * was ever in
demand to form a 3uarter, so that three might em!ty two bottles. 1nd there was a (grand night( in
each term when e&tra wines. * was therefore s!ecially re3uested to attend and was in great
demand on that (grand night(.

* could see then, nor have * seen since, how these dinners 3ualified the students better for the
bar. There was once a time when only a few students used to attend these dinners and thus there
were o!!ortunities for tal#s between them and the benchers, and s!eeches were also made.
These occasions hel!ed to give them #nowledge of the world with a sort of !olish and refinement,
and also im!roved their !ower of s!ea#ing. %o such thing was !ossible in my time, as the
benchers had a table all to thems elves. The institution had gradually lost all its meaning but
conservative 6ngland retained it nevertheless.
The curriculum of study was eas y, barristers being humorously #nown as (dinner barristers(.
6veryone #new that the e&aminations had !ractically no value. *n my time there were two, one in
+oman 4aw and the other in -ommon 4aw. There were regular te&t/boo#s !res cribed for these
e&aminations which could be ta# en in com!artments, but s carcely any one read them. * have
#nown many to !ass the +oman 4aw e&amination by scrambling through notes on +oman 4aw in
a cou!le of wee#s, and the -ommon 4aw e&amination by reading notes on the sub,ect in two or
three months. Huestion !a!ers were easy and e&aminers were generous. The !ercentage of
!asses in the +oman 4aw e&amination used to be <I to << and of those in the final e&amination
FI or even more. There was thus little fear of being !luc#ed, and e&aminations were held not
once but four times in the year. They could not be felt as a difficulty.
But * succeeded in turning them into one. * felt that * should read all the te&t/boo#s . *t was a fraud,
* thought, not to read these boo#s. * invested much money in them. * decided to read +oman 4aw
in 4atin. The 4atin which * had ac3uired in the 4ondon Matriculation stood me in good stead. 1nd
all this reading was not without its value later on in South 1frica, where +oman "utch is the
common law. The reading of $ustinian, therefore, hel!ed me a great deal in understanding the
South 1frican law.
*t too# me nine months of fairly hard labour to read through the -ommon 4aw of 6ngland. 0or
Broom(s Cmmn -a&, a big but interesting volume, too# u! a good deal of time. Snell(s "0uity
was full of interest, but a bit hard to understand. 5hite and Tudor(s -eadin!Cases, from which
certain cases were !rescribed, was full of interest and instruction. * read also with interest
5illiams( and 6dwards( Real Prperty, and Goodeve(s Persnal Prperty. 5illiams( boo# read li# e
a novel. The one boo# * remember to have read on my return to *ndia, with the same unflagging
interest, was Mayne(s Hindu -a&. But it is out of !lace to tal# here of *ndian law/boo#s.
* !assed my e& aminations, was called to the bar on the 9Ath of $une 9:<9, and enrolled in the
)igh -ourt on the 99th. n the 98th sailed for home.
But notwithstanding my study there was no end to my hel!lessness and fear. * did not feel myself
3ualified to !ractise law.
But a se!arate cha!ter is needed to describe this hel!less ness of mine.
Chapter 25
MY HELPLESSNESS
*t was easy to be called, but it was difficult to !ractise at the bar. * had read the laws, but not
learnt how to !ractise law. * had read with interest (4egal Ma&ims(, but did not #now how to a!!ly
them in my !rofession. ( Sic utere tu ut alienum nn laedas( >Use your !ro!erty in such a way as

not to damage that of others? was one of them, but * was at a loss to #now how one could em!loy
this ma&im for the benefit of one(s client. * had read all the leading cases on this ma&im, but they
gave me no confidence in the a!!lication of it in the !ractice of law.
Besides, * had learnt nothing at all of *ndian law. * had not the slightest idea of )indu and
Mahomedan 4aw. * had not even learnt how to draft a !laint, and felt com!letely at sea. * had
heard of Sir Phero2eshah Mehta as one who roared li#e a lion in law courts. )ow, * wondered,
could he have learnt the art in 6ngland@ *t was out of the 3uestion for me ever to ac 3uire his legal
acumen, but * had serious misgivings as to whether * should be able even to earn a living by he
!rofession.
* was torn with these doubts and an&ieties to some of my friends. ne of them suggested that *
should see# "adabhai %aoro,i(s advice. * have already said that, when * went to 6ngland, *
!ossessed a note of introduction to "adabhai. * availed myself of it very late. * thought * had no
right to trouble suc h a great man for an interview. 5henever an address by him was announced, *
would attend it, listen to him from a corner of the hall, and go away after having feasting my eyes
and ears. *n order to come in close touch with the students he had founded an association, * used
to attend its meeting, and re,oiced at "adabhai(s solic itude for the students, and the latter(s
res!ect for him in course of time * mustered u! courage to !resent to him the note of introduction.
)e said' (=ou can come and have my advice whenever you li#e.( But * never availed myself of his
offer. * thought it wrong to trouble him without the most !ressing necessity. Therefore * dared not
venture to acce!t my friend(s advice to submit my difficulties to "adabhai at that time. * forget
now whether it was the same friend or someone else who recommended me to meet Mr.
0rederic# Pincutt. )e was a -onservative, but his affection for *ndian students was !ure and
unselfish. Many students sought his advice and * also a!!lied to him for an a!!ointment, which
he granted. * c an never forget that interview. )e greeted me as a friend. )e laughed away my
!essimism. ("o you thin#,( he s aid, (that everyone must be a Phero2eshah Mehta@ Phero2eshahs
s#ill to be an ordinary lawyer. -ommon honesty and industry are enough to enable him to ma#e a
living. 1ll cases are not com!licated. 5ell, let me #now the e&tent of your general reading.(
5hen * ac3uainted him with my little stoc# of reading, he was, as * could see, rather disa!!ointed.
But it was only for a moment. Soon his face beamed with a !leasing smile and he said, (*
understand your trouble. =our general reading is meagre. =ou have no #nowledge of the world,a
sine 0ua nnfor a va#il. =ou have not even read the history of *ndia. 1 va#il should #now human
nature. )e should be able to read a man(s character from his face. 1nd every *ndian ought to
#now *ndian history. This has no connection with the !rac tice of law, but you ought to have that
#nowledge. * see that you have not even read #aye and Malleson(s history of the Mutiny of 9:IF.
Get hold of that at once and also read two more boo#s to understand human nature.( These were
lavator(s and Shemmel!ennic #(s boo#s on !hysiognomy.
* was e&tremely grateful to this venerable friend. *n his !resence * found all my fear gone, but as
soon as * left him * began to worry again. (To #now a man from his face( was the 3uestion that
haunted me, as * thought of the two boo#s on my way home. The ne& t day * !urchased 4avator(s
boo#. Shemmel!ennic#(s was not available at the sho!. * read 4avator(s boo# and found it more
difficult than Snell(s "0uity, and scarcely interesting. * studied Sha#es!eare(s !hysiognomy, but
did not ac3uire the #nac # of finding out the Sha#es!eares wal#ing u! and down the streets of
4ondon.
4avator(s boo# did not add to my #nowledge. Mr. Pincutt(s advice did me very little direct service,
but his #indliness stood me in good stead. )is smiling o!en face stayed in my memory, and *
trusted his advice that Phero2eshah Mehta(s acumen, memory and ability were not essential to
the ma#ing of a successful lawyerC honesty and industry were enough. 1nd as * had a fair share
of these last * felt somewhat reassured.

* could not read Kaye and Malleson(s volumes in 6ngland, but * did s o in South 1frica as * had
made a !oint of reading them at the first o!!ortunity.
Thus with ,ust a little leaven of ho!e mi&ed with my des!air, * landed at Bombay from S.S.
Assam. The sea was rough in the harbour, and * had to reach the 3uay in a launch.
Chapter 26
RAYCHANDBHAI
* said in the last cha!ter that the sea was rough in Bombay harbour, not an unusual thing in the
1rabian Sea in $une and $uly. *t had been cho!!y all the way from 1den. 1lmost every
!assenger was sic# C * alone was in !erfect form, staying on dec # to see the stormy surge, and
en,oying the s!lash of the waves. 1t brea#fast there would be ,ust one or two !eo!le besides
myself, eating their oatmeal !orridge from !lates carefully held in their la!s, lest the !orridge itself
find its !lace there.
The outer storm was to me a symbol of the inner. But even as the former left me un!erturbed, *
thin# * can say the same thing about the latter. There was the trouble with the caste that was to
confront me. * have already adverted to my hel!lessness in starting on my !rofession. 1nd then,
as * was a reformer. * was ta&ing myself as to how best to begin certain reforms. But there was
even more in store for me than * #new.
My elder brother had come to meet me at the doc#. )e had already made the ac3uaintance of "r.
Mehta and his elder brother and as "r. Mehta insisted on !utting me u! at his house, we went
there. Thus the ac 3uaintance begun in 6ngland continued in *ndia and ri!ened into a !ermanent
friendshi! between the two families.
* was !ining to s ee my mother. * did not # now that she was no more in the flesh to receive me
bac# into her bosom. The sad news was now given me, and * underwent the usual ablution. My
brother had #e!t me ignorant of her death, which too# !lac e whilst * was still in 6ngland. )e
wanted to s!are me the blow in a foreign land. The news, however, was none the less a severe
shoc# to me. But * must not dwell u!on it. My grief was even greater than over my father(s death.
Most of my cherished ho!es were shattered. But * remember that * did not give myself u! to any
wild e&!ression of grief. * could even chec# the tears, and too# to life ,ust as though nothing had
ha!!ened.
"r. Mehta introduced me to several friends, one of them being his brother Shri +evashan#ar
$ag,ivan, with whom there grew u! a lifelong friendshi!. But the introduction that * need
!articularly ta#e note of was the one to the !oet +aychand or +a,chandra, the son/in/law of an
elder brother of "r. Mehta, and !artner of the firm of ,ewellers c onducted in the name of
+evashan#ar $ag,ivan. )e was not above twenty/five then, but my first meeting with him
convinced me that he was a man of great character and learning. )e was also #nown as
Shatavadhani>one having the faculty of remembering or attending to a hundred things
simultaneously?, and "r. Mehta recommended me to see some of his memory feats. * e&hausted
my vocabulary of all the 6uro!ean tongues * #new, and as#ed the !oet to re!eat the words, )e
did so in the !recise order in which * had given them. * envied his gift without, however, coming
under its s!ell. The thing that did cast its s!ell over me * came to #now afterwards. This was his
wide #nowledge of the scri!tures, his s!otless character, and his burning !assion for self/

reali2ation. * saw later that this last was the only thing for which he lived. The following lines of
Mu#tanand were always on his li!s and engraved on the tablets of his heart'
(* s hall thin# myself blessed only when * see )im in every one of my daily actsC .erily )e is the
thread, 5hich su!!orts Mu#tanand(s life.(
+aychandbhai(s commercial transactions covered hundreds of thousands. )e was a connois seur
of !earls and diamonds. %o #notty business !roblem was too difficult for him. But all these things
were not the centre round which his life revolved. That centre was the !assion to see God face to
face. 1mongst the things on his busines s table there were invariably to be found some religious
boo# and his diary. The moment he finished his business he o!ened the religious boo# or the
diary. Much of his !ublished writings is a re!roduction from this diary. The man who, immediately
on finishing his tal# about weighty business transaction, began to write about the hidden things of
the s!irit could evidently not be a businessman at all, but a real s ee#er after Truth. 1nd * saw him
thus absorbed in godly !ursuits in the midst of business, not once or twice, but very often. * never
saw him lose his state of e3ui!oise. There was no business or other selfish tie that bound him to
me, and yet * en,oyed the closest assoc iation with him. * was but a briefless barrister then, and
yet whenever * saw him he would engage me in conversation of a seriously religious nature.
Though * was then gro!ing and could not be said to have any serious interest in religious
discussion, Still * found his tal# of absorbing interest. * have since met many a religious leader or
teacher. * have tried to meet the heads of various faiths, and * must say that no one else has ever
made on me the im!ress ion that +aychandbhai did. )is words went s traight home to me. )is
intellect com!elled as great a regard from me as his moral earnestness, and dee! down in me
was the conviction that he would never willingly lead me astray and would always confide to me
his innermost thoughts. *n my moments of s!iritual crisis, therefore, he was my refuge.
1nd yet in s!ite of this regard for him * could not enthrone him in my heart as my Guru. The
throne has remained vacant and my s earch still continues.
* believe in the )indu theory of Guru and his im!ortance in s!iritual reali2ation. * thin# there is a
great deal of truth in the doctrine that true #nowledge is im!os sible without a Guru. 1n im!erfect
teacher may be tolerable in mundane matters, but not in s!iritual matters. nly a !erfect !nani
deserves to be enthroned as Guru. There must, therefore, be ceaseless striving after !erfection.
0or one gets the Guru that one deserves. *nfinite striving after !erfection is one(s right. *t is its
own reward. The rest is in the hands of God.
Thus, though * could not !lace +aychandbhai on the throne of my heart as Guru, we shall see
how he was, on many occasions, my guide and hel!er. Three moderns have left a dee! im!ress
on my life, and ca!tivated me' +aychandbhai by his living contac tC Tolstoy by his boo#, The
Kingdom of God is 5ithin =ouC and +us#in by his %nt this -ast. But of these more in their !ro!er
!lace.
Chapter 2
HO+ I BEGAN LI%E
My elder brother had built high ho!es on me. The desire for wealth and name and fame was
great in him. )e had a big heart, generous to a fault. This, combined with his sim!le nature, had
attracted to him many friends, and through them he e&!ected to get me briefs. )e had als o

assumed that * should have a swinging !ractice and had, in that e&!ectation, allowed the
household e&!enses to become to!/heavy. )e had also left no stone unturned in !re!aring the
field for my !ractice.
The storm in my caste over my foreign voyage was still brewing. *t had divided the caste into two
cam!s, one of which immediately readmitted me, while the other was bent on #ee!ing me out. To
!lease the former my brother too# me to %asi# before going to +a,# ot, gave me a bath in the
sacred river and, on reaching +a,#ot. gave a caste dinner. * did not li#e all this. But my brother(s
love for me was boundless, and my devotion to him was in !ro!ortion to it, and so * mechanically
acted as he wished, ta#ing his will to be law. The trouble about readmiss ion to the caste was thus
!ractically over.
* never tried to see# admission to the sec tion that had refused it. %or did * feel even mental
resentment against any of the headmen of that section. Some of these regarded me with disli# e,
but * scru!ulously avoided hurting their feelings. * fully res!ec ted the cas te regulations about
e&communication. 1ccording to these, none of my relations, including my father/in/law and
mother/in/law, and even my sister and brother/in/law, could entertain meC and * would not so
much as drin# water at their houses. They were !re!ared secretly to evade the !rohibition, but it
went against the grain with me to do a thing in secret that * would not do in !ublic.
The result of my scru!ulous conduct was that * never had occasion to be troubled by the casteC
nay, * have e&!erienced nothing but affection and generosity from the general body of the section
that still regards me as e&communicated. They have even hel!ed me in my wor#, without ever
e&!ecting me to do anything for the c aste. *t is my conviction that all these good things are due to
my non/resistance. )ad * agitated for being admitted to the caste, had * attem!ted to divide it into
more c am!s, had * !rovo#ed the castemen, they would surely have retaliated, and instead of
steering clear of the storm, * should on arrival from 6ngland, have found myself in a whirl!ool of
agitation, and !erha!s a !arty to dissimulation.
My relations with my wife were still not as * desired. 6ven my stay in 6ngland had not cured me of
,ealousy. * continued my s3ueamishness and sus!iciousness in res!ect of every little thing, and
hence all my cherished desires remained unfulfilled. * had decided that my wife should learn
reading and writing and that * should hel! her in her studies, but my lust came in the way and she
had to suffer for my own shortcoming. nce * went the length of sending her away to her father(s
house, and consented to receive her bac# only after * had made her thoroughly miserable. * saw
later that all this was !ure folly on my !art.
* had !lanned reform in the education of children, My brother had children, and my own child
which * had left at home when * went to 6ngland was now a boy of nearly four. *t was my desire to
teach thes e little ones !hysical e&ercise and ma#e them hardy, and also to give them the benefit
of my !ersonal guidance. *n this * had my brother(s su!!ort and * succeeded in my efforts more or
less. * very much li#ed the com!any of children, and the habit of !laying and ,o#ing with them has
stayed with me till today. * have ever since thought that * should ma#e a good teac her of children.
The necessity for food (reform( was obvious. Tea and coffee had already found their !lace in the
house. My brother had thought it fit to #ee! some sort of 6nglish atmos!here ready for me on my
return, and to that end, croc# ery and such other things, which used to be #e!t in the house only
for s!ecial occasions, were now in general use. My (reforms( !ut the finishing touch. * introduced
oatmeal !orridge, and cocoa was to re!lace tea and coffee. But in truth it became an addition to
tea and coffee. Boots and shoes were already there. * com!leted the 6uro!eani2ation by adding
the 6uro!ean dress.
6&!enses thus went u!. %ew things were added every day. 5e had succeeded in tying a white
ele!hant at our door. But how was the wherewithal to be found@ To start !ractice in +a,#ot would

have meant sure ridicule. * had hardly the #nowledge of a 3ualified va#il and yet * e&!ected to be
!aid ten times his feeB %o client would be fool enough to engage me. 1nd even if such a one was
to be found, should * add arrogance and fraud to my ignorance, and increase the burden of debt *
owed to the world@
0riends advised me to go to Bombay for some time in order to gain e&!erience of the )igh -ourt,
to study *ndian law and to try get what briefs * could. * too# u! the s uggestion and went.
*n Bombay * started a household with a coo# as incom!etent as myself. )e was a Brahman. * did
not treat him as a servant but as a member of the household. )e would !our water over himself
but never was h. )isdhtiwas dirty, as also his s acred thread, and he was com!letely innocent of
the scri!tures. But how was * to get a better coo#@
(5ell, +avishan#ar,( >for that was his name?, * would as# him, (you may not #now coo#ing, but
surely you must #now yoursandhya>daily worshi!?, etc.
(JSandhyaJ, sirB the !lough is our sandhyaand the s!ade our daily ritual. That is the ty!e of
Brahman * am. * must live on your mercy. therwise agric ulture is of course there for me.(
So * had to be +avishan#ar(s teacher. Time * had enough. * began to do half the coo# ing myself
and introduced the 6nglish e&!eriments in vegetarian coo#ery. * invested in a stove, and with
+avishan# ar began to run the #itchen. * had no scru!les about interdining, +avishan#ar too came
to have none, and so we went on merrily together. There was only one obstacle. +avishan#ar
had sworn to remain dirty and to #ee! the food uncleanB
But it was im!ossible for me to get along in Bombay for more than four or five months, there
being no income to s3uare with the ever/ increasing e&!enditure.
This was how * began life. * found the barrister(s !rofession a bad ,ob / much show and little
#nowledge. * felt a crushing sense of my res!onsibility.
Chapter 2#
THE %IRST CASE
5hile in Bombay, * began, on the one hand, my study of *ndian law and, on the other, my
e&!eriments in dietetics in which .irc hand Gandhi, a friend, ,oined me. My brother, for his !art,
was trying his best to get me briefs.
The study of *ndian law was a tedious business. The -ivil Procedure -ode * could in no way get
on with. %ot so however, with the 6vidence 1ct. .irchand Gandhi was reading for the Solicitor(s
6&amination and would tell me all sorts of stories about barristers and va# ils. (Sir Phero2eshah(s
ability,( he would say, (lies in his !rofound #nowledge of law. )e has the 6vidence 1ct by heart
and #nows all the cases on the thirty/second sec tion. Badruddin Tyab,i(s wonderful !ower of
argument ins!ires the ,udges with awe.(
The stories of stalwarts such as these would unnerve me.

(*t is not unusual,( he would add, (for a barrister to vegetate for five or seven years . That(s why *
have signed the articles for solicitorshi!. =ou should count yourself luc#ly if you can !addle your
own canoe in three years( time.(
6&!enses were mounting u! every month. To have a barister(s board outside the house, whilst
still !re!aring for the barris ter(s !rofession inside, was a thing to which * could not reconcile
myself. )ence * could not give undivided attention to my studies. * develo!ed some li#ing for the
6vidence 1ct and read Mayne(s Hindu -a& with dee! interest, but * had not the courage to
conduct a case. * was hel!less beyond words, even as the bride come fresh to her father/in/ law(s
houseB
1bout this time, * too# u! the case of one Mamibai. *t was a (small cause.( (=ou will have to !ay
some commission to the tout,( * was told. * em!hatically declined.
(But even that great criminal lawyer Mr. So/and/So, who ma#es three to four thousand a month,
!ays commissionB(
(* do not need to emulate him,( * re,oined. (* should be content with +s. DAA a month. 0ather did
not get more.(
(But those days are gone. 6&!enses in Bombay have gone u! frightfully. =ou must be
businessli#e.(
* was adamant. * gave no commission, but got Mamibai(s case all the same. *t was an eas y case.
* charged +s. DA for my fees. The case was no li#ely to last longer than a day.
This was my debutin the Small -aus es -ourt. * a!!eared for the defendant and had thus to
cross/e&amine the !laintiff(s witnesses. * stood u!, but my heart san# into my boots. My head was
reeling and * felt as though the whole court was doing li# ewise. * could thin# of no 3uestion to as#.
The ,udge must have laughed, and the va#ils no doubt en,oyed the s!ectacle. But * was !ast
seeing anything. * sat down and told the agent that * c ould not conduct the case, that he had
better engage Patel and have the fee bac# from me. Mr. Patel was duly engaged for +s. I9. To
him, of course, the case was child(s !lay.
* hastened from the -ourt, not #nowing whether my client won or lost her case, but * was
ashamed of myself, and decided not to ta#e u! any more cases until * had courage enough to
conduct them. *ndeed * did not go to -ourt again until * went to South 1frica. There was no virtue
in my decision. * had sim!ly made a virtue of necess ity. There would be no one so foolish as to
entrust his case to me, only to lose itB
But there was another case in store for me at Bombay. *t was a memorial to be drafted. 1 !oor
Mussalman(s land was confiscated in Porbandar. )e a!!roched me as the worthy son of a worthy
father. )is case a!!eared to be wea#, but * consented to draft a memorial for him, the cost of
!rinting to be borne by him. * drafted it and read it out to friends. They a!!roved of it, and that to
some e& tent made me feel confident that * was 3ualified enough to draft a memorial, as indeed *
really was.
My business could flourish if * drafted memorials without any fees. But that would being no grist to
the mill. So * thought * might ta#e u! a teacher(s ,ob. My #nowledge of 6nglis h was good enough,
and * should have loved to teach 6nglish to Matriculation boys in some school. *n this way * could
have met !art at least of the e&!enses. * came across an advertisement in the !a!ers ' (5anted,
an 6nglish teacher to teach one hour daily. Salary +s FI.( The advertisment was from a famous
high school. * a!!lied for the !ost and was called for an interview. * went there in high s!irits, but
when the !rinci!al found that * was not a graduate, he regretfully refused me.

(But * have !assed the 4ondon Matriculation with 4atin as my second language.(
(True but we want a graduate.(
There was no hel! for it. * wrung my hands in des!air. My brother also felt much worried. 5e both
came to the conclus ion that it was no use s!ending more time in Bombay. * should settle in
+a,#ot where my brother, himself a !etty !leader, could give me some wor# in the sha!e of
drafting a!!lications and memorials. 1nd then as there was already a household at +a,#ot, the
brea#ing u! of the one at Bombay meant a considerable saving. * li#ed the suggestion. My little
establishment was thus closed after a stay of si& months in Bombay.
* used to attend )igh -ourt daily whilst in Bombay, but * cannot say that * learnt anything there. *
had not sufficient #nowledge to learn much. ften * could not follow the case and do2ed off.
There were others also who #e!t me com!any in this, and thus lightened my load of shame. 1fter
a time, * even lost the sens e of shame, as * learnt to thin# that it was fas hionable to do2e in the
)igh -ourt.
*f the !resent generation has also its briefless barristers li#e me in Bombay, * would commend
them a little !ractical !rece!t about living. 1lthough * lived in Girgaum * hardly ever toa carriage or
a tramcar. * had made it a rule to wal# to the )igh -ourt. *t too# me 3uite forty/ five minutes, and
of course * invariably returned home on foot. * had inured myself to the heat of the sun. This wal#
to and from the -ourt saved a fair amount of money, and when many of my friends in Bombay
used to fall ill, * do not remember having once had an illness. 6ven when * began to earn money, *
#e!t u! the !ractice of wal#ing to and from the office, and * am still rea!ing the benefits of that
!ractice.
Chapter 2$
THE %IRST SHOC)
"is a!!ointed, * left Bombay and went to +a,#ot where * set u! my own office. )ere * got along
moderately well. "rafting a!!lications and memorials brought me in, on an average, +s DAA a
month. 0or this wor# * had to than# influence rather than my own ability, for my brother(s !artner
had a settled !ractice. 1ll a!!lic ations etc. which were, really or to his mind of an im!ortant
character, he sent to big barristers . To my lot fell the a!!lications to be drafted on behalf of his
!oor clients.
* must confess that here * had to com!romise the !rinc i!le of giving no commission, which in
Bombay * had so scru!ulously observed. * was told that conditions in the two cases were
differentC that whilst in Bombay commissions had to be !aid to touts, here they had to be !aid to
va# ils who briefed youC and that here as in Bombay all barristers, without e&ce!tion, !aid a
!ercentage of their fees as commission. The argument of my brother was, for me, unans werable.
(=ou see,( said he, (that * am in !artnershi! with another va#il. * shall always be inclined to ma# e
over to you all our cases with which you can !ossibly deal, and if you refuse to !ay a commission
to my !artner, you are sure to embarrass me. 1s you and * have a ,oint establishment, your fee
comes to our common !urse, and * automatically get a share. But what about my !artner@
Su!!osing he gave the same case to some other barris ter he would certainly get his commission
from him.( * was ta#en in by this !lea, and felt that, if * was to !ractise as a barrister, * could not
!ress my !rinci!le regarding commissions in such cases. That is how * argued with myself, or to

!ut it bluntly, how * deceived myself. 4et me add, however, that * do not remember ever to have
given a commission in res!ect of any other case.
Though * thus began to ma#e both ends meet, * got the first shoc# of my life about this time. * had
heard what a British officer was li# e, but u! to now had never been face to face with one.
My brother had been secretary and adviser to the late +anasaheb of Porbandar before he was
installed on his !adiand hanging over his head at this time was the charge of having given wrong
advice when in that office. The matter had gone to the Political 1gent who was !re,udiced against
my brother. %ow * had #nown this officer when in 6ngland, and he may be said to have been
fairly friendly to me. My brother thought that * should avail myself of the friendshi! and, !utting in
a good word on his behalf, try to disabuse the Political 1gent of his !re,udice. * did not at all li# e
this idea. * s hould not, * thought, try to ta#e advantage of a trifling ac3uaintance in 6ngland. *f my
brother was really at fault, what use was my recommendation@ *f he was innocent, he should
submit a !etition in the !ro!er course and, c onfident of his innocence, face the result. My brother
did not relish this advice. (=ou do not #now Kathiawad, he said, and you have yet to #now the
world. nly influence counts here. *t is not !ro!er for you, a brother, to shir# your duty, when you
can clearly !ut in a good word about me to an officer you #now.(
* could not refuse him, so * went to the officer much against my will. * #new * had no right to
a!!roach him and was fully conscious that * was c om!romising my self/res!ect. But * sought an
a!!ointment and got it. * reminded him of the old ac3uaintance, but * immediately saw that
Kathiawad was different from 6nglandC that an officer on leave was not the same as an officer on
duty. The !olitical 1gent owned the ac3uaintance, but the reminder seemed to stiffen him. (Surely
you have not come here to abuse that ac3uaintance, have you@( a!!eared to be the meaning of
that stiffness, and seemed to be written on his brow. %evertheless * o!ened my case. The sahib
was im!atient. (=our brother is an intriguer. * want to hear nothing more from you. * have no time.
*f your brother has anything to say, let him a!!ly through the !ro!er channel. The answer was
enough, was !erha!s deserved. But selfishness is blind. * went on with my story. The sahibgot
u! and said' (=ou must go now.(
(But !lease hear me out,( said *. That made him more angry. )e c alled his !eon and ordered him
to show me the door. * was still hesitating when the !eon c ame in, !laced his hands on my
shoulders and !ut me out of the room.
The sahibwent away as also the !eon, and * de!arted, fretting and fuming. * at once wrote out
and sent over a note to this effect' (=ou have insulted me. =ou have assaulted me through your
!eon. *f you ma#e no amends, * shall have to !roceed against you.(
Huic# came the answer through his sowar'
(=ou were rude to me. * as#ed you to go and you would not. * had no o!tion but to order my !eon
to show you the door. 6ven after he as#ed you to leave the office, you did not do so. )e therefore
had to use ,ust enough force to send you out. =ou are at liberty to !roceed as you wish.(
5ith this answer in my !oc #et, * came home crest fallen, and told my brother all that had
ha!!ened. )e was grieved, but was at a loss as to how to console me. )e s!o#e to his va# il
friends. 0or * did not #now how to !roceed against the sahib. Sir Phero2es hah Mehta ha!!ened
to be in +a,#ot at this time, having come down from Bombay for some case. But how could a
,unior barrister li#e me dare to see him@ So * sent him the !a!ers of my case, through the va# il
who had engaged him, and begged for his advice. (Tell Gandhi,( he said, (such things are the
common e&!erience of many va# ils and barristers. )e is still fresh from 6ngland, and hot/
blooded. )e does not #now British officers. *f he would earn something and have an easy time

here, let him tear u! the note and !oc#et the insult. )e will gain nothing by !roceeding against the
sahib, and on the contrary will very li# ely ruin himself. Tell him he has yet to #now life.(
The advice was as bitter as !oison to me, but * had to s wallow it. * !oc# eted the insult, but als o
!rofited by it, (%ever again shall * !lace myself in such a false !osition, never again shall * try to
e&!loit friendshi! in this way,( said * to myself, and since then * have been guilty of a breach of
that determination. This shoc# changed the course of my life.
Chapter 3'
PREPARING %OR SOUTH A%RICA
* was no doubt at fault in having gone to that officer. But his im!atience and overbearing anger
were out of all !ro!ortion to my mista#e. *t did not warrant e&!uls ion. * can scarcely have ta#en u!
more than five minutes of his time. But he sim!ly could not endure my tal#ing. )e could have
!olitely as#ed me to go, but !ower had into&icated him to an inordinate e&tent. 4ater * came to
#now that !atience was not one of the virtues of this officer. *t was usual for him to insult his
visitors. The slightest un!leasantnes s was sure to !ut thesahibout.
%ow most of my wor# would naturally be in his court. *t was beyond me to conciliate him. * had no
desire to curry favour with him, *ndeed, having once threatened to !roceed against him, * did not
li# e to remain silent.
Meanwhile * began to learn something of the !etty !olitics of the country. Kathiawad, being a
conglomeration of small states, naturally had its rich cro! of !oliticals. Petty intrigues between
states, and intrigues of officers for !ower were the order of the day. Princes were always at the
mercy of others and ready to lend their ears to syco!hants. 6ven the sahib1s!eon had to be
ca,oled, and the sahib1s shirastedarwas more than his master, as he was his eyes, his ears and
his inter!reter. The shirastedar1swill was law, and his income was always re!uted to be more
than the sahib1s. This may have been an e& aggeration, but he certainly lived beyond his salary.
This atmos!here a!!eared to me to be !oisonous, and how to remain unscathed was a !er!etual
!roblem for me.
* was thoroughly de!ressed and my brother clearly saw it. 5e both felt that, if * could sec ure
some ,ob, * s hould be free from this atmos !here of intrigue. But without intrigue a ministershi! or
,udgeshi! was out of the 3uestion. 1nd the 3uarrel with thesahibstood in the way of my !ractice.
Probandar was then under administration, and * had some wor# there in the sha!e of securing
more !owers for the !rince. 1lso * had to see the 1dministrator in res!ect of the heavy vi!hti
>land rent? e&acted from the Mers. This officer, though an *ndian, was, * found, one better than the
sahibin arroganc e. )e was able, but the ryots a!!eared to me to be none the better off for his
ability. * succeeded in securing a few more !owers for the +ana, but hardly any relief for the
Mers. *t struc# me that their cause was not even carefully gone into.
So even in this mission * was com!aratively disa!!ointed. * thought ,ustice was not done to my
clients, but * had not the means to secure it. 1t the most * c ould have a!!ealed to the Political
1gent or to the Governor who would have dis missed the a!!eal saying, (5e decline to interfere.(

*f there had been any rule or regulation governing such decisions, it would have been something,
but here the sahib1swill was law.
* was e&as!erated.
*n the meantime a Meman firm from Porbandar wrote to my brother ma#ing the following offer'
(5e have business in South 1frica. urs is a big firm, and we have a big case there in the -ourt,
our claim being G EA,AAA. *t has been going on for a long time. 5e have engaged the services of
the best va#ils and barristers. *f you sent your brother there, he would be useful to us and also to
himself. )e would be able to instruct our counsel better than ourselves. 1nd he would have the
advantage of seeing a new !art of the world, and of ma#ing new ac3uaintances.(
My brother discussed the !ro!osition with me. * could not clearly ma# e out whether * had sim!ly
to instruct the counsel or to a!!ear in court. But * was tem!ted.
My brother introduced me to the late Sheth 1bdul Karim $haveri a !artner of "ada 1bdulla K -oC
the firm in 3uestion. (*t won(t be a difficult ,ob( the Sheth assured me. (5e have big 6uro!eans as
our friends, whose ac3uaintance you will ma# e. =ou can be useful to us our sho!. Much of our
corres!ondence is in 6nglish and you can hel! us with that too. =ou will, of course, be our guest
and hence will have no e&!ense whatever.(
()ow long do you re3uire my services@( * as#ed. (1nd what will be the !ayment@(
(%ot more than a year. 5e will !ay you a first class return fare and a sum of G 9AI, all found.(
This was hardly going there as a barrister. *t was going as a servant of the firm. But * wanted
somehow to leave *ndia. There was also the tem!ting o!!ortunity of seeing a new country, and of
having new e&!erience. 1lso * could send G9AI to my brother and hel! in the e&!enses of the
household. * closed with the offer without any higgling, and got ready to go to South 1frica.
Chapter 31
ARRI.AL IN NATAL
5hen starting for South 1frica * did not feel the wrench of se!aration which * had e&!erienced
when leaving for 6ngland. My mother was now no more. * had gained some #nowledge of the
world and of travel abroad, and going from +a,#ot to Bombay was no unusual affair.
This time * only felt the !ang of !arting with my wife. 1nother baby had been born to us since my
return from 6ngland. ur love could not yet be called free from lust, but it was getting gradually
!urer. Since my return from 6ur!oe, we had lived very little togetherC and as * had now become
her teacher, however indifferent, and hel!ed her to ma#e c ertain reforms, we both felt the
necessity of being more together, if only to continue the reforms. But the attraction of South 1frica
rendered the se!aration bearable. (5e are bound to meet again in a year ,( * said to her, by way
of consolation, and left +a,# ot for Bombay.
)ere * was to get my !assage through the agent of "ada 1bdulla and -om!any. But no berth
was available on the boat, and if * did not sail then, * should be stranded in Bombay. (5e have

tried our best,( said the agent, (to secure a first class !assage, but in vain unless you are
!re!ared to go on dec#. =our meals can be arranged for in the saloon.( Those were the days of
my first class traveling, and how could a barrister travel as a dec# !assenger@ So * refused the
offer. * sus!ected the agent(s veracity, for * could not believe that a first class !assage was not
available. 5ith the agent(s consent * set about securing it myself. * went on board the boat and
met the chief officer. )e said to me 3uite fran#ly, (5e do not usually have such a rus h. But as the
Governor/General of Mo2ambi3ue is going by this boat, all the berths are engaged.(
(-ould you not !ossibly s3uee2e me in@( * as#ed. )e surveyed me from to! to toe and smiled.
There is ,ust one way,( he said. (There is an e&tra berth in my cabin, which is usually not available
for !assengers. But * am !re!ared to give it to you.( * than#ed him and got the agent to !urchas e
the !assage. *n 1!ril 9:<D * set forth full of 2est to try my luc# in South 1frica.
The first !ort of call was 4amu which we reac hed in about thirteen days. The -a!tain and * had
become great friends by this time. )e was fond of !laying c hess, but as he was 3uite a novice, he
wanted one still more of a beginner for his !artner, and so he invited me. * had heard a lot about
the game but had never tried my hand at it. Players used to say that this was a game in which
there was !lenty of sco!e for the e&ercis e of one(s intelligence. The -a!tain offered to give me
lessons, and he found me a good !u!il as * had unlimited !atience. 6very time * was the loser,
and that made him all the more eager to teach me. * li#ed the game, but never carried my li#ing
beyond the boat or my #nowledge beyond the moves of the !ieces.
1t 4amu the shi! remained at anchor for some three to four hours, and * landed to s ee the !ort.
The -a!tain had als o gone ashore, but he had warned me that the harbour was treacherous and
that * should return in good time.
*t was a very s mall !lace. * went to the Post ffice and was delighted to see the *ndian cler#s
there, and had a tal# with them. * also saw the 1fricans and tried to ac3uaint myself with their
ways of life which interested me very much. This too# u! some time.
There were some dec# !assengers with whom * had made ac3uaintance, and who had landed
with a view to coo#ing their food on shore and having a 3uiet meal. * now found them !re!aring to
return to the steamer, s o we all got into the same boat. The tide was high in the harbour and our
boat had more than its !ro!er load. The c urrent was so strong that it was im!ossible to hold the
boat to the ladder of the steamer. *t would ,ust touc h the ladder and be drawn away again by the
current. The firs t whistle to start had already gone. * was worried. The -a!tain was witness ing our
!light from the bridge. )e ordered the steamer to wait an e&tra five minutes. There was another
boat near the s hi! which a friend hired for me for ten ru!ees. This boat !ic#ed me u! from the
overloaded one. The ladder had already been raised. * had therefore to be drawn u! by means of
a ro!e and the steamer started immediately. The other !assengers were left behind. * now
a!!reciated the -a!tain(s warning.
1fter 4amu the ne&t !ort was Mombasa and then Lan2ibar. The halt here was a long one eight or
ten days and we then changed to another boat.
The -a!tain li# ed me much but the li#ing too# an undesirable turn. )e invited an 6nglish friend
and me to accom!any him on an outing, and we all what the outing meant. 1nd little did the
-a!tain #now what an ignoramus * was in such matters. 5e were ta#en to some %egro women(s
3uarters by a tout. 5e were each shown into a room. * sim!ly stood there dumb with shame.
)eaven only #nows what the !oor woman must have thought of me. )e saw my innocence. 1t
first * felt very much ashamed, but as * could not thin# of the thing e&ce!t with horror, the sense of
shame wore away, and * than# ed God that the sight of the woman had no moved me in the leas t.
* was disgusted at my wea#ness and !itied myself for not having had the courage to refuse to go
into the room.

This in my life was the third trial of its #ind. Many a youth, innocent at first, must have been drawn
into sin by a false s ense of shame. * could have credit if * had refused to enter that room. * must
entirely than# the 1ll/merciful for having saved me. The incident increased my faith in God and
taught me, to a certain e&tent, to cast off false shame.
1s we had to remain in this !ort for a wee#. * too# rooms in the town and saw good deal by
wandering about the neighbourhood. nly Malabar can give any idea of the lu&uriant vegetation
of Lan2ibar. * was ama2ed at the gigantic trees and the si2e of the fruits.
The ne&t call was at Mo2ambi3ue and thence we reached %atal towards the close of May.
Chapter 32
SOME E(PERIENCES
The !ort of %atal is "urban also #nown as Port %atal. 1bdulla Sheth was there to rec eive me.
1s the shi! arrived at the 3uay and * watched the !eo!le coming on board to meet their friends, *
observed that the *ndians were not held in much res!ect. * could not fail to notice a sort of
snobbishness about the manner in which those who #new 1bdulla Sheth behaved towards him,
and it stung me. 1bdulla Sheth had not got used to it. Those who loo#ed at me did so with a
certain amount of curiosity. My dress mar#ed me out from other *ndians . * had a froc#/ coat and a
turban, an imitation of the Bengal pu!ree.
* was ta#en to the firm(s 3uarters and shown into the room set a!art for me, ne&t to 1bdulla
Sheth(s. )e did not understand me. * could not unders tand him. )e read the !a!ers his brother
had sent through me, and felt more !u22led. )e thought his brother had sent him a white
ele!hant. My style of dress and living struc# him as being e&!ensive li# e that of the 6uro!eans.
There was no !articular wor# then which could be given me. Their case was going on in the
Transvaal. There was no meaning in sending me there immediately. 1nd how far could he trust
my ability and honesty@ )e would not be in Pretoria to watch me. The defendants were in
Pretoria, and for aught he #new they might bring undue influence to bear on me. 1nd if wor# in
connection with the case in 3uestion was not to be entrusted to me, what wor# could * be given to
do, as all other wor# could be done much better by his cler#s@ The cler#s could be brought to
boo#, if they did wrong. -ould * be, if * also ha!!ened to err@ So if no wor# in connection with the
case could be given me, * should have to be #e!t for nothing.
1bdulla Sheth was !ractically unlettered, but he had a rich fund of e&!erience. )e had an acute
intellect and was conscious of it. By !ractice he had !ic# ed u! ,ust sufficient 6nglish for
conversational !ur!oses, but that served him for carrying on all his business, whether it was
dealing with Ban# Managers and 6uro!ean merchants or e&!laining his case to his counsel. The
*ndians held him in very high esteem. )is firm was then the biggest, or at any rate one of the
biggest, of the *ndian firms. 5ith all these advantages he had one disadvantage he was by nature
sus!icious.
)e was !roud of *slam and loved to discours e on *slamic !hilos o!hy. Though he did not #now
1rabic, his ac3uaintance with the )oly Koran and *slamic literature in general was fairly good.
*llustrations he had in !lenty, always ready at hand. -ontact with him gave me a fair amount of
!ractical #nowledge of *slam. 5hen we c ame closer to each other, we had long discussions on
religious to!ics.

n the second or third day of my arrival, he too# me to see the "urban court. There he
introduced me to several !eo!le and seated me ne&t to his attorney. The Magistrate #e!t staring
at me and finally as#ed me to ta#e off my turban. This * refused to do and left the court.
So here too there was fighting in store for me.
1bdulla Sheth e&!lained to me why some *ndians were re3uired to ta#e off their turbans. Those
wearing the Musalman c ostume might, he said, # ee! their turbans on, but the other *ndians on
entering a court had to ta#e theirs off as a rule.
* must enter into some details to ma#e this nice distinction intelligible. *n the course of these two
or three days * could see that the *ndians were divided into different grou!s. ne was that of
Musalman merchants, who would call themselves (1rabs.( 1nother was that of )indu, and yet
another of Parsi, cler#s. The )indu cler#s were neither here nor there, unless they cast in their lot
with the (1rab.( The Parsi cler#s would call themselves Persians. These three classes had some
social relations with one another. But by far the largest class was that com!osed of Tamil, Telugu
and %orth *ndian indentured and freed labourers. The indentured labourers were those who went
to natal on an agreement to serve for five years, and came to be #nown there as !irmitiyasfrom
girmit, which was the corru!t form of the 6nglish word (agreement(. The other three classes had
none but business relations with this class. 6nglishmen called them( c oolies( and as the ma,ority
of *ndians belonged to the labouring class, all *ndians were called (coolies,( or 1samis1. 1sami( is a
Tamil s uffi& occurring after many Tamil names, and it is nothing else than the Sams#rit S&ami,
meaning a master. 5henever, therefore, an *ndian res ented being addressed as a1sami( and had
enough wit in him, he would try to return the com!liment in this wise' (=ou may call me sami, but
you forget that samimeans a master. * am not your masterB( Some 6nglishmen would wince at
this, while others would get angry, swear at the *ndian and, if there was a chance, would even
belabour himC for samito him was nothing better than a term of contem!t. To inter!ret it to mean
a master amounted to an insultB
* was hence #nown as a (coolie barrister.( The merchants were #nown as (coolie merchants.( The
original meaning of the word (coolie( was thus forgotten, and it became a common a!!ellation for
all *ndians. The Musalman merchant would resent this and say' (* am not a coolie, * am an 1rab,(
or (* am a merc hant,( and the 6nglishman, if courteous, would a!ologi2e to him.
The 3uestion of wearing the turban had a great im!ortance in this state of things, Being obliged to
ta#e off one(s *ndian turban would be !oc# eting an insult. So * thought * had better bid good/bye
to the *ndian turban and begin wearing an 6nglish hat, which would save me from the ins ult and
the un!leasant controversy.
But 1bdulla Sheth disa!!roved of the idea. )e said, (*f you do anything of the # ind, it will have a
very bad effect. =ou will com!romise those insisting on wearing *ndian turbans. 1nd an *ndian
turban sits well on your head. *f you wear an 6nglish hat, you will !ass for a waiter.(
There was !ractical wisdom, !atriotism and a little bit of narrowness in this advice. The wisdom
was a!!arent, and he would not have insisted on the *ndian turban e&ce!t out of !atriotismC the
slighting reference to the waiter betrayed a #ind of narrowness. 1mongst the indentured *ndians
there were three class es )indus, Musalmans and -hristians. The last were the children of
indentured *ndians who became converts to -hristanity. 6ven in 9:<D their number was large.
They wore the 6nglish costume., and the ma,ority of them earned their living by service as
waiters in hotels. 1bdulla Sheth(s c riticism of the 6nglish hat was with reference to this class. *t
was considered degrading to serve as a waiter in a hotel. The belief !ersists even today among
many.

n the whole * li#ed 1bdulla Sheth(s advice. * wrote to the !ress about the incident and defended
the wearing of my turban in the court. The 3uestion was very much discussed in the !a!ers,
which described me as an (unwelcome visitor.( Thus the incident gave me an une&!ected
advertisement in South 1frica within a few days of my arrival there. Some su!!orted me while
others severely critic i2ed my temerity.
My turban stayed with me !ractically until the end of my stay in South 1frica. 5hen and why * left
off wearing any head/dress at all in South 1frica, we shall see later.
Chapter 33
ON THE +AY TO PRETORIA
* soon came in contact with the -hristian *ndians living in "urban. The -ourt *nter!reter, Mr.
Paul, was a +oman -atholic. * made his ac3uaintance, as also that of the late Mr. Subhan
Godfrey, then a teacher under the Protestant Mission, and father of $ames Godfery who as a
member of the South 1frican "e!utation, visited *ndia in 9<8E. * li#ewise met the late Parsi
+ustom,i and the late 1dam,i Miya#han about the same time. 1ll these friends, who u! to then
had never met one another e&ce!t on business, came ultimately into close contact, as we shall
see later.
5hilst * was thus widening the circle of my ac3uaintance, the firm received a letter from their
lawyer saying that !re!arations should be made for the case, and that 1bdulla Sheth s hould go to
Pretoria himself or send re!resentative.
1bdulla Sheth gave me this letter to read, and as# ed me if * would go to Pretoria. (* can only say
after * have understood the case from you,( said *. (1t !resent * am at a loss to #now what * have
to do there.( )e thereu!on as# ed his cler#s to e&!lain the cas e to me.
1s * began to study the case, * felt as though * ought to begin from the 1 B - of the sub,ec t.
"uring the few days * had had at Lan2ibar, * had been to the court to see the wor# there. 1 Parsi
lawyer was e&amining a witness and as# ing him 3uestion regarding credit and debit entries in
account boo#s. *t was all Gree# to me. Boo# /#ee!ing * had learnt neither at school nor during my
stay in 6ngland. 1nd the case for which * had c ome to South 1frica was mainly about accounts.
nly one who #new accounts could understand and e&!lain it. The cler# went on tal#ing about
this debited and that credited, and * felt more and more confus ed. * did not #now what a P. %ote
meant. * failed to find the word in the dictionary. * revealed my ignorance to the c ler#, and * learnt
from him that a P. %ote meant a !romisory note. * !urchased a boo# on boo#/#ee!ing and
studied it. That gave me s ome confidence. * understood the case. * saw that 1bdulla Sheth, who
did not #now how to #ee! accounts, had s o much !ractical #nowledge that he could 3uic#ly solve
intricacies of boo#/# ee!ing. * told him that * was !re!ared to go to Pretoria.
(5here will you !ut u!@( as#ed the Sheth. (5herever you want me to,( said *. (Then * shall write to
our lawyer. )e will arrange for your lodgings. * shall also write to my Meman friends there, but *
would not advise you to stay with them. The other !arty has great influence in Pretoria. Should
any one of them manage to read our !rivate corres!ondence, it might do us much harm. The
more you avoid familiarity with them, the better for us.(

(* shall s tay where your lawyer !uts me u!, or * shall find out inde!endent lodgings. Pray don(t
worry. %ot a soul shall #now anything that is confidential between us. But * do intend cultivating
the ac3uaintance of the other !arty. * should li#e to be friends with them. * would try, if !ossible, to
settle the case out of court. 1fter all Tyeb Sheth is a relative of yours.(
Sheth Tyeb )a,i Khan Muhammad was a near relative of 1bdulla Sheth.
The mention of a !robable settlement somewhat startled the Sheth, * could see. But * had already
been si& or seven days in "urban, and we now #new and understood each other. * was no longer
a (white ele!hant.( So he said'
(=...es, * see. There would be nothing better than a settlement out of court. But we are all relatives
and #now one another very well indeed. Tyeb Sheth is not a man to consent to a settlement
easily. 5ith the slightest unwariness on our !art, he would screw all sorts of things out of us , and
do us down in the end. So !lease thin# twice before you do nothing.(
("on(t be an&ious about that,( said *. (* need not tal# to Tyeb Sheth, or for that matter to anyone
else, about the case. * would only suggest to him to come to an understanding, and so save a lot
of unnecessary litigation.(
n the seventh or eighth day after my arrival, * left "urban. 1 first class seat was boo#ed for me.
*t was usual there to !ay five shillings e&tra, if one needed a bedding. 1bdulla Sheth insisted that
* should boo# one bedding but, out of obstinacy and !ride and with a view to s aving five shillings,
* declined. 1bdulla Sheth warned me. (4oo#, now,( said he, (this is a different country from *ndia.
Than# God, we have enough and to s!are. Please do not stint yourself in anything that you may
need.(
* than#ed him and as#ed him not to be an&ious.
The train reached Marit2burg, the ca!ital of %atal, at about < !.m. Beddings used to be !rovided
at this station. 1 railway servant came and as#ed me if * wanted one. (%o,( said *, (* have one with
me.( )e went away. But a !assenger came ne&t, and loo# ed me u! and down. )e saw that * was
a (c oloured( man. This disturbed him. ut he went and came in again with one or two officials.
They all #e!t 3uiet, when another official came to me and said, (-ome along, you must go to the
van com!artment.(
(But * have a first class tic#et,( said *.
(That doesn(t matter,( re,oined the other. (* tell you, you must go to the van com!artment.(
(* tell you, * was !ermitted to travel in this com!artment at "urban, and * insist on going on in it.(
(%o, you won(t,( said the official. (=ou must leave this com!artment, or else * shall have to call a
!olice constable to !ush you out.(
(=es, you may. * refuse to get out voluntarily.(
The constable came. )e too# me by the hand and !ushed me out. My luggage was also ta#en
out. * refused to go to the other com!artment and the train steamed away. * went and sat in the
waiting room, #ee!ing my hand/bag with me, and leaving the other luggage where it was. The
railway authorities had ta# en charge of it.

*t was winter, and winter in the higher regions of South 1frica is severely cold. Marit2burg being at
a high altitude, the cold was e&tremely bitter. My over/coat was in my luggage, but * did not dare
to as# for it lest * should be insulted again, so * sat and shivered. There was no light in the room.
1 !assenger came in at about midnight and !ossibly wanted to tal# to me. But * was in no mood
to tal# .
* began to thin# of my duty. Should * fight for my rights or go bac# to *ndia, or should * go on to
Pretoria without minding the insults, and return to *ndia after finishing the case@ *t would be
cowardice to run bac# to *ndia without fulfilling my obligation. The hardshi! to which * was
sub,ected was su!erficial only a sym!tom of the dee! disease of colour !re,udice. * should try, if
!ossible, to root out the disease and suffer hardshi!s in the !roc ess. +edress for wrongs * should
see# only to the e&tent that would be necessary for the removal of the colour !re,udice.
So * decided to ta#e the ne&t available train to Pretoria.
The following morning * sent a long telegram to the General manager of the +ailway and also
informed 1bdulla Sheth, who immediately met the General Manager. The Manager ,ustified the
conduct of the railway authorities, but informed him that he had already instructed the Station
Master to see that * reac hed my des tination safely. 1bdulla Sheth wired to the *ndian merchants
in Marit2burg and to friends in other !laces to meet me and loo# after me. The merchants came
to see me at the station and tried to comfort me by narrating their own hardshi!s and e&!laining
that what had ha!!ened to me was nothing unusual. They also said that *ndians travelling first or
second class had to e&!ect trouble from railway officials and white !assengers. The day was thus
s!ent in listening to these tales of woe. The evening train arrived. There was a reserved berth for
me. * now !urchased at Marit2burg the bedding tic #et * had refused to boo# at "urban.
The train too# me to -harlestown.
Chapter 34
MORE HARDSHIPS
The train reached -harlestown in the morning. There was no railway, in those days, between
-harlestown and $ohannesburg, but only a stage/ coach, which halted at Standerton for the night
en rute. * !ossessed a tic#et for the coach, which was not cancelled by the brea# of the ,ourney
at Marit2burg for a dayC besides, 1bdulla Sheth had sent a wire to the coach agent at
-harlestown.
But the agent only needed a !rete&t for !utting me off, and so, when he discovered me to be a
stranger, he said, (=our tic#et is cancelled.( * gave him the !ro!er re!ly. The reason at the bac # of
his mind was not want of accommodation, but 3uite another. Passengers had to be
accommodated inside the coach, but as * was regarded as a (coolie( and loo# ed a stranger, it
would be !ro!er, thought the (leader(, as the white man in charge of the coach was called, not to
seat me with the white !assengers. There were seats on either side of the coachbo&. The leader
sat on one of these as a rule. Today he sat inside and gave me his seat. * # new it was sheer
in,ustic e and an insult, but * thought it better to !oc#et it, * could not have forced myself inside,
and if * had raised a !rotest, the coach would have gone off without me. This would have meant

the loss of another day, and )eaven only # nows what would have ha!!ened the ne&t day. So,
much as * fretted within myself, * !rudently sat ne&t the coachman.
1t about three o(cloc# the coach reached Parde#o!h. %ow the leader desired to sit where * was
seated, as he wanted to smo# e and !ossibly to have some fresh air. So he too# a !iece of dirty
sac#/cloth from the driver, s!read it on the footboard and, addressing me said, ( Sami, you sit on
this , * want to sit near the driver,.( The insult was more than * could bear. *n fear and trembling *
said to him, (*t was you who seated me here, though * should have been accommodated inside. *
!ut u! with the insult. %ow that you want to sit outside and smo#e, you would have me sit at your
feet. * will not do s o, but * am !re!ared to sit inside.(
1s * was struggling through these sentences, the man came down u!on me and began heavily to
bo& my ears. )e sei2ed me by the arm and tried to drag me down. * clung to the brass rails of the
coachbo& and was determined to #ee! my hold even at the ris# of brea#ing my wristbones. The
!assengers were witnessing the scene / the man swearing at me, dragging and belabouring me,
and * remaining s till. )e was strong and * was wea#. Some of the !assengers were moved to !ity
and e&claimed' (Man, let him alone. "on(t beat him. )e is not to blame. )e is right. *f he can(t stay
there, let him come and sit with us.( (%o fear,( cried the man, but he seemed somewhat crestfallen
and sto!!ed beating me. )e let go my arm, swore at me a little more, and as# ing the )ottentot
servant who was sitting on the other side of the coachbo& to sit on the footboard, too# the seat so
vac ated.
The !assengers too# their seats and, the whistle given, the coach rattled away. My heart was
beatingfast within my breast, and * was wondering whether * should ever reach my destination
alive. The man cast an angry loo# at me now and then and, !ointing his finger at me, growled'
(Ta#e care, let me onc e get to Standerton and * shall show you what * do.( * sat s!eechless and
!rayed to God to hel! me.
1fter dar# we reached Standerton and * heaved a s igh of relief on seeing some *ndian faces. 1s
soon as * got down, these friends said' (5e are hereto receive you and ta#e you to *sa Sheth(s
sho!. 5e have had a telegram from "ada 1bdulla.( * was very glad, and we went to Sheth *sa
)a,i Sumar(s sho!. The Sheth and his cler#s gathered round me. * told them all that * had gone
through. They were very sorry to hear it and comforted me by relating to me their own bitter
e&!eriences.
* wanted to inform the agent of the -oach -om!any of the whole affair. So * wrote him a letter,
narrating everything that had ha!!ened, and drawing his attention to the threat his man had held
out. * also as#ed for an assurance that he would accommodate me with the other !ass engers
inside the coach when we started the ne&t morning. To whic h the agent re!lied to this effect'
(0rom Standerton we have a bigger coach with different men in charge. The man com!lained of
will not be there tomorrow, and you will have a seat with the other !assengers.( This somewhat
relieved me. * had, of course, no intention of !roceeding against the man who had assaulted me,
and so the cha!ter of the ass ault closed there.
*n the morning *sa Sheth(s man too# me to the coach, * got a good seat and reached
$ohannesburg 3uite safely that night.
Standerton is a small village and $ohannesburg a big city. 1bdulla Sheth had wired to
$ohannesburg also, and given me the name and address of Muhammad Kasam Kamruddin(s firm
there. Their man had come to receive me at the stage, but neither did * see him nor did he
recogni2e me. So * decided to go to a hotel. * #new the names of several. Ta#ing a cab * as#ed to
be driven to the Grand %ational )otel. * saw the Manager and as# ed for a room. )e eyed me for
a moment, and !olitely saying, (* am very sorry, we are full u!(, bade me good/bye. So * as#ed the
cabman to drive to Muhammad Kasam Kamruddin(s s ho!. )ere * found 1bdul Gani Sheth

e&!ecting me, and he gave me a cordial greeting. )e had a hearty laugh over the story of my
e&!erience at the hotel. ()ow ever did you e&!ect to be admitted to a hotel@( he said.
(5hy not@( * as#ed.
(=ou will come to #now after you have stayed here a few days,( s aid he. (nly we can live in a
land li#e this, because, for ma#ing money, we do not mind !oc#eting insults, and here we are.(
5ith this he narrated to me the story of the hardshi!s of *ndians in South 1frica.
f Sheth 1bdul Gani we shall #now more as we !roceed.
)e said' (This country is not for men li#e you. 4oo# now, you have to go to Pretoria tomorrow.
=ou will have to travel third class. -onditions in the Transvaal are worse than in %atal. 0irst and
second class tic# ets are never issued to *ndians.(
(=ou cannot have made !ersistent efforts in this direction.(
(5e have sent re!resentations, but * confess our own men too do not want as a rule to travel first
or second.
* sent for the railway regulations and read them. There was a loo!hole. The language of the old
Transvaal enactments was not very e&act or !reciseC that of the railway regulations was even less
so.
* said to the Sheth' (* wish to go first class, and if * cannot, * shall !refer to ta# e a cab to Pretoria,
a matter of only thirty/seven miles.(
Sheth 1bdul Gani drew my attention to the e&tra time and money this would mean, but agreed to
my !ro!osal to travel first, and accordingly we sent a note to the Station Master. * mentioned in
my note that * was a barrister and that * always travelled first. * also s tated in the letter that *
needed to reach Pretoria as early as !ossible, that as there was no time to await his re!ly * would
receive it in !erson at the station, and that * should e&!ect to get a first class tic#et. There was of
course a !ur!ose behind as#ing for the re!ly in !erson. * thought that if the Station master gave a
written re!ly, he would certainly say (%o(, es!ecially because he would have his own notion of a
(collie( barrister. * would therefore a!!ear before him in faultless 6nglish dress, tal# to him and
!ossibly !ersuade him to issue a first class tic#et. So * went to the station in a froc#/coat and
nec#tie, !laced a sovereign for my fare on the counter and as#ed for a first class tic# et.
(=ou sent me that note@( he as#ed.
(That is so. * shall be much obliged if you will give me a tic#et. * must reach Pretoria today.(
)e smiled and, moved to !ity, said' (* am not a Transvaaler. * am a )ollander. * a!!rec iate your
feelings, and you have my sym!athy. * do want to give you a tic#et on one c ondition, however,
that, if the guard should as# you to shift to the third class, you will not involve me in the affair, by
which * mean that you should not !roceed against the +ailway -om!any. * wish you a safe
,ourney. * can see you are a gentleman.(
5ith these words he boo#ed the tic# et. * than#ed him and gave him the necessary assurance.
Sheth 1bdul Gani had come to see me off at the station. The incident gave him an agreeable
sur!rise, but he warned me saying' (* shall be than#ful if you reach Pretoria all right. * am afraid

the guard will not leave you in !eac e in the first class and even if he does, the !assengers will
not.(
* too# my seat in a first class com!artment and the train started. 1t Germiston the guard came to
e&amine the tic#ets . )e was angry to find me there, and signalled to me with his finger to go to
the third class. * showed him my first class tic#et. (That doesn(t matter,( said he, (remove to the
third class.(
There was only one 6nglish !assenger in the com!artment. )e too# the guard to as#. ("on(t you
see he has a first class tic#et@ * do not mind in the least his travelling with me.( 1ddress ing me, he
said, (=ou should ma#e yourself comfortable where you are.(
The guard mutteredC *f you want to travel with a coolie, what do * care@( and went away.
1t about eight o(cloc# in the evening the train reached Pretoria.
Chapter 35
%IRST DAY IN PRETORIA
* had e&!ected someone on behalf of "ada 1bdulla(s attorney to meet me at Pretoria station. *
#new that no *ndian would be there to receive me, since * had !articularly !romised not to !ut u!
at an *ndian house. But the attorney had sent no one. * understood later that, as * had arrived on
a Sunday, he could not have sent anyone without inconvenience. * was !er!le&ed, and wondered
where to go, as * feared that no hotel would acce!t me.
Pretoria station in 9:<D was 3uite different from what it was in 9<9E. The lights were burning
dimly. The travellers were few. * let all the other !assengers go and thought that, as soon as the
tic#et collector was fairly free, * would hand him my tic#et and as# him if he could direct me to
some small hotel or any other such !lace where * might goC otherwise * would s!end the night at
the station. * must confess * shran# from as#ing him even this, for * was afraid of being insulted.
The station became clear of all !assengers. * gave my tic#et to the tic# et collec tor and began my
in3uiries. )e re!lied to me courteously, but * saw that he could not be of any c onsiderable hel!.
But an 1merican %egro who was standing near by bro#e into the conversation.
(* see,( said he, (that you are an utter stranger here, without any friends. *f you will come with me, *
will ta#e you to a small hotel, of which the !ro!rietor is an 1merican who is very well #nown to
me. * thin# he will acce!t you.(
* had my own doubts about the offer, but * than#ed him and acce!ted his suggestion. )e too# me
to $ohns on(s 0amily )otel. )e drew Mr. $ohnson aside to s!ea# to him, and the latter agreed to
accommodate me for the night, on condition that * should have my dinner served in my room.
(* assure you,( said he, (that * have no colour !re,udice. But * have only 6uro!ean custom, and, if *
allowed you to eat in the dining/room, my guests might be offended and even go away.(

(Than# you,( said *, (even for accommodating me for the night. * am now more or less ac3uainted
with the conditions here, and * understand your difficulty. * do not mind your serving the dinner in
my room. * ho!e to be able to ma#e some other arrangement tomorrow.(
* was shown into a room, where * now sat waiting for the dinner and musing, as * was 3uite alone.
There were not many guests in the hotel, and * had e&!ected the waiter to come very shortly with
the dinner. *nstead Mr. $ohnston a!!eared. )e s aid' * was ashamed of having as#ed you to have
your dinner here. So * s!o#e to the other guests about you, and as#ed them if they would mind
your having your dinner in the dining/room. They said they had no ob,ection, and that they did not
mind your staying here as long as you li#ed. Please, therefore, come to the dining/room, if you
will, and s tay here as long as you wish.(
* than#ed him again, went to the dining/room and had a hearty dinner.
%e&t morning * c alled on the attorney, Mr. 1. 5. Ba# er. 1bdulla Sheth had given me some
descri!tion of him, so his cordial rece!tion did not sur!rise me. )e received me very warmly and
made #ind in3uiries. * e&!lained all about myself. Thereu!on he said' (5e have no wor# for you
here as barrister, for we have engaged the best couns el. The case is a !rolonged and
com!licated one, so * shall ta#e your assistance only to the e&tent of getting necessary
information. 1nd of course you will ma#e communication with my client easy for me, as * shall
now as# for all the information * want from him through you. That is certainly an advantage, * have
not yet found rooms for you. * thought * had better do so after having seen you. There is a fearful
amount of colour !re,udice here, and therefore it is not eas y to find lodgings for such as you. But *
#now a !oor woman. She is the wife of a ba#er. * thin# she will ta#e you and thus add to her
income at the same time. -ome, let us go to her !lace.(
So he too# me to her house. )e s!o# e with her !rivately about me, and she agreed to acce!t me
as a boarder at DI s hilling a wee#.
Mr. Ba#er, besides being an attorney, was a staunch lay !reacher, )e is still alive and now
engaged !urely in missionary wor#, having given u! the legal !rofession. )e is 3uite well/to/do.
)e still corres!onds with me. *n his letters he always dwells on the same theme. )e u!holds the
e&cellence of -hristianity from various !oints of view, and contends that it is im!ossible to find
eternal !eace, unles s one acce!ts $esus as the only son of God and the Saviour of man#ind.
"uring the very first interview Mr. Ba#er ascertained my religious views. * said to him' (* am a
)indu by birth. 1nd yet * do not # now much of )induism, and * # now less of other religions. *n fact
* do not # now where * am, and what is and what should be my belief. * intend to ma#e a careful
study of my own religion and, as far as * can, of other religions as well.(
Mr. Ba#er was glad to hear all this, and said' (* am one of the "irectors of the South 1frica
General Mission. * have built a church at my own e&!ense, and deliver sermons in it regularly. *
am free from colour !re,udice. * have some co/wor#ers, and we meet at one o(cloc# every day for
a few minutes and !ray for !eace and light. * shall be glad if you will ,oin us there. * shall introduce
you to my co/wor# ers who will be ha!!y to meet you, and * dare say you will also li# e their
com!any. * shall give you, besides some religious boo#s to read, though of course the boo# of
boo#s is the )oly Bible, which * would s!ecially recommend to you.(
* than#ed Mr. Ba#er and agreed to attend the one o(cloc# !rayers as regularly as !ossible.
(So * s hall e&!ect you here tomorrow at one o(cloc#, and we shall go together to !ray,( added Mr.
Ba#er, and we said good/bye.
* had little time for reflection ,ust yet.

* went to Mr. $ohnston, !aid the bill and removed to the new lodgings, where * had my lunch. The
landlady was good woman. She had coo#ed a vegetarian meal for me. *t was not long before *
made myself 3uite at home with the family.
* ne&t went to see the friend to whom "ada 1bdulla had given me a note. 0rom him * learnt more
about the hardshi!s of *ndians in South 1frica. )e insisted that * should stay with him. * than#ed
him, and told him that * had already made arrangements. )e urged me not to hesitate to as# for
anything * needed.
*t was now dar#. * returned home, had my dinner, went to my room and lay there absorbed in
dee! thought. There was not any immediate wor# for me. * informed 1bdulla Sheth of it. 5hat, *
thought, can be meaning of Mr. Ba#er(s interest in me@ 5hat shall * gain from his religious co/
wor#ers@ )ow far should * underta#e the study of -hristianity@ )ow was * to obtain literature
about )induism@ 1nd how was * to understand -hristianity in its !ro!er !ers!ective without
thoroughly #nowing my own religion@ * could come to only one conclusion' * should ma#e a
dis!assionate study of all that came to me, and deal with Mr. Ba#er(s grou! as God might guide
meC * should not thin# of embracing another religion before * had fully understood my own.
Thus musing * fell aslee!.
Chapter 36
CHRISTIAN CONTACTS
The ne&t day at one o(cloc# * went to Mr. Ba#er(s !rayer/meeting. There * was introduced to
Mis s )arris, Miss Gabb, Mr. -oates and others. 6veryone #neeled down to !ray, and * followed
suit. The !rayers were su!!lications to God for various things, according to each !erson(s desire.
Thus the usual forms were for the day to be !assed !eacefully, or for God to o!en the doors of
the heart.
1 !rayer was now added for my welfare' (4ord, show the !ath to the new brother who has come
amongst us, Give him, 4ord, the !eace that Thou hast given us. May the 4ord $esus who has
saved us save him too. 5e as# all this in the name of $esus.( There was no singing of hymns or
other music at these meetings. 1fter the su!!lication for something s!ecial every day, we
dis!ersed, each going to his lunch, that being the hour for it. The !rayers did not ta#e more than
five minutes.
The Misses )arris and Gabb were both elderly maiden ladies. Mr. -oates was a Hua#er. The two
ladies lived together, and they gave me a standing invitation to four o(cloc# tea at their house
every Sunday.
5hen we met on Sundays, * used to give Mr. -oates my religious diary for the wee#, and discuss
with him the boo# s * had read and the im!ression they had left on me. The ladies used to narrate
their sweet e&!eriences and tal# about the !eace they had found.
Mr. -oates was a fran# /hearted staunch young man. 5e went out for wal#s together, and he also
too# me to other -hristian friends.

1s we came closer to each other, he began to give me boo# s of his own choice, until my shelf
was filled with them. )e loaded me with boo#s, as it were. *n !ure faith * consented to read all
those boo#s, and as * went on reading them we discussed them.
* read a number of suc h boo#s in 9:<D. * do not remember the names of them all, but they
included the Cmmentaryof "r. Par# er of the -ity Tem!le, Pearson(s Many /n$allible Pr$sand
Butler(s Anal!y. Parts of these were unintelligible to me. * li#ed some things in them, while * did
not li#e others. Many /n$allible Pr$swere !roofs in su!!ort of the religion of the Bible, as the
author understood it. The boo# had no effec t on me. Par#er(s Cmmentarywas morally
stimulating, but it could not be of any hel! to one who had no faith in the !revalent -hristian
beliefs. Butler(s Anal!ystruc# me to be a very !rofound and difficult boo#, which s hould be read
four or five times to be understood !ro!erly. *t seemed to me to be written with a view to
converting atheists to theism. The arguments advanced in it regarding the e&istence of God were
unnecessary for me, as * had then !assed the stage of unbeliefC but the arguments in !roof of
$esus being the only incarnation of God and the mediator between God and man left me
unmoved.
But Mr. -oates was not the man easily to acce!t defeat. )e had great affection for me. )e saw,
round my nec#, the *aishnavanec#lace of Tulasi/beads. )e thought it to be su!erstition and was
!ained by it. (This su!erstition does not become you. -ome, let me brea# the nec#lace.(
(%o, you will not. *t is a sacred gift from my mother.(
(But do you believe in it@(
(* do not #now its mysterious significance. * do not thin# * should come to harm if * did not wear it.
But * cannot, without sufficient reason, give u! a nec#lace that she !ut round my nec# out of love
and in the conviction that it would be conducive to my welfare. 5hen, with the !assage of time, it
wears away and brea#s of its own accord. * shall have no desire to get a new one. But this
nec#lace cannot be bro#en.(
Mr. -oates could not a!!reciate my argument, as he had no regard for my religion. )e was
loo#ing forward to delivering me from the abyss of ignorance. )e wanted to convince me that, no
matter whether there was some truth in other religions, salvation was im!ossible for me unless *
acce!ted -hristianity which re!resented the truth, and that my sins would not be washed away
e&ce!t by the intercession of $esus, and that all good wor# s were useless .
$ust as he introduced me to several boo#s, he introduced me to several friends whom he
regarded as staunch -hristians. ne of these introductions was to a family which belonged to the
Plymouth Brethren, a -hristian sect.
Many of the contacts for which Mr. -oates was res!onsible were good. Most s truc# me as being
God fearing. But during my contac t with this family, one of the Plymouth Brethren confronted me
with an argument for which * was not !re!ared'
(=ou cannot understand the beauty of our religion. 0rom what you say it a!!ears that you must be
brooding over your transgressions every moment of your life, always mending them and atoning
for them. )ow can this ceas eless cycle of action bring you redem!tion@ =ou can never have
!eace. =ou admit that we are all sinners. %ow loo# at the !erfection of our belief. ur attem!ts at
im!rovement and atonement are futile. 1nd yet redem!tion we must have. )ow c an we bear the
burden of sin@ 5e can out throw it on $esus. )e is the only sinless Son of God. *t is )is word that
those who believe in )im shall have everlasting life. Therein lies God(s infinite mercy. 1nd as we
believe in the atonement of $esus , our own sins do not bind us. Sin we must, *t is im!ossible to
live in this world sinless. 1nd therefore $esus suffered and atoned for all the sins of man#ind.

nly he who acce!ts )is great redem!tion can have eternal !eace. Thin# what a life of
restlessnes s is yours, and what a !romise of !eace we have.(
The argument utterly failed to convince me. * humbly re!lied'
(*f this be the -hristianity ac#nowledged by all -hristians, * cannot acce!t it. * do not see#
redem!tion from the conse3uences of my sin. * see# to be redeemed from sin itself, or rather
from the very thought of sin. Until * have attained that end, * s hall be c ontent to be restless.(
To which the Plymouth Brother re,oined' * assure you, your attem!t is fruitless . Thin# again over
what * have said.(
1nd the brother !roved as good as his word. he #nowingly committed transgressions, and
showed me that he was undisturbed by the thought of them.
But * already #new before meeting with these friends that all -hristians did not believe in suc h a
theory of atonement. Mr. -oates himself wal#ed in the fear of God, )is heart was !ure, and he
believed in the !ossibility of self/!urification. The two ladies also shared this belief. Some of the
boo#s that came into my hands were full of devotion, So, although Mr. -oates was very much
disturbed by this latest e&!erience of mine. * was able to reassure him and tell him that the
distorted belief of a Plymouth Brother could not !re,udice me against -hristianity.
My difficulties lay elsewhere. They were with regard to the Bible and its acce!ted inter!retation.
Chapter 3
SEE)ING TOUCH +ITH INDIANS
Before writing further about -hristian contacts, * must record other e&!eriences of the same
!eriod.
Sheth Tyeb )a,i Khan Muhammad had in Pretoria the same !osition as was en,oyed by "ada
1bdulla in %atal. There was no !ublic movement that could be conducted without him. * made his
ac3uaintance the very first wee# and told him of my intention to get in touch with every *ndian in
Pretoria. * e&!ressed a desire to study the conditions of *ndians there, and as# ed for his hel! in
my wor#, which he gladly agreed to give.
My firs t ste! was to call a meeting of all the *ndians in Pretoria and to !resent to them a !icture of
their condition in the Transvaal. The meeting was held at the house of Sheth )a,i Muhammad
)a,i $oosab, to whom * had a letter of introduc tion. *t was !rinci!ally attended by Meman
merchants, though there was a s!rin#ling of )indus as well. The )indu !o!ulation in Pretoria was
as a metter of fact, very small.
My s!eech at this meeting may be said to have been the first !ublic s!eech in my life. * went fairly
!re!ared with my sub,ect, which was about observing truthfulness in business. * had always
heard the merchants say that truth was not !ossible in business. * did not thin# so then, nor do *
now. 6ven today there are merchant friends who contend that truth is inconsistent with business.
Business,they say, is a very !ractical affair, and truth a matter of religionC and they argue that

!ractical affairs are one thing, while religion is 3uite another. Pure truth, they hold, is out of the
3uestion in business, one can s!ea# it only so far as is suitable. * strongly contested the !osition
in my s!eech and awa#ened the merchants to a sense of their duty, whic h was two/fold. Their
res!onsibility to be truthful was all the greater in a foreign land, because of the millions of their
fellow/countrymen.
* had found our !eo!le(s habits to be insanitary, as com!ared with those of the 6nglishmen
around them, and drew their attention to it. * laid stress on the necessity of forgetting all
distinctions such as )indus, Musalmans, Parsis, -hristians, Gu,aratis, Madrasis, Pun,abis,
Sindhis, Kachchhis, Surtis and so on.
* suggested, in conclusion, the formation of an association to ma#e re!resentations to the
authorities concerned in res!ect of the hardshi!s of the *ndian settlers, and offered to !lace at its
dis!osal as much of my time and service as was !ossible.
* saw that * made a considerable im!ression on the meeting.
My s!eech was followed by discussion. Some offered to su!!ly me with facts. * felt encouraged. *
saw that very few amongst my audience # new 6nglish. 1s * felt that #nowledge of 6nglish would
be useful in that country, advised those who had leisure to learn 6nglish. * told them that it was
!ossible to learn a language even at an advanced age, and cited cases of !eo!le who had done
so. * undertoo#, besides, to teach a class, if one was started or !ersonally to instruct individuals
desiring to learn the language.
The class was not started, but three young men e&!ressed their readiness to learn at their
convenience, and on condition that * went to their !lac es to teach them. f these, two were
Musalmans one of them a barbar and the other a cler# and the third was a )indu, a !etty
sho!#ee!er. * agreed to suit them all. * had no misgivings regarding my ca!ac ity to teach. My
!u!ils might bec ome tried, but not *. Sometimes it ha!!ened that * would go to their !laces only to
find them engaged in their business. But * did not lose !atience. %one of the three desired a dee!
study of 6nglish, but two may be said to have made fairly good !rogress in about eight months.
Two learnt enough to # ee! accounts and write ordinary business letters. The barber(s ambition
was confined to ac3uiring ,ust enough 6nglish for dealing with his customers. 1s a result of their
studies, two of the !u!ils were e3ui!!ed for ma#ing a fair income.
* was satisfied with the result of the meeting. *t was decided to hold such meetings, as far as *
remember, once a wee# or, may be, once a month. These were held more or less regularly, and
on these occasions there was a free e&change of ideas. The result was that there was now in
Pretoria no *ndian * did not #now, or whose condition * was not ac3uainted with. This !rom!ted
me in turn to ma#e the ac3uaintance of the British 1gent in Pretoria, Mr. $acobus de 5et. )e had
sym!athy for the *ndians, but he had very little influence. )owever, he agreed to hel! us as best
he could, and invited me to meet him whenever * wished.
* now communicated with the railway authorities and told them that, even under their own
regulations, the disabilities about travelling under which the *ndians laboured could not be
,ustified. * got a letter in re!ly to the effect that firs t and second clas s tic#ets would be iss ued to
*ndians who were !ro!erly dressed. This was far from giving ade3uate relief, as it res ted with the
Station Master to decide who was (!ro!erly dressed.(
The British 1gent showed me some !a!ers dealing with *ndian affairs. Tyeb Sheth had also given
me similar !a!ers. * learnt from them how cruelly the *ndians were hounded out from the range
0ree State.

*n short, my stay in Pretoria enabled me to ma#e a dee! study of the social, economic and
!olitical condition of the *ndians in the Transvaal and the range 0ree State. * had no idea that
this study was to be of invaluable service to me in the future. 0or * had thought of returning home
by the end of the year, or even earlier, if the case was finished before the year was out.
But God dis!osed otherwise.
Chapter 3#
+HAT IT IS TO BE A &COOLIE&
*t would be out of !lace here to describe fully the condition of *ndians in the Transvaal and the
range 0ree State. * would suggest that those who wish to have a full idea of it may turn to my
Histry $ Satya!raha in Suth A$rica. *t is, however, necessary to give here a brief outline.
*n the range 0ree State the *ndians were de!rived of all their rights by a s!ecial law enacted in
9::: or even earlier. *f they c hose to stay there, they could do so only to serve as waiters in
hotels or to !ursue some other such menial calling. The traders were driven away with a nominal
com!ensation. They made re!res entations and !etitions, but in vain.
1 very stringent enactment was !assed in the Transvaal in 9::I. *t was slightly amended in 9::;,
and it was !rovided under the amended law that all *ndians should !ay a !oll ta& of G D as fee for
entry into the Transvaal. They might not own land e&ce!t in locations set a!art for them, and in
!ractice even that was not to be ownershi!. They had no franchise. 1ll this was under the s!ecial
law for 1siatics, to whom the laws for the coloured !eo!le were also a!!lied. Under these latter,
*ndians might not wal# on !ublic foot!aths, and might not move out of doors after < P. M. without
a !ermit. The enforcement of this last regulation was elastic so far as the *ndians were
concerned. Those who !assed as (1rabs( were, as a matter of favour, e&em!ted from it. The
e&em!tion thus naturally de!ended on the sweet will of the !olice.
* had to e&!erience the effect of both these regulations. * often went out at night for a wal# with
Mr. -oates, and we rarely got bac# home much before ten o(cloc#. 5hat if the !olice arrested
me@ Mr. -oates was more concerned about this than *. )e had to issue !asses to his %egro
servants. But how could he give one to me@ nly a master might issue a !ermit to a servant. *f *
had wanted one, and even if Mr. -oates had been ready to give it, he could not have done so, for
it would have been fraud.
So Mr. -oates or some friend of his too# me to the State 1ttorney, "r. Krause. 5e turned out to
be barristers of the same *nn. The fact that * needed a !ass to enable me to be out of doors after
< P.M. was too much for him. )e e&!ressed sym!athy for me. *nstead of ordering for me a !ass,
he gave me a letter authori2ing me to be out of doors at all hours without !olice interference. *
always #e!t this letter on me whenever * went out. The fact that * never had to ma#e us e of it was
a mere ac cident.
"r. Krause invited me to his !lace, and we may be said to have become friends. * occasionally
called on him, and it was through him that * was introduced to his more famous brother, who was
!ublic Prosecutor in $ohannesburg. "uring the Boer 5ar he was court/martialled for c ons!iring to
murder an 6nglish officer, and was sentenced to im!risonment for seven years. )e was also
disbarred by the Benchers. n the termination of hostilities he was released and being
honourably readmitted to the Transvaal bar, resumed !ractice.

These connections were useful to me later on in my !ublic life, and sim!lified much of my wor# .
The conse3uences of the regulation regarding the use of foot!aths were rather serious for me. *
always went out for a wal# through President Street to an o!en !lain. President Kruger(s house
was in this street a very modest, unostentatious building, without a garden, and not
distinguishable from other houses in its neighbourhood. The houses of many of the millionaires in
Pretoria were far more !retentious, and were surrounded by gardens. *ndeed President Kruger(s
sim!licity was !roverbial. nly the !resence of a !olice !atrol before the house indicated that it
belonged to some official. * nearly always went along the foot!ath !as t this !atrol without the
slightest hitch or hindrance.
%ow the man on duty used to be changed from time to time. nce one of these men, without
giving me the slightest warning, without even as#ing me to leave the foot!ath, !ushed and # ic#ed
me into the street. * was dismayed. Before * could 3uestion him as to his behaviour, Mr. -oates,
who ha!!ened to be !assing the s!ot on horsebac#, hailed me and said'
(Gandhi, * have seen everything. * shall gladly be your witness in court if you !roceed against the
man. * am very sorry you have been so rudely assaulted.(
(=ou need not be sorry,( * said. (5hat does the !oor man # now@ 1ll coloured !eo!le are the same
to him. )e no doubt treats %egroes ,ust as he has treated me. * have made it a rule not go to
court in res!ect of any !ersonal grievance. So * do not intend to !roceed against him.(
(That is ,ust li#e you,( said Mr. -oates, but do thin# it over again. 5e must teach s uch men a
lesson.( )e then s!o#e to the !oliceman and re!rimanded him. * could not follow their tal# , as it
was in "utch, the !oliceman being a Boer. But he a!ologi2ed to me, for which there was no need.
* had already forgiven him.
But * never again went through this street. There would be other men coming in this man(s !lace
and, ignorant of the incident, they would behave li#ewise. 5hy should * unnecessarily court
another # ic#@ * therefore selected a different wal#.
The incident dee!ened my feeling for the *ndian settlers. * discus sed with them the advisability of
ma#ing a test case, if it were found necessary to do so, after having seen the British 1gent in the
matter of these regulations.
* thus made an intimate study of the hard condition of the *ndian settlers, not only by reading and
hearing about it, but by !ersonal e&!erience. * saw that South 1frica was no country for a self/
res!ecting *ndian, and my mind became more and more occu!ied with the 3uestion as to how
this state of things might be im!roved.
But my !rinci!al duty for the moment was to attend to the case of "ada 1bdulla.

Chapter 3$
PREPARATION %OR THE CASE
The year(s stay in Pretoria was a most valuable e&!erience in my life. )ere it was that * had
o!!ortunities of learning !ublic wor# and ac3uired some measure of my ca!acity for it. )ere it
was that the religious s!irit within me became a living forc e, and here too * ac3uired a true
#nowledge of legal !ractice. )ere * learnt the things that a ,unior barrister learns in a senior
barrister(s chamber, and here * also gained confidence that * should not after all fail as a lawyer. *t
was li#ewise here that * learnt the secret of success as a lawyer.
"ada 1bdulla(s was no small case. The suit was for G EA,AAA. 1rising out of business
transactions, it was full of intricacies of accounts. Part of the claim was based on !romissory
notes, and !art on the s!ecific !erformance of !romise to delivery !romissory notes . The defence
was that the !romis sory notes were fraudulently ta#en and lac#ed sufficient c onsideration. There
were numerous !oints of fact and law in this intricate case.
Both !arties had engaged the best arrorneys and counsel. * thus had a fine o!!ortunity of
studying their wor#. The !re!aration of the !laintiff(s case for the attorney and the sifting of facts
in su!!ort of his case had been entrusted to me. *t was an education to see how much the
attorney acce!ted, and how much he re,ected from my !re!aration, as also to see how much use
the counsel made of the brief !re!ared by the attorney. * saw that this !re!aration for the case
would give me a fair measure of my !owers of com!rehension and my ca!acity for marshalling
evidence.
* too# the #eenest interest in the case. *ndeed * threw myself into it. * read all the !a!ers
!ertaining to the transactions. My client was a man of great ability and re!osed absolute
confidence in me, and this rendered my wor# easy. * made a fair study of boo#/#ee!ing. My
ca!acity for translation was im!roved by having to translate the corres!ondence, which was for
the most !art in Gu,arati.
1lthough, as * have said before, * too# a # een interest in religious communion and in !ublic wor#
and always gave some of my time to them, they were not then my !rimary interest. The
!re!aration of the case was my !rimary interest. +eading of law and loo#ing u! law cases, when
necessary, had always a !rior claim on my time. 1s a result, * ac3uired such a gras! of the facts
of the case as !erha!s was not !ossessed even by the !arties themselves, inasmuch as * had
with me the !a!ers of both the !arties.
* rec alled the late Mr. Pincutt(s advice / facts are three/fourths of the law. 1t a later date it was
am!ly borne out by that famous barrister of South 1frica, the late Mr. 4eonard. *n a certain case
in my charge * saw that, though ,ustice was on the side of my client, the law seemed to be against
him. *n des!air * a!!roached Mr. 4eonard for hel!. )e also felt that the facts of the case were
very strong. )e e&claimed, (Gandhi, * have learnt one thing, and it is this, that if we ta#e care of
the facts of a case, the law will ta#e care of itself. 4et us dive dee!er into the facts of this case.(
5ith these words he as #ed me to study the c ase further and then see him again. n a re/
e&amination of the facts * saw them in an entirely new light, and * also hit u!on an old South
1frican case bearing on the !oint. * was delighted and went to Mr. 4eonard and told him
everything. (+ight,( he said, (we s hall win the case. nly we must bear in mind which of the ,udges
ta#es it.(
5hen * was ma#ing !re!aration for "ada 1bdulla(s case, * had not fully reali2ed this !aramount
im!ortance of facts. 0acts mean truth, and once we adhere to truth, the law comes to our aid

naturally. * saw that the facts of "ada 1bdulla(s case made it very strong indeed, and that the law
was bound to be !ersisted in, would ruin the !laintiff and the defendant, who were relatives and
both belonged to the same city. %o one #new how long the cas e might go on. Should it be
allowed to continue to be fought out in court, it might go on indefinitely and to no advantage of
either !arty. Both, therefore, desired an immediate termination of the case, if !ossible.
* a!!roached Tyeb Sheth and re3uested and advised him to go to arbitration. * recommended him
to see his counsel. * suggested to him that if an arbitrator commanding the confidence of both
!arties could a!!ointed, the case would be 3uic#ly finished. The lawyers( fees were so ra!idly
mounting u! that they were enough to devour all the resources of the clients, big merchants as
they were. The case occu!ied so much of their attention that they had no time left for any other
wor#. *n the meantime mutual ill/will was steadily increasing. * became disgusted with the
!rofession. 1s lawyers the counsel on both sides were bound to ra# e u! !oints of law in su!!ort
of their own clients. * als o saw for the first time that the winning !arty never recovers all the costs
incurred. Under the -ourt 0ees +egulation there was a fi& ed scale of cos ts to be allowed as
between !arty and !arty, the actual costs as between attorney and client being very much higher.
This was more than * could bear. * felt that my duty was to befriend both !arties and bring them
together. * strained every nerve to bring about a com!romise. 1t last Tyeb Sheth agreed. 1n
arbitrator was a!!ointed, the case was argued before him, and "ada 1bdulla won.
But that did not satisfy me. *f my client were to see# immediate e&ecution of the award, it would
be im!ossible for Tyeb Sheth to meet the whole of the awarded amount, and there was an
unwritten law among the Porbandar Memans living in South 1frica that death should be !referred
to ban#ru!tcy. *t was im!ossible for Tyeb Sheth to !ay down the whole sum of about G DF,AAA
and costs. )e meant to !ay not a !ie less than the amount, and he did not want to be declared
ban#ru!t. There was only one way. "ada 1bdulla should him to !ay in moderate instalments. )e
was e3ual to the occasion, and granted Tyeb Sheth instalments s!read over a very long !eriod. *t
was more difficult for me to secure this concession of !ayment by instalments than to get the
!arties to agree to arbitration. But both were ha!!y over the result, and both rose in the !ublic
estimation. My ,oy was boundless. * had learnt the true !ractice of law. * had learnt to find out the
better side of human nature and to enter men(s hearts. * reali2ed that the true function of a lawyer
was to unite !arties riven asunder. The lesson was so indelibly burnt into me that a large !art of
my time during the twenty years of my !ractice as a lawyer was occu!ied in bringing about
!rivate com!romises of hundreds of cases. * lost nothing thereby / not even money, certainly not
my soul.
Chapter 4'
RELIGIOUS %ERMENT
*t is now time to turn again to my e&!eriences with -hristian friends.
Mr. Ba#er was getting an&ious about my future. )e too# me to the 5ellington -onvention. The
Protestant -hristians organi2e such gatherings every few years for religious enlightenment or, in
other words, self/!urification. ne may call this religious restoration or revival. The 5ellington
-onvention was of this ty!e. The chairman was the famous divine of the !lace, the +ev. 1ndrew
Murray. Mr. Ba# er had ho!ed that the atmos!here of religious e&altation at the -onvention, and
the enthusiasm and earnestness of the !eo!le attending it, would inevitably lead me to embrac e
-hristianity.

But his final ho!e was the efficacy of !rayer. )e had an abiding faith in !rayer. *t was his firm
conviction that God could not but listen to !rayer fervently offered. )e would cite the instances of
men li#e George Muller of Bristol, who de!ended entirely on !rayer even for his tem!oral needs . *
listened to his discourse on the efficacy of !rayer with unbiased attention, and assured him that
nothing could !revent me from embracing -hristianity, should * feel the call. * had no hesitation in
giving him this assurance, as * had long since taught myself to follow the inner voice. * delighted
in s ubmitting to it. To act against it would be difficult and !ainful to me.
So we went to 5ellington. Mr. Ba#er was hard !ut to it in having (a coloured man( li#e me for his
com!anion. )e had to suffer inconveniences on many occasions entirely on account of me. 5e
had to brea# the ,ourney on the way, as one of the days ha!!ened to be a Sunday, and Mr. Ba#er
and his !arty would not travel on the sabbath. Though the manager of the station hotel agreed to
ta#e me in after muc h altercation, he absolutely refused to admit me to the dining/ room. Mr.
Ba#er was not the man to give way easily. )e stood by the rights of the guests of a hotel. But *
could see his difficulty. 1t 5ellington also * stayed with Mr. Ba#er. *n s!ite of his best efforts to
conceal the little inconveniences that he was !ut to, * could see them all.
This -onvention was an assemblage of devout -hristians. * was delighted at their faith. * met the
+ev. Murray. * saw that many were !raying for me. * li#ed some of their hymns, they were very
sweet.
The -onvention lasted for three days. * could understand and a!!reciate the devoutness of those
who attended it. But * saw no reason for changing my belief my religion. *t was im!ossible for me
to believe that * could go to heaven or attain salvation only by becoming a -hristian. 5hen *
fran#ly said so to some of the good -hristian friends, they were shoc#ed. But there was no hel!
for it.
My difficulties lay dee!er. *t was more than * could believe that $esus was the only inc arnate son
of God, and that only he who believed in him would have everlasting life. *f God could have sons,
all of us were )is sons. *f $esus was li#e God, or God )imself, then all men were li#e God and
could be God )imself. My reason was not ready to believe literally that $esus by his death and by
his blood redeemed the sins of the world. Meta!horically there might be some truth in it. 1gain,
according to -hristianity only human beings had souls, and not other living beings, for whom
death meant com!lete e&tinctionC while * held a contrary belief. * c ould acce!t $esus as a martyr,
an embodiment of sacrifice, and a divine teacher, but not as the most !erfect man ever born. )is
death on the -ross was a great e&am!le to the world, but that there was anything li#e a
mysterious or miraculous virtue in it my heart could not acce!t. The !ious lives of -hristians did
not give me anything that the lives of men of other faiths had failed to give. * had seen in other
lives ,ust the same reformation that * had heard of among -hristian !rinci!les. 0rom the !oint of
view of sac rifice, it seemed to me that the )indus greatly sur!assed the -hristians. *t was
im!ossible for me to regard -hristianity as a !erfect religion or the greatest of all religions.
* shared this mental churning with my -hristian friends whenever there was an o!!ortunity, but
their answers could not satis fy me.
Thus if * could not acce!t -hristianity either as a !erfect, or the greatest religion, neither was *
then convinced of )induism being such. )indu defects were !ressingly visible to me. *f
untouchability could be a !art of )induism, it could but be a rotten !art or an e&crescence. * could
not understand the raisn d1etreof a multitude of sects and castes. 5hat was the meaning of
saying that the .edas were the ins!ired 5ord of God@ *f they were ins!ired, why not also the
Bible and the Koran@

1s -hristian friends were endeavouring to convert me, even so were Musalman friends. 1bdulla
Sheth had #e!t on inducing me to study *slam, and of course he had always s omething to say
regarding its beauty.
* e& !ressed my difficulties in a letter to +aychandbhai. * also corres!onded with other religious
authorities in *ndia and received answers from them. +aychandbhai(s letter somewhat !acified
me. )e as #ed me to be !atient and to study )induis m more dee!ly. ne of his sentences was to
this effect' (n a dis!assionate view of the 3uestion * am convinced that no other religion has the
subtle and !rofound thought of )induism, its vision of the soul, or its charity.(
* !urchased Sale(s translation of the Koran and began reading it. * also obtained other boo#s on
*slam. * communicated with -hristian friends in 6ngland. ne of them introduced me to 6dward
Maitland, with whom * o!ened corres!ondence. )e sent me #he Per$ect +ay , a boo# he had
written in collaboration with 1nna Kingsford. The boo# was a re!udiation of the current -hristian
belief. )e also sent me another boo#, #he Ne& /nterpretatin $ the Bible . * li#ed both. They
seemed to su!!ort )induism. Tolstoy(s #he Kin!dm $ (d is +ithin 2u overwhelmed me. *t
left an abiding im!ression on me. Before the inde!endent thin#ing, !rofound morality, and the
truthfulness of this boo#, all the boo#s given me by Mr. -oates seemed to !ale into insignificance.
My studies thus c arried me in a direction unthought of by the -hristian friends. My
corres!ondence with 6dward Maitland was fairly !rolonged, and that with +aychandbhai
continued until his death. * read some of the boo# s he sent me. These included Panchikaran'
Maniratnamala' Mumukshu Prakaran $ 2!avasishtha' Haribhadra Suri1s Shaddarshana
Samuchchayaand others.
Though * too# a !ath my -hristian friends had not intended for me, * have remained for indebted
to them for the religious 3ues t that they awa#ened in me. * shall always cherish the memory of
their contact. The years that followed had more, not less, of such sweet and sacred contacts in
store for me.
Chapter 41
MAN PROPOSES/ GOD DISPOSES
The case having been concluded, * had no reason for staying in Pretoria. So * went bac# to
"urban and began to ma#e !re!arations for my return home. But 1bdulla Sheth was not the man
to let me sail without a send/off. )e gave a farewell !arty in my honour at Sydenham.
*t was !ro!osed to s!end the whole day there. 5hilst * was turning over the sheets of s ome of the
news!a!ers * found there, * chanced to see a !aragra!h in a corner of one of them under the
ca!tion (*ndian franchise(. *t was with reference to the Bill then before the )ouse of 4egislature,
which sought to de!rive the *ndians of their right to elect members of the %atal 4egislative
1ssembly. * was ignorant of the Bill, and so were the rest of the guests who had assembled there.
* in3uired of 1bdulla Sheth about it. )e said' (5hat can we understand in these matters@ 5e can
only understand things that affect our trade. 1s you #now all our trade in the range 0ree State
has been swe!t away. 5e agitated about it, but in vain. 5e are after all lame men, being
unlettered. 5e generally ta#e in news!a!ers sim!ly to asc ertain the daily mar#et rates, etc. 5hat
can we #now of legislation@ ur eyes and ears are the 6uro!ean attorneys here.(

(But,(said *, (there are so many young *ndians born and educated here, "o not they hel! you@(
(TheyB( e&claimed 1bdulla Sheth in des!air. (They never care to come to us, and to tell you the
truth, we care less to recogni2e them. Being -hristians, they are under the thumb of the white
clergymen, who in their turn are sub,ect to the Government.(
This o!ened my eyes. * felt that this class should be claimed as our own. 5as this the meaning of
-hristianity@ "id they cease to be *ndians because they had become -hristians@
But * was on the !oint of returning home and hesitated to e&!ress what was !assing through my
mind in this matter. * sim!ly said to 1bdulla Sheth' (This Bill, if it !asses into law, will ma# e our lot
e&tremely diffic ult. *t is the first nail into our coffin. *t stri# es at the root of our self/res!ect.(
(*t may,( echoed Sheth 1bdulla. (* will tell you the genesis of the franchise 3uestion. 5e #new
nothing about it. But Mr. 6scombe, one of our best attorneys, whom you #now, !ut the idea into
our heads. *t ha!!ened thus. )e is a great fighter, and there being no love lost between, him and
the 5harf 6ngineer, he feared that the 6ngineer might de!rive him of his votes and defeat him at
the election. So he ac3uainted us with our !os ition, and at his instance we all registered
ourselves as voters, and voted for him. =ou will now see how the franchise has not for us the
value that you attach to it. But we understand what you say. 5ell, then, what is your advice@(
The other guests were listening to this conversation with attention. ne of them said' (Shall * tell
you what should be done@ =ou cancel your !assage by this boat, stay here a month longer, and
we will fight as you direct us.(
1ll the others chimed in ' (*ndeed, indeed. 1bdulla Sheth, you must detain Gandhibhai.(
The Sheth was a shrewd man. )e said' (* may not detain him now. r rather, you have as muc h
right as * to do so. But you are 3uite right. 4et us all !ersuade him to stay on. But you should
remember that he is a barrister. 5hat about his fees@(
The mention of fees !ained me, and * bro#e in ' (1bdulla Sheth, fees are out of the 3uestion.
There can be no fees for !ublic wor#. * can stay, if at all, as a servant. 1nd as you # now, * am not
ac3uainted with all these friends. But if you believe that they will co/o!erate, * am !re!ared to
stay a month longer. There is one thing, however. Though you need not !ay me anything, wor# of
the nature we contem!late cannot be done without some funds to start with. Thus we may have
to send telegrams, we may have to !rint some literature, some touring may have to be done, the
local attorneys may have to be consulted, and as * am ignorant of your laws, * may need some
law/boo#s for reference. 1ll this cannot be done without money. 1nd it is clear that one man is not
enough for this wor#. Many must come forward to hel! him.(
1nd a chorus of voices was heard' (1llah is great and merciful. Money will come in. Men there
are, as many as you may need. =ou !lease consent to stay, and all will be well.(
The farewell !arty was thus turned into a wor#ing committee. * suggested finishing dinner etc.
3uic#ly and getting bac# home. * wor#ed out in my own mind an outline of the cam!aign. *
ascertained the names of those who were on the list of voters, and made u! my mind to s tay on
for a month.
Thus God laid the foundations of my life in South 1frica and sowed the seed of the fight for
national self/res!ect.

Chapter 42
SETTLED IN NATAL
Sheth )a,i Muhammad )a,i "ada was regarded as the foremost leader of the *ndian community
in %atal in 9:<D. 0inancially Sheth 1bdulla )a,i 1dam was the chief among them, but he and
others always gave the first !lace to Sheth )a,i Muhammad in !ublic affairs. 1 meeting was
therefore, held under his !residentshi! at the house of 1bdulla Sheth, at which it was resolved to
offer o!!osition to the 0ranchise Bill.
.olunteers were enrolled. %atal/born *ndians, that is, mostly -hristian *ndian youths, had been
invited to attend this meeting Mr. Paul, the "urban -ourt *nter!reter, and Mr. Subhan Godfrey,
)eadmaster of a mission school, were !resent, and it was they who were res!ons ible for bringing
together at the meeting a good number of -hristian youths. 1ll these enrolled themselves as
volunteers.
Many of the local merchants were of course enrolled, noteworthy among them Sheths "awud
Muhammad, Muhammad Kasam Kamruddin, 1dam,i Miya#han, 1. Kolandavellu Pillai, -.
4achhiram, +angasami Padiachi, and 1mad $iva. Parsi +ustom,i was of course there. 0rom
among the cler#s were Messrs Mane#,i, $oshi, %arsinhram and others, em!loyees of "ada
1bdulla and -o. and other big firms. They were all agreeably sur!rised to find themselves ta#ing
a share in !ublic wor# . To be invited thus to ta#e !art was a new e&!erience the community, all
distinctions such as high and low, small and great, master and servant, )indus, Musalmans,
Pars is, -hristians, Gu,aratis, Madrasis, Sindhis, etc., were forgotten. 1ll were ali#e the children
and servants of the motherland.
The Bill had already !assed, or was about to !as s, its second reading. *n the s!eeches on the
occasion the fact that *ndians had e&!ressed no o!!osition the stringent Bill was urged as !roof
of their unfitness for the franchise.
* e&!lained the situation to the meeting. The first thing we did was to des!atch a telegram to the
S!ea#er of the 1ssembly re3uesting him to !ost!one further discussion of the Bill. 1 similar
telegram was sent to the Premier, Sir $ohn +obinson, and another to Mr. 6scombe, as a friend of
"ada 1bdulla(s. The S!ea#er !rom!tly re!lied that discussion of the Bill would be !ost!oned for
two days. This gladdened our hearts.
The !etition to be !resented to the 4egislative 1ss embly was drawn u!. Three c o!ies had to be
!re!ared and one e&tra was needed for the !ress. *t was also !ro!osed to obtain as many
signatures to it as !ossible, and all this wor# had to be done in the course of a night. The
volunteers with a #nowledge of 6nglish and several others sat u! the whole night. Mr. 1rthur, an
old man, who was #nown for his calligra!hy, wrote !rinci!al co!y. The rest were written by others
to someone(s dictation. 0ive c o!ies were thus got ready simultaneously. Merchant volunteers
went out in their own carriages, or carriages whose hire they had !aid, to obtain signatures to the
!etition was des!atched. The news!a!ers !ublished it with favourable comments. *t li# ewise
created an im!ression on the 1ssembly. *t was dis cussed in the )ouse. Partisans of the Bill
offered a defence, an admittedly lame one, in re!ly to the arguments advanced in the !etition.
The Bill, however, was !assed.

5e all #new that this was a foregone conclusion, but the agitation had infused new life into the
community and had brought home to them the conviction that the community was one and
indivisible, and that it was as much their duty to fight for its !olitical rights as for its trading rights.
4ord +i!on was at this time Secretary of State for the -olonies. *t was decided to submit to him a
monster !etition. This was no small tas# and could not be done in a day. .olunteers were
enlisted, and all did their due share of the wor# .
* too# considerable !ains over drawing u! this !etition. * read all the literature available on the
sub,ect. My argument centred round a !rinci!le and an e&!edience. * argued that we had a right
to the franchise in %atal, as we had a # ind of franchise in *ndia. * urged that it was e&!edient to
retain it, as the *ndian !o!ulation ca!able of using the franchise was very small.
Ten thousand signatures were obtained in the course of a fortnight. To secure this number of
signatures from the whole of the !rovince was no light tas#, es!ecially when we consider that the
men were !erfect strangers to the wor#. S!ecially com!etent volunteers had to be selected for
the wor# , as it had been decided not to ta#e a single signature without the signatory fully
understanding the !etition. The villages were scattered at long distances. The wor# could be
done !rom!tly only if a number of wor#ers !ut their whole heart into it. 1nd this they did. 1ll
carried out their allotted tas# figures of Sheth "awud Muhammad, +ustom,i, 1dam,i Miya#han,
and 1mad $iva rise clearly before my mind. They brought in the largest number of signatures.
"awud Sheth #e!t going about in his carriage the whole day. 1nd it was all a labour of love, not
one of them as#ing for even his out/of/!oc#et e&!enses. "ada 1bdulla(s house became at once a
caravanserai and a !ublic office. 1 number of educated fiends who hel!ed me and many others
had their food there. Thus every hel!er was !ut to considerable e&!ense.
The !etition was at last submitted. 1 thousand co!ies had been !rinted for circulation and
distribution. *t ac 3uainted the *ndian !ublic for the first time with conditions in %atal. * sent co!ies
to all the news!a!ers and !ublicists * #new.
#he #imes $ /nida , in a leading article on the !etition, strongly su!!orted the *ndian demands.
-o!ies were sent to ,ournals and !ublicists in 6ngland re!resenting different !arties. The 4ondon
#imessu!!orted our claims, and we began to entertain ho!es of the Bill being vetoed.
*t was now im!ossible for me to leave %atal. The *ndian friends surrounded me on all sides and
im!ortuned me to remain there !ermanently. * e&!ressed my difficulties. * had made u! my mind
not to stay at !ublic e&!ense. * felt it necessary to set u! an inde!endent household. * thought
that the house should be good and situated in a good locality of the community, unless * lived in a
style usual for barristers. 1nd it seemed to me to be im!ossible to run such a household with
anything less than DAA a year. * therefore decided that * could stay only if the members of the
community guaranteed legal wor# to the e&tent of that minimum, and * communicated my
decision to them.
(But,( said they, (we should li#e you to draw that amount for !ublic wor#, and we can easily collect
it. f course this is a!art from the fees you must charge for !rivate legal wor#.(
(%o, * could not thus charge you for !ublic wor#,( said *. (The wor# would not involve the e&ercise
on my !art of much s#ill as barrister. My wor# would be mainly to ma#e you all wor#. 1nd how
could * charge you for that@ 1nd then * should have to a!!eal to you fre3uently for funds for the
wor#, and if * were to draw my maintenance from you, * should find myself at a disadvantage in
ma#ing an a!!eal for large amounts, and we s hould ultimately find ourselves at a standstill.
Besides * want the community to find more than DAA annually for !ublic wor# .(

(But we have now # nown you for some time, and are sure you would not draw anything you do
not need. 1nd if we wanted you to stay here, should we not find your e&!enses@(
(*t is your love and !resent enthusiasm that ma#e you tal# li#e this . )ow can we be sure that this
love and enthusiasm will endure for ever@ 1nd as your friend and servant, * should occasionally
have to say hard things to you. )eaven only #nows whether * should then retain your affection.
But the fact is that * must not acce!t any s alary for !ublic wor#. *t is enough for me that you
should all agree to entrust me with your legal wor#. 6ven that may be hard for you. 0or one thing *
am not a white barrister. )ow can * be sure that the court will res!ond to me@ %or can * be sure
how * s hall fare as a lawyer. So even in giving me retainers you may be running some ris#. *
should regard even the fact of your giving them to me as the reward of my !ublic wor#.(
The u!shot of this discussion was that about twenty merchants gave me retainers for one year for
their legal wor#. Besides this, "ada 1bdulla !urchased me the necessary furniture in lieu of a
!urse he had intended to give me on my de!arture,
Thus * settled in %atal.
Chapter 43
NATAL INDIAN CONGRESS
Practice as a lawyer was and remained for me a subordinate occu!ation. *t was necessary that *
should concentrate on !ublic wor# to ,ustify my stay in %atal. The des!atch of the !etition
regarding the disfranchising bill was not sufficient in itself. Sustained agitation was essential for
ma#ing an im!ression on the Secretary of State for the -olonies. 0or this !ur!ose it was thought
necessary to bring into being a !ermanent organi2ation. So * consulted Sheth 1bdulla and other
friends, and we all decided to have a !ublic organi2ation of a !ermanent character.
To find out a name to be given to the new organi2ation !er!le&ed me sorely. *t was not to identify
itself with any !articular !arty. The name (-ongress(, * #new, was in bad odour with the
-onservatives in 6ngland, and yet the -ongress was the very life of *ndia. * wanted to !o!ulari2e
it in %atal. *t savoured of cowardice to hesitate to ado!t the name. Therefore, with full e&!lanation
of my reasons, * recommended that the organi2ation should be called the %atal *ndian -ongress,
and on the 88nd May the %atal *ndian -ongress came into being.
"ada 1bdulla(s s!acious room was !ac#ed to the full on that day. The -ongress received the
enthusiastic a!!roval of all !resent. *ts constitution was sim!le, the subscri!tion was heavy. nly
he who !aid five shillings monthly could be a member. The well/to/do classes were !ersuaded to
subscribe as much as they c ould. 1bdulla Sheth also !ut the list with G 8 !er month. Two other
friends also !ut down the same. * thought * should not s tint my subscri!tion, and !ut down a
!ound !er month. This was for me beyond my means, if at all * was to !ay my way. 1nd God
hel!ed me. 5e thus got a considerable number of members who subscribed G 9 !er month. The
number of those who !ut down 9As. was even larger. Besides this, there were donations whic h
were gratefully acce!ted.
6&!erience showed that no one !aid his subscri!tion for the mere as# ing. *t was im!ossible to
call fre3uently on members outside "urban. The enthusiasm of one moment seemed to wear

away the ne&t. 6ven the members in "urban had to be considerably dunned before they would
!ay in their subscri!tions.
The tas# of collecting subscri!tions lay with me. * being the secretary. 1nd we came to a stage
when * had to #ee! my cler# engaged all day long in the wor# of collection. The man got tired of
the ,ob, and * felt that, if the situation was to be im!roved, the subscri!tions should be made
!ayable annually and not monthly, and that too strictly in advance. So * c alled a meeting of the
-ongress. 6veryone welcomed the !ro!osal for ma# ing the subscri!tion annual instead of
monthly and for fi&ing the minimum at G D. Thus the wor# of collection was cons iderably
facilitated.
* had learnt at the outset not to carry on !ublic wor# with borrowed money. ne could rely on
!eo!le(s !romises in most matters e&ce!t in res!ect of money. * had never found !eo!le 3uic# to
!ay the amounts they had underta#en to subscribe, and the %atal *ndians were no e&ce!tion to
the rule. 1s, therefore, no wor# was done unless there were funds on hand, the %atal *ndian
-ongress has never been in debt.
My co/wor#ers evinced e&traordinary enthusiasm in canvassing members. *t was wor# which
interested them and was at the same time an invaluable e&!erience. 4arge numbers of !eo!le
gladly came forward with cash subscri!tions. 5or# in the distant villages of the interior was rather
difficult. Peo!le did not #now the nature of !ublic wor#. 1nd yet we had invitations to visit far away
!laces, leading merchants of every !lace e&tending their hos!itality.
n one occasion during this tour the situation was rather difficult. 5e e&!ected our host to
contribute G ;, but he refused to give anything more than G D. *f we had acce!ted that amount
from him, others would have followed suit, and our collec tions would have been s!oiled. *t was a
late hour of the night, and we were all hungry. But how could we dine without having first obtained
the amount we were bent on getting@ 1ll !ersuasion was useless. The host s eemed to be
adamant. ther merchants in the town reasoned with him, and we all sat u! throughout the night,
he as well as we determined not to budge one inch. Mos t of my co/wor#ers were burning with
rage, but they contained themselves. 1t last, when day was already brea# ing, the host yielded,
!aid down G ; and feasted us. This ha!!ened at Tongaat, but the re!ercuss ion of the inc ident
was felt as far as Stanger on the %orth -oast and -harelstown in the interior. *t also hastened our
wor# of collec tion.
But collecting funds was not the only thing to do. *n fact * had long learnt the !rinci!le of never
having more money at one(s dis!osal than necess ary.
Meetings us ed to be held once a month or even once a wee# if re3uired. Minutes of the
!roceedings of the !receding meeting would be read, and all sorts of 3uestions would be
discussed. Peo!le had no e&!erience of ta#ing !art in !ublic discussion or of s!ea#ing briefly and
to the !oint. 6veryone hesitated to stand u! to s!ea#. * e&!lained to them. They reali2ed that it
was an education for them, and many who had never been accustomed to s!ea#ing before an
audience soon ac3uired the habit of thin#ing and s!ea#ing !ublicly about matters of !ublic
interest.
Knowing that in !ublic wor# minor e&!enses at times absorbed large amounts, * had decided not
to have even the recei!t boo# s !rinted in the beginning. * had a cyclos tyle machine in my office,
on which * too# co!ies of recei!t and re!orts . Such things * began to get !rinted only when the
-ongress coffers were full, and when the number of members and wor# had increased. Such
economy is essential for every organi2ation, and yet * # now that it is not always e&ercised. That is
why * have thought it !ro!er to enter into these little details of the beginnings of a small but
growing organi2ation.

Peo!le never cared to have recei!ts for the amounts they !aid, but we always insisted on the
recei!ts being given. 6very !ie was thus clearly accounted for, and * dare say the account boo#s
for the year 9:<E can be found intact even today in the records of %atal *ndian -ongress.
-arefully #e!t accounts are a sine 0ua nn for any organi2ation. 5ithout them it falls into
disre!ute. 5ithout !ro!erly #e!t accounts it is im!ossible to maintain truth in its !ristine !urity.
1nother feature of the -ongress was service of -olonial/born educ ated *ndians. The -olonial/
born *ndian 6ducational 1ssociation was founded under the aus!ices of the -ongress . The
members consisted mostly of these educated youths. They had to !ay a nominal subscri!tion.
The 1ssociation served to ventilate their needs and grievances, to stimulate thought amongst
them, to bring them into touch with *ndian merchants and also to afford them sco!e for service of
the community. *t was a sort of debating society. The members met regularly and s!o#e or read
!a!ers on different sub,ects. 1 small library was also o!ened in connection with the 1ssociation.
The third feature of the -ongress was !ro!aganda. This consisted in ac3uainting the 6nglish in
South 1frica and 6ngland and !eo!le in *ndia with the real state of things in %atal. 5ith that end
in view * wrote two !am!hlets. The first was An Appeal t "very Britn in Suth A$rica . *t
contained a statement, su!!orted by evidence, of the general condition of %atal *ndians. The
other was entitled #he /ndian 3ranchise An Appeal . *t contained a brief history of the *ndian
franchise in %atal with facts and figures . * had devoted considerable labour and study to the
!re!aration of these !am!hlets, and the result was widely circulated.
1ll this activity resulted in winning the *ndians numerous friends in South 1frica and in obtaining
the active sym!athy of all !arties in *ndia. *t also o!ened out and !laced before the South 1frican
*ndians a definite line of action.
Chapter 44
COLOUR BAR
The symbol of a -ourt of ,ustice is !air of scales held evenly by an im!artial and blind but
sagacious woman. 0ate has !ur!osely made her blind, in order that she may not ,udge a !erson
from his e&terior but from his intrinsic worth. But the 4aw Society of natal set out to !ersuade the
Su!reme -ourt to act in contravention of this !rinci!le and to belie its symbol.
* a!!lied for admission as an advocate of the Su!reme -ourt. * held a certificate of admission
from the Bombay )igh -ourt. The 6nglish certificate * had to de!osit with the Bombay )igh -ourt
when * was enrolled there. *t was necessary to attach two certificates of charac ter to the
a!!lication for admission, and thin# ing that these would carry more weight if given by 6uro!eans,
* secured them from two well/# nown 6uro!ean merchants whom * #new through Sheth 1bdulla.
The a!!lication had to be !resented through a member of the bar, and as a rule the 1ttorney
General !resented such a!!lications without fees. Mr. 6scombe, who, as we have seen, was
legal adviser to Messrs. "ada 1bdulla K -o, was the 1ttorney General. * called on him, and he
willingly c onsented to !resent my a!!lication.
The 4aw Society now s!rang a sur!rise on me by serving me with a notice o!!osing my
a!!lication for admission. ne of their ob,ections was that the original 6nglish certificate was not
attached to my a!!lication. But the main ob,ection was that, when the regulations regarding
admission of advocates were made, the !ossibility of a coloured man a!!lying could not have
been contem!lated. %atal owed its growth to 6uro!ean enter!rise, and therefore it was

necessary that the 6uro!ean element should !redominate in the bar. *f coloured !eo!le were
admitted, they might gradually outnumber the 6uro!eans, and the bulwar# of their !rotection
would brea# down.
The 4aw Society had engaged a distinguished lawyer to su!!ort their o!!osition. 1s he too was
connected with "ada 1bdulla K -o, he sent me word through Sheth 1bdulla to go and see him.
)e tal#ed with me 3uite fran# ly, and in3uired about my antecedents, which * gave. Then he said'
(* have nothing to say against you. * was only afraid lest you should be some -olonial/born
adventurer. 1nd the fact that your a!!lication was unaccom!anied by the original certificate
su!!orted my sus!icion. There have been men who have made use of di!lomas which did not
belong to them. The certificates of character from 6uro!ean traders you have submitted have no
value for me. 5hat do they #now about you@ 5hat can be the e&tent of their ac3uaintance with
you@
(But,( said *, (everyone here is a stranger to me. 6ven Sheth 1bdulla first came to #now me here.(
(But then you say he belongs to the same !lace as you@ *t your father was Prime Minister there,
Sheth 1bdulla is bound to # now your family. if you were to !roduce his affidavit, * should have
absolutely no ob,ection. * would then gladly communicate to the 4aw Society my inability to
o!!ose your a!!lication.(
This tal# enraged me, but * restrained my feelings. (*f * had attached "ada 1bdulla(s certificate.(
said * to myself, (it would have been re,ected, and they would have as#ed for 6uro!eans(
certificates. 1nd what has my admission as advocate to do with my birth and my antecedents@
)ow could my birth, whether humble or ob,ectionable, be used against me@( But * contained
myself and 3uietly re!lied' continue from here
(Though * do not admit that the 4aw Society has any authority to re3uire all these details , * am
3uite !re!ared to !resent the affidavit you desire.(
Sheth 1bdulla(s affidavit was !re!ared and duly submitted to the counsel for the 4aw Society. )e
said he was satis fied. But not so the 4aw Society. it o!!osed my a!!lication before the Su!reme
-ourt, which ruled out the o!!osition without even calling u!on Mr. 6scombe to re!ly. The -hief
,ustice said in effiect '
(The ob,ection that the a!!licant has not attached the original certificate has no substance. *f he
has made a false affifavit, he can be !rosecuted, and his name can then be struc# off the roll, if
he is !roved guilty. The law ma#es no distinction between white and coloured !eo!le. The -ourt
has therefore no authority to !revent Mr. Gandhi from being enrolled as an advocate. 5e admit
his a!!lic ation. Mr. Gandhi, you can now ta#e the oath.(
* stood u! and too# the oath before the +egistar. 1s soon as * was sworn in, the -hief $ustice,
address ing me, said'
(=ou must now ta#e off your turban, Mr. Gandhi. you must submit to the rules of the -ourt with
regard to the dress to be worn by !ractising barristers .(
* saw my limitations. The turban that * had insisted on wearing in the "istrict Magistrate(s -ourt *
too# off in obedience to the order of the Su!reme -ourt. %ot that, if * had resisted the order, the
resistance could not have been ,ustified. But * wanted to reserve my strength for fighting bigger
battles. * should not e&haust my s#ill as a fighter in insisting on retaining my turban. *t was worthy
of a better cause.

Sheth 1bdulla and other friends did not li#e my submission >or was it wea#ness@?. They felt that *
should have s tood by my right to wear the turban while !ractising in the -ourt. * tried to reason
with them. * tried to !ress home to them the truth of the ma&im, (5hen at +ome do as the
+omans do.( (*t would be right,( * said, (to refuse to obey, if in *ndia an 6nglish officer or ,udge
ordered you to ta#e off your turbanC but as an officer of the -ourt, it would have ill become me to
disregard a custom of the -ourt in the !rovince of %atal.(
* !acified the friends somewhat with these and similar arguments, but * do not thin# * convinced
them com!letely, in this instance, of the a!!licability of the !rinci!le of loo#ing at a thing from a
different stand!oint in different circumstances. But all my life though, the very insistence on truth
has taught me to a!!reciate the beauty of com!romise. * saw in later life that this s!irit was an
essential !art of Satyagraha. *t has often meant endangering my life and incurring the dis!leas ure
of friends. But truth is hard as adamant and tender as a blossom.
The o!!osition of the 4aw Society gave me another advertisement in South 1frica. Most of the
news!a!ers condemned the o!!osition and accused the 4aw Society of ,ealousy. The
advertisement, to some e&tent, sim!lified my wor#.
Chapter 45
BALASUNDARAM
The heart(s earnest and !ure desire is always fulfilled. *n my own e&!erienc e * have often seen
this rule verified. Service of the !oor has been my heart(s desire, and it has always thrown me
amongst the !oor and enabled me to identify myself with them.
1lthough the members of the %atal *ndian -ongress included the -olonial/born *ndians and the
-lerical c lass, the uns# illed wage/ earners, the indentured labourers were still outside its !ale.
The -ongress was not yet theirs. They could not afford to belong to it by !aying the subscri!tion
and becoming its members. The -ongress could win their attachment only by serving them. 1n
o!!ortunity offered itself when neither the -ongress nor * was really ready for it. * had !ut in
scarcely three or four months( !ractice, and the -ongress also was still in its infancy, when a
Tamil man in tattered clothes, head/gear in hand, two front teeth bro# en and his mouth bleeding,
stood before me trembling and wee!ing. )e had been heavily belaboured by his master. * learnt
all about him from my cler#, who was a Tamilian. Balasundaram / as that was the visitor(s name /
was serving his indenture under a well/#nown 6uro!ean resident of "urban. The master, getting
angry with him, had lost self/control, and had beaten Balasundaram severely, brea#ing two of his
teeth.
* sent him to a doctor. *n those days only white doctors were available. * wanted a certificate from
the doctor about the nature of the in,ury Balasundaram had sustained. * secured the certificate,
and straightway too# the in,ured man to the magistrate, to whom * submitted his affidavit. The
magistrate was indignant when he read it, and issued a summons against the em!loyer.
*t was far from my desire to get the em!loyer !unished. * sim!ly wanted Balas undaram to be
released from him. * read the law about indentured labour. *f an ordinary servant left service
without giving notice, he was liable to be sued by his master in a civil court. 5ith the indentured
labourer the case was entirely different. )e was liable, in similar circumstances, to be !roceeded
against in a criminal court and to be im!risoned on conviction. That is why Sir 5illiam )unter

called the indenture system almost as bad as slavery. 4i#e the slave the indentured labourer was
the !ro!erty of his master.
There were only two ways of releasing Balasundaram' either by getting the Protector of
*ndentured 4abourers to cancel his indenture or transfer him to someone else, or by getting
Balasundaram(s em!loyer to release him. * called on the latter and s aid to him' (* do not want to
!roceed against you and get you !unished. * thin# you reali2e that you have severely beaten the
man. * shall be satisfied if you will transfer the indenture to s omeone else.( To this he readily
agreed. * ne&t saw the Protector. )e also agreed, on condition that * found a new em!loyer.
So * went off in search of an em!loyer. )e had to be a 6uro!ean, as no *ndians c ould em!loy
indentured labour. 1t that time * #new very few 6uro!eans. * met one of them. )e very #indly
agreed to ta# e on Balasundaram. * gratefully ac #nowledged his #indness. The magistrate
convicted Balasundaram(s em!loyer, and recorded that he had underta#en to transfer the
indenture to someone else.
Balasundaram(s case reached the ears of every indentured labourer, and * came to be regarded
as their friend. * hailed this connection with delight. 1 regular stream of indentured labourers
began to !our into my office, and * got the best o!!ortunity of learning their ,oys and s orrows.
The echoes of Balasundaram(s case were heard in far off Madras. 4abourers from different !arts
of the !rovince, who went to %atal on indenture, came to #now of this case through their
indentured brethren.
There was nothing e&traordinary in the case itself, but the fact that there was someone in %atal to
es!ouse their cause and !ublicly wor# for them gave the indentured labourers a ,oyful sur!rise
and ins!ired them with ho!e.
* have said that Balasundaram entered my office, head/gear in hand. There was a !eculiar
!athos about the circumstanc e which also showed our humiliation. * have already narrated the
incident when * was as# ed to ta# e off my turban. 1 !ractice had been forced u!on every
indentured labourer and every *ndian stranger to ta#e off his head/ gear when visiting a
6uro!ean, whether the head/gear were a ca!, a turban or a scarf wra!!ed round the head. 1
salute even with both hands was not sufficient. Balasundaram thought that he should follow the
!ractice even with me. This was the first case in my e&!erience. * felt humiliated and as#ed him to
tie u! his scarf. )e did s o, not without a certain hesitation, but * could !erceive the !leasure on
his face.
*t has always been a mystery to me how men c an feel themselves honoured by the humiliation of
their fellow beings.
Chapter 46
THE 0 3 TA(
Balasundaram(s cas e brought me into touch with the indentured *ndians. 5hat im!elled me,
however, to ma#e a dee! study of their condition was the cam!aign for bringing them under
s!ecial heavy ta&ation.

*n the same year, 9:<E, the %atal Government sought to im!ose an annual ta& of G 8I on the
indentured *ndians. The !ro!osal astonished me. * !ut the matter before the -ongress for
discussion, and it was immediately resolved to organi2e the neces sary o!!osition.
1t the outs et * must e&!lain briefly the genesis of the ta&.
1bout the year 9:;A the 6uro!eans in %atal, finding that there was considerable sco!e for
sugarcane cultivation, felt themselves in need of labour. 5ithout outside labour the cultivation of
cane and the manufacture of sugar were im!ossible, as the %atal Lulus were not suited to this
form of wor#. The %atal Government therefore corres!onded with the *ndian Government, and
secured their !ermission to recruit *ndian labour. These recruits were to sign an indenture to wor#
in %atal for five years, and at the end of the term they were to be at liberty to settle there and to
have full rights of ownershi! of land. Those were the inducements held out to them, for the whites
then had loo# ed forward to im!roving their agriculture by the industry of the *ndian labourers after
the term of their indentures had e&!ired.
But the *ndians gave more than had been e&!ected of them. They grew large 3uantities of
vegetables. They introduced a number of *ndian varieties and made it !ossible to grow the local
varieties chea!er. They also introduced the mango. %or did their enter!rise sto! at agriculture.
They entered trade. They !urchased land for building, and many raised themselves from the
status of labourers to that of owners of land and houses. Merchants from *ndia followed them and
settled there for trade. The late Sheth 1buba#ar 1mod was first among them. )e soon built u! an
e&tensive business.
The white traders were alarmed. 5hen they first welcomed the *ndian labourers, they had not
rec#oned with their business s#ill. They might be tolerated as inde!endent agriculturists, but their
com!etition in trade could not be broo# ed.
This sowed the seed of the antagonism to *ndians. Many other factors contributed to its growth.
ur different ways of living, our sim!licity, our contentment with small gains, our indifference to
the laws of hygiene and sanitation, our slowness in #ee!ing our surroundings c lean and tidy, and
our stinginess in #ee!ing our houses in good re!air all these, c ombined with the difference in
religion, contributed to fan the flame of antagonism. Through legislation this antagonism found its
e&!ression in the disfranchising bill and the bill to im!ose a ta& on the indentured *ndians.
*nde!endent of legis lation a number of !in!ric# s had already been started.
The first suggestion was that the *ndian labourers s hould be forcibly re!atriated, so that the term
of their indentures might e&!ire in *ndia. The Government of *ndia was not li# ely to acce!t the
suggestion. 1nother !ro!osal was therefore made to the effect that
9. The indentured labourer should return to *ndia on the e&!iry of his indentureC or that
8. he should sign a fresh indenture every two years, an increment being given at each renewalC
and that
D. in the c ase of his refusal to return to *ndia or renew the indenture he should !ay an annual ta&
of G 8I.
1 de!utation com!osed of Sir )enry Binns and Mr. Mason was s ent to *ndia to get the !ro!osal
a!!roved by the Government there. The .iceroy at that time was 4ord 6lgin. )e disa!!roved of
the G 8I ta&, but agreed to a !oll ta& of G D. * thought then, as * do even now, that this was a
serious blunder on the !art of the .iceroy. *n giving his a!!roval he had in no way thought of the
interests of *ndia. *t was no !art of his duty thus to accommodate the %atal 6uro!eans. *n the
course of three or four years an indentured labourer with his wife and each male child over 9;

and female child over 9D c ame under the im!ost. To levy a yearly ta& of G 98 from a family of four
husband, wife and two children when the average income of the husband was never more than
9Es. a month, was atrocious and un#nown anywhere else in the world.
5e organi2ed a fierce cam!aign against this ta&. *f the %atal *ndian -ongress had remained
silent on the sub,ect, the .iceroy might have a!!roved of even the G 8I ta&. The reduction from G
8I to G D was !robably due solely to the -ongress agitation. But * may be mis ta#en in thin# ing so.
*t may be !ossible that the *ndian Government had disa!!roved of the G 8I ta& from the
beginning and reduced it to GD, irres!ective of the o!!osition from the -ongress. *n any case it
was a breach of trust on the !art of the *ndian Government. 1s trustee of the welfare of *ndia, the
.iceroy ought never to have a!!roved of this inhuman ta&.
The -ongress could not regard it as any great achievement to have succeeded in getting the ta&
reduced from G 8I to GD. The regret was still there that it had not com!letely safeguarded the
interests of the indentured *ndians. *t ever remained its determination to get the ta& remitted, but it
was twenty years determination to get the ta& remitted, but it was twenty years before the
determination was reali2ed. 1nd when it was reali2ed, it came as a result of the labours of not
only the %atal *ndians but of all the *ndians in South 1frica. The breach of faith with the late Mr.
Go#hale became the occasion of the final cam!aign, in which the indentured *ndians too# their
full s hare, some of them losing their lives as a result of the firing that was resorted to, and over
ten thousand suffering im!risonment.
But truth trium!hed in the end. The s ufferings of the *ndians were the e&!ress ion of that truth. =et
it would not have trium!hed e&ce!t for unflinching faith, great !atience and incessant effort. )ad
the community given u! the struggle, had the -ongress abandoned the cam!aign and submitted
to the ta& as inevitable, the hated im!ost would have continued to be levied from the indentured
*ndians until this day, to the eternal shame of the *ndians in South 1frica and of the whole of
*ndia.
Chapter 4
COMPARATI.E STUDY O% RELIGIONS
*f * found myself entirely absorbed in the service of the community, the reason behind it was my
desire for self/reali2ation. * had made the religion of service my own, as * felt that God could be
reali2ed only through service. 1nd s ervice for me was the service of *ndia, because it came to me
without my see#ing, because * had an a!titude for it. * had gone to South 1frica for travel, for
finding an esca!e from Kathiawas intrigues and for gaining my own livelihood. But as * have said,
* found myself in search of God and striving for self/ reali2ation.
-hristian friends had whetted my a!!etite for #nowledge, which had become almost insatiable,
and they would not leave me in !eace, even if * des ired to be indifferent. *n "urban Mr. S!encer
5alton, the head of the South 1frica General Mission, found me out. * became almos t a member
of his family. 1t the bac# of this ac3uaintance was of course my contact with -hristians in
Pretoria. Mr. 5alton had a manner all his own. * do not recollect his ever having invited me to
embrace -hristianity. But he !laced his life as an o!en boo# before me, and let me watch all his
movements. Mrs. 5alton was a very gentle and talented woman. * li#ed the attitude of this
cou!le. 5e #new the fundamental differences between us. 1ny amount of discuss ion could not
efface them. =et even differences !rove hel!ful, where there are tolerance, charity and truth. *

li# ed Mr. and Mrs. 5alton(s humility, !erseverance and devotion to wor#, and we met very
fre3uently.
This friendshi! # e!t alive my interest in religion. *t was im!ossible now to get the leisure that *
used to have in Pretoria for my religious studies. But what little time * could s!are * turned to good
account. My religious corres!ondence continued. +aychandbhai was guiding me. Some friend
sent me %armadashan#er(s boo# Dharma *ichar. *ts !reface !roved very hel!ful. * had heard
about the Bohemian way in which the !oet had lived, and a descri!tion in the !reface of the
revolution effected in his life by his religious studies ca!tivated me. * came to li#e the boo#, and
read it from cover to cover with attention. * read with interest Ma& Muller(s boo#, /ndia +hat Can /t
#each %s4and the translation of the %panishads!ublished by the Theoso!hical Society. 1ll this
enhanced my regard for )induism, and its beauties began other religions. * read 5ashington
*rving(s -i$e $ Mahmet and His Successrs and -arlyle(s !anegyric on the !ro!het. These
boo#s raised Muhammad in my estimation. * also read a boo# called#he Sayin!s $ 5arathustra.
Thus * gained more #nowledge of the different religions. The study stimulated my self/
intros!ection and fostered in me the habit of !utting into !ractice whatever a!!ealed to me in my
studies. Thus * began some of the =ogic !ractices, as well as * could understand them from a
reading of the )indu boo#s. But * could not get on very far, and decided to follow them with the
hel! of some e&!ert when * returned to *ndia. The desire has never been fulfilled.
* made too an intensive study of Tolstoy(s boo#s. #he (spels in Brie$' +hat t D4 and other
boo#s made a dee! im!ression on me. * began to reali2e more and more the infinite !ossibilities
of universal love.
1bout the same time * came in contact with another -hristian family. 1t their suggestion *
attended the 5esleyan c hurch every Sunday. 0or these days * also had their standing invitation
to dinner. The church did not ma#e a favourable im!ression on me. The sermons seemed to be
unins!iring. The c ongregation did not stri#e me as being !articularly religious. They were not an
assembly of devout soulsC they a!!eared rather to be worldly/minded !eo!le, going to church for
recreation and in conformity to custom. )ere, at times, * would involuntarily do2e. * was ashamed,
but some of my neighbours, who were in no better cas e, lightened the shame. * could not go on
long li#e this, and soon gave u! attending the service.
My connection with the family * us ed to visit every Sunday was abru!tly bro#en. *n fact it may be
said that * was warned to visit it no more. *t ha!!ened thus. My hostess was a good and sim!le
woman, but somewhat narrow/minded. 5e always discussed religious sub,ects. * was then re/
reading 1rnold(s -i!ht $ Asia. nce we began to com!are the life of $ esus with that of Buddha.
(4oo# at Gautama(s com!assionB( said *. (*t was not confined to man#ind, it was e&tended to all
living beings. "oes not one(s heart overflow with love to thin# of the lamb ,oyously !erched on his
shoulders@ ne fails to notice this love for all living beings in the life of $esus.( The com!arison
!ained the good lady. * c ould understand her feelings. * cut the matter short, and we went to the
dining room. )er son, a cherub aged scarcely five, was also with us. * am ha!!iest when in the
midst of children, and this youngster and * had long been friends. * s!o# e derisively of the !iece of
meat on his !late and in high !raise of the a!!le on mine. The innocent boy was carried away
and ,oined in my !raise of the fruit.
But the mother@ she was dismayed.
* was warned. * chec# ed myself and changed the sub,ect. The following wee# * visited the family
as usual, but not without tre!idation. * did not see that * s hould sto! going there, * did not thin# it
!ro!er either. But the good lady made my way easy.

(Mr. Gandhi,( s he said, (!lease don(t ta#e it ill if * feel obliged to tell you that my boy is none the
better for your com!any. 6very day he hesitates to eat meat and as# s for fruit, reminding me of
your argument. This is too much. *f he gives u! meat, he is bound to get wea#, if not ill. )ow
could * bear it@ =our discus sion should henceforth be only with us elders. They are sure to react
badly on children.(
(Mrs///,( * re!lied, (* am sorry. * can understand your feelings as a !arent, for * too have children.
5e can very easily end this un!leas ant state of things. 5hat * eat and omit to eat is bound to
have a greater effect on the child than what * say. The best way, therefore, is for me to sto! these
visits. That certainly need not affect our friendshi!.(
(* than# you,( she said with evident relief.
Chapter 4#
AS A HOUSEHOLDER
To set u! a household was no new e&!erience for me. But the establishment in %atal was
different from the ones that * had had in Bombay and 4ondon. This time !art of the e&!ense was
solely for the sa#e of !restige. * thought it necessary to have a household in #ee!ing with my
!osition as an *ndian barrister in %atal and as a re!resentative. So * had a nice little house in a
!rominent locality. *t was also suitably furnished. 0ood was sim!le, but as * used to invite 6nglis h
friends and *ndian co/wor#ers, the house#ee!ing bills were always fairly high.
1 good servant is essential in every household. But * have a never #nown how to # ee! anyone as
a servant.
* had a friend as com!anion and hel!, and a coo# who had become a member of the family. * also
had office cler#s boarding and lodging with me.
* thin# * had a fair amount of success in this e&!eriment, but it was not without its modicum of the
bitter e&!eriences of life.
The com!anion was very clever and, * thought, faithful to me. But in this * was deceived. )e
became ,ealous of an office cler# who was staying with me, and wove such a tangled web that *
sus!ected the cler#. This clerical friend had a tem!er of his own. *mmediately he saw that he had
been the ob,ect of my s us!icion, he left both the house and the office. * was !ained. * felt that
!erha!s * had been un,ust to him, and my conscience always stung me.
*n the meanwhile, the coo# needed a few days leave, or for some other caus e was away. *t was
necessary to !rocure another during his absence. f this new man * learnt later that he was a
!erfect scam!. But for me he !roved a godsend. 5ithin two or three days of his arrival, he
discovered certain irregularities that were going on under my roof without my # nowledge, and he
made u! his mind to warn me. * had the re!utation of being a credulous but straight man. The
discovery was to him, therefore, all the more shoc# ing. 6very day at one o(cloc# * used to go
home from office for lunch. 1t about twelve o(cloc# one day the coo# came !anting to the office,
and said, (Please come home at onc e. There is a sur!rise for you.(

(%ow, what is this@( * as#ed. (=ou must tell me what it is. )ow can * leave the office at this hour to
go and see it@(
(=ou will regret it, if you don(t come. That is all * can say.(
* felt an a!!eal in his !ersistenc e. * went home ac com!anied by a cler# and the coo# who wal#ed
ahead of us. )e too# me straight to the u!!er floor, !ointed at my com!anion(s room, and said,
(!en this door and see for yourself.(
* saw it all. * #noc#ed at the door. %o re!lyB * #noc# ed heavily so as to ma#e the very walls sha#e.
The door was o!ened. * saw a !rostitute inside. * as#ed her to leave the house, never to return.
To the com!anion * said, (0rom this moment * cease to have anything to do with you. * have been
thoroughly deceived and have made a fool of myself. That is how you have re3uited my trust in
you@(
*nstead of coming to his senses, he threatened to e&!ose me.
(* have nothing to conceal,( said *, (6&!ose whatever * may have done. But you must leave me this
moment.(
This made him worse. There was no hel! for it. So * said to the cler# standing downstairs' (Please
go and inform the Police Su!erintendent, with my com!liments, that a !erson living with me has
misbehaved himself. * do not want to #ee! him in my house, but he refuses to leave. * shall be
much obliged if !olice hel! can be sent me.(
This showed him that * was in earnest. )is guilt unnerved him. )e a!ologi2ed to me, entreated
me not to inform the !olice, and agreed to leave the house immediately, which he did.
The incident came as a timely warning in my life. nly now could * see clearly how thoroughly *
had been beguiled by this evil genius. *n harbouring him * had chosen a bad means for a good
end. * had e&!ected to (gather figs of thistles ( * had #nown that the com!anion was a bad
character, and yet * believed in his faithfulness to me. *n the attem!t to reform him * was near
ruining myself. * had disregarded the warning of #ind friends. *nfatuation had com!letely blinded
me.
But for the new coo# * should never have discovered the truth and being under the influence of
the com!anion, * should !robably have been unable to lead the life of detachment that * then
began. * should always have been wasting time on him. )e had the !ower to #ee! me in the dar#
and to mislead me.
But God came to the rescue as before. My intentions were !ure, and so * was saved in s!ite of
my mista#es, and this early e&!erience thoroughly forewarned me for the future.
The coo# had been almost a messenger sent from )eaven. )e did not # now coo# ing, and as a
coo# he could not have remained at my !lace. But no one else could have o!ened my eyes. This
was not the first time, as * subse3uently learnt, that the woman had been brought into my house.
She had come often before, but no one had the courage of this coo#. 0or everyone #new how
blindly * trusted the com!anion. The coo# had, as it were, been sent to me ,ust to do this service,
for he begged leave of me that very moment.
(* cannot stay in your house,( he said. (=ou are so easily misled. This is no !lace for me.(

* let him go.
* now discovered that the man who had !oisoned my ears against the cler# was no other than this
com!anion, * tried very hard to ma#e amends to the cler# for the in,ustice * had done him. *t has,
however, been my eternal regret that * could never satisfy him fully. )owsoever you may re!air it,
a rift is a rift.
Chapter 4$
HOME+ARD
By now * had been three years in South 1frica. * had got to #now the !eo!le and they had got
to #now me. *n 9:<; * as#ed !ermission to go home for si& months, for * saw that * was in for a
long stay there. * had established a fairly good !ractice, and could see that !eo!le felt the need of
my !resence. So * made u! my mind to go home, fetch my wife and children, and then return and
settle out there. * also saw that, if * went home, * might be able to do there some !ublic wor# by
educating !ublic o!inion and creating more interest in the *ndians of South 1frica. The G D ta&
was an o!en sore. There could be no !eace until it was abolished.
But who was to ta#e charge of the -ongress wor# and 6ducation Society in my absence@ * could
thin# of two men 1dam,i Miya#han and Parsi +ustom,i. There were many wor#ers now available
from the commercial class. But the foremost among those who could fulfil the duties of the
secretary by regular wor# , and who also commanded the regard of the *ndian community, were
these two. The secretary certainly needed a wor#ing #nowledge of 6nglish. * recommended the
late 1dam,i Miya#han(s name to the -ongress, and it a!!roved of his a!!ointment as secretary.
6&!erience showed that the choice was a very ha!!y one. 1dam,i Miya#han satisfied all with his
!erseverance, liberality, amiability and courtesy, and !roved to every one that the secretary(s
wor# did not re3uire a man with a barrister(s degree or high 6nglish education.
1bout the middle of 9:<; * sailed for home in the6
SS Pn!la
which was bound for -alcutta.
There were very few !assengers on board. 1mong them were two 6nglish oficers, with whom *
came in close contact. 5ith one of them * used to !lay chess for an hour daily. The shi!(s doctor
gave me a #amil Sel$. #eacher which * began to study. My e&!erienc e in %atal had shown me
that * s hould ac3uire a #nowledge of Urdu to get into closer contact with the Musalmans, and of
Tamil to get into clos er touch with the Madras *ndians.
1t the re3uest of the 6nglish friend, who read Urdu with me, * found out a good Urdu Munshi from
amongst he dec# !assengers, and we made e&cellent !rogress in our studies. The officer had a
better memory than *. )e would never forget a word after once he had seen itC * often found it
difficult to deci!her Urdu letters. * brought more !erseverance to bea, but could never overta# e
the officer.
5ith Tamil * made fair !rogress. There was no hel! available, but the #amil Sel$.#eacherwas
well/written boo#, and * did not feel in need of much outside hel!.
* had ho!ed to continue thes e studies even after reaching *ndia, but it was im!ossible. Most of my
reading since 9:<D has been done in ,ail. * did ma#e some !rogress in Tamil and Urdu, in ,ails /

Tamil in South 1frican ,ails, and Urdu in =eravda ,ail. But * never learnt to s!ea# Tamil, and the
little * could do by way of reading is now rusting away for want of !ractice.
* still feel what a handica! this ignorance of Tamil or Telugu has been. The affection that the
"ravidians in South 1frica showered on me has remained a cherished memory. 5henever * see
a Tamil or Telugu friend, * cannot but recall the faith, !ers everance and selfless sacrifice of many
of his com!atriots in South 1frica. 1nd they were mostly illiterate, the men no less than the
women. The fight in South 1frica was for such, and it was fought by illiterate soldiersC it was for
the !oor, and the !oor too# their full share in it. *gnorance of their language, however, was never
a handica! to me in stealing the hearts of these sim!le and good countrymen. They s!o#e bro#en
)industani or bro#en 6nglish, and we found no difficulty in getting on with our wor#. But * wanted
to re3uite their affection by learning Tamil and Telugu. *n Tamil as * have said, * made some little
!rogress, but in Telugu, which * tried to learn in *ndia, * did not get beyond the al!habet. * fear
now * can never learn these languages, and am therefore ho!ing that the "ravidians will learn
)industani. The non/englis h/s!ea#ing among them in South 1frica do s!ea# )indi or )industani,
however indifferently. *t is only the 6nglish/s!ea#ing ones who will not learn it, as though a
#nowledge of 6nglis h were an obstacle to learning our own languages.
But * have digressed. 4et me finish the narrative of my voyage. * have to introduc e to my readers
the -a!tain of the s 6s6 Pn!la. 5e had become friends. The good -a!tain was a Plymouth
Brother. ur tal#s were more about s!iritual sub,ects than nautical. )e drew a line between
morality and faith. The teaching of the Bible was to him child(s !lay. *ts beauty lay in its sim!licity.
4et all, men, women and children, he would say, have faith in $esus and his sacrific e, and their
sins were sure to be redeemed. This friend revived my memory of the Plymouth Brother of
Pretoria. The religion that im!osed any moral restrictions was of the whole of this disc ussion.
5hy should * not eat meat, or for that matter beef@ )ad not god created all the lower animals for
the en,oyment of man# ind as, for instance, he had created the vegetable #ingdom@ These
3uestions inevitably drew us into religious discussion.
5e could not convince each other. * was confirmed in my o!inion that religion and morality were
synonymous. The -a!tain had no doubt about the correctnes s of his o!!osite conviction.
1t the end of twenty/four days the !leasant voyage came to a close, and admiring the beauty of
the )ooghly, * landed at -alcutta. The same day * too# the train for Bombay.
Chapter 5'
IN INDIA
n my way to Bombay the train sto!!ed at 1llahabad for forty/five minutes. * decided to utili2e
the interval for a drive through the town. * also had to !urchase some medicine at a c hemist(s
sho!. The chemist was half aslee!, and too# an unconscionable time in dis!ensing the medicine,
with the result that when * reached the station, the train had ,ust started. The Station Master had
#indly detained the train one minute for my sa#e, but not seeing me coming, had carefully ordered
my luggage to be ta#en out of the train.
* too# a room at Kellner(s, and decided to start wor# there and then. * had heard a good deal
about #he Pineer!ublis hed from 1llahabad, and * had understood it to be an o!!onent of *ndian

as!irations. * have an im!ression that Mr. -hesney $r. was the editor at that time. * wanted to
secure the hel! of every !arty, so * wrote a note to Mr. -hesney, telling him how * had missed the
train, and as#ing for an a!!ointment so as to enable me to leave the ne&t day. )e immediately
gave me one, at which * was very ha!!y es!ecially when * found that he gave me a !atient
hearing. )e !romised to notice in his !a!er anything that * might write, but added that he could
not !romise to endorse all the *ndian demands, inasmuch as he was bound to understand and
give due weight to the view!oint of the -olonials as well.
(*t is enough,( * s aid, (that you should study the 3uestion and discus s it in your !a!er. * as# and
desire nothing but the barest ,ustice that is due to us.(
The rest of the day was s!ent in having a loo# round admiring the magnificent confluence of the
three rivers, the #riveni, and !lanning the wor# before me.
This une&!ected interview with the editor of #he Pineer laid the foundation of the series of
incidents which ultimately led to my being lynched in %atal.
* went straight to +a,# ot without halting at Bombay and began to ma#e !re!arations for writing a
!am!hlet on the situation in South 1frica. The writing and !ublication of the !am!hlet too# about
a month. *t had a green cover and came to be #nown afterwards as the Green Pam!hlet. *n it *
drew a !ur!osely subdued !icture of the condition of *ndians in South 1frica. The language * used
was more moderate than that of the two !am!hlets which * have referred to before, as * #new that
things heard of from a distance a!!ear bigger than they are.
Ten thousand co!ies were !rinted and sent to all the !a!ers and leaders of every !arty in *ndia.
#he Pineerwas the first to notice it editorially. 1 summary of the article was cabled by +euter to
6ngland, and a summary of that summary was cabled to %atal by +euter(s 4ondon office. This
cable was not longer than three lines in !rint. *t was a miniature, but e&aggerated, edition of the
!icture * had drawn of the treatment accorded to the *ndians in %atal, and it was not in my words.
5e shall see later on the effect this had in %atal. *n the meanwhile every !a!er of note
commented at length on the 3uestion.
To get these !am!hlets ready for !osting was no small matter. *t would have been e&!ensive too,
if * had em!loyed !aid hel! for !re!aring wra!!ers etc. But * hit u!on a much sim!ler !lan. *
gathered together all the children in my locality and as# ed them to volunteer two or three hours(
labour of a morning, when they had no school. This they willingly agreed to do. * !romised to
bless them and give them, as a reward, used !ostage stam!s which * had collec ted. They got
through the wor# in no time. That was my first e&!eriment of having little children as volunteers.
Two of those little friends are my co/wor#ers today.
Plague bro#e out in Bombay about this time, and there was !anic all around. There was fear of
an outbrea# in +a,#ot. 1s * felt that * could be of s ome hel! in the sanitation de!artment, * offered
my s ervices to the State. They were acce!ted, and * was !ut on the committee which was
a!!ointed to loo# into the 3uestion. * laid es!ecial em!hasis on the cleanliness of latrines, and the
committee decided to ins!ec t thes e in every street. The !oor !eo!le had no ob,ection to their
latrines being ins!ected, and what is more, they c arried out the im!rovements suggested to them.
But when we went to ins!ec t the houses of the u!!er ten, some of them even refused us
admission, not to tal# of listening to our sugges tions. *t was our common e&!erience that the
latrines of the rich were more unclean. They were dar# and stin#ing and ree# ing with filth and
worms . The im!rovements we suggested were 3uite sim!le, e.g., to have buc#ets for e&crement
instead of allowing it to dro! on the groundC to see that urine also was c ollected in buc#ets,
instead of allowing it to soa# into the ground, and to demolish the !artitions between the outer
walls and the enable the scavenger to clean them !ro!erly. The u!!er classes raised numerous
ob,ections to this last im!rovement, and in most cases it was not carried out.

The committee had to ins!ect untouchables( 3uarters also. nly one member of the committee
was ready to accom!any me there. To the rest it was something !re!osterous to visit thos e
3uarters, still more so to ins!ect their latrines. But for me those 3uarters were an agreeable
sur!rise. That was the first visit in my life to such a locality. The men and women there were
sur!rised to see us. * as#ed them to let us ins!ect their latrines.
(4atrines for usB( they e&claimed in astonishment. (5e go and !erform our functions out in the
o!en. 4atrines are for you big !eo!le.(
(5ell, then, you won(t mind if we ins!ect your houses@( * as# ed.
(=ou are !erfectly welcome, sir. =ou may see every noo# and corner of our houses. urs are no
houses, they are holes.(
* went in and was delighted to see that the insides were as clean as the outsides. The entrances
were well swe!t, the floors were beautifully smeared with cow/dung, and the few !ots and !ans
were clean and shining. There was no fear of an outbrea# in those 3uarters.
*n the u!!er class 3uarters we came across a latrine which * cannot hel! describing in some
detail. 6very room had its gutter, which was us ed both for water and urine, which meant that the
whole house would stin#. But one of the houses had a storeyed bedroom with a gutter which was
being used both as a urinal and a latrine. The gutter had a !i!e discending to the ground floor. *t
was not !oss ible to stand the foul smell in this room. )ow the occu!ants could s lee! there * leave
the readers to imagine.
The committee also visited the .aishnava Haveli. The !riest in charge of the Haveliwas very
friendly with my family. So he agreed to let us ins!ect everything and suggest whatever
im!rovements we li# ed. There was a !art of the Haveli!remises that he himself had never seen.
*t was the !lace where refuse and leaves used as dinner/ !lates used to be thrown over the wall.
*t was the haunt of crows and #ites. The latrines were of course dirty. * was not long enough in
+a,#ot to see how many of our suggestions the !riest carried out.
*t !ained me to see so much unc leanliness about a !lace of worshi!. ne would e&!ect a careful
observance of the rules of sanitation and hygiene in a !lace which is regarded as holy. The
authors of the Smritis, as * # new even then, have laid the greatest em!hasis on cleanliness both
inward and outward.
Chapter 51
T+O PASSIONS
)ardly ever have * #nown anybody to cherish such loyalty as * did to the British -onstitution. *
can see now that my love of truth was at the root of this loyalty. *t has never been !ossible for me
to simulate loyalty or, for that matter, any other virtue. The national 1nthem used to be sung at
every meeting that * attended in %atal. * was unaware of the defects in British rule, but * thought
that it was on the whole acce!table. *n those days * believed that British rule was on the whole
beneficial to the ruled.

The colour !re,udice that * saw in South 1frica was, * thought, 3uite contrary to British traditions,
and * believed that it was only tem!orary and local. * therefore vied with 6nglishmen in loyalty to
the throne. 5ith careful !erseverance * learnt the tune of the (national anthem( and ,oined in the
singing whenever it was sung. 5henever there was an occasion for the e&!ression of loyalty
without fuss or ostentation, * readily too# !art in it.
%ever in my life did * e&!loit this loyalty, never did * see# to gain a selfish end by its means. *t was
for me more in the nature of an obligation, and * rendered it without e&!ecting a reward.
Pre!arations were going on for the celebration of Hueen .ictoria(s "iamond $ubilee when *
reached *ndia. * was invited to ,oin the committee a!!ointed for the !ur!ose in +a,#ot. * acce!ted
the offer, but had a sus!icion that the celebrations would be largely a matter of show. *
discovered much humbug about them and was considerably !ained. * began to as# myself
whether * should remain on the committee or not, but ultimately decided to rest content with doing
my !art of the business.
ne of the !ro!osals was to !lant trees. * saw that many did it merely for show and for !leasing
the officials. * tried to !lead with them that tree/!lanting was not com!ulsory, but merely a
suggestion. *t should be done serious ly or not at all. * have an im!ression that they laughed at my
ideas. * remember that * was in earnes t when * !lanted the tree allotted to me and that * carefully
watered and tended it.
* li#ewise taught the %ational 1nthem to the children of my family. * recollect having taught it to
students of the local Training -ollege, but * forget whether it was on the occasion of the ,ubilee or
of King 6dward .**(s coronation as 6m!eror of *ndia. 4ater on the te&t began to ,ar on me. 1s my
conce!tion of ahimsawent on maturing, * became more vigilant about my thought and s!eech.
The lines in the 1nthem' (Scatter her enemies, 1nd ma#e them fallC -onfound their !olitics,
0rustrate their #navish tric#s.( !articularly ,arred u!on my sentiment of ahimsa. * shared my
feelings with "r. Booth who agreed that it ill became a believer in ahimsato sing thos e lines. )ow
could we assume that the so/called (enemies( were (# navish(@ 1nd because they were enemies,
were they bound to be in the wrong@ 0rom God we could only as# for ,ustice. "r. Booth entirely
endorsed my sentiments, and com!osed a new anthem for his congregation. But of "r. Booth
more later.
4i#e loyalty an a!titude for nursing was also dee!ly rooted in my nature. * was fond of nursing
!eo!le, whether friends or strangers.
5hilst busy in +a,#ot with the !am!hlet on South 1frica, * had an occasion to !ay a flying visit to
Bombay. *t was my intention to educate !ublic o!inion in cities on this 3uestion by organi2ing
meetings, and Bombay was the first city * chose. 0irst of all * met ,ustice +anade, who listened to
me with attention, and advised me to meet Sir Phero2eshah Mehta. $ustice Badruddin Tyab,i,
whom * met ne&t, also gave the s ame advice. ($ustice +anade and * can guide you but little,( he
said. (=ou #now our !os ition. 5e cannot ta#e an active !art in !ublic affairs, but our sym!athies
are with you. The man who can effec tively guide you is Sir Phero2eshah Mehta.(
* certainly wanted to see Sir Phero2eshah Mehta, but the fact that these senior men advised me
to act according to his advice gave me a better idea of the immense influence that Sir
Phero2eshah had on the !ublic . *n due course * met him. * was !re!ared to be awed by his
!resenc e. * had heard of the !o!ular titles that he had earned, and #new that * was to see the
(4ion of Bombay(, the (Uncrowned King of the Presidency.( But the #ing did not over!ower me. )e
met me, as a loving father would meet his grown u! son. ur meeting too# !lace at his chamber.
)e was surrounded by a circle of friends and followers. 1mongst them were Mr. ". 6. 5acha and
Mr. -ama, to whom * was introduced. * had already heard of Mr. 5acha. )e was regarded as the

right/hand man of Sir Phero2eshah, and S,t. .irchand Gandhi had described him to me as a great
statistician. Mr. 5acha said, (Gandhi, we must meet again.(
These introductions could scarcely have ta#en two minutes. Sir Phero2eshah carefully listened to
me. * told him that * had seen $ustices +anade and Tyab,i. (Gandhi,( said he, (* see that * must
hel! you. * must call a !ublic meeting here.( 5ith this he turned to Mr. Munshi, the secretary, and
told him to fi& u! the date of the meeting. The date was settled, and he bade me good/bye,
as#ing me to see him again on the way !revious to the meeting. The interview removed my fears,
and * went home delighted.
"uring this stay in Bombay * called on my brother/in/law, who was staying there and lying ill. )e
was not a man of means, and my sister>his wife? was not e3ual to nursing him. The illness was
serious, and * offered to ta# e him to +a,#ot. )e agreed, and so * returned home with my sister and
her husband. The illness was much more !rolonged than * had e&!ected. * !ut my brother/in/law
in my room and remained with him night and day. * was obliged to #ee! awa#e !art of the night
and had to get through some of my South 1frican wor# whilst * was nursing him. Ultimately,
however, the !atient died, but it was a great consolation to me that * had had an o!!ortunity to
nurse him during his last days.
My a!titude for nursing gradually develo!ed into a !assion, so much so that it often led me to
neglect my wor#, and on occasions * engaged not only my wife but the whole household in suc h
service.
Such service can have no meaning unless one ta# es !leasure in it. 5hen it is done for show or
for fear of !ublic o!inion, it stunts the man and crushes his s!irit. Service which is rendered
without ,oy hel!s neither the servant nor the served. But all other !leasures and !ossessions !ale
into nothingness before service which is rendered in a s!irit of ,oy.
Chapter 52
THE BOMBAY MEETING
n the very day after my brother/in/law(s death * had to go to Bombay for the !ublic meeting.
There had hardly been time for me to thin# out my s!eech. * was feeling e&hausted after days
and nights of an&ious vigil, and my voice had become hus#y. )owever, * went to Bombay trusting
entirely to God. * had never dreamt of writing out my s!eech.
*n accordance with Sir Phero2eshah(s instructions * re!orted myself at his office at I P. M. on the
eve of the meeting.
(*s your s!eech ready, Gandhi@( he as#ed.
(%o sir,( said *, trembling with fear, (* thin# of s!ea#inge, tempre.(
(That will not do in Bombay. +e!orting here is bad, and if we would benefit by this meeting, you
should write out your s!eech, and it should be !rinted before daybrea# tomorrow. * ho!e you can
manage this@(

* felt rather nervous, but * said * would try.
(Then, tell me, what time Mr. Munshi should come to you for the manuscri!t@(
(6leven o(cloc# tonight,( said *.
n going to the meeting the ne&t day, * saw the wisdom of Sir Phero2eshah(s advice. The
meeting was held in the hall of the Sir -owas,i $ehangir *nstitute. * had heard that when Sir
Phero2eshah Mehta addressed meetings the hall was always !ac#ed. -hiefly by the students
intent on hearing him, leaving not an inch of room. This was the first meeting of the # ind in my
e&!erience. * saw that my voice could reach only a few. * was trembling as * began to read my
s!eech. Sir Phero2eshah cheered me u! continually by as#ing me to s!ea# louder and still
louder. * have a feeling that, far from encouraging me, it made my voice sin# lower and lower.
My old friend S,t. Kes havrao "esh!ande came to my rescue. * handed my s!eech to him. )is
was ,ust the !ro!er voice. But the audience refused to listen. The hall rang with the cries of
(5acha,( (5acha.( So Mr. 5acha stood u! and read the s!eech, with wonderful results. The
audience became !erfectly 3uiet, and listened to the s!eech to the end, !unctuating it with
a!!lause and cries of (shame( where necessary. This gladdened my heart.
Sir Phero2eshah li# ed the s!eech. * was su!remely ha!!y.
The meeting won me the active s ym!athy of S,t. "esh!ande and a Parsi friend, whose name *
hesitate to mention, as he is a high/!laced Government official today. Both e&!ressed their
resolve to accom!any me to South 1frica. Mr. -. M. -urset,i, who was then Small -auses -ourt
$udge, however, moved the Parsi friend from his resolve as he had !lotted his marriage. )e had
to choose between marriage and going to South 1frica, and he chose the former. But Parsi
+ustom,i made amends for the bro#en resolve, and a number of Parsi sisters are now ma#ing
amends for the lady who hel!ed in the breach by dedicating themselves to Khadi wor#. * have
therefore gladly forgiven that c ou!le, S,t. "esh!ande had no tem!tations of marriage, but he too
could not come. Today he is himself doing enough re!aration for the bro#en !ledge. n my way
bac# to South 1frica * met one of the Tyab,is at Lan2ibar. )e also !romised to come and hel! me,
but never came. Mr. 1bbas Tyab,i is atoning for that offence. Thus none of my three attem!ts to
induce barristers to go to South 1frica bore any fruit.
*n this connection * remember Mr. Peston,i Padshah. * had been on friendly terms with him ever
since my stay in 6ngland. * first met him in a vegetarian restaurant in 4ondon. * # new of his
brother Mr. Bar,or,i !adshah by his re!utation as a (cran#(. * had never met him, but friends said
that he was eccentric. ut of !ity for the horses he would not ride in tram/cars, he refused to ta# e
degrees in s!ite of a !rodigious memory, he had develo!ed an inde!endent s!irit, and he was a
vegetarian, though a Parsi. Peston,i had not 3uite this re!utation, but he was famous for his
erudition even in 4ondon. The common factor between us, however, was vegetarianism, and not
scholarshi! in which it was beyond my !ower to a!!roach him.
* found him out again in Bombay. )e was Prothonotary in the )igh -ourt. 5hen * met him he was
engaged on his contribution to a )igher Gu,arati "ictonary. There was not a friend * had not
a!!roached for hel! in my South 1frican wor# . Peston,i Padshah, however, not only refused to
aid me, but even advised me not to return to South 1frica.
(*t is im!ossible to hel! you,( he said. (But * tell you * do not li#e even yurgoing to South 1frica. *s
there lac# of wor# in our country@ 4oo#, now, there is not a little to do for our language. * have to
find out scientific words. But this is only one branch of the wor# . Thin# of the !overty of the land.
ur !eo!le in South 1frica are no doubt in difficulty, but * do not want a man li#e you to be
sacrificed for that wor#. 4et us win self/government here, and we shall automatically hel! our

countrymen there. * #now * cannot !revail u!on you, but * will not enc ourage anyone of your ty!e
to throw in his lot with you.(
* did not li#e this advice, but it increased my regard for Mr. Peston,i Padshah. * was struc# with his
love for the country and for the mother tongue. The incident brought us closer to each other. *
could understand his !oint of view. But far from giving u! my wor# in South 1frica, * became
firmer in my resolve. 1 !atriot cannot afford to ignore any branch of service to the motherland.
1nd for me the te& t of the Gita was clear and em!hatic' (0inally, this is better, that one do )is own
tas# as he may, even though he fail, Than ta#e tas#s not his own, though they seem good. To die
!erforming duty is no illC But who see#s other roads shall wander still.(
Chapter 53
POONA AND MADRAS
Sir Phero2eshah had made my way eas y. So from Bombay * went to Poona. )ere there were
two !arties. * wanted the hel! of !eo!le of every shade of o!inion. 0irst * met 4o#amanya Tila#.
)e said'
(=ou are 3uite right in see#ing the hel! of all !arties. There can be no difference of o!inion on the
South 1frican 3ues tion. But you must have a non/!arty man for your !resident. Meet Professor
Bhandar#ar. )e has been ta#ing no !art of late in any !ublic movement. But this 3uestion might
!ossibly drew him out. See him and let me # now what he says. * want to hel! you to the fullest
e&tent. f cours e you will meet me whenever you li#e. * am at your dis!osal.(
This was my first meeting with the 4o# amanya. *t revealed to me the secret of his uni3ue
!o!ularity.
%e&t * met Go# hale. * found him on the 0ergusson -ollege grounds. )e gave me an affectionate
welcome, and his manner immediately won my heart. 5ith him too this was my first meeting, and
yet it seemed as though we were renewing an old friendshi!. Sir Phero2eshah had seemed to me
li# e the )imalaya, the 4o#amanya li#e the ocean. But Go#hale was as the Ganges. ne could
have a refreshing bath in the holy river. The )imalaya was unscaleable, and one could not easily
launch forth on the sea, but the Ganges invited one to its bosom. *t was a ,oy to be on it with a
boat and an oar. Go#hale c losely e&amined me, as a schoolmaster would e&amine a candidate
see#ing admission to a school. )e told me whom to a!!roach and how to a!!roach them. )e
as#ed to have a loo# at me s !eech. )e showed me over the college, assured me that he was
always at my dis!osal, as#ed me to let him # now the result of the interview with "r. Bhandar#ar,
and sent me away e&ultantly ha!!y. *n the s!here of !olitics the !lace that Go#hale occu!ied in
my heart during his lifetime and occu!ies even now was and is absolutely uni3ue.
"r. Bhandar# ar received me with the warmth of a father. *t was noon when * called on him. The
very fact that * was bus y seeing !eo!le at that hour a!!ealed greatly to this indefatigable savant,
and my insistence on a non/!arty man for the !resident of the meeting had his ready a!!roval,
which was e&!res sed in the s!ontaneous e&clamation, (That(s it,( (That(s it.(
1fter he had heard me out he said' (1nyone will tell you that * do not ta# e !art in !olitics. But *
cannot refus e you. =our case is s o strong and your industry is so admirable that * cannot dec line
to ta#e !art in your meeting. =ou did well in consulting Tila# and Go#hale. Please tell them that *

shall be glad to !reside over the meeting to be held under the ,oint aus!ic es of the two Sabhas.
=ou need not have the time of the meeting from me, 1ny time that suits them will s uit me.( 5ith
this he bade me good/bye with congratulations and blessings.
5ithout any ado this erudite and selfless band of wor# ers in Poona held a meeting in an
unostentatious little !lace, and sent me away re,oicing and more confident of my mission.
* ne&t !roceeded to Madras. *t was wild with enthusiasm. The Balasundaram incident made a
!rofound im!ression on the meeting. My s!eech was !rinted and was, for me, fairly long. But the
audience listened to every word with attention. 1t the clos e of the meeting there was a regular run
on the (Green Pam!hlet.( * brought out a second and revised edition of 9A,AAA co!ies. They sold
li# e hot ca# es, but * saw that it was not necessary to !rint such a large number. *n my enthusiasm
* had overcalculated the demand. *t was the 6nglish/ s!ea#ing !ublic to which my s!eech had
been addressed, and in Madras that class alone could not ta#e the whole ten thousand.
The greatest hel! here came to me from the late S,t. G. Parames hvaran Pillay, the editor of #he
Madras Standard. )e had made a careful study of the 3uestion, and he often invited me to his
office and gave me guidance. S,t. G. Subrahmaniam of #he Hinduand "r. Subrahmaniam also
were very sym!athetic. But S,t. G. Parameshvaran Pillay !laced the columns of #he Madras
Standardentirely at my dis!osal, and * freely availed myself of the offer. The meeting in
Pachaia!!a(s )all, so far as * can recollect, was with "r. Subrahmaniam in the chair.
The affection showered on me by most of the friends * met and their enthusiasm for the cause
were so great that, in s!ite of my having to communicate with them in 6nglish, * felt myself
entirely at home. 5hat barrier is there that love cannot brea#@
Chapter 54
&RETURN SOON&
0rom Madras * !roceeded to -alcutta where * found myself hemmed by difficulties. * #new no
one there, so * too# a room in the Great 6astern )otel. )ere * became ac3uainted with Mr.
6llerthor!e, a re!resentative of #he Daily #ele!raph. )e invited me to the Bengal -lub, where he
was staying. )e did not then reali2e that an *ndian could not be ta#en to the drawing/room of the
club. )aving discovered the restriction, he too# me to his room. )e e&!ressed his sorrow
regarding this !re,udice of the local 6nglishmen and a!ologi2ed to me for not having been able to
ta#e me to the drawing/room.
* had of course to see Surendranath Baner,i, the (*dol of Bengal(. 5hen * met him, he was
surrounded by a number of friends. )e said' (* am afraid !eo!le will not ta#e interest in your wor#.
1s you #now, our difficulties here are by no means few. But you must try as best you can. =ou
will have to enlist the sym!athy of Mahara,as. Mind, you meet the re!resentatives of the British
*ndian 1ssociation. =ou should meet +a,a Sir Pyarimohan Mu#ar,i and Mahara,a Tagore. Both
are liberal/ minded and ta#e a fair share in !ublic wor#.(
* met these gentlemen, but without success. Both gave me a cold rece!tion in -alcutta, and if
anything could be done, it would !ractic ally all de!end on Surendranath Baner,i.

* saw that my tas# was becoming more and more difficult. * called at the office of the Amrita Ba)ar
Patrika. The gentleman whom * met there too# me to be a wandering ,ew. #he Ban!abasiwent
even one better. The editor #e!t me waiting for an hour. )e had evidently many interviewers, but
he would not so much as loo# at me, even when he had dis!osed of the rest. n my venturing to
broach my sub,ect after the long wait, he said' ("on(t you see our hands are full@ There is no end
to the number of visitors li#e you. =ou had better go. * am not dis!osed to listen to you.( 0or a
moment * felt offended, but * 3uic# ly understood the editor(s !osition. * had heard of the fame of
#he Ban!abasi. * c ould see that there was a regular stream of visitors there. 1nd they were all
!eo!le ac3uainted with him. )is !a!er had no lac# of co!ies to discuss, and South 1frica was
hardly #nown at that time.
)owever serious a grievance may be in the eyes of the man who suffers from it, he will be but
one of the numerous !eo!le invading the editor(s office, each with a grievance of his own. )ow is
the editor to meet them all@ Moreover, the aggrieved !arty imagines that the editor is a !ower in
the land. nly he # nows that his !ower can hardly travel beyond the threshold of his office. But *
was not discouraged. * #e!t on seeing editors of other !a!ers. 1s usual * met the 1nglo/*ndian
editors also. #he Statemanand #he "n!lishmanreali2ed the im!ortance of the 3uestion. * gave
them long interviews, and they !ublished them in full.
Mr. Saunders, editor of #he "n!lishman, claimed me as his own. )e !laced his office and !a!er
at my dis!osal. )e even allowed me the liberty of ma#ing whatever changes * li#ed in the leading
article he had written on the situation, the !roof of whic h he sent me in advance. *t is no
e&aggeration to say that a friendshi! grew u! between us. )e !romised to render me all the hel!
he could, carried out the !romise to the letter, and #e!t on his corres!ondence with me until the
time when he was seriously ill.
Throughout my life * have had the !rivilege of many such friendshi!s, which have s!rung u! 3uite
une&!ectedly. 5hat Mr. Saunders li#ed in me was my freedom from e&aggeration and my
devotion to truth. )e sub,ected me to a searching cross/e&amination before he began to
sym!athi2e with my cause, and he saw that * had s!ared neither will nor !ains to !lace before
him an im!artial statement of the case even of the white man in South 1frica and also to
a!!reciate it.
My e&!erience has shown me that we win ,ustice 3uic#est by rendering ,ustice to the other !arty.
The une&!ected hel! of Mr. Saunders had begun to encourage me to thin# that * might succeed
after all in holding a !ublic meeting in -alcutta, when * received the following cable from "urban'
(Parliament o!ens $anuary. +eturn soon.(
So * addressed a letter to the !ress, in which * e&!lained why * had to leave -alcutta so abru!tly,
and set off for Bombay. Before starting * wired to the Bombay agent of "ada 1bdulla K -o, to
arrange for my !assage by the first !ossible boat to South 1frica. "ada 1bdulla had ,ust then
!urchased the steamshi! Curlandand insisted on my travelling on that boat, offering to ta#e me
and my family free of charge. * gratefully acce!ted the offer, and in the beginning of "ecember
set sail a second time for South 1frica, now with my wife and two sons and the only son of my
widowed sister. 1nother steamshi!Naderialso sailed for "urban at the same time. The agents of
the -om!any were "ada 1bdulla K -o. The total number of !assengers these boats carried must
have been about eight hundred, half of whom were bound for the Transvaal.

Chapter 55
RUMBLINGS O% THE STORM
This was my first voyage with my wife and children. * have often observed in the course of this
narrative that, on account of child marriages amongst middle class )indus, the hus band will be
literate whilst the wife remains !ractically unlettered. 1 wide gulf thus s e!arates them, and the
husband has to become his wife(s teacher. So * had to thin# out the details of the dress to be
ado!ted by my wife and children, the food they were to eat, and the manners which would be
suited to their new surroundings. Some of the recollections of those days are amusing to loo#
bac# u!on.
1 )indu wife regards im!licit obedienc e to her husband as the highest religion. 1 )indu husband
regards himself as lord and master of his wife who must ever dance attendance u!on him.
* believed, at the time of which * am writing, that in order to loo# civili2ed, our dress and manners
had as far as !ossible to a!!ro&imate to the 6uro!ean standard. Bec ause * thought only thus
could we have some influence, and without influence it would not be !ossible to serve the
community.
* therefore determined the style of dress for my wife and children. )ow could * li#e them to be
#nown as Kathiawad Banias@ The Parsis used then to be regarded as the most civili2ed !eo!le
amongst *ndians, and so, when the com!lete 6uro!ean style seemed to be unsuited, we ado!ted
the Parsi style. 1ccordingly my wife wore the Parsi sari, and the boys the Parsi coat and trousers.
f course no one could be without shoes and stoc #ings. *t was long before my wife and children
could get used to them. The shoes cram!ed their feet and the s toc#ings stan# with !ers!iration.
The toes often got sore, * always had my answers ready to all these ob,ections. But * have an
im!ression that it was not so much the answers as the force of authority that carried conviction.
They agreed to the changes in dress as there was no alternative. *n the same s!irit and with even
more reluc tance they ado!ted the use of # nives and for#s. 5hen my infatuation for these s igns of
civili2ation wore away, they gave u! the #nives and for#s. 1fter having become long accustomed
to the new style, it was !erha!s no less ir#some for them to return to the original mode. But * can
see today that we feel all the freer and lighter for having cast off the tinsel of (civili2ation.(
n board the same steamer with us were some relatives and ac 3uaintances. These and other
dec# !assengers * fre3uently met, becaus e, the boat belonging to my c lient friends, * was free to
move about anywhere and every where * li#ed.
Since the steamer was ma#ing straight for %atal, without calling at intermediate !orts, our voyage
was of only eighteen days. But as though to warn us of the coming real storm on land, a terrible
gale overtoo# us, whilst we were only four days from %atal. "ecember is a summer month of
monsoon in the Southern hemis!here, and gales, great and small, are, therefore, 3uite common
in the Southern sea at that season. The gale in which we were caught was so violent and
!rolonged that the !assengers became alarmed. *t was a solemn scene. 1ll became one in face
of the common danger. They forgot their differences and began to thin# of the one and only God/
Musalmans, )indus, -hristians and all. Some too# various vows. The ca!tain also ,oined the
!assengers in their !rayers. )e assured them that, though the storm was not without danger, he
had had e&!erience of many worse ones, and e&!lained to them that a well/built shi! could stand
almost any weather. But they were inconsolable. 6very minute were heard sounds and crashes
which foreboded breaches and lea#s. The shi! roc# ed and rolled to such an e&tent that it seemed
as though she would ca!si2e at any moment. *t was out of the 3uestion for anyone to remain on
dec#. ()is will be done( was the only cry on every li!. So far as * can recollect, we must have been

in this !light for about twenty/four hours. 1t last the s# y cleared, the sun made his a!!earance,
and the ca!tain said that the storm had blown over. Peo!le(s faces beamed with gladness, and
with the disa!!earance of danger disa!!eared also the name of God from their li!s, 6ating and
drin#ing, singing and merry/ ma# ing again became the order of the day. The fear of death was
gone, and the momentary mood of earnest !rayer gave !lace to maya. There were of cours e the
usual nama)and he !rayers, yet they had none of the solemnity of that dread hour.
But the storm had made me one with the !assengers. * had little fear of the storm, for * had had
e&!erience of similar ones. * am a good sailor and do not get sea/sic# . So * could fearlessly move
amongst the !assengers, bringing them comfort and good cheer, and conveying to them hourly
re!orts of the ca!tain. The friendshi! * thus formed stood me, as we shall see, in very good stead.
The s hi! cast anchor in the !ort of "urban on the 9:th or 9<th of "ecember. #he Naderi also
reached the same day. But the real storm was still to come.
Chapter 56
THE STORM
5e have seen that the two shi!s cast anchor in the !ort of "urban on or about the 9:th of
"ecember. %o !assengers are allowed to land at any of the South 1frican !orts before being
sub,ected to a thorough medical e&amination. *f the shi! has any !assenger suffering from a
contagious diseas e, she has to undergo a !eriod of 3uarantine. 1s there had been !lague in
Bombay when we met sail, we feared that we might have to go through a brief 3uarantine. Before
the e& amination every shi! has to fly a yellow flag, which is lowered only when the doctor has
certified her to be healthy. +elatives and friends of !assengers are allowed to come on board
only after the yellow flag has been lowered.
1ccordingly our shi! was flying the yellow flag,when the doctor came and e&amined us. )e
ordered a five days 3uarantine because, in his o!inion, !lague germs too# twenty/three days at
the most to develo!. ur shi! was therefore ordered to be !ut in 3uarantine until the twenty/third
day of our sailing from Bombay. But this 3uarantine order had more than health reas ons behind it.
The white residents of "urban had been agitating for our re!atriation, and the agitation was one
of the reasons for the order. "ada 1bdulla and -o. #e!t us regularly informed about the daily
ha!!enings in the town. The whites were holding monster meetings every day. They were
address ing all #inds of threats and at times offering even inducements to "ada 1bdulla and -o.
They were ready to indemnify the -om!any if both the shi!s should be sent bac#. But "ada
1bdulla and -o. were not the !eo!le to be afraid of threats. Sheth 1bdul Karim )a,i 1dam was
then the managing !artner of the firm. )e was determined to moor the shi!s at the wharf and
disembar# the !assengers at any cost. )e was daily sending me detailed letters. 0ortunately the
S,t. Mansu#hlal %aa2ar was then in "urban having gone there to meet me. )e was ca!able and
fearless and guided the *ndian community. Their advocate Mr. 4aughton was an e3ually fearless
man. )e condemned the conduct of the white residents and advised the community, not merely
as their !aid advocate, but also as their true friend.
Thus "urban had become the scene of an une3ual duel. n one side there was a handful of !oor
*ndians and a few of their 6nglish friends, and on the other were ranged the white men, strong in
arms, in numbers , in education and in wealth. They had also the bac#ing of the State, for the

%atal Government o!enly hel!ed them. Mr.)arry 6scombe, who was the most influential of the
members of the -abinet, o!enly too# !art in their meetings.
The real ob,ect of the 3uarantine was thus to coerce the !assengers into returning to *ndia by
somehow intimidating them or the 1gent -om!any. 0or now threats began to be addressed to us
also' (*f you do not go bac#, you will surely be !ushed into the sea. But if you consent to return,
you may even get your !assage money bac#.( * constantly moved amongst my fellow/!ass engers
cheering them u!. * also sent messages of comfort to the !assengers of the s.s . Naderi. 1ll of
them #e!t calm and courageous.
5e arranged all sorts of games on the shi! for the entertainment of the !assengers. n
-hristmas "ay the c a!tain invited the saloon !assengers to dinner. The !rinci!al among these
were my family and *. *n the s!eeches after dinner * s!o#e on 5estern civili2ation. * #new that this
was not an occasion for a serious s!eech. But mine could not be otherwise. * too# !art in the
merriment, but my heart was in the combat that was going on in "urban. 0or * was the real target.
There were two charges against me'
9. that whilst in *ndia * had indulged in unmerited condemnation of the %atal whitesC
8. that with a view to swam!ing %atal with *ndians * had s!ecially brought the two shi!loads of
!assengers to settle there.
* was conscious of my res!onsibility. * #new that "ada 1bdulla and -o. had incurred grave ris#s
on my account, the lives of the !assengers were in danger, and by bringing my family with me *
had !ut them li#ewise in ,eo!ardy.
But * was absolutely innocent. * had induced no one to go to %atal. * did not # now the !as sengers
when they embar#ed. 1nd with the e&ce!tion of a cou!le of relatives, * did not #now the name
and address of even one of the hundreds of !assengers on board. %either had * said, whils in
*ndia, a word about the whites in %atal that * had not already said in %atal itself. 1nd * had am!le
evidence in su!!ort of all tha * had said.
* therefore de!lored the civili2ation of which the %atal whites were the fruit, and which they
re!resented and cham!ioned. This civili2ation had all along been on my mind, and * therefore
offered my views concerning it in my s!eech before that little meeting. The ca!tain and other
friends gave me a !atient hearing, and received my s!eech in the s!irit in which it was made. * do
not # now that it in any way affected the course of their lives, but afterwards * had long tal#s with
the ca!tain and other officers regarding the civili2ation of the 5est. * had in my s !eech described
5es tern civili2ation as being, unli# e the 6astern, !redominantly based on force. The 3uestioners
!inned me to my faith, and one of them the ca!tain, so far as * can recollect said to me'
(Su!!osing the whites carry out their threats, how will you stand by your !rinci!le of non/
violence@( To which * re!lied' (* ho!e God will give me the courage and the sense to forgive them
and to refrain from bringing them to law. * have no anger against them. * am only sorry for their
ignorance and their narrowness. * #now that they sincerely believe that what they are doing today
is right and !ro!er. * have no reason therefore to be angry with them.(
The 3uestioner smiled, !ossibly distrustfully.
Thus the days dragged on their weary length. 5hen the 3uarantine would terminate was still
uncertain. The Huarantine fficer said that the matter had !assed out of his hands and that, as
soon as he had orders from the Government, he would !ermit us to land.

1t last ultimatums were served on the !assengers and me. 5e were as#ed to submit, if we would
esca!e with our lives. *n our re!ly the !assengers and * both maintained our right to land at Port
%atal, and intimated our determination to enter %atal at any ris#.
1t the end of twenty/three days the shi!s were !ermitted to enter the harbour, and orders
!ermitting the !assengers to land were !assed.
Chapter 5
THE TEST
So the shi!s were brought into the doc# and the !assengers began to go ashore. But Mr.
6scombe had sent word to the ca!tain that, as the whites were highly enraged against me and
my life was in danger, my family and * should be advised to land at dus#, when the Port
Su!erintendent Mr. Tatum would escort us home. The ca!tain communicated the message to
me. and * agreed to act accordingly. But scarcely half an hour after this, Mr. 4aughton came to
the ca!tain. )e said' (* would li#e to ta#e Mr. Gandhi with me, should he have no ob,ection. 1s the
legal adviser of the 1gent -om!any * tell you that you are not bound to carry out the message
you have received from Mr. 6scombe.( 1fter this he came to me and said somewhat to this effect'
(*f you are not afraid, * suggest that Mrs. Gandhi and the children should drive to Mr. +ustom,i(s
house, whilst you and * follow them on foot. * do not at all li#e the idea of your entering the city li#e
a thief in the night. * do not thin# there is any fear of anyone hurting you. 6verything is 3uiet now.
The whites have all dis!ersed. But in any case * am convinced that you ought not to enter the city
stealthily.( * readily agreed. My wife and children drove safely to Mr. +ustom,i(s !lace. 5ith the
ca!tain(s !ermission * went ashore with Mr. 4aughton. Mr +ustom,i(s hous e was about two miles
from the doc#.
1s soon as we landed, some youngsters recogni2ed me and shouted (Gandhi, Gandhi.( 1bout
half a do2en men rushed to the s!ot and ,oined in the shouting. Mr. 4aughton feared that the
crowd might swell and hailed a ric#shaw. * had never li#ed the idea of being in a ric# shaw. This
was to be my first e& !erience. But the youngsters would not let me get into it. They frightened the
ric#shaw boy out of his life, and he too# to his heels. 1s we went ahead, the crowd continued to
swell, until it became im!ossible to !roceed further. They first caught hold of Mr. 4aughton and
se!arated us. Then they !elted me with stones, bric#bats and rotten eggs. Someone snatched
away my turban, whilst others began to batter and #ic# me. * fainted and caught hold of the front
railings of a house and stood there to get my breath. But it was im!ossible. They came u!on me
bo&ing and battering. The wife of the Police Su!erintendent, who #new me, ha!!ened to be
!assing by. The brave lady came u!, o!ened her !arasol though there was no sun then, and
stood between the crowd and me. This chec# ed the fury of the mob, as it was difficult for them to
deliver blows on me without harming Mrs. 1le&ander.
Meanwhile an *ndian youth who witnessed the incident had run to the !olice station. The Police
Su!erintendent Mr. 1le&ander sent a !osse of men to ring me round and esc ort me safely to my
destination. They arrived in time. The !olice station lay on our way. 1s we reached there, the
Su!erintendent as#ed me to ta#e refuge in the station, but * gratefully declined the offer, (They
are sure to 3uiet down when they reali2e their mista#e,( * said. (* have trust in their s ense of
fairness.( 6scorted by the !olice, * arrived without further harm at Mr. +ustom,i(s !lace. * had
bruises all over, but no abrasions e&ce!t in one !lace. "r. "adibar,or, the shi!(s doctor, who was
on the s!ot, rendered the best !os sible hel!.

There was 3uiet inside, but outside the whites surrounded the house. %ight was coming on, and
the yelling crowd was shouting, (5e must have Gandhi.( The 3uic#/sighted Police Su!erintendent
was already there trying to # ee! the crowds under control, not by threats, but by humouring them.
But he was not entirely free from an& iety. )e sent me a message to this effect' (*f you would save
your friend(s house and !ro!erty and also your family, you should esca!e from the house in
disguise, as * suggest.(
Thus on one and the same day * was faced with two c ontradictory !ositions. 5hen danger to life
had been no more than imaginary, Mr. 4aughton advis ed me to launch forth o!enly. * acce!ted
the advice. 5hen the danger was 3uite real, another friend gave me the contrary advice, and *
acce!ted that too. 5ho can say whether * did so because * saw that my life was in ,eo!ardy, or
because * did not want to !ut my friend(s life and !ro!erty or the lives of my wife and children in
danger@ 5ho can say for certain that * was right both when * faced the crowd in the first instance
bravely, as it was said, and when * esca!ed from it in disguise@
*t is idle to ad,udicate u!on the right and wrong of incidents that have already ha!!ened. *t is
useful to understand them and, if !ossible, to learn a lesson from them for the future. *t is difficult
to say for certain how a !articular man would act in a !articular set of circumstances. 5e can als o
see that ,udging a man from his outward act is no more than a doubtful inference, inasmuch as it
is not based on sufficient data.
Be that as it may, the !re!arations for esca!e made me forget my in,uries. 1s suggested by the
Su!erintendent, * !ut on an *ndian constable(s uniform and wore on my head a Madrasi scarf,
wra!!ed round a !late to serve as a helmet. Two detectives accom!anied me, one of them
disguised as an *ndian merchant and with his face !ainted to resemble that of an *ndian. * forget
the disguise of the other. 5e reached a neighbouring sho! by a by/lane and, ma#ing our way
through the gunny bags !iled in the godown, esca!ed by the gate of the sho! and threaded our
way through the crowd to a carriage that had been #e!t for me at the end of the street. *n this we
drove off to the same !olice station where Mr. 1le&ander had offered me refuge a short time
before, and * than#ed him and the detective officers.
5hilst * had been thus effecting my esca!e Mr. 1le&ander had # e!t the crowd amused by s inging
the tune' ()ang old Gandhi n the sour a!!le tree.( 5hen he was informed of my safe arrival at
the !olice station, he thus bro#e the news to the crowd' (5ell, your victim had made good his
esca!e through a neighbouring sho!. =ou had better go home now.( Some of them were angry,
others laughed, some refused to believe the s tory.
(5ell then,( said the Su!erintendent, (*f you do not believe me, you may a!!oint one or two
re!resentatives, whom * am ready to ta#e inside the house, *f they succeed in finding out Gandhi,
* will gladly deliver him to you. But if they fail, you must dis!erse. * am sure that you have no
intention of des troying Mr. +ustom,i(s house or of harming Mr. Gandhi(s wife and children.(
The crowed sent their re!resentatives to search the house. They soon returned with
disa!!ointing news, and the crowd bro#e u! at last, most of them admiring the Su!erintendent(s
tactful handling of the situation, and a few fretting and fuming.
The late Mr. -hamberlain, who was then Secretary of State for the -olonies, cabled as#ing the
%atal Government to !rosecute my assailants. Mr. 6sc ombe sent for me, e&!ressed his regret for
the in,uries * had sustained, and said' (Believe me, * cannot feel ha!!y over the least little in,ury
done to your !erson. =ou had a right to acce!t Mr. 4aughton(s advice and to face the worst, but *
am sure that, if you had considered my suggestion favourably, these sad occ urrences would not
have ha!!ened. *f you can identify the assailants, * am !re!ared to arrest and !rosecute them.
Mr. -hamberlain also desires me to do so.(

To which * gave the following re!ly'
(* do not want to !rosecute anyone. *t is !ossible that * may be able to identify one or two of them,
but what is the use of getting them !unis hed@ Besides, * do not hold the as sailants to blame.
They were given to understand that * had made e&aggerated statements in *ndia about the whites
in %atal and calumniated them. *f they believed thes e re!orts, it is no wonder that they were
enraged. The leaders and, if you will !ermit me to say so, you are to blame. =ou could have
guided the !eo!le !ro!erly, but you also believed +euter and assumed that * must have indulged
in e&aggeration. * do not want to bring anyone to boo#. * am sure that, when the truth becomes
#nown, they will be sorry for their conduct.(
(5ould you mind giving me this in writing@( said Mr. 6scombe. (Because * shall have to cable to
Mr. -hamberlain to that effect. * do not want you to ma#e any s tatement in haste. =ou may, if you
li# e, c onsult Mr. 4aughton and your other friends, before you come to a final decision. * may
confes s, however, that, if you waive the right of bringing your assailants to boo#, you will
considerable hel! me in restoring 3uiet, besides enhancing your own re!utation.(
(Than# you,( said *. (* need not consult anyone. * had made my decision in the matter before *
came to you. *t is my conviction that * should not !rosecute the assailants, and * am !re!ared this
moment to reduce my decision to writing.(
5ith this * gave him the necessary statement.
Chapter 5#
THE CALM A%TER THE STORM
* had not yet left the !olice station, when, after two days, * was ta#en to see Mr.6scombe. Two
constables were sent to !rotect me, though no such !recaution was then needed.
n the day of landing, as soon as the yellow flag was lowered, a re!resentative of #he Natal
Advertiserhad come to interview me. )e had as#ed me a number of 3uestions, and in re!ly * had
been able to refute everyone of the charges that had been levelled against me. Than#s to Sir
Phero2eshah Mehta, * had delivered only written s!eeches in *ndia, and * had co!ies of them all,
as well as of my other writings. * had given the interviewer all this literature and showed him that
in *ndia * had said nothing which * had not already said in South 1frica in stronger language. * had
also shown him that * had had no hand in bringing the !assengers of the Curlandand Naderito
South 1frica. Many of them were old residents, and most of them, far from wanting to stay in
%atal, meant to go to the Transvaal. *n those days the Transvaal offered better !ros!ects than
%atal to those coming in search of wealth, and most *ndians, therefore, !referred to go there. This
interview and my refusal to !rosecute the assailants !roduced such a !rofound im!ression that
the 6uro!eans of "urban were ashamed of their conduct. The !ress declared me to be innocent
and condemned the mob. Thus the lynching ultimately !roved to be a blessing for me, that is, for
the cause. *t enhanced the !restige of the *ndian community in South 1frica and made my wor#
easier. *n three or four days * went to my house, and it was not long before * settled down again.
The incident added also to my !rofessional !ractice. But if it enhanced the !restige of the
community, it also fanned the flame of !re,udice against it. 1s soon as it was !roved that the
*ndian could !ut u! a manly fight, he came to be regarded as a danger. Two bills were introduced
in the %atal 4egislative 1ssembly, one of them calculated to affect the *ndian trader adversely,

and the other to im!ose a stringent restriction on *ndian immigration. 0ortunately the fight for the
franchise had resulted in a decision to the effect that no enactment might be !assed against the
*ndians as such, that is say, that the law should ma# e no distinctions of c olour or race. The
language of the bills above mentioned made them a!!licable to all, but their ob,ect undoubtedly
was to im!ose further restrictions on the *ndian residents of %atal. The bills considerably
increased my !ublic wor# and made the community more alive then ever to their sense of duty.
They were translated into *ndian languages and fully e&!lained, so as to bring home to the
community their subtle im!lications . 5e a!!ealed to the -olonial Secretary, but he refused to
interfere and the bills became law. Public wor# now began to absorb most of my time. S,t.
Mansu#hlal %aa2ar, who, as * have said, was already in "urban, came to stay with me, and as he
gave his time to !ublic wor#, he lightened my burden to some e&tent. Sheth 1dam,i Miya#han
had, in my absence, discharged his duty with great credit. )e had increased the membershi! and
added about G9,AAA to the coffers of the %atal *ndian -ongress. The awa#ening caused by the
bills and the demonstration against the !assengers * turned to good account by ma#ing an a!!eal
for members hi! and funds, whic h now amounted to GI,AAA. My desire was to secure for the
-ongress a !ermanent fund, so that it might !rocure !ro!erty of its own and then carry on its
wor# out of the rent of the !ro!erty. This was my first e&!erience of managing a !ublic institution.
* !laced my !ro!osal before my co/ wor#ers, and they welcomed it. The !ro!erty that was
!urchas ed was leased out and the rent was enough to meet the current e&!enses of the
-ongress. The !ro!erty was vested in a strong body of trustees and is still there today, but it has
become the source of much internecine 3uarrelling with the result that the rent of the !ro!erty
now accumulates in the court. This sad situation develo!ed after my de!arture from South 1frica,
but my idea of having !ermanent funds for !ublic institutions underwent a change long before this
difference arose. 1nd now after considerable e&!erience with the many !ublic institutions whic h *
have managed, it has become my firm c onviction that it is not good to run !ublic institutions on
!ermanent funds . 1 !ermanent fund c arries in itself the seed of the moral fall of the institution. 1
!ublic institution means an institution conducted with the a!!roval, and from the funds, of the
!ublic. 5hen s uch an institution c eases to have !ublic su!!ort, it forfeits its right to e&is t.
*nstitutions maintained on !ermanent funds are often found to ignore !ublic o!inion, and are
fre3uently res!onsible for acts contrary to it. *n our country we e&!erience this at every ste!.
Some of the so/called religious trusts have ceased to render any accounts. The trustees have
become the owners and are res!onsible to none. * have no doubt that the ideal is for !ublic
institutions to live, li#e nature, from day to day. The institution that fails to win !ublic su!!ort has
no right to e&ist as such. The subscri!tions that an institution annually receives are a test of its
!o!ularity and the honesty of its managementC and * am of o!inion that every institution should
submit to that test. But let no one misunderstand me. My remar#s do not a!!ly to the bodies
which cannot, by their very nature, be conducted without !ermanent buildings. 5hat * mean to
say is that the current e&!enditure should be found from subscri!tions voluntarily received from
year to year. These views were confirmed during the days of the Satyagraha in South 1frica. That
magnificent cam!aign e&tending over si& years was carried on without !ermanent funds, though
la#hs of ru!ees were necessary for it. * can recollect times when * did not #now what would
ha!!en the ne&t day if no subscri!tions came in. But * shall not antici!ate future events. The
reader will find the o!inion e&!ressed above am!ly borne out in the coming narrative.
Chapter 5$
EDUCATION O% CHILDREN
5hen * landed at "urban in $anuary 9:<F, * had three children with me, my sister(s son ten
years old, and my own sons nine and five years of age. 5here was * to educate them @

* could have sent them to the schools for 6uro!ean children, but only as a matter of favour and
e&ce!tion. %o other *ndian children were allowed to attend them. 0or thes e there were schools
established by -hristian missions, but * was not !re!ared to send my children there, as * did not
li# e the education im!arted in those schools. 0or one thing, the medium of instruction would be
only 6nglish, or !erha!s incorrect Tamil or )indiC this too could only have been arranged with
difficulty. * could not !ossibly !ut u! with this and other dis advantages. *n the meantime * was
ma#ing my own attem!t to teach them. But that was at best irregular, and * could not get hold of a
suitable Gu,arati teac her.
* was at my wits( end. * advertis ed for an 6nglish teacher who should teach the children under my
direction. Some regular instruction was to be given them by this teacher, and for the rest they
should be satisfied with what little * could give them irregularly. So * engaged an 6nglish
governess on F !ounds a month. This went on for some time, but not to my s atisfaction. The boys
ac3uired some #nowledge of Gu,arati through my conversation and intercourse with them, which
was strictly in the mother/tounge. * was loath to send them bac# to *ndia, for * believed even then
that young children should not be se!arated from their !arents. The education that children
naturally imbibe in a well/ordered household is im!os sible to obtain in hostels. * therefore #e!t my
children with me. * did send my ne!hew and elder son to be educated at residential sc hools in
*ndia for a few months, but * soon had to recall them. 4ater, the eldes t s on, long after he had
come of age, bro#e away from me, and went to *ndia to ,oin a )igh Sc hool in 1hmedabad. * have
an im!ression that the ne!hew was satisfied with what * could give him. Unfortunately he died in
the !rime of youth after a brief illness. The other three of my sons have never been at a !ublic
school, though they did get some regular schooling in an im!rovised school which * started for the
children of Satyagrahi !arents in South 1frica.
These e&!eriments were all inade3uate. * could not devote to the children all the time * had
wanted to give them. My inability to give them enough attention and other unavoidable causes
!revented me from !roviding them with the literary education * had desired, and all my sons have
had com!laints to ma#e against me in this matter. 5henever they come across an M.1. or a B.1.,
or even a matriculate, they seem to feel the handica! of a want of school education.
%evertheless * am of o!inion that, if * had insisted on their being educated somehow at !ublic
schools, they would have been de!rived of the training that can be had only at the school of
e&!erience, or from constant contact with the !arents. * should never have been free, as * am
today, from an&iety on their score, and the artificial education that they could have had in 6ngland
or South 1frica, torn from me, would never have taught them the sim!licity and the s!irit of
service that they show in their lives today, while their artificial ways of living might have been a
serious handica! in my !ublic wor#. Therefore, though * have not been able to give them a literary
education either to their or to my satisfaction, * am not 3uite sure, as * loo# bac# on my !ast
years, that * have not done my duty by them to the best of my ca!acity. %or do * regret not having
sent them to !ublic schools. * have always felt that the undesirable traits * see today in my eldest
son are an echo of my own undisc i!lined and unformulated early life. * regard that time as a
!eriod of half/ba#ed # nowledge and indulgence. *t coinc ided with the most im!ressionable years
of my eldest son, and naturally he has refused to regard it as my time of indulgence and
ine&!erience. )e has on the contrary believed that that was the brightest !eriod of my life, and
the changes, effected later, have been due to delusion miscalled enlightenment. 1nd well he
might. 5hy should he not thin# that my earlier years re!resented a !eriod of awa#ening, and the
later years of radic al change, years of delusion and egotism @ ften have * been confronted with
various !osers from friends ' 5hat harm had there been, if * had given my boys an academical
education @ 5hat right had * thus to cli! their wings @ 5hy should * have come in the way of their
ta#ing degrees and choosing their own careers @
* do not thin# that there is much !oint in these 3uestions. * have come in contact with numerous
students. * have tried myself or through others to im!ose my educational (fads( on other children
too and have seen the results thereof. There are within my #nowledge a number of young men

today contem!oraneous with my sons. * do not thin# that man to man they are any better that my
sons, or that my sons have much to learn from them.
But the ultimate res ult of my e&!eriments is in the womb of the future. My ob,ect in discussing this
sub,ect here is that a student of the his tory of civili2ation may have some measure of the
difference between disci!lined home education and school education, and also the effect
!roduced on children through changes introduced by !arents in their lives. The !ur!ose of this
cha!ter is also to show the lengths to which a votary of truth is driven by his e&!eriments with
truth, as also to show the votary of liberty how many are the sacrifices demanded by that stern
goddess. )ad * been without a sense of self/res!ect and satisfied of myself with having for my
children the educ ation that other children could not get, * s hould have de!rived them of the
ob,ect/lesson in liberty and self/res!ect that * gave them at the cost of the literary training. 1nd
where a choice has to be made between liberty and learning, who will not say that the former has
to be !referred a thousand times to the latter @
The youths whom * called out in 9<8A from those citadels of slavery // their schools and colleges /
/ and whom * advised that it was far better to remain unlettered and brea# stones for the sa#e of
liberty than to go in for a literary education in the chains of slaves will !robably be able now to
trace my advice to its source.
Chapter 6'
SPIRIT O% SER.ICE
My !rofession !rogressed satisfactorily, but that was far from s atisfying me. The Huestion of
further sim!lifying my life and of doing some concrete act of service to my fellowmen had been
constantly agitating me, when a le!er came to my door. * had not the heart to dismiss him with a
meal. So * offered him shelter, dressed his wounds, and began to loo# after him. But * could not
go on li#e that indefinately. * could not afford, * lac#ed the will to #ee! him always with me. So *
sent him to the Government )os!ital for indentured labourers.
But * was still ill at ease. * longed for some humanitarian wor# of a !ermanent nature. "r. Booth
was the head of the St. 1idan(s Mission. )e was a #ind/hearted man and treated his !atients free.
Than#s to a Parsi +ustom,i(s charities, it was !ossible to o!en a small charitable hos!ital under
"r. Booth(s charge. * felt strongly inclined to serve as a nurse in this hos!ital. The wor# of
dis!ensing medicines too# from one to two hours daily, and * made u! my mind to find time from
my offic e/wor#, so as to be able to fill the !lace of a com!ounder in the dis!ensary attached to
the hos!ital. Most of my !rofessional wor# was chamber wor#, conveyancing and arbitration. * of
course used to have a few cases in the magistrate(s court, but most of them were of a non/
controversial character, and Mr. Khan, who had followed me to South 1frica and was then living
with me, undertoo# to ta#e them if * was absent. So * found time to serve in the small hos!ital.
This wor# brought me some !eace. *t consis ted in ascertaining the !atient(s com!laints, laying
the facts before the doctor and dis!ensing the !rescri!tions. *t brought me in c lose touch with
suffering *ndians, most of them indentured Tamil, Telegu or %orth *ndian men.
The e&!erience stood me in good stead, when during the Boer 5ar * offered my services for
nursing the sic# and wounded soldiers.
The 3uestion of the rearing of children had been ever before me. * had two sons born in South
1frica, and my service in the hos!ital was useful in solving the 3uestion of their u!bringing. My
inde!endent s!irit was a constant source of trial. My wife and * had decided to have the best

medical aid at the time of her delivery, but if the doctor and the nurse were to leave us in the lurch
at the right moment, what was * to do@ Then the nurse had to be an *ndian. 1nd the difficulty of
getting a trained *ndian nurse in South 1frica can be easily imagined from the similar difficulty in
*ndia. So * studied the things necessary for safe labour. * read "r. Tribhuvandas( boo#, JMa/ne
Shi#hamanJ / 1dvice to a mother / and * nursed both my children according to the instructions
given in the boo#, tem!ered here and there by e&!erience as * had gained elsewhere. The
services of a nurse were utili2ed/not for more than two months each time/chiefly for hel!ing my
wife and not for ta#ing care of the babies, which * did myself.
The birth of the last child !ut me to the severest test. The travail came on suddenly. The doctor
was not immediately available, and some time was los t in fetching the midwife. 6ven if she had
been on the s!ot, she could not have hel!ed delivery. * had to see through the safe delivery of the
baby. My careful study of the sub,ect in "r. Tribhuvandas( wor# was of inestimable hel!. * was not
nervous.
* am convinced that for the !ro!er u!bringing of children the !arents ought to have a general
#nowledge of the care and nurs ing of babies. 1t every ste! * have seen the advantages of my
careful study of the sub,ect. My children would not have en,oyed the general health that they do
today, had * not studied the sub,ect and turned my #nowledge to account. 5e labour under a sort
of su!ers tition that a child has nothing to learn during the first five years of its life. n the contrary
the fact is that the child never learns in after life what it does in its first five years. The education
of the child begins with conce!tion. The !hysical and mental states of the !arents at the moment
of conce!tion are re!roduced in the baby. Then during the !eriod of !regnancy it continues to be
affected by the mother(s moods, desires and tem!erament, as also by her ways of life. 1fter birth
the child imitates the !arents, and for a considerable number of years entirely de!ends on them
for its growth.
The cou!le who reali2e these things will never have se&ual union for the fulfilment of their lus t,
but only when they des ire issue. * thin# it is the height of ignorance to believe that the s e&ual act
is an inde!endent function necessary li#e slee!ing or eating. The world de!ends for its e&istence
on the act of generation, and as the world is the !lay/ground of God and a reflec tion of )is glory,
the act of generation should be c ontrolled for the ordered growth of the world. )e who reali2es
this will control his lust at any cost, e3ui! himself with the # nowledge necessary for the !hysical,
mental and s!iritual well/being of his !rogeny, and give the benefit of that #nowledge to !os terity.
Chapter 61
BRAHMACHARYA ,, I
5e now reach the stage in this story when * began seriously to thin# of ta#ing the
brahmacharyavow. * had been wedded to a monogamous ideal ever since my marriage,
faithfulnes s to my wife being !art of the love of truth. But it was in South 1fric a that * came to
reali2e the im!ortance of observing brahmacharyaeven with res!ect to my wife. * cannot
definitely say what circumstance or what boo# it was, that set my thoughts in that direction, but *
have a recollection that the !redominant fac tor was the influence of +aychandbhai, of whom *
have already written, * can still recall a conversation that * had with him. n one oc casion * s!o#e
to him in high !raise of Mrs. Gladstone(s devotion to her husband. * had read some where that
Mrs. Gladstone insisted on !re!aring tea for Mr. Gladstone even in the )ouse of -ommons, and
that this had become a rule in the life of this illustrious cou!le, whose actions were governed by

regularity. * s!o#e of this to the !oet, and incidentally eulogi2ed con,ugal love.(5hich of the two
do you !ri2e more,( as#ed +aychandbhai,(the love of Mrs. Gladstone for her husband as his wife,
or her devoted service irres !ective of her relation to Mr. Gladstone@ Su!!osing she had been his
sister, or his devoted servant, and ministered to him with the same attention, what would you
have s aid@ "o we not have instances of such devoted sisters or servants@ Su!!osing you had
found the same loving devotion in a male servant, would you have been !leased in the same way
as in Mrs. Gladstone(s case @ $ust e&amine the view/!oint suggested by me.(
+aychandbhai was himself married. * have an im!ression that at the moment his words sounded
harsh, but they gri!!ed me irresistibly. The devotion of a servant was, * felt, a thousand times
more !raiseworthy than that of a wife to her husband. There was nothing sur!rising in the wife(s
devotion to her husband, as there was an indissoluble bond between them. The devotion was
!erfectly natural. But it re3uired. a s!ec ial effort to cultivate e3ual devotion between master and
servant. The !oet(s !oint of view began gradually to grow u!on me. 5hat then, * as#ed myself,
should be my relation with my wife @ "id my faithfulnes s consist in ma# ing my wife the instrument
of my lust @ So long as * was the slave of lust, my faithfulness was worth nothing. To be fair to my
wife, * must say that she was never the tem!tres s. *t was therefore the easiest thing for me to
ta#e the vow of brahmacharya, if only * willed it. *t was my wea# will or lustful attachment that
was the obstacle. 6ven after my c onscience had been roused in the matter, * failed twice. * failed
because the motive that actuated the effort was none the highest. My main ob,ect was to esca!e
having more children. 5hilst in 6ngland * had read something about contrace!tives. * have
already referred to "r. 1llinson(s birth control !ro!aganda in the cha!ter on .egetarianism. *f it
had some tem!orary effect on me,Mr. )ill(s o!!osition to those methods and his advocacy of
internal efforts as o!!osed to outward means, in a word, of self/control, had a far greater effect,
which in due time came to be abiding. Seeing, therefore, that * did not desire more children *
began to strive after self/control. There was endless difficulty in the tas#. 5e began to slee! in
se!arate beds. * decided to retire to bed only after the day(s wor# had left me com!letely
e&hausted. 1ll thes e efforts did not seem to bear much fruit, but when * loo# bac# u!on the !ast, *
feel that the final resolution was the cumulative effect of those unsuccessful strivings.
The final resolution could only be made as late as 9<A;. Satyagraha had not then been started. *
had not the least notion of its coming. * was !ractising in $ohannesburg at the time of the Lulu
(+ebellion( in %atal, which came soon after the Boer 5ar. * felt that * must offer my services to the
%atal Government on that occasion. The offer was acce!ted, as we shall see in another cha!ter.
But the wor# set me furiously thin#ing in the direction of self/control, and acc ording to my wont
*disc ussed my thoughts with my co/wor#ers, *t became my conviction that !rocreation and the
conse3uent care of children were inconsistent with !ublic serviice. * had to brea# u! my
household at $ohannesburg to be able to s erve during the (+ebellion(. 5ithin one month of
offering my services, * had to give u! the house * had so carefully furnis hed. * too# my wife and
children to Phoeni& and led the *ndian ambulance cor!s attached to the %atal forces. "uring the
difficult marches that had then to be !erformed, the idea flashed u!on me that if * wanted to
devote myself to the service of the community in this manner, * must relin3uish the desire for
children and wealth and live the life of a vanaprastha/ of one retired from household cares.
The(+ebellion( did not occu!y me for more than si& wee#s, but this brief !eriod !roved to be a
very im!ortant e!och in my life. The im!ortanc e of vows grew u!on me more clearly than ever
before. * reali2ed that a vow, far from clos ing the door to real freedom, o!ened it. U! to this time *
had not met with success bec ause the will had been lac#ing, because * had had no faith in
myself, no faith in the grace of God, and therefore, my mind had been tossed on the boisterous
sea of doubt. * reali2ed that in refusing to ta#e a vow man was drawn into tem!tation, and that to
be bound by a vow was li#e a !assage from libertinism to a real monogamous marriage. (* believe
in effort, * do not want to bind mys elf with vows,( is the mentality of wea#ness and betrays a
subtle desire for the thing to be avoided. r where can be the difficulty in ma#ing a final dec ision
@ * vow to flee from the ser!ent which * # now will bite me, * do not sim!ly ma#e an effort to flee
from him. * #now that mere effort may mean certain death. Mere effort means ignorance of the
certain fact that the ser!ent is bound to #ill me. The fact, therefore, that * could rest c ontent with

an effort only, means that * have not yet clearly reali2ed the nec essity of definite action.(But
su!!osing my views are changed in the future, how can * bind myself by a vow @ ( Such a doubt
often deters us. But that doubt also betrays a lac# of clear !erce!tion that a !artic ular thing must
be renounced. That is why %ish#ulanand has sung '
(+enunciatfon without aversion is not lasting.(
5here therefore the desire is gone, a vow of renunc iation is the natural and inevitable fruit.
Chapter 62
BRAHM ACHARYA , II
1fter full discussion and mature deliberation * too# the vow in 9<A;. * had not shared my
thoughts with my wife until then, but only consulted her at the time of ta# ing the vow. She had no
ob,ection. But * had great difficulty in ma#ing the final resolve. * had not the necessary strength.
)ow was * to control my !as sions @ The elimination of carnal relationshi! with one(s wife seemed
then a strange thing. But * launched forth with faith in the sustaining !ower of God. 1s * loo# bac#
u!on the twenty years of the vow, * am filled with !leasure and wonderment. The more or less
successful !ractice of self/control had been going on since 9<A9. But the freedom and ,oy that
came to me after ta#ing the vow had never been e&!erienced before 9<A;. Before the vow * had
been o!en to being overcome by tem!tation at any moment. %ow the vow was a sure shield
against tem!tation. The great !otentiality of brahmacharyadaily bec ame more an more !atent to
me. The vow was ta# en when * was in Phoeni&. 1s soon as * was free from ambulance wor#, *
went to Phoeni&, whenc e * had to return to $ohannes burg. *n about a month of my returning there,
the foundation of Satyagraha was laid. 1s though un#nown to me, the brahmacharyavow had
been !re!aring me for it. Satyagraha had not been a !reconceived !lan. *t came on
s!ontaneously, without my having willed it. But * could see that all my !revious ste!s had led u!
to that goal. * had cut down my heavy household e&!enses at $ohannesburg and gone to Phoeni&
to ta#e, as it were, thebrahmacharyavow.
The #nowledge that a !erfect observance of brahmacharyameans reali2ation of brahman, * did
not owe to a study of the Shastras. *t slowly grew u!on me with e&!erience. The shas tric te&ts on
the sub,ect * read only later in life. 6very day of the vow has ta#en me nearer the #nowledge that
in brahmacharyalies the !rotection of the body, the mind and the soul. 0or JbrahmacharyaJ was
now no !rocess of hard !enance, it was a matter of consolation and ,oy. 6very day revealed a
fresh beauty in it.
But if it was a matter of ever/increasing ,oy, let no one believe that it was an easy thing for me.
6ven when * am !ast fifty/si& years, * reali2e how hard a thing it is. 6very day * reali2e more and
more that it is li# e wal#ing on the sword(s edge, and * see every moment the necessity for eternal
vigilance.
-ontrol of the !alate is the first essential in the observance of the vow. * found that com!lete
control of the !alate made the observance very easy, and so * now !ersued my dietetic
e&!eriments not merely from the vegetarian(s but also from the Jbrahmachari(sJ !oint of view. 1s
the result of these e&!eriments * saw that the Jbrahmachari(sJ food should be limited, sim!le,
s!iceless, and, if !ossible, uncoo#ed.

Si& years of e&!eriment have showed me that thebrahmachari1s ideal food is fresh fruit and nuts.
The immunity from !assion that * en,oyed when * lived on this food was un# nown to me after *
changed that diet. Brahmacharyaneeded no effort on my !art in South 1frica when * lived on
fruits and nuts alone. *t has been a matter of very great effort ever since * began to ta#e mil#. )ow
* had to go bac# to mil# from a fruit diet will be considered in its !ro!er !lace. *t is enough to
observe here that * have not the least doubt that mil# diet ma#es the brahmacharyavow difficult
to observe. 4et no one deduce from this that all brahmacharismust give u! mil#. The effec t on
brahmacharyaof different # inds of food can be determined only after numerous e&!eriments. *
have yet to find a fruit substitute for mil# which is an e3ually good muscle/builder and easily
digestible. The doctors, vaidyasand hakimshave ali#e failed to enlighten me. Therefore, though *
#now mil# to be !artly a stimulant, * cannot, for the time being, advise anyone to give it u!.
1s an e&ternal aid to brahmac harya, fas ting is as necessary as selec tion and restriction in diet.
So over!owering are the senses that they can be #e!t under control only when they are
com!letely hedged in on all sides, from above and from beneath. *t is common #nowledge that
they are !owerless without food, and so fas ting underta#en with a view to control of the sens es is,
* have no doubt, very hel!ful. 5ith some, fasting is of no avail, because assuming that
mechanical fasting alone will ma#e them immune, they #ee! their bodies without food, but feast
their minds u!on all sorts of delicacies, thin# ing all the while what they will eat and what they will
drin# after the fast terminates . Suc h fasting hel!s them in controlling neither !alate nor lus t.
0asting is useful, when mind co/o!erates with s tarving body, that is to say, when it cultivates a
distaste for the ob,ects that are denied to the body. Mind is at the root of all sensuality. 0asting
therefore, has a limited use, for a fasting man may continue to be swayed by !assion. But it may
be said that e&tinction of the se& ual !assion is as a rule im!ossible without fasting, which may be
said to be indis!ensable for the observance of JbrahmacharyaJ. Many as!irants after
JbrahmacharyaJ fail, because in the use of their other senses they want to carry on li#e those
who are not JbrahmacharisJ. Their effort is, therefore, identical with the effort to e&!erience the
bracing cold of winter in the scorching summer months. There should be a clear line between the
life of a JbrahmachariJ and of one who is not. The resemblance that there is between the two is
only a!!arent. The distinction ought to be clear as daylight. Both use their eyesight, but whereas
the JbrahmachariJ uses it to see the glories of God, the other uses it to see the frivolity around
him. Both use their ears, but whereas the one hears nothing but !raises of God, the other feasts
his ears u!on ribaldry. Both often #ee! late hours, but whereas the one devotes them to !rayer,
the other fritters them away in wild and wasteful mirth. Both feed the inner man, but the one only
to #ee! the tem!le of God in good re!air, while the other gorges himself and ma#es the sacred
ves sel a stin#ing gutter. Thus both live as the !oles a!art, and the distance between them will
grow and not diminish with the !assage of time.
Brahmacharya means control of the senses in thought, word and deed. 6very day * have been
reali2ing more and more the necessity for restraints of the #ind * have detailed above. There is no
limit to the !ossibilities of renunc iation even as there is none to those of JbrahmacharyaJ. Such
JbrahmacharyaJ is im!ossible of attainment by limited effort. 0(or many it must remain only as an
ideal. 1n as!irant after JbrahmacharyaJ will always be conscious of his shortcomings, will see#
out the !assions lingering in the innermost recesses of his heart and will incessantly strive to get
rid of them. So long as thought is not under com!lete control of the will, Jbrahmac haryaJ in its
fulness is absent. *nvoluntary thought is an affection of the mind, and curbing of thought,
therefore, means curbing of the mind which is even more difficult to curb than the wind.
%evertheless the e&istence of God within ma#es even control of the mind !os sible. 4et no one
thin# that it is im!oss ible becaus e it is difficult. *t is the highest goal, and it is no wonder that the
highest effort s hould be necessary to attain it.
But it was after coming to *ndia that * reali2ed that such JbrahmacharyaJ was im!ossible to attain
by mere human effort. Until then * had been labouring under the delusion that fruit diet alone
would enable me to eradicate all !as sions, and * had flattered myself with the belief that * had
nothing more to do.

But * must not antici!ate the cha!ter of my struggle. Meanwhile let me ma#e it clear that those
who desire to observe brahmacharyawith a view to reali2ing God need not des!air, !rovided
their faith in God is e3ual to their confidence in their own effort.
(The sense/ob,ects turn away from an abstemious soul, leaving the relish behind. The relish als o
disa!!ears with the reali2ation of the )ighest.( Therefore )is name and )is grace are the last
resources of the as!irant after mksha. This truth came to me only after my return to *ndia.
Chapter 63
SIMPLE LI%E
* had started on a life of ease and comfort, but the e&!eriment was short/lived. 1lthough * had
furnis hed the house with care, yet it failed to have any hold on me. So no sooner had * launched
forth on that life, than * began to cut down e&!enses. The washerman(s bill was heavy, and as he
was besides by no means noted for his !unctuality, even two or three do2en shirts and collars
!roved insufficient for me. -ollars had to be changed daily and shirts, if not daily, at least every
alternate day. This meant a double e&!ense, which a!!eared to me unnecessary. So * e3ui!!ed
myself with a washing outfit to save it. * bought a boo# on washing, studied the art and taught it
also to my wife. This no doubt added to my wor#, but its novelty made it a !leasure.
* shall never forget the first collar that * washed myself. * had used more starch than necessary,
the iron had not been made hot enough, and for fear of burning the collar * had not !ressed it
suffic iently. The result was that, though the collar was fairly stiff, the su!erfluous starch
continually dro!!ed off it. * went to court with the collar on, thus inviting the ridicule of brother
barristers, but even in those days * could be im!ervious to ridicule.
(5ell,( said *, (this is my first e&!eriment at washing my own collars and hence the loose starch.
But it does not trouble me, and then there is the advantage of !roviding you with so much fun.(
(But surely there is no lac# of laundries here@( as# ed a friend.
(The laundry bill is very heavy,( said *. (The charge for washing a collar is almost as much as its
!rice, and even then there is the eternal de!endence on the washerman. * !refer by far to wash
my things myself.(
But * could not ma#e my friends a!!reciate the beauty of s elf/hel!. *n course of time * became an
e&!ert
washerman so far as my own wor# went, and my washing was by no means inferior to laundry
washing. My collars were no less stiff or shiny than others.
5hen Go#hale came to South 1frica, he had with him a scarf which was a gift from Mahadeo
Govind +anade. )e treasured the memento with the utmost care and used it only on s!ecial
occasions. ne such occasion was the ban3uet given in his honour by the $ohannesburg *ndians.

The scarf was creased and needed ironing. *t was not !ossible to send it to the laundry and get it
bac# in time. * offered to try my art.
(* can trust to your ca!acity as a lawyer, but not as a washerman,( said Go#haleC (5hat if you
should soil it@ "o you #now what it means to me @ (
5ith this he narrated, with muc h ,oy, the story of the gift. * still insisted, guaranteed good wor#,
got his !ermission to iron it, and won his certificate. 1fter that * did not mind if the rest of the world
refused me its certificate.
*n the same way, as * freed myself from slavery to the washerman, * threw off de!endence on the
barber. 1ll !eo!le who go to 6ngland learn there at least the art of shaving, but none, to my
#nowledge, learn to cut their own hair. * had to learn that too. * once went to an 6nglish hair/cutter
in Pretoria. )e contem!tuously refused to cut my hair. * certainly felt hurt, but immediately
!urchas ed a !air of cli!!ers and cut my hair before the mirror. * succeeded more or less in cutting
the front hair, but * s!oiled the bac# . The friends in the court shoo# with laughter.
(5hat(s wrong with your hair, Gandhi@ +ats have been at it @ ( (%o. The white barber would not
condescend to touch my blac# hair,( said *, (so * !referred to cut it myself, no matter how badly.(
The re!ly did not sur!rise the friends.
The barber was not at fault in having refused to cut my hair. There was every chance of his losing
his custom, if he should serve blac# men. 5e do not allow our barbers to serve our untouchable
brethren. * got the reward of this in South 1fric a, not once, but many times, and the conviction
that it was the !unishment for our own sins saved me from becoming angry.
The e&treme forms in which my !ass ion for self/hel! and sim!licity ultimately e&!res sed itself will
be described in their !ro!er !lace. The seed had been long sown. *t only needed watering to ta#e
root, to flower and to fructify, and the watering came in due course.
Chapter 64
THE BOER +AR
* must s#i! many other e&!eriences of the !eriod between 9:<F and 9:<< and come straight to
the Boer 5ar.
5hen the war was declared, my !ersonal sym!athies were all with the Boers, but * believed then
that * had yet no right, in s uch cases, to enforce my individual convictions. * have minutely dealt
with the inner struggle regarding this in my history of the Satyagraha in South 1frica, and * must
not re!eat the argument here. * invite the curious to turn to those !ages. Suffice it to say that my
loyalty to the British rule drove me to !artici!ation with the British in that war. * felt that, if *
demanded rights as a British citi2en, it was also my duty, as such, to !artici!ate in the defence of
the British 6m!ire. * held then that *ndia could achieve her com!lete emanci!ation only within and
through the British 6m!ire. So * collected to gather as many comrades as !ossible, and with very
great difficulty got their services acce!ted as an ambulance cor!s.

The average 6nglishman believed that the *ndian was a coward, inca!able of ta# ing ris#s or
loo#ing beyond his immediate self/interest. Many 6nglish friends, therefore, threw cold water on
my !lan. But "r. Booth su!!orted it whole/heartedly. )e trained us in ambulance wor#. 5e
secured medical certificates of fitness for service. Mr. 4aughton and the late Mr. 6scombe
enthusiastically su!!orted the !lan, and we a!!lied at last for service at the front. The
Government than#fully ac#nowledged our a!!lic ation, but said that our services were not then
needed.
* would not rest s atisfied, however with this refusal. Through the introduction of "r. Booth, * called
on the Bisho! of %atal. There were many -hristian *ndians in our c or!s. The Bisho! was
delighted with my !ro!osal and !romised to hel! us in getting our services acce!ted. Time too
was wor#ing with us. The Beer had shown more !luc#, determination and bravery than had been
e&!ected C and our s ervices were ultimately needed. ur cor!s was 9,9AA strong, with nearly EA
leaders, 1bout three hundred were free *ndians, and the rest indentured. "r. Booth was also with
us, The cor!s ac3uitted itself well. Though our wor# was to be outside the firing line, and though
we had the !rotection of the +ed -ross, we were as#ed at a critical moment to serve within the
firing line. The reservation had not been of our see# ing. The authorities did not want us to be
within the range of fire. The situation, however, was changed after the re!ulse at S!ion Ko!, and
General Buller sent the message that, though we were not bound to ta#e the ris#, Government
would be than#ful if we would do so and fetch the wounded from the field. 5e had no hesitation,
and so the action at S!ion Ko! found us wor#ing within the firing line. "uring these days we had
to march from twenty to twenty/five miles a day, bearing the wounded on stretchers. 1mongst the
wounded we had the honour of carrying soldiers li# e General 5oodgate.
The cor!s was disbanded after si& wee#s( service. 1fter the reverses at S!ion Ko! and
.aal#ran2, the British -ommander/in/-hief abandoned the attem!t to relieve 4adysmith and
other !laces by summary !rocedure, and decided to !roceed slowly, awaiting reinforcements
from 6ngland and *ndia.
ur humble wor# was at the moment much a!!lauded, and the *ndians( !restige was enhanced.
The news!a!ers !ublished laudatory rhymes with the refrain, (5e are sons of 6m!ire after all.(
General Buller mentioned with a!!reciation the wor# of the cor!s in his des!atch, and the leaders
were awarded the 5ar Medal.
The *ndian community became better organi2ed. * got into closer touch with the indentured
*ndians. There came a greater awa#ening amongst them, and the feeling that )indus,
Musalmans, -hristians, Tamilians, Gu,aratis and Sindhis were all *ndians and children of the
same motherland too# dee! root amongst them. 6veryone believed that the *ndians( grievances
were now sure to be redressed. 1t the moment the white man(s attitude seemed to be distinctly
changed. The relations formed with the whites during the war were of the sweetest. 5e had come
in contact with thousands of tommies. They were friendly with us and than#ful for being there to
serve them. * cannot forbear from recording a sweet reminiscence of how human nature shows
itself at its best in moments of trial. 5e were marching towards -hievely -am! where 4ieutenant
+oberts, the son of 4ord +oberts, had received a mortal wound. ur cor!s had the honour of
carrying the body from the field. *t was a sultry day // the day of our march. 6veryone was
thirsting for water. There was a tiny broo# on the way where we could sla#e our thirst. But who
was to drin# first @ 5e had !ro!osed to come in after the tommies had finished. But they would
not begin first and urged us to do so, and for a while a !leasant com!etition went on for giving
!recedence to one another.

Chapter 65
SANITARY RE%ORM AND %AMINE RELIE%
*t has always been im!ossible for me to reconcile myself to any one member of the body !olitic
remaining out of use. * have always been loath to hide or connive at the. wea# !oints of the
community or to !ress for its rights without having !urged it of its blemishes. Therefore, ever
since my settlement in %atal, * had been endeavouring to clear the c ommunity of a charge that
had been levelled against it, not without a certain amount of truth. The charge had often been
made that the *ndian was slovenly in his habits and did not #ee! his house and surroundings
clean. The !rinci!al men of the community had, therefore, already begun to !ut their houses in
order, but house/to/hous e ins!ection was underta#en only when !lague was re!orted to be
imminent in "urban. This was done after consulting, and gaining the a!!roval of, the city fathers,
who had desired our co/o!eration. ur co/o!eration made wor# easier for them and at the same
time lessened our hardshi!s. 0or whenever there is an outbrea# of e!idemics, the e&ecutive, as a
general rule, get im!atient, ta#e e&cessive measures and behave to such as may have incurred
their dis!leasure with a heavy hand. The community saved itself from this o!!ression by
voluntarily ta#ing sanitary measures.
But * had some bitter e&!eriences. * saw that * could not so easily count on the hel! of the
community in getting it to do its own duty, as * could in claiming for it rights. 1t some !laces * met
with insults, at others with !olite indifference. *t was too much for !eo!le to bestir themselves to
#ee! their surroundings clean. To e&!ect them to find money for the wor# was out of the 3uestion.
These e&!eriences taught me, better than ever before, that without infinite !atience it was
im!ossible to get the !eo!le to do any wor#. *t is the reformer who is an&ious for the reform, and
not society, from which he s hould e&!ect nothing better than o!!osition, abhorrence and even
mortal !ersecution. 5hy may not society regard as retrogression what the reformer holds dear as
life itself @
%evertheless the result of this agitation was that the *ndian community learnt to recogni2e more
or less the nec essity for # ee!ing their houses and environments clean. * gained the esteem of the
authorities. They s aw that, though * had made it my business to ventilate grievances and !ress
for rights, * was no less #een and insistent u!on self/!urification.
There was one thing, however, which still remained to be done, namely, the awa#ening in the
*ndian settler of a sense of duty to the motherland. *ndia was !oor, the *ndian settler went to
South 1frica in search of wealth, and he was bound to contribute !art of his earnings for the
benefit of his countrymen in the hour of their adversity. This the settler did during the terrible
famines of 9:<F and 9:<<. They contributed handsomely for famine relief, and more so in 9:<<
than in 9:<F. 5e had a!!ealed to 6nglishmen also for funds, and they had res!onded well. 6ven
the indentured *ndians gave their share to the contribution, and the system inaugurated at the
time of these famines has been continued ever since, and we #now that *ndians in South 1frica
never fail to send handsome contributions to *ndia in times of national calamity.
Thus service of the *ndians in South 1frica ever revealed to me new im!lications of truth at every
stage. Truth is li#e a vast tree, which yields more and more fruit, the more you nurture it. The
dee!er the search in the mine of truth the richer the discovery of the gems buried there, in the
sha!e of o!enings for an ever greater variety of service.

Chapter 66
RETURN TO INDIA
n my relief from war/duty * felt that my wor# was no longer in South 1frica but in *ndia. %ot
that there was nothing to be done in South 1frica, but * was afraid that my main business might
become merely money/ma#ing. 0riends at home were also !ressing me to return, and * felt that *
should be be of more service in *ndia. 1nd for the wor# in South 1frica, there were, of course,
Messrs Khan and Mansu#hlal %aa2ar. So * re3uested my cowor#ers to relieve me. 1fter very
great difficulty my re3uest was conditionally acce!ted, the condition being that * should be ready
to go bac# to South 1frica if, within a year, the community should need me. * thought it was a
difficult c ondition but the love that bound me to the community made me acce!t it. (The 4ord has
bound me 5ith the cotton/thread of love, * am )is bondslave,( sang Mirabai. 1nd for me, too, the
cotton/thread of love that bound me to the community was too strong to brea# . The voice of the
!eo!le is the voice of God, and here the voice of friends was too real to be re,ected. * acce!ted
the condition and got their !ermission to go.
1t this time * was intimately connected only with %atal. The %atal *ndians bathed me with the
nectar of love. 0arewell meetings were arranged at every !lace, and costly gifts were !resented
to me.
Gifts had been bestowed on me before when * returned to *ndia in 9:<<, but this time the farewell
was overwhelming. The gifts of course included things in gold and silver, but there were articles
of costly diamond as well.
5hat right had * to acce!t all these gifts @ 1cce!ting them, how could * !ersuade myself that *
was serving the community without remuneration @ 199 the gifts, e&ce!ting a few from my clients,
were !urely for my service to the community, and * could ma#e no difference between my clients
and co/wor#ersC for the clients als o hel!ed me in my !ublic wor#.
ne of the gifts was a gold nec#lac eMworth fifty guineas, meant for my wife. But even that gift was
given because of my !ublic wor#, and so it could not be se!arated from the rest.
The evening * was !resented with the bul# of these things * had a slee!less night. * wal#ed u!
and down my room dee!ly agitated, but c ould find no solution. *t was difficult for me to forego gifts
worth hundreds , it was more difficult to #ee! them.
1nd even if * could #ee! them , what about my children @ 5hat about my wife@ They were being
trained to a life of service and to an understanding that service was its own reward.
* had no costly ornaments in the house. 5e had been fas t sim!lifying our life )ow then could we
afford to have gold watches@ )ow could we afford to wear gold chains and diamond rings@ 6ven
then * was e&horting !eo!le to con3uer the infatuation for ,ewellery. 5hat was * now to do with
the ,ewellery that had come u!on me @
* decided that * could not #ee! these things. * drafted a letter, creating a trust of them in favour of
the community and a!!ointing Parsi +ustom,i and others trustees. *n the morning * held a
consultation with my wife and children and finally go rid of the heavy incubus.
* #new that * should have some difficulty in !ersuading my wife, and * was s ure that * should have
none so far as the children were concerned. So * decided to constitute them my attorneys.

The children readily agreed to my !ro!osal. (5e do not need these costly !resents, we must
return them to the community, and should we ever need them, we could easily !urchase them,(
they said.
* was delighted.( Then you will !lead with mother won(t you @ ( * as#ed them.
(-ertainly,( said they. (That is our business. She did not need to wear the ornaments . She would
want to #ee! them for us, and if we don(t want them, why should she not agree to !art with them
@(
But it was easier said than done.
(=ou may not need them,( said my wife. ( =our children may not need them. -a,oled they will
dance to your tune. * can understand your not !ermitting me to wear them. But what about my
daughters/in/law@ They will be sure to need them. 1nd who # nows what will ha!!en tomorrow @ *
would be the last !erson to !art with gifts so lovingly given.(
1nd thus the torrent of argument went on, reinforced, in the end, by tears. But the children were
adamant. 1nd * was unmoved.
* mildly !ut in' (The children have yet to get married. 5e do not want to see them married young.
5hen they are grown u!, they can ta#e care of themselves. 1nd surely we shall not have, for our
sons, brides who are fond of ornaments. 1nd if after all, we need to !rovide them with ornaments,
* am there. =ou will as# me then.( (1s# you @ * #now you by this time. =ou de!rived me of my
ornaments, you would not leave me in !eace with them. 0ancy you offering to get ornaments for
the daughters/in/law B =ou who are trying to ma#e sadhusof my boys from today B %o, the
ornaments will not be returned. 1nd !ray what right have you to my nec#lace @ (
(But,( * re,oined,( is the nec#lace given you for your service or for my service @(
(* agree. But service rendered by you is as good as rendered by me. * have toiled and moiled for
you day and night. *s that no service @ =ou forced all and sundry on me, ma#ing me wee! bitter
tears, and * slaved for them B(
These were !ointed thrusts, and some of them went home. But * was determined to return the
ornaments. * somehow succeeded in e&torting a consent from her. The gifts received in 9:<; and
9<A9 were all returned. 1 trust/deed was !re!ared, and they were de!osited with a ban#, to be
used for the servic e of the community, according to my wishes or to those of the trustees.
ften, when * was in need of funds for !ublic !ur!oses, and felt that * must draw u!on the trust, *
have been able to raise the re3uisite amount, leaving the trust money intact. The fund is still
there, being o!erated u!on in times of need, and it has regularly accumulated.
* have never since regretted the ste!, and as the years have gone by, my wife has also seen its
wisdom. *t has s aved us from many tem!tations.
* am definitely of o!inion that a !ublic wor#er should ac ce!t no costly gifts.

Chapter 6
IN INDIA AGAIN
So * sailed for home. Mauritius was one of the !orts of call, and as the boat made a long halt
there, * went ashore and ac3uainted myself fairly well with the loc al conditions. 0or one night *
was the guest of Sir -harles Bruce, the Governor of the -olony.
1fter reaching *ndia * s!ent some time in going about the country. *t was the year 9<A9 when the
-ongress met at -alcutta under the !residentshi! of Mr. >later Sir? "inshaw 5acha. 1nd * of
course attended it. *t was my first e&!erience of the -ongress. 0rom Bombay * travelled in the
same train as Sir Phero2eshah Mehta, as * had to s!ea# to him about conditions in South 1frica. *
#new the # ingly style in whic h he lived. )e had engaged a s!ecial saloon for himself, and * had
orders to ta# e my o!!ortunity of s!ea# ing to him by travelling in his saloon for one stage. *,
therefore, went to the saloon and re!orted myself at the a!!ointed station. 5ith him were Mr.
5ac ha, and Mr. >now Sir? -himanlal Setalvad. They were discussing !olitics. 1s soon as Sir
Phero2eshah saw me, he said, (Gandhi, it seems nothing can be done for you. f course we will
!ass the res olution you want. But what rights have we in our own country@ * believe that, s o long
as we have no !ower in our own land, you cannot fare better in the -olonies.( * was ta#en abac#.
Mr. Setalvad seemed to concur in the viewC MrN 5acha cast a !athetic loo# at me. * tried to !lead
with Sir Phero2eshah, but it was out of the 3uestion for one li#e me to !revail u!on the
uncrowned #ing of Bombay. * contented myself with the fact that * should be allowed to move my
resolution. =ou will of course show me the resolution,( said Mr. 5acha, to cheer me u!. * than#ed
him and left them at the ne&t sto!. So we reached -alcutta. The President was ta#en to his cam!
with great eclatby the +ece!tion -ommittee. * as# ed a volunteer where * was to go. )e too# me
to the +i!en -ollege, where a number of delegates were being !ut u!. 0ortune favoured meN
4o#amanya was !ut u! in the same bloc# as *. * have a recollection that he came a day later. 1nd
as was natural, 4o#amanya would never be without his darbar. 5ere * a !ainter, * could !aint him
as * saw him seated on his bed // so vivid is the whole scene in my memory. f the numberless
!eo!le that called on him, * can recollect today only one, namely the late Babu Motilal Ghose,
editor of the Amrita Ba)ar Patrika. Their loud laughter and their tal#s about the wrong/doings of
the ruling race cannot be forgottenN But * !ro!ose to e&amine in some detail the a!!ointments in
this cam!. The volunteers were clashing against one another. =ou as#ed one of them to do
somethingN )e delegated it to another, and he in his turn to a third, and so onC and as for the
delegates, they were neither here nor there. * made friends with a few volunteers. * told them
some things about South 1frica, and they felt somewhat ashamed. * tried to bring home to them
the secret of service. They seemed to understand, but service is no mushroom growth. *t
!resu!!os es the will first, and then e&!erienceN There was no lac# of will on the !art of those
good sim!le/hearted young men, but their e&!erience was nil. The -ongress would meet three
days every year and then go to slee!. 5hat training could one have out of a three days( show
once a year @ 1nd the delegates were of a !iece with the volunteers. They had no better or
longer training. They would do nothing themselves. (.olunteer, do this ,( (.olunteer, do that,( were
their constant orders. 6ven here * was face to face with untouchability in a fair, measure. The
Tamilian #itchen was far away from the rest. To the Tamil delegates even the sight of others,
whilst they were dining, meant !ollution. So a s!ecial #itchen had to be made for them in the
-ollege com!ound, walled in by wic#er/wor#. *t was full of smo#e which cho#ed you. *t was a
#itchen, dining room, washroom, all in one // a close safe with no outlet. To me this loo#ed li#e a
travesty of *arnadharma.( *f, * said to myself, there was such untouchability between the
delegates of the -ongress, one could well imagine the e&tent to which it e&is ted amongst their
constituents. * heaved a sigh at the thought. There was no limit to insanitation. Pools of water
were everywhere. There were only a few latrines, and the recollection of their stin# still o!!resses
me. * !ointed it out to the volunteers. They said !ointblan#' (That is not our wor#, it is the
scavenger(s wor#.( * as#ed for a broom. The man stared at me in wonder. * !rocured one and

cleaned the latrine. But that was for myself. The rush was so great, and the latrines were so few,
that they needed fre3uent cleaningC but that was more than * could do. So * had to content myself
with sim!ly ministering to myself. 1nd the others did not seem to mind the stench and the dirt. But
that was not all. Some of the delegates did not scru!le to use the verandahs outside their rooms
for c alls of nature at night. *n the morning * !ointed out the s!ots to the volunteers. %o one was
ready to underta# e the cleaning, and * found no one to share the honour with me of doing it.
-onditions have since considerably im!roved, but even today thoughtless delegates are not
wanting who disfigure the -ongress cam! by committing nuisance wherever they choose, and all
the volunteers are not always ready to c lean u! after them. * saw that, if the -ongress session
were to be !rolonged, conditions would be 3uite favourable for the outbrea# of an e!idemic.
Chapter 6#
CLER) AND BEARER
There were yet two days for the -ongress sess ion to begin. * had made u! my mind to offer my
services to the -ongress office in order to gain some e&!erience. So as soon as * had finished
the daily ablutions on arrival at -alcutta, * !roceeded to the -ongress office.
Babu Bhu!endranath Basu and S,t. Ghosal were the secretaries. * went to Bhu!enbabu and
offered my services. )e loo#ed at me, and said' (* have no wor#, but !os sibly Ghosalbabu might
have something to give you. Please go to him.(
So * went to him. )e scanned me and said with a smile' (* can give you only clerical wor#. 5ill you
do it@(
(-ertainly,( said *. ( * am here to do anything that is not beyond my ca!ac ity.(
(That is the right s!irit, young man,( he said. 1ddressing the volunteers who surrounded him, he
added, ("o you hear what this young man says@(
Then turning to me he !roceeded' (5ell then, here is a hea! of letters for dis!osal. Ta#e that
chair and begin. 1s you see, hundreds of !eo!le come to s ee me. 5hat am * to do@ 1m * to meet
them, or am * to answer these busybodies inundating me with letters@ * have no cler#s to whom *
can entrust this wor# . Most of these letters have nothing in them, but you will !lease loo# them
through. 1c#nowledge those that are worth it, and refer to me those that need a considered
re!ly.(
* was delighted at the c onfidence re!osed in me.
S,t. Ghosal did not #now me when he gave me the wor#. nly later did he en3uire about my
credentials.
* found my wor# very easy / the dis!osal of that hea! of corres!ondence. * had done with it in no
time, and S,t. Ghosal was very glad. )e was tal#ative. )e would tal# away for hours together.
5hen he learnt something from me about my history, he felt rather sorry to have given me clerical
wor#. But * reass ured him' (Please don(t worry. 5hat am * before you@ =ou have grown gray in
the service of the -ongress, and are as an elder to me. * am but an ine&!erienced youth. =ou

have !ut me under a debt of obligation by entrusting me with this wor#. 0or * want to do -ongress
wor#, and you have given me the rare o!!ortunity of understanding the details.(
(To tell you the truth,( said S,t. Ghosal, (that is the !ro!er s!irit. But young men of today do not
reali2e it. f course * have #nown the -ongress since its birth. *n fact * may claim a certain share
with Mr. )ume in bringing the -ongress into being.(
1nd thus we became good friends. )e insisted on my having lunch with him.
S,t. Ghos al used to get his shirt buttoned by his bearer. * volunteered to do the bearer(s duty, and
* loved to do it, as my regard for elders was always great. 5hen he came to # now this, he did not
mind my doing little acts of !ersonal service for him. *n fact he was delighted. 1s#ing me to button
his shirt, he would say, (=ou see, now, the -ongress secretary has no time even to button his
shirt. )e has always some wor# to do.( S,t. Ghosal(s naivete amused me, but did not create any
disli#e in me for service of that nature. The benefit * received from this service in incalculable.
*n a few days * came to # now the wor#ing of the -ongress. * met most of the leaders. * observed
the movements of stalwarts li#e Go#hale and Surendranath. * also noticed the huge waste of time
there. * observed too, with sorrow even then, the !rominent !lace that the 6nglish language
occu!ied in our affairs. There was little regard for economy of energy. More than one did the wor#
of one, and many an im!ortant thing was no one(s business at all.
-ritical as my mind was in observing these things, there was enough charity in me, and so *
always thought that it might, after all, be im!ossible to do better in the circumstances, and that
saved me from undervaluing any wor#.
Chapter 6$
IN THE CONGRESS
*n the -ongress at last. The immense !avilion and the volunteers in stately array, as also the
elders seated on the dais , overwhelmed me. * wondered where * should be in that vast
assemblage.
The !residential address was a boo# by itself. To read it from cover to cover was out of the
3uestion. nly a few !assages were therefore read.
1fter this came the election of the Sub,ects -ommittee. Go#hale too# me to the -ommittee
meetings.
Sir Phero2eshah had of course agreed to admit my resolution, but * was wondering who would
!ut it before the Sub,ects -ommittee, and when. 0or there were lengthy s!eeches to every
resolution, all in 6nglish to boot, and every resolution had some well/#nown leader to bac# it.
Mine was but a feeble !i!e amongst those veteran drums, and as the night was closing in, my
heart beat fast. The resolutions coming at the fag/ end were, so far as * can rec ollect, rushed
through at lighting s!eed. 6veryone was hurrying to go. *t was 99 o(cloc#. * had not the courage to
s!ea#. * had already met Go#hale, who had loo#ed at my resolution. So * drew near his chair and
whis!ered to him' (Please do something for me.( )e said' (=our resolution is not out of my mind.

=ou see the way they are rushing through the resolutions. But * will not allow yours to be !assed
over.(
(So we have done@( said Sir Phero2es hah Mehta.
(%o, no, there is still the resolution on South 1frica. Mr. Gandhi has been waiting long,( cried out
Go#hale.
()ave you seen the resolution@( as#ed Sir Phero2eshah.
(f course.(
("o you li#e it@(
(*t is 3uite good.(
(5ell then, let us have it, Gandhi.(
* read it trembling.
Go#hale su!!orted it.
(Unanimously !assed,( cried out everyone.
(=ou will have five minutes to s!ea# to it Gandhi,( said Mr. 5acha.
The !rocedure was far from !leasing to me. %o one had troubled to understand the resolution,
everyone was in a hurry to go and, because Go#hale had seen the resolution, it was not thought
necessary for the rest to see it or understand itB
The morning found me worrying about my s!eech. 5hat was * to say in five minutes@ * had
!re!ared myself fairly well but the words would not come to me. * had decided not to read my
s!eech but to s!ea# e, tempre. But the facility for s!ea#ing that * had ac3uired in South 1fric a
seemed to have left me for the moment.
1s soon as it was time for my resolution, Mr. 5acha called out my name. * stood u!. My head
was reeling. * read the resolution somehow. Someone had !rinted and distributed amongst the
delegates co!ies of a !oem he had written in !raise of foreign emigration. * read the !oem and
referred to the grievances of the settlers in South 1frica. $ust at this moment Mr. 5acha rang the
bell. * was sure * had not yet s!o#en for five minutes. * did not #now that the bell was rung in order
to warn me to finish in two minutes more. * had heard others s!ea# for half an hour or three
3uarters of an hour, and yet no bell was rung for them. * felt hurt and sat down as soon as the bell
was rung. But my childli#e intellect thought then that the !oem contained an answer to Sir
Phero2eshah. There was no 3uestion about the !assing of the resolution. *n those days there
was hardly any difference between vis itors and delegates. 6veryone raised his hand and all
resolutions !assed unanimously. My resolution also fared in this wise and so lost all its
im!ortance for me. 1nd yet the very fact that it was !assed by the -ongress was enough to
delight my heart, The # nowledge that the imprimaturof the -ongress meant that of the whole
country was enough to delight anyone.

Chapter '
LORD CUR1ON&S DARBAR
The -ongress was over, but as * had to meet the -hamber of -ommerce and various !eo!le in
connection with wor# in South 1frica, * stayed in -alcutta for a month. +ather than stay this time
in a hotel, * arranged to get the re3uired introduction for a room in the *ndia -lub. 1mong its
members were some !rominent *ndians, and * loo#ed forward to getting into touch with them and
interesting them in the wor# in South 1frica. Go#hale fre3uently went to this -lub to !lay billiards,
and when he #new that * was to stay in -alcutta for some time, he invited me to stay with him, *
than#fully acce!ted the invitation, but did not thin# it !ro!er to go there by myself. )e waited for a
day or two and then too# me !ersonally. )e discovered my reserve and said' (Gandhi, you have
to stay in the country, and this sort of reserve will not do. =ou must get into touch with as many
!eo!le as !ossible. * want you to do -ongress wor#.(
* shall record here an incident in the *ndia -lub, before * !roceed to tal# of my stay with Go#hale.
4ord -ur2on held his darbar about this time. Some +a,as and Mahara,as who had been invited to
the darbar were members of the -lub. *n the -lub * always found them wearing fine Bengalee
dhtisand shirts and scarves. n the darbar day they !ut on trousers befitting khansamasand
shining boots. * was !ained and in3uired of one of them the reason for the change.
(5e alone #now our unfortunate condition. 5e alone #now the insults we have to !ut u! with, in
order that we may !ossess our wealth and titles,( he re!lied.
(But what about thesekhansamaturbans and these shining boots@( * as#ed.
("o you see any difference between khansamasand us@( he re!lied, and added, (they are our
khansamas, we are 4ord -ru2on(s khansamas. *f * were to absent myself from the levee, * should
have to suffer the conse3uences. *f * were to attend it in my usual dress, it would be an offence.
1nd do you thin# * am going to get any o!!ortunity there of tal#ing to 4ord -ur2on@ %ot a bit of itB(
* was moved to !ity for this !lains!o# en friend.
This reminds me of another darbar.
1t the time when 4ord )ardinge laid the foundation stone of the )indu University, there was a
darbar. There were +a,as and Mahara,as of course, but Pandit Malaviya,i s!ecially invited me
also to attend it, and * did so.
* was distressed to see the Mahara,as bedec#ed li#e women / sil# pyjamasand sil# achkans,
!earl nec#laces round their nec#s, bracelets on their wrists, !earl and diamond tassels on their
turbans and besides all this swords with golden hilts hanging from their waist/bands.
* discovered that thes e were insignia not of their royalty, but of their slavery. * had thought that
they must be wearing these badges of im!otence of their own free will, but * was told that it was
obligatory for these +a,as to wear all their costly ,ewels at such functions. * als o gathered that
some of them had a !ositive disli# e for wearing these ,ewels, and that they never wore them
e&ce!t on occ asions li# e the darbar.

* do not #now how far my information was correct. But whether they wear them on other
occasions or not, it is distres sing enough to have to attend viceregal darbars in ,ewels that only
some women wear.
)ow heavy is the toll of sins and wrongs that wealth, !ower and !restige e&act from manB
Chapter 1
A MONTH +ITH GO)HALE ,, I
0rom the very first day of my stay with him Go#hale made me feel com!letely at home. )e
treated me as though * were his younger brother, he ac3uainted himself with all my re3uirements
and arranged to see that * got all * needed. 0ortunately my wants were few, and * had cultivated
the habit of self/hel!, * needed very little !ersonal attendance. )e was dee!ly im!ressed with my
habit of fending for myself, my !ersonal cleanliness, !erseverance and regularity, and would
often overwhelm me with !raise.
)e seemed to # ee! nothing !rivate from me. )e would introduce me to all the im!ortant !eo!le
that c alled on him. f these the one who stands foremost in my memory is "r. >now Sir? P. -.
+ay. )e lived !ractically ne&t door and was a very fre3uent visitor.
This is how he introduced "r. +ay' (This is Prof. +ay who having a monthly salary of +s. :AA,
#ee!s ,ust +s. EA for himself and devotes the balance to !ublic !ur!oses. )e is not, and does not
want to get, married.
* see little difference between "r. +ay as he is today and as he used to be then. )is dress used to
be nearly as sim!le as it is, with this difference of course that whereas it is Khadi now, it used to
be *ndian mill/cloth in those days. * felt * could never hear too much of the tal#s between Go#hale
and "r. +ay, as they all !ertained to !ublic good or were of educative value. 1t times they were
!ainful too, containing as they did, strictures on !ublic men. 1s a result, some of those whom *
had regarded as stalwart fighters began to loo# 3uite !uny.
To see Go#hale at wor# was as much a ,oy as an education. )e never wasted a minute. )is
!rivate relations and friendshi!s were all for !ublic good. 1ll his tal#s had reference only to the
good of the country and were abs olutely free from any trac e of untruth or insincerity. *ndia(s
!overty and sub,ection were matters of constant and intense concern to him. .arious !eo!le
sought to interest him in different things. But he gave every one of them the same re!ly' (=ou do
the thing yourself. 4et me do my own wor#. 5hat * want is freedom for my country. 1fter that is
won, we can thin# of other things. Today that one thing is enough to engage all my time and
energy.(
)is reverence for +anade c ould be seen every moment. +anade(s authority was final in every
matter, and he would cite it at every ste!. The anniversary of +anade(s death >or birth, * forget
which? occurred during my stay with Go#hale, who observed it regularly. There were with him
then, besides myself, his friends Prof. Kathavate and a Sub/$udge. )e invited us to ta#e !art in
the celebration, and in his s!eech he gave us his reminiscences of +anade. )e c om!ared
incidentally +anade, Telang and Mandli#. )e eulogi2ed Telang(s charming style and Mandli#(s
greatness as a reformer. -iting an instance of Mandli#(s solicitude for his clients, he told us an
anecdote as to how once, having missed his usual train, he engaged a s!ecial train so as to be

able to attend the court in the interest of his c lient. But +anade, he said, towered above them all,
as a versatile genius . )e was not only a great ,udge, he was an e3ually great historian, an
economist and reformer. 1lthough he was a ,udge, he fearlessly attended the -ongress, and
everyone had such confidence in his sagacity that they un3uestioningly acce!ted his decisions.
Go#hale(s ,oy #new no bounds, as he described these 3ualities of head and heart which were all
combined in his master.
Go#hale used to have a horse/c arriage in those days. * did not #now the circumstances that had
made a horse/carriage a necessity for him, and so * remonstrated with him' (-an(t you ma#e us e
of the tramcar in going about from !lace to !lace@ is it derogatory to a leader(s dignity@(
Slightly !ained he said, (So you also have failed to understand meB * do not use my -ouncil
allowances for my own !ersonal comforts. * envy your liberty to go about in tramcars, but * am
sorry * cannot do li#ewise. 5hen you are the victim of as wide a !ublicity as * am, it will be
difficult, if not im!ossible, for you to go about in a tramcar. There is no reason to su!!ose that
everything that the leaders do is with a view to !ersonal c omfort. * love your sim!le habits. * live
as sim!ly as * can, but some e&!ense is almost inevitable for a man li#e myself.(
)e thus satisfactorily dis!osed of one of my com!laints, but there was another which he c ould not
dis!ose of to my satisfaction.
(But you do not even go out for wal#s,( said *. (*s it sur!rising that you should be always ailing@
Should !ublic wor# leave no time for !hysical e&ercise@(
(5hen do you ever find me free to go out for a wal#@( he re!lied.
* had such a great regard for Go#hale that * never strove with him. Though this re!ly was far from
satis fying me, * remained silent. * believed then and * believe even now, that, no matter what
amount of wor# one has, one should always find some time e&ercise, ,ust as one does for one(s
meals. *t is my humble o!inion that, far from ta#ing away from one(s ca!acity for wor#, it adds to
it.
Chapter 2
A MONTH +ITH GO)HALE ,, II
5hilst living under Go#hlae(s roof * was far from being a stay/at/ home.
* had told my -hristian friends in South 1frica that in *ndia * would meet the -hristian *ndians and
ac3uint myself with their condition. * had heard of Babu Kalicharan Baner,i and held him in high
regard. )e too# a !rominent !art in the -ongress, and * had none of the misgivings about him
that * had about the average -hristian *ndian, who stood aloof from the -ongress and isolated
himself from )indus and Musalmans. * told Go#hale that * was thin#ing of meeting him. )e said'
(5hat is good of your seeing him@ )e is a very good man, but * am afraid he will not satisfy you. *
#now him very well. )owever, you can certainly meet him if you li#e@.(

* sought an a!!ointment, which he readly gave me. 5hen * went, * found that his wife was on her
death/bed. )is hous e was sim!le. *n the -ongress * had seen him in a coat and trusers, but * was
glad to find him now wearing a Bengal JdhotiJ and shirt. * li# ed his sim!le mode of dress, though
* myself then wore a Parsi coat and trousers. 5ithout much ado * !resented my difficulties to him.
)e as#ed' (" you believe in the doctrine of original sin@(
(* do,( said *.
(5ell then, )induism offers no absolution therefrom, -hristianity does, and added' The wages of
sin is death, and the Bible s ays that the only way of deliverance is surrender unto $esus .(
* !ut forward JBha#ti/margaJ >the !ath of devotion? of the JBhagavadgitaJ, but to no avail. *
than#ed him for his goodness. )e failed to satisfy me, but * benefited by the interview.
"uring these days * wal#ed u! and down the s treets of -alcutta. * went to most !laces on foot. *
met $ustice Mitter and Sir Gurdas Baner,i, whose hel! * wanted in my wor# in South 1frica. 1nd
about this time * met +a,a Sir Pyarimohan Mu#ar,i.
Kalicharan Baner,i had s!o#en to me about the Kali tem!le, which * was eager to see, es!ecially
as * had read about it in boo#s. So * went there one day, $ustice Mitter(s house was in the same
locality, and * therefore went to the tem!le on the same day that * visited him. n the way * saw a
stream of shee! going to be sacrificed to #ali. +ows of beggars lined the lane leading to the
tem!le. There were religious mendicants too, and even in those days * was sternly o!!osed to
giving alms to sturdy beggars. 1 crowd of them !ursued me. ne of such men was found seated
on a verandah. )e sto!!ed me, and accosted me' (5hither are you going, my boy@( * re!lied to
him.
)e as#ed my com!anion and me to sit down, which we did.
* as#ed him' ("o you regard this sacrifice as religion@(
(5ho would regard #illing of animals as religion@(
(Then, why don(t you !reach against it@(
(That(s not my business . ur business is to worshi! God.(
(But could you not find any other !lace in which to worshi! God@(
(1ll !laces are e3ually good for us. The !eo!le are li#e a floc# of shee!, following where leaders
lead them. *t is no business of us JsadhusJ.(
5e did not !rolong the discussion but !assed on to the tem!le. 5e were greeted by rivers of
blood. * could not bear to s tand there. * was e&as!erated and restless. i have never forgotten that
sight.
That very evening * had an invitation to dinner at a !arty of Bengali friends. There * s!o#e to a
friend about this cruel form of worshi!. )e said' (The shee! don(t feel anything. The noise and the
drum/ beating there deaden all sensation of !ain.(
* could not swallow this. * told him that, if the shee! had s!eech, they would tell a different tale. *
felt that the cruel custom ought to be sto!!ed. * thought of the story of Buddha, but * also saw that
the tas# was beyond my ca!acity.

* hold today the o!inion as * held then. To my mind the life of a lamb is no less !recious than that
of a human being. * should be unwilling to ta# e the life of a lamb for the sa# e of the human body. *
hold that, the more hel!less a creature, the more entitled it s to !rotection by man from the cruelty
of man. But he who has not 3ualified himself for such service is unable to afford to it any
!rotection. * must go through more self/!urific ation and sacrifice. before * can ho!e to save these
lambs from this unholy sacrifice. Today * thin# * must die !ining for this self/!urifiacation and
sacrifice. *t is my constant !rayer that there may be born on earth some great that there may be
born on earth some great s!irit, man or woman, fired with divine !ity, who will deliver us from this
heinous sin, save the lives of the innocent creatures, and !urify the tem!le. )ow is it that Bengal
with all its #nowledge, intelligence, sacrifice, and emotion tolerates this slaughter@
Chapter 3
A MONTH +ITH GO)HALE ,, III
The terrible sacrifice offered to Kali in the name of religion enhanced my desire to #now Bengali
life. * had read and heard a good deal about the Brahmo Sama,. * #new something about the life
of Prata! -handra Ma2umdar. * had attended some of the meetings addressed by him. * s ecured
his life of Keshav -handra Sen, read it with great interest, and understood the distinction between
Sadharan Brahmo Sama,, and 1di Brahmo Sama,. * met Pandit Shivanath Shas tri and in
com!any with Prof. Kathavate went to see Maharshi "evendranath Tagore, but as no interviews
with him were allowed then, we could not see him. 5e were, however, invited to a celebration of
the Brahmo Sama, held at his !lace, and there we had the !rivilege of listening to fine Bengali
music. 6ver since * have been a lover of Bengali music.
)aving seen enough of the Brahmo Sama,, it was im!ossible to be satisfied without seeing
Swami .ive# anand. So with great enthusiasm * went to Belur Math, mostly, or maybe all the way,
on foot. * loved the se3uestered site of the Math. * was dis a!!ointed and sorry to be told that the
Swami was at his -alcutta house, lying ill, and could not be seen.
* then ascertained the !lace of residence of Sister %ivedita, and met her in a -howringhee
mansion. * was ta#en abac# by the s !lendour that surrounded her, and even in our conversation
there was not much meeting ground. * s!o#e to Go#hale about this, and he said he did not
wonder that there could be no !oint of contact between me and a volatile !erson li#e her.
* met her again at Mr. Peston,i Padshah(s !lace. * ha!!ened to come in ,ust as she was tal#ing to
his old mother, and so * became an inter!reter between the two. *n s!ite of my failure to find any
agreement with her, * could not but notice and admire her overflowing love for )induis m. * came
to #now of her boo#s later.
* used to divide my day between seeing the leading !eo!le in -alcutta regarding the wor# in
South 1frica, and visiting and studying the religious and !ublic institutions of the city. * once
addressed a meeting, !resided over by "r. Mullic#, on the wor# of the *ndian 1mbulance -or!s in
the Boer 5ar. My ac3uaintance with JThe 6nglishmanJ stood me in good stead on this occasion
too. Mr. Saunders was ill then, but rendered me as much hel! as in 9:<;. Go#hale li#ed this
s!eech of mine, and he was very glad to hear "r. +ay !raising it.

Thus my stay under the roof of Go# hale made my wor# in -alcutta very easy, brought me into
touch with the foremost Bengali families, and was the beginning of my intimate c ontact with
Bengal.
* must needs s# i! over many a reminiscence of this memorable month. 4et me sim!ly mention my
flying visit to Burma, and the JfoongisJ there. * was !ained by their lethargy. * saw the golden
!agoda. * did not li#e the innumerable little c andles burning in the tem!le, and the rats running
about the sanctum brought to my mind thoughts of Swami "ayanand(s e&!erience at Morvi. The
freedom and energy of the Burmese women c harmed ,ust as the indolence of the men !ained
me. * also saw, during my brief so,ourn, that ,ust as Bombay was not *ndia, +angoon was not
Burma, and that ,ust as we in *ndia have become commission agents of 6nglish merchants, even
so in Burma have we c ombined with the 6nglish merchants, in ma#ing the Burmese !eo!le our
commission agents.
n my return from Burma * too# leave of Go#hale. The se!aration was a wrench, but my wor# in
Bengal, or rather -alcutta, was finished, and * had no occasion to stay any longer.
Before settling down * had thought of ma#ing a tour through *ndia travelling third class, and of
ac3uainting myself with the hardshi!s of third class !assengers. * s!o#e to Go#hale about this. To
begin with he ridiculed the idea, but when * e&!lained to him what * ho!ed to see, he cheerfully
a!!roved. * !lanned to go first to Benares to !ay my res!ects to Mrs. Besant, who was then ill.
*t was necessary to e3ui! myself anew for the third class tour. Go# hale himself gave me a metal
tiffin/bo& and got it filled with sweetballs and J!urisJ. * !urchased a canvas bag worth twelve
annas and a long coat made of -hhaya wool. The bag was to contain this coat, a JdhotiJ, a towel
and a shirt. * had a blan# et as well to cover myself with and a water ,ug. Thus e3ui!!ed * set forth
on my travels, Go#hlae and "r. +ay came to the station to see me off. * had as# ed them both not
to trouble to come, but they insisted. 7* should not have come if you had gone first class, but now
* had to,( said Go#hale.
%o one sto!!ed Go#hale from going on to the !latform. )e was in his sil# turban, ,ac#et and
JdhotiJ. "r. +ay was in his Bengali dress. )e was sto!!ed by the tic #et collector, but on Go#hale
telling him that he was his friend, he was admitted.
Thus with their good wishes * started on my ,ourney.
Chapter 4
IN BENARES
The ,ourney was from -alcutta to +a,#ot, and * !lanned to halt at Benares , 1gra, $ai!ur and
Palan!ur en rute. * had not the time to see any more !laces than these. *n each city * stayed one
day and !ut u! in dharmashalasor with pandasli#e the ordinary !ilgrims, e& ce!ting at Palan!ur.
So far as * can remember, * did not s!end more than +s. D9 >including the train fare? on this
,ourney.
*n travelling third class * mostly !referred the ordinary to the mail trains, as * #new that the latter
were more crowded and the fares in them higher.

The third class c om!artments are !ractically as dirty, and the closet arrangements as bad, today
as they were then, There may be a little im!rovement now, but the difference between the
facilities !rovided for the first and the third classes is out of all !ro!ortion to the difference
between the fares for the two classes. Third class !assengers are treated li#e shee! and their
comforts are s hee!(s comforts. *n 6uro!e * travelled third and only once first, ,ust to see what it
was li#e but there * noticed no such difference between the first and the third classes . *n South
1frica class comforts are better there than here. *n !arts of South 1frica third class com!artments
are !rovided with slee!ing accommodation and cushioned seats. The accommodation is also
regulated, so as to !revent overcrowding, whereas here * have found the regulation limit usually
e&ceeded.
The indifference of the railway authorities to the c omforts of the third class !assengers, combined
with the dirty and inconsiderate habits of the !assengers themselves, ma#es third class travelling
a trial for a !assenger of cleanly ways. These un!leasant habits commonly inc lude throwing of
rubbish on the floor of the com!artment, smo#ing at all hours and in all !laces, betel and tobacco
chewing, converting of the whole carriage into a s!ittoon, shouting and yelling, and using foul
language, regardless of the convenience or comfort of fellow !assengers. * have noticed little
difference between my e&!erience of the third c lass travelling in 9<A8 and that of my unbro#en
third class tours from 9<9I to 9<9<.
* can thin# of only one remedy for this awful state of things that educated men should ma#e a
!oint of travelling third class and reforming the habits of the !eo!le, as also of never letting the
railway authorities rest in !eace, sending in com!laints wherever necessary, never resorting to
bribes or any unlawful means for obtaining their own c omforts, and never !utting u! with
infringements of rules on the !art of anyone concerned. This, * am sure, would bring about
considerable im!rovement.
My serious illness in 9<9:/9< has unfortunately com!elled me !ractically to give u! third class
travelling, and it has been a matter of constant !ain and shame to me, es!ecially because the
disability came at a time when the agitation for the removal of the hardshi!s of third class
!assengers was ma#ing fair headway. The hardshi! of !oor railway and steamshi! !assengers,
accentuated by their bad habits, the undue facilities allowed by Government to foreign trade, and
such other things, ma#e an im!ortant grou! of sub,ects, worthy to be ta#en u! by one or two
enter!rising and !ersevering wor#ers who could devote their full time to it.
But * shall leave the third class !assengers at that, and come to my e&!erience in Benares. *
arrived there in the morning. * had decided to !ut u! with a panda. %umerous Brahmans
surrounded me, as soon as * got out of the train, and * selected one who struc# me to be
com!aratively cleaner and better than the rest. *t !roved to be a good choice. There was a cow in
the courtyard of his house and an u!!er storey where * was given a lodging. * did not want to
have any food without ablution in the Ganges in the !ro!er orthodo& manner. The pandamade
!re!arations for it. * had told him beforehand that on no account could * give him more than a
ru!ee and four annas as dakshina, and that he should therefore # ee! this in mind while ma#ing
the !re!arations.
The pandareadily assented. (Be the !ilgrim rich or !oor,( said he, (the service is the same in
every case. But the amount of dakshinawe receive de!ends u!on the will and the ability of the
!ilgrim.( * did not find that the pandaat all abridged the usual formalities in my case. The pujawas
over at twelve o(cloc #, and * went to the Kashi .ishvanath tem!le for darshan. * was dee!ly
!ained by what * saw there. 5hen !ractising as a barrister in Bombay in 9:<9. * had occasion to
attend a lecture in (!ilgrimage to Kashi( in the Prarthana Sama, hall. * was therefore !re!ared for
some measure of dis a!!ointment. But the actual dis a!!ointment was greater than * had
bargained for.

The a!!roac h was through a narrow and sli!!ery lane. Huiet there was none. The swarming flies
and the noise made by the sho!#ee!ers and !ilgrims were !erfectly in/sufferable.
5here one e&!ected an atmos!here of meditation and communion it was cons!icuous by its
absence. ne had to see# that atmos!here in oneself. * did observe devout sisters, who were
absorbed in meditation, entirely unconscious of the environment. But for this the authorities of the
tem!le could scarcely c laim any c redit. The authorities should be res!onsible for creating and
maintaining about the tem!le a !ure sweet and serene atmos!here, !hysical as well as moral.
*nstead of this * found a ba)arwhere cunning sho!# ee!ers were selling sweets and toys of the
latest fashion.
5hen * reached the tem!le. * was greeted at the entrance by a stin# ing mass of rotten flowers.
The floor was !aved with fine marble, which was however bro#en by some devotee innocent of
aesthetic taste who had set it with ru!ees serving as an e&cellent rece!tacle for dirt.
* went near the 7anana.vapi>well of #nowledge?. * searched here for God but failed to find )im. *
was not therefore in a !articularly good mood. The surroundings of the 7nana.vapitoo * found to
be dirty. * had no mind to give any dakshina. So * offered a !ie. The pandain charge got angry
and threw away the !ie. )e swore at me and said, (This insult will ta#e you straight to hell.(
This did not !erturb me. (Mahara,,( said *, (whatever fate has in store for me, it does not behove
one of your class to indulge in such language. =ou may ta#e this !ie if you li#e, or you will lose
that too.(
(Go away,( he re!lied, (* don(t care for your !ie.( 1nd then followed a further volley of abuse.
* too# u! the !ie and went my way, flattering myself that the Brahman had lost a !ie and * had
saved one. But the Mahara, was hardly the man to let the !ie go. )e called me bac# and said, (1ll
right, leave the !ie here, * would rather not be as you are. *f * refuse your !ie, it will be bad for
you.(
* silently gave him the !ie and, with a sigh, went away.
Since then * have twice been to Kashi .ishvanath, but that has been after * had already been
afflicted with the title of Mahatmaand e&!eriences such as * have detailed above had become
im!ossible. Peo!le eager to have my darshanwould not !ermit me to have a darshanof the
tem!le. The woes of Mahatmasare #nown to Mahatmasalone. therwise the dirt and the noise
were the same as before.
*f anyone doubts the infinite mercy of God, let him have a loo# at these sacred !laces. )ow muc h
hy!ocrisy and irreligion does the Prince of =ogis suffer to be !er!etrated in )is holy name@ )e
!roclaimed long ago'
(5hatever a man sows, that shall he rea!.( The law of Karma is ine&orable and im!ossible of
evasion. There is thus hardly any need for God to interfere. )e laid down the law and, as it were,
retired.
1fter this visit to the tem!le, * waited u!on Mrs. Besant. * #new that she had ,ust recovered from
an illnes s. * sent in my name. She came at once. 1s * wished only to !ay my res!ects to her, *
said, (* am aware that you are in delicate health. * only wanted to !ay my res!ects. * am than#ful

that you have been good enough to receive me in s!ite of your indifferent health. * will not detain
you any longer.(
So saying, * too# leave of her.
Chapter 5
SETTLED IN BOMBAY
Go#hale was very an&ious that * should settle down in Bombay, !ractise at the bar and hel!
him in !ublic wor#. Public wor# in those days meant -ongress wor#, and the chief wor# of the
institution whic h he had assisted to found was carrying on the -ongress adminis tration.
* li#ed Go#hale(s advice, but * was not overconfident of success as a barrister. The un!leasant
memories of !ast failure were yet with me, and * still hated as !oison the use of flattery for getting
briefs .
* therefore decided to start wor# first at +a,#ot. Kevalram Mav,i "ave, my old well/wisher, who
had induced me to go to 6ngland, was there, and he started me straightaway with three briefs.
Two of them were a!!eals before the $udicial 1ssistant to the Political 1gent in Kathiawad and
one was an original case in $amnagar. This last was rather im!ortant. n my saying that * could
not trust myself to do it ,ustice, Kevalram "ave e&claimed' (5inning or losing is no concern of
yours. =ou will sim!ly try your best, and * am of course there to as sist you.(
The counsel on the other side was the late S,t. Samarth. * was fairly well !re!ared. %ot that *
#new much of *ndian law, but Kevalram "ave had instructed me very thoroughly. * had heard
friends say, before * went out to South 1frica, that Sir Phero2eshah Mehta had the law of
evidence at his finger/ti!s and that was the secret of his succes s. * had borne this in mind, and
during the voyage had carefully studied the *ndian 6vidence 1ct with commentaries thereon.
There was of c ourse also the advantage of my legal e&!erience in South 1frica.
* won the c ase and gained some confidence. * had no fear about the a!!eals, which were
successful. 1ll this ins!ired a ho!e in me that after all * might not fail even in Bombay.
But before * set forth the circumstances in which * decided to go to Bombay, * shall narrate my
e&!erience of the inconsiderateness and ignorance of 6nglish officials. The $udicial 1ssistant(s
court was !eri!atetic. )e was constantly touring, and va# ils and their clients had to follow him
wherever he moved his cam!. The va#ils would charge more whenever they had to go out of
head3uarters, and so the clients had naturally to incur double the e&!enses. The inconvenience
was no concern of the ,udge.
The a!!eal of which * am tal#ing was to be heard at .eraval where !lague was raging. * have a
recollection that there were as many as fifty cases daily in the !lace with a !o!ulation of I,IAA. *t
was !ractically deserted, and * !ut u! in a deserted JdharmashalaJ at some distance from the
town. But where the clients to s tay@ *f they were !oor, they had sim!ly to trust themselves to
God(s mercy.

1 friend who als o had cases before the court had wired that * should !ut in an a!!lication for the
cam! to be moved to some other station because of the !lague at .eraval. n my submitting the
a!!lication, the sahib as#ed me. (1re you afraid@(
* answered' *t is not a 3uestion of my being afraid. * thin# * can s hift for myself, but what about the
clients@(
(The !lague has come to stay in *ndia,( re!lied the sahib. (5hy dear it@ The climate of .eraval is
lovely. OThe sahib lived far away from the town in a !alatial tent !itched on the seashore.P Surely
!eo!le must learn to live thus in the o!en.(
*t was no use arguing against this !hiloso!hy. The sahib told his shirastedar' (Ma#e a note of
what Mr. Gandhi says, and let me #now if it is very inconvenient for the va#ils or the clients.(
The sahib of course had honestly done what he thought was the right thing. But how could the
man have an idea of the hardshi!s of !oor *ndia@ )ow was he to understand the needs , habits,
idiosyncrasies and customs of the !eo!le@ )ow was one, ac customed to measure things in gold
sovereigns, all at once to ma#e calculations in tiny bits of co!!er@ 1s the ele!hant is !owerless to
thin# in the terms of the ant, in s!ite of the best intentions in the world, even so is the 6nglishman
!owerless to thin# in the terms of, or legislate for, the *ndian.
But to resume the thread of story. *n s!ite of my successes, * had been thin#ing of staying on in
+a,#ot for some time longer, when one day Kevalram "ave came to me and said' (Gandhi, we will
not suffer you to vegetate here. =ou must settle in Bombay.(
(But who will find wor# for me there@( * as#ed. (5ill you find the e&!enses@(
(=es, yes, * will,( said he. (5e shall bring you down here sometimes as a big barrister from
Bombay and drafting wor# we shall send you there. *t lies with us va# ils to ma# e or mar a
barrister. =ou have !roved your worth in $amnagar and .eraval, and * have therefore not the
least an&iety about you. =ou are des tined to do !ublic wor#, and we will not allow you to be
buried in Kathiawad. So tell me, then, when you will go to Bombay.(
(* am e&!ecting a remittance from %atal. 1s soon as * get it * will go,( * re!lied.
The money came in about two wee#s, and * went to Bombay. * too# chambers in Payne, Gilbert
and Sayani(s offices, and it loo#ed as though * had settled down.
Chapter 6
%AITH ON ITS TRIAL
Though * had hired chambers in the fort and a house in Girgaum, God would not let me settle
down. Scarcely had * moved into my new house when my second son Manilal, who had already
been through an acute attac# of small!o& some years bac#, had a severe attac# of ty!hoid,
combined with !neumonia and signs of delirium at night.

The doctor was called in. )e said medicine would have little effect, but eggs and chic# en broth
might be given with !rofit.
Manilal was only ten years old. To consult his wishes was out of the 3uestion. Being his guardian
* had to decide. The doctor was a very good Parsi. * told him that we were all vegetarians and that
* could not !ossibly give either of the two things to my son. 5ould he therefore recommend
something else@
(=our son(s life is in danger,( said the good doctor. (5e could give him mil# diluted with water, but
that will not give him enough nourishment. 1s you #now, * am called in by many )indu families,
and they do not ob,ect to anything * !rescribe. * thin# you will be well advised not to be s o hard on
your son.(
(5hat you say is 3uite right,( said *. (1s a doctor you could not do otherwise. But my res!onsibility
is very great. *f the boy had been grown u!, * should certainly have tried to ascertain his wishes
and res!ected them. But here * have to thin# and decide for him. To my mind it is only on such
occasions, that a man(s faith is truly tes ted +ightly or wrongly it is !art of my religious conviction
that man may not eat meat, eggs, and the li#e. There should be a limit even means of #ee!ing
ourselves alive. 6ven for itself we may not so certain things. +eligion, as * understand it, does not
!ermit me to use meat or eggs for me or mine even on occasions li#e this, and * must therefore
ta#e the ris# that you say is li#ely. But * beg of you one thing. 1s * cannot avail myself of your
treatment, * !ro!ose to try some hydro!athic remedies which * ha!!en to #now. But * shall not
#now how to e&amine the boy(s !ulse, chest, lungs, etc. *f you will #indly loo# in from time to time
to e&amine him and #ee! me informed of his condition, * shall be grateful to you.(
The good doctor a!!reciated my difficulty and agreed to my re3uest. Though Manilal could not
have made his choice, * told him what had !assed between the doctor and myself and as#ed him
his o!inion.
("o try your hydro!athic treatment,( he said. (* will not have eggs or chic#en broth.(
This made me glad, though * reali2ed that, if * had given him either of these, he would have ta#en
it.
* #new Kuhne(s treatment and had tried it too. * #new as well that fasting also could be tried with
!rofit. So * began to give Manilal hi! baths according to Kuhne, never # ee!ing him in the tub for
more than three minutes, and #e!t him on orange ,uice mi&ed with water for three days.
But the tem!erature !ersisted, going u! to 9AE. 1t night he would be delirious. * began to get
an&ious. 5hat would !eo!le say of me@ 5hat would my elder brother thin# of me@ -ould we not
call in another doctor@ 5hy not have an 1yurvedic !hysician@ 5hat right had the !arents to inflict
their fads on their children@
* was haunted by thoughts li#e these. Then a contrary current would start. God would surely be
!leased to see that * was giving the same treatment to my son as * would give myself. * had faith
in hydro!athy, and little faith in allo!athy. The doctors could not guarantee recovery. 1t best they
could e&!eriment. The tread of life was in the hands of God. 5hy not trust it to )im and in )is
name go on with what * thought was the right treatment@
My mind was torn between these conflicting thoughts. *t was night. * was in Manilal(s bed lying by
his side. * decided to give him a wet sheet !ac#. * got u!, wetted a sheet, wrung the water out of it
and wra!!ed it about Manilal, #ee!ing only his head out and then covered him with two blan#ets.
To the head * a!!lied a wet towel. The whole body was burning li#e hot iron, and 3uite !arched.
There was absolutely no !ers!iration.

* was sorely tired. * left Manilal in the c harge of his mother, and went out for a wal# on -hau!ati to
refresh myself. *t was about ten o(cloc#. .ery few !edestrians were out. Plunged in dee! thought,
* scarcely loo#ed at them, (My honour is in Thy #ee!ing oh 4ord, in this hour of trial,( * re!eated to
myself. J+amanamaJ was on my li!s. 1fter a short time * returned, my heart beating within my
breast.
%o sooner had * entered the room than Manilal s aid, (=ou have returned, Ba!u@(
(=es, darling.(
("o !lease !ull me out. * am burning.(
(1re you !ers!iring, my boy@(
(* am sim!ly soa#ed. "o !lease ta#e me out.(
* felt his forehead. *t was covered with beads of !ers!iration. The tem!erature was going down. *
than#ed God.
(Manilal, your fever is sure to go now. 1 little more !ers!iration and then * will ta#e you out.(
(Pray, no. "o deliver me from this furnac e. 5ra! me some other time if you li#e.(
* ,ust managed to #ee! him under the !ac# for a few minutes more by diverting him. The
!ers!iration streamed down his forehead. * undid the !ac# and dried his body. 0ather and son fell
aslee! in the same bed.
1nd each sle!t li#e a log. %e&t morning Manilal had much less fever. )e went on thus for forty
days on diluted mil# and fruit ,uices. * had no fear now. *t was an obstinate ty!e of fever, but it had
been got under control.
Today Manilal is the healthiest of my boys. 5ho can say whether his recovery was due to God(s
grace, or to hydro!athy, or to careful dietary and nursing@ 4et everyone decide according to his
own faith. 0or my !art * was sure that God had saved my honour, and that belief remains
unaltered to this day.
Chapter
TO SOUTH A%RICA AGAIN
Manilal was restored to health, but * saw that the Girgaum house was not habitable. *t was
dam! and ill/lighted. So in consultation with Shri +evashan#ar $ag,ivan * decided to hire some
well/ventilated bungalow in a suburb of Bombay. * wandered about in Bandra and Santa -ru2.
The slaughter house in Bandra !revented our choice falling there. Ghat#o!ar and !laces near it
were too far from the sea. 1t last we hit u!on a fine bungalow in Santa -ru2. which we hired as
being the best from the !oint of view of sanitation.

* too# a first class season tic#et from Santa -ru2 to -hurchgate, and remember having fre3uently
felt a certain !ride in being the only first class !assenger in my com!artment. ften * wal#ed to
Bandra in order to ta#e the fast train from there direct to -hurchgate.
* !ros!ered in my !rofession better than * had e&!ected. My South 1frican clients often entrusted
me with some wor# , and it was enough to enable me to !ay my way.
* had not yet succ eeded in securing any wor# in the )igh -ourt, but * attended the (moot( that
used to be held in those days, though * never ventured to ta#e !art in it. * recall $amiatram
%anabhai ta# ing a !rominent !art. 4i#e other fresh barristers * made a !oint of attending the
hearing of cases in the )igh -ourt, more, * am afraid, for en,oying the so!orific bree2e coming
straight from the sea than for adding to my # nowledge. * obs erved that * was not the only one to
en,oy this !leasure. *t seemed to be the fashion and therefore nothing to be ashamed of.
)owever * began to ma#e use of the )igh -ourt library and ma#e fresh ac3uaintances and felt
that before long * should s ecure wor# in the )igh -ourt.
Thus whilst on the one hand * began to feel somewhat at ease about my !rofession, on the other
hand Go#hale, whose eyes were always on me, had been busy ma#ing his own !lans on my
behalf. )e !ee!ed in at my chambers twice or thrice every wee#, often in com!any with friends
whom he wanted me to #now, and he #e!t me ac3uainted with his mode of wor#.
But it may be said that God has never allowed any of my own !lans to stand. )e has dis!osed
them in )is own way.
$ust when * seemed to be settling down as * had intended * received an une&!ected cable from
South 1frica' (-hamberlain e&!ected here. Please return immediately.( * remembered my !romise
and cabled to s ay that * should be ready to start the moment they !ut me in funds. They !rom!tly
res!onded, * gave u! the chambers and started for South 1frica.
* had an idea that the wor# there would #ee! me engaged for at least a year, so * #e!t the
bungalow and left my wife and children there.
* believed then that enter!rising youths who c ould not find an o!ening in the country should
emigrate to other lands. * therefore too# with me four or five such youths, one of whom was
Maganlal Gandhi.
The Gandhis were and are a big family. * wanted to find out all those who wished to leave the
trodden !ath and venture abroad. My father used to accommodate a number of them in some
state service. * wanted them to be free from this s!ell. * neither could nor would secure other
service for themC * wanted them to be self/reliant.
But as my ideals advanced, * tried to !ersuade these youths also to conform their ideals to mine,
and * had the greatest success in guiding Maganlal Gandhi. But about this later.
The se!aration from wife and children, the brea#ing u! of a settled es tablishment, and the going
from the certain to the uncertain/ all this was for a moment !ainful, but * had inured myself to an
uncertain life. * thin# it is wrong to e&!ect certainties in this world, where all else but God that is
Truth is an uncertainty. 1ll that a!!ears and ha!!ens about and around us is uncertain transient.
But there is a Su!reme Being hidden therein as a -ertainty, and one would be blessed if one
could catch a glim!se of that -ertainty and hitch one(s waggon to it. The 3uest for that Truth is
the summum bnumof life.

* reached "urban not a day too soon. There was wor# waiting for me. The date for the de!utation
to wait on Mr. -hamberlain had been fi&ed. * had to draft the memorial to be submitted to him and
accom!any the de!utation.
Chapter #
&LO.E&S LABOUR&S LOST&-
Mr. -hamberlain had come to get a gift of DI million !ounds from South 1frica, and to win the
hearts of 6nglishmen and Boers. So he gave a cold shoulder to the *ndian de!utation.
(=ou #now,( he said (that the *m!erial Government has little control over self/governing -olonies.
=our grievances seem to be genuine. * shall do what * can, if you wish to live in their midst.(
The re!ly cast a chill over the members of the de!utation. * was also disa!!ointed. *t was an eye/
o!ener for us all, and * saw that we should start with our wor# de nv. * e&!lained the situation to
my colleagues .
1s a matter of fact there was nothing wrong about Mr. -hamberlain(s re!ly. *t was well that he did
not mince matters. )e had brought home to us in a rather gentle way the rule of might being right
or the law of the sword.
But sword we had none. 5e sc arcely had the nerve and the muscle even to receive sword/cuts.
Mr. -hamberlain had given only a short time to the sub/continent. *f Shrinagar to -a!e -omorin
is 9,<AA miles, "urban to -a!etown is not less than 9,9AA miles, and Mr. -hamberlain had to
cover the long distance at hurricane s!eed.
0rom %atal he hastened to the Transvaal. * had to !re!are the case for the *ndians there as well
and submit it to him. But how was * get to Pretoria@ ur !eo!le there were not in a !osition to
!rocure the necessary legal facilities for my getting to them in time. The 5ar had reduced the
Transvaal to a howling wilderness. There were neither !rovisions nor clothing available. 6m!ty or
closed sho!s were there, waiting to be re!lenished or o!ened, but that was a matter of time.
6ven refugees could not be allowed to return until the sho!s were ready with !rovisions. 6very
Transvaller had therefore to obtain a !ermit. The 6uro!ean had no difficulty in getting one, but the
*ndian found it very hard.
"uring the 5ar many officers and soldiers had come to South 1fric a from *ndia and -eylon, and it
was considered to be the duty of the British authorities to !rovide for such of them as decided to
settle there. They had in any event to a!!oint new officers, and these e&!erienced men came in
3uite handy. The 3uic# ingenuity of some of them created a new de!artment. *t showed their
resourcefulnes s. There was a s!ecial de!artment for the %egroes. 5hy then should there not be
one for the 1siatics@ The argument seemed to be 3uite !lausible. 5hen * reached the Transvaal,
this new de!artment had already been o!ened and was gradually s!reading its tentacles. The
officers who issued !ermits to the returning refugees might issue them to all, but how could they
do so in res!ect of the 1siatics without the intervention of the new de!artment@ 1nd if the !ermits
were to be issued on the recommendation of the new de!artment, s ome of the res!onsibility and
burden of the !ermit officers could thus be less ened. This was how they had argued. The fac t,
however, was that the new de!artment wanted some a!ology for wor#, and the men wanted

money. *f there had been no wor# , the de!artment would have been unnecessary and would
have been discontinued. So they found this wor# for themselves.
The *ndians had to a!!ly to this de!artment. 1 re!ly would be vouchsafed many days after. 1nd
as there were large numbers wishing to return to the Transvaal, there grew u! an army of
intermediaries or touts, who with the officers, looted the !oor *ndians to the tune of thousands. *
was told that no !ermit could be had without influence, !ounds in s!ite of the influence which one
might bring to bear. Thus seemed to be no way o!en to me. * went to my old friend, the Police
Su!erintendent of "urban, and s aid to him' (Please introduce me to the Permit fficer and hel!
me to obtain a !ermit. =ou #now that * have been a resident of the Transvaal.( )e immediately
!ut on his hat, came out and secured me a !ermit. There was hardly an hour left before my train
was to start. * had #e!t my luggage ready. * than#ed Su!erintendent 1le&ander and started for
Pretoria.
* now had a fair idea of the difficulties ahead. n reaching Pretoria * drafted the memorial. *n
"urban * do not rec ollect the *ndians having been as#ed to submit in advance the names of their
re!resentatives, but here there was the new de!artment and it as#ed to do so. The Pretoria
*ndians had already come to #now that the officers wanted to e&clude me.
But another cha!ter is necessary for this !ainful though amusing incident.
Chapter $
AUTOCRATS %ROM ASIA
The officers at the head of the new de!artment were at a loss to #now how * had entered the
Transvaal. They in3uired of the *ndians who used to go to them, but these could say nothing
definite. The officers only ventured a guess that * might have succeeded in entering without a
!ermit on the strength of my old connections. *f that was the case, * was liable to be arrestedB
*t is a general !ractice, on the termination of a big war, to invest the Government of the day with
s!ecial !owers. This was the case in South 1frica. The Government had !assed a Peace
Pres ervation rdinance, which !rovided that anyone entering the Transvaal without a !ermit
should be liable to arrest and im!risonment. The 3uestion of arresting me under this !rovision
was mooted, but no one could summon u! courage enough to as# me to !roduce my !ermit.
The officers had of course sent telegrams to "urban, and when they found that * had entered with
a !ermit, they were disa!!ointed. But they were not the men to be defeated by such
disa!!ointment. Though * had succeeded in entering the Transvaal, they c ould still successfully
!revent me from waiting on Mr. -hamberlain.
So the community was as#ed to submit the names of the re!resentives who were to form the
"e!utation. -olour !re,udice was of course in evidence everywhere in South 1frica, but * was not
!re!ared to find here the dirty and underhand dealing among officials that * was familiar with in
*ndia. *n South 1frica the !ublic de!artments were maintained for the good of the !eo!le and
were res!onsible to !ublic o!inion. )enc e officials in charge had a certain courtesy of manner
and humility about them, and coloured !eo!le also got the benefit of it more or less. 5ith the
coming of the officers from 1sia, came also its autocracy, and the habits that the autocrats had

imbibed there. *n South 1frica there was a # ind of res!onsible government or democracy,
whereas the commodity im!orted from 1sia was autocracy !ure and sim!leC for the 1siatics had
no res!onsible government, there being a foreign !ower governing them. *n South 1frica the
6uro!eans were settled emigrants. They had become South 1frican citi2ens and had control over
the de!artmental officers. But the autocrats from 1sia now a!!eared on the scene, and the
*ndians in conse3uence found themselves between the devil and the dee! sea.
* had a fair taste of this autocracy. * was first summoned to see the chief of the de!artment, an
officer from -eylon. 4est * should a!!ear to e&aggerate when * say that * was (summoned( to see
the chief, * shall ma# e myself clear. %o written order was sent to me. *ndian leaders often had to
visit the 1siatic officers. 1mong these was the late Sheth Tyeb )a,i Khanmahomed. The chief of
the office as#ed him who * was and why * had come there.
()e is our adviser,( said Tyeb Sheth, (and he has come here at our re3uest.(
(Then what are we here for@ )ave we not been a!!ointed to !rotect you@ 5hat can Gandhi #now
of the conditions here@( as#ed the autocrat.
Tyeb Sheth answered the charge as best he could' (f course you are there. But Gandhi is our
man. )e #nows our language and understands us. =ou are after all officials.(
The Sahib ordered Tyeb Sheth to fetch me before him. * went to the Sahib in com!any with Tyeb
Sheth and others. %o seats were offered, we were all #e!t standing.
(5hat brings you here@( said the Sahib addressing me.
(* have come here at the re3uest of my fellow countrymen to hel! them with my advice,( * re!lied.
(But don(t you #now that you have no right to come here@ The !ermit you hold was given you by
mista#e. =ou must go bac#. =ou shall not wait on Mr. -hamberlain. *t is for the !rotection of the
*ndians here that the 1siatic "e!artment had been es!ecially c reated. 5ell, you may go.( 5ith
this he bade me good/bye, giving me no o!!ortunity for a re!ly.
But he detained my com!anions. )e gave them a sound scolding and advised them to send me
away.
They returned chagrined. 5e were now confronted with an une&!ected situation.
Chapter #'
POC)ETED THE INSULT
* smarted under the insult, but as * had !oc#eted many such in the !ast * had become inured to
them. * therefore decided to forget this latest one and ta#e what course a dis!assionate view of
the case might suggest.

5e had a letter from the -hief of the 1siatic "e!artment to the effect that, as * had been found
necessary to omit my name from the de!utation which was to wait on him.
The letter was more than my co/wor#ers could bear. They !ro!osed to dro! the idea of the
de!utation altogether. * !ointed out to them the aw# ward situation of the community.
*f you do not re!resent your case before Mr. -hamberlain,( said *, (it will be !resumed that you
have no case at all. 1fter all, the re!resentation has to be made in writing, and we have got it
ready. *t does not matter in the least whether * read it or someone else reads it. Mr. -hamberlain
is not going to argue the matter with us. * am afraid we must swallow the insult.(
* had scarcely finished s!ea#ing when Tyeb Sheth cried out, ("oes not an ins ult to you amount to
an insult to the community@ )ow can we forget that you are our re!resentative@(
(Too true.( said *. (But even the community will have to !oc #et insults li#e these. )ave we any
alternative@(
(-ome what may, why should we swallow a fresh insult@ %othing worse can !ossibly ha!!en to
us. )ave we many rights to lose@( as #ed Tyeb Sheth.
*t was a s!irited re!ly, but of what avail was it@ * was fully conscious of the limitations of the
community. * !acified my friends and advis ed them to have, in my !lace, Mr. George Godfrey, an
*ndian barrister.
So Mr. Godfrey led the de!utation. Mr. -hamberlain referred in his re!ly to my e&clusion. (+ather
than hear the same re!resentative over and over again, is it not better to have someone new@( he
said, and tried to heal the wound.
But all this, far from ending the matter, only added to the wor# of the community and also to mine.
5e had to start afresh.
(*t is at your instanc e that the community hel!ed in the war, and you see the result now,( were the
words with which some !eo!le taunted me. But the taunt had no effect. (* do not regret my
advice,( said *. (* maintain that we did well in ta#ing !art in the war. *n doing so we sim!ly did our
duty. 5e may not loo# forward to any reward for our labours, but it is my firm conviction that all
good action is bound to bear fruit in the end. 4et us forget the !ast and thin# of the tas# before
us.( 5ith which the rest agreed.
* added' (To tell you the truth the wor# for which you had called me is !ractically finished. But *
believe * ought not to leave the Transvaal, so far as it is !ossible, even if you !ermit me to return
home. *ns tead of carrying on my wor# from %atal, as before, * must now do so from here. * must
no longer thin# of returning to *ndia within a year, but must get enrolled in the Transvaal Su!reme
-ourt. * have confidence enough to deal with this new de!artment. *f we do not do this, the
community will be hounded out of the country, besides being thoroughly robbed out of the
country, besides being thoroughly robbed. 6very day it will have fresh insults hea!ed u!on it. The
facts that Mr. -hamberlain refused to see me and that the official insulted me, are nothing before
the humiliation of the whole community. *t will become im!ossible to !ut u! with the veritable
dog(s life that we shall be e&!ected to lead.(
So * set the ball rolling, discussed things with *ndians in Pretoria and $ohannesburg and ultimately
decided to set u! office in $ohannesburg.

*t was indeed doubtful whether * would be enrolled in the Transvaal Su!reme -ourt. But the 4aw
Society did not o!!ose my a!!lication, and the -ourt allowed it. *t was difficult for an *ndian to
secure rooms for office in a suitable locality. But * had come in fairly close contact with Mr. +itch,
who was then one of the merchants there. Through the good offices of a house agent # nown to
him, * succeeded in securing suitable rooms for my office in the legal 3uarters of the city, and *
started on my !rofessional wor# .
Chapter #1
*UIC)ENED SPIRIT O% SACRI%ICE
Before * narrate the struggle for the *ndian settlers rights in the Transvaal and their dealing with
the 1siatic "e!artment, * must turn to some other as!ects of my life.
U! to now there had been in me a mi&ed desire. The s!irit of self/ s acrifice was tem!ered by the
desire to lay by something for the future.
1bout the time * too# u! chambers in Bombay, an 1merican insurance agent had come there a
man with a !leasing countenance and a sweet tongue. 1s though we were old friends he
discussed my future welfare. (1ll men of your status in 1merica have their lives insured. Should
you not also insure yourself against the future@ 4ife is uncertain. 5e in 1merica regard it as a
religious obligation to get insured. -an * not tem!t you to ta# e out a small !olicy@(
U! to this time * had given the cold shoulder to all the agents * had met in South 1frica and *ndia,
for * had though that life assurance im!lied fear and want of faith in God. But now * s uccumbed to
the tem!tation of the 1merican agent. 1s he !roceeded with his argument, * had before my
mind(s eye a !icture of my wife and children. (Man, you have sold almost all the ornaments of
your wife,( * s aid to myself. (*f something were to ha!!en to you, the burden of su!!orting her and
the children would fall on your !oor brother, who has so nobly filled the !lace of father. )ow
would that become you@( 5ith these and similar arguments * !ersuaded myself to ta#e out a
!olicy for +s. 9A,AAA.
But when my mode of life changed in South 1frica, my outloo# changed too. 1ll the ste!s * too# at
this time of trial were ta#en in the name of God and for )is service. * did not #now how long *
should have to stay in South 1frica. * had a fear that * might never be able to get bac# to *ndia' s o
* decided to # ee! my wife and children with me and earn enough to su!!ort them. This !lan made
me de!lore the life !olicy and feel ashamed of having been caught in the net of the insurance
agent. *f, * said to myself, my brother is really in the !osition of my father, surely he would not
consider it too muc h of a burden to su!!ort my widow, if it came to that, 1nd what reason had * to
assume that death would claim me earlier than the others@ 1fter all the real !rotector was neither
* nor my brother, but the 1lmighty. *n getting my life insured * had robbed my wife and c hildren of
their self/ reliance. 5hy should they not be e&!ected to ta#e care of thems elves@ 5hat ha!!ened
to the families of the numberless !oor in the world@ 5hy should * not c ount myself as one of
them@
1 multitude of such thoughts !assed though my mind, but * did not immediately act u!on them. *
recollect having !aid at least one insurance !remium in South 1frica.

utward circumstances too su!!orted this train of thought. "uring my first so,ourn in South 1frica
it was -hristian influence that had #e!t alive in me the religious sense. %ow it was theoso!hical
influence that added strength to it. Mr. +itch was a theoso!hist and !ut me in touch with the
society at $ohannesburg. * never became a member, as * had my differences, but * came in clos e
contact with almos t every theoso!his t. * had religious discussions with them every day. There
used to be readings from theoso!hical boo#s and sometimes * had occasion to address their
meetings. The chief thing about theoso!hy is to cultivate and !romote the idea of brotherhood.
5e had c onsiderable discussion over this, and * critici2ed the members where their conduct did
not a!!ear to me to s3uare with their ideal. The criticism was not without its whole some effect on
me. *t led to intros!ection.
Chapter #2
RESULT O% INTROSPECTION
5hen, in 9:<D, * c ame in c lose contac t with -hristian friends. * was a mere novice. They tried
hard to bring home to me, and ma#e me acc e!t, the message of $esus, and * was a humble and
res!ectful listener with an o!en mind. 1t that time * naturally studied )induism to the best of my
ability and endeavoured to understand other religions.
*n 9<AD the !osition was somewhat changed. Theoso!hist friends certainly intended to draw me
into their society, but that was with a view to getting something from me as a )indu. Theoso!hical
literature is re!lete with )indu influence, and so these friends e&!ected that * should be hel!ful to
them. * e&!lained that my Sams# rit study was not much to s!ea# of, that * had not read the )indu
scri!tures in the original, and that even my ac3uaintance with the translations was of the slightest.
But being believers in Jsams#araJ >tendencies caused by !revious births? and J!unar,anmaJ
>rebirth?, they assumed that * should be able to render at least some hel!. 1nd so * felt li#e a
Triton among the minnows. * started reading Swami .ive#ananda(s J+a,ayogaJ with some of
these friends and M. %. "vivedi(s J+a,ayogaJ with others. * had to read Patan,ali(s J=oga Sutras J
with one friend and the JBhagavadgitaJ with 3uite a number. 5e formed a sort of See# ers( -lub
where we had regular readings. * already had faith in the Gita, which had a fascination for me.
%ow * reali2ed the necessity of diving dee!er into it. * had one or two translations, by means of
which * tried to understand the original Sams#rit. * decided also to get by heart one or two verses
every day. 0or this !ur!ose * em!loyed the time of my morning ablutions. The o!eration too# me
thirty/five minutes, fifteen minutes for the tooth brush and twenty for the bath. The first * used to
do standing in western fashion. So on the wall o!!osite * struc# sli!s of !a!er on which were
written the Gita verses and referred to them now and then to hel! my memory. This time was
found sufficient for memoris ing the daily !ortion and recalling the verses already learnt. *
remember having thus committed to memory thirteen cha!ters . But the memorising of the Gita
had to give way to other wor# and the creation and nurture of Satyagraha, which absorbed all my
thin#ing time, as the latter may be said to be doing even now.
5hat effect this reading of the Gita had on my friends only they can say, but to me the Gita
became an infallible guide of conduct. *t became my dictionary of daily reference. $ust as * turned
to the 6nglish dictionary for the meanings of 6nglish words that * did not understand, * turned to
this dictionary of conduct for a ready s olution of all my troubles and trials. 5ords li# e
Ja!arigrahaJ >non/ !ossession? and JsamabhavaJ >e3uability? gri!!ed me. )ow to cultivate and
!reserve that e3uability was the 3uestion. )ow was one to treat ali#e insulting, insolent and
corru!t officials, co/wor#ers of yesterday raising meaningless o!!osition, and men who had
always been good to one@ )ow was one to divest oneself of all !ossessions@ 5as not the body
itself !ossession enough@ 5ere not wife and children !ossessions@ 5as * to destroy all the
cu!boards of boo#s * had@ 5as * to give u! all * had and follow )im@ Straight came the ans wer' *

could not follow )im unless * gave u! all * had. My study of 6nglish law came to my hel!. Snell(s
discussion of the ma&ims of 63uity came to my memory. * understood more clearly in the light of
the Gita teaching the im!lication of the word (trustee(. My regard for ,uris!rudence increased, *
discovered in it religion. * understood the Gita teaching of non/!oss ession to mean that those who
desired salvation should act li#e the trustee who, though having control over great !ossessions,
regards not an iota of them as his own. *t became clear to me as daylight that non/!ossession
and e3uability !resu!!osed a change of heart, a change of attitude. * then wrote to
+evashan#arbhai to allow the insurance !olicy to la!se and get whatever could be recovered, or
else to regard the !remiums already !aid as lost, for * had become convinced that God, who
created my wife and children as well as myself, would ta# e care of them. To my brother, who had
been as father to me, * wrote e& !laining that * had given him all that * had saved u! to that
moment, but that henceforth he should e&!ect nothing from me, for future savings, if any, would
be utili2ed for the benefit of the community.
* could not easily ma# e my brother understand this. *n stern language he e&!lained to me my duty
towards him. * should not, he said, as!ire to be wiser than our father. * must s u!!ort the family as
he did. * !ointed out to him that * was doing e&actly what our father had done. The meaning of
(family( had but to be slightly widened and the wisdom of my ste! would bec ome clear.
My brother gave me u! and !ractically s to!!ed all communication. * was dee!ly distressed, but it
would have been a greater distress to give u! what * considered to be my duty, and * !referred
the lesser. But that did not affect my devotion to him, which remained as !ure and great as ever.
)is great love for me was at the root of his mis ery. )e did not s o much want my money as that *
should be well/ behaved towards the family. %ear the end of his life, however, he a!!reciated my
view/!oint. 5hen almost on his death/bed, he reali2ed that my ste! had been right and wrote me
a most !athetic letter. )e a!ologi2ed to me, if indeed a father may a!ologi2e to his son. )e
commended his sons to my care, to be brought u! as * thought fit, and e&!ressed his im!atience
to meet me. )e cabled that he would li#e to come to South 1frica and * cabled in re!ly that he
could. But that was not to be. %or could his desire as regards his sons be fulfilled. )e died before
he could s tart for South 1frica. )is sons had been brought u! in the old atmos!here and could
not change their course of life. * could not draw them to me. *t was not their fault. (5ho can say
thus far, no further, to the tide of his own nature@( 5ho can erase the im!ressions with which he
is born@ *t is idle to e&!ect one(s children and wards necessarily to follow the same course of
evolution as oneself.
This ins tance to some e&tent serves to show what a terrible res!ons ibility it is to be a !arent.
Chapter #3
A SACRI%ICE TO .EGETARIANISM
1s the ideals of sacrifice and sim!licity were becoming more and more reali2ed, consciousness
was becoming more and more 3uic#ened in my daily life, the !assion for vegetarianism as a
mission went on increasing. * have #nown only one way of carrying on missionary wor# , Jvi2J., by
!ersonal e&am!le and discussion with searchers for #nowledge.
There was in $ohannesburg a vegetarian restaurant conducted by a German who believed in
Kuhan(s hydro!athic treatment. * visited the restaurant myself and hel!ed it by ta#ing 6nglish
friends there. But * saw that it could not last as it was always in financial difficulties. * assisted it as

much as * thought it deserved, and s!ent some money on it, but it had ultimately to be closed
down.
Most theoso!hists are vegetarians more or less, and an enter!rising lady belonging to that
society now came u!on the scene with a vegetarian restaurant on a grand scale. She was fond of
art, e&travagant and ignorant of accounts. )er circle of friends was fairly large. She had started in
a small way, but later decided to e&tend the venture by ta#ing large rooms, and as#ed me for
hel!. * # new nothing of her finances when she thus a!!roached me, but * too# it that her estimate
must be fairly accurate. 1nd * was in a !osition to accommodate her. My clients used to #ee!
large sums as de!osits with me. )aving received the consent of one of these clients, * lent about
a thousand !ounds from the amount to his credit. This client was most large/hearted and trusting.
)e had originally come to South 1frica as an indentured labourer. )e said' (Give away the
money, if you li#e. * #now nothing in these matters. * only #now you.( )is name was Badri. )e
afterwards too# a !rominent !art in Satyagraha, and suffered im!risonment as well. So *
advanced the loan ass uming that this consent was enough.
*n two or three months( time * came to #now that the amount would not be recovered. * could ill
afford to sustain such a loss. There were many other !ur!oses to which * could have a!!lied this
amount. The loan was never re!aid. But how could trusting Badri be allowed to suffer@ )e had
#nown me only. * made good the loss.
1 client friend to whom * s!o#e about this transaction sweetly chid me for my folly.
(Bhai,( / * had fortunately not yet become (Mahatma(, nor even (Ba!u( >father? friends used to call
me by the loving name of (Bhai( >brother?/ said he, (this was not for you to do. 5e de!end u!on
you in so many things. =ou are not going to get bac# this amount. * #now you will never allow
Badri to come to grief, for you will !ay him out of your !oc#et, but if you go on hel!ing your reform
schemes by o!erating on your clients( money, the !oor fellows will be ruined, and you will soon
become a beggar. But you are our trustee and must #now that, if you bec ome a beggar, all our
!ublic wor# will come to a sto!.(
The friend * am than#ful to say, is still alive. * have not yet come across a !urer man than he, in
South 1frica or anywhere else. * have # nown him to a!ologi2e to !eo!le and to cleanse himself,
when, having ha!!ened to sus!ect them, he had found his sus!icion to be unfounded.
* saw that he had rightly warned me. 0or though * made good Badri(s loss, * should not have been
able to meet any similar loss and should have been driven to incur debt/ a thing * have never
done in my life and always abhorred. * reali2ed that even a man(s reforming 2eal ought not to
ma#e him e&ceed his limits. * also saw that in thus lending trust/money * had disobeyed the
cardinal teac hing of the Gita, Jvi2J, the duty of a man of e3ui!oise to act without desire for the
fruit. The error became for me a beaconlight of warning.
The sacrifice offered on the altar of vegetarianism was neither intentional nor e&!ected. *t was a
virtue of necessity.

Chapter #4
E(PERIMENTS IN EARTH AND +ATER TREATMENT
5ith the growing sim!licity of my life, my disli#e for medicines steadily increased. 5hile
!ractising in "urban, * suffered for some time from debility and rheumatic inflammation. "r. P. $.
Mehta, who had come to see me, gave me treatment, and * got well. 1fter that, u! to the time
when * returned to *ndia, * do not remember having suffered from any ailment to s!ea# of.
But * used to be troubled with consti!ation and fre3uent headaches , while at $ohannesburg. * #e!t
myself fit with occasional la&atives and a well/regulated diet. But * could hardly call myself
healthy, and always wondered when * should get free from incubus of these la&ative medicines.
1bout this time * read of the formation of a (%o Brea# fast 1ssociation( in Manchester. The
argument of the !romoters was that 6nglishmen ate too often and too much, that their doctors(
bills were heavy because they ate until midnight, and that they should at least give u! brea#fast, if
they wanted to im!rove this state of affairs. Though all these things could not be said of me, * felt
that the argument did !artly a!!ly in my case. * used to have three s3uare meals daily in addition
to afternoon tea. * was never a s!are eater and en,oyed as many delicacies as could be had with
a vegetarian and s!iceless diet. * scarcely ever got u! before si& or seven. * therefore argued
that, if * also dro!!ed the morning brea#fast, * might become free from headaches. So * tried the
e&!eriment. 0or a few days it was rather hard, but the headaches entirely disa!!eared. This led
me to conclude that * was eating more than * needed.
But the change was far from relieving me of consti!ation. * tried Kuhne(s hi!baths, which gave
some relief but did not com!letely cure me. *n the meantime the German who had a vegetarian
restaurant, or some other friend, * forget who, !laced in my hands $ust(s Return $ Nature. *n this
boo# * read about earth treatment. The author also advocated fresh fruit and nuts as the natural
diet of man. * did not at once ta#e to the e&clusive fruit diet, but immediately began e&!eriments in
earth treatment, and with wonderful results. The treatment consisted in a!!lying to the abdomen
a bandage of clean earth moistened with c old water and s!read li#e a !oultic e on fine linen. This *
a!!lied at bed time, removing it during the night or in the morning, whenever, * ha!!ened to wa#e
u!. *t !roved a radical cure. Since then * have tried the treatment on myself and my friends and
never had reason to regret it. *n *ndia * have not been able to try this treatment with e3ual
confidence. 0or one thing. * have never had time to settle down in one !lac e to conduct the
e&!eriments. But my faith in the earth and water treatment remains !ractically the same as
before. 6ven today * give myself the earth treatment to a certain e&tent and recommend it to my
co/wor#ers, whenever occasion arises.
Though * have had two serious illnesses in my life, * believe that man has little need to drug
himself. <<< cases out of a thousand can be brought round by means of a well/regulated diet,
water and earth treatment and similar household remedies. )e who runs to the doctor, vaidyaor
hakimfor every little aliment, and swallows all #inds of vegetable and mineral drugs, not only
curtails his life, but, by becoming the s lave of his body instead of remaining its master, los es self/
control, and ceases to be a man.
4et no one discount these observations because they are being written in a sic#bed. * # now the
reasons for my illnesses. * am fully conscious that * alone am res!onsible for them, and it is
because of that consciousnes that * have not lost !atience. *n fact * have than#ed God for them
as lessons and successfully resisted the tem!tation of ta# ing numerous drugs. * #now my
obstinacy often tries my doctors, but they #indly bear with me and do not give me u!.

)owever, * must not digress . Before !roceeding further, * should give the reader a word of
warning. Those who !urchase $ust(s boo# on the strength of this cha!ter should not ta#e
everything in it to be gos!el truth. 1 writer almost always !resents one as!ect of a case, whereas
every case can be seen from no less than seven !oints of view, all of which are !robably correct
by themselves, but not correct at the same time and in the same circ umstances. 1nd then many
boo#s are written with a view to gaining customers and earning name and fame. 4et those,
therefore, who read such boo#s as these do so with discernment, and ta#e e&!eriments set forth,
or let them read the boo#s with !atience and digest them thoroughly before ac ting u!on them.
Chapter #5
A +ARNING
* am afraid * must continue the digression until the ne&t cha!ter. 1long with my e&!eriments in
earth treatment, those in dietetics were also being carried on, and it may not be out of !lace here
to ma#e a few observations as regards the latter, though * shall have occasion to refer to them
again later.
* may not, now or hereafter, enter into a detailed account of the e&!eriments in dietetics, for * did
so in a series of Gu,arati articles which a!!eared years ago in /ndian 8pinin, and which were
afterwards !ublished in the form of a boo# !o!ularly #nown in 6nglish as A (uide t Health .
1mong my little boo#s this has been the most widely read ali#e in the 6ast and in the 5est, a
thing that * have not yet been able to understand. *t was written for the benefit of the readers of
/ndian 8pinin. But * #now that the boo#let has !rofoundly influenced the lives of many, both in
the 6ast and in the 5est, who have never seen /ndian 8pinin . 0or they have been
corres!onding with me on the sub,ect. *t has therefore a!!eared nec essary to say something
here about the boo#let, for though * see no reason to alter the views set forth in it, yet * have
made certain radical changes in my actual !ractice, of which all readers of the boo# do not #now,
and of which, * thin#, they should be informed.
The boo#let was written, li#e all my other writings, with a s!iritual end, which has always ins!ired
every one of my ac tions, and therefore it is a matter for dee! distress to me that * am unable
today to !ractise s ome of the theories !ro!ounded in the boo#.
*t is my firm conviction that man need ta#e no mil# at all, beyond the mother(s mil# that he ta#es
as a baby. )is diet should consist of nothing but sunba#ed fruits and nuts. )e can secure enough
nourishment both for the tissues and the nerves from fruits li# e gra!es and nuts li#e almonds.
+estraint of the se&ual and other !assions becomes easy for a man who lives on suc h food. My
co/wor#ers and * have seen by e&!erience that there is much truth in the *ndian !roverb that as a
man eats, so shall he become. These views have been set out elaborately in the boo#.
But unfortunately in *ndia * have found myself obliged to deny some of my theories in !ractice.
5hilst * was engaged on the recruiting cam!aign in Kheda, an error in diet laid me low, and * was
at death(s door. * tried in vain to rebuild a shattered constitution without mil#. * sought the hel! of
the doctors, vaidyasand scientists whom * #new, to recommend a substitute for mil#. Some
suggested mun!water, some m&hraoil, some almond/mil#. * wore out my body in
e&!erimenting on these, but nothing could hel! me to leave the sic#bed. The vaidyasread verses
to me from -hara#a to show that religious scru!les about diet have no !lace in thera!eutics. So

they could not be e&!ected to hel! me to continue to live without mil#. 1nd how could those who
recommended beef/tea and brandy without hesitation hel! me to !ersevere with a mil# less diet@
* might not ta#e cow(s or buffalo(s mil# , as * was bound by a vow. The vow of c ourse meant the
giving u! of all mil#s, but as * had mother cow(s and mother buffalo(s only in mind when * too# the
vow, and as * wanted to live, * somehow beguiled myself into em!hasi2ing the letter of the vow
and decided to ta#e goat(s mil# . * was fully conscious , when * started ta#ing mother goat(s mil#,
that the s!irit of my vow was destroyed.
But the idea of leading a cam!aign against the +owlatt 1ct had !ossessed me. 1nd with it grew
the desire to live. -onse3uently one of the greatest e&!eriments in my life came to a sto!.
* #now it is argued that the soul has nothing to do with what one eats or drin#s, as the s oul neither
eats nor drin#sC that it is not what you !ut inside from without, but what you e&!ress outwardly
from within, that matters. There is no doubt some force in this. But rather than e&amine this
reasoning. * shall content myself with merely declaring my firm conviction that, for the see#er who
would live in fear of God and who would see )im face to face, restraint in diet both as to 3uantity
and 3uality is as essential as restraint in thought and s!eech.
*n a matter, however, where my theory has failed me, * should not only give the information, but
issue a grave warning against ado!ting it. * would therefore urge those who, on the strength of
the theory !ro!ounded by me, may have given u! mil#, not to !ersist in the e&!eriment, unless
they find it beneficial in every way, or unless they are advised by e&!erienced !hysicians. U! to
now my e&!erience here has shown me that for those with a wea# digestion and for those who
are confined to bed there is no light and nourishing diet e3ual to that of mil#.
* should be greatly obliged if anyone with e&!erience in this line, who ha!!ens to read this
cha!ter, would tell me, if he has #nown from e&!erience, and not from reading, of a vegetable
substitute for mil#, which is e3ually nourishing and digestible.
Chapter #6
A TUSSLE +ITH PO+ER
To turn now to the 1siatic "e!artment.
$ohannesburg was the stronghold of the 1siatic officers. * had been observing that, far from
!rotecting the *ndians, -hinese and others, these officers were grinding them down. 6very day *
had com!laints li# e this' (The rightful ones are not admitted, whilst those who have no right are
smuggled in on !ayment of 9AA. *f you will not remedy this state of things, who will@( * shared the
feeling. *f * did not succeed in stam!ing out this evil, * should be living in the Transvaal in vain.
So * began to collect evidence, and as soon as * had gathered a fair 1mount, * a!!roached the
Police -ommissioner. )e a!!eared to be a ,ust man. 0ar from giving me the cold shoulder, he
listened to me !atiently and as#ed me to show him all the evidence in my !os session. )e
e&amined the witnesses himself and was satisfied, but he #new as well as * that it was diffic ult in
South 1frica to get a white ,ury to convict a white offender against coloured men. (But,( said he,

(let us try at any rate. *t is not !ro!er either, to let such criminals go scot/free for fear of the ,ury
ac3uitting them, * must get them arrested. * assure you * shall leave no stone unturned.(
* did not need the assurance. * sus!ected 3uite a number of officers, but as * had no
unchallengeable evidence against them all, warrants of arrest were issued against the two about
whose guilt * had not the slightest doubt.
My movements c ould never be #e!t secret. Many # new that * was going to the Police
-ommissioner !ractically daily. The two officers against whom warrants had been issued had
s!ies more or less efficient. They used to !atrol my office and re!ort my movements to the
officers. * must admit, however, that these offic ers were so bad that they could not have had
many s!ies. )ad the *ndians and the -hinese not hel!ed me, they would never have been
arrested.
ne of these absconded. The Police -ommissioner obtained an e& tradition warrant against him
and got him arrested and brought to the Trans vaal. They were tried, and although there was
strong evidence against them, and in s!ite of the fact that the ,ury had evidence of one of them
having absconded, both were declared to be not guilty and ac3uitted.
* was sorely disa!!ointed. The Police -ommissioner als o was very sorry. * got disgusted with the
legal !rofession. The very intellect became an abomination to me inasmuch as it could be
!rostituted for screening crime.
)owever, the guilt of both these officers was so !atent that in s!ite of their ac3uittal the
Government could not harbour them. Both were cashiered, and the 1siatic de!artment became
com!aratively clean, and the *ndian community was somewhat reassured.
The event enhanced my !restige and brought me more business . The bul#, though not all, of the
hundreds of !ounds that the c ommunity was monthly s3uandering in !eculation, was saved. 1ll
could not be saved, for the dishonest still !lied their trade. But it was now !oss ible for the honest
man to !reserve his hones ty.
* must say that, though these officers were so bad, * had nothing against them !ersonally. They
were aware of this themselves, and when in their straits they a!!roached me, * hel!ed them too.
They had a chance of getting em!loyed by the $ohannesburg Munici!ality in case * did not
o!!ose the !ro!osal. 1 friend of theirs saw me in this connection and * agreed not to thwart them,
and they succeeded.
This attitude of mine !ut the officials with whom * came in contact !erfectly at ease, and though *
had often to fight with their de!artment and use strong language, they remained 3uite friendly
with me. * was not then 3uite conscious that such behaviour was !art of my nature. * learnt later
that it was an essential !art of Satyagraha, and an attribute ofahimsa.
Man and his deed are two distinct things. 5hereas a good deed should call forth a!!robation and
a wic#ed deed disa!!robation, the doer of the deed, whether good or wic#ed always deserves
res!ect or !ity as the case may be. ()ate the sin and not the sinner( is a !rece!t which, though
easy enough to understand, is rarely !ractised, and that is why the !oison of hatred s!reads in
the world.
This ahimsais the basis of the search for truth. * am reali2ing every day that the searc h is vain
unless it is founded on ahimsaas the basis. *t is 3uite !ro!er to resist and attac# a system, but to
resist and attac# its author is tantamount to resisting and attac #ing oneself. 0or we are all tarred
with the same brush, and are children of one and the same -reator, and as such the divine

!owers within us are infinite. To slight a single human being is to slight those divine !owers, and
thus to harm not only that being but with him the whole world.
Chapter #
A SACRED RECOLLECTION AND PENANCE
1 variety of incidents in my life have cons!ired to bring me in close contact with !eo!le of
many creeds and many communities, and my e&!erience with all of them warrants the statement
that * have #nown no distinction between relatives and strangers , countrymen and foreigners,
white and coloured, )indus and *ndians of other faiths, whether Musalmans, Parsis, -hristians or
$ews. * may say that my heart has been inc a!able of ma#ing any such distinctions. * cannot claim
this as a s!ec ial virtue, as it is in my very nature. rather than a result of any effort on my !art,
whereas in the case of ahimsa>non/ violence?, brahmacharya>celibacy?, apari!raha>non/
!ossession? and other cardinal virtues, * am fully conscious of a continuous striving for their
cultivation.
5hen * was !rac tising in "urban, my office cler#s often s tayed with me, and there were among
them )indus and -hristians, or to describe them by their !rovinces, Gu,aratis and Tamilians. * do
not recollect having ever regarded them as anything but my # ith and #in. * treated them as
members of my family, and had un!leasantness with my wife if ever she stood in the way of my
treating them as such. ne of the cler# s was a -hristian, born of Panchama !arents.
The house was built after the 5estern model and the rooms rightly had no outlets for dirty water.
6ach room had therefore chamber/!ots. +ather than have these cleaned by a servant or a
swee!er, my wife or * attended to them. The cler#s who made themselves com!letely at home
would naturally clean their own !ots, but the -hristian cler# was a newcomer, and it was our duty
to attend to his bedroom. My wife managed the !ots of the others, but to clean those used by one
who had been a Panchama seemed to her to be the limit, and we fell out. She could not bear the
!ots being cleaned by me, neither did she li#e doing it herself. 6ven today * can recall the !icture
of her chiding me, her eyes red with anger, and !earl dro!s streaming down her chee#s, as she
descended the ladder, !ot in hand. But * was a cruelly #ind husband. * regarded myself as her
teacher, and so harassed her out of my blind love for her.
* was far from being satisfied by her merely carrying the !ot. * would have her do it cheerfully. So *
said, raising my voice' (* will not stand this nonsense in my house.(
The words !ierced her li#e an arrow.
She shouted bac#' (Kee! your house to yourself and let me go.( * forgot myself, and the s!ring of
com!assion dried u! in me. * caught her by the hand, dragged the hel!less woman to the gate,
which was ,ust o!!osite the ladder, and !roceeded to o!en it with the intention of !ushing her out.
The tears were running down her chee#s in torrents, and she cried' ()ave you no sense of
shame@ Must you so far forget yourself@ 5here am * to go@ * have no !arents or relatives here to
harbour me. Being your wife, you thin# * must !ut u! with your cuffs and #ic#s@ 0or )eaven(s
sa#e behave yourself, and shut the gate. 4et us not be found ma#ing scenes li#e thisB(

* !ut on a brave face, but was really ashamed and s hut the gate. *f my wife could not leave me,
neither c ould * leave her. 5e have had numerous bic#erings, but the end has always been !eac e
between us. The wife, with her matchless !owers of endurance, has always been the vic tor.
Today * am in a !osition to narrate the incident with some detachment, as it belongs to a !eriod
out of which * have fortunately emerged. * am no longer a blind, infatuated husband, * am no more
my wife(s teacher. Kasturba can, if she will, be as un!leasant to me today, as * used to be to her
before. 5e are tried friends, the one no longer regarding the other as the ob,ect of ,ust. She has
been a faithful nurse throughout my illnesses , serving without any thought of reward.
The incident in 3uestion occurred in 9:<:, when * had no conce!tion of brahmacharya. *t was a
time when * thought that the wife was the ob,ect of her husband(s lust, born to do her husband(s
behest, rather than a hel!mate, a comrade and a !artner in the husband(s ,oys and sorrows .
*t was in the year 9<AA that these ideas underwent a radic al transformation, and in 9<A; they too#
concrete sha!e. But of this * !ro!ose to s!ea# in its !ro!er !lace. Suffice it to say that with the
gradual disa!!earance in me of the carnal a!!etite, my domestic life became and is becoming
more and more !eaceful, sweet and ha!!y.
4et no one conclude from this narrative of a s acred recollection that we are by any means an
ideal cou!le, or that there is a com!lete identity of ideals between us. Kasturba herself does not
!erha!s #now whether s he has any ideals inde!endently of me. *t is li#ely that many of my doings
have not her a!!roval even today. 5e never discuss them, * s ee no good in discussing them. 0or
she was educated neither by her !arents nor by me at the time when * ought to have done it. But
she is blessed with one great 3uality to a very considerable degree, a 3uality which most )indu
wives !oss ess in some measure. 1nd it is thisC willingly or unwillingly, consciously or
unconsciously, she has considered herself blessed in following in my footste!s, and has never
stood in the way of my endeavour to lead a life of restraint. Though, therefore, there is a wide
difference between us intellectually, * have always had the feeling that ours is a life of
contentment, ha!!iness and !rogress.
Chapter ##
INTIMATE EUROPEAN CONTACTS
This cha!ter has brought me to a stage where it becomes necessary for me to e& !lain to the
reader how this story is written from wee# to wee#.
5hen * began writing it, * had no definite !lan before me. * have no diary or documents on whic h
to base the story of my e&!eriments. * write ,ust as the S!irit moves me at the time of writing. * do
not claim to # now definitely that all conscious thought and action on my !art is directted by the
S!irit. But on an e&amination of the greates t ste!s that * have ta#en in my life, as also of those
that may be regarded as the least, * thin# it will not be im!ro!er to say that all of them were
directed by the S!irit.
* have not seen )im, neither have * #nown )im. * have made the world(s faith in God my own, and
as my faith is ineffaceable , * regard that faith as amounting to e&!erience. )owever, as it may be
said that to describe faith as e&!erience is to tam!er with truth, it may !erha!s be more correct to
say that * have no word for characteri2ing my belief in God.

*t is !erha!s now somewhat easy to understand why * believe that * am writing story as the S!irit
!rom!ts me. 5hen * began the last cha!ter * gave it the heading * have given to this, but as * was
writing it, * reali2ed that before * narrated my e&!eriences with 6uro!eans, * must write something
by way of a !reface. This * did not and altered the heading.
%ow again, as * start on this cha!ter, * find myself confronted with a fresh !roblem. 5hat things to
mention and what to omit regarding the 6nglis h friends of whom * am about to write is a serious
!roblem. *f things that are relevant are omitted, truth will be dimmed. 1nd it is difficult to decide
straightway what is relevant, when * am not even sure about the relevanc y of writing this story.
* understand more clearly today what * read long ago about the inade3uac y of all autobiogra!hy
as history. * # now that * do not set down in this story all that * remember. 5ho can say how much
* must give and how muc h omit in the interests of truth@ 1nd what would be the value in a court of
law of the inade3uate e, parteevidence being tendered by me of certain events in my life@ *f
some busybody were to cross/e&amine me on the cha!ters already written, he could !robably
shed much more light on them, and if it were a hostile critic(s cross/e&amination, he might even
flatter himself for having shown u! (the hollowness of many of my !retensions.(
*, therefore, wonder for a moment whether it might not be !ro!er to sto! writing these cha!ters.
But so long as there is no !rohibition from the voice within, * must continue the writing. * must
follow the sage ma&im that nothing once begun should be abandoned unless it is !roved to be
morally wrong.
* am not writing the autobiogra!hy to !lease critics. 5riting it is its elf one of the e&!eriments with
truth. ne of its ob,ects is certainly to !rovide some comfort and food for reflection for my co/
wor#ers. *ndeed * started writing it in com!liance with their wishes. *t might not have been written,
if $eramdas and Swami 1nand had not !ersisted in their suggestion. *f, therefore, * am wrong in
writing the autobiogra!hy, they must share the blame.
But to ta# e u! the sub,ect indicated in the heading. $ust as * had *ndians living with me as
members of my family, so had * 6nglish friends living with me in "urban. %ot that all who lived
with me li# ed it. But * !ersisted in having them. %or was * wise in every case. * had some bitter
e&!eriences, but these included both *ndians and 6uro!eans. 1nd * do not regret the
e&!eriences. *n s!ite of them, and in s!ite of the inconvenience and worry that * have often
caused to friends, * have not altered my conduct and friends have # indly borne with me.
5henever my contac ts with strangers have been !ainful to friends,* have not hesitated to blame
them. * hold that believers who have to see the same God in others that they see in themselves,
must be able to live amongst all with sufficient detachment. 1nd the ability to live thus can be
cultivated, not by fighting shy of unsought o!!ortunities for such contacts, but by hailing them in a
s!irit of service and withal #ee!ing oneself unaffected by them.
Though, therefore, my house was full when the Boer 5ar bro#e out, * received two 6nglishmen
who had come from $ohannesburg. Both were theoso!hists, one of them being Mr. Kitchin, of
whom we shall have occasion to #now more later. These friends often cost my wife bitter tears.
Unfortunately she has had many such trials on my account. This was the first time that * had
6nglish friends to live with me as intimately as members of my family. * had stayed in 6nglis h
houses during my days in 6ngland, but there * conformed to their ways of living, and it was more
or less li#e living in a boarding house. )ere it was 3uite the contrary. The 6nglish friends became
members of the family. They ado!ted the *ndian style in many matters. Though the a!!ointments
in the house were in the 5es tern fashion, the internal life was mostly *ndian. * do remember
having had s ome difficulty in #ee!ing them as members of the family, but * can certainly say that
they had no difficulty in ma#ing themselves !erfectly at home under my roof. *n $ohannesburg
these contac ts develo!ed further than in "urban.

Chapter #$
EUROPEAN CONTACTS !C23t45"
*n $ohannesburg * had at one time as many as four *ndian cler#s, who were !erha!s more li#e
my sons than cler#s. But even these were not enough for my wor# . *t was im!ossible to do
without ty!ewriting, which, among us, if at all, only * #new. * taught it to two of the cler#s, but they
never came u! to the mar# because of their !oor 6nglish. 1nd then one of these * wanted to train
as an accountant. * could not get out anyone from %atal, for nobody could enter the Transvaal
without a !ermit, and for my own !ersonal convenience * was not !re!ared to as# a favour of the
Permit fficer.
* was at my wits( end. 1rrears were fast mounting u!, so much so that it seemed im!ossible for
me, however much * might try, to co!e with !rofessional and !ublic wor#. * was 3uite willing to
engage a 6uro!ean cler#, but * was not sure to get a white man or woman to s erve a coloured
man li#e myself. )owever * decided to try. * a!!roached a ty!ewriter(s agent whom * #new, and
as#ed him to get me a stenogra!her. There were girls available, and he !romised to try to secure
the services of one. )e came across a Scotch girl called Miss "ic #, who had ,ust come fresh from
Scotland. She had no ob,ection to earning an honest livelihood, wherever available, and she was
in need. So the agent sent her on to me. She immediately !re!ossessed me.
("on(t you mind s erving under an *ndian@( * as#ed her.
(%ot at all,( was her firm re!ly.
(5hat salary do you e&!ect@(
(5ould G 9FM9A be too much@(
(%ot too much if you will give me the wor# * want from you. 5hen can you ,oin@(
(This moment if you wish.(
* was very !leased and straightaway started dictating letters to her.
Before very long she became more a daughter or a sister to me than a mere stenoty!ist. * had
scarcely any reason to find fault with her wor#. She was often entrusted with the management of
funds amounting to thousands of !ounds, and she was in charge of account boo# s. She won my
com!lete confidenc e, but what was !erha!s more, she confided to me her innermost thoughts
and feelings. She sought my advice in the final choice of her husband, and * had the !rivilege to
give her away in marriage. 1s soon as Miss "ic# became Mrs. Macdonald, she had to leave me,
but even after her marriage she did not fail to res!ond, whenever under !ressure * made a call
u!on her.
But a !ermanent stenoty!ist was now needed in her !lace, and * was fortunate in getting another
girl. She was Miss Schlesin, introduced to me by Mr. Kallenbach, whom the reader will # now in
due course. She is at !resent a teacher in one of the )igh School in the Transvaal. She was
about seventeen when she came to me. Some of her idiosync rasies were at times too much for
Mr. Kallenbach and me. She had come less to wor# as a stenoty!ist than to gain e&!erience.
-olour !re,udice was foreign to her tem!erament. She seemed to mind neither age nor
e&!erience. She would not hesitate even to the !oint of insulting a man and telling him to his fac e

what she thought of him. )er im!etuosity often landed me in difficulties, but her o!en and
guileless tem!erament removed them as soon as they were created. * have often signed without
revision letters ty!ed by her, as * considered her 6nglish to be better than mine, and had the
fullest confidence in her loyalty.
)er sacrifice was great. 0or a considerable !eriod she did not draw more than G ;, and refused
ever to receive more than G 9A a month. 5hen * urged her to ta#e more, she would give me a
scolding and say, (* am not here to draw a salary you. * am here because * li#e to wor# with you
and * li#e your ideals.(
She had once an occasion to ta#e G EA from me, but she insisted on having it as a loan, and
re!aid the full amount last year. )er courage was e3ual to her sacrifice. She is one of the few
women * have been !rivileged to come across, with a character as clear as crystal and courage
that would shame a warrior. She is a grown u! woman now. * do not #now her mind 3uite as well
as when she was with me, but my contact with this young lady will ever be for me a sacred
recollection. * would therefore be false to truth if * # e!t bac# what * #now about her.
She #new neither night nor day in toiling for the cause. She ventured out on errands in the
dar# nes of the night all by herself, and angrily scouted any suggestion of an escort. Thousands of
stalwart *ndians loo# ed u! to her for guidance. 5hen during the Satyagraha days almost every
one of the leaders was in ,ail, she led the movement single/ handed. She had the management of
thousands, a tremendous amount of corres!ondence, and /ndian 8pininin her hands, but she
never wearied.
* could go on without end writing thus about Miss Schlesin, but * shall conclude this cha!ter with
citing Go# hale(s estimate of her. Go#hale #new every one of my co/wor#ers. )e was !leased with
many of them, and would often give his o!inion of them. )e gave the first !lace to Miss Schlesin
amongst all the *ndian and 6uro!ean co/wor#ers. (* have rarely met with the sacrifice, the !urity
and the fearlessness * have seen in Miss Schles in,( said he. (1mongs t your co/wor#ers, she ta#es
the first !lace in my estimation.(
Chapter $'
&INDIAN OPINION&
Before * !roceed with the other intimate 6uro!ean contacts, * mus t note two or three items of
im!ortance. ne of the c ontacts, however, should be mentioned at once. The a!!ointment of
Mis s "ic# was not enough for my !ur!ose. * needed more assistance. * have in the earlier
cha!ters referred to Mr. +itch. * #new him well. )e was manager in a commercial firm. )e
a!!roved my suggestion of leaving the firm and getting articled under me, and he cons iderably
lightened my burden.
1bout this time S,t. Madan,it a!!roac hed me with a !ro!osal to start /ndian 8pininand sought
my advice. )e had already been conducting a !ress, and * a!!roved of his !ro!osal. The ,ournal
was launched in 9<AE, and S,t. Mansu#hlal %aa2ar became the first editor. But * had to bear the
brunt of the wor#, having for most of the time to be !ractically in charge of the ,ournal. %ot that
S,t. Mansu#hlal could not carry it on. )e had been doing a fair amount of ,ournalism whilst in
*ndia, but he would never venture to write on intricate South 1frican !roblems so long as * was
there. )e had the greatest confidence in my discernment, and therefore threw on me the

res!onsibility of attending to the editorial columns. The ,ournal has been until this day a wee#ly, *n
the beginning it used to be issued in Gu,arati, )indi, Tamil and 6nglish. * saw, however, that the
Tamil and )indi sections were a ma#e/believe. They did not serve the !ur!ose for which they
were intended, so * discontinued them as * even felt that there would be a certain amount of
dece!tion involved in their continuanc e.
* had no notion that * should have to invest any money in this ,ournal, but * soon discovered that it
could not go on without my financial hel!. The *ndians and the 6uro!eans both #new that, though
* was not avowedly the editor of /ndian 8pinin, * was virtually res!onsible for its conduct. *t would
not have mattered if the ,ournal had never been started, but to sto! it after it had once been
launched would have been both a loss and a disgrace. So * #e!t on !ouring out my money, until
ultimately * was !ractically sin#ing all my savings in it. * remember a time when * had to remit G FI
each month.
But after all these years * feel that the ,ournal has served the community well. *t was never
intended to be a commercial concern. So long as it was under my control, the changes in the
,ournal were indicative of changes in my life. /ndian 8pininin those days, li#e 2un! /ndiaand
Navajivantoday, was a mirror of !art of my life. 5ee# after wee# * !oured out my soul in its
columns, and e&!ounded the !rinci!les and !ractice of Satyagraha as * understood it. "uring ten
years, that is, until 9<9E, e&ce!ting the intervals of my enforced rest in !rison, there was hardly
an issue of /ndian 8pininwithout an article from me. * cannot recall a word in those articles set
down without thought or deliberation, or a word of conscious e&aggeration, or anything merely to
!lease. *ndeed the ,ournal became for me a training in self/restraint, and for friends a medium
through which to #ee! in touch with my thoughts. The critic found very little to which he could
ob,ect. *n fact the tone of /ndian 8pinincom!elled the critic to !ut a curb on his own !en.
Satyagraha would !robably have been im!ossible without /ndian 8pinin. The readers loo#ed
forward to it for a trustworthy account of the Satyagraha cam!aign as also of the real condition of
*ndians in South 1frica. 0or me it became a means for the study of human nature in all its casts
and shades, as * always aimed at establishing an intimate and clean bond between the editor and
the readers. * was inundated with letters containing the out!ourings of my corres!ondents( hearts.
They were friendly, critical or bitter, according to the tem!er of the writer. *t was a fine eduction for
me to study, digest and ans wer all this corres!ondence. *t was as though the community thought
audibly through this corres!ondence with me. *t made me throughly understand the res!onsibility
of a ,ournalist, and the hold * secured in this way over the community made the furure cam!aign
wor#able, dignified and irresistible.
*n the very first month of /ndian 8pinin, * reali2ed that the sole aim of ,ournalism should be
service. The news!a!er !ress is a great !ower, but ,ust as an unchained torrent of water
submerges whole countrysides and devastates cro!s, even so an uncontrolled !en serves but to
destroy. *f the control is from without, it !roves more !oisonous than want of control. *t can be
!rofitable only when e&ercised from within. *f this line of reas oning is correct, how many of the
,ournals in the world would stand the test@ But who would sto! those that are useless@ 1nd who
should be the ,udge@ The useful and the useless mus t, li#e good and evil generally, go on
together, and man must ma#e his choic e.

Chapter $1
COOLIE LOCATIONS OR GHETTOS-
Some of the classes which render us the greatest social service, but which we )indus have
chosen to regard as (untouchables,( are relegated to remote 3uarters of a town or a village, called
in Gu,arati dhedvad, and the name has ac3uired a bad odour. 6ven so in -hristian 6uro!e the
$ews were once (untouchables( and the 3uarters that were assigned to them had the offensive
name of (ghettoes.( *n a similar way today we have become the untouchables of South 1frica. *t
remains to be seen how far the sacrifice of 1ndrews and the magic wand of Sastri succeed in
rehabilitating us .
The ancient $ews regarded themselves as the chosen !eo!le of God, to the e&clusion of all
others, with the result that their descendants were visited with a strange and even un,ust
retribution. 1lmost in a similar way the )indus have considered themselvesAryasor civili2ed, and
a section of their own #ith and # in as Anaryasor untouchables, with the res ult that a strange, if
un,ust, nemesis is being visited not only u!on the )indus in South 1frica, but the Musalmans and
Pars is as well, inasmuch as they belong to the same country and have the same colour as their
)indu brethren.
The reader will have now reali2ed to some e&tent the meaning of the word (locations( with which *
have headed this cha!ter. *n South 1fric a we have ac3uired the odious name of (coolies(. The
word (coolie( in *ndia means only a !orter or hired wor#man, but in South 1frica it has a
contem!tuous connotation. *t means what a !ariah or an untouchable means to us, and the
3uarters ass igned to the (coolies( are #nown as (coolie locations(. $ohannesburg had one such
location, but unli#e other !laces with locations where the *ndians had tenancy rights, in the
$ohannesburg loc ation the *ndians had ac3uired their !lots on a lease of << years. Peo!le were
densely !ac#ed in the location, the area of whic h never increased with the increase in !o!ulation.
Beyond arranging to clean the latrines in the location in a ha!ha2ard way, the Munici!ality did
nothing to !rovide any s anitary facilities, much less good roads or lights. *t was hardly li#ely that it
would safeguard its sanitation, when it was indifferent to the welfare of the residents. These were
too ignorant of the rules of munici!al sanitation and hygiene to do without the hel! or su!ervision
of the Munici!ality. *f those who went there had all been +obinson -rusoes, theirs would have
been a different story. But we do not #now of a single emigrant colony of +obinson -rusoes in the
world. Usually !eo!le migrate abroad in search of wealth and trade, but the bul# of the *ndians
who went to South 1frica were ignorant, !au!er agriculturis ts, who needed all the care and
!rotection that could be given them. The traders and educated *ndians who followed them were
very few.
The criminal negligence of the Munici!ality and the ignorance of the *ndian settlers thus cons!ired
to render the location thoroughly insanitary. The Munici!ality, far from doing anything to im!rove
the condition of the location, used the ins anitation, caused by their own neglect, as a !rete&t for
destroying the location, and for that !ur!ose obtained from the local legislature authority to
dis!ossess the settlers. This was the condition of things when * settled in $ ohannesburg.
The settlers, having !ro!rietory rights in their land, were naturally entitled to com!ens ation. 1
s!ecial tribunal was a!!ointed to try the land ac3uisition cases. *f the tenant was not !re!ared to
acce!t the offer of the Munici!ality, he had a right to a!!eal to the tribunal, and if the latter(s
award e&ceeded the Munici!ality(s offer, the Munici!ality had to bear the costs.
Most of the tenants engaged me as their legal adviser. * had no desire to ma#e money out of
these cases, so * told the tenants that * should be satisfied with whatever costs the tribunal

awarded, in case they won, and a fee of G 9A on every lease, irres!ective of the result of the
case. * also told them that * !ro!osed to set a!art half of the money !aid by them for the building
of a hos!ital or similar ins titution for the !oor. This naturally !leased them all.
ut of about FA cases only was lost. So the fees amounted to a fairly big figure. But /ndian
8pininwas there with its !ersistent claim and devoured, so far as * can recollect, a sum of G
9,;AA. * had wor#ed hard for these cases. The clients always surrounded me. Most of them were
originally indentured labourers from Bihar and its neighbourhood and from South *ndia. 0or the
redress of their !eculiar grievances they had formed an as sociation of their own, se!arate from
that of the free *ndian merchants and traders. Some of them were o!en/ hearted, liberal men and
had high character. Their leaders were S,t. $airamsing, the !resident, and S,t. Badri, who was as
good as the !resident. Both of them are now no more. They were e&ceedingly hel!ful to me. S,t.
Badri came in very close contact with me and too# a !rominent !art in Satyagraha. Through
these and other friends * came in intimate contact with numerous *ndian settlers from %orth and
South *ndia. * became more their brother than a mere legal advis er, and shared in all their !rivate
and !ublic sorrows and hardshi!s.
*t may be of some interest to #now how the *ndians used to name me. 1bdulla Sheth refused to
address me as Gandhi. %one, fortunately, ever insulted me by calling or regarding me as (saheb(.
1bdulla Sheth hit u!on a fine a!!ellation/(bhai(, i.e., brother. thers followed him and continued to
address me as (bhai( until the moment * left when it was used by the e&/indentured *ndians.
Chapter $2
THE BLAC) PLAGUE , I
The *ndians were not removed from the location as soon as the Munici!ality secured its
ownershi!. *t was necessary to find the residents suitable new 3uarters before dislodging them,
but as the Munici!ality could not easily do this, the *ndians were suffered to stay in the same
(dirty( location, with this difference that their condition became worse than before. )aving ceased
to be !ro!rietors they became tenants of the Munici!ality, with the result that their surroundings
became more insanitary than ever. 5hen they were !ro!rietors, they had to maintain some sort
of cleanliness , if only for fear of the law. The Munici!ality had no such fearB The number of
tenants increased, and with them the s3ualor and the disorder.
5hile the *ndians were fretting over this state of things, there was a sudden outbrea# of the blac#
!lague, also called the !neumonic !lague, more terrible and fatal than the bubonic .
0ortunately it was not the location but one of the gold mines in the vicinity of $ohannesburg that
was res !onsible for the outbrea#. The wor#ers in this mine were for the most !art negroes , for
whose cleanliness their white em!loyers were solely res!onsible. There were a few *ndians also
wor#ing in connection with the mine, twenty/three of whom suddenly caught the infection, and
returned one evening to their 3uarters in the location with an acute attac# of the !lague. S,t.
Madan,it, who was then canvassing subs cribers for /ndian 8pininand reali2ing subscri!tions,
ha!!ened to be in the location at this moment. )e was a remar#ably fearless man. )is heart we!t
to see these victims of the scourage, and he sent a !encil/note to me to the following effec t'
(There has been a sudden outbrea# of the blac# !lague. =ou must come immediately and ta#e
!rom!t measures, otherwise we must be !re!ared for dire conse3uences. Please come
immediately.(

S,t. Madan,it bravely bro#e o!en the loc# of a vacant house, and !ut all the !atients there. *
cycled to the location, and wrote to the Town -ler# to inform him of the circumstances in which
we had ta#en !ossession of the house.
"r. 5illiam Godfrey, who was !ractising in $ohannesburg, ran to the rescue as soon as he got
the news, and became both nurse and doctor to the !atients. But twenty/three !atients were
more than three of us could co!e with.
*t is my faith, based on e&!erience, that if one(s heart is !ure, calamity brings in its train men and
measures to fight it. * had at that time four *ndians in my office S,ts. Kalyandas, Mane#lal,
Gunvantrai "esai and another whose name * cannot recollect. Kalyandas had been entrusted to
me by his father. *n South 1frica * have rarely come across anyone more obliging and willing to
render im!licit obedience than Kalyandas. 0ortunately he was unmarried then, and * did not
hesitate to im!ose on him duties involving ris#s, however great Mane# lal * had secured in
$ohannesburg. )e too, so far as * can remember, was unmarried. So * decided to sacrifice all four
/ c all them cler#s, co/wor#ers or sons. There was no need at all to consult Kalyandas. The others
e&!ressed their readines s as soon as they were as#ed. (5here you are, we will also be(, was their
short and sweet re!ly.
Mr. +itch had a large family. )e was ready to ta#e the !lunge, but * !revented him. * had not the
heart to e&!ose him to the ris#. So he attended to the wor# outside the danger 2one.
*t was a terrible night / that night of vigil and nursing. * had nursed a number of !atients before,
but never any attac#ed by the blac# !lague. "r. Godfrey(s !luc# !roved infectious. There was not
much nursing re3uired. To give them their doses of medicine, to attend to their wants, to #ee!
them and their beds clean and tidy, and to cheer them u! was all that we had to do.
The indefatigable 2eal and fearlessness with which the youths wor#ed re,oiced me beyond
measure. ne could understand the bravery of "r. Godfrey and of an e&!erienced man li#e S,t.
Madan,it. But the s!irit of these callow youthsB
So far as * can recollect, we !ulled all the !atients through that night.
But the whole incident, a!art from its !athos, is of such absorbing interest and, for me, of such
religious value, that * must devote to it at least two more cha!ters.
Chapter $3
THE BLAC) PLAGUE , II
The Town -ler# e&!ressed his gratitude to me for having ta# en charge of the vacant house and
the !atients. )e fran#ly confessed that the Town -ouncil had no immediate means to co!e with
such an emergency, but !romised that they would render all the hel! in their !ower. nce
awa#ened to a sense of their duty, the Munici!ality made no delay in ta#ing !rom!t measures.
The ne&t day they !lac ed a vacant godown at my dis!osal, and suggested that the !atients be
removed there, but the Munici!ality did not underta#e to clean the !remises. The building was
un#em!t and unclean. 5e cleaned it u! ourselves, raised a few beds and other necessaries
through the offices of charitable *ndians, and im!rovised a tem!orary hos!ital. The Munici!ality

lent the services of a nurse, who came with brandy and other hos!ital e3ui!ment. "r. Godfrey still
remained in charge.
The nurse was a #indly lady and would fain have attended to the !atients, but we rarely allowed
her to touch them, lest she should catch the contagion.
5e had instructions to give the !atients fre3uent doses of brandy. The nurse even as #ed us to
ta#e it for !recaution, ,ust as she was doing herself. But none of us would touch it. * had no faith
in its beneficial effect even for the !atients. 5ith the !ermission of "r. Godfrey, * !ut three
!atients, who were !re!ared to do without brandy, under the earth treatment, a!!lying wet earth
bandages to their heads and chests. Two of these were s aved. The other twenty died in the
godown.
Meanwhile the Munici!ality was busy ta#ing other measures. There was a la2aretto for
contagious diseases about seven miles from $ohannesburg. The two surviving !atients were
removed to tents near the la2aretto, and arrangements were made for sending any fresh cases
there. 5e were thus relieved of our wor#.
*n the course of a few days we learnt that the good nurse had an attac# and immediately
succumbed. *t is im!ossible to say how the two !atients were saved and how we remained
immune, but the e&!erience enhanced my faith in earth treatment, as also my sce!ticism of the
efficacy of brandy, even as a medicine. * #now that neither this faith nor this sce!ticism is based
u!on any solid grounds, but * still retain the im!ression which * then received, and have therefore
thought it necessary to mention it here.
n the outbrea# of the !lague, * had address ed a strong letter to the !ress, holding the
Munic i!ality guilty of negligence after the location came into its !ossession and res!onsible for
the outbrea# of the !lague itself. This letter s ecured me Mr. )enry Pola#, and was !artly
res!ons ible for the friendshi! of the late +ev. $ose!h "o#e.
* have said in an earlier cha!ter that * used to have my meals at a vegetarian restaurant. )ere *
met Mr. 1lbert 5est. 5e used to meet in this restaurant every evening and go out wal#ing after
dinner. Mr. 5est was a !artner in a small !rinting concern. )e read my letter in the !ress about
the outbrea# of the !lague and, not finding me in the restaurant, felt uneasy.
My co/wor#ers and * had reduced our diet since the outbrea#, as * had long made it a rule to go
on a light diet during e!idemics. *n these days * had therefore given u! my evening dinner. 4unch
also * would finish before the other guests arrived. * #new the !ro!rietor of the restaurant very
well, and * had informed him that, as * was engaged in nursing the !lague !atients, * wanted to
avoid the contact of friends as much as !ossible.
%ot finding me in the restaurant for a day or two, Mr. 5est #noc#ed at my door early one morning
,ust as * was getting ready to go out for a wal# . 1s * o!ened the door Mr. 5est said' (* did not find
you in the restaurant and was really afraid lest something should have ha!!ened to you. So *
decided to come and see you in the morning in order to ma#e sure of finding you at home. 5ell,
here * am at your dis!osal. * am ready to hel! in nursing the !atients. =ou #now that * have no
one de!ending on me.(
* e&!ressed my gratitude, and without ta#ing even a second to thin#, re!lied' (* will not have you
as a nurse. *f there are no more cases, we shall be free in a day or two. There is one thing
however.(
(=es, what is it@(

(-ould you ta# e charge of the /ndian 8pinin!ress at "urban@ Mr. Madan,it is li#ely to be
engaged here, and someone is needed at "urban. *f you could go, * should feel 3uite relieved on
that score.(
(=ou #now that * have a !ress. Most !robably * shall be able to go, but may * give my final re!ly in
the evening@ 5e shall tal# it over during our evening wal#.
* was delighted. 5e had the tal# . )e agreed to go. Salary was no consideration to him, as money
was not his motive, But a s alary G9A !er month and a !art of the !rofits, if any, was fi&ed u!. The
very ne&t day Mr. 5est left for "urban by the evening mail, entrusting me with the recovery of his
dues. 0rom that day until the time * left the shores of South 1frica, he remained a !artner of my
,oys and sorrows .
Mr. 5es t belonged to a !easant family in 4outh >4incolnshire?. )e had an ordinary school
education, but had learnt a good deal in the school of e& !erience and by dint of self/hel!. * have
always #nown him to be a !ure, sober, god/fearing, humane 6nglishman.
5e shall # now more of him and his family in the cha!ters to follow.
Chapter $4
LOCATION IN %LAMES
Though my co/wor#ers and * were relieved of the charge of the !atients, there remained many
things arising out of the blac# !lague still to be dealt with.
* have referred to the negligence of the Munici!ality regarding the location. But it was wide awa#e
so far as the health of its white citi2ens was concerned. *t had s!ent large amounts for the
!reservation of their health and now it !oured forth money li#e water in order to stam! out the
!lague. *n s!ite of the many sins of omission and c ommission against the *ndians that * had laid
at the door of the Munici!ality, * could not hel! commending its solicitude for the white citi2ens,
and * rendered it as much hel! as * could in its laudable efforts. * have an im!ression that, if * had
withheld my co/o!eration, the tas# would have been more diffic ult for the Munici!ality, and that it
would not have hes itated to use armed force and do its wors t.
But all that was averted. The Munici!al authorities were !leased at the *ndians( behaviour, and
much of the future wor# regarding !lague measures was sim!lified. * us ed all the influence * could
command with the *ndians to ma#e them submit to the re3uirements of the Munici!ality. *t was far
from easy for the *ndians to go all that length, but * do not remember anyone having resisted my
advice.
The location was !ut under a strong guard, !as sage in and out being made im!ossible without
!ermission. My co/wor#ers and * had free !ermits of entry and e&it. The decision was to ma#e the
whole location !o!ulation vacate, and live under canvas for three wee#s in an o!en !lain about
thirteen miles from $ohannesburg, and then to set fire to the location. To settle down under
canvas with !rovisions and other necessaries was bound to ta#e some time, and a guard became
necessary during the interval.

The !eo!le were in a terrible fright, but my constant !resence was a consolation to them. Many of
the !oor !eo!le used to hoard their scanty savings underground. This had to be unearthed. They
had no ban#, they #new none. * became their ban#er. Streams of money !oured into my office. *
could not !ossibly charge any fees for my labours in such a crisis. * co!ed with the wor#
somehow. * #new my ban# manager very well. * told him that * should have to de!osit these
moneys with him. The ban#s were by no means an&ious to acce!t large amounts of co!!er and
silver. There was also the fear of ban# cler#s refusing to touc h money coming from a !lague/
affected area. But the manager accommodated me in every way. *t was decided to disinfect all
the money before sending it to the ban#. So far as * can remember, nearly si&ty thousand !ounds
were thus de!os ited. * advised suc h of the !eo!le as had enough money to !lac e it as fi&ed
de!osit, and they acce!ted the advice. The result was some of them became accustomed to
invest their money in ban#s .
The location residents were removed by s!ecial train to Kli!s!ruit 0arm near $ohannesburg,
where they were su!!lied with !rovisions by the Munici!ality at !ublic e&!ense. This city under
canvas loo#ed li#e a military cam!. The !eo!le who were unaccustomed to this cam! life were
distressed and astonished over the arrangementsC but they did not have to !ut u! with any
!articular inconvenience. * used to c ycle out to them daily. 5ithin twenty/four hours of their stay
they forgot all their misery and began to live merrily. 5henever * went there * found them en,oying
themselves with song and mirth. Three wee#s( stay in the o!en air evidently im!roved their
health.
So far as * recollect, the location was !ut to the flames on the very ne&t day after its evacuation.
The Munici!ality showed not the slightest inclination to save anything from the conflagration.
1bout this very time, and for the same reason, the Munici!ality burnt down all its timber in the
mar# et, and sustained a loss of some ten thousand !ounds. The reason for this drastic ste! was
the discovery of some dead rats in the mar# et.
The Munici!ality had to incur heavy e&!enditure, but it successfully arrested the further !rogress
of the !lague, and the city once more breathed freely.
Chapter $5
THE MAGIC SPELL O% A BOO)
The blac# !lague enhanced my influence with the !oor *ndians, and increased my busines s and
my res!onsibility. Some of the new c ontacts with 6uro!eans became so close that they added
considerably to my moral obligations.
* made the ac3uaintance of Mr.Pola# in the vegetarian resturant, ,ust as * had made that of
Mr.5est. ne evening a young man dining at a table a little way off sent me his card e&!ressing
a desire to see me. i invited him to come to my table, which he did.
(* am sub/editor of the #he Critic,( he said (5hen * read your letter to the !ress about the !lague. *
felt a strong desire to see you. * am glad to have this o!!ortunity.(
Mr. Pola# (s candour drew me to him. The same evening we got to #now each other. 5e seemed
to hold closely similar views on the essential things of life. )e li#ed sim!le life. )e had a

wonderful faculty of translating into !ractice anything that a!!ealed to his intellect. Some of the
changes that he had made in his life were as !rom!t as they were radical.
/ndian 8pininwas getting more and more e&!ensive every day. The very first re!ort from Mr.
5es t was alarming. )e wrote' (* do not e&!ect the concern to yield the !rofit that you had thought
!robable. * am afraid there may be even a loss. The boo#s are not in order. There are heavy
arrears to be recovered, but one cannot ma#e head or tail of them. -onsiderable overhauling will
have to be done. But all this need not alarm you. * shall try to !ut things right as best * can. *
remain on, whether there is !rofit or not.(
Mr. 5est might have left when he discovered that there was no !rofit, and * could not have
blamed him. *n fact, he had a right to arraign me for having described the concern as !rofitable
without !ro!er !roof. But he never so much as uttered one word of com!laint. * have, however,
an im!res sion that this discovery led Mr. 5est to regard me as credulous. * had sim!ly acce!ted
S,t. Madan,it(s estimate without caring to e&amine it, and told Mr. 5est to e&!ect a !rofit.
* now reali2e that a !ublic wor#er should not ma#e statements of which he has not made sure.
1bove all, a votary of truth must e&ercise the greatest caution. To allow a man to believe a thing
which one has fully verified is to com!romise truth. * am !ained to have to confess that, in s!ite of
this #nowledge, * have not 3uite con3uered my credulous habit, for which my ambition to do more
wor# than * can manage is res!onsible. This ambition has often been a source of worry more to
my co/wor#ers than to myself.
n recei!t of Mr. 5est(s letter * left for %atal. * had ta# en Mr. Pola# into my fullest confidence. )e
came to see me off at the Station, and left with me a boo# to read during the ,ourney, which he
said * was sure to li#e. *t was +us#in(s%nt #his -ast.
The boo# was im!ossible to lay aside, once * had begun it. *t gri!!ed me. $ohannesburg to
"urban was a twenty/four hours( ,ourney. The train reached there in the evening. * could not get
any s lee! that night. * determined to change my life in accordance with the ideals of the boo#.
This was the first boo# of +us#in * had ever read. "uring the days of my education * had read
!ractically nothing outside te&t/boo#s, and after * launched into active life * had very little time for
reading. * cannot therefore claim much boo# #nowledge. )owever, * believe * have not lost much
because of this enforced restraint. n the contrary, the limited reading may be said to have
enabled me thoroughly to digest what * did read. f these boo#s, the one that brought about an
instantaneous and !ractical transformation in my life was %nt #his -ast. * translated it later into
Gu,arati, entitling it Sarvdaya>the welfare of all?.
* believe that * discovered some of my dee!est convictions reflected in this great boo# of +us# in,
and that is why it so ca!tured me and made me transform my life. 1 !oet is one who can call forth
the good latent in the human breast. Poets do not influence all ali#e, for everyone is not evolved
in a e3ual measure.
The teaching of %nt #his -ast* understood to be'
9. That the good of the individual is contained in the good of all.
8. That a lawyer(s wor# has the same value as the barber(s inasmuch as all have the same right
of earning their livehood from their wor#.
D. That a life of labour, i.e., the life of the tiller of the soil and the handicrafts man is the life worth
living.

The first of these * #new. The second * had dimly reali2ed. The third had never occured to me.
%nt #his -astmade it as clear as daylight for me that the second and the third were contained in
the first. * arose with the dawn, ready to reduce these !rinci!les to !ractic e.
Chapter $6
THE PHOENI( SETTLEMENT
* tal#ed over the whole thing with Mr. 5est, described to him the effect %nt #his -ast had
!roduced on my mind, and !ro!osed that /ndian 8pininshould be removed to a farm, on which
everyone should labour, drawing the same living wage, and attending to the !ress wor# in s!are
time. Mr. 5est a!!roved of the !ro!osal, and GD was laid down as the monthly allowance !er
head, irres!ective of colour or nationality.
But it was a 3uestion whether all the ten or more wor#ers in the !ress would agree to go and
settle on an out/of/the/way farm, and be satisfied with bare maintenance. 5e therefore !ro!osed
that those who could not fit in with the scheme should continue to draw their salaries and
gradually try to reach the ideal of bec oming members of the settlement.
* tal#ed to the wor#ers in the terms of this !ro!osal. *t did not a!!eal to S,t. Madan,it, who
considered my !ro!osal to be foolish and held that it would ruin a venture on which he had s ta#ed
his allC that the wor#ers would bolt, /ndian 8pininwould come to a sto!, and the !ress would
have to be closed down.
1mong the men wor#ing in the !ress was -hhaganlal Gandhi, one of my cousins. * had !ut the
!ro!osal to him at the same time as to 5est. )e had a wife and children, but he had from
childhood chosen to be trained and to wor# under me. )e had full faith in me. So without any
argument he agreed to the scheme and has been with me ever since. The machinist
Govindaswami also fell in with the !ro!osal. The rest did not ,oin the scheme, but agreed to go
wherever * removed the !ress.
* do not thin# * too# more than two days to fi& u! these matters with the men. Thereafter * at onc e
advertised for a !iece of land situated near a railway station in the vicinity of "urban. 1n offer
came in res!ect of Phoeni& . Mr. 5est and * went to ins!ect the estate. 5ithin a wee# we
!urchas ed twenty acres of land. *t had a nice little s!ring and a few orange and mango trees.
1d,oining it was a !iece of :A acres which had many more fruit trees and a dila!idated cottage.
5e !urchased this too, the total cost being a thousand !ounds.
The late Mr. +ustom,i always su!!orted me in such enter!rises. )e li#ed the !ro,ect. )e !laced at
my dis!osal second/hand corrugated iron sheets of a big godown and other building material,
with which we s tarted wor#. Some *ndian car!enters and masons, who had wor#ed with me in the
Boer 5ar, hel!ed me in erecting a shed for the !ress. This structure, which was FI feet long and
IA feet broad, was ready in less than a month. Mr. 5est and others, at great !ersonal ris#, stayed
with the car!enters and masons. The !lace, uninhabited and thic#ly overgrown with grass, was
infested with sna#es and obviously dangerous to live in. 1t first all lived under canvas. 5e carted
most of our things to Phoeni& in about a wee#. *t was fourteen miles from "urban, and two and a
half miles from Phoeni& station.

nly one iss ue of/ndian 8pininhad to be !rinted outside, in the Mercury !ress.
* now endeavoured to draw to Phoeni& those relations and friends who had come with me from
*ndia to try their fortune, and who were engaged in business of various #inds. They had come in
search of wealth, and it was therefore difficult to !ersuade themC but some agreed. f these * can
single out here only Manganlal Gandhi(s name. The others went bac# to business. Manganlal
Gandhi left his business for good to cast in his lot with me, and by ability, sacrifice and devotion
stands foremos t among my original co/wor#ers in my ethical e&!eriments. 1s a self/taught
handicraftsman his !lace among them is uni3ue.
Thus the Phoeni& Settlement was started in 9<AE, and there in s!ite of numerous odds /ndian
8pinincontinues to be !ublished.
But the initial difficulties, the changes made, the ho!es and the disa!!ointments demand a
se!arate cha!ter.
Chapter $
THE %IRST NIGHT
*t was no easy thing to issue the first number of /ndian 8pininfrom Phoeni&. )ad * not ta#en
two !recautions, the first issue would have had to be dro!!ed or delayed. The idea of having an
engine to wor# the !ress had not a!!ealed to me. * had thought that hand/!ower would be more
in #ee!ing with an atmos!here where agricultural wor# was also to be done by hand. But as the
idea had not a!!eared feasible, we had installed an oil/engine. * had, however, suggested to
5es t to have something handy to fall bac# u!on in case the engine failed. )e had therefore
arranged a wheel which could be wor#ed by hand. The si2e of the !a!er, that of a daily, was
considered reduced to foolsca! si2e, so that, in case of emergency, co!ies might be struc# off
with the hel! of a treadle.
*n the initial stages, we all had to #ee! late hours before the day of !ublication. 6veryone, young
and old, had to hel! in folding the sheets. 5e usually finished our wor# between ten o(cloc# and
midnight. But the first night was unforgettable. 5e had got out an engineer from "urban to !ut u!
the engine and set it going. )e and 5est tried their hardest, but in vain. 6veryone was an&ious.
5es t, in des !air, at last came to me, with tears in his eyes, and said, (The engine will not wor#, *
am afraid we cannot issue the !a!er in time.(
(*f that is the case, we cannot hel! it. %o use shedding tears. 4et us do whatever else is humanly
!ossible. 5hat about the handwheel@( * said, comforting him.
(5here have we the men to wor#@( he re!lied. (5e are not enough to co!e with the ,ob. *t re3uires
relays of four men each, and our own men are all tired.(
Building wor# had not yet been finished so the car!enters were still with us. They were slee!ing
on the !ress floor. * said !ointed to them, (But can(t we ma#e use of these car!enters@ 1nd we
may have a whole night of wor#. * thin# this device is still o!en to us.(
(* dare not wa#e u! the car!enters. 1nd our men are really too tired,( said 5est.

(5ell, that(s for me to negotiate,( said *.
(Then it is !ossible that we may get through the wor#,( 5est re!lied.
* wo#e u! the car!enters and re3uested their co/o!eration. They needed no !ressure. They said,
(*f we cannot be called u!on in an emergency, what use are we@ =ou rest yourselves and we will
wor# the wheel. 0or us it is easy wor#.( ur own men were of course ready.
5es t was greatly delighted and started singing a hymn as we set to wor#. * !artnered the
car!enters, all the rest ,oined turn by turn, and thus we went on until F a.m. There was still a good
deal to do. * therefore suggested to 5est that the engineer might now be as#ed to get u! and try
again to start the engine, so that if we suc ceeded we might finish in time.
5es t wo#e him u!, and he immediately went into the engine room. 1nd lo and beholdB the engine
wor#ed almost as soon as he touched it. The whole !ress rang with !eals of ,oy. ()ow can this
be@ )ow is it that all our labours last night were of no avail, and this morning it has been set
going as though there were nothing wrong with it@( * en3uired.
(*t is diffic ult to s ay,( s aid 5est or the engineer, * forget which. (Machines also sometimes seem to
behave as though they re3uired rest li#e us.(
0or me the failure of the engine had come as a test for us all, and its wor#ing in the nic# of time
as the fruit of our honest and earnest labours.
The co!ies were des!atched in time, and everyone was ha!!y.
This initial insistence ensured the regularity of the !a!er, and created an atmos!here of self/
reliance in Phoeni&. There came a time we deliberately gave u! the use of the engine and wor#ed
with hand/!ower only. Those were, to my mind, the days of the highest moral u!lift for Phoeni&.
Chapter $#
POLA) TA)ES THE PLUNGE
*t has always been my regret that, although * started the Settlement at Phoeni&, * could stay
there only for brief !eriods. My original idea had been gradually to retire from !ractice, go and live
at the Settlement, earn my livelihood by manual wor# there, and find the ,oy of service in the
fulfilment of Phoeni&. But it was not to be. * have found by e&!erience that man ma#es his !lans
to be often u!set by God, but, at the same time where the ultimate goal is the search of truth, no
matter how a man(s !lans are frustrated, the issue is never in,urious and often better than
antici!ated. The une&!ected turn that Phoeni& too# and the une&!ected ha!!enings were
certainly not in,urious, though it is difficult to say that they were better than our original
e&!ectations.
*n order to enable every one of us to ma#e a living by manual labour, we !arcelled out the land
round the !ress in !ieces of three acres each. ne of these fell to my lot. n all these !lots we,
much against our wish, built houses with corrugated iron. ur desire had been to have mud huts
thatched with straw or small bric# houses such as would become ordinary !easants, but it could

not be. They would have been more e&!ensive and would have meant more time, and everyone
was eager to settle down as soon as !ossible.
The editor was still Mansu#hlal %aa2ar. )e had not acce!ted the new scheme and was directing
the !a!er from "urban where there was a branch office for J*ndian !inionJ though we had !aid
com!ositors, the idea was for every members of the Settlement to learn ty!e/setting, the easies t,
if the most tedious, of the !rocesses in a !rinting !ress. Thos e, therefore, who did not already
#now the wor# learnt it. * remained a dunc e to the last. Maganlal Gandhi sur!assed us all.
Though he had never before wor# ed in a !ress, he became an e&!ert com!ositor and not only
achieved great s!eed but, to my agreeable sur!rise, 3uic# ly mastered all the other branches of
!ress wor#. * have always thought that he was not cons cious of his own ca!acity.
5e had hardly settled down, the buildings were hardly ready, when * had to leave the newly
constructed nest and go to $ohannesburg. * was not in a !osition to allow the wor# there to
remain without attention for any length of time.
n return to $ohannesburg, * informed Pola# of the im!ortant changes * had made. )is ,oy #new
no bounds when he learnt that the loan of his boo# had been so fruitful. (*s it not !ossible,( he
as#ed, (for me to ta#e !art in the new venture@( .(-ertainly,( said *. (=ou may if you li# e ,oin the
Settlement.( (* am 3uite ready,( he re!lied, (*f you will admit me.(
)is determination ca!tured me. )e gave a month(s notice to his c hief to be relieved from JThe
-riticJ, and reached Phoeni& in due course. By his sociability he won the hearts of all and soon
became a member of the family. Sim!licity was so much a !art of his nature that, far from feeling
the life at Phoeni& in any way strange or hard, he too# to it li#e a duc# ta#es to water. But * could
not #ee! him there long. Mr. +itch had decided to finish his legal studies in 6ngland, and it was
im!ossible for me to bear the burden of the office s ingle/handed, so * suggested to Pola# that he
should ,oin the office and 3ualify as an attorney. * had thought that ultimately both of us would
retire and settle at Phoeni&, but that never came to !ass. Pola#(s was such a trustful nature that,
when he re!osed his confidence in a friend, he would try to agree with him instead of arguing with
him. )e wrote to me from Phoeni& that though he loved the life there, was !erfectly ha!!y,and
had ho!es of develo!ing the Settlement, still he was ready to leave and ,oin the office to 3ualify
as an attorney, if * thought that thereby we should more 3uic#ly reali2e our ideals. * heartily
welcomed the letter. Pola# left Phoeni&, came to $ ohannesburg and signed his articles with me.
1bout the same time a Scotch theoso!hist, whom * had been coaching for a local legal
e&amination, also ,oined as an articled cler#, on my inviting him to follow Pola#(s e&am!le. )is
name was Mr. Mac*ntyre.
Thus, with the laudable ob,ect of 3uic#ly reali2ing the ideals at Phoeni&, * seemed to be going
dee!er and dee!er into a contrary current, and had God not willed otherwise, * should have found
myself entra!!ed in this net s!read in the name of sim!le life.
*t will be after a few more cha!ters that * shall describe how * and my ideals were saved in a way
no one had imagined or e&!ected.

Chapter $$
+HOM GOD PROTECTS
* had now given u! all ho!e of returning to *ndia in the near future. * had !romised my wife that *
would return home within a year. The year was gone without any !ros!ect of my return, so *
decided to send for her and the c hildren.
n the boat bringing them to South 1frica, +amdas, my third son, bro#e his arm while !laying
with the shi!(s ca!tain. The ca!tain loo#ed after him well and had him attended to by the shi!(s
dector. +amdas landed with his hand in a sling. The doctor had advised that, as soon as we
reached home, the wound should be dressed by a 3ualified doctor. But this was the time when *
was full of faith in my e&!eriments in earth treatment. * had even succeeded in !ersuading some
of my clients who had faith in my 3uac#ery to try the earth and water treatment.
5hat then was * to do for +amdas@ )e was ,ust eight years old. * as#ed him if he would mind my
dressing his wound. 5ith a smile he said he did not mind at all. *t was not !ossible for him at that
age to decide what was the best thing for him, but he #new very well the distinction between
3uac#ery and !ro!er medical treatment. 1nd he #new my habit of home treatment and had faith
enough to trust himself to me. *n fear and trembling * undid the bandage, washed the wound,
a!!lied a clean earth !oultice and tied the arm u! again. This sort of dressing went on daily for
about a month until the wound was com!letely healed. There was no hitch, and the wound too#
no more time to heal than the shi!(s doctor had said it would under the usual treatment.
This and other e&!eriments enhanced my faith in such household remedies, and * now !roceeded
with them with more self/c onfidence. * widened the s!here of their a!!lication, trying the earth
and water and fasting treatment in cases of wounds, fevers, dys!e!sia, ,aundice and other
com!laints, with success on most occasions. But nowadays * have not the confidence * had in
South 1frica and e&!erienc e has even shown that these e&!eriments involve obvious ris#s.
The reference here, therefore, to these e&!eriments is not meant to demonstrate their suc cess. *
cannot claim com!lete success for any e& !eriment. 6ven medical men can ma#e no such claim
for their e&!eriments. My ob,ect is only to show that he who would go in for novel e&!eriments
must begin with himself. That leads to a 3uic #er discovery of truth, and God always !rotects the
honest e&!erimenter.
The ris#s involved in e&!eriments in cultivating intimate contacts with 6uro!eans were as grave
as those in the nature cure e&!eriments. nly those ris#s were of a different #ind. But in
cultivating those contacts * never so much as thought of the ris#s.
* invited Pola# to come and stay with me, and we began to live li#e blood brothers. The lady who
was soon to be Mrs. Pola# and he had been engaged for some years, but the marriage had been
!ost!oned for a !ro!itious time. * have an im!ression that Pola# wanted to !ut some money by
before he settled down to a married life. )e #new +us#in much better than *, but his 5estern
surroundings were a bar against his translating +us#in(s teaching immediately into !ractice. But *
!leaded with him' (5hen there is a heart union, as in your case, it is hardly right to !ost!one
marriage merely for financial cons ideratons. *f !overty is a bar, !oor men can never marry. 1nd
then you are now staying with me. There is no 3uestion of household e&!enses. * thin# you
should get married as soon as !oss ible. 1s * have said in a !revious cha!ter, * had never to
argue a thing twice with Pola# . )e a!!reciated the force of my argument, and immediately
o!ened corres!ondence on the sub,ect with Mrs. Pola#, who was then in 6ngland. She gladly
acce!ted the !ro!osal and in a few months reached $ohannesburg. 1ny e&!ense over the

wedding was out of the 3uestion, not even a s!ecial dress was thought necessary. They needed
no religious rites to seal the bond. Mrs. Pola# was a -hristian by birth and Pola# a $ew. Their
common religion was the religion of ethics.
* may mention in !assing an amusing incident in connection with this wedding. The +egistrar of
6uro!ean marriages in the Transvaal could not register between blac# or coloured !eo!le. *n the
wedding in 3uestion, * acted as the best man. %ot that we could not have got a 6uro!ean friend
for the !ur!ose, but Pola# would not broo# the suggestion. So we three went to the +egistrar of
marriages . )ow could he be sure that the !arties to a marriage in which * acted as the best man
would be whites@ )e !ro!osed to !ost!one registration !ending in3uiries. The ne&t day was a
sunday. The day following was %ew =ear(s "ay, a !ublic holiday. To !ost!one the date of a
solemnly arranged wedding on such a flimsy !rete&t was more than one could !ut u! with. * #new
the -hief Magistrate, who was head of the +egistration "e!artment. So * a!!eared before him
with the cou!le. )e laughed and gave me a note to the +egistrar and the marriage was duly
registered.
U! to now the 6uro!eans living with us had been more or les s #nown to me before. But now an
6nglish lady who was an utter stranger to us entered the family. * do not remember our ever
having had a difference with the newly married cou!le, but even if Mrs. Pola# and my wife had
some un!leasant e&!erience, they would have been no more than what ha!!en in the best/
regulated homogeneous familes. 1nd let it be remembered that mine would be considered an
essentially heterogeneous family, where !eo!le of all # inds and tem!eraments were freely
admitted. 5hen we come to thin# of it, the distinction between heterogeneous and homogeneous
is discovered to be merely imaginary. 5e are all one family.
* had better celebrate 5est(s wedding also in this cha!ter. 1t this stage of my life, my ideas about
JbrahmacharyaJ had not fully matured, and s o * was interesting myself in getting all my bachelor
friends married. 5hen, in due course, 5est made a !ilgrimage to 4outh to see his !arents, *
advised him to return married if !ossible. Phoeni& was the common home, and as we were all
su!!osed to have become farmers, we were not afraid of marriage and its usual conse3uences.
5es t returned with Mrs. 5est, a beautiful young lady from 4eicester. She came of a family of
shoema#ers wor#ing in a 4eicester fac tory. * have called her beautiful, becaus e it was her moral
beauty that at once attracted me. True beauty after all consists in !urity of heart. 5ith Mr. 5est
had come his mother/in/law too. The old lady is still alive. She !ut us all to shame by her industry
and her buoyant, cheerful nature.
*n the same way as * !ersuaded these 6uro!ean friends to marry, * encouraged the *ndian friends
to send for their families from home. Phoeni& thus develo!ed into a little village, half a do2en
familes having come and settled and begun to increase there.
Chapter 1''
A PEEP INTO THE HOUSEHOLD
*t has already been seen that, though household e&!enses were heavy, the tendency towards
sim!licity began in "urban. But the $ohannesburg house came in for much severer overhauling in
the light of +us# in(s teaching.
* introduced as much sim!licity as was !ossible in a barrister(s house. *t was im!ossible to do
without a certain amount of furniture. The change was more internal than e&ternal. The li# ing for

doing !ersonally all the !hysical labour increased. * therefore began to bring my children also
under that disci!line.
*nstead of buying ba# er(s bread, we began to !re!are unleavened wholemeal bread at home
according to Kuhne(s reci!e. -ommon mill flour was no good for this, and the use of handground
flour, it was thought, would ensure more sim!licity, health and economy. So * !urc hased a hand/
mill for G F. The iron wheel was too heavy to be tac#ed by one man, but easy for two. Pola# and *
and the children usually wor#ed it. My wife also occasionally lent a hand, though the grinding hour
was her usual time for commencing # itchen wor#. Mrs. Pola# now ,oined us on her arrival. The
grinding !roved a very beneficial e&ercise for the children. %either this nor any other wor# was
ever im!osed on them, but it was a !astime to them to come and lend a hand, and they were at
liberty to brea# off whenever tired. But the children, including those whom * shall have occasion to
introduce later, as a rule never failed me. %ot that * had no laggarded at all, but most did their
wor# cheerfully enough. * can recall few youngsters in those days fighting shy of wor# or !leading
fatigue.
5e had engaged a servant to loo# after the house. )e lived with us as a member of the family,
and the children used to hel! him in his wor# . The munici!al swee!er removed the night/soil, but
we !ersonally attended to the cleaning of the closet instead of as#ing or e& !ecting the servant to
do it. This !roved a good training for the children. The result was that none of my sons develo!ed
any aversion for scavenger(s wor# , and they naturally got a good grounding in general sanitation.
There was hardly any illness in the home at $ohannesburg, but whenever there was any, the
nursing was willingly done by the children. * will not say that * was indifferent to their literary
education, but * certainly did not hesitate to sacrifice it. My sons have therefore some reason for a
grievance against me. *ndeed they have occas ionally given e&!ression to it, and * must !lead
guilty to a certain e&tent. The desire to give them a literary education was there. * even
endeavoured to give it to them myself, but every now and then there was some hitch or other. 1s
* had made no other arrangement for their !rivate tuition, * used to get them to wal# with me daily
to the office and bac# home a distance of about I miles in all. This gave them and me a fair
amount of e&ercise. * tried to ins truct them by conversation during these wal#s, if there was no
one else claiming my attention. 1ll my children, e&ce!ting the eldest, )arilal, who had stayed
away in *ndia, were brought u! in $ohannesburg in this manner. )ad * been able to devote at
least an hour to their literary education with strict regularity, * should have given them, in my
o!inion, an ideal deucation. But it was been their, as als o my, regret that * failed to ensure them
enough literary training. The eldest son has often given vent to his distress !rivately before me
and !ublicly in the !ressC the other sons have generously forgiven the failure as unavoidable. *
am not heart bro#en over it and the regret, if any, is that * did not !rove an ideal father. But * hold
that * sacrificed their literary training to what * genuinely, though may be wrongly, believed to be
service to the community. * am 3uite clear that * have not been negligent in doing whatever was
needful for building u! their character. * believe it is the bounden duty of every !arent to !rovide
for this !ro!erly. 5henever, in s!ite of my endeavour, my sons have been found wanting, it is my
certain conviction that they have reflected, not want of care on my !art, but the defects of both
their !arents.
-hildren inherit the 3ualities of the !arents, no les s than their !hysical features. 6nvironment
does !lay an im!ortant !art, but the original ca!ital on which a child starts in life is inherited from
its ancestors. * have also seen children successfully surmounting the effects of an evil
inheritance. That is due to !urity being an inherent attribute of the soul.
Pola# and * had often very heated discussions about the desirability or otherwise of giving the
children an 6nglish education. *t has always been my conviction that *ndian !arents who train
their children to thin# and tal# in 6nglish from their infancy betray their c hildren and their country.
They de!rive them of the s!iritual and social heritage of the nation, and render them to that e&tent
unfit for the service of the country. )aving these convictions, * made a !oint of always tal#ing to
my children in Gu,arati. Pola# never li#ed this. )e thought * was s!oiling their future. )e

contended, with all the vigour and love at his conmand, that, if children were to learn a universal
language li#e 6nglish from thier infancy, they would easily gain considerable advantage over
others in the race of life. )e failed to convince me. * do not now remember whether * convinced
him of the correctness of my attitude, or whether he gave me u! as too obstinate. This ha!!ened
about twenty years ago, and my convictions have only dee!ened with e&!erience. Though my
sons have suffered for want of full literary education, the #nowledge of the mother/tounge that
they naturally ac3uired has been all to their and the c ountry(s good, inasmuch as they do not
a!!ear the foreigners they would otherwise have a!!eared. They naturally become bilingual,
s!ea#ing and writing 6nglish with fair ease, because of daily contact with a large cicle of 6nglish
friends, and because of their stay in a country where 6nglish was the chief language s!o#en.
Chapter 1'1
THE 1ULU &REBELLION&
6ven after * thought * had settled down in $ohannesburg, there was to be no settled life for me.
$ust when * felt that * should be breathing in !eace, an une&!ected event ha!!ened. The !a!ers
brought the news of the out brea# of the Lulu (rebellion( in %atal. * bore no grudge agains t the
Lulus, they had harmed no *ndian. * had doubts about the (rebellion( itself. But * then believed that
the British 6m!ire e&isted for the welfare of the world. 1 genuine sense of loyalty !revented me
from even wishing ill to the 6m!ire. The rightness or otherwise of the (rebellion( was therefore not
li# ely to affect my decision. %atal had a .olunteer "efenc e 0orce, and it was o!en to it to recruit
more men. * read that this force had already been mobili2ed to 3uell the (rebellion(.
* considered mys elf a citi2en of %atal, being intimately connected with it. So * wrote to the
Governor, e&!ressing my readiness, if necessary, to form an *ndian 1mbulance -or!s. )e re!lied
immediately acce!ting the offer.
* had not e& !ected such !rom!t acce!tance. 0ortunately * had made all the necessary
arrangements even before writing the letter. *f my offer was acce!ted, * had decided to brea# u!
the $ohannesburg home. Pola# was to have a smaller house, and my wife was to go and settle at
Phoeni&. * had her full consent to this decision. * do not remember her having ever stood in my
way in matters li#e this. 1s s oon, therefore, as * got the re!ly from the Governor, * gave the
landlord the usual month(s notice of vacating the house, sent some of the things to Phoeni& and
left some with Pola#.
* went to "urban and a!!ealed for men. 1 big contingent was not necessary. 5e were a !arty of
twenty/four, of whom, besides me, four were Gu,aratis. The rest were e&/indentured men from
South *ndia, e&ce!ting one who was a free Pathan.
*n order to give me a status and to facilitate wor#, as also in accordance with the e&isting
convention, the -hief Medical fficer a!!ointed me to the tem!orary ran# of Sergeant Ma,or and
three men selected by me to the ran# of sergeants and one to that of cor!oral. 5e also received
our uniforms from the Government. ur -or!s was on active service for nearly si& wee#s. n
reaching the scene of the (rebellion(, * saw that there was nothing there to ,ustify the name of
(rebellion(. There was no res istance that one could see. The reason why the disturbance had
been magnified into a rebellion was that a Lulu chief had advised non/!ayment of a new ta&

im!osed on his !eo!le, and had as sagaied a sergeant who had gone to collect the ta&. 1t any
rate my heart was with the Lulus, and * was delighted, on reaching head3uarters, to hear that our
main wor# was to be the nursing of the wounded Lulus. The Medical fficer in charge welcomed
us. )e said the white !eo!le were not willing nurses for the wounded Lulus, that their wounds
were festering, and that he was at his wits( end. )e hailed our arrival as a godsend for those
innocent !eo!le, and he e3ui!!ed us with bandages, disinfectants, etc., and too# us to the
im!rovised hos!ital. The Lulus were delighted to see us. The white soldiers used to !ee! through
the railing that se!arated us from them and tried to dissuade us from attending to the wounds.
1nd as we would not heed them, they became enraged and !oured uns!ea#able abuse on the
Lulus.
Gradually * came into closer touch with these soldiers, and they ceased to interfere. 1mong the
commanding officers were -ol. S!ar#s and -ol. 5ylie, who had bitterly o!!osed me in 9:<;.
They were sur!rised at my attitude and s!ecially called and than#ed me. They introduced me to
General Mac#en2ie. 4et not the reader thin# that these were !rofessional soldiers. -ol. 5ylie was
a well/#nown "urban lawyer. -ol. S!ar#s was well # nown as the owner of a butcher(s sho! in
"urban. Gereral Mac# en2ie was a noted %atal farmer. 1ll these gentlemen were volunteers, and
as such had received military training and e&!erience.
The wounded in our charge were not wounded in battle. 1 section of them had been ta#en
!risoners as sus!ects . The General had s entenced them to be flogged. The flogging had caused
severe sores. These, being unattended to, were festering. The others were Lulu friendlies.
1lthough these had badges given them to distinguish them from the (enemy(, they had been shot
at by the soldiers by mista#e.
Besides this wor# * had to com!ound and dis!ense !rescri!tions for the white soldiers. This was
easy enough for me as * had received a year(s training in "r. Booth(s little hos!ital. This wor#
brought me in clos e contact with many 6uro!eans.
5e were attached to a swift/moving c olumn. *t had orders to march wherever danger was
re!orted. *t was for the most !art mounted infantry. 1s soon as our cam! was moved, we had to
follow on foot with our stretchers on our shoulders. Twic e or thrice we had to marc h forty miles a
day. But wherever we went, * am than#ful that we had God(s good wor# to do, having to carry to
the cam! on our stretc hers those Lulu friendlies who had been inadvertently wounded, and to
attend u!on them as nurses.
Chapter 1'2
HEART SEARCHINGS
The Lulu (rebellion( was full of new e&!eriences and gave me much food for thought. The Boer
5ar had not brought home to me the horrors of war with anything li# e the vividness that the
(rebellion( did. This was no war but a man/hunt, not only in my o!inion, but also in that of many
6nglishmen with whom * had occasion to tal#. To hear every morning re!orts of the soldiers( rifles
e&!loding li#e crac# ers in innocent hamlets, and to live in the midst of them was a trial. But *
swallowed the bitter draught, es!ecially as the wor# of my -or!s consisted only in nursing the
wounded Lulus. * could see that but for us the Lulus would have been uncared for. This wor#,
therefore, eased my conscience.

But there was much else to set one thin# ing. *t was a s!arsely !o!ulated !art of the country. 0ew
and far between in hills and dales were the scattered Kraals of the sim!le and so/called
(uncivili2ed( Lulus. Marching, with or without the wounded, through these solemn solitudes, * often
fell into dee! thought.
* !ondered over brahmacharyaand its im!lications, and my convictions too# dee! root. *
discussed it with my co/wor#ers. * had not reali2ed then how indis!ensable it was for self/
reali2ation. But * clearly saw that one as!iring to serve humanity with his whole soul could not do
without it. *t was borne in u!on me that * should have more and more occasions for service of the
#ind * was rendering, and that * should find myself une3ual to my tas# if * were engaged in the
!leasures of family life and in the !ro!agation and rearing of children.
*n a word, * could not live both after the flesh and the s!irit. n the !resent occasion, for instance,
* should not have been able to throw myself into the fray, had my wife been e&!ecting a baby.
5ithout the observance of brahmacharyaservice of the family would be inconsistent with service
of the community. 5ith brahmacharyathey would be !erfectly consistent.
So thin#ing, * became somewhat im!atient to ta#e a final vow. The !ros!ect of the vow brought a
certain #ind of e&ultation. *magination also found free !lay and o!ened out limitless vistas of
service.
5hilst * was thus in the midst of strenuous !hysical and mental wor#, a re!ort came to the effect
that the wor# of su!!ressing the (rebellion( was nearly over, and that we should soon be
discharged. 1 day or two after this our discharge came and in a few days we got bac# to our
homes.
1fter a short while * got a letter from the Governor s!ecially than#ing the 1mbulance -or!s for its
services.
n my arrival at Phoeni& * eagerly broached the sub,ect of Brahmacharyawith -hhaganlal,
Maganlal, 5est and others. They li#ed the idea and acce!ted the necessity of ta#ing the vow, but
they also re!resented the difficulties of the tas#. Some of them set themselves bravely to observe
it, and some, * # now, succeeded also.
* too too# the !lunge the vow to observe brahmacharyafor life. * must confess that * had not then
fully reali2ed the magnitude and immensity of the tas# * undertoo#. The difficulties are even today
staring me in the face. The im!ortance of the vow is being more and more borne in u!on me. 4ife
without brahmacharyaa!!ears to me to be insi!id and animal/li#e. The brute by nature #nows no
self/restraint. Man is man because he is ca!able of, and only in so far as he e&ercises, self/
restraint. 5hat formerly a!!eared to me to be e&travagant !raise of brahmacharyain our
religious boo#s seems now, with increasing clearness every day, to be absolutely !ro!er and
founded on e&!erience.
* s aw that brahmacharya, which is so full of wounderful !otency, is by no means an easy affair,
and certainly not a mere matter of the body. *t begins with bodily restraint, but does not end there.
The !erfection of it !recludes even an im!ure thought. 1 true brahmachariwill not even dream of
satis fying the fleshly a!!etite, and until he is in that condition, he has a great deal of ground to
cover.
0or me the observance of even bodily brahmacharyahas been full of difficulties. Today * may say
that * feel myself fairly safe, but * had yet to achieve com!lete mastery over thought, which is so
essential. %ot that the will or effort is lac#ing, but it is yet a !roblem to me wherefrom undersirable
thoughts s!ring their insidious invasions. * have no doubt that there is a #ey to loc# out
undersirable thoughts, but every one has to find it out for himself. Saints and seers have left their

e&!eriences for us, but they have given us no infallible and universal !resc ri!tion. 0or !erfection
or freedom from error comes only from grace, and s o see#ers after God have left us mantras,
such as Ramanama, hallowed by their own austerities and charged with their !urity. 5ithout an
unreserved surrender to )is grace, com!lete mastery over thought is im!ossible. This is the
teaching of every great boo# of religion, and * am reali2ing the truth of it every moment of my
striving after that !erfect brahmacharya.
But !art of the history of that striving and struggle will be told in cha!ters to follow. * shall
conclude this cha!ter with an indication of how * set about the tas#. *n the first flush of inthusiasm,
* found the observance 3uite easy. The very first change * made in my mode of life was to sto!
s!aring the same bed with my wife or see#ing !rivacy with her.
Thus brahmacharyawhich * had been observing willynilly since 9<AA, was sealed with a vow in
the middle of 9<A;.
Chapter 1'3
THE BIRTH O% SATYAGRAHA
6vents were so sha!ing themselves in $ohannesburg as to ma#e this self/!urfication on my
!art a !reliminary as it were to Satyagraha. * can now see that all the !rinci!al events of my life,
culminating in the vow of brahmacharya, were secretly !re!aring me for it. The !rinci!le called
Satyagraha c ame into being before that name was invented. *ndeed when it was born, * myself
could not say what it was. *n Gu,arati also we used the 6nglish !harse (!assive resistance( to
describe it. 5hen in a meeting of 6uro!eans * found that the term (!assive resistance( was too
narrowly construed, that it was su!!osed to be a wea!on of the wea#, that it could be
characteri2ed by hatred, and that it could finally manifest itself as violence, * had to damur to all
these statements and e&!lain the real nature of the *ndian movement. *t was clear that a new
word must be coined by the *ndians to designate their struggle.
But * could not for the life of me find out a new name, and therefore offered a nominal !ri2e
through /ndian 8pininto the reader who made the best suggestion on the s ub,ect. 1s a res ult
Maganlal Gandhi coined the word (Sadagraha( >SatQtruth, 1grahaQfirmness? and won the !ri2e.
But in order to ma#e it clearer * changed the word to (Satyagraha( which has since become
current in Gu,arati as a designation for the struggle.
The history of this strugle is for all !ractical !ur!oses a histroy of the remainder of my life in South
1frica and es!ecially of my e&!riments with truth in that s ub/continent. * wrote the ma,or !ortion of
this history in =eravda ,ail and finished it after * was released. *t was !ublished in Navajivanand
subse3uently issued in boo# form. S,t. .al,i Govind,i "esai has been translating it into 6nglish for
Current #hu!ht, but * am now arranging to have the 6nglish translation !ublished in boo# form at
an early date, so that those who will may be able to familiari2e themselves with my most
im!ortant e&!eriments in South 1frica. * would recommend a !erusal of my history of Satyagraha
in South 1frica to suc h readers as have not seen it already. * will not re!eat what * have !ut down
there, but in the ne&t few cha!ters will deal only with a few !ersonal incidents of my life in South
1frica which have not been covered by that history. 1nd when * have done with these, * will at
once !roceed to give the reader some idea of my e&!eriments in *ndia. Therefore, anyone who
wishes to consider these e& !eriments in their strict chronological order will now do well to #ee!
the history of Satyagraha in South 1frica bfore him.

Chapter 1'4
MORE E(PERIMENTS IN DIETETICS
* was an&ious to observe brahmacharyain thought, word and deed, and e3ually an&ious to
devote the ma&imum of time to the Satyagraha struggle and fit myself for it by cultivating !urity. *
was therefore led to ma#e further changes and to im!ose greater restraints u!on myself in the
matter of food. The motive for the !revious changes had been largely hygienic, but the new
e&!eriments were made from a religious stand!oint.
0asting and restriction in diet now !layed a more im!ortant !art in my life. Passion in man is
generally co/e&istent with a han#ering after the !leasures of the !alate. 1nd so it was with me. *
have encountered many difficulties in trying to control !assion as well as taste, and * cannot claim
even now to have brought them under com!lete sub,ection. * have considered myself to be a
heavy eater. 5hat friends have thought to be my restraint has never a!!eared to me in that light.
*f * had failed to develo! restraint to the e&tent that * have, * should have descended lower than
the beasts and met my doom long ago. )owever, as * had ade3uately reali2ed my shortcomings,
* made great efforts to get rid of them, and than#s to this endeavour * have all these years !ulled
on with my body and !ut in with it my share of wor#.
Being conscious of my wea#ness and une&!ectedly coming in contact with congenial com!any, *
began to ta#e an e&clusive fruit diet or to fast on the "kadashiday, and als o to observe
7anmashtamiand similar holidays.
* began with a fruit diet, but from the stand!oint of restraint * did not find much to choose between
a fruit diet and a diet of food grains. * observed that the same indulgence of taste was !os sible
with the former as with the latter, and even more, when one got accustomed to it. * therefore
came to attach greater im!ortance to fasting or having only one meal a day on holidays. 1nd if
there was some occasion for !enance or the li#e, * gladly utili2ed it too for the !ur!ose of fasting.
But * also saw that, the body now being drained more effectively, the food yielded greater relish
and the a!!etite grew #eener. *t dawned u!on me that fasting could be made as !owerful a
wea!on of indulgence as of restraint. Many similar later e&!erienc es of mine as well as of others
can be adduced as evidence of this starting fact. * wanted to im!rove and train my body, but as
my chief ob,ect now was to achieve restraint and a con3uest of the !alate, * selected first one
food and then another, and at the same time restric ted the amount. But the relish was after me,
as it were. 1s * gave u! one thing and too# u! another, this latter afforded me a fresher and
greater relish than its !redecessor.
*n ma#ing these e&!eriments * had several com!anions, the chief of whom was )ermann
Kallenbach. * have already written about this friend in the history of Satyagraha in South 1frica,
and will not go over the same ground here. Mr. Kallenbach was always with me whether in fasting
or in dietetic changes. * lived with him at his own !lace when the Satyagraha struggle was at its
height. 5e discussed our changes in food and derived more !leasure from the new diet than from
the old. Tal# of this nature sounded 3uite !leasant in those days, and did not stri# e me as at all
im!ro!er. 6&!erience has taught me, however, that it was wrong to have dwelt u!on the relish of
food. ne should eat not in order to !lease the !alate, but ,ust to # ee! the body going. 5hen
each organ of sense subserves the body and through the body the soul. *ts s!ecial relis h
disa!!ears, and then alone does it begin to function in the way nature intended it to do.
1ny number of e&!eriments is too small and no sacrifice is too great for attaining this sym!hony
with nature. But unfortunately the current is now/a/days flowing strongly in the o!!osite direction.

5e are not ashamed to sacrifice a multitude of other lives in decorating the !erishable body and
trying to !rolong it e&istence for a few fleeting moments, with the result that we #ill ourselves, both
body and soul. *n trying to cure one old diseas e. 5e give rise to a hundred new ones' in trying to
en,oy the !leasures of sense, we lose in the end even our ca!ac ity for en,oyment. 1ll this is
!assing before our very eyes, but there are none so blind as those who will not see.
)aving thus set forth their ob,ect and the train of ideas which led u! to them, * now !ro!ose to
describe the dietetic e&!eriments at some length.
Chapter 1'5
)ASTURBAI&S COURAGE
Thrice in her life my wife narrowly esca!ed death through serious illness. The cures were due
to household remedies. 1t the time of her first attac# Satyagraha was going on or was about to
commence. She had fre3uent haemorrhage. 1 medical friend advis ed a surgical o!eration, to
which she agreed after some hesitation. She was e&tremely emaciated, and the doctor had to
!erform the o!eration without chloroform. *t was successful, but she had to suffer muc h !ain, she,
however, went through it with wonderful bravery. The doctor and his wife who nursed her were all
attention. This was in "urban. The doctor gave me leave to go to $ohannesburg, and told me not
to have any an&iety about the !atient.
*n a few days, however, * received a letter to the effect that Kasturbai was worse, too wea# to sit
u! in bed, and had once become unconscious. The doctor #new that he might not, without my
consent, give her wines or meat. So he tele!honed to me at $ohannesburg for !ermission to give
her beef tea. * re!lied saying * could not grant the !ermission, but that, if she was in a condition to
e&!ress her wish in the matter she might be consulted and she was free to do as she li# ed. (But,(
said the doctor, (* refuse to c onsult the !atient(s wishes in the matter. =ou must come yourself. *f
you do not leave me free to !rescribe whatever diet * li# e, * will not hold myself res!onsible for
your wife(s life.(
* too# the train for "urban the same day, and met the doctor who 3uietly bro#e this news to me' (*
had already given Mrs. Gandhi beef tea when * tele!honed to you.(
(%ow, doctor, * call this a fraud,( said *.
(%o 3ues tion of fraud in !rescribing medicine or diet for a !atient. *n fac t we doctors consider it a
virtue to dec eive !atients or their relatives , if thereby we can save our !atients, s aid the doctor
with determination.
* was dee!ly !ained, but #e!t cool. The doctor was a good man and a !ersonal friend. )e and his
wife had laid me under a debt of gratitude, but * was not !re!ared to !ut u! with his medical
morals.
("octor, tell me what you !ro!ose to do now. * would never allow my wife to be given meat or
beef, even if the denial meant her death, unless of course she desired to ta#e it.(

(=ou are welc ome to your !hiloso!hy. * tell you that, so long as you #ee! your wife under my
treatment, * must have the o!tion to give her anything * wish. *f you don(t li#e this, * must
regretfully as# you to remove her. * can(t see her die under my roof.(
("o you mean to say that * must remove her at once@(
(5henever did * as# you to remove her@ * only want to be left entirely free. *f you do so, my wife
and * will do all that is !ossible for her, and you may go bac# without the least an&iety on her
score. But if you will not understand this sim!le thing, you will com!el me to as# you to remove
your wife from my !lace.(
* thin# one of my sons was with me. )e entirely agreed with me, and said his mother should not
be given beef tea. * ne& t s!o#e to Kasturbai herself. She was really too wea# to be consulted in
this matter. But * thought it my !ainful duty to do so. * told her what had !assed between the
doctor and myself. She gave a resolute re!ly' (* will not ta#e beef tea. *t is a rare thing in this
world to be born as a human being, and * would far rather die in your arms than !ollute my body
with such abominations .(
* !leaded with her. * told her that s he was not bound to follow me. * cited to her the instances of
)indu friends and ac3uaintances who had no scru!les about ta#ing meat or wine as medicine.
But she was adamant. (%o,( said she, (!ray remove me at once.(
* was delighted. %ot without some agitation * decided to ta#e her away. * informed the doctor of
her resolve. )e e&claimed in a rage' (5hat a c allous man you areB =ou should have been
ashamed to broach the matter to her in her !resent condition. * tell you your wife is not least little
hustling. * shouldn(t sur!rised if she were to die on the way. But if you must !ersist, you are free
to do so. *f you will not give her beef tea, * will not ta#e the ris# of #ee!ing her under my roof even
for a single day.(
So we decided to leave the !lace at once. *t was dri22ling and the station was some distance. 5e
had to ta#e the train from "urban for Phoeni&, whence our Settlement was reached by a road of
two miles and a half, * was undoubtedly ta#ing a very great ris# , but * trusted in God, and
!roceeded with my tas#. * sent a messenger to Phoeni& in advance, with a message to 5es t to
receive us at the station with a hammoc#, a bottle of hot mil# and one of hot water, and si& men to
carry #asturbai in the hammoc#. * got a ric#shaw to enable me to ta#e her by the ne&t available
train, !ut her into it in that dangerous condition, and marched away.
Kasturbai needed no cheering u!. n the contrary, she comforted me, saying' (%othing will
ha!!en to me. "on(t worry.(
She was mere s#in and bone, having had no nourishment for days. The station !latform was very
large, and as the ric#shaw could not be ta#en inside, one had to wal# some distance before one
could reach the train. So * carried her in my arms and !ut her into the com!artment. 0rom
Phoeni& we carried her in the hammoc#, and there she slowly !ic#ed u! strength under
hydro!athic treatment.
*n two or three days of our arrival at Phoeni& a Swami came to our !lace. )e had heard of the
resolute way in which we had re,ected the doctor(s advice, and he had, out of sym!athy, come to
!lead with us. My second and third sons Manilal and +amdas were, so far as * can recollect,
!resent when the Swami came. )e held forth on the religious harmlessness of ta# ing meat, citing
authorities from Manu. * did not li#e his carrying on this dis!utation in the !resence of my wife, but
* suffered him to do so out of courtesy. * #new the verses from the Manusmriti, * did not need
them for my conviction. * #new also that there was a school which regarded these verses as
inter!olations' but even if they were not, * held my views on vegetarianism inde!endently of

religious te& ts, and Kasturbai(s faith was unsha#able. To her the scri!tural te&ts were a sealed
boo#, but the traditional religion of her forefathers was enough for her. The c hildren swore by their
father(s creed and so they made light of the Swami(s discourse. But Kasturbai !ut an end to the
dialogue at once. (Swami,i,( she said,(5hatever you may say, * do not want to recover by means
of beef tea. Pray don(t worry me any more. =ou may discuss the thing with my husband and
children if you li#e. But my mind is made u!.
Chapter 1'6
DOMESTIC SATYAGRAHA
My first e&!erience of ,ail life was in 9<A:. * saw that some of the regulations that the !risoners
had to observe were such as should be voluntarily observed by a brahmachari, that is, one
desiring to !ractise self/restraint. Such, for instance, was the regulation re3uiring the last meal to
be finished before sunset. %either the *ndian nor the 1frican !risoners were allowed tea or coffee.
They could add salt to the coo#ed food if they wished, but they might not have anything for the
mere satisfaction of the !alate. 5hen * as# ed the ,ail medical officer to give us curry !owder, and
to let us add salt to the food whilst it was coo#ing, he said' (=ou are not here for satisfying your
!alate. 0rom the !oint of view of health, curry !owder is not necessary, and it ma#es no
difference whether you add salt during or after coo#ing.(
Ultimeately these restrictions were modified, though not without much difficulty, but both were
wholesome rules of self/restraint. *nhabitions im!osed from without rarely suceed, but when they
are self/im!osed, they have a decidedly salutary effect. So, immediately after release from ,ail, *
im!osed on myself the two rules. 1s far as was then !ossible, * sto!!ed ta#ing tea, and finished
my last meal before sunset. Both these now re3uire no effort in the observance.
There came, however, an occas ion which com!elled me to give u! salt altogether, and this
restriction * continued for an unbro# en !eriod of ten years. * had read in some boo#s on
vegetarianism that salt was not a necessary article of diet for man, that on the contrary saltless
diet was better for the health. * had deduced that a brahmac har i benefited by a saltless diet, * had
read and reali2ed that the wea#/ bodied should avoid !ulses. * was very fond of them.
%ow it ha!!ened that Kasturbai, who had a brief res!ite after her o!eration, had again begun
getting haemorrhage, and the malady seemed to be obstinate. )ydro!athic treatment by itself did
not answer. She had not much faith in my remedies, though she did not resist them. She certainly
did not as# for outside hel!. So when all my remedies had failed. * entreated her to give u! salt
and !ulses . She would not agree, however much * !leaded with her, su!!orting myself with
authorities. 1t last she challenged me, saying that even * could not give u! these articles if * was
advised to do so, * was !ained and e3ually delighted, delighted in that * got an o!!ortunity to
shower my love on her. * said to her' (=ou are mista#en. *f * was ailing and the doctor advised me
to give u! these or any other articles, * should unhesitatingly do so. But thereB 5ithout any
medical advice, * give u! salt and !ulses for one year, whether you do so or not.(
She was rudely shoc#ed and e&claimed in dee! sorrow' (Pray forgive me. Knowing you, * should
not have !rovo#ed you. * !romise to abstain from thes e things, but for heaven(s sa#e ta# e bac#
your vow. This is too hard on me.(
(*t is very good for you to forego these articles. * have not the slightst doubt that you will be all the
better without them. 1s for me, * cannot retract a vow seriously ta#en. 1nd it is sure to benefit me,

for all res traint, whatever !rom!ts it, is wholesome for men. =ou will therefore leave me alone. *t
will be a test for me, and a moral su!!ort to you in carrying out your resolve.(
So s he gave me u!. (=ou are too obstinate. =ou will lis ten to none,( she said, and sought relief in
tears.
* would li#e to count this incident as an instance of Satyagraha, and it is one of the sweetest
recollections of my life.
1fter this Kasturbai began to !ic# u! 3uic#ly whether as a result of the saltles s and !ulseless diet
or of the other conse3uent changes in her food, whether as a result of my strict vigilance in
e&acting obs ervance of the other rules of life, or as an effect of the mental e&hilaration !roduced
by the incident, and if so to what e&tent, * cannot say. But she rallied 3uic#ly, haemorrhage
com!letely sto!!ed, and * added somewhat to my re!utation as a 3uac#.
1s for me, * was all the better for the new denials. * never craved for the things * had left, the year
s!ed away, and * found the senses to be more subdued than ever. The e&!eriment stimulated the
inclination for self/restraint, and * returned to *ndia. nly once * ha!!ened to ta#e both the articles
whilst * was in 4ondon in 9<9E. But of that occasion, and as to how * resumed both, * shall s!ea#
in a later cha!ter.
* have tried the e&!eriment of a saltles and !ulseless diet on many of my co/wor# ers, and with
good results in South 1frica. Medically there may be two o!inions as to the value of this diet, but
morally * have no doubt that all self/denial is good for the soul. The diet of a man of self/restraint
must be different from that of a man of !leasure, ,ust as their ways of life must be different.
1s!irants after brahmacharyaoften defeat their own end by ado!ting courses suited to a life of
!leasure.
Chapter 1'
TO+ARDS SEL%,RESTRAINT
* have described in the last cha!ter how Kasturbai(s illness was instrumental in bringing about
some changes in my diet. 1t a later stage more changes were introduced for the sa#e of
su!!orting brahmacharya.
The first of these was the giving u! of mil#. *t was from +aychandbhai that * first learnt that mil#
stimulated animal !assion. Boo#s on vegetarianism strengthened the idea, but so long as * had
not ta#en the brahmacharyavow * could not ma#e u! my mind to forego mil#. * had long reali2ed
that mil# was not neces sary for su!!orting the body, but it was not easy to give it u!. 5hile the
necessity for avoiding mil# in the interests of self/restraint was growing u!on me, * ha!!ened to
come across some literature from -alcutta, describing the tortures to which cows and buffaloes
were sub,ected by their #ee!ers. This had a wonderful effect on me. * discussed it with Mr.
Kallenbach.
Though * have introduced Mr. Kallenbach to the readers of the history of Satyagraha in South
1frica, and referred to him in a !revious cha!ter, * thin# it necessary to say something more about
him here. 5e met 3uite by accident. )e was a friend of Mr. Khan(s, and as the latter had
discovered dee! down in him a vein of other/worldliness he introduced him to me.

5hen * came to #now him * was startled at his love of lu&ury and e&travagance. But at our very
first meeting, he as#ed searc hing 3uestions concerning matters of religion. 5e incidentally tal#ed
of Gautam Buddha(s renunciation. ur ac3uaintance soon ri!ened into very close friendshi!, so
much so that we thought ali# e, and he was convinced that he must carry out in his life the
changes * was ma# ing in mine.
1t that time he was single, and was e&!ending +s. 9,8AA monthly on hims elf, over and above
house rent. %ow he reduc ed himself to such sim!licity that his e&!enses came to +s. 98A !er
month. 1fter the brea#ing u! of my household and my first release from ,ail, we began to live
together. *t was a fairly hard life that we led.
*t was during this time that we had the discussion about mil#. Mr. Kallenbach said, (5e c onstantly
tal# about the harmful effec ts of mil#. 5hy then do not we give it u!@ *t is certainly not necessary.(
* was agreeably sur!rised at the suggestion, which * warmly welcomed, and both of us !ledged
ourselves to ab,ure mil# there and then. This was at Tolstoy 0arm in the year 9<98.
But this denial was not enough to satisfy me. Soon after this * decided to live on a !ure fruit diet,
and that too com!osed of the chea!est fruit !ossible, ur ambition was to live the life of the
!oorest !eo!le.
The fruit diet turned out to be very convenient also. -oo# ing was !ractically done away with. +aw
groundnuts, bananas, dates, lemons, and olive oil com!osed our usual diet.
* must here utter a warning for the as!irants of brahmacharya. Though * have made out an
intimate connection between diet and brahmacharya, it is certain that mind is the !rinci!al thing.
1 mind consciously unclean cannot be cleansed by fasting. Modifications in diet have no effect on
it. The concu!iscence of the mind cannot be rooted out e&ce!t by intense s elf/e&amination,
surrender to God and lastly, grace. But there is an intimate connection between the mind and the
body, and carnal mind always lusts for delicacies and lu&uries. To obviate this tendency dietetic
restrictions and fasting would a!!ear to be necessary. The carnal mind, instead of controlling the
senses, becomes their slave, and therefore the body always needs clean non/stimulating foods
and !eriodical fasting.
Those who ma# e light of dietetic restrictions and fasting are as much in error as those who sta#e
their all on them. My e&!erience teaches me that, for those whose minds are wor#ing towards
self/restraint, dietetic restric tions and fasting are very hel!ful. *n fact without their hel!
concu!iscence cannot be com!letely rooted out the mind.
Chapter 1'#
%ASTING
$ust about the time when * gave u! mil# and c ereals, and started on the e&!eriment of a fruit
diet, * commenced fasting as a means of self/restraint. *n this Mr. Kallenbach also ,oined me. *
had been used to fasting now and again, but for !urely health reasons. That fasting was
necessary for self/restraint * learnt from a friend.
)aving been born in a .aishnava family and of a mother who was given to #ee!ing all sorts of
hard vows, * had observed, while in *ndia, the "kadashiand other fasts, but in doing so * had
merely co!ied my mother and sought to !lease my !arents.

1t that time * did not understand, nor did * believe in, the efficacy of fasting. But seeing that the
friend * have mentioned was observing it with benefit, and with the ho!e of su!!orting the
brahmacharyavow, * followed his e&am!le and began #ee!ing the "kadashifast. 1s a rule
)indus allow themselves mil# and fruit on a fasting day, but such fast * had been #ee!ing daily.
So now * began com!lete fasting, allowing mys elf only water.
5hen * started on this e&!eriment, the )indu month of Shravan and the *slamic month of +am2an
ha!!ened to coincide. The Gandhis used to obs erve not only the .aishnava but also the Shaivite
vows, and visited the Shaivite as also the .aishnava tem!les. Some of the members of the family
used to observe pradshain the whole of the month of Shravan. * decided to do li#ewise.
These im!ortant e&!eriments were underta#en while we were at Tolstoy 0arm, where Mr.
Kallenbach and * were staying with a few Satyagrahi families, including young !eo!le and
children. 0or these last we had a school. 1mong them were four or five Musalmans. * always
hel!ed and encouraged them in #ee!ing all their religious observances. * too# care to see that
they offered their daily nama). There were -hristians and Parsi youngsters too, whom *
considered it my duty to encourage to follow their res!ective religious observances.
"uring this month, therefore, * !ersuaded the Musalman youngsters to observe the ram)anfast. *
had of course decided to observe pradshamyself, but * now as# ed the )indu, Parsi and
-hristian youngsters to ,oin me. * e&!lained to them that it was always a good thing to ,oin with
others in any matter of s elf/denial. Many of the 0arm inmates welcomed my !ro!osal. The )indu
and the Parsi youngsters did not co!y the Musalman ones in every detailsC it was not necessary.
The Musalman youngsters had to wait for their brea#fast until sunset, whereas the others did not
do so, and were thus able to !re!are delicacies for the Musalman friends and serve them. %or
had the )indu and other youngsters to #ee! the Musalmans com!any when they had their last
meal before sunrise ne&t morning, and of c ourse all e&ce!t the Musalmans allowed themselves
water.
The result of these e&!eriments was that all were convinced of the value of fasting, and a
s!lendid esprit de crpsgrew u! among them.
5e were all vegetarians on Tolstoy 0arm, than#s, * must gratefully confess, to the readiness of all
to res!ect my feelings. The Musalman youngsters must have missed their meat during ram)an,
but none of them ever let me #now that they did so. They delighted in and relished the vegetarian
diet, and the )indu youngsters often !re!ared vegetarian delicacies for them, in #ee!ing with the
sim!licity of the 0arm.
* have !ur!osely digressed in the midst of this cha!ter on fasting, as * could not have given these
!leasant reminiscences anywhere else, and * have indirectly described a characteristic of mine,
namely that * have always loved to have my co/wor#ers with me in anything that has a!!ealed to
me as being good. They were 3uite new to fasting, but than#s to the pradshaand ram)anfasts,
it was easy for me to interest them in fasting as a means of self/restraint.
Thus an atmos!here of self/restraint naturally s!rang u! on the 0arm. 1ll the 0arm inmates now
began to ,oin us in #ee!ing !artial and com!lete fasts, which, * am sure, was entirely to the good.
* cannot definitely say how far this self/denial touc hed their hearts and hel!ed them in their
striving to con3uer the flesh. 0or my !art, however, * am convinced that * greatly benefited by it
both !hys ically and morally. But * #now that it does not necessarily follow that fasting and similar
disci!lines would have the same effect for all.
0asting can hel! to curb animal !assion, only if it is underta# en with a view to self/restraint. Some
of my friends have actually found their animal !assion and !alate stimulated as an after/effect of
fasts. That is to say, fasting is futile unless it is accom!anied by an incessant longing for self/

restraint. The famous verse from the second c ha!ter of the Bha!avad!itais worth noting in this
connection'
(0or a man who is fasting his senses utwardly, the s ense/ob,ects disa!!ear, 4eaving the
yearning behindC but when )e has seen the )ighest, 6ven the yearning dis a!!ears .(
0asting and similar disci!line is, therefore, one of the means to the end of self/restraint, but it is
not all, and if !hysical fasting is not accom!anied by mental fasting, it is bound to end in
hy!ocrisy and disaster.
Chapter 1'$
AS SCHOOLMASTER
The reader will, * ho!e, bear in mind the fact that * am, in these cha!ters, describing things not
mentioned, or only cursorily mentioned, in the history of Satyagraha in South 1frica. *f he does
so, he will easily see the connection between the recent cha!ters.
1s the 0arm grew, it was found neces sary to ma#e some !rovision for the education of its boys
and girls. There were, among these, )indu, Musalman, Parsi and -hristian boys and some )indu
girls. *t was not !ossible, and * did not thin# it necessary, to engage s!ecial teachers for them. *t
was not !ossible, for 3ualified *ndian teachers were scarce, and even when available, none would
be ready to go to a !lace 89 miles distant from $ohannesburg on a small salary. 1lso we were
certainly not overflowing with money. 1nd * did not thin# it necessary to im!ort teachers from
outside the 0arm. * did not believe in the e&isting system of education, and * had a mind to find
out by e&!erience and e&!eriment the true system. nly this much * #new/that, under ideal
conditions, true education could be im!arted only by the !arents, and that then there should be
the minimum of outside hel!, that Tolstoy 0arm was a family, in which * occ u!ied the !lace of the
father, and that * should so far as !oss ible shoulder the res!onsibility for the training of the young.
The conce!tion no doubt was not without its flaws. 1ll the young !eo!le had not been with me
since their childhood, they had been brought u! in different conditions and environments, and
they did not belong to the same religion. )ow could * do full ,ustice to the young !eo!le, thus
circumstanced, even if * assumed the !lace of !aterfamilias@
But * had always given the first !lace to the culture of the heart or the building of character, and
as * felt confident that moral training could be given to all ali#e, no matter how different their ages
and their u!bringing, * decided to live amongst them all the twenty/four hours of the day as their
father. * regarded character building as the !ro!er foundation for their education and, if the
foundation was firmly laid, * was sure that the children could learn all the other things themselves
or with the assistance of friends.
But as * fully a!!reciated the necessity of a literary training in addition, * started some classes
with the hel! of Mr. Kallenbach and S,t. Prag,i "esai. %or did * underrate the building u! of the
body. This they got in the course of their daily routine. 0or there were no servants on the 0arm,
and all the wor#, from coo#ing down to scavenging, was done by the immates. There were many
fruit trees to be loo#ed after, and enough gardening to be done as well. Mr. Kallenbach was fond
of gardening and had gained some e&!erience of this wor# in one of the Governmental model
gardens. *t was obligatory on all, young and old, who were not engaged in the #itchen, to give

some time to gardening. The children had the lion(s share of this wor#, which included digging
!its, felling timber and lifting loads. This gave them am!le e&ercise. They too# delight in the wor#,
and so they did not generally need any other e&ercise or games. f course some of them, and
sometimes all them, malingered and s hir#ed. Sometimes * connived at their !ran# s, but often *
was strict with them, * dare say they did not li#e the strictness, but * do not recollect their having
resisted it. 5henever * was strict, * would, by argument, convince them that it was not right to !lay
with one(s wor#. The conviction would, however, be short/lived, the ne&t moment they would
again leave their wor# and go to !lay. 1ll the same we got along, and at any rate they built u! fine
!hysi3ues . There was scarcely any illness on the 0arm, though it must be said that good air and
water and regular hours of food were not a little res!onsible for this.
1 word about vocational training. *t was my intention to teach every one of the youngsters some
useful manual vocation. 0or this !ur!ose Mr. Kallenbach went to a Tra!!ist monastery and
returned having learnt shoema#ing. * learnt it from him and taught the art to such as were ready
to ta#e it u!. Mr. Kallenbach had some e&!erience of car!entry, and there was another inmate
who #new itC so we had a small class in car!entry. -oo#ing almost all the youngsters #new.
1ll this was new to them. They had never even dreamt that they would have to learn these things
some day. 0or generally the only training that *ndian children received in South 1frica was in the
three +(s.
n Tolstoy 0arm we made it a rule that the youngsters should not be as#ed to do what the
teachers did not do, and therefore, when they were as#ed to do any wor# , there was always a
teacher co/o!erating and actually wor#ing with them. )ence whatever the youngsters learnt, they
learnt cheerfully.
4iterary training and character building must be dealt with in the following cha!ters.
Chapter 11'
LITERARY TRAINING
*t was seen in the last cha!ter how we !rovided for the !hysical training on Tolstoy 0arm, and
incidentally for the vocational. Though this was hardly done in a way to satisfy me, it may be
claimed to have been more or less successful.
4iterary training, however, was a more difficult matter. * had neither the resources nor the literary
e3ui!ment necessaryC and * had not the time * would have wished to devote to the sub,ect. The
!hysical wor# that * was doing us ed to leave me thoroughly e&hausted at the end of the day, and *
used to have the classes ,ust when * was most in need of some rest. *nstead, therefore, of my
being fresh for the class, * could with the greatest difficulty #ee! myself awa#e. The mornings had
to be devoted to wor# on the farm and domestic duties, so the school hours had to be #e!t after
the midday meal. There was no other time suitable for the school.
5e gave three !eriods at the most to literary training. )indi, Tamil, Gu,arati and Urdu were all
taught, and tuition was given through the vernaculars of the boys. 6nglish was taught as well, it
was also necess ary to ac3uaint the Gu,arati )indu children with a little Sams#rit, and to teach all
the children elementary history, geogra!hy and arithmetic.

* had underta#en to teach Tamil and Urdu. The little Tamil * #new was ac3uired during voyages
and in ,ail. * had not got beyond Po!e(s e&cellent Tamil handboo# . My #nowledge of the Urdu
scri!t was all that * had ac3uired on a single voyage, and my #nowledge of the language was
confined to the familiar Persian and 1rabic words that * had learnt from contact with Musalman
friends. f Sams#rit * #new no more than * had learnt at the high school, even my Gu,arati was no
better than that which one ac 3uires at the school.
Such was the ca!ital with which * had to carry on. *n !overty of literary e3ui!ment my colleagues
went one better than *. But my love for the languages of my country, my confidence in my !u!ils,
and more than that, their generosity, stood me in good stead.
The Tamil boys were all born in South 1frica, and therefore #new very little Tamil, and did not
#now the scri!t at all. So * had to teach them the scri!t and the rudiments of grammar. That was
easy enough. My !u!ils #new that they could any day beat me in Tamil conversation, and when
Tamilians, not #nowing 6nglish, came to see me, they became my inter!reters. * got along
merrily, because * never attem!ted to dis guise my ignorance from my !u!ils. *n all res!ects *
showed myself to them e&actly as * really was. Therefore in s!ite of my c olossal ignorance of the
language * never lost their love and res!ect. *t was com!aratively easier to teach the Musalman
boys Urdu. They #new the scri!t. * had sim!ly to stimulate in them an interest in reading and to
im!rove their handwriting.
These youngsters were for the most !art unlettered and unschooled. But * found in the course of
my wor# that * had very little to teach them, beyond weaning them from their la2iness, and
su!ervising their studies. 1s * was content with this, * could !ull on with boys of different ages and
learning different sub,ects in one and the same c lass room.
f te&t/boo#s, about which we hear so much, * never felt the want. * do not even remember
having made much use of the boo#s that were available. * did not find it at all necessary to load
the boys with 3uantities of boo#s. * have always felt that the true te&t/boo# for the !u!il is his
teacher. * remember very little that my teachers taught me from boo#s, but * have even now a
clear recollection of the things they taught me inde!endently of boo#s.
-hildren ta#e in much more and with less labour through their ears than through their eyes. * do
not remember having read any boo# from cover to cover with my boys. But * gave them, in my
own language, all that * had digested from my reading of various boo#s, and * dare say they are
still carrying a recollection of it in their minds. *t was laborious for them to remember what they
learnt from boo#s, but what * im!arted to them by word of mouth, they could re!eat with the
greatest ease. +eading was a tas# for them, but listening to me was a !leasure, when * did not
bore them by failure to ma#e my sub,ect interesting. 1nd from the 3uestions that my tal#s
!rom!ted them to !ut, * had a measure of their !ower of understanding.
Chapter 111
TRAINING O% THE SPIRIT
The s!iritual training of the boys was a much more difficult matter than their !hysical and
mental training. * relied little on religious boo#s for the training of the s!irit. f course, * believed
that every student should be ac3uainted with the elements of his own religion and have a general
#nowledge of his own scri!tures, and therefore * !rovided for suc h #nowledge as best * could. But

that, to my mind, was !art of the intellectual training. 4ong before * undertoo# the education of the
youngsters of the Tolstoy 0arm * had reali2ed that the training of the s!irit was a thing by itself. To
develo! the s !irit is to build character and to enable one to wor# towards a #nowledge of God and
self/reali2ation. 1nd * held that this was an essential !art of the training of the young, and that all
training without culture of the s!irit was of no use, and might be even harmful.
* am familiar with the su!erstition that self/reali2ation is !ossible only in the fourth stage of life,
i.e., sannyasa >renunciation?. But it is a matter of common #nowledge that those who defer
!re!aration for this invaluable e&!erience until the last stage of life attain not self/reali2ation but
old age amounting to a second and !itiable childhood, living as a burden on this earth. * have a
full recollection that * held these views even whilst * was teaching i. e., in 9<99/98, though * might
not then have e&!ressed them in identical language.
)ow then was this s!iritual training to be given@ * made the children memori2e and recite hymns,
and read to them from boo#s on moral training. But that was far from satisfying me. 1s * came
into closer contact with them * saw that it was not through boo#s that one could im!art training of
the s!irit. $ust as !hysical training was to be im!arted through !hysical e&ercise even so the
training of the s!irit was !ossible only through the e&ercise of the s!irit. 1nd the e&ercise of the
s!irit entirely de!ended on the life and character of the teacher. The teacher had always to be
mindful of his !(s and 3(s, whether he was in the midst of his boys or not.
*t is !ossible for a teacher situated miles away to affect the s!irit of the !u!ils by his way of living.
*t would be idle for me, if * were a liar, to teach boys to tell the truth. 1 cowardly teacher would
never succeed in ma#ing his boys valiant, and a stranger to self/ restraint could never teach his
!u!ils the value os self/restraint. * saw therefore that * must be an eternal ob,ect/lesson to the
boys and girls living with me. They thus became my teachers, and * learnt * must be good and live
straight, if only for their sa#es. * may say that the increasing dis ci!line and restraint * im!osed on
myself at Tolstoy 0arm was mostly due to those wards of mine.
ne of them was wild, unruly, given to lying, and 3uarrelsome. n one occasion he bro# e out
most violently. * was e&as!erated. * never !unis hed my boys, but this time * was very angry. *
tried to reas on with him. But he was adamant and even tried to overreach me. 1t last * !ic#ed u!
a ruler lying at hand and delivered a blow on his arm. * trembled as * struc# him. * dare say he
noticed it. This was an entirely novel e&!erience for them all. The boy cried out and begged to be
forgiven. )e cried not bec ause the beating was !ainful to himC he could, if he had been so
minded, have !aid me bac# in the same coin, being a stoutly built youth of seventeenC but he
reali2ed my !ain in being driven to this violent resource. %ever again after this incident did he
disobey me. But * still re!ent that violence. * am afraid * e&hibited before him that day not the
s!irit, but the brute, in me.
* have always been o!!osed to cor!oral !unishment. * remember only one occasion on which *
!hysically !unished one of my sons. * have therefore never until this day been able to decide
whether * was right or wrong in us ing the ruler. Probably it was im!ro!er, for it was !rom!ted by
anger and a desire to !unish. )ad it been an e&!ression only of my dis tress, * should have
considered it ,ustified. But the motive in this case was mi&ed.
This incident set me thin#ing and taught me a better method of correcting students. * do not #now
whether that method would have availed on the occasion in 3uestion. The youngs ter s oon forgot
the incident, and * do not thin# he ever showed great im!rovement,. But the incident made me
understand better the duty of a teacher towards his !u!ils.
-ases of misconduct on the !art of the boys often occurred after this, but * never resorted to
cor!oral !unishment. Thus in my endeavour to im!art s!iritual training to the boys and girls under
me, * came to understand better and better the !ower of the s!irit.

Chapter 112
TARES AMONG THE +HEAT
*t was at Tolstoy 0arm that Mr. Kallenbach drew my attention to a !roblem that had never before
struc# me. 1s * have already said, some of the boys at the 0arm were bad and unruly. There
were loafers, too, amongst them. 5ith these my three boys came in daily contact, as also did
other children of the same ty!e as my own sons. This troubled Mr. Kallenbach, but his attention
was centred on the im!ro!riety of #ee!ing myJ boys with these unruly youngsters.
ne day he s!o#e out' (=our way of mi&ing your own boys with the bad ones does not a!!eal to
me. *t can have only one result. They will become demorali2ed through this bad com!any.(
* do not remember whether the 3uestion !u22led me at the moment, but * recollect what * said to
him'
()ow can * distinguish between my boys and the loafers@ * am e3ually res!onsible for both. The
youngsters have come becaus e * invited them. *f * were to dismiss them with some money, they
would immediately run off to $ohannesburg and fall bac# into their old ways. To tell you the truth,
it is 3uite li# ely that they and their guardians believe that, by having come here, they have laid me
under an obligation. That they have to !ut u! with a good deal of inconvenience here, you and *
#now very well. But my duty is clear. * must have them here, and therefore my boys also must
needs live with them. 1nd surely you do not want me to teach my boys to feel from today that
they are su!erior to other boys. To !ut that sense of su!eriority into their heads would be to lead
them astray. This association with other boys will be a good disci!line for them. They will, of their
own accord, learn to discriminate between good and evil. 5hy should we not believe that, if there
is really anything good in them, it is bound to react on their c om!anions@ )owever that may be, *
cannot hel! #ee!ing them here, and if that means some ris#, we must run it.(
Mr. Kallenbach shoo# his head.
The res ult, * thin#, cannot be said to have been bad. * do not consider my sons were any the
worse for the e&!eriment. n the contrary * can see that they gained something. *f there was the
slightest trace of su!eriority in them, it was destroyed and they learnt to mi& with all #inds of
children. They were tested and disci!lined.
This and similar e&!eriments have shown me that, if good children are taught together with bad
ones and thrown into their com!any, they will lose nothing, !rovided the e&!eriment is conducted
under the watchful care of their !arents and guardians .
-hildren wra!!ed u! in cottonwool are not always !roof against all tem!tation or contamination. *t
is true, however, that when boys and girls of all # inds of u!bringing are #e!t and taught together,
the !arents and the teachers are !ut to the severest test. They have constantly to be on the alert.

Chapter 113
%ASTING AS PENANCE
"ay by day it became increasingly clear to me how very difficult it was to bring u! and educate
boys and girls in the right way. *f * was to be their real teacher and guardian, * must touch their
hearts. * must share their ,oys and sorrows, * must hel! them to solve the !roblems that faced
them, and * must ta#e along the right channel the surging as!irations of their youth.
n the release of some of the Satyagrahis from ,ail, Tolstoy 0arm was almost denuded of its
inmates. The few that remained mostly belonged to Phoeni&. So * removed them there. )ere *
had to !ass through a fiery ordeal.
*n those days * had to move between $ohannesburg and Phoeni&. nc e when * was in
$ohannesburg * received tidings of the moral fall of two of the inmates of the 1shram. %ews of an
a!!arent failure or reverse in the Satyagraha struggle would not have shoc#ed me, but this news
came u!on me li#e a thunderbolt. The same day * too# the train for Phoeni&. Mr. Kallenbach
insisted on accom!anying me. )e had noticed the state * was in. )e would not broo# the thought
of my going alone, for he ha!!ened to be the bearer of the tidings which had so u!set me.
"uring the ,ourney my duty seemed c lear to me. * felt that the guardian or teacher was
res!onsible, to some e&tent at least, for the la!se of his ward or !u!il. So my res!onsibility
regarding the incident in 3uestion became clear to me as daylight. My wife had already warned
me in the matter, but being of a trusting nature, * had ignored her caution. * felt that the only way
the guilty !arties could be made to reali2e my distress and the de!th of their own fall would be for
me to do some !enance. So * im!osed u!on myself a fast for seven days and a vow to have only
one meal a day for a !eriod of four months and a half. Mr. Kallenbac h tried to dissuade me, but in
vain. )e finally conceded the !ro!riety of the !enance, and insisted on ,oining me. * could not
resist his trans!arent affection.
* felt greatly relieved, for the decision meant a heavy load off my mind. The anger against the
guilty !arties subsided and gave !lace to the !ures t !ity for them. Thus considerably eased, *
reached Phoeni&. * made further investigation and ac3uainted myself with some more details *
needed to #now.
My !enance !ained everybody, but it cleared the atmos!here. 6veryone came to reali2e what a
terrible thing it was to be sinful, and the bond that bound me to the boys and girls became
stronger and truer.
1 circumstance arising out of this incident com!elled me, a little while after, to go into a fast for
fourteen days, the results of which e&ceeded even my e&!ectations.
*t is not my !ur!ose to ma#e out from these incidents that it is the duty of a teacher to resort to
fasting whenever there is a delin3uency on the !art of his !u!ils. * hold, however, that some
occasions do call for this drastic remedy. But it !resu!!oses c learness of vision and s!iritual
fitness. 5here there is no true love between the teacher and the !u!il, where the !u!il(s
delin3uency has not touched the very being of the teacher and where the !u!il has no res!ect for
the teacher, fas ting is out of !lace and may even be harmful. Though there is thus room for
doubting the !ro!riety of fasts in such c ases, there is no 3uestion about the teacher(s
res!ons ibility for the errors of his !u!il.

The first !enance did not !rove difficult for any of us. * had to sus!end or sto! none of my normal
activities. *t may be recalled that during the whole of this !eriod of !enance * was a strict
fruitarian. The latter !art of the second fast went fairly hard with me. * had not then com!letely
understood the wonderful efficacy of +amanama , and my c a!acity for suffering was to that
e&tent less. Besides, * did not #now the techni3ue of fas ting, es!ecially the necessity of drin#ing
!lenty of water, however nauseating or distasteful it might be. Then the fact that the first fast had
been an easy affair had made me rather careless as to the second. Thus during the first * too#
Kuhne baths every day, but during the second * gave them u! after two or three days, and dran#
very little water, as it was distasteful and !roduced nausea. The throat became !arched and
wea# and during the last days * could s!ea# only in a very low voice. *n s!ite of this, however, my
wor# was carried on through dictation where writing was necessary. * regularly listened to
readings from the +amayana and other sacred boo# s. * had also sufficient strength to discuss
and advis e in all urgent matters.
Chapter 114
TO MEET GO)HALE
* must s#i! many of the recollections of South 1frica. 1t the conclusion of the Satyagraha
struggle in 9<9E, * received Go#hale(s instruction to return home via 4ondon. So in $uly Kasturbai,
Kallenbach and * sailed for 6ngland.
"uring Satyagraha * had begun travelling third class . * therefore too# third class !assages for this
voyage. But there was a good deal of difference between third class accommodation on the boat
on this route and that !rovided on *ndian coastal boats or railway trains. There is hardly sufficient
sitting, much less slee!ing, accommodation in the *ndian service, and little cleanliness. "uring the
voyage to 4ondon, on the other hand, there was enough room and cleanliness, and the
steamshi! com!any had !rovided s!ecial facilities for us. The com!any had !rovided reserved
closet accommodation for us, and as we were fruitarians, the steward had orders to su!!ly us
with fruits and nuts. 1s a rule third class !assengers get little fruit or nuts. These facilities made
our eighteen days on the boat 3uite comfortable.
Some of the incidents during the voyage are well worth recording. Mr. Kallenbach was very fond
of binoc ulars, and had one or two cos tly !airs. 5e had daily discussion over one of these. * tried
to im!ress on him that this !ossession was not in #ee!ing with the ideal of sim!licity that we
as!ired to reach. ur discussions came to a head one day, as we were standing near the
!orthole of our cabin.
(+ather than allow these to be a bone of contention between us, why not throw them into the sea
and be done with them@( said *.
(-ertainly throw the wretched things away.( said Mr. Kallenbach.
(* mean it,( said *.
(So do *,( 3uic#ly came the re!ly.

1nd forthwith * flung them into the sea. They were worth some GF, but their value lay less in their
!rice than in Mr. Kallenbach(s infatuation for them. )owever, having got rid of them, he never
regretted it.
This is out one out of the many incidents that ha!!ened between Mr. Kallenbach and me.
6very day we had to learn something new in this way, for both of us were trying to tread the !ath
of Truth. *n the march towards Truth, anger, selfishness, hatred, etc., naturally give way, for
otherwise Truth would be im!ossible to attain. 1 man who is swayed by !assions may have good
enough intentions, may be truthful in word, but he will never find the Truth. 1 successful search
for Truth means com!lete deliverance from the dual throng such as of love and hate, ha!!iness
and misery.
%ot much time had ela!sed since my fast when we started on our voyage. * had not regained my
normal strength. * used to stroll on duc# to get a little e&ercise, so as to revive my a!!etite and
digest what * ate. But even this e&ercise was beyond me, causing !ain in the calves, so much s o
that on reaching 4ondon * found that * was worse rather than better. There * came to #now "r.
$ivra, Mehta. * gave him the history of my fast and subse3uent !ain, and he said, (*f you do not
ta#e com!lete rest for a few days, there is a fear of your legs going out of use.(
*t was then that * learned that a man emerging from a long fast should not be in a hurry to regain
lost strength, and should also !ut a curb on his a!!etite. More caution and !erha!s more restraint
are necessary in brea#ing a fast than in # ee!ing it.
*n Madeira we heard that the great 5ar might brea# out at any moment. 1s we entered the
6nglish -hannel, we received the news of its actual outbrea# . 5e were sto!!ed for some time. *t
was a difficult business to tow the boat through the submarine mines which had been laid
throughout the -hannel, and it too# about two days to reach Southam!ton.
5ar was declared on the Eth of 1ugust. 5e reached 4ondon on the ;th.
Chapter 115
MY PART IN THE +AR
n arrival in 6ngland * learned that Go#hale had been stranded in Paris where he had gone for
reasons of health, and as communication between Paris and 4ondon had been cut off, there was
no #nowing when he would return. * did not want to go home without having seen him, but no one
could say definitely when he would arrive.
5hat then was * to do in the meanwhile@ 5hat was my duty as regards the war@ Sorab,i
1da,ania, my comrade in ,ail and a Satyagrahi, was then reading for the bar in 4ondon. 1s one of
the best Satyagrahis he had been sent to 6ngland to 3ualify himself as a barrister, so that he
might ta#e my !lace on return to South 1frica. "r. Pran,ivandas Mehta was !aying his e&!enses.
5ith him, and through him, * had conferences with "r. $ivra, Mehta and others who were
!rosecuting their studies in 6ngland. *n consultation with them, a meeting of the *ndian residents
in Great Britain and *reland was called. * !laced my views before them.

* felt that *ndians residing in 6ngland ought to do their bit in the war. 6nglish students had
volunteered to serve in the army, and *ndians might do no less. 1 number of ob,ections were
ta#en to this line of argument. There was, it was contended, a world of difference between the
*ndians and the 6nglish. 5e were s alves and they were masters. )ow could a slave co/o!erate
with the master in the hour of the latter(s need@ 5as it not the duty of the slave, see#ing to be
free, to ma#e the master(s need his o!!ortunity@ This argument failed to a!!eal to me then. *
#new the difference of status between an *ndian and an 6nglishman, but * did not believe that we
had been 3uite reduced to slavery. * felt then that it was more the fault of individual British officials
than of the British system, and that we could convert them by love. *f we would im!rove our status
through the hel! and co/o!eration of the British, it was our duty to win their hel! by standing by
them in their hour of need. Though the system was faulty, it did not seem to me to be intolerable,
as it does today. But if, having lost my faith in the system, * refuse to co/o!erate with the British
Government today, how could those friends then do so, having lost their faith not only in the
system but in the officials as well@
The o!!osing friends felt that was the hour for ma#ing a bold declaration of *ndian demands and
for im!roving the status of *ndians.
* thought that 6ngland(s need should not be turned into our o!!ortunity, and that it was more
becoming and far/sighted not to !ress our demands while the war lasted. * therefore adhered to
my advice and invited those who would to enlist as volunteers. There was a good res!onse,
!ractically all the !rovinces and all the religions being re!resented among the volunteers.
* wrote a letter to 4ord -rewe, ac3uainting him with these facts, and e&!ressing our readiness to
be trained for ambulance wor#, if that should be considered a condition !recedent to the
acce!tance of our offer.
4ord -rewe acce!ted the offer after some hesitation, and than#ed us for having tendered our
services to the 6m!ire at that critical hour.
The volunteers began their !reliminary training in first aid to the wounded under the well/#nown
"r.-antlie. *t was a short course of si& wee#s, but it covered the whole course of first aid.
5e were a class of about :A. *n si& wee# s we were e&amined, and all e& ce!t one !assed. 0or
these the Government now !rovided military drill and other training. -olonel Ba#er was !laced in
charge of this wor#.
4ondon in these days was a s ight worth seeing. There was no !anic, but all were busy hel!ing to
the best of their ability. 1ble/bodied adults began training as combatants, but what were the old,
the infirm and the women to do@ There was enough wor# for them, if they wanted. So they
em!loyed themselves in cutting and ma#ing clothes and dressings for the wounded.
The 4yceum, a ladies( club, undertoo# to ma#e as many clothes for the soldiers as they could.
Shrimati Saro,ini %aidu was a member of this club, and threw herself whole/heartedly into the
wor#. This was my first ac3uaintance with her. She !laced before me a hea! of clothes which had
been cut to !attern, and as#ed me to get them all sewn u! and return them to her. * welcomed
her demand and with the assistance of friends got as many clothes made as * could manage
during my training for first aid.

Chapter 116
A SPIRITUAL DILEM MA
1s soon as the news reached South 1frica that * along with other *ndians had offered my
services in the war, * received two cables. ne of these was from Mr. Pola# who 3uestioned the
consistency of my action with my !rofession of ahimsa .
* had to a certain e&tent antici!ated this ob,ection, for * had discussed the 3uestion in my )ind
Swara, or *ndian )ome +ule , and used to discuss it day in and day out with friends in South
1frica. 1ll of us recogni2ed the immorality of war.*f * was not !re!ared to !rosecute my as sailant,
much less should * be willing to !artici!ate in a war, es!ec ially when * #new nothing of the ,ustice
or otherwise of the cause of the combatants. 0riends of course #new that * had !reviously served
in the Boer 5ar, but they as sumed that my views had since undergone a change.
1s a matter of fact the very same line of argument that !ersuaded me to ta#e !art in the Boer
5ar had weighed with me on this occas ion. *t was 3uite clear to me that !artici!ation in war could
never be consistent with ahims a . But it is not always given to one to be e3ually clear about one(s
duty. 1 votary of truth is often obliged to gro!e in the dar#.
1himsa is a com!rehensive !rinci!le. 5e are hel!less mortals caught in the conflagration of
himsa . The saying that life lives on life has a dee! meaning in it. Man cannot for a moment live
without consciously or unconsciously committing outward himsa . The very fact of his living
eating, drin# ing and moving about necessarily involves s ome himsa , destruction of life, be it ever
so minute. 1 votary of ahimsa therefore remains true to his faith if the s!ring of all his actions is
com!assion, if he s huns to the best of his ability the destruction of the tiniest creature, tries to
save it, and thus incessantly strives to be free from the deadly coil of himsa . )e will be c onstantly
growing in self/restraint and com!assion, but he can never become entirely free from outward
himsa .
Then again, because underlying ahimsa is the unity of all life, the error of one cannot but affect
all, and hence man cannot be wholly free from himsa . So long as he continues to be a social
being, he cannot but !artici!ate in the himsa that the very e&istence of society involves. 5hen
two nations are fighting, the duty of a votary of ahimsa is to sto! the war. )e who is not e3ual to
that duty, he who has no !ower of resisting war, he who is not 3ualified to resist war, may ta#e
!art in war, and yet whole/heartedly try to free himself, his nation and the world from war.
* had ho!ed to im!rove status and that of my !eo!le through the British 6m!ire. 5hilst in 6ngland
* was en,oying the !rotection of the British 0leet, and ta#ing shelter as * did under its armed might,
* was directly !artici!ating in its !otential violence. Therefore if * desired to retain my connection
with the 6m!ire and to live under its banner, one of three courses was o!en to me' * could
declare o!en resistance to the war and, in accordance with the law of Satyagraha, boycott the
6m!ire until it changed its military !olicyC or * could see# im!risonment by civil disobedience of
such of its laws as were fit to be disobeyedC or * could !artici!ate in the war on the side of the
6m!ire and thereby ac3uire the ca!acity and fitness for resisting the violence of war. * lac#ed this
ca!acity and fitness, as * thought there was nothing for it but to s erve in the war.
* ma#e no distinction, from the !oint of view of ahimsa , between combatants and non/
combatants. )e who volunteers to serve a band of dacoits, by wor#ing as their carrier, or their
watchman while they are about their business, or their nurse when they are wounded, is as much
guilty of dacoity as the dacoits themselves. *n the same way those who confine themselves to
attending to the wounded in battle cannot be absolved from the guilt of war.

* had argued the whole thing out to myself in this manner, before * received Pola#(s cable, and
soon after its recei!t, * discussed these views with s everal friends and concluded that it was my
duty to offer to serve in the war. 6ven today * see no flaw in that line of argument, nor am * sorry
for my action, holding, as * then did, views favourable to the British connection.
* #now that even then * could not carry conviction with all my friends about the correctness of my
!osition. The 3uestion is subtle. *t admits of differences of o!inion, and therefore * have submitted
my argument as clearly as !ossible to those who believe in ahimsa and who are ma#ing serious
efforts to !ractise it in every wal# of life. 1 devotee of Truth may not do anything in deference to
convention. )e must always hold himself o!en to correction, and whenever he discovers himself
to be wrong he must confess it at all costs and atone for it.
Chapter 11
MINIATURE SATYAGRAHA
Though * thus too# !art in the war as a matter of duty, it chanced that * was not only unable
directly to !artici!ate in it, but actually com!elled to offer what may be called miniature
Satyagraha even at that critical ,uncture.
* have already said that an officer was a!!ointed in charge of our training, as soon as our names
were a!!roved and enlisted. 5e were all under the im!ression that this -ommanding fficer was
to be our chief only so far as technical matters were conc erned, and that in all other matters * was
the head of our -or!s, which was directly res!onsible to me in matters of internal disci!lineC that
is to say, the -ommanding fficer had to deal with the -or!s through me. But from the first the
fficer left us under no much delusion.
Mr. Sorab,i 1da,ania was a shrewd man. )e warned me. (Beware of this man,( he said. ()e
seems inclined to lord it over us. 5e will have none of his orders. 5e are !re!ared to loo# u!on
him as our instructor. But the youngsters he has a!!ointed to instruct us als o feel as though they
had come as our masters.(
These youngsters were &ford students who had come to instruct us and whom the
-ommanding fficer had a!!ointed to be our section leaders.
* als o had not failed to notice the high/handedness of the -ommanding fficer, but * as#ed
Sorab,i not to be an&ious and tried to !acify him. But he was not the man to be easily convinced.
(=ou are too trusting. Those !eo!le will deceive you with wretched words, and when at last you
see through them, you will as# us to resort to Satyagraha, and so come to grief, and bring us all
to grief along with you,( said he with a smile.
(5hat else but grief can you ho!e to come to after having cast in your lot with me@( said *. (1
Satyagrahi is born to be deceived. 4et the -ommanding fficer deceive us. )ave * not told you
times without number that ultimately a deceiver only deceives himself@(
Sorab,i gave a loud laugh. (5ell, then,( said he, (continue to be deceived. =ou will some day meet
your death in Satyagraha and drag !oor mortals li#e me behind you.(

These words !ut me in mind of what the late Miss 6mily )obhouse wrote to me with regard to
non/co/o!eration' (* should not be sur!rised if one of these days you have to go to the gallows for
the sa#e of truth. May God show you the right !ath and !rotect you.(
The tal# with Sorab,i too# !lace ,us t after the a!!ointment of the -ommanding ffic er. *n a very
few days our relations with him reached the brea#ing !oint. * had hardly regained my strength
after the fourteen days( fast, when * began to ta#e !art in the drill, often wal#ing to the a!!ointed
!lace about two miles from home. This gave me !leurisy and laid me low. *n this condition * had
to go wee#/end cam!ing. 5hilst the others stayed there, * returned home. *t was here that an
occasion arose for Satyagraha.
The -ommanding fficer began to e&ercise his authority somewhat freely. )e gave us clearly to
understand that he was our head in all matters, military and non/military, giving us at the same
time a taste of his authority. Sorab,i hurried to me. )e was not at all !re!ared to !ut u! with this
high/handedness. )e said' (5e must have all orders through you. 5e are still in the training
cam! and all sorts of absurd orders are being iss ued. *nvidious distinctions are made between
ourselves and those youths who have been a!!ointed to instruct us. 5e must have it out with the
-ommanding fficer, otherwise we shall not be able to go on any longer. The *ndian students
and others who have ,oined our -or!s are not going to abide by any absurd orders. *n a cause
which has been ta#en u! for the sa# e of self/res!ect, it is unthin#able to !ut u! with loss of it.(
* a!!roached the -ommanding fficer and drew his attention to the com!laints * had received.
)e wrote as# ing me to set out the com!laints in writing, at the same time as#ing me (to im!ress
u!on those who com!lain that the !ro!er direction in which to ma# e com!laints is to me through
their section commanders, now a!!ointed, who will inform me through the instructors.(
To this * re!lied saying that * claimed no authority, that in the military sense * was no more than
any other !rivate, but that * had believed that as -hairman of the .olunteer -or!s, * should be
allowed unofficially to act as their re!resentative. * also set out the grievances and re3uests that
had been brought to my notice, namely, that grievous dissatisfaction had been caused by the
a!!ointment of section leaders without reference to the feeling of the members of the -or!sC that
they be recalled, and the -or!s be invited to elect section leaders, sub,ect to the -ommander(s
a!!roval.
This did not a!!eal to the -ommanding fficer, who said it was re!ugnant to all military disci!line
that the section leaders should be elected by the -or!s, and that the recall of a!!ointments
already made would be subversive of all disci!line.
So we held a meeting and decided u!on withdrawal. * brought home to the members the serious
conse3uences of Satyagraha. But a very large ma,ority voted for the resolution, which was to the
effect that, unless the a!!ointments of -or!orals already made were recalled and the members
of the -or!s given an o!!ortunity of electing their own -or!orals, the members would be obliged
to abstain from further drilling and wee# /end cam!ing.
* then addressed a letter to the -ommanding fficer telling him what a severe disa!!ointment his
letter re,ecting my suggestion had been. * assured him that * was most an&ious to serve. * also
drew his attention to a !recedent. * !ointed out that, although * occu!ied no official ran# in the
South 1frican *ndian 1mbulance -or!s at the time of the Boer 5ar, there was never a hitch
between -olonel Gallwey and the -or!s, and the -olonel never too# a ste! without reference to
me with a view to ascertain the wishes of the -or!s. * also enc losed a co!y of the resolution we
had !assed the !revious evening.
This had no good effect on the fficer, who felt that the meeting and the resolution were a grave
breach of disci!line.

)ereu!on * addressed a letter to the Secretary of State for *ndia, ac3uainting him with all the facts
and enclosing a co!y of the resolution. )e re!lied e&!laining that c onditions in South 1frica were
different, and drawing my attentions to the fact that under the rules the section c ommanders were
a!!ointed by the -ommanding fficer, but assuring me that in future, when a!!ointing section
commanders, the -ommanding fficer would consider my recommendations.
1 good deal of corres!ondence !assed between us after this, but * do not want to !rolong the
bitter tale. Suffice it to say that my e&!erienc e was of a !iece with the e&!erienc es we daily have
in *ndia. 5hat with threats and what with adroitness the -ommanding fficer suc ceeded in
creating a division in our -or!s. Some of thos e who had voted for the resolution yielded to the
-ommander(s threats or !ersuasions and wen bac# on their !romis e.
1bout this time an une&!ectedly large contingent of wounded soldiers arrived at the %etley
)os!ital, and the services of our -or!s were re3uisitioned. Those whom the -ommanding fficer
could !ersuade went to %etley. The others refus ed to go. * was on my bac#, but was in
communication with the members of the -or!s. Mr. +oberts, the Under/ Secretary of State,
honoured me with many c alls during those days. )e insisted on my !ersuading the others to
serve. )e suggested that they should form a se!arate -or!s and that at the %etley )os!ital they
could be res!onsible only to the -ommanding fficer there, so that there would be no 3uestion of
loss of self/res!ect, Government would be !lacated, and at same time hel!ful service would be
rendered to the large number of wounded received at the hos!ital. This suggestion a!!ealed both
to my com!anions and to me, with the result that those who had stayed away also went to %etley.
nly * remained away, lying on my bac# and ma#ing the best of a bad ,ob.
Chapter 11#
GO)HALE&S CHARITY
* have already referred to the attac# of !leurisy * had in 6ngland. Go#hale returned to 4ondon
soon after. Kallenbach and * used regularly to go to him. ur tal#s were mostly about the war,
and as Kallenbach had the geogra!hy of Germany at his finger ti!s, and had travelled much in
6uro!e, he used to show him on the ma! the various !laces in connection with the war.
5hen * got !leurisy this also became a to!ic of daily discussion. My dietetic e&!eriments were
going on even then. My diet consis ted, among other things, of groundnuts, ri!e and unri!e
bananas, lemon, olive oil, tomatoes and gra!es. * com!letely eschewed mil# , cereals, !ulses and
other things.
"r. $ivra, Mehta treated me. )e !ressed me hard to resume mil# and cereals , but * was obdurate.
The matter reached Go#hale(s ears. )e had not much regard for my reasoning in favour of a
fruitarian diet, and he wanted me to ta#e whatever the doctor !rescribed for my health.
*t was no easy thing for me not a yield to Go#hale(s !ress ure. 5hen he would not ta#e a refusal, *
begged him to give me twenty/four hours for thin#ing over the 3uestion. 1s Kallenbach and *
returned home that evening, we discussed where my duty lay. )e had been with me in my
e&!eriment. )e li#ed it, but * saw that he was agreeable to my giving it u! if my health demanded
it. So * had to decide for myself according to the dictates of the inner voice.

* s!ent the whole night thin#ing over the matter. To give u! the e&!eriment would mean
renouncing all my ideas in that direction, and yet * found no flaw in them. The 3uestion was how
far * should yield to Go# hale(s loving !ressure, and how far * might modify my e&!eriment in the
so/called interests of health. * finally dec ided to adhere to the e&!eriment in so far as the motive
behind was chiefly religious, and to yield to the doctor(s advice where the motive was mi&ed.
+eligious considerations had been !redominant in the giving u! of mil#. * had before me a !icture
of the wic# ed !roc esses the govals in -alcutta ado!ted to e&tract the last dro! of mil# from their
cows and buffaloes. * also had the feeling that, ,ust as meat was not man(s food, even so animal(s
mil# could not be man(s food. So * got u! in the morning with the determination to adhere to my
resolve to abstain from mil#. This greatly relieved me. * dreaded to a!!roach Go#hale, but *
trusted him to res!ect my decision.
*n the evening Kallenbach and * called on Go#hale at the %ational 4iberal -lub. The first 3uestion
he as# ed me was' (5ell, have you decided to acc e!t the doctor(s advice@(
* gently but firmly re!lied' (* am willing to yield on all !oints e&c e!t one about which * beg you not
to !ress me. * will not ta#e mil#, mil# /!roducts or meat. *f not to ta#e these things should mean my
death, * feel * had better face it.(
(*s this your final decision@( as#ed Go#hlae.
(* am afraid * cannot decide otherwise,( said *. (* #now that my decision will !ain you, but * beg
your forgiveness.(
5ith a certain amount of !ain but with dee! affection, Go#hale said' (* do not a!!rove of your
decision. * do not see any religion in it. But * won(t !ress you any more.( 5ith these words he
turned to "r. $ivra, Mehta and said' (Pleas e don(t worry him any more. Prescribe anything you li#e
within the limit he has set for himself.(
The doctor e&!ressed dis sent, but was hel!less. )e advised me to ta#e mung sou!., with a dash
of asafoetida in it. To this * agreed. * too# it for a day or two, but it increased my !ain. 1s * did not
find it suitable, * went bac# to fruits and nuts. The doctor of course went on with his e&ternal
treatment. The latter somewhat relieved my !ain, but my restrictions were to him a sore handica!.
Meanwhile Go# hale left for home, as he could not stand the ctober fogs of 4ondon.
Chapter 11$
TREATMENT O% PLEURISY
The !ersistence of the !leurisy caused some an&iety, but * #new that the cure lay not in ta#ing
medicine internally but in dietetic changes assisted by e&ternal remedies.
* called in "r. 1llinson of vegetarian fame, who treated diseases by dietetic modifications and
whom * had met in 9:<A. )e thoroughly overhauled me. * e&!lained to him how * had !ledged
myself not to ta#e mil#. )e cheered me u! and said' (=ou need not ta#e mil#. *n fact * want you to
do without any fat for some days.( )e then advis ed me to live on !lain brown bread, raw
vegetables such as beet, radish, onion and other tubers and greens, and also fresh fruit, mainly

oranges. The vegetables were not to be coo# ed but merely grated fine, if * could not masticate
them.
* ado!ted this for about three days, but raw vegetables did not 3uite suit me. My body was not in
a condition to enable me to do full ,ustice to the e& !eriment. * was nervous about ta#ing raw
vegetables.
"r. 1llinson also advised me to #ee! all the windows of my room o!en for the whole twenty/four
hours, bathe in te!id water, have an oil massage on the affected !arts and a wal# in the o!en for
fifteen to thirty minutes. * li# ed all these suggestions.
My room had 0rench windows which, if #e!t wide o!en, would let in the rain. The fanlight could
not be o!ened. * therefore got the glass bro#en, so as to let in fres h air, and * !artially o!ened the
windows in a manner not to let in rain.
1ll these measures somewhat im!roved my health, but did not com!letely cure me.
4ady -ecilia +oberts occasionally called on me. 5e became friends. She wanted very much to
!ersuade me to ta#e mil#. But as * was unyielding, she hunted about for a subs titute for mil#.
Some friend suggested to her malted mil#, assuring her 3uite un#nowingly that it was absolutely
free from mil#, and that it was a chemical !re!aration with all the !ro!erties of mil#. 4ady -ecilia, *
#new, had a great regard for my religious scru!les, and so * im!licitly trusted her. * dissolved the
!owder in water and too# it only to find that it tasted ,ust li#e mil#. * read the label on the bottle, to
find, only too late, that it was a !re!aration of mil#. So * gave it u!.
* informed 4ady -ecilia about the discovery, as#ing her not to worry over it. She came !ost haste
to me to s ay how sorry she was. )er friend had not read the label at all. * begged her not to be
an&ious and e&!ressed my regret that * could not avail myself of the thing she had !rocured with
so much trouble. * also assured her that * did not at all feel u!set or guilty over having ta#en mil#
under a misa!!rehension.
* must s#i! over many other sweet reminiscences of my contact with 4ady -ecilia. * could thin# of
many friends who have been a source of great comfort to me in the midst of trials and
disa!!ointments. ne who has faith reads in them the merciful !rovidence of God, who thus
sweetens sorrow itself.
"r. 1llinson, when he ne&t called, rela&ed his restrictions and !ermitted me to have groundnut
butter or olive oil for the sa#e of fat, and to ta#e the vegetables coo# ed, if * c hose, with rice.
These changes were 3uite welcome, but they were far from giving me a com!lete cure. .ery
careful nursing was still necessary, and * was obliged to #ee! mostly in bed.
"r. Mehta occasionally loo#ed in to e&amine me and held out a standing offer to cure me if only *
would listen to his advice.
5hilst things were going on in this way, Mr, +oberts one day came to see me and urged me very
strongly to go home. (=ou cannot !ossibly go to %etley in this condition. There is still severer cold
ahead of us. * would strongly advise you to get bac# to *ndia, for it is only there that you can be
com!letely cured. *f, after your recovery, you should find the war still going on, you will have
many o!!ortunities there of rendering hel!. 1s it is, * do not regard what you have already done
as by any means a mean contribution.(
* acce!ted his advice and began to ma# e !re!arations for returning to *ndia.

Chapter 12'
HOME+ARD
Mr. Kallenbach had accom!ained me to 6ngland with a view to going to *ndia. 5e were
staying together and of course wanted to sail by the same boat. Germans, however, were under
such s trict surveillance that we had our doubts about Mr. Kallenbach getting a !ass!ort. * did my
best to get it, and Mr. +oberts, who was in favour of his getting his !ass!ort, sent a cable to the
.iceroy in this behalf. But straight came 4ord )ardinge(s re!ly' (+egret Government of *ndia not
!re!ared to ta#e any such ris#.( 1ll of us understood the force of the re!ly.
*t was a great wrench for me to !art from Mr. Kallenbach, but * could see that his !ang was
greater. -ould he have come to *ndia, he would have been leading today the sim!le ha!!y life of
a farmer and weaver. %ow he is in South 1frica, leading his old life and doing bris# business as
an architect.
5e wanted a third class !assage, but as there was none available on P. and . boats, we had to
go second.
5e too# with us the dried fruit we had carried from South 1frica, as most of it would not be
!rocurable on the boat, where fresh fruit was easily available.
"r. $ivra, Mehta had bandaged my ribs with (Mede(s Plaster( and had as#ed me not to remove it
till we reached the +ed Sea. 0or two days * !ut u! with the discomfort, but finally it became too
much for me. *t was with considerable difficulty that * managed to undo the !laster and regain the
liberty of having a !ro!er wash and bath.
My diet consisted mostly of nuts and fruits. * found that * was im!roving every day and felt very
much better by the time we entered the Sue2 -anal. * was wea# , but felt entirely out of danger,
and * gradually went on increasing my e&ercise. The im!rovement * attributed largely to the !ure
air of the tem!erate 2one.
5hether it was due to !ast e&!erience or to any other reason, * do not # now, but the #ind of
distance * noticed between the 6nglish and *ndian !assengers on the boat was something * had
not observed even on my voyage from South 1frica. * did tal# to a few 6nglishmen, but the tal#
was mostly formal. There were hardly any cordial conversations such as had certainly ta#en
!lace on the South 1frican boats. The reason for this was , * thin#, to be found in the conscious or
unconscious feeling at the bac# of the 6nglishman(s mind that he belonged to the ruling race, and
the feeling at the bac# of the *ndian(s mind that he belonged to the sub,ect race.
* was eager to reach home and get free from this atmos!here.
n arriving at 1den we already began to feel somewhat at home. 5e #new the 1denwallas very
well, having met Mr. Ke#obad Kavas,i "inshaw in "urban and come in close contact with him and
his wife.
1 few days more and we reached Bombay. *t was such a ,oy to get bac# to the homeland after an
e&ile of ten years.

Go#hale had ins!ired a rece!tion for me in Bombay, where he had come in s!ite of his delicate
health. * had a!!roached *ndia in the ardent ho!e of merging myself in him, and thereby feeling
free. But fate had willed it otherwise.
Chapter 121
SOME REMINISCENCES O% THE BAR
Before coming to a narrative of the course my life too# in *ndia, it seems necessary to recall a
few of the South 1frican e&!eriences which * have deliberately left out.
Some lawyer friends have as#ed me to give my reminiscences of the bar. The number of these is
so large that, if * were to describe them all, they would occu!y a volume by themselves and ta#e
me out of my sco!e. But it may not !erha!s be im!ro!er to recall some of those which bear u!on
the !ractice of truth.
So far as * can recollect, * have already said that * never resorted to untruth in my !rofes sion, and
that a large !art of my legal !ractice was in the interest of !ublic wor# , for which * charged nothing
beyond out/of/!oc#et e&!enses, and these too * sometimes met myself. * had thought that in
saying this * had said all that was necessary as regards my legal !ractice. But friends want me to
do more. They seem to thin# that, if * described however slightly, some of the occasions when *
refused to swerve from the truth, the legal !rofess ion might !rofit by it.
1s a student * had heard that the lawyer(s !rofession was a liar(s !rofession. But this did not
influence me, as * had no intention of earning either !osition or money by lying.
My !rinci!le was !ut to the test many a time in South 1frica. ften * #new that my o!!onents had
tutored their witnesses, and if * only encouraged my client or his witnesses to lie, we could win the
case. But * always resisted the tem!tation. * remember only one occ asion when, after having won
a case, * sus!ected that my client had deceived me. *n my heart of hearts * always wis hed that *
should win only if my client(s case was right. *n fi&ing my fees * do not recall ever having made
them conditional on my winning the case. 5hether my client won or lost, * e&!ected nothing more
nor less than my fees.
* warned every new client at the outset that he should not e&!ect me to ta#e u! a false case or to
coach the witnesses, with the result that * built u! such a re!utation that no false cases used to
come to me. *ndeed some of my clients would #ee! their clean cases for me, and ta#e the
doubtful ones elsewhere.
There was one case which !roved a severe trial. *t was brought to me by one of my best clients. *t
was a case of highly com!licated accounts and had been a !rolonged one. *t had been heard in
!arts before s everal courts. Ultimately the boo# /#ee!ing !ortion of it was entrusted by the court to
the arbitration of some 3ualified accountants. The award was entirely in favour of my client, but
the arbitrators had inadvertently committed an error in calculation which, however small, was
serious, inasmuch as an entry which ought to have been on the debit side was made on the credit
side. The o!!onents had o!!osed the award on other grounds. * was ,unior counsel for my client.
5hen the senior counsel became aware of the error, he was of o!inion that our client was not
bound to admit it. )e was clearly of o!inion that no counsel was bound to admit anything that
went against his client(s interest. * said we ought to admit the error.

But the senior counsel contended' (*n that case there is every li#elihood of the court cancelling the
whole award, and no sane counsel would im!eril his client(s case to that e&tent. 1t any rate *
would be the last man to ta#e any such ris#. *f the case were to be sent u! for a fresh hearing,
one could never tell what e&!enses our client might have to incur, and what the ultimate result
might beB(
The client was !resent when this conversation too# !lace.
* said ' (* feel that both our client and we ought to run the ris#. 5here is the certainty of the court
u!holding a wrong award sim!ly because we do not admit the error@ 1nd su!!osing the
admission were to bring the client to grief, what harm is there@(
(But why should we ma#e the admission at all@( said the senior counsel.
(5here is the surety of the court not detecting the error or our o!!onent not discovering it@( said *.
(5ell then, will you argue the c ase@ * am not !re!ared to argue it on your terms,( re!lied the
senior couns el with decis ion.
* humbly answered' (*f you will not argue, then * am !re!ared to do so, if our client so desires. *
shall have nothing to do with the case if the error is not admitted.(
5ith this * loo#ed at my client. )e was a little embarrass ed. * had been in the case from the very
first. The client fully trusted me, and #new me through and through. )e said' (5ell, then, you will
argue the case and admit the error. 4et us lose, if that is to be our lot. God defend the right.(
* was delighted. * had e&!ected nothing less from him. The senior counsel again warned me,
!itied me for my obduracy, but congratulated me all the same. 5hat ha!!ened in the court we
shall see in the ne&t cha!ter.
Chapter 122
SHARP PRACTICE-
* had no doubt about the soundness of my advice, but * doubted very much my fitness for doing
full ,ustice to the case. * felt it would be a most ha2ardous underta#ing to argue such a difficult
case before the Su!reme -ourt, and * a!!eared before the Bench in fear and trembling.
1s soon as * referred to the error in the acc ounts, one of the ,udges said'
(*s not this shar! !ractice, Mr. Gandhi@(
* boiled within to hear this charge. *t was intolerable to be accused of shar! !ractice when there
was not the slightest warrant for it.
(5ith a ,udge !re,udiced from the start li#e this, there is little chance of success in this diffic ult
case,( * said to myself. But * com!osed my thoughts and answered'

(* am sur!rised that your 4ordshi! should sus!ect shar! !ractice without hearing me out.(
(%o 3uestion of a charge,( said the ,udge. (*t is a mere suggestion.(
(The suggestion here seems to me to amount to a charge. * would as# your 4ordshi! to hear me
out and then arraign me if there is any occasion for it.(
(* am sorry to have interru!ted you,( re!lied the ,udge. (Pray do go on with your e&!lanation of the
discre!ancy.(
* had enough material in su!!ort of my e&!lanation. Than#s to the ,udge having raised this
3uestion, * was able to rivet the -ourt(s attention on my argument from the very start. * felt much
encouraged and too# the o!!ortunity of entering into a detailed e&!lanation. The -ourt gave me a
!atient hearing, and * was able to convince the ,udges that the discre!ancy was due entirely to
inadvertence. They therefore did not feel dis!osed to cancel the whole award, which had involved
considerable labour.
The o!!osing counsel seemed to feel secure in the belief that not much argument would be
needed after the error had been admitted. But the ,udges continued to interru!t him, as they were
convinced that the error was a sli! which could be easily rectified. The counsel laboured hard to
attac# the award, but the ,udge who had originally started with the sus!icion had now come round
definitely to my side.
(Su!!osing Mr. Gandhi had not admitted the error, what would you have done@( he as#ed.
(*t was im!ossible for us to secure the services of a more com!etent and honest e&!ert
accountant than the one a!!ointed by us.(
(The -ourt must !resume that you #now your case best. *f you cannot !oint out anything beyond
the sli! which any e&!ert accountant is liable to commit, the -ourt will be loath to com!el the
!arties to go in for fresh litigation and fresh e&!enses because of a !atent mista# e. 5e may not
order a fresh hearing when such an error can be easily correc ted continued the ,udge.
1nd so the counsel(s ob,ection was overruled. The -ourt either confirmed the award, with the
error rectified, or ordered the arbitrator to rectify the error, * forget which.
* was delighted. So were my client and senior counselC and * was confirmed in my conviction that
it was not im!ossible to !ractise law without com!romising truth.
4et the reader, however, remember that even truthfulness in the !ractice of the !rofession cannot
cure it of the fundamental defect that vitiates it.
Chapter 123
CLIENTS TURNED CO,+OR)ERS
The distinction between the legal !ractice in %atal and that in the Transvaal was that in %atal
there was a ,oint barC a barrister, whilst he was admitted to the ran# of advocate, could als o

!ractise as an attorneyC whereas in the Transvaal, as in Bombay, the s!heres of attorneys and
advocates were distinct. 1 barrister had the right of election whether he would !ractise as an
advocate or as an attorney. So whilst in %atal * was admitted as an advocate, in the Transvaal *
sought admission as an attorney. 0or as an advocate * could not have come in direct contact with
the *ndians and the white attorneys in South 1frica would not have briefed me.
But even in the Transvaal it was o!en to attorneys to a!!ear before magistrates. n one
occasion, whilst * was conducting a case before a magistrate in $ ohannesburg, * discovered that
my client had deceived me. * saw him com!letely brea# down in the witness bo&. So without any
argument * as#ed the magistrate to dismiss the case. The o!!osing counsel was astonished, and
the magistrate was !leased. * rebu#ed my client for bringing a false case to me. )e #new that *
never acce!ted false cases, and when * brought the thing home to him, he admitted his mista#e,
and * have an im!ression that he was not angry with me for having as#ed the magistrate to
decide against him. 1t any rate my conduct in this case did not affect my !ractice for the worse,
indeed it made my wor# easier. * also s aw that my devotion to truth enhanced my re!utation
amongst the members of the !rofession, and in s!ite of the handica! of colour * was able in some
cases to win even their affection.
"uring my !rofessional wor# it was also my habit never to conceal my ignorance from my clients
or my colleagues. 5herever * felt myself at sea, * would advise my client to consult some other
counsel, or if he !referred to stic# to me, * would as# him to let me see# the assistance of senior
counsel. This fran#ness earned me the unbounded affection and trust of my clients. They were
always willing to !ay the fee whenever consultation with senior counsel was necessary. This
affection and trust served me in good stead in my !ublic wor#.
* have indicated in the foregoing cha!ters that my ob,ect in !ractising in South 1frica was service
of the community. 6ven for this !ur!ose, winning the confidence of the !eo!le was an
indis!ensable c ondition. The large hearted *ndian magnified into service !rofessional wor# done
for money, and when * advised them to suffer the hardshi!s of im!risonment for the sa#e of their
rights, many of them cheerfully acce!ted the advice, not so muc h because they had reasoned out
the correctness of the course, as because of their confidence in, and affection for, me.
1s * write this, many a sweet reminiscence comes to my mind. )undreds of clients became
friends and real co/wor# ers in !ublic service, and their assoc iation sweetened a life that was
otherwise full of difficulties and dangers.
Chapter 124
HO+ A CLIENT +AS SA.ED
The reader, by now, will be 3uite familiar with Parsi +ustom,i(s name. )e was one who became
at once my client and co/wor#er, or !erha!s it would be truer to say that he first became co/
wor#er and then client. * won his confidence to such an e&tent that he sought and followed my
advice also in !rivate domestic matters. 6ven when he was ill, he would see# my aid, and though
there was muc h differenc e between our ways of living, he did not hesitate to acce!t my 3uac#
treatment.
This friend once got into a very bad scra!e. Though he #e!t me informed of most of his affairs, he
had studiously #e!t bac # one thing. )e was a large im!orter of goods from Bombay and -alcutta,

and not infre3uently he resorted to smuggling. But as he was on the best terms with customs
officials, no one was inclined to sus!ec t him. *n charging duty, they us ed to ta#e his invoices on
trust. Some might even have connived at the smuggling.
But to use the telling simile of the Gu,arati !oet 1#ho, theft li#e 3uic#silver won(t be su!!ressed,
and Parsi +ustom,i(s !roved no e&ce!tion. The good friend ran !ost haste to me, the tears rolling
down his chee#s as he said' (Bhai, * have deceived you. My guilt has been discovered today. *
have smuggled and * am doomed. * must go to ,ail and be ruined. =ou alone may be able to save
me from this !redicament. * have #e!t bac# nothing else from you, but * thought * ought not to
bother you with suc h tric#s of the trade, and so * never told you about this smuggling. But now,
how much * re!ent itB(
* calmed him and said' (To save or not to save you is in )is hands. 1s to me you # now my way. *
can but try to save you by means of confession.(
The good Parsi felt dee!ly mortified.
(But is not my confession before you enough@( he as#ed.
(=ou have wronged not me but Government. )ow will the confession made before me avail you@(
* re!lied gently.
(f course * will do ,ust as you advise, but will you not consult with my old counsel Mr.///@ )e is a
friend too,( said Pars i +ustom,i.
*n3uiry revealed that the smuggling had been going on for a long time, but the actual offence
detected involved a trifling sum. 5e went to his counsel. )e !erused the !a!ers, and said' (The
case will be tried by a ,ury, and a %atal ,ury will be the last to ac3uit an *ndian. But * will not give
u! ho!e.(
* did not # now this counsel intimately. Parsi +ustom,i interce!ted' (* than# you, but * should li#e to
be guided by Mr. Gandhi(s advice in this case. )e #nows me intimately. f course you will advise
him whenever necessary.(
)aving thus shelved the counsel(s 3uestion, we went to Pars i +ustom,i(s sho!.
1nd now e&!laining my view * said to him' (* don(t thin# this case should be ta#en to court at all. *t
rests with the -ustoms fficer to !rosecute you or to let you go, and he in turn will have to be
guided by the 1ttorney General. * am !re!ared to meet both. * !ro!ose that you should offer to
!ay the !enalty that fi&, and the odds are that they will be agreeable. But if they are not, you must
be !re!ared to go to ,ail. * am of o!inion that the shame lies not so much in going to ,ail as in
committing the offence. The deed of shame has already been done. *m!risonment you should
regard as a !enance. The real !enance lies in resolving never to smuggle again.(
* cannot say that Parsi +ustom,i too# all this 3uite well. )e was a brave man, but his courage
failed him for the moment. )is name and fame were at sta#e, and where would he be if the
edifice he had reared with s uch care and labour should go to !ieces@
(5ell, * have told you,( he said, (that * am entirely in your hands. =ou may do ,ust as you li#e.(
* brought to bear on this case all my !owers of !ersuasion. * met the -ustoms fficer and
fearlessly a!!rised him of the whole affair. * also !romised to !lace all the boo#s at his dis!osal
and told him how !enitent Parsi +ustom,i was feeling

The -ustoms fficer said' (* li# e the old Parsi. * am sorry he has made a fool of himself. =ou
#now where my duty lies. * must be guided by the 1ttorney General and so * would advise you to
use all your !ersuasion with him.(
(* shall be than#ful,( said *, (if you do not insist on dragging him into court.(
)aving got him to !romise this, * entered into corres!ondence with the 1ttorney General and also
met him. * am glad to say that he a!!reciated my com!lete fran# ness and was convinced that *
had #e!t bac# nothing.
* now forget whether it was in connection with this or with some other case that my !ersistenc e
and fran#ness e&torted from him the remar#' (* see you will never ta#e a no for an answer.(
The case against Parsi +ustom,i was com!romised.)e was to !ay a !enalty e3ual to twice the
amount he had confessed to having smuggled. +ustom,i reduced to writing the facts of the whole
case, got the !a!er framed and hung it u! in his office to serve as a !er!etual reminder to his
heirs and fellow merchants.
These friends +ustom,i warned me not to be ta#en in by this transitory contrition. 5hen * told
+ustom,i about this warning he said' (5hat would be my fate if * deceived you@(
Chapter 125
THE %IRST E(PERIENCE
Before * reached home, the !arty which had started from Phoeni& had already arrived.
1ccording to our original !lan * was to have !receded them, but my !reoccu!ation in 6ngland
with the war had u!set all our calculations, and when * saw that * had to be detained in 6ngland
indefinitely, * was faced with the 3uestion of finding them all to stay together the Phoeni& !arty. *
wanted them all to stay together in *ndia, if !ossible, and to live the life they had led at Phoeni&. *
did not # now of any 1shram to which * could recommend them to go, and therefore cabled to
them to meet Mr. 1ndrews and do as he advised.
So they were first !ut in the Guru#ul, Kangri, where the late Swami Shraddhanand,i treated them
as his own children. 1fter this they were !ut in the Shantini#etan 1shram, where the Poet and his
!eo!le showered similar love u!on them. The e&!eriences they gathered at both these !laces too
stood them and me in good stead.
The Poet, Shraddhanand,i and Princi!al Sushil +udra, as * used to say to 1ndrews, com!osed
his trinity. 5hen in South 1frica he was never tired of s !ea#ing of them, and of my many sweet
memories of South 1frica, Mr. 1ndrews( tal#s , day in and day out, of this great trinity, are
amongst the sweetest and most vivid. Mr. 1ndrews naturally !ut the Phoeni& !arty in touch also
with Sushil +udra. Princi!al +udra had no 1shram, but he had a home which he !laced
com!letely at the dis!osal of the Phoeni& family. 5ithin a day of their arrival, his !eo!le made
them deal so thoroughly at home that they did not seem to miss Phoeni& at all.
*t was only when * landed in Bombay that * learnt that the Phoeni& !arty was at Shantini# etan. *
was therefore im!atient to meet them as soon as * could after my meeting with Go#hale.

The rece!tions in Bombay gave me an occasion for offering what might be called a little
Satyagraha.
1t the !arty given in my honour at Mr. $ehangir Petit(s !lace, * did not dare to s!ea# in Gu,arati. *n
those !alatial surroundings of da22ling s!lendour *, who had lived my best life among indentured
labourers , felt myself a com!lete rustic. 5ith my Kathiawadi cloa# , turban and dhoti, * loo#ed
somewhat more civili2ed than * do today, but the !om! and s!lendour of Mr. Petit(s mansion
made me feel absolutely out of my element. )owever, * ac3uitted myself tolerably well, having
ta#en shelter under Sir Phero2eshah(s !rotecting wing.
Then there was the Gu,arati function. The Gu,aratis would not let me go without a rece!tion,
which was organi2ed by the late Uttamlal Trivedi. * had ac3uainted myself with the !rogramme
beforehand. Mr. $innah was !resent, being a Gu,arati, * forget whether as !resident or as the
!rinci!al s!ea#er. )e made a short and sweet little s!eech in 6nglish. 1s far as * remember most
of the other s!eeches were also in 6nglish. 5hen my turn came, * e&!ressed my than#s in
Gu,arati e&!laining my !artiality for Gu,arati and )industani, and entering my humble !rotest
against the use of 6nglish in a Gu,arati gathering. This * did, not without s ome hesitation, for * was
afraid lest it s hould be considered discourteous for an ine&!erienced man, returned home after a
long e&ile, to enter his !rotes t against established !ractices. But no one seemed to
misunderstand my insistence on re!lying in Gu,arati. *n fact * was glad to note that everyone
seemed reconciled to my !rotest.
The meeting thus emboldened me to thin# that * should not find it difficult to !lace my new/
fangled notions before my countrymen.
1fter a brief stay in Bombay, full of these !reliminary e&!eriences, * went to Poona whither
Go#hale had summoned me.
Chapter 126
+ITH GO)HALE IN POONA
The moment * reached Bombay Go#hale sent me word that the Governor was desirous of
seeing me, and that it might be !ro!er for me to res!ond before * left for Poona. 1ccordingly *
called on )is 6&cellency. 1fter the usual in3uiries, he said'
(* as# one thing of you. * would li#e you to come and see me whenever you !ro!ose to ta#e any
ste!s concerning Government.(
* re!lied'
(* can very easily give the !romise, inasmuch as it is my rule, as a Satyagrahi, to understand the
view!oint of the !arty * !ro!ose to deal with, and to try to agree with him as far as may be
!ossible. * strictly observed the rule in South 1frica and * mean to do the s ame here.(
4ord 5illingdon than#ed me and said'

(=ou may come to me whenever you li#e, and you will see that my Government do not wilfully do
anything wrong.(
To which * re!lied' (*t is that faith which sustains me.(
1fter this * went to Poona. *t is im!ossible for me to set down all the reminis cences of this
!recious time. Go#hale and the members of the Servants of *ndia Society overwhelmed me with
affection. So far as * recollect, Go#hale had summoned all of them to meet me. * had a fran# tal#
with them all on every sort of sub,ect.
Go#hale was very # een that * should ,oin the Society and so was *. But the members felt that, as
there was a great difference between my ideals and methods of wor# and theirs, it might not be
!ro!er for me to ,oin the Society. Go#hale believed that, in s!ite of my insistence on my own
!rinci!les, * was e3ually ready and able to tolerate theirs.
(But,( he said, (the members of the Society have not yet undersrtood your readiness for
com!romise. They are tenacious of their !rinci!les, and 3uite inde!endent. * am ho!ing that they
will acce!t you, but if they don(t you will not for a moment thin# that they are lac#ing in res!ect or
love for you. They are hesitating to ta# e any ris# lest their high regard for you should be
,eo!ardi2ed. But whether you are formally admitted as a member or not, * am going to loo# u!on
you as one.(
* informed Go#hale of my intentions. 5hether * was admitted as a member or not, * wanted to
have an 1shram where * could settle down with my Phoeni& family, !referably somewhere in
Gu,arat, as, being a Gu,arati, * thought * was best fitted to s erve the country through serving
Gu,arat. Go#hale li#ed the idea. )e said' (=ou should certainly do so. 5hatever may be the result
of your tal# s with the members, you must loo# to me for the e&!enses of the 1shram, which * will
regard as my own.(
My heart overflowed with ,oy. *t was a !leasure to feel free from the res!onsibility of rais ing funds,
and to reali2e that * should not be obliged to set about the wor# all on my own, but that * should
be able to count on a s ure guide whenever * was in difficulty. This too# a great load off my mind.
So the late "r. "ev was summoned and told to o!en an account for me in the Society(s boo#s
and to give me whatever * might re3uire for the 1shram and for !ublic e&!enses.
* now !re!ared to go to Shantini#etan. n the eve of my de!arture Go#hale arranged a !arty of
selected friends, ta#ing good care to order refreshments of my li#ing, i.e., fruits and nuts. The
!arty was held ,ust a few !aces from his room, and yet he was hardly in a condition to wal#
across and attend it. But his affection for me got the better of him and he insisted on coming. )e
came, but fainted and had to be carried away. Such fainting was not a new thing with him and so
when he came to, he sent word that we must go on with the !arty.
This !arty was of course no more than a conversa2ione in the o!en s!ace o!!osite the Society(s
guesthouse, during which friends had heart/to/heart chats over light refreshments of groundnuts,
dates and fresh fruits of the season.
But the fainting fit was to be no common event in my life.

Chapter 12
+AS IT A T HREAT -
0rom Poona * went to +a,#ot and Porbandar, where * had to meet my brother(s widow and other
relatives.
"uring the Satyagraha in South 1frica * had altered my style of dress so as to ma#e it more in
#ee!ing with that of the indentured labourers , and in 6ngland also * had adhered to the same
style for indoor use. 0or landing in Bombay * had a Kathiawadi suit of clothes consisting of a shirt,
a dhoti, a cloa# and a white scarf, all made of *ndian mill cloth. But as * was to travel third from
Bombay, * regarded the scarf and the cloa# as too much of an incumbrance, so * shed them, and
invested in an eight/to/ten/annas Kashmiri ca!. ne dressed in that fashion was s ure to !ass
muster as a !oor man.
n account of the !lague !revailing at that time third class !assengers were being medically
ins!ected at .iramgam or 5adhwan * forget whic h. * had slight fever. The ins!ector on finding
that * had a tem!erature as#ed me to re!ort myself to the Medical fficer at +a,#ot and noted
down my name.
Someone had !erha!s sent the information that * was !assing through 5adhwan, for the tailor
Motilal, a noted !ublic wor#er of the !lace, met me at the station. )e told me about the .iramgam
customs, and the hardshi!s railway !assengers had to suffer on account of it. * had little
inclination to tal# bacause of my fever, and tried to finish with a brief re!ly which too# the form of
a 3uestion'
(1re you !re!ared to go to ,ail@(
* had ta#en Motilal to be one of those im!etuous youths who do not thin# before s!ea# ing. But not
so Motilal. )e re!lied with firm deliberation'
(5e will c ertainly go to ,ail, !rovided you lead us. 1s #athiawadis, we have the first right on you.
f course we do not mean to detain you now, but you must !romis e to halt here on your return.
=ou will be delighted to see the wor# and the s!irit of our youths, and you may trust us to res!ond
as soon as you s ummon us.(
Motilal ca!tivated me. )is comrade eulogi2ing him, said'
(ur friend is but a tailor. But he is such a master of his !rofession that he easily earns +s. 9I a
month which is ,ust what he needs wor#ing an hour a day, and gives the rest of his time to !ublic
wor#. )e leads us all, !utting our education to shame.
4ater * came in close c ontact with Motilal, and * saw that there was no e&aggeration in the eulogy.
)e made a !oint of s!ending some days in the then newly started 1shram every month to teach
the children tailoring and to do some of the tailoring of the 1shram himself. )e would tal# to me
every day of .iramgam, and the hardshi!s of the !assengers, which had become absolutely
unbearable for him. )e was cut off in the !rime of youth by a sudden illness, and !ublic life at
5adhwan suffered without him.
n reaching +a,#ot, * re!orted myself to the Medical officer the ne&t morning. * was not un#nown
there. The "octor felt ashamed and was angry with the ins!ector. This was unnecessary, for the

ins!ector had only done his duty. )e did not #now me, and even if he had #nown me, he should
done have otherwise. The Medical fficer would not let me go to him again insisted on sending
an ins!ector to me instead.
*ns!ection of third class !assangers for sanitary reasons is essential on such occasions. *f big
men choose to travel third, whatever their !osition in life, they must voluntarily submit themselves
to all the regulations that the !oor are sub,ect to, and the officials ought to be im!artial. My
e&!erience is that the officials, instead of loo# ing u!on third class !assengers as fellowmen,
regard them as so many shee!. They tal# to them contem!tuously, and broo# no re!ly or
argument. The third class !assenger has to obey the official as though he were his servant, and
the letter may with im!unity belabour and blac#mail him, and boo# him his tic#et only !utting him
to the greatest !ossible inconvenience, including often missing the train. 1ll this * have seen with
my own eyes. %o reform is !ossible unless some of the educated and the rich voluntarily acce!t
the status of the !oor, travel third, refuse to en,oy the amenities denied to the !oor and, instead of
ta#ing avoidable hardshi!s, discourtesies and in,ustice as a matter of course, fight for their
removal.
5herever * went in Kathiawad * heard com!laints about the .iramgam customs hardshi!s. *
therefore decided immediately to ma#e us e of 4ord 5illingdon(s offer. * collected and read all the
literature available on the sub,ect, convinced myself that the com!laints were well founded, and
o!ened corres!ondence with the Bombay Government. * called on the Private Secretary to 4ord
5illingdon and waited on )is 6&cellency also. The latter e&!ressed his sym!athy but shifted the
blame on "elhi. (*f it had been in our hands, we should have removed the cordon long ago. =ou
should a!!roach the Government of *ndia,( said the secretary.
* communicated with the Government of *ndia, but got no re!ly beyond an ac#nowledgment. *t
was only when * had an occasion to meet 4ord -helmsford later that redress could be had. 5hen
* !laced the facts before him, he e&!ressed his astonishment. )e had #nown nothing of the
matter. )e gave me a !atient hearing, tele!honed that very moment for !a!ers about .iramgam,
and !romised to remove the cordon if the authorities had no e&!lanation or defence to offer.
5ithin a few days of this interview * read in the !a!ers that the .iramgam customs cordon had
been removed.
* regarded this event as the advent of Satyagraha in *ndia. 0or during my interview with the
Bombay Government the Secretary had e&!ressed his disa!!roval of a reference to Satyagraha
in a s!eech which * had delivered in Bagasra >in Kathiawad?.
(*s not this a threat@( he had as#ed. (1nd do you thin# a !owerful Government will yield to
threats @(
(This was no threat(, * had re!lied. (*t was educ ating the !eo!le. *t is my duty to !lace before the
!eo!le all the legitimate remedies for grievances. 1 nation that wants to come into its own ought
to # now all the ways and means to freedom. Usually they include violence as the last remedy.
Satyagraha, on the other hand, is an absolutely non/ violent wea!on. * regard it as my duty to
e&!lain its !ractice and its limitations. * have no doubt that the British Government is a !owerful
Government, but * have no doubt also that Satyagraha is a sovereign remedy.(
The clever Sec retary sc e!tic ally nodded his head and said' (5e shall see.(

Chapter 12#
SHANTINI)ETAN
0rom +a,#ot * !roceeded to Shantini#etan. The teachers and students overwhelmed me with
affection. The rece!tion was a beautiful combination of sim!licity, art and love. *t was here * met
Ka#asaheb Kalel#ar for the first time.
* did not # now then why Kalel#ar was called (Ka# asaheb(. But * learnt later on that S,t. Keshavrao
"esh!ande, who was a contem!orary and a close friend of mine in 6ngland, and who had
conducted a school in the Baroda State called (Ganganath .idyalaya(, had given the teachers
family names with a view to investing the .idyalaya with a family atmos!here. S,t. Kalel#ar who
was a teacher there came to be called, (Ka#a( >lit. !aternal uncle?. Phad#e was called (Mama( >lit.
maternal uncle?, and )arihar Sharma received the name (1nna( >lit. brother?. thers also got
similar names. 1nandanand >Swami? as Ka# a(s friend and Patwardhan >1!!a? as Mama(s friend
later ,oined the family, and all in course of time became my co/wor#ers one after another. S,t.
"esh!ande himself used to be called (Saheb(. 5hen the .idyalaya had to be dissolved, the family
also bro# e u!, but they never gave u! their s!iritual relations hi! or their assumed names.
Ka#asaheb went out to gain e&!erience of different institutions, and at the time * went to
Shantini#etan, he ha!!ened to be there. -hintaman Shastri, belonging to the same fraternity, was
there also. Both hel!ed in teaching Sams# rit.
The Phoeni& family had been assigned se!arate 3uarters at Shantini# etan. Maganlal Gandhi was
at their head, and he had made it his business to see that all the rules of the Phoeni& 1shram
should be scru!ulously observed. * saw that, by dint his fragrance felt in the whole of
Shantini#etan.
1ndrews was there, and also Pearson. 1mongst the Bengali teachers with whom we came in
fairly close contact were $agadanandbabu, %e!albabu, Santoshbabu, Kshitimohanbabu,
%agenbabu, Sharadbabu and Kalibabu.
1s is my wont, * 3uic#ly mi&ed with the teachers and students , and engaged them in a discussion
on self/hel!. * !ut it to the teachers that, if they and the boys dis!ensed with the services of !aid
coo#s and coo# ed their food themselves, it would enable the teachers to control the #itchen from
the !oint of view of the boy(s !hysical and moral health, and it would afford to the students an
ob,ect/lesson in self/hel!. ne or two of them were inclined to sha# e their heads. Some of them
strongly a!!roved of the !ro!osal. The boys welcomed it, if only because of their instinctive taste
for novelty. So we launched the e&!eriment. 5hen * invited the Poet to e&!ress his o!inion, he
said that he did not mind it !rovided the teachers were favourable. To the boys he said, (The
e&!eriment contains the #ey to Swara,.(
Pearson began to wear away his body in ma#ing the e&!eriment a success. )e threw himself into
it with 2est. 1 batch was formed to cut vegetables, another to clean the grain, and so on.
%agenbabu and others undertoo# to see to the sanitary c leaning of the #itchen and its
surroundings. *t was a delight to me to see them wor#ing s!ade in hand.
But it was too much to e&!ect the hundred and twenty/five boys with their teachers to ta#e to this
wor# of !hysical labour li#e duc#s to water. There used to be daily discussion. Some began early
to show fatigue. But Pearson was not the man to be tired. ne would always find him with his
smiling face doing something or other in or about the # itchen. )e had ta#en u!on himself the
cleaning of the bigger utens ils. 1 !arty of students !layed on their sitarbefore this cleaning !arty

in order to beguile the tedium of the o!eration. 1ll ali#e too# the thing u! with 2est and
Shantini#etan became a busy hive.
-hanges li#e these when once begun always develo!. %ot only was the Phoeni& !arty(s # itchen
self/conducted, but the food coo#ed in it was of the sim!lest. -ondiments were eschewed. +ice,
dal, vegetables and even wheat flour were all coo#ed at one and the same time in a #itchen with
a view to introducing reform in the Bengali #itchen. ne or two teachers and some students ran
this #itchen.
The e&!eriment was, however, dro!!ed after some time. * am o!inion that the famous institution
lost nothing by having conducted the e& !eriment for a brief interval, and some of the e&!eriences
gained could not but be of hel! to the teachers .
* had intended to stay at Shantini#etan for some time but fate willed otherwise. * had hardly been
there a wee# when * received from Poona a telegram announcing Go#hale(s death. Shantini# etan
was immersed in grief. 1ll the members came over to me to e&!ress their condolences. 1 s!ecial
meeting was called in the 1shram tem!le to mourn the national loss. *t was a solemn function.
The same day * left for Poona with my wife and Maganlal. 1ll the rest stayed at Shantini# etan.
1ndrews accom!anied me u! to Burdwan. ("o you thin# ,( he as# ed me, (that a time will come for
Satyagraha in *ndia@ 1nd if so, have you any idea when it will come@(
(*t is diffic ult to say,( said *. (0or one year * am to do nothing. 0or Go#hale too# from me a !romis e
that * should travel in *ndia for gaining e&!erience, and e&!ress no o!inion on !ublic 3uestion until
* have finished the !eriod of !robation. 6ven after the year is over, * will be in no hurry to s!ea#
and !ronounce o!inions. 1nd so * do not su!!ose there will be any occasion for Satyagraha for
five years or so.(
* may note in this connection that Go#hale used to laugh at some of my ideas in Hind S&araj or
/ndian Hme Rule and say' (1fter you have stayed a year in *ndia, your views will correct
themselves.(
Chapter 12$
+OES O% THIRD CLASS PASSENGERS
1t Burdwan we came face to fac e with the hardshi!s that a third class !assenger has to go
through even in securing his tic#et.(Third class tic#ets are not boo#ed so early,( we were told. *
went to the Station Master, though that too was a difficult busines s. Someone #indly directly me
to where he was, and * re!resented to him our diffic ulty. )e also made the same re!ly. 1s soon
as the boo#ing window o!ened, * went to !urchase the tic#ets. But it was no easy thing to get
them. Might was right, and !assengers, who were forward and indifferent to others, coming one
after another, c ontinued to !ush me out. * was therefore about the last of the first crowd to get a
tic#et.
The train arrived, and getting into it was another trial. There was a free e&change of abuse and
!ushes between !assengers already in the train and those trying to get in. 5e ran u! and down

the !latform, but were everywhere met with the same re!ly' (%o room here.( * went to the guard.
)e said, (=ou must try to get in where you can or ta#e the ne&t train.(
(But * have urgent business,( * res!ectfully re!lied. )e had no time to listen to me. * was
disconcerted. * told Maganlal to get in wherever !oss ible, and * got into an inter/class
com!artment with my wife. The guard saw us getting in. 1t 1sansol station he came to charge us
e&cess fares. * said to him'
(*t was your duty to find us room. 5e could not get any, and so we are sitting here. *f you can
accommodate us in a third class c om!artment, we shall be only too glad to go there.(
(=ou may not argue with me,( said the guard. (* cannot accommodate you. =ou must !ay the
e&cess fare, or get out.(
* wanted to reach Poona somehow. * was not therefore !re!ared to fight the guard. so * !aid the
e&cess fare he demanded, i.e., u! to Poona. But * resented the in,ustice.
*n the morning we reached Mogalsarai. Maganlal had managed to get a seat in the third class, to
which * now and as#ed him to give me a certificate to the effect that * had shifted to a third class
com!artment at Mogalsarai. This he declined to do. * a!!lied to the railway authorities for redress,
and got a re!ly to this effect' (*t is not our !ractice to refund e&cess fares without the !roduction of
a certificate, but we ma#e an e&ce!tion in your case. *t is not !ossible, however, to refund the
e&cess fare from Burdwan to Mogalsarai.(
Since this * have had e&!eriences of third class travelling which, if * wrote them all down, would
easily fill a volume. But * can only touch on them causally in these cha!ters. *t has been and
always will be my !rofound regret that !hysical inca!acity should have com!elled me to give u!
third class travelling.
The woes of third class !assengers are undoubtedly due to the high/ handedness of railway
authorities. But the rudeness, dirty habits , s elfishness and ignorance of the !assengers
themselves are no less to blame. The !ity is that they often do not reali2e that they are behaving
ill, dirtily or salfishly. They believe that everything they do is in the natural way. 1ll this may be
traced to the indifference towards them of us (educated( !eo!le.
5e reached Kalyan dead tried. Maganlal and * got some water from the station water/!i!e and
had our bath. 1s * was !roceeding to arrange for my wife(s bath, S,t Kaul of the Servants of *ndia
Society recogni2ing us came u!. )e too was going to Poona. )e offered to ta#e my wife to the
second class bath room. * hes itated to acce!t the courteous offer. * #new that my wife had no
right to avail herself of the second class bathroom, But * ultimately connived at the im!ro!reity.
This, * #now, does not become a votary of truth. %ot that my wife was eager to use the bath room,
but a husband(s !artiality for his wife got the better of his !artiality for truth. The face of truth is
hidden behind the golden veil of JmayaJ, says the U!anishad.

Chapter 13'
+OOING
n arrival in Poona, we found ourselves, after the !erformance of the Js hradhaJ ceremonies,
discussing the future of the Society, and the 3uestion as to whether * should ,oin it or not. This
3uestion of membershi! !roved a very delicate matter for me to handle. 5hlist Go#hale was
there * did not have to see# admission as a member. * had sim!ly to obey his wish, a !os ition *
loved to be in. 4aunching on the stormy sea of *ndian !ublic life, * was in need of a sure !ilot. *
had one in Go#hale and had felt secure in his #ee!ing. %ow that he was gone, * was thrown on
my own resources, and * felt that it was my duty to see# admission. That, * thought, would !leas e
Go#hale(s s!irit. So, without hesitation and with firmness, * began the wooing.
Most of the members of the Society were in Poona at this ,uncture. * set about !leading with them
and tried to dis!el their fears about me. But * saw that they were divided. ne sec tion favoured
my admission, the other was strongly against it. * #new that neither yielded to the other in its
affection for me, but !ossibly their loyalty to the Society was greater, at any rate not less than
their love for me. 1ll our discussions were therefore free from bitterness, and strictly confined to
matters of !rinci!le. The section that was o!!osed to me held that they and * were as the !oles
asunder in various vital matters, and they felt my membershi! was li#ely to im!eril the very
ob,ects for which the Society was founded. This naturally was more than they could bear.
5e dis!ersed after !rolonged discussions , the final decision being !ost!oned to a later date.
* was considerably agitated as * returned home. 5as it right for me to be admitted by a ma,ority
vote@ 5ould it be consonant with my loyalty to Go#hale@ * s aw clearly that, when there was such
a shar! division amongst the members of the Society over admitting me, by far the best course
for me was to withdraw my a!!lication for admission and save those o!!osed to me from a
delicate situation. Therein * thought lay my loyalty to the Society and Go#hale. The decision came
to me in a flash, and immediately * wrote to Mr. Shastri as#ing him not to have the ad,ourned
meeting at all. Those who had o!!osed my a!!lication fully a!!reciated the decision. *t saved
them from an aw#ward !osition and bound us in closer bonds of friendshi!. The withdrawal of my
a!!lication made me truly a member of the Society.
6&!erience now tell me that it was well that * did not formally become a member, and that the
o!!osition of those who had been against me was ,ustified. 6&!erience has shown too that our
views on matters of !rinci!le were widly divergent. But the recognition of the differences has
meant to estrangement or bitterness between us. 5e have remained as brothers, and the
Society(s Poona home has always been for me a !lace of !ilgrimage.
*t is true that * did not officially become a member of the Society, but * have ever been a member
in s!irit. S!iritual relationshi! is far more !recious than Physical relationshi! divorced from
s!iritual is body without soul.

Chapter 131
)UMBHA MELA
* ne&t went to +angoon to meet "r. Mehta, and on my way * halted at -alcutta. * was the guest
of the late Babu Bhu!endranath Basu. Bengali hos!itality reached its clima& here. *n those days *
was a strict fruitarian, so all the fruits and nuts available in -alcutta were ordered for me. The
ladies of the hous e #e!t awa#e all night s#inning various nuts. 6very !oss ible care was ta#en in
dressing fresh fruit in the *ndian style. %umerous delicacies were !re!ared for my com!anions,
amongst whom was my son +amdas. Much as * could a!!reciate this affectionate hos!itality, *
could not bear the thought of a whole household being occu!ied in enteraining two or three
guests. But as yet * saw no esca!e from such embarrassing attentions.
n the boat going to +angoon * was a dec# !assenger. *f e&cess of attention embarrassed us in
S,t. Basu(s house, grossest inattention, even to the elementary comforts of dec# !assengers, was
our lot on the boat. 5hat was an a!ology for a bath room was unbearably dirty, the latrines were
stin#ing sin# s. To use the latrine one had to wade through urine and e&creta or ,um! over them.
This was more than flesh and blood c ould bear. * a!!roac hed the -hief ffic er without avail. *f
anything was lac#ing to com!lete the !icture of stin# and filth, the !assengers furnished it by their
thoughtless habits . They s!at where they sat, dirtied the surroundings with the leavings of their
food, tobacco and betel leaves. There was no end to the noise, and everyone tried to mono!oli2e
as much room as !ossible. Their luggage too# u! more room than they. 5e had thus two days of
the severest trial.
n reaching +angoon * wrote to the 1gent of the Steams hi! -om!any, ac3uainting him with all
the facts. Than#s to this letter and to "r. Mehta(s efforts in the matter, the return ,ourney though
on dec# was less unbearable.
*n +angoon my fruitarian diet was again a source of additional trouble to the host. But since "r.
Mehta(s home was as good as my own, * could control somewhat the lavishness of the menu.
)owever, as * had not set any limit to the number of articles * might eat, the !alate and the eyes
refused to !ut an effective chec# on the su!!ly of varieties ordered. There were no regular hours
for meals. Pers onally * !referred having the last meal before night fall. %evertheless as a rule it
could not be had before eight or nine.
This year 9<9I was the year of the Kumbha fair, which is held at )ardvar once every 98 years. *
was by no means eager to attend the fair, but * was an&ious to meet Mahatma Munshiram,i who
was in his Guru#ul. Go#hale(s Society had sent a big volunteer cor!s for service at the Kumbha.
Pandit )ridayanath Kun2ru was at the head, and the late "r. "ev was the medical officer. * was
invited to send the Phoeni& !arty to assist them, and so Maganlal Gandhi had already !receded
me. n my return from +angoon, * ,oined the band.
The ,ourney from -alcutta to )ardvar was !articularly trying. Sometimes the com!artments had
no lights. 0rom Saharan!ur we were huddled into carriages for goods or cattle. These had no
roofs, and what with the bla2ing midday sun overhead and the scorching iron floor beneath, we
were all but roasted. The !angs of thirst, caus ed by even such a ,ourney as this, could not
!ersuade orthodo& )indus to ta#e water, if it was (Musalmani.( They waited until they could get
the ()indu( water. These very )indus, let it be noted, do not so much as hesitate or in3uire when
during illness the doctor administers them wine or !rescribes beef tea or a Musalman or -hristian
com!ounder gives them water.

ur stay in Shantini#etan had taught us that the scavenger(s wor# would be our s!ecial function
in *ndia. %ow for the volunteers in )ardvar tents had been !itched in a JdharmashalaJ, and "r.
"ev had dug some !its to be used as latrines. )e had to de!end on !aid scavengers for loo#ing
after these. )ere was wor# for the Phoeni& !arty. 5e offered to cover u! the e&creta with earth
and to see to their dis!osal, and "r. "ev gladly acce!ted our offer. The offer was naturally made
by me, but it was Maganlal Gandhi who had to e&ecute it. My business was mostly to #ee! sitting
in the tent giving JdarshanJ and holding religious and other dis cussions with numerous !ilgrims
who called on me. This left me not a minute which * could call my own. * was followed even to the
bathing JghatJ by these Jdarshan/see#ersJ, nor did they leave me alone whilst * was having my
meals. Thus it was in )ardvar that * reali2ed what a dee! im!ression my humble services in
South 1frica had made throughout the whole of *ndia.
But this was no enviable !osition to be in. * felt as though * was between the devil and the dee!
sea. 5here no one recogni2ed me, * had to !ut u! with the hardshi!s that fall to the lot of the
millions in this land, e.g., in railway travelling. 5here * was surrounded by !eo!le who had heard
of me * was the victim of their cra2e for JdarshanJ. 5hich of the two conditions was more !itiable,
* have often been at a loss to determine. That at least * #now that the Jdarshanvalas(J blind love
has often made me angry, and more often sore at heart. 5hereas travelling, though often trying,
has been u!lifting and has hardly ever roused me to anger.
* was in those days strong enough to roam about a lot, and was fortunately not so #nown as not
to be able to go in the streets without creating much fuss. "uring these roamings * came to
observe more of the !ilgrims( absent mindedness, hy!ocrisy and slovenliness, than of their !iety.
The s warm of sadhus, who had descended there, seemed to have been born but to en,oy the
good things of life.
)ere * saw a c ow with five feetB * was astonished, but #nowing men soon disillusioned me. The
!oor five/footed cow was a sacrifice to the greed of the wic#ed. * learnt that the fifth foot was
nothing else but a foot cut off from a live c alf and grafted u!on the shoulder of the cowB The result
of this double cruelty was e&!loited to fleece the ignorant of their money. There was no )indu but
would be attracted by a five/footed cow, and no )indu but would lavish his charity on suc h a
miraculous cow.
The day of the fair was now u!on us. *t !roved a redletter day for me. * had not gone to )ardvar
with the sentiments of a !ilgrim. * have never thought of fre3uenting !laces of !ilgrimage in
search of !iety. But the seventeen la#hs of men that were re!orted to be there could not all be
hy!ocrites or mere sight/seers. * had no doubt that countless !eo!le amongst them had gone
there to earn merit and for self/!urification. *t is difficult, if not im!ossible, to say to what e&tent
this #ind of faith u!lifts the soul.
* therefore !assed the whole night immersed in dee! thought. There were those !ious souls in
the midst of the hy!ocrisy that surrounded them. They would be free of guilt before their Ma#er. *f
the visit to )ardvar was in itself a sin, * must !ublicly !rotest against it, and leave )ardvar on the
day Kumbha. *f the !ilgrimage to )ardvar and to the Kumbha fair was not sinful, * must im!ose
some act of self/denial on mys elf in atonement for the ini3uity !revailing there and !urify myself.
This was 3uite natural for me. My life is based on disci!linary resolutions. * thought of the
unnecessary trouble * had caused to my hosts at -alcutta and +angoon, who had so lavishly
entertained me. * therefore decided to limit the articles of my daily diet and to have my final meal
before sunset. * was convinc ed that, if * did not im!ose these restrictions on myself, * should !ut
my future hosts to considerable inconvenience and should engage them in serving me rather than
engage myself in service. So * !ledged myself never whilst in *ndia to ta#e more than five articles
in twenty/four hours, and never to eat after dar#. * gave the fullest thought to the difficulties *
might have to face. But * wanted to leave no loo!hole. * rehearsed to mys elf what would ha!!en
during an illness, if * counted medicine among the five articles, and made no e&ce!tion in favour

of s!ecial articles of diet. * finally decided that there should be no e&ce!tion on any account
whatsoever.
* have been under these vows for now thirteen years. They have sub,ected me to a severe tes t,
but * am able to testify that they have also served as my shield. * am of o!inion that they have
added a few years to my life and saved me from many an illness.
Chapter 132
LA)SHMAN 6HULA
*t was a !ositive relief to reach the Guru# ul and meet Mahatma Munshiram,i with his giant frame.
* at onc e felt the wonderful contrast between the !eace of the Guru#ul and the din and noise of
)ardvar.
The Mahatma overwhelmed me with affection. The Brahmachariswere all attention. *t was here
that * was first introduced to 1charya +amadev,i, and * could immediately see what a force and a
!ower he must be. 5e had different view!oints in several matters, nevertheless our ac3uaintance
soon ri!ened into friendshi!.
* had long discussions with 1charya +amadev,i and other !rofessors about the necessity of
introducing industrial training into the Guru# ul. 5hen the time came for going away it was a
wrenc h to leave the !lace.
* had heard much in !raise of the 4a#shman $hula >a hanging bridge over the Ganges? some
distance from )rishi#es h, and many friends !ressed me not to leave )ardvar without having gone
as far as the bridge. * wanted to do this !ilgrimage on foot and so * did it in two stages.
Many JsannyasisJ called on me at )rishi#esh. ne of them was !articularly attracted towards
me. The Phoeni& !arty was there and their !resence drew from the Swami many 3uestions.
5e had disc ussions about religion and he reali2ed that * felt dee!ly about matters of religion. )e
saw me bareheaded and shirtless as * had returned from my bath in the Ganges. )e was !ained
to miss the shikha>tuft of hair? on my head and the sacred thread about my nec# and said'
(*t !ains me to see you, a believing )indu, going without a sacred thread and the shikha6These
are the two e&ternal symbols of )induis m and every )indu ought to wear them.(
%ow there is a history as to how * came to dis!ense with both. 5hen * was an urchin of ten, *
envied the Brahman lads s!orting bunches of # eys tied to their sacred threads, and * wished *
could do li#ewise. The !ractice of wearing the sacred thread was not then common among the
vaishyafamilies in Kathiawad. But a movement had ,ust been started for ma#ing it obilgatory for
the first three varnas. 1s a res ult several members of the Gandhi clan ado!ted the sacred thread.
The Brahman who was teaching two or three of us boys Ram Rakshainvested us with the thread,
and although * had no occasion to !ossess a bunch of #eys , * got one and began to s!ort it. 4ater,
when the thread gave way, * do not remember whether * missed it very much. But * #now that *
did not go in for a fresh one.

1s * grew u! several well/meaning attem!ts were made both in *ndia and South 1frica to re/invest
me with the sacred thread, but with little success. *f the shudrasmay not wear it, * argued, what
right have the other varnasto do so@ 1nd * saw no ade3uate reason for ado!ting what was to me
an unnecessary custom. * had no ob,ection to the thread as such, but the reasons for wearing it
were lac#ing.
1s a vaishnava* had naturally worn round my nec # the kanthi, and the shikhawas considered
obligatory by leders. n the eve of my going to 6ngland, however, * got rid of the shikha, lest
when * was bareheaded it should e&!ose me to ridicule and ma# e me loo#, as * then thought, a
barbarian in the eyes of the 6nglishmen. *n fact this cowardly feeling carried me so far that in
South 1frica * got my cousin -hhaganlal Gandhi, who was religious ly wearing the shikha, to do
away with it. * feared that it might come in the way of his !ublic wor# and so, even at the ris# of
!aining him, * made him get rid of it.
* therefore made a clean breast of the whole matter to the Swami and said'
(* will not wear the sacred thread, for * see no nec essity for it, when countless )indus can go
without it and yet remain )indus, Moreover, the sacred thread should be a symbol of s!iritual
regeneration, !resu!!osing a deliberate attem!t on the !art of the wearer at a higher and !urer
life. * doubt whether in the !resent state of )induism and of *ndia, )indus can vindicate the right
can come only after )induism has !urged itself of untouchability, has removed all distinctions of
su!eriority and inferiority, and shed a host of other evils and shams that have become ram!ant in
it. My mind therefore rebels against the idea of wearing the sacred thread. But * am sure your
suggestion about the Jshi#haJ is worth considering. * once used to have it, and * discarded it from
a false sens e of shame. 1nd s o * feel that * should start growing it again. * shall discuss the matter
with my comrades.(
The Swami did not a!!reciate my !osition with regard to the sacred thread. The very reasons that
seemed to me to !oint to not wearing it a!!eared to him to favour its wearing. 6ven today my
!osition remains about the same as it was )rishi#esh. So long as there are different religions,
every one of them may need some outward distinctive symbol. But when the symbol is made into
a fetish and an instrument of !roving the su!eriority of one(s religion over others(, it is fit only to be
discarded. The sacred thread does not a!!ear to me today to be a means of u!lifting )induism. *
am therefore indifferent to it.
1s for the shikha, cowardice having been the reason for discarding it, after consultation with
friends * decided to re/grow it.
But to return to 4a#shman $hula. * was charmed with the natural scenery about )rishi# esh and
the 4a#shman $ hula, and bowed my head in reverence to our ancestors for their sense of the
beautiful in %ature, and for their forsight in investing beautiful manifestations of %ature with a
religious significance.
But the way in which men were using these beauty s!ots was far from giving me !eace. 1s at
)ardvar, so at )rishi#es h, !eo!le dirted the roads and the fair ban#s of the Ganges. They did not
even hesitate to desec rate the sacred water of the Ganges. *t filled me with agony to see !eo!le
!erforming natural functions on the throughfares and river ban#s, when they could easily have
gone a little farther away from !ublic haunts.
4a#shman $hula was, * saw, nothing but an iron sus!ension bridge over the Ganges. * was told
that originally there had been a fine ro!e/ bridge. But a !hilanthr!ic Marwadi got it into his head to
destroy the ro!e/bridge and erec t an iron one at a heavy cost and then entrusted the #eys to the
GovernmentB * am at a loss to say anything about the ro!e/bridge as * have never seen it, but the

iron bridge is entirely out of !lace in such surroundings and mars their beauty. the ma#ing over of
the #eys of this !ilgrims( bridge to Government was too much even for my loyalty of those days.
The Svar!ashramwhich one reaches after crossing the bridge was a wretched !lac e, being
nothing but a number of shabby/loo#ing sheds of galvani2ed iron s heets. These, * was told, were
made for s adhakas>as!irants?. There were hardly any living there at the moment. Those who
were in the main building gave one an unfavourable im!ression.
But the )ardvar e&!eriences !roved for me to be of inestimable value. They hel!ed me in no
small way to decide where * was to live and what * was to do.
Chapter 133
%OUNDING O% THE ASHRAM
The !ilgrimage to the Kumbha fair was my second visit to )ardvar.
The Satyagraha 1shram was founded on the 8Ith of May, 9<9I. Sharddhanand,i wanted me to
settle in )ardvar. Some of my -alcutta friends recommended .aidyanathadham. thers strongly
urged me to choose +a,#ot. But when * ha!!ened to !ass through 1hmedabad, many friends
!ressed me to settle down there, and they volunteered to find the e&!ens es of the 1shram, as
well as a house for us to live in.
* had a !redilection for 1hmedabad. Being a Gu,arati * thought * s hould be able to render the
greatest service to the c ountry through the Gu,arati language. 1nd then, as 1hmedabad was an
ancient centre of handloom weaving, it was li#ely to be the most favourable field for the revival of
the cottage industry of hand/s!inning. There was also the ho!e that, the city being the ca!ital of
Gu,arat, monetary hel! from its wealthy citi2ens would be more available here than elsewhere.
The 3uestion of untouchability was naturally among the sub,ects discussed with the 1hmedabad
friends. * made it clear to them that * should ta#e the first o!!ortunity of admitting an untouchable
candidate to the 1shram if he was otherwise worthy.
(5here is the untouchable who satisfy your condition@( said avaishnavafriend self/com!lacently.
* finally decided to found the 1shram at 1hmedabad.
So far as accommodation was concerned, S,t. $ivanlal "esai, a barrister in 1hmedabad, was the
!rinci!al man to hel! me. )e offered to let, and we decided to hire, his Kochrab bungalow.
The first thing we had to settle was the name of the 1shram. * c onsulted friends. 1mongs t the
names suggested were (Sevashram( >the abode of service?, (Ta!ovan( >the abode of austrities?,
etc. * li#ed the name (Sevashram( but for the absence of em!hasis on the method of service.
(Ta!ovan( seemed to be a !retentious title, because though tapaswas dear to us we would not
!resume to be tapasvins>men of austerity?. ur creed was devotion to truth, and our business
was the search for and insis tence on truth. * wanted to ac3uaint *ndia with the method * had tried
in South 1frica, and * des ired to test in *ndia the e&tent to which its a!!lication might be !ossible.

So my c om!anions and * selected the name (Satyagraha 1shram,( as conveying both goal and
our method of service.
0or the conduct of the 1shram a code of rules and observances was necessary. 1 draft was
therefore !re!ared, and friends were invited to e& !ress their o!inions on it. 1mongst the many
o!inions that were received, that of Sir Gurudas Baner,i is still in my memory. )e li#ed the rules,
but sugges ted that humility should be added as one of the observances, as he believed that the
younger generation sadly lac#ed humility. Though * noticed this fault, * feared humility would
cease to be humility the moment it became a matter of vow. The true connotation of humility is
self/effacement. Self/effacement is mksha>salvation?, and whilst it cannot, by itself, be an
observance, there may be other observanc es necessary for its attainment. *f the acts of an
as!irant after mkshaor a servant have no humility or selfless ness about them, there is no
longing for mkshaor service. Service without humility is selfishness and egotism.
There were at this time about thirteen Tamilians in our !arty. 0ive Tamil youngsters had
accom!anied me from South 1frica, and the rest came from different !arts of the country. 5e
were in all about twenty/ five men and women.
This is how the 1shram started. 1ll had their meals in a common #itchen and strove to live as one
family.
Chapter 134
ON THE AN.IL
The 1shram had been in e&istence only a few months when we were !ut to a test such as * had
scarcely e&!ected. * received a letter from 1mritlal Tha##ar to this effect' (1 humble and honest
untouchable family is desirous of ,oining your 1shram. 5ill you acce!t them@(
* was !erturbed. * had never e&!ected that an untouchable family with an introduction from no
less a man than Tha##ar Ba!a would so soon be s ee#ing admission to the 1shram. * shared the
letter with my com!anions. They welcomed it.
* wrote to 1mritlal Tha# #ar e& !ressing our willingness to acce!t the family, !rovided all the
members were ready to abide by the rules of the 1shram.
The family cons isted of "adabhai, his wife "anibehn and their daughter 4a#shmi, then a mere
toddling babe. "udabhai had been a teacher in Bombay. They all argeed to abide by the rules
and were acce!ted.
But their admission created a flutter amongst the friends who had been hel!ing the 1shram. The
very first difficulty was found with regard to the use of the well, whic h was !artly controlled by the
owner of the bungalows. The man in charge of the water/lift ob,ected that dro!s of water from our
buc#et would !ollute him. So he too# to swearing at us and molesting "udabhai. * told everyone
to !ut u! with the abuse and continue drawing water at any c ost. 5hen he saw that we did not
return his abuse, the man became ashamed and ceased to bother us.
1ll monetary hel!, however was sto!!ed. The friend who had as#ed that 3uestion about an
untouchable being able to follow the rules of the 1shram had never e&!ected that any such would
be forthcoming.

5ith the sto!!ing of monetary hel! came rumours of !ro!osed social boycott. 5e were !re!ared
for all this. * had told my com!anions that, if we were boycotted and denied the usual faclities, we
would not leave 1hmedabad. 5e would rather go and stay in the untouchables( 3uarter and live
on whatever we could get by manual labour.
Matters came to such a !ass that Maganlal Gandhi one day gave me this notice' (5e are out of
funds and there is nothing for the ne&t month.(
* 3uietly re!lied' (Then we shall go to the untouchables( 3uarter.(
This was not the first time * had been faced with such a trial. n all such occasions God has sent
hel! at the last moment,. ne morning, shortly after Maganlal had given me warning of our
monetary !light, one of the children came and said that a Sheth who was waiting in a car outside
wanted to see me. * went out to him. (* want to give the 1shram some hel!,( said *. (1nd * c onfess
* am at the !resent moment at the end of my resourc es.(
(* shall come tomorrow at this time,( he said. (5ill you be here@(
(=es,( said *, and he left.
%e&t day, e&actly at the a!!ointed hour, the car drew u! near our 3uarters, and the horn was
blown. The children came with the news. The Sheth did not come in. * went out to see him. )e
!laced in my hands currency notes of the value of +s. 9D,AAA, and drove away.
* had never e&!ected this hel!, and what a novel way of rendering itB The gentleman had never
before visited the 1shram. So far as * can remember, * had met him only once. %o visit, no
en3uiries, sim!ly rendering hel! and going awayB This was a uni3ue e&!erience for me. The hel!
deferred the e&odus to the untouchables( 3uarter. 5e now felt 3uite safe for a year.
$ust as there was a storm outside so was there a storm in the 1shram itself. Though in South
1frica untouchable friends used to come to my !lac e and live and feed with me, my wife and
other women did not s eem 3uite to relish the admission into the 1shram of the untouchable
friends. My eyes and ears easily detected their indifference, if not their disli#e, towards "anibehn.
The monetary diffic ulty had caus ed me no an&iety, but this internal storm was more than * could
bear. "anibehn was an ordinary woman. "udabhai was a man with slight education but of good
understanding. * li#ed his !atience. Sometimes he did flare u!, but on the whole * was well
im!ressed with his forbearance. * !leaded with him to swallow minor insults. )e not only agreed,
but !revailed u!on his wife to do li# ewise.
The admission of this family !roved a valuable lesson to the 1shram. *n the very beginning we
!roclaimed to the world that the 1shram would not countenance untouchability. Those who
wanted to hel! the 1shram were thus !ut on their guard, and the wor# of the 1shram in this
direction was c onsiderably sim!lified. The fac t that it is mos tly the real orthodo& )indus who have
met the daily growing e&!enses of the 1shram is !erha!s a clear indication that untouchability is
sha#en to its foundation. There are indeed many other !roofs of this, but the fact that good
)indus do not s cru!le to hel! an 1shram where we go the length of dining with the untouchables
is no small !roof.
* am sorry that * should have to s# i! over 3uite a number of things !ertaining to this sub,ect, how
we tac#led delicate 3uestions arising out of the main 3uestion, how we had to overcome some
une&!ected difficulties, and various other matters which are 3uite relevant to a descri!tion of
e&!eriments with Truth. The cha!ters that follow will also suffer from the same drawbac#. * s hall
have to omit im!ortant details, because most of the characters in the drama are still alive, and it is
not !ro!er without !ermiss ion to use their names in connection with events with which they are

concerned. *t is hardly !racticable to obtain their consent or to get them every now and then to
revise the cha!ters concerning themselves. Besides such !rocedure is outside the limit of this
autobiogra!hy. * therefore fear that the rest of the story, valuable as it in my o!inion to see#ers
after Truth, will be told with inevitable omissions. %evertheless, it is my desire and ho!e, God
willing, to bring this narrative down to the days of non/co/o!eartion.
Chapter 135
ABOLITION O% INDENTURED EMIGRATION
5e shall, for a moment, ta#e leave of the 1shram, which in the very beginning had to weather
internal and e&ternal storms, and briefly advert to a matter that engaged my attention.
*ndentured labourers were those who had emigrated from *ndia to labour under an indenture for
five years or less. Under the Smuts/Gandhi settlement of 9<9E, the GD ta& in res!ect of the
indentured emigrants to %atal had been abolished, but the general emigration from *ndia still
needed treatment.
*n March 9<9; Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya,i moved a resolution in the *m!erial 4egislative
-ouncil for the abolition of the indenture system. *n acc e!ting the motion 4ord )ardinge
announced that he had (obtained from )is Ma,esty(s Government the !romise of the abolition in
due course( of the system. * felt however, that *ndia could not be satisfied with so very vague an
assurance, but ought to agitate for immediate abolition. *ndia had tolerated the system through
her sheer negligence, and * believed the time had come when !eo!le could suc cessfully agitate
for this redress. * met some of the leaders, wrote in the !res s, and saw that !ublic o!inion was
solidly in favour of immediate abolition. Might this be a fit sub,ect for Satyagraha@ * had no doubt
that it was, but * did not #now themdus perandi.
*n the meantime the .iceroy had made no secret of the meaning of (the eventual abolition(, which,
as he said, was abolition (within such reasonable time as will allow of alternative arrangements
introduced,(
So in 0ebruary 9<9F, Pandit Malaviya,i as#ed for leave to introduce a bill for the immediate
abolition of the s ystem. 4ord -helmsford refused !ermission. *t was time for me to tour the
country for an all/ *ndia agitation.
Before * started the agitation * thought it !ro!er to wait u!on the .iceroy. So * a!!lied for an
interview. )e immediately granted it. Mr. Maffey, now Sir $ ohn Maffey, was his !rivate secretary. *
came in close contact with him. * had a satisfactory tal# with 4ord -helmsford who, without being
definite, !romised to be a hel!ful.
* began my tour from Bombay. Mr. $ehangir Petit undertoo# to convene the meeting under the
aus!ices of the *m!erial -iti2enshi! 1ssociation. the 6&ecutive -ommittee of the 1ssociation met
first for framing the resolutions to be moved at the meeting. "r. Stanley +eed, S,t. >now Sir?
4allubhai Samaldas, S,t. %atara,an and Mr. Petit were !resent at the -ommittee meeting. The
discussion centred round the fi&ing of the !eriod within which the Government was to be as# ed to
abolish the system. There were three !ro!osals, vi2, for abolition (as soon as !ossible,( abolition
(by the D9st $uly,( and (immediate abolition.( * was for a definite date, as we could then decide
what to do if the Government failed to accede to our re3uest within the time limit. S,t. 4allubhai

was for (immediate( abolition. )e said (immediate( indicated a shorter !eriod than the D9st $uly. *
e&!lained that the !eo!le would not understand the word (immediate(. *f we wanted to get them to
do something, they must have a more definite word. 6veryone would inter!ret (immediate( in his
own way, Government one way, the !eo!le another way. There was no 3uestion of
misunderstanding (the D9st of $uly,( and if nothing was done by that date, we could !roceed
further. "r.+eed saw the force of the argument, and ultimately S,t. 4allubhai also agreed. 5e
ado!ted the D9st $uly as the latest date by which the abolition should be announced, a resolution
to that effect was !assed at the !ublic meeting, and meetings throughout *ndia resolved
accordingly.
Mrs. $ai,i Petit !ut all her energies into the organi2ation of a ladies( de!utation to the .iceroy.
1mongst the ladies from Bombay who formed the de!utation, * remember the names of 4ady
Tata and the late "ils had Begam. The de!utation had a great effect. The .iceroy gave an
encouraging re!ly.
* visited Karachi, -alcutta and various other !laces. There were fine meetings everywhere, and
there was unbounded enthusiasm. * had not e&!ected anything li#e it when the agitation was
launched.
*n those days * used to travel alone, and had therefore wonderful e&!eriences. -. *. ". men were
always after me. But as * had nothing to conceal, they did not molest me, nor did * caus e them
any trouble. 0ortunately * had not then received the stam! of Mahatmashi!, though the shout of
that name was 3uite common where !eo!le #new me.
n one occasion the detectives disturbed me at several stations, as# ed for my tic#et and too#
down the number. *, of course, readily re!lied to all 3uestions they as# ed. My fellow !assengers
had ta#en me to be a (sadhu( or a (fa# ir(. 5hen they saw that * was being molested at every
station, they were e&as!erated and swore at the detectives. (5hy are you worrying the !oor
sadhu for nothing@( they !rotested. ("on(t you show these scoundrels your tic#et,( they said,
address ing me.
* said to them gently' (*t is no trouble to show them my tic#et. They are doing their duty.( The
!assengers were not satisfied, they evinced more and more sym!athy, and strongly ob,ected to
this sort of ill/ treatment of innocent men.
But the detectives were nothing. The real hardshi! was the third class travelling. My bitterest
e&!erience was from 4ahore to "elhi. * was going to -alcutta from Karachi via4ahore where *
had to change trains. *t was full, and those who c ould get in did so by sheer force, often snea#ing
through windows if the doors were loc#ed. * had to reach -alcutta on the date fi&ed for the
meeting, and if * missed this train * could not arrive in time. * had almos t given u! ho!e of getting
in. %o one was willing to acce!t me, when !orter discovering my !light came to me and said,
(Give me twelve annas and *(ll get you a seat.( (=es,( said *, (you shall have twelve annas if you do
!rocure me a s eat.( The young man went from carriage to carriage entreating !assengers but no
one heeded him. 1s the train was about to start, some !assengers said, (There is no room here,
but you can shove him in if you li#e. )e will have to stand.( (5ell@( as#ed the young !orter. *
readily agreede, and he shoved me in bodily through the window. Thus * got in and the !orter
earned his twelve annas.
The night was a trial. The other !assengers were sitting somehow. * stood two hours, holding the
chain of the u!!er bun# . Meanwhile some of the !assengers #e!t worrying me incessantly. (5hy
will you not sit down@( they as#ed. * tried to reason with them saying there was no room, but they
could not tolerate my standing, though they were lying full length on the u!!er bun#s. They did
not tire of worrying me neither did * tire of gently re!lying to them. This at last mollified them.

Some of them as#ed me my name, and made room for me. Patience was thus rewarded. * was
dead tired, and my head was reeling. God sent hel! ,ust when it was most needed.
*n that way * somehow reached "elhi and thence -alcutta. The Mahara,a of -assimba2ar, the
!resident of the -alcutta meeting, was my host. $ust as in Karachi, here also there was
unbounded enthusiasm. The meeting was attended by several 6nglishmen.
Before the D9st $uly the Government announced that indentured emigration from *ndia was
sto!!ed.
*t was in 9:<E that * drafted the first !etition !rotesting against the s ystem, and * had then ho!ed
that this (semi/slavery,( as Sir 5. 5. )unter used to call the system, would some day be brought
to an end.
There were many who aided in the agitation which was started in 9:<E, but * cannot hel! saying
that !otential Satyagraha hastened the end.
0or further details of that agitation and of those who too# !art in it, * refer the reader to my
Satya!raha in Suth A$rica.
Chapter 136
THE STAIN O% INDIGO
-ham!aran is the land of King $ana#a. $us t as it abounds in mango groves, s o used it to be full
of indigo !lantations until the year 9<9F. The -ham!aran tenant was bound by law to !lant three
out of every twenty !arts of his land with indigo for his landlord. This system was # nown as the
Jtin#athisJ system, as three J#athasJ out of twenty >which ma#e one acre? had to be !lanted with
indigo.
* must confes s that * did not then # now even the name, much less the geogra!hical !osition, of
-ham!aran, and * had hardly any notion of indigo !lantations. * had seen !ac#ets of indigo, but
little dreamed that it was grown and manufactured in -ham!aran at great hardshi! to thousands
of agriculturists.
+a,#umar Shu#la was one of the agriculturists who had been under this harrow, and he was filled
with a !assion to wash away the stain of indigo for the thousands who were suffering as he had
suffered.
This man caught hold of me at 4uc#now, where * had gone for the -ongress of 9<9:. (.a#il Babu
will tell you everything about our distress ,( he said, and urged me to go to -ham!aran. (.a# il
Babu( was none other than Babu Bra,# ishore Prasad, who became my esteemed co/ wor# er in
-ham!aran, and who is the soul of !ublic wor# in Bihar. +a,# umar Shu#la brought him to my tent.
)e was dressed in a blac# al!aca Jach# anJ and trousers. Bri,#ishore Babu failed then to ma#e
an im!ression on me. * too# it that he must be some va#il e&!loiting the sim!le agriculturists.
)aving heard from him something of -ham!aran, * re!lied as was my wont' (* can give no o!inion
without seeing the condition with my own eyes. =ou will !leas e move the resolution in the
-ongress, but leave me free for the !resent.( +a,#umar Shu# la of course wanted some hel! from

the -ongress. Babu Bra,#ishore Prasad moved the resolution, e&!ressing sym!athy for the
!eo!le of -ham!aran, and it was unanimously !assed.
+a,#umar Shu#la was glad, but far from satisfied. )e wanted me !ersonally to visit -ham!aran
and witness the miseries of the ryots there. * told him that * would include -ham!aran in the tour
which * had contem!lated and give it a day or two. (ne day will be enough,( said he, (and you will
see things with your own eyes.(
0rom 4uc#now * went to -awn!ore +a,#umar Shu# la followed me there. (-ham!aran is very near
here. Please give a day,( he insisted.( Pray e&cuse me this time. But * !romise that * will come,(
said *, further committing myself.
* returned to the 1s hram. The ubi3uitous +a,#umar was there too. (Pray fi& the day now,( he said.
(5ell,( said *, (* have to be in -alcutta on such and such a date, come and meet me then, and ta# e
me from there.( * did not #now where * was to go, what to do, what things to see.
Before * reached Bhu!en Babu(s !lace in -alcutta, +a,#umar Shu# la had gone and established
himself there. Thus this ignorant, unso!histicated but resolute agriculturist ca!tured me.
So early in 9<9F, we left -alcutta for -ham!aran, loo#ing ,ust li#e fellow rustics. * did not even
#now the train. )e too# me to it, and we travelled together, reaching Patna in the morning.
This was my first visit to Patna. * had no friend or ac3uaintance with whom * could thin# of !utting
u!. * had an idea that +a,#umar Shu#la, sim!le agriculturist as he was, must have some influence
in Patna. * had come to #now him a little more on the ,ourney, and on reaching Patna * had no
illusions left concerning him. )e was !erfectly innocent of every thing. The va#ils that he had
ta#en to be his friends were really nothing of the sort. Poor +a,#umar was more or less as a
menial to them. Between such agriculturist clients and their va#ils there is a gulf as wide as the
Ganges in flood.
+a,#umar Shu#la too# me to +a,endra Babu(s !lace in Patna. +a,endra Babu had gone to Puri or
some other !lace, * now forget which. There were one or two servants at the bungalow who !aid
us no attention. * had with me something to eat. * wanted dates which my com!anion !rocured for
me from the ba2aar.
There was strict untouchability in Bihar. * might not draw water at the well whilst the servants
were using it, lest dro!s of water from my buc#et might !ollute them, the servants not #nowing to
what c aste * belonged. +a,#umar directed me to the indoor latrine, the servant !rom!tly directed
me to the outdoor one. 1ll this was far from sur!rising or irritating to me, for * was inured to such
things . The servants were doing the duty, which they thought +a,endra Babu would wish them to
do.
These entertaining e&!eriences enhanced my regard for +a,#umar Shu# la, if they also enabled
me to #now him better. * s aw now that +a,#umar Shu#la could not guide me, and that * must ta# e
the reins in my own hands.

Chapter 13
THE GENTLE BIHARI
* #new Maulana Ma2harul )a3 in 4ondon when he was studying for the bar, and when * met him
at the Bombay -ongress in 9<9I the year in which he was President of the Muslim 4eague he
had renewed the ac3uaintance, and e&tended me an invitation to stay with him whenever *
ha!!ened to go to Patna. * bethought myself of this invitation and sent him a note indicating the
!ur!ose of my visit. )e immediately came in his car, and !res sed me to acce!t his hos!itality. *
than#ed him and re3uested him to guide me to my destination by the first available train, the
railway guide being useless to an utter stranger li# e me. )e had a tal# with +a,#umar Shu# la and
suggested that * should first go to Mu2affar!ur. There was a train for that !lace the same evening
and he sent me off by it.
Princi!al Kri!alani was then in Mu2affar!ur. * had # nown of him ever since my visit to )yderabad.
"r. -hoithram had told me of his great sacrifice, of his sim!le life, and of the 1shram that "r.
-hoithram was running out of funds !rovided by Prof. Kri!alani. )e used to be a !rofessor in the
Government -ollege, Mu2affar!ur, and had ,ust resigned the !ost when * went there. * had sent a
telegram informing him of my arrival, and he met me at the station with a crowd of students,
though the train reached there at midnight. )e had no rooms of his own, and was staying with
Professor Mal#ani who therefore virtually became my host. *t was an e&traordinary thing in those
days for a Government !rofessor to harbour a man li#e me.
Professor Kri!alani s!o#e to me about the des!erate condition of Bihar, !articularly of the Tirhut
division and gave me an idea of the difficulty of my tas#. )e had established very close contact
with the Biharis, and had already s !o#en to them about the mis sion that too# me to Bihar.
*n the morning a small grou! of va# ils called on me. * still remember +amnavmi Prasad among
them, as his earnestness s!ecially a!!ealed to me.
(*t is not !ossible,( he said, (for you to do the #ind of wor# you have come for, if you stay here
>meaning Prof. Mal#ani(s 3uarters?. =ou must come and s tay with one of us. Gaya Babu is a well/
#nown va#il here. * have come on his behalf in invite you to stay with him. * confess we are all
afraid of Government, but we shall render what hel! we can. Most of the things +a,#umar Shu#la
has told you are true. *t is a !ity our leaders are not here today. * have, however, wired to them
both, Ba!u Bra,#ishore Prasad and Babu +a,endra Prasad. * e&!ect them to arrive shortly, and
they are sure to be able to give you all the information you want and to hel! you considerably.
Pray come over to Gaya Babu(s !lace.(
This was a re3uest that * could not resist, though * hesitated for fear of embarrassing Gaya Babu.
But he !ut me at ease, and so * went over to stay with him. )e and his !eo!le showered all their
affection on me.
Bra,#ishorebabu now arrived from "arbhanga and +a,endra Babu from Puri. Bra,#ishorebabu
was not the Babu Bra,# ishore !rasad * had met in 4uc#now. )e im!ressed me this time with his
humility, sim!licity, goodness and e&traordinary faith, so characteristic of the Biharis, and my
heart was ,oyous over it. The Bihar va#ils( regard for him was an agreeable sur!ris e to me.
Soon * felt myself bec oming bound to this c ircle of friends in lifelong friendshi!. Bra,#ishorebabu
ac3uainted me with the facts of the case. )e used to be in the habit of ta#ing u! the cases of the
!oor tenants. There were two such c ases !ending when * went there. 5hen he won any such
case, he consoled himself that he did not charge fees from these sim!le !easants. 4awyers

labour under the belief that, if they do not charge fees, they will have no wherewithal to run their
households, and will not be able to render effective hel! to the !oor !eo!le. The figures of the
fees they charged and the standard of a barris ter(s fees in Bengal and Bihar staggered me.
(5e gave +s. 9A,AAA to s o and so for his o!inion,( * was told. %othing less than four figures in any
case.
The friends listened to my #indly re!roach and did not misunderstand me.
()aving studied these cases,( said *, (* have come to the conclusion that we should sto! going to
law courts. Ta#ing such cases to the courts does little good. 5here the ryots are so crushed and
fear/ stric# en, law courts are useles s. The real relief for them is to be free from fear. 5e cannot
sit still until we have driven Jtin#athiaJ out of Bihar. * had thought that * should be able to leave
here in two days, but * now reali2e that the wor# might ta#e even two years. * am !re!ared to give
that time, if necessary. * am now feeling my ground, but * want your hel!.(
* found Bra,#ishorebabu e&ce!tionally coolheaded. (5e shall render all the hel! we can,( he said
3uietly, (but !ray tell us what # ind of hel! you will need.(
1nd thus we sat tal#ing until midnight.
(* shall have little use for your legal #nowledge,( * said to them. (* want clerical assistance and hel!
in inter!retation. *t may be necessary to face im!risonment, but, much so far as you feel
yourselves ca!able of going. 6ven turning yours elves into cler#s and giving u! your !rofession for
an indefinite !eriod is no small thing. * find it difficult to understand the local dialect of )indi, and *
shall not be able to read !a!ers written in Kaithi or Urdu. * shall want you to translate them for
me. 5e cannot afford to !ay for this wor#. *t should all be done for love and out of a s !irit of
service.(
Bra,#ishorebabu understood this immediately, and he now cross/e&amined me and his
com!anions by turns. )e tried to ascertain the im!lications of all that * had said how long their
service would be re3uired, how many of them would be needed, whether they might serve by
turns and so on. Then he as#ed the va#ils the ca!acity of their sacrifice.
Ultimately they gave me this ass urance. (Such and such a number of us will do whatever you may
as#. Some of us will be with you for so much time as you may re3uire. The idea of
accommodating oneself to im!risonment is a novel thing for us. 5e will try to as similate it.(
Chapter 13#
%ACE TO %ACE +ITH AHIMSA
My ob,ect was to in3uire into the condition of the -ham!aran agriculturists and understand
their grievances against the indigo !lanters. 0or this !ur!ose it was neces sary that * should meet
thousands of the ryots. But * deemed it essential, before starting on my in3uiry, to #now the
!lanters( side of the case and see the -ommissioner of the "ivision. * sought and was granted
a!!ointments with both.

The Secretary of the Planters( 1ssociation told me !lainly that * was an outsider and that * had no
business to come between the !lanters and their tenants, but if * had any re!resentation to ma#e,
* might submit it in writing. * !olitely told him that * did not regard myself as an outs ider, and that *
had every right to in3uire into the condition of the tenants if they desired me to do so.
The ac3uainted my co/wor#ers with all this, and told them that there was a li# elihood of
Government sto!!ing me from !roceeding further, and that * might have to go to ,ail earlier than *
had e&!ected, and that , if * was to be arrested, it would be best that the arrest should ta# e !lace
in Motihari or if !ossible in Bettiah. *t was advisable, therefore, that * should go to those !lace as
early as !ossible.
-ham!aran is a district of the Tirhut division and Motihari is its head3uarters. +a,#umar Shu#la(s
!lace was in the vicinity of Bettiah, and the tenants belonging to the J# othisJ in its neighbourhood
were the !oorest in the district. +a,#umar Shu#la wanted me to see them and * was e3ually
an&ious to do so.
So * started with my co/wor#ers for Motihari the same day. Babu Gora#h Prasad harboured us in
his home, whic h became a caravanserai. *t could hardly contain us all. The very same day we
heard that about five miles from Motihari a tenant had been ill/treated. *t was decided that, in
com!any with Babu "haranidhar Prasad, * should go and see him the ne& t morning, and we
accordingly set off for the !lace on ele!hant(s bac#. 1n ele!hant, by the way, is about as common
in -ham!aran as a bulloc#/cart in Gu,arat. 5e had scarcely gone half when a messenger from
the Police Su!erintendent overtoo# us and said that the latter had sent his com!liments. * saw
what he meant. )aving left "haranidharbabu to !roceed to the original destination, * got into the
hired carriage which the messenger had brought. )e then served on me a notice to leave
-ham!aran, and drove me to my !lace. n his as#ing me to ac# nowledge the service of the
notice, * wrote to the effect that * did not !ro!ose to com!ly with it and leave -ham!aran till my
in3uiry was finished. Thereu!on * received a summons to ta#e my trial the ne&t day for disobeying
the order to leave -ham!aran.
* #e!t awa#e that whole night writing letters and giving neces sary instruc tions to Babu Bra,#ishore
Pras ad.
The news of the notice and the summons s!read li#e wildfire, and * was told that Motihari that day
witnessed un!recedented scenes. Gora#hbabu(s hous e and the court house overflowed with
men. 0ortunately * had finished all my wor# during the night and so was able to co!e with the
crows. My com!anions !roved the greatest hel!. They occ u!ied themselves with regulating the
crowds, for the latter followed me wherever * went.
1 sort of friendliness s!rang u! between the officials -ollector, Magistrate, Police Su!erintendent
and mys elf. * might have legally resisted the notices served on me. *nstead * acce!ted them all,
and my conduct towards the officials was correct. They thus saw that * did not want to offend
them !ersonally, but that * wanted to offer c ivil resistance to their orders. *n this way they were !ut
at ease, and instead of harassing me they gladly availed themselves of my and my co/wor#ers(
co/o!eration in regulating the crowds. But it was an ocular demonstration to them of the fact that
their authority was sha#en. The !eo!le had for the moment lost all fear of !unishment and yielded
obedience to the !ower of love which their new friend e&ercis ed.
*t should be remembered that no one #new me in -ham!aran. The !easants were all ignorant.
-ham!aran, being far u! north of the Ganges, and right at the foot of the )imalayas in close
!ro&imity to %e!al, was cut off from the rest of *ndia. The -ongress was !ractically un#nown in
those !arts. 6ven those who had heard the name of the -ongress shran# from ,oining it or even
mentioning it. 1nd now the -ongress and its members had entered this land, though not in the
name of the -ongress, yet in a far more real sense.

*n consultation with my c o/wor# ers * had decided that nothing should be done in the name of the
-ongress. 5hat we wanted was wor# and not name, substance and not shadow. 0or the name of
the -ongress was the Jbete noireJ of the Government and their controllers the !lanters. To them
the -ongress was a byword for lawyers( wrangles, evasion of law through legal loo!holes, a
byword for bomb and anarchical crime and for di!lomacy and hy!ocrisy. 5e had to disillusion
them both. Therefore we had decided not to mention the name of the organi2ation called the
-ongress. *t was enough, we thought, if they understood and followed the s!irit of the -ongress
instead of its letter.
%o emissaries had therefore been sent there, o!enly or secretly, on behalf of the -ongress to
!re!are the ground for our arrival. +a,#umar Shu#la was inca!able of reaching the thousands of
!easants. %o !olitical wor# had yet been done amongst them. The world outside -ham!aran was
not #nown to them. 1nd yet they received me as though we had been age/long friends. *t is no
e&aggeration, but the literal truth, to say that in this meeting with the !easants * was face to fac e
with God, 1hims a and Truth.
5hen * come to e&amine my title to this reali2ation, * find nothing but my love for the !eo!le. 1nd
this in turn is nothing but an e&!ression of my unsha# able faith in 1himsa.
That day in -ham!aran was an unforgettable event in my life and a red/ letter day for the
!easants and for me.
1ccording to the law, * was to be on my trial, but truly s!ea#ing Government was to be on its trial.
The -ommissioner only succeeded in tra!!ing Government in the net which he had s!read for
me.
Chapter 13$
CASE +ITHDRA+N
The trial began, The Government !leader, the Magistrate and other officials were on
tenterhoo#s. They were at a loss to #now what to do. The Government !leader was !ressing the
Magistrate to !ost!one the case. But * interfered and re3uested the Magistrate not to !ost!one
the case, as * wanted to !lead guilty to having disobeyed the order to leave -ham!aran and read
a brief s tatement as follows'
(5ith the !ermission of the -ourt * would li#e to ma#e a brief statement showing why * have ta#en
the very serious ste! of seemingly disobeying the order !assed under section 9EE of -r. P.-. *n
my humble o!inion it is a 3uestion of difference of o!inion between the 4ocal 1dministration and
myself. * have entered the country with motives of rendering humanitarian and national service. *
have done so in res!onse to a !ressing invitation to come and hel! the ryots . 5ho urge they are
not being fairly treated by the indigo !lanters. * could not render any hel! without studying the
!roblem. * have, therefore, come to study it with the assistance, if !ossible, of the 1dministration
and the !lanters. * have no other motive, and cannot believe that my coming can in any way
disturb !ublic !eace and cause loss of life. * claim to have considerable e&!erience in such
matters. The 1dministration, however, have thought differently. * fully a!!reciate their difficulty,
and * admit too that they can only !roceed u!on information they received. 1s a law/abiding
citi2en my first instinct would be, as it was, to obey the order served u!on me. But * could not do
so without doing violence to my sense of duty to those for whom * have come. * feel that * could
,ust now serve them only by remaining in their midst. * could not, therefore, voluntarily retire. 1mid

this conflict of duties * could only throw the res!onsibility of removing me from them on the
1dministration. * am fully conscious of the fact that a !erson, holding, in the !ublic life of *ndia, a
!osition such as * do, has to be most careful in setting an e&am!le. *t is my firm belief that in the
com!le& constitution under which we are living, the only safe and honourable course for a self/
res!ecting man is, in the circumstanc es such as face me, to do what * have decided to do, that is,
to submit without !rotest to the !enalty of disobedience.
(* venture to ma#e this statement not in any way in e&tenuation of the !enalty to be awarded
against me, but to show that * have disregarded the order served u!on me not for want of res!ect
for lawful authority, but in obedience to the higher law of our being, the voice of conscience.(
There was now no occasion to !ost!one the hearing, but as both the Magistrate and the
Government !leader had been ta#en by sur!rise, the Migistrate !ost!oned ,udgment. Meanwhile
* had wired full details to the .iceroy, to Patna friends, as also to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya
and others.
Before * could a!!ear before the -ourt to receive the sentence, the Magistrate sent a written
message that the 4ieutenant Governor had ordered the case against me to be withdrawn, and the
-ollector wrote to me saying that * was at liberty to conduct the !ro!osed in3uiry, and that * might
at liberty to conduct the !ro!osed in3uiry, and that * might count on whatever hel! * needed from
the officials. %one of us was !re!ared for this !rom!t and ha!!y issue.
* called on the -ollector Mr. )eycoc#. )e seemed to be a good man, an&ious to do ,ustice. )e
told me that * might as# for whatever !a!ers * desired to s ee, and that * was at liberty to s ee him
whenever * li#ed.
The country thus had its first direct ob,ect/lesson in -ivil "isobedience. The affair was freely
discussed both locally and in the !ress, and my in3uiry got une&!ected !ublicity.
*t was necessary for my in3uiry that the Government should remain netural. But the in3uiry did
not need su!!ort from !ress re!orters or leading articles in the !ress. *ndeed the situation in
-ham!aran was so delicate and difficult that over/energetic criticism or highly coloured re!orts
might damage the cause which * was see#ing to es!ous e. So * wrote to the editors of the !rinci!al
!a!ers re3uesting them not to trouble to send any re!orters, as * should send them whatever
might be necessary for !ublication and #ee! them informed.
* #new that the Government attitude countenancing my !resence had dis!leas ed the -ham!aran
!lanters, and * #now that even the officials , though they could say nothing o!enly, c ould hardly
have li# ed it. *ncorrect or misleading re!orts, therefore, were li# ely to incense them all the more,
and their ire, instead of descending on me, would be sure to des cend on the !oor fear/stric#en
ryots and seriously hinder my search for the truth about the case.
*n s!ite of these !recautions the !lanters engineered against me a !oisonous agitation. 1ll sorts
of falsehoods a!!eared in the !ress about my co/wor#ers and myself. But my e&treme
cautiousness and my insistence on truth, even to the minutes t detail, turned the edge of their
sword.
The !lanters left no stone unturned in maligning Bra,#ishorebabu, but the more they maligned
him, the more he rose in the es timation of the !eo!le.
*n such a delicate situation as this * did not thin# it !ro!er to invite any leaders from other
!rovinces. Pandit Malaviya,i had sent me an assurance that, whenever * wanted him, * had only to
send him word, but * did not trouble him. * thus !revented the struggle from assuming a !olitical
as!ect. But * sent to the leaders and the !rinci!al !a!ers oc casional re!orts, not for !ublication,

but merely for their information. * had seen that, even where the end might be !olitical, but where
the cause was non/!olitical, one damaged it by giving it a !olitical as!ect and hel!ed it by
#ee!ing it within its non/!olitical limit. The -ham!aran struggle was a !roof of the fact that
disinterested service of the !eo!le in any s!here ultimately hel!s the country !olitically.
Chapter 14'
METHODS O% +OR)
To give a full account of the -ham!aran in3uiry would be to narrate the histroy, for the !eriod,
of the -ham!aran ryot, which is out of the 3uestion in these cha!ters. The -ham!aran in3uiry
was a bold e&!eriment with Truth and 1himsa, and * am giving wee# by wee# only what occurs to
me as worth giving from that !oint of view. 0or more details the reader mus t turn to S,t. +a,endra
Pras ad(s history of the -ham!aran Satyagraha in )indi, of which, * am told, an 6nglish edition is
now in the !ress.
But to return to the sub,ect matter of this cha!ter. The in3uiry could not be conducted in
Gora#hbabu(s house, without !ractically as#ing !oor Gora#hbabu to vacate it. 1nd the !eo!le of
Motihari had not yet s hed their fear to the e&tent of renting a house to us . )owever,
Bra,#ishorebabu tactfully secured one with considerable o!en s!ace about it, and we now
removed there.
*t was not 3uite !oss ible to carry on the wor# without money. *t had not been the !ractice hitherto
to a!!eal to the !ublic for money for wor# of this #ind. Bra,#ishorebabu and his friends were
mainly va#ils who either contributed funds themselves, or found it from friends whenever there
was an occasion. )ow could they as# the !eo!le to !ay when they and their #ind could well afford
to do so@ That seemed to be the argument. * had made u! my mind not to acce!t anything from
the -ham!aran ryots. *t would be bound to be misinter!reted. * was e3ually determined not to
a!!eal to the country at large for funds to conduct this in3uiry. 0or that was li#ely to give it an all/
*ndia and !olitical as!ect. 0riends from Bombay offered +s. 9I,AAA, but * declined the offer with
than#s . * decided to get as much as was !ossible, with Bra,#ishorebabu(s hel!, from well/to/do
Biharis living outside -ham!aran and, if more was needed, to a!!roac h my friend "r. P.$ . Mehta
of +angoon. "r. Mehta readily agreed to send me whatever might be needed. 5e were thus free
from all an&iety on this score. 5e were not li#ely to re3uire large funds, as we were bent on
e&ercising the greatest economy in consonance with the !overty of need any large amount. *
have an im!ression that we e&!ended in all not more than three thousand ru!ees, and, as far as *
remember, we saved a few hundered ru!ees from what we had collected.
The curious ways of living of my com!anions in the early days were a constant theme of raillery
at their e&!ense. 6ach of the va#ils had a servant and a coo#, and therefore a se!arate #itchen,
and they often had their dinner as late as midnight. Though they !aid their own e&!enses, their
irregularity worried me, but as we had become close friends there was no !ossibility of a
misunderstanding between us, and they received my ridicule in good !art. Ultimately it was
agreed that the servants should be dis!ensed with, that all the #itchens should be amalgamated,
and that regular hours should be observed. 1s all were not vegetarians, and as two #itchens
would have been e&!ensive, a c ommon vegetarian #itchen was decided u!on. *t was also felt
necessary to insist on sim!le meals.
These arrangements considerably reduced the e&!enses and s aved us a lot of time and energy,
and both these were badly needed. -rowds of !easants came to ma# e their s tatements, and they

were followed by an army of com!anions who filled the com!ound and garden to overflowing.
The efforts of my com!anions to save me from JdarshanJ see#ers were often of no avail, and *
had to be e&hibited for JdarshanJ at !articular hours. 1t least five to seven volunteers were
re3uired to ta# e down statements, and even then some !eo!le had to go away in the evening
without being able to ma#e their statements. 1ll these statements were not essential, many of
them being re!etitions, but the !eo!le could not be satisfied otherwise, and * a!!reciated their
feeling in the matter.
Those who too# down the statements had to observe certain rules. 6ach !easant had to be
closely cross/e& amined, and whoever failed to satisfy the test was re,ected. This entailed a lot of
e&tra time but most of the statements were thus rendered incontrovertible.
1n officer from the -.*.". would always be !resent when these statements were recorded. 5e
might have !revented him, but we had decided from the very beginning not only not to mind the
!resenc e of -.*.". offic ers, but to treat them with courtesy and to give them all the information
that it was !ossible to give them. This was far from doing us any harm. n the contrary the very
fact that the statements were ta#en down in the !resence of the -.*.". officers made the
!easants more fearless. 5hilst on the one hand e&cessive fear of the -.*.". was driven out of the
!easants( minds, on the other, their !resence e& ercised a natural restraint on e&aggeration. *t
was the business of -.*.". friends to entra! !eo!le and so the !easants had necessarily to be
cautious.
1s * did not want to irritate the !lanters, but to win them over by gentleness, * made a !oint of
writing to and meeting such of them against whom allegations of a serious nature were made. *
met the Planters( 1ssociation as well, !laced the ryots( grievances before them and ac3uainted
myself with their !oint of view. Some of the !lanters hated me, some were indifferent and a few
treated me with courtesy.
Chapter 141
COMPANIONS
Bra,#ishorebabu and +a,endrababu were a matchless !air. Their devotion made it im!ossible
for me to ta#e a single ste! without their hel!. Their disci!les, or their com!anions
Shambhaubabu, 1nugrahababu, "haranibabu, +amnavmibabu and other va#ils were always with
us. .indhyababu and $ana#dharibabu also came and hel!ed us now and then. 1ll these were
Biharis. Their !rinci!al wor# was to ta#e down the ryots( statements.
Professor Kri!alani could not but cast in his lot with us. Though a Sindhi he was more Bihari than
a born Bihari. * have seen only a few wor#ers ca!able of merging themselves in the !rovince of
their ado!tion. Kri!alani is one of those few. )e made it im!ossible for anyone to feel that he
belonged to a different !rovince. )e was my gate# e!er in chief. 0or the time being he made it the
end and aim of his life to save me from darshansee#ers. )e warded off !eo!le, calling to his aid
now his unfailing humour, now his non/violent threats. 1t nightfall he would ta#e u! his
occu!ation of a teacher and regale his com!anions with his historical studies and observations,
and 3uic#en any timid visitor into bravery.
Maulana Ma2harul )a3 had registered his name on the standing list of hel!ers whom * might
count u!on whenever necessary, and he made a !oint of loo#ing in once or twice a month. The
!om! and s!lendour in which he then lived was in shar! contrast to his s im!le life of today. The

way in which he associated with us made us feel that he was one of us, though his fashionable
habit gave a stranger a different im!ression.
1s * gained more e&!erience of Bihar, * became convinced that wor# of a !ermanent nature was
im!ossible without !ro!er village education. The ryots( ignorance was !athetic. They either
allowed their children to roam about, or made them toil on indigo !lantations from morning to
night for a cou!le of c o!!ers a day. *n those days a male labourer(s wage did not e&ceed ten
!ice, a female(s did not e&ceed si&, and a child(s three. )e who succeeded in earning four annas
a day was considered most fortunate.
*n consultation with my com!anions * decided to o!en !rimary schools in si& villages. ne of our
conditions with the villagers was that they should !rovide the teachers with board and lodging
while we would see to the other e&!enses. The village fol# had hardly any cash in their hands, but
they could well afford to !rovide foodstuffs. *ndeed they had already e&!ressed their readiness to
contribute grain and other raw materials.
0rom where to get the teachers was a great !roblem. *t was difficult to find local teachers who
would wor# for a bare allowance or without remuneration. My idea was never to entrust children
to common!lace teachers. Their literary 3ualification was not so essential as their moral fibre.
So * issued a !ublic a!!eal for voluntary teachers. *t received a ready res!onse. S,t.
Gangadharrao "esh!ande sent Babasaheb Soman and Pundali# Shrimati 1vanti#abai Go#hale
came from Bombay and Mrs. 1nandibai .aisham!ayan from Poona. * sent to the 1shram for
-hhotalal, Surendranath and my son "evdas. 1bout this time Mahadev "esai and %arahari
Pari#h with their wives cast in their lot with me. Kas turbai was also summoned for the wor#. This
was a fairly strong contingent. Shrimati 1vanti#abai and Shrimati 1nandibai were educated
enough, but Shrimati "urga "esai and Shrimati Manibehn Pari#h had nothing more than a bare
#nowledge of Gu,arati, and Kasturbai not even that. )ow were these ladies to instruct the children
in )indi@
* e&!lained to them they were e&!ected to teach the children not grammar and the three +(s so
much as cleanliness and good manners. * further e&!lained that even as regards letters there was
not so great a difference between Gu,arati, )indi and Marathi as they imagined, and in the
!rimary c lasses, at any rate, the teaching of the rudiments of the al!habet and numerals was not
a difficult matter. The result was that the classes ta#en by these ladies were found to be most
successful. The e&!erience ins!ired them with confidence and interest in their wor#. 1vanti#abai(s
became a model school. She threw herself heart and soul into her wor#. She brought her
e&ce!tional gifts to bear on it. Through these ladies we could, to some e&tent, reach the village
women.
But * did not want to sto! at !roviding for !rimary education. The villages were insanitary, the
lanes full of filth, the wells surrounded by mud and stin# and the courtyards unbearably untidy.
The elder !eo!le badly needed education in cleanliness. They were all suffering from various s#in
diseases. They were all s uffering from sanitary wor# as !ossible and to !enetrate every
de!artment of their lives.
"octors were needed for this wor#. * re3uested the Servants of *ndia Society to lend us the
services of the late "r. "ev. 5e had been great friends, and he readily offered his services for si&
months. The teachers men and women had all to wor# under him.
1ll of them had e&!ress instructions not to concern themselves with grievances against !lanters
or with !olitics. Peo!le who had any com!laints to ma#e were to be referred to me. %o one was
to venture out of his beat. The friends carried out these instructions with wonderful fidelity. * do
not remember a single occasion of indisci!line.

Chapter 142
PENETRATING THE .ILLAGES
1s far as was !ossible we !laced each school in charge of one man and one woman.
These volunteers had to loo# after medical relief and sanitation. The womenfol# had to be
a!!roached through women.
Medical relief was a very sim!le affair. -astor oil, 3uinine and sul!hur ointment were the only
drugs !rovided to the volunteers. *f the !atient s howed a furred tongue or com!lained of
consti!ation, castor oil was administered, in case of fever 3uinine was given after an o!ening
dose of castor oil, and the sul!hur ointment was a!!lied in case of boils and itch after thoroughly
washing the affected !arts. %o !atient was !ermitted to ta# e home any medicine. 5herever there
was some com!lication "r. "ev used to visit each centre on certain fi&ed days in the wee# .
Huite a number of !eo!le availed themselves of this sim!le relief. This !lan of wor# will not seem
strange when it is remembered that the !revailing ailments were few and amenable to sim!le
treatment, by no means re3uiring e&!ert hel!. 1s for the !eo!le the arrangement answered
e&cellently.
Sanitation was a difficult affair. The !eo!le were not !re!ared to do anything themselves. 6ven
the field labourers were not ready to do their own scavenging. But "r. "ev was not a man easily
to lose heart. )e and the volunteers concentrated their energies on ma#ing a village ideally c lean.
They swe!t the roads and the courtyards, cleaned out the wells, filled u! the !ools near by, and
lovingly !ersuaded the villagers to raise volunteers from amongest themselves. *n some villages
they shamed !eo!le into ta# ing u! the wor#, and in others the !eo!le were so enthusiastic that
they even !re!ared roads to enable my car to go from !lace to !lace. These sweet e&!eriences
were not unmi&ed with bitter ones of !eo!le(s a!athy. * remember some villagers fran#ly
e&!ressing their disli#e for this wor#.
*t may not be out of !lace here to narrate an e&!erience that * have described before now at
many meetings. Bhitiharva was a small village in which was one of our sc hools. * ha!!ened to
visit a smaller village in its vicinity and found some of the women dressed very dirtly. So * told my
wife to as# them why they did not wash their clothes. She s!o#e to them. ne of the women too#
her into her hut and said' (4oo# now, there is no bo& or cu!board here containing other clothes.
The JsariJ * am wearing is the only one * have. )ow am * to wash it@ Tell Mahatma,i to get me
another JsariJ, and * shall then !romise to bathe and !ut on clean c lothes every day.(
This cottage was not an e&ce!tion, but a ty!e to be found in many *ndian villages. *n countless
cottages in *ndia !eo!le live without any furniture, and without a change of clothes, merely with a
rag to cover their shame.
ne more e&!erience * will note. *n -ham!aran there is no lac# of bamboo and grass. The school
hut they had !ut u! at Bhitiharva was made of these materials. Someone !ossibly some of the
neighbouring !lanters( men set fire to it one night. *t was not thought advisable to build another
hut of bamboo and grass. The school was in charge of S,t. Soman and Kasturbai. S,t. Soman
decided to build a J!u# #aJ house, and than# s to his infectious labour, many co/o!erated with
him, and a bric # house was soon made ready. There was no fear now of this building being burnt
down.
Thus the volunteers with their schools, sanitation wor# and medical relief gained the confidence
and res!ect of the village fol#, and were able to bring good influence to bear u!on them.

But * must confess with regret that my ho!e of !utting this constructive wor# on a !ermanent
footing was not fulfilled. The volunteers had come for tem!orary !eriods, * could not secure any
more from outside, and !ermanent honorary wor# ers from Bihar were not available. 1s soon as
my wor# in -ham!aran was finished, wor# outside, which had been !re!aring in the meantime,
drew me away. The few months( wor# in -ham!aran, however, too# such dee! root that its
influence in one form or another is to be observed there even today.
Chapter 143
+HEN A GO.ERNOR IS GOOD
5hilst on the one hand social service wor# of the #ind * have described in the foregoing
cha!ters was being carried out, on the other the wor# of recording statements of the ryots(
grievances was !rogressing a!ace. Thousands of such statements were ta#en, and they could
not but have their effect. The ever growing number of ryots coming to ma#e their statements
increased the !lanters( wrath, and they moved heaven and earth to counteract my in3uiry.
ne day * received a letter from the Bihar Government to the following effect' (=our in3uiry had
been sufficiently !rolongedC should you not now bring it to an end and leave Bihar@( The letter
was couc hed in !olite language, but its meaning was obvious.
* wrote in re!ly that the in3uiry was bound to be !rolonged, and unless and until it resulted in
bringing relief to the !eo!le, * had no intention of leaving Bihar, * !ointed out that it was o!en to
Government to terminate my in3uiry by acce!ting the ryots( grievances as genuine and
redressing them, or by recogni2ing that the ryots had made out a J!rima facieJ case for an offical
in3uiry whic h should be immediately instituted.
Sir 6dward Gait, the 4ieutenant Governor, as#ed me to see him, e&!ressed his willingness to
a!!oint an in3uiry and invited me to be a member of the -ommittee. * ascertained the names of
the other members, and after consultation with my co/wor# ers agreed to serve on the -ommittee,
on condition that * should be free to confer with my co/ wor#ers during the !rogress of the in3uiry,
that Government should recogni2e that, by being a member of the -ommittee, * did not cease to
be the ryots( advocate, and that in case the result of the in3uiry failed to give me satisfaction, *
should be free to guide and advise the ryots as to what line of action they should ta#e.
Sir 6dward Gait acce!ted the condition as ,ust and !ro!er and announced the in3uiry. The late
Sir 0ran# Sly was a!!ointed -hairman of the -ommitee.
The -ommittee found in favour of the ryots, and recommended that the !lanters should refund a
!ortion of the e&actions made by them which the -ommittee had found to be unlawful, and that
the Jtin#athiaJ system should be abolis hed by law.
Sir 6dward Gait had a large share in getting the -ommittee to ma#e unanimous re!ort and in
getting the agrarain bill !assed in accordance with the -ommittee(s recommendations. )ad he
not ado!ted a firm attitude, and had he not brought all his tact to bear on the sub,ect, the re!ort
would not have been unanimous, and the 1grarian 1ct would not have been !assed. The !lanters
wielded e&traodinary !ower. They offered strenuous o!!osition to the bill in s!ite of the re!ort, but
Sir 6dwin Gait remained firm u! to the last and fully c arried out the recommendations of the
-ommittee.

The Jtin#athiaJ system which had been in e&istence for about a century was thus abolished and
with it the !lanters( Jra,J came to an end. The ryots, who had all along remained crushed, now
somewhat came to their own, and the su!erstition that the stain of indigo could never be washed
out was e& !loded.
*t was my desire to continue the constructive wor# for some years, to es tablish more schools and
to !enetrate the villages more effectively. The ground had been !re!ared, but it did not !lease
God, as often before, to allow my !lans to be fulfilled. 0ate decided otherwise and drove me to
ta#e u! wor# elsewhere.
Chapter 144
IN TOUCH +ITH LABOUR
5hilst * was yet winding u! my wor# on the -ommittee, * received a letter from S,ts. Mohanlal
Pandya and Shan#arlal Pari#h telling me of the failure of cro!s in the Kheda district, and as#ing
me to guide the !easants, who were unable to !ay the assessment. * had not the inclination, the
ability or the courage to advise without an in3uiry on the s!ot.
1t the same time there came a letter from Shrimati 1nasuyabai about the condition of labour in
1hmedabad, 5ages were low, the labourers had long been agitating for an increment, and * had
a desire to guide them if * could. But * had not the confidence to direc t even this com!aratively
small affair from that long distance. So * sei2ed the first o!!ortunity to go to 1hmedabad. * had
ho!ed that * should be able to finish both these matters 3uic #ly and get bac# to -ham!aran to
su!ervise the constructive wor# that had been inaugurated there.
But things did not move as swiftly as * had wished, and * was unable to return to -ham!aran, with
the result that the schools closed down one by one. My co/wor#ers and * had built many castles
in the air, but they all vanished for the time being.
ne of these was cow !rotection wor# in -ham!aran, besides rural sanitation and education. *
had seen, in the course of my travels, that cow !rotcation and )indi !ro!aganda had become the
e&clusive concern of the Marwadis. 1 Marwadi friend had sheltered me in his JdharmashalaJ
whilst at Bettiah. ther Marwadis of the !lace had interested me in their JgoshalaJ >dairy?. My
ideas about cow !rotection had been definitely formed then, and my conce!tion of the wor# was
the s ame as it is today. -ow !rotection, in my o!inion, included cattle/breeding, im!rovement of
the stoc#, humane treatment of bulloc#s, formation of model dairies, etc. The Marwadi friends had
!romised full co/o!eration in this wor# , but as * could not fi& myself u! in -ham!aran, the scheme
could not be carried out.
The Jgos halaJ in Bettiah is still there, but it was not become a model dairy, the -ham!aran
gulloc# is still made to wor# beyond his ca!acity, and the so/called )indu still cruelly belabours
the !oor animal and disgraces his religion.
That this wor# should have remained unreali2ed has been, to me, a continual regret, and
whenever * go to -ham!aran and hear the gentle re!roaches of the Marwadi and Bihari friends, *
recall with a heavy sigh all those !lans which * had to dro! so abru!tly.
The educational wor# in one way or another is going on in many !laces. But the cow !rotection
wor# had not ta#en firm root, and has not, therefore, !rogressed in the direction intended.

5hilst the Kheda !easants( 3uestion was still being discussed, * had already ta#en u! the
3uestion of the mill/hands in 1hmedabad.
* was in a most delicate situation. The mill/hands( case was strong. Shrimati 1nasuyabai had to
battle against her own brother, S,t. 1mbalal Sarabhai, who led the fray on behalf of the mill/
owners. My relations with them were friendly, and that made fighting with them the more difficult. *
held consultations with them, and re3uested them to refer the dis!ute to arbitration.
* had therefore to advise the labourers to go on stri#e. Before * did so, * came in very close
contact with them and their leaders, and e& !lained to them the conditions of a successful stri#e'
9. never o resort to violence, 8. never to molest blac# legs, D. never to de!end u!on alms, and E.
to remain firm, no matter how long the stri#e continued, and to earn bread, during the stri#e, by
any other honest labour.
The leaders of the stri#e understood and acce!ted the conditions, and the labourers !ledged
themselves at a general meeting not to resume wor# until either their terms were acce!ted or the
mill/owners agreed to refer the dis!ute to arbitration.
*t was during this stri#e that * came to #now intimately S,ts . .allabhbhai Patel and Shan#arlal
Ban#er. Shrimati 1nasuyabai * # new well before this.
5e had daily meetings of the stri#ers under the shade of a tree on the ban# of the Sabarmati.
They attended the meeting in their thousands, and * reminded them in my s!eeches of their
!ledge and of the duty to maintain !eace and self/res!ect. They daily !araded the streets of the
city in !eac eful !rocession, carrying their banner bearing the inscri!tion (J6# Te#J( >#ee! the
!ledge?.
The stri#e went on for twenty/one days. "uring the continuance of the stri#e * cons ulted the mill/
owners from time to time and entreated them to do ,ustice to the labourers. (5e have our !ledge
too,( they used to say. (ur relations with the labourers are those of !arents and children....)ow
can we broo# the interference of a third !arty@ 5here is the room for arbitration@(.
Chapter 145
A PEEP INTO THE ASHRAM
Before * !roceed to describe the !rogress of the labour dis!ute it is essential to have a !ee!
into the 1shram. 1ll the while * was in -ham!aran the 1shram was never out of my mind, and
occasionally * !aid it flying visits.
1t that time the 1shram was in Kochrab, a small village near 1hmedabad. Plague bro#e out in
this village, and * saw evident danger to the safety of the 1shram children. *t was im!ossible to
#ee! ourselves immune from the effects of the surrounding insanitation, however scru!ulously we
might observe the rules of c leanliness within the 1shram walls. 5e were not then e3ual either to
getting the Kochrab !eo!le to observe these rules nor to serving the village otherwise.
ur ideal was to have the 1shram at a safe distance both from town and village, and yet at a
manageable distance from either. 1nd we were determined, some day, to settle on ground of our
own.

The !lague, * felt, was sufficient notice to 3uit Kochrab. S,t. Pun,abhai )irachand, a merchant in
1hmedabad, had come in close contact with the 1shram, and used to serve us in a number of
matters in a !ure and selfless s!irit. )e had a wide e&!erience of things in 1hmedabad, and he
volunteered to !rocure us suitable land. * went about with him north and south of Kochrab in
search of land, and then suggested to him to find out a !iece of land three or four miles to the
north. )e hit u!on the !resent s ite. *ts vicinity to the Sabarmati -entral $ail was for me a s!ecial
attraction. 1s ,ail/going was understood to be the normal lot of Satyagrahis, * li#ed this !osition.
1nd * #new that the sites selected for ,ails have generally clean surroundings.
*n about eight days the sale was e&ecuted. There was no building on the land and no tree. But its
situation on the ban# f the river and its solitude were great advantages.
5e decided to start by living under canvas , and having a tin shed for a # itc hen, till !ermanent
houses were built.
The 1shram had been slowly growing. 5e were now over forty souls, men, women and children,
having our meals at a common # itc hen. The whole conce!tion about the removal was mine, the
e&ecution was as usual left to Maganlal.
ur difficulties, before we had !ermanent living accommodation, were great. The rains were
im!ending, and !rovisions had to be got from the city four miles away. The ground, which had
been a waste, was infested with sna#es, and it was no small ris # to live with little children under
such conditions. The general rule was not to #ill the sna#es, though * confess none of us had
shed the fear of these re!tiles, nor have we even now.
The rule of not #illing venomous re!tiles had been !ractised for the most !art at Phoeni&, Tolstoy
0arm and Sabarmati. 1t each of these !laces we had to settle on waste lands. 5e have had,
however, no loss of life occas ioned by sna#ebite. * see, with the eye of faith, in this circ umstance
the hand of the God of Mercy. 4et no one cavil at this, saying that God can never be !artial, and
that )e has no time to meddle with the humdrum affairs of men. * have no other language to
e&!ress the fact of the matter, to describe this uniform e&!erience of mine. )uman language can
but im!erfectly describe God(s ways. * am sensible of the fact that they are indescribable and
inscrutable. But if mortal man will dare to describe them, he has no better medium than his own
inarticulate s!eech. 6ven if it be a su!erstition to believe that com!lete immunity from harm for
twenty/five years in s!ite of a fairly regular !ractice of non/#illing is not a fortuitous accident but a
grace of God, * should still hug that s u!erstition.
"uring the stri#e of the mill/hands in 1hmedabad the foundation of the 1shram weaving shed was
being laid. 0or the !rinc i!al activity of the 1shram was then weaving. S!inning had not so far
been !ossible for us.
Chapter 146
THE %AST
0or the first two wee# s the mill/hands e&hibited great courage and self/restraint and daily held
monster meetings. n these occasions * used to remind them of their !ledge, and they would
shout bac# to me the assurance that they would rather die than brea# their word.

But at las t they began to show signs of flagging. $ust as !hysical wea#ness in men manifests
itself in irascibility, their attitude towards the blac#legs became more and more menacing as the
stri#e seemed to wea#en, and * began to fear an outbrea# of rowdyism on their !art. The
attendance at their daily meetings also began to dwindle by degrees, and des!ondency and
des!air were writ large on the faces of those who did attend. 0inally the information was brought
to me that the stri#ers had begun to totter. * felt dee!ly troubled and set to thin#ing furiously as to
what my duty was in the circumstances. * had had e&!erience of a gigantic stri#e in South 1frica,
but the situation that confronted me here was different. The mill/hands had ta#en the !ledge at
me suggestion. They had re!eated it before me day after day, and the very idea that they might
now go bac# u!on it was to me inconceivable. 5as it !ride or was it my love for the labourers and
my !assionate regard for truth that was at the bac# of this feeling who can say@
ne morning it was at a mill/hands( meeting while * was still gro!ing and unable to see my way
clearly, the light came to me. Unbidden and all by thems elves the words came to my li!s' (Unless
the stri#ers rally,( * declared to the meeting, (and continue the stri# e till a settlement is reached, or
till they leave the mills altogether, * will not touch any food.(
The labourers were thunderstruc# . Tears began to course down 1nasuyabehn(s chee#s. The
labourers bro# e out, (%ot you but we shall fast. *t would be monstrous if you were to fast. Please
forgive us for our la!se, we will now remain faithful to our !ledge to the end.(
(There is no need for you to fast,( * re!lied. (*t would be enough if you could remain true to your
!ledge. 1s you #now we are without funds, and we do not want to continue our stri#e by living on
!ublic charity. =ou should therefore try to e#e out a bare e&istence by some # ind of labour, so
that you may be able to remain unconcerned, no matter how long the s tri#e may continue. 1s for
my fast, it will be bro#en only after the stri#e is settled.(
*n the meantime .allabhbhai was trying to find some em!loyment for the stri# ers under the
Munic i!ality, but there was not much ho!e of success there. Maganlal Gandhi suggested that, as
we needed sand for filling the foundation of our weaving school in the 1shram, a number of them
might be em!loyed for that !ur!ose. The labourers welcomed the !ro!osal. 1nasuyabehn led the
way with a bas# et on her head and soon an endless stream of labourers carrying bas#ets of sand
on their heads could be seen issuing out of the hollow of the river/bed. *t was a sight worth
seeing. The labourers felt themselves infused with a new strength, and it became difficult to co!e
with the tas# of !aying out wages to them.
My fast was not free from a grave defect. 0or as * have already mentioned in a !revious cha!ter. *
en,oyed very close and cordial relations with the mill/owners, and my fast could not but affect
their decision. 1s a Satyagrahi * #new that * might not fast against them, but ought to leave them
free to be influenced by the mill/hands( stri# e alone. My fast was underta#en not on account of
la!se of which, as their re!resentative, * felt * had a share. 5ith the mill/owners, * could only
!leadC to fast against them would amount to coercion. =et in s!ite of my #nowledge that my fast
was bound to !ut !ressure u!on them, as in fact it did, * felt * could not hel! it. The duty to
underta#e it seemed to me to be clear.
* tried to set the mill/owners at ease. (There is not the slightest necessity for you to withdraw from
your !osition,( * said to them. But they received my words coldly and even flung #een, delicate
bits of sarcasm at me, as indeed they had a !erfect right to do.
The !rinci!al man at the bac# of the mill/owners( unbending attitude towards the stri#e was Sheth
1mbalal. )is resolute will and trans!arent sincerity were wonderful and ca!tured my heart. *t was
a !leasure to be !itched agains t him. The strain !roduced by my fast u!on the o!!osition, of
which he was the head, cut me, therefore, to the 3uic# . 1nd then, Sarladevi, his wife, was

attached to me with the affection of a blood/sister, and * could not bear to see her anguish on
account of my action.
1nasuyabhen and a number of other friends and labourers shared the fast with me on the first
day. But after some difficulty * was able to dissuade them from continuing it further.
The net result of it was that an atmos!here of goodwill was created all round. The hearts of the
mill/owners were touched, and they s et about discovering some means for a settlement.
1nasuyabehn(s house became the venue of their discussions. S,t. 1nandshan#ar "hruva
intervened and was in the end a!!ointed arbitrator, and the s tri#e was called off after * had fasted
only for three days. The mill/owners commemorated the event by distributing sweets among the
labourers, and thus a settlement was reached after 89 days( stri#e.
1t the meeting held to celebrate the settlement, both the mill/owners and the -ommissioner were
!resent. The advice which the latter gave to the mill/hands on this occasion was' (=ou should
always act as Mr. Gandhi advises you.( 1lmost immediately after these events * had to engage in
a tussle with this very gentleman. But circumstances were changed, and he had changed with the
circumstances. )e then set about warning the Patidars of Kheda against following my adviceB
* must not close this cha!ter without noting here an incident, as amusing as it was !athetic. *t
ha!!ened in connection with the distribution of sweets. The mill/owners had ordered a very large
3uantity, and it was a !roblem how to dis tribute it among the thousands of labourers. *t was
decided that it would be the fittest thing to distribute it in the o!en, beneath the very tree under
which the !ledge had been ta#en, es!ecially as it would have been e&tremely inconvenient to
assemble them all together in any other !lace.
* had ta#en it for granted that the men who had observed strict disci!line for full 89 days would
without any difficulty be able to remain standing in an orderly manner while the sweets were
being distributed, and not ma#e an im!atient scramble for them. But when it came to the test, all
the methods that were tried for ma#ing the distribution failed. 1gain and again their ran# s would
brea# into confus ion after distribution had !roceeded for a cou!le of minutes. The leaders of the
mill/hands tried their best to restore order, but in vain. The confusion, the c rush and the scramble
at last became s o great that 3uite an amount of the sweets was s!oiled by being tram!led under
foot, and the attem!t to distribute them in the o!en had finally to be given u!. 5ith difficulty we
succeeded in ta#ing away the remaining sweets to Sheth 1mbalal(s bungalow in Mir2a!ur.
Sweets were distributed comfortably the ne&t day within the com!ound of that bungalow.
The comic side of this incident is obvious, but the !athetic side bears mention. Subse3uent
in3uiry revealed the fact that the beggar !o!ulation of 1hmedabad, having got scent of the fact
that sweets were to be distributed under the J6#/Te#J tree, had gone there in large numbers, and
it was their hungry scramble for the sweets that had created all the confusion and disorder.
The grinding !overty and starvation with which our c ountry is afflicted is such that it drives more
and more men every year into the ran#s of the beggars, whose des!erate struggle for bread
renders them insensible to all feelings of decency and self/res!ect. 1nd our !hilanthro!ists,
instead of !roviding wor# for them and insisting on their wor#ing for bread, give them alms.

Chapter 14
THE )HEDA SATYAGRAHA
%o breathing time was, however, in store for me. )ardly was the 1hmedabad mill/hands( stri#e
over, when * had to !lunge into the Kheda Satyagraha struggle.
1 condition a!!roaching famine had arisen in the Kheda district owing to a wides!read failure of
cro!s, and the Patidars of Kheda were considering the 3uestion of getting the revenue
assessment for the year sus!ended.
S,t. 1mritlal Tha##ar had already in3uired into and re!orted on the situation and !ersonally
discussed the 3uestion with the -ommissioner, before * gave definite advice to the cultivators.
S,ts. Mohanlal Pandya and Shan#arlal Pari#h had also thrown themselves into the fight, and had
set u! an agitation in the Bombay 4egislative -ouncil through S,t. .ithalbhai Patel and the late Sir
Go#uldas Kahandas Pare#h. More than one de!utation had waited u!on the Governor in that
connection.
* was at this President of the Gu,arat Sabha. The Sabha sent !etitions and telegrams to the
Government and even !atiently swallowed the insults and threats of the -ommissioner. The
conduct of the officials on this occasion was so ridiculous and undignified as to be almost
incredible now.
The cultivators( demand was as clear as daylight, and so moderate as to ma#e out a strong case
for its acce!tance. Under the 4and +evenue +ules, if the cro! was four annas or under, the
cultivators could claim full sus!ension of the revenue ass essment for the year. 1ccording to the
official figures the cro! was said to be over four annas . The contention of the cultivators, on the
other hand, was that it was less than four annas. But the Government was in on mood to listen,
and regarded the !o!ular demand for arbitration as Jlese ma,esteJ. 1t last all !etitioning and
!rayer having failed, after ta#ing counsel with co/wor# ers , * advised the Patidars ro resort to
Satyagraha.
Besides the volunteers of Kheda, my !rinci!al comrades in this struggle were S,ts . .allabhbhai
Patel, Shan#arlal Ban#er, Shrimati 1nasuyabehn, S,ts. *ndulal =a,ni#, Mahadev "esai and others.
S,t. .allabhbhai, in ,oining the struggle, had to sus!end a s!lendid and growing !ractice at the
bar, which for all !ractical !ur!oses he was never able to resume.
5e fi&ed u! our head3uarters at the %adiad 1nathashram, no other !lace being available which
would have been large enough to accommodate all of us.
The following !ledge was signed by the Satyagrahis'
(Knowing that the cro!s of our villages are less than four annas, we re3uested the Government to
sus!end the collection of revenue assessment till the ensuing year, but the Government had not
acceded to our !rayer. Therefore, we, the undersigned, hereby solemnly declare that we shall
not, of our own accord, !ay to the Government the full or the remaining revenue for the year. 5e
shall let the Government ta#e whatever legal ste!s it may thin# fit and gladly suffer the
conse3uences of our non/!ayment. 5e shall rather let our lands be forfeited than that by
voluntary !ayment we should allow our case to be c onsidered flase or should com!romise our
self/res!ect. Should the Government, however, agree to sus!end collection of the second
instalment of the assessment throughout the district, such amongst us as are in a !osition to !ay
will !ay u! the whole or the balanc e of the revenue that may be due. The reason why those who

are able to !ay still withhold !ayment is that, if they !ay u!, the !oorer ryots may in a !anic sell
their chattels or incur debts to !ay their dues, and thereby bring suffering u!on themselves. *n
these circumstances we feel that, for the sa#e of the !oor, it is the duty even of those who can
afford to !ay to withhold !ayment of their assessment.(
* cannot devote many cha!ters to this struggle. So a number of sweet recollections in this
connection will have to be crowded out. Those who want to ma#e a fuller and dee!er study of this
im!ortant fight would do well to read the full and authentic history of the Kheda Satyagraha by S,t.
Shan#arlal Pari# h of Kathlal, Kheda.
Chapter 14#
&THE ONION THIE%&
-ham!aran being in a far away corner of *ndia, and the !ress having been #e!t out of the
cam!aign, it did not attract visitors from outside. %ot so with the Kheda cam!aign, of which the
ha!!enings were re!orted in the !ress from day to day.
The Gu,aratis were dee!ly interested in the fight, which was to them a novel e&!eriment. They
were ready to !our forth their riches for the success of the cause. *t was not easy for them to see
that Satyagraha could not be conducted sim!ly by means of money. Money is the thing that it
least needs. *n s!ite of my remonstrance, the Bombay merchants sent us more money than
necessary, so that we had some balance left at the end of the cam!aign.
1t the same time the Satyagrahi volunteers had to learn the new lesson of sim!licity. * cannot say
that they imbibed it fully, but they considerably changed their ways of life.
0or the Patidar farmers, too, the fight was 3uite a new thing. 5e had, therefore, to go about from
village to village e&!laining the !rinci!les of the Satyagraha.
The main thing was to rid the agriculturists of their fear by ma#ing them reali2e that the officials
were not the masters but the servants of the !eo!le, inasmuch as they received their salaries
from the ta&!ayer. 1nd then it seemed well nigh im!oss ible to ma#e them reali2e the duty of
combining civility with fearlessness. nce they had shed the fear of the officials, how could they
be s to!!ed from returning their insults@ 1nd yet if they resorted to incivility it would s!oil their
Satyagraha, li#e a dro! of arsenic in mil#. * reali2ed later that they had less fully learnt the lesson
of civility than * had e&!ected. 6&!erience has taught me that civility is the most difficult !art of
Satyagraha. -ivility does not here mean the mere outward gentleness and desire to do the
o!!onent good. These should show themselves in every act of a Satyagrahi.
*n the initial stages, though the !eo!le e&hibited much c ourage, the Government did not seem
inclined to ta#e strong action. But as the !eo!le(s firmness showed no signs of wavering, the
Government began coercion. The attachment officers sold !eo!le(s cattle and sei2ed whatever
movables they could lay hands on. Penalty notices were served, and in some cases standing
cro!s were attac hed. This unnerved the !easants, some of whom !aid u! their dues, while others
desired to !lace safe movables in the way of the officials so that they might attach them to reali2e
the dues. n the other hand some were !re!ared to fight to the bitter end.

5hile these things were going on, one of S,t. Shan#arlal Pari#h(s tenants !aid u! the assessment
in res!ect of his land. This created a sensation. S,t. Shan#arlal Pari#h immediately made amends
for his tenant(s mista#e by giving away for charitable !ur!oses the land for which the assessment
had been !aid. )e thus s aved his honour and set a good e&am!le to others.
5ith a view to steeling the hearts of those who were frightened, * advis ed the !eo!le, under the
leadershi! of S,t. Mohanlal Pandya, to remove the cro! of onion, from a field which had been, in
my o!inion wrongly attached. * did not regard this as c ivil dis obedience, but even if it was, *
suggested that this attachment of standing cro!s, though it might be in ac cordance with law, was
morally wrong, and was nothing be in accordanc e with law, was morally wrong, and was nothing
short of looting, and that therefore it was the !eo!le(s duty to remove the onion in s!ite of the
order of attachment. This was a good o!!ortunity for the !eo!le to learn a lesson in courting fines
or im!risonment, which was the necessary conse3uence of such disobedience. 0or S,t. Mohanlal
Pandya it was a thing after his heart. )e did not li#e the cam!aign to end without someone
undergoing suffering in the sha!e of im!risonment for something done consistently with the
!rinci!les fof Satyagraha. So he volunteered to remove the onion cro! from the field, and in this
seven or eight friends ,oined him.
*t was im!ossible for the Government to leave them free. The arrest of S,t. Mohanlal and his
com!anions added to the !eo!le(s enthusiasm. 5hen the fear of ,ail disa!!ears, re!ression !uts
heart into the !eo!le. -rowds of them besieged the court/house on the day of the hearing.
Pandya and his com!anions were convicted and sentenced to a brief term of im!risonment. * was
of o!inion that the conviction was wrong, because the act of removing the onion cro! could not
come under the definition of (theft( in the Penal -ode. But no a!!eal was filed as the !olicy was to
avoid the law courts.
1 !rocession escorted the (convic ts( to ,ail, and on that day S,t. Mohanlal Pandya earned from the
!eo!le the honoured title of dungli -hor >onion thief? which he en,oys to this day.
The conclusion of the Kheda Satyagraha * will leave to the ne&t cha!ter.
Chapter 14$
END O% )HEDA SATYAGRAHA
The cam!aign came to an une&!ected end. *t was clear that the !eo!le were e&hausted, and *
hesitated to let the unbending be driven to utter ruin. * was casting about for some graceful way of
terminating the struggle which would be acce!table to a Satyagrahi. Such a one a!!eared 3uite
une&!ectedly. The Mamlatdar of the %adiad Talu# a sent me word that, if well/to/do Patidars !aid
u!, the !oorer ones would be granted sus!ension. * as#ed for a written underta#ing to that effect,
which was given. But as a Mamlatdar could be res!onsible only for his Talu# a, * in3uired of the
-ollector, who alone could give an underta#ing in res!ect of the whole district, whether the
Mamlatdar(s underta# ing was true for the whole district. )e re!lied that orders declaring
sus!ension in terms of the Mamlatdar(s letter had been already issued. * was not aware of it, but
if it was a fact, the !eo!le(s !ledge had been fulfilled. The !ledge, it will be remembered, had the
same things for its ob,ect, and so we e&!ressed ourselves satisfied with the orders.
)owever, the end was far from ma# ing me feel ha!!y, inasmuch as it lac#ed the grace with which
the termination of every Satyagraha cam!aign ought to be accom!anied. The -ollector carried on
as though he had done nothing by way of a settlement. The !oor were to be granted sus!ension,

but hardly any got the benefit of it. *t was the !eo!le(s right to determine who was !oor, but they
could not e&ercise it. * was sad that they had not the strength to e&ercise the right. 1lthough,
therefore, the termination was celebrated as a trium!h of Satyagraha, * could not enthuse over it,
as it lac#ed the essentials of a com!lete trium!h.
The end of a Satyagraha cam!aign can be described as worthy, only when, it leaves the
Satyagrahis stronger and more s!irited than they are in the beginning.
The cam!aign was not, however, without its indirect results which we can see today and the
benefit of which we are rea!ing. The Kheda Satyagraha mar#s the beginning of an awa#ening
among the !easants of Gu,arat, the beginning of their true !olitical education.
"r. Besant(s brilliant )ome +ule agitation had certainly touched the !easants, but it was the
Kheda cam!aign that com!elled the educated !ublic wor#ers to establish contact with the actual
life of the !easants. They learnt to identify themselves with the latter. They found their !ro!er
s!here of wor#, their ca!ac ity for sacrifice increased. That .allabhbhai found himself during this
cam!aign was by itself no small achievement. 5e could reali2e its measure during the flood relief
o!erations last year and the Bardoli Satyagraha this year. Public life in Gu,arat became instinct
with a new energy and a new vigour. The Patidar !easant came to an unforgettable conciousness
of his strength. The lesson was indelibly im!rinted on the !ublic mind that the salvation of the
!eo!le de!ends u!on themselves, u!on their ca!ac ity for suffering and sacrifice. Through the
Kheda cam!aign Satyagraha too# firm root in the soil of Gu,arat.
1lthough, therefore, * found nothing to enthuse over in the termination of the Satyagraha, the
Kheda !eas ants were ,ubilant, because they #new that what they had found the true and infallible
method for a redress of their grievances. This #nowledge was enough ,ustification for their
,ubilation.
%evertheless the Kheda !easants had not fully understood the inner meaning of Satyagraha, and
they saw it to their cost, as we shall see in the cha!ters to follow.
Chapter 15'
PASSION %OR UNITY
The Kheda cam!aign was launched while the deadly war in 6uro!e was still going on. %ow a
crisis had arrived, and the .iceroy had invited various leaders to a war conference in "elhi. * had
also been urged to attend the conference. * have already referred to the cordial relations between
4ord -helmsford, the .iceroy, and myself.
*n res!onse to the invitation * went to "elhi. * had, however, ob,ections to ta#ing !art in the
conference, the !rinci!al one being the e&clusion from it of leaders li#e the 1li Brothers. They
were then in ,ail. * had met them. 6veryone had s!o# en highly of their much services and their
courage. * had not then come in close touch with )a#im Saheb, but Princi!al +udra and
"inabandhu 1ndrews had told me a deal in his !raise. * had met Mr. Shuaib Hureshi and Mr.
Khwa,a at the Muslim 4eague in -alcutta. * had also c ome in contact with "rs. 1nsari and 1bdur
+ahman. * was see#ing the friendshi! of good Musalmans. and was eager to understand the
Musalman mind through contact with their !urest and most !atriotic re!resentatives. * therefore

never needed any !ressure to go with them, wherever they too# me, in order to get into intimate
touch with them.
* had reali2ed early enough in South 1frica that there was no genuine friendshi! between the
)indus and the Musalmans. * never missed a s ingle o!!ortunity to remove obstacles in the way
of unity. *t was not in my nature to !lacate anyone by adulation, or at the cos t of self/ res!ect. But
my South 1frican e&!erienc es had convinced me that it would be on the 3ues tion of )indu/
Muslim unity that my 1himsa would be !ut to its severest test, and that the 3uestion !resented
the widest field for my e&!eriments in 1himsa. The conviction is still there. 6very moment of my
life * reali2e that God is !utting me on my trial.
)aving such strong convictions on the 3uestion when * returned from South 1frica, * !ri2ed the
contact with the Brothers. But before closer touch could be established they were isolated.
Maulana Mahomed 1li used to write long letters to me from Betul and -hhindwada whenever his
,ailers allowed him to do so. * a!!lied for !ermission to visit the Brothers but to no !ur!ose.
*t was after the im!risonment of the 1li Brothers that * was invited by Muslim friends to attend the
session of the Muslim 4eague at -alcutta. Being re3uested to s!ea#, * addressed them on the
duty of the Muslims to secure the Brother(s release. 1 little while after this * was ta#en by these
friends to the Muslim -ollege at 1ligarh. There * invited the young men to be fa#irs for the servic e
of the motherland.
%e&t * o!ened corres!ondence with the Government for the release of the Brothers. *n that
connection * studied the Brothers( views and activities about the Khilafat. * had discus sions with
Musalman friends. * felt that, if * would become a true friend of the Muslims, * must render all
!ossible hel! in securing the release of the Brothers, and a ,ust settlement of the Khilafat
3uestion. *t was not for me to enter into the absolute merits of the 3uestion, !rovided there was
nothing immoral in their demands. *n matters of religion beliefs differ, and each one(s is su!reme
for himself. *f all had the same belief about all matters of religion, there would be only one religion
in the world, 1s time !rogressed * found that the Muslim demand about the Khilafat was not only
not against any ethical !rinci!le, but that the British Prime Minister had admitted the ,ustice of the
Muslim demand. * felt, therefore, bound to render what hel! * c ould in securing a due fulfilment of
the !rime Minister(s !ledge. The !ledge had been given in such clear terms that the e&amination
of the Mus lim demand on the merits was needed only to satisfy my own concience.
0riends and critics have critici2ed my attitude regarding the Khilafat 3uestion. *n s!ite of the
criticism * feel that * have no reason to revise it or to regret my co/o!eration with the Muslims. *
should ado!t the same attitude, should a similar occasion arise.
5hen, therefore, * went to "elhi, * had fully intended to submit the MUslim cas e to the .iceroy.
The Khilafat 3uestion had not then assumed the sha!e it did subse3uently.
But on my reaching "elhi another difficulty in the way of my attending the conference arose.
"inabandhu 1ndrews raised a 3uestion about the morality of my !artici!ation in the war
conference. )e told me of the controversy in the British !ress regarding s ecret treaties between
6ngland and *taly. )ow could * !artici!ate in the conference, if 6ngland had entered into secret
treaties with another 6uro!ean !ower@ as#ed Mr. 1ndrews. * #new nothing of the treaties.
"inabandhu 1ndrews( word was enough for me. * therefore addressed a letter to 4ord -helmsford
e&!laining my hesitation to ta#e !art in the conference. )e invited me to discuss the 3uestion with
him. * had a !rolonged discussion with him and his Private Secretary Mr. Maffey. 1s a result *
agreed to ta#e !art in the conference. This was in effect the .iceroy(s argument' (Surely you do
not believe that the .iceroy #nows everything done by the British -abinet. * do not c laim, no one
claims, that the British Government is infallible. But if you agree that the 6m!ire has been, on the
whole, a !ower for good, if you believe that *ndia has, on the whole, benefited by the British

connection, would you not admit that it is the duty of every *ndian citi2en to hel! the 6m!ire in the
hour of its need@ * too have read what the British !a!ers say about the secret treaties . * can
assure you that * #now nothing beyond what the !a!ers say, and you #now the canards that
these !a!ers fre3uently start, -an you, acting on a mere new!a!ers re!ort, refuse hel! to the
6m!ire at such a c ritical ,uncture@ =ou may raise whatever moral issues you li#e and c hallenge
us as much as you !lease after the conclusion of the war, not today.(
The argument was not new. *t a!!ealed to me as new because of the manner in which, and the
hour at which, it was !resented, and * agreed to attend the conference. 1s regards the Muslim
demands * was to address a letter to the .iceroy.
Chapter 151
RECRUITING CAMPAIGN
So * attended the conference. The .iceroy was very #een on my su!!orting the resolution about
recruiting. * as#ed for !ermission to s!ea# in )indi/)industani. The .iceroy acceded to my
re3uest, but suggested that * should s!ea# als o in 6nglish. * had no s!eec h to ma#e. * s!o# e but
one sentence to this effect' (5ith a full sense of my res!onsibility * beg to su!!ort the res olution.(
Many congratulated me on my having s!o# en in )industani. That was, they said, the first
instance within living memory of anyone having s!o#en in )industani at such a meeting. The
congratulations and the discovery that * was the first to s!ea# in )industani at a .iceregal
meeting hurt my national !ride. * felt li#e shrin#ing into myself. 5hat a tragedy that the language
of the country should be taboo in meeting held in the country, for wor# relating to the country, and
that a s!eech there in )industani by a stray individual li#e myself should be a matter for
congratulation@ *ncidents li# e these are reminders of the low state to which we have been
reduced.
The one sentence that * uttered at the conference had for me considerable significance. *t was
im!ossible for me to forget either the conference or the resolution * su!!orted. There was one
underta#ing that * had to fulfil while yet in "elhi. * had to write a letter to the .iceroy. This was no
easy thing for me. * felt it my duty both in the interests of the Government and of the !eo!le to
e&!lain therein how and why * attended the conference, and to state clearly what the !eo!le
e&!ected from Government.
*n the letter * e&!ressed my regret for the e&clusion from the conference of leaders li#e
4o#amanya Tila# and the 1li Brothers, and stated the !eo!le(s minimum !olitical demand as also
the demands of the Muslims on ac count of the situation created by the war. * as#ed for
!ermission to !ublish the letter, and the .iceroy gladly gave it.
The letter had to be sent to Simla, where the .iceroy had gone immediately after the conference.
The letter had for me considerable im!ortance, and sending it by !ost would have meant delay. *
wanted to save time, and yet * was not inclined to send it by any messenger * came across . *
wanted some !ure man to carry it and hand it !ersonally at the .iceregal 4odge. "inabandhu
1ndrews and Princi!al +udra suggested the name of the good +ev. *reland of the -ambridge
Mis sion. )e agreed to carry the letter if he might read it and if it a!!ealed to him as good. * had
no ob,ection as the letter was by no means !rivate. )e read it, li#ed it and e&!ressed his
willingness to carry out the mission. * offered him the second class fare, but he declined it saying

he was accustomed to travelling intermediate. This he did though it was a night ,ourney. )is
sim!licity and his straight and !lains!o#en manner ca!tivated me. The letter thus delivered at the
hands of a !ureminded man had, as * thought, the desired result. *t eased my mind and cleared
my way.
The other !art of my obligation consisted in raising recruits. 5here could * ma#e a beginning
e&ce!t in Kheda@ 1nd whom could * invite to be the first recruits e&ce!t my own co/wor#ers@ So
as soon as * reached %adiad, * had a conference with .allabhbhai and other friends. Some of
them could not easily ta#e to the !ro!osal. Those who li#ed the !ro!osal had misgivings about its
success. There was no love lost between the Government and the classes to which * wanted to
ma#e my a!!eal. The bitter e&!erience they had had of the Government officials was still fresh in
their memory.
1nd yet they were in favour of starting wor#. 1s soon as * set about my tas#, my eyes were
o!ened. My o!timism received a rude shoc#. 5hereas during the revenue cam!aign the !eo!le
readily offered their carts free of charge, and two volunteers came forth when one was needed, it
was difficult now to get a cart even on hire, to say nothing of volunteers. But we would not be
dismayed. 5e decided to dis!ens e with the use of carts and to do our ,ourneys on foot. 1t this
rate we had to trudge about 8A miles a day. *f carts were not forthc oming, it was idle to e&!ect
!eo!le to feed us . *t was hardly !ro!er to as# for food. So it was decided that every volunteer
must carry his food in his satchel. %o bedding or sheet was necessary as it was summer.
5e had meetings wherever we went. Peo!le did attend, but hardly one or two would offer
themselves as recruits. (=ou are a votary of 1himsa, how can you as# us to ta#e u! arms@( (5hat
good has Government done for *ndia to deserve our co/o!eration@( Thes e and similar 3uestions
used to be !ut to us.
)owever, our steady wor# began to tell. Huite a number of names were registered, and we ho!ed
that we should be able to have a regular su!!le as soon as the first batch was sent. * had already
begun to confer with the -ommissioner as to where the recruits were to be accommodated.
The -ommis sioners in every division were holding conferences on the "elhi model. ne such
was held in Gu,arat. My co/wor# ers and * were invited to it. 5e attended, but * felt there was even
less !lace for me here than at "elhi. *n this atmos!here of servile submission * felt ill at ease. *
s!o#e somewhat at length. * could say nothing to !lease the officials, and had certainly one or
two hard things to say.
* used to issue leaflets as# ing !eo!le to enlist as recruits. ne of the arguments * had used was
distasteful to the -ommissioner' (1mong the many misdeeds of the British rule in *ndia, history
will loo# u!on the 1ct de!riving a whole nation of arms as the blac#est. *f we want the 1rms 1ct to
be re!ealed, if we want to learn the use of arms, here is a golden o!!ortunity. *f the middle
classes render voluntary hel! to Government in the hour of its trial, distrust will disa!!ear, and the
ban on !ossessing arms will be withdrawn.( The -ommissioner referred to this and said that he
a!!reciated my !resence in the conference in s!ite of the differences between us. 1nd * had to
,ustify my stand!oint as courteously as * could.
)ere is the letter to the .iceroy referred to above'
(1s you are aware, after careful consideration, * felt constrained to convey to =our 6&cellency that
* could not attend the -onference for reasons stated in the letter of the 8;th instant >1!ril?, but
after the interview you were good enough to grant me, * !ersuaded myself to ,oin it, if for no other
cause, then certainly out of my great regard for yourself. ne of my reasons for abstention and

!erha!s the strongest was that 4o#amanya Tila#, Mrs. Besant and the 1li Brothers, whom *
regard as among the most !owerful leaders or !ublic o!inion, were not invited to the -onference.
* still feel that it was a grave blunder not to have as#ed them, and * res!ectfully suggest that
blunder might be !ossibly re!aired if these leaders were invited to assist the Government by
giving it the benefit of their advic e at the Provincial -onferences, which * understand are to follow.
* venture to submit that no Government can afford to disregard the leaders, who re!resent the
large masses of the !eo!le as these do, even though they may hold views fundamentally
different. 1t the same time it gives me !leasure to be able to say that the views of all !arties were
!ermitted to be freely e&!ressed at the -ommittees of the -onference. 0or my !art, * !ur!osely
refrained from stating my views at the -ommittee at which * had the honour of serving, or at the
-onference itself. * felt that * could best serve the ob,ects of the -onference by sim!ly tendering
my su!!ort to the resolutions submitted to it, and this * have done without any reservation. * ho!e
to translate the s!o# en word into action as early as the Government can see its way to acce!t my
offer, which * am submitting simultaneously herewith in a se!arate letter.
(* recogni2e that in the hour of its danger we must give, as we have decided to give, ungrudging
and une3uivocal su!!ort to the 6m!ire of which we as!ire in the near future to be !artners in the
same sense as the "ominions overs eas. But it is the sim!le truth that our res!onse is due to the
e&!ectation that our goal will be reached all the more s!eedily. n that account, even as
!erformance of duty automatically confers a corres!onding right, !eo!le are entitled to believe
that the imminent reforms alluded to in your s!eech will embody the main general !rinci!les of
the -ongress/4eague Scheme, and * am sure that it is this faith which has enabied many
members of the -onferenc e to tender to the Government their full/hearted co/o!eration.
(*f * could ma#e my countrymen retrace their ste!s. * would ma#e them withdraw all the -ongress
resolutions, and not whis!er 7)ome +ule7 or 7+es!onsible Government7 during the !endency of
the 5ar. * would ma#e *ndia offer all her able/bodied sons as a sacrifice to the 6m!ire at its
critical moment, and * #now that *ndia, by this very act, would become the most favoured !artner
in the 6m!ire, and racial distinctions would become a thing of the !ast. But !ractically the whole
of educated *ndia has decided to ta#e a less effective course, and it is no longer !ossible to say
that educated *ndia does not e&ercis e any influence on the masses. * have been coming into most
intimate touch with the ryots ever since my return from South 1frica to *ndia, and * wish to as sure
you that the desire for )ome +ule has widely !enetrated them. * was !resent at the session that
full +es!onsible Government should be granted to British *ndia within a !eriod to be fi&ed
definitely by a !arliamentary Statute. * admit that it is a bold ste! to ta#e, but * feel sure that
nothing less than a definite vision of )ome +ule to be reali2ed in the shortest !os sible time will
satis fy the *ndian !eo!le. * #now that there are many in *ndia who consider no sacrifice as too
great in order to achieve the end, and they are wa#eful enough to reali2e that they must be
e3ually !re!ared to sac rifice themselves for the 6m!ire in which they ho!e and desire to reach
their final status. *t follows then that we can but accelerate our ,ourney to the goal by silently and
sim!ly devoting ourselves heart and soul to the wor# of delivering the 6m!ire from the
threatening danger. *t will be national suicide not to recogni2e this elementary truth. 5e must
!erceive that, if we serve to save the 6m!ire, we have in that very act secured )ome +ule.
(5hilst, therefore, it is clear to me that we should give to the 6m!ire every available man for its
defence, * fear that * cannot say the same thing about financial assistance. My intimate
intercourse with the ryots convinces me that *ndia has already donated to the *m!erial 6&che3uer
beyond her ca!acity. * # now that in ma#ing this statement * am voic ing the o!inion of the ma,ority
of my countrymen.
(The -onference means for me, and * believe for many of us, a definite ste! in the cons ecration of
our lives to the common cause, but ours is a !eculiar !osition. 5e are today outside the
!artnershi!. urs is a consecration based on ho!e of better future. * should be untrue to you and
to my country if * did not clearly and une3uivocally tell you what that ho!e is. * do not bargain for
its fulfilment, but you should # now that disa!!ointment of ho!e means disillusion.

(There is one thing * may not omit. =ou have a!!ealed to us to s in# domestic differences. *f the
a!!eal involves the toleration of tyranny and wrongdoing on the !art of officials, * am !owerless to
res!ond. * shall resist organi2ed tyranny to the uttermost. The a!!eal must be to the officials that
they do not ill/treat a single soul, and that they c onsult and res!ec t an age/long tyranny * have
shown the ultimate sovereignty of British ,ustice. *n Kheda a !o!ulation that was cursing the
Government now feels that it, and not the Government, is the !ower when it is !re!ared to suffer
for the truth it re!resents. *t is, therefore, losing its bitterness and is saying to itself that the
Government must be a Government for !eo!le, for it tolerates orderly and res!ectful
disobedience where in,ustice is felt. Thus -ham!aran and Kheda affairs are my direct, definite
and s!ecial contribution to the 5ar. 1s# me to sus!end my activities in that direction and you as#
me to sus!end my life. *f * could !o!ulari2e the use of soul/force, whic h is but another name for
love/force, in !lace of brute force, * #now that * could !resent you with an *ndia that could defy the
whole world to do its worst. *n season and out of season, therefore, * shall disci!line myself to
e&!ress in my life this eternal law of s uffering, and !resent it for acce!tance to those who care,
and if * ta#e !art in any other activity, the motive is to show the matchless su!eriority of that law.
(4astly, * would li# e you to as# )is Ma,esty(s Ministers to give definite assurance about
Mohammedan States. * am sure you #now that every Mohammedan is dee!ly interested in them.
1s a )indu. * cannot be indifferent to their cause. Their sorrows must be our sorrows. *n the most
scru!ulous regard for the rights of those States and for the Muslim sentiment as to their !laces of
wor#shi!, and your ,ust and timely treatment of *ndia(s claim to )ome +ule lies the safety of the
6m!ire. * write this, because * love the 6nglish nation, and * wish to evo#e in every *ndian the
loyalty of 6nglishmen.(
Chapter 152
NEAR DEATH&7 DOOR
* very nearly ruined my constitution during the recruiting cam!aign. *n those days my food
!rinci!ally consisted of groundnut butter and lemons . * #new that it was !ossible to eat too much
butter and in,ure one(s health, and yet * allowed myself to do so. This gave me a slight attac# of
dysentery. * did not ta#e serious notice of this, and went that evening to the 1shram, as was my
wont every now and then. * scarcely too# any medic ine in those days . * thought * should get well if
* s#i!!ed a meal, and indeed * felt fairly free from trouble as * omitted the morning meal ne&t day.
* #new, however, that to be entirely free * must !rolong my fast and, if * ate anything at all, *
should have nothing but fruit ,uices.
There was some festival that day, and although * had told Kasturbai that * should have nothing for
my midday meal, she tem!ted me and * succumbed. 1s * was under a vow of ta#ing no mil# or
mil# !roducts, she had s!ecially !re!ared for me a sweet wheaten !orridge with oil added to it
instead of !hi. She had reserved too a bowlful of JmungJ for me. * was fond of these things,
and * readily too# them, ho!ing that without coming to grief * should eat ,ust enough to !lease
Kasturbai and to satisfy my !alate. But the devil had been only waiting for an o!!ortunity. *nstead
of eating very little * had my fill of the meal. This was sufficient invitation to the angel of death.
5ithin an hour the dysentery a!!eared in acute form.
The same evening * had to go bac# to %adiad. * wal#ed with very great difficulty to the Sabarmati
station, a distance of only ten furlongs. S,t. .allabhbhai, who ,oined me at 1hmedabad, saw that *
was unwell, but * did not allow him to guess how unbearable the !ain was.

5e reached %adiad at about ten o(cloc#. The )indu 1nathashram where we had our
head3uarters was only half a mile from the stationC but it was as good as ten for me. * somehow
managed to reach the 3uarters, but the gri!ing !ain was steadily increasing. *nstead of using the
usual latrine which was a long way off, * as#ed for a commode to be !laced in the ad,oining room.
* was ashamed to have to as# for this, but there was no esca!e. S,t. 0ulchand immediately
!rocured a commode. 1ll the friends surrounded me dee!ly c oncerned. They were all love and
attention, but they could not relieve my !ain. 1nd my obstinacy added to their hel!essness. *
refused all medical aid. * would ta# e no medicine, but !referred to suffer the !enalty for my folly.
So they loo#ed on in hel!less dismay. * must have had thrity to forty motions in twenty/four hours.
* fasted, not ta#ing even fruit ,uices in the beginning. The a!!etite had all gone. * had thought all
along that * had an iron frame, but * found that my body had now become a lum! of clay. *t had
lost all !ower of resistance. "r.Kanuga came and !leaded with me to ta#e medicine. * declined.
)e offered to give me an in,ection. * declined that too. My ignorance about in,ections was in those
days 3uite ridiculous. * believed that an in,ection must be some #ind of serum. 4ater * discovered
that the in,ection that the doctor suggested was a vegetable substance, but the disc overy was too
late to be of use. The motions still continued, leaving me com!letely e& hausted. The e&haustion
brought on a delirious fever. The friends got more nervous, and called in more doctors. But what
could they do with a !atient who would not listen to them@
Sheth 1mbalal with his good wife came down to %adiad, conferred with my co/wor#ers and
removed me with the greatest care to his Mir2a!ur bungalow in 1hmedabad. *t was im!ossible for
anyone to receive more loving and selfless service than * had the !rivelege of having during this
illness. But a sort of low fever !ersisted, wearing away my body from day to day, * felt that the
illness was bound to be !rolonged and !ossibly fatal. Surrounded as * was with all the love and
attention that could be showered on me under Sheth 1mbalal(s roof, * began to get restless and
urged him to remove me to the 1shram. )e had to yield to my im!ortunity.
5hilst * was thus tossing on the bed of !ain in the 1shram, S,t. .allabhbhai brought the news that
Germany had been com!letely defeated, and that the -ommissioner had sent word that recruiting
was no longer necessary. The news that * had no longer to worry myself about recruiting came as
a very great relief.
* had now been trying hydro!athy which gave some relief, but it was a hard ,ob to build u! the
body. The many medical advisers overwhelmed me with advice, but * could not !ersuade myself
to ta#e anything. Two or three suggested meat broth as a way out of the mil# vow, and cited
authorities from 1yurveda in s u!!ort of their advic e. ne of them strongly recommended eggs.
But for all of them * had but one answer/no.
0or me the 3uestion of diet was not one to be determined on the authority of the Shastras. *t was
one interwoven with my course of life which is guided by !rinci!les no longer de!ending u!on
outside authority. * had no desire to live at the cost of them. )ow could * relin3uish a !rinci!le in
res!ect of myself, when * had enforced it relentlessly in res!ect of my wife, children and friends@
This !rotrac ted and first long illness in my life thus afforded me a uni3ue o!!ortunity to e&amine
my !rinci!les and to test them. ne night * gave myself u! to des!air. * felt that * was at death(s
door. * sent word to 1nasuyabehn. She ran down to the 1shram. .allabhbhai came u! with "r.
Kanuga, who felt my !ulse and said (=our !ulse is 3uite good. * see absolutely no danger. This is
a nervous brea#down due to e&treme wea#ness.( But * was far from being reassured. * !assed
the night without slee!.
The morning bro#e without death coming. But * could not get rid of the feeling that the end was
near, and so * began to devote all my wa#ing hours to listening to the Gita being read to me by
the inmates of the 1shram. * was inca!able of reading. * was hardly inclined to tal#. The slightest
tal# meant a strain on the brain. 1ll interest in living had ceased, as * have never li#ed to live for

the sa#e of living. *t was suc h an agony to live on in that hel!less state, doing nothing, receiving
the service of friends and co/wor#ers, and watching the body slowly wearing away.
5hilst * lay thus ever e&!ectant of death, "r. Talval#ar came one day with a strange creature. )e
hailed from Maharashtra. )e was not #nown to fame, but the moment * saw him * found that he
was a cran# li#e myself. )e had c ome to try his treatment on me. )e had almost finished his
course of studies in the Grant Medical -ollege without ta# ing the degree. 4ater * came to #now
that he was a member of the Brahmo Sama,. S,t. Kel#ar, for that is his name, is a man of an
inde!endent and obstinate tem!erament. )e swears by the ice treatment, which he wanted to try
on me. 5e gave him the name of (*ce "octor(. )e is 3uite confident that he has discovered certain
things which have esca!ed 3ualified doctors. *t is a !ity both for him and me that he has not been
able to infect me with his faith in his system. * believe in his system u! to a certain !oint, but * am
afraid he has been hasty in arriving at certain conclusions.
But whatever may be the merits of his discoveries, * allowed him to e&!eriment on my body. * did
not mind e&ternal treatment. The treatment consisted in the a!!lication of ice all over the body.
5hilst * am unable to endors e his claim about the effect his treatment had on me, it certainly
infused in me a new ho!e and a new energy, and the mind naturally reacted on the body. * began
to have an a!!etite, and to have a gentle wal# for five to ten minutes. )e now suggested a reform
in my diet. Said he' (* assure you that you will have more energy and regain your strength 3uic#er
if you ta#e raw eggs. 6ggs are as harmless as mil#. They certainly cannot come under the
category of meat. 1nd do you #now that all eggs are not fertili2ed@ There are sterili2ed eggs on
the mar# #et.( * was not, however, !re!ared to ta#e even the sterili2ed eggs. But the im!rovement
was enough to give me interest in !ublic activities.
Chapter 153
THE RO+LATT BILLS AND MY DILEMMA
0riends and doctors assured me that * should recu!erate 3uic#er by a change to Matheran, so *
went there. But the water at Matheran being very hard, it made my stay there e&tremely difficult.
1s a result of the attac# of the dysentery that * had, my anal tract had become e&tremely tender,
and owing to fissures, * felt an e&cruciating !ain at the time of evacuation, so that the very idea of
eating filled me with dread. Before the wee# was over, * had to flee from Matheran. Shan#arlal
Ban#er now constituted himself the guardian of my health, and !res sed me to consult "r. "alal.
"r. "alal was called accordingly. )is ca!acity for ta#ing instantaneous decisions ca!tured me.
)e said' (* cannot rebuild your body unless you ta# e mil#. *f in addition you would ta#e iron and
arsenic in,ections, * would guarantee fully to renovate your constitution.(
(=ou can give me the in,ections,( * re!lied, (but mil# is a different 3uestionC * have a vow against it.(
(5hat e&ac tly is the nature of your vow@( the doctor in3uired.
* told him the whole history and the reasons behind my vow, how, since * had come to #now that
the cow and the buffalo were s ub,ected to the !rocess of J!hoo#aJ, * had conceived a strong
disgust for mil#. Moreover, * had always held that mil# is not the natural diet of man. * had
therefore ab,ured its use altogether. Kasturbai was standing near my bed listening all the time to
this conversation.

(But surely you cannot have any ob,ection to goat(s mil# then,( she inter!osed.
The doctor too too# u! the strain. (*f you will ta# e goat(s mil#, it will be enough for me,( he said.
* succumbed. My intense eagerness to ta# e u! the Satyagraha fight had created in me a strong
desire to live, and s o * contented myself with adhering to the letter of my vow only, and sacrificed
its s!irit. 0or although * had only the mil# of the cow and the she buffalo in mind when * too# the
vow, by natural im!lication it covered the mil# of all animals. %or could it be right for me to use
mil# at all, so long as * held that mil# is not the natural diet of man. =et # nowing all this i agreed to
ta#e goat(s mil#. The will to live !roved stronger than the devotion to truth, and for once the votary
of truth com!romised his sacred ideal by his eagerness to ta# e u! the Satyagraha fight. The
memory of this action even now ran#les in my breast and fills me with remorse, and * am
constantly thin#ing how to give u! goat(s mil# . But * cannot yet free myself from that subtlest of
tem!tations, the desire to serve, which s till holds me.
My e&!erience in dietetics are dear to me as a !art of my researches in 1himsa. They give me
recreation and ,oy. But my use of goat(s mil# today troubles me not from the view/!oint of dietetic
1himsa so much as from that of truth, being no less than a breach of !ledge. *t seems to me that *
understand the ideal of truth better than that of a 1himsa, and my e&!erience tells me that, if * let
go my hold of truth, * shall never be able to solve the riddle of 1himsa. The ideal of truth re3uires
that vows ta#en should be fulfilled in the s!irit as well as in the letter. *n the !resent case * #illed
the s!irit the soul of my vow by adhering to its outer form only, and that is what galls me. But in
s!ite of this c lear #nowledge * cannot see my way straight before me. *n other words, !erha!s, *
have not the courage to follow the straight course. Both at bottom mean one and the same thing,
for doubt is invariably the result of want or wea# ness of faith. (4ord, give me faith( is, therefore, my
!rayer day and night.
Soon after * began ta#ing goat(s mil#, "r. "alal !erformed on me a successful o!eration for
fissures. 1s * recu!erated, my desire to live revived, es!ecially because God had #e!t wor# in
store for me.
* had hardly begun to feel my way towards recovery, when * ha!!ened casually to read in the
!a!ers the +owlatt -ommittee(s re!ort which had ,ust been !ublished. *ts recommendations
startled me. Shan#arlal Ban#er and Umar Sobani a!!roached me with the suggestion that *
should ta# e some !rom!t action in the matter. *n about a month * went to 1hmedabad. *
mentioned my a!!rehensions to .allabhbhai, who used to come to see me almost daily.
(Something must be done,( s aid * to him. (But what can we do in the circumstances@( he as#ed in
re!ly. * answered, (*f even a handful of men can be found to sign the !ledge of resistance, and the
!ro!osed measure is !assed into law in defiance of it, we ought to offer Satyagraha at onc e. *f *
was not laid u! li#e this, * should give battle against it all alone, and e&!ect others to follow suit.
But in my !res ent hel!les s condition * feel myself to be altogether une3ual to the tas# .(
1s a res ult of this tal# , it was decided to call a s mall meeting of such !ersons as were in touc h
with me. The recommendations of the +owlatt -ommittee seemed to me to be altogether
unwarranted by the evidence !ublished in its re!ort, and were, * felt, such that no self/ res!ecting
!eo!le could submit to them.
The !ro!osed conference was at last held at the 1shram. )ardly a score of !ersons had been
invited to it. So far as * remember, among those who attended were, besides .allabhbhai,
Shrimati Saro,ini %aidu, Mr. )orniman, the late Mr. Umar Sobani, S,t. Shan# arlal Ban#er and
Shrimati 1nasuyabehn. The Satyagraha !ledge was drafted at this meeting, and, as far as *
recollect, was signed by all !res ent. * was not editing any ,ournal at that time, but * used
occasionally to ventilate my views through the daily !ress. * followed the !ractice on this

occasion. Shan#arlal Ban#er too# u! the agitation in right earnest, and for the first time * got an
idea of his wonderful ca!acity for organi2ation and sustained wor#.
1s all ho!e of any of the e&isting ins titutions ado!ting a novel wea!on li#e Satyagraha seemed to
me to be in vain, a se!arate body called the Satyagraha Sabha was es tablished at my instance.
*ts !rinci!al members were drawn from Bombay where, therefore, its head3uarters were fi&ed.
The intending covenanters began to sign the Satyagraha !ledge in large numbers, bulletins were
issued, and !o!ular meetings began to be held everywhere recalling all the familiar features of
the Kheda cam!aign.
* became the !resident of the Satyagraha Sabha. * soon found that there was not li#ely to be
much chance of agreement between myself and the intelligentsia com!osing this Sabha. My
insistence on the use of Gu,arati in the Sabha, as also some of my other methods of wor# that
would a!!ear to be !eculiar, caused them no small worry and embarras sment. * must say to their
credit, however, that most of them generous ly !ut u! with my idiosyncrasies.
But from the very beginning it seemed clear to me that the Sabha was not li#ely to live long. *
could see that already my em!hasis on truth and 1himsa had begun to be disli#ed by some of its
members. %evertheless in its early stages our new activity went on at full blast, and the
movement gathered head ra!idly.
Chapter 154
THAT +ONDER%UL SPECTACLE 8
Thus, while on the one hand the agitation against the +owlatt -ommitteeRs re!ort gathered
volume and intensity, on the other the Government grew more and more determined to give effect
to its recommendations, and the +owlatt Bill was !ublished. * have attended the !roceeding of
*ndiaRs legislative chamber only once in my life, and that was on the occasion of the debate on
this Bill. Shastri,i delivered an im!assioned s!eech, in which he uttered a solemn note of warning
to the Government. The .iceroy seemed to be listening s!ell/bound, his eyes riveted on Shastri,i
as the latter !oured forth the hot s tream of his elo3uence. 0or the moment it seemed to me as if
the .iceroy could not but be dee!ly moved by it, it was so true and so full of feeling.
But you can wa#e a man only if he is really aslee!C no effort that you may ma#e will !roduce any
effect u!on him if he is merely !retending slee!. That was !recisely the GovernmentSRs !osition. *t
was an&ious only to go through the farce of legal formality. *ts decision had already been made.
Shastri,iRs solemn warning was, therefore, entirely lost u!on the Government.
*n these circumstances mine could only be a cry in the wilderness. * earnestly !leaded with the
.iceroy. * addressed him !rivate letters as also !ublic letters, in the course of which * clearly told
him that the GovernmentRs action left me no other course e&ce!t to resort to Sayagraha. But it
was all in vain.
The Bill had not yet been ga2etted as an 1ct. * was in a very wea# condition, but when * received
an invitation from Madras * decided to ta# e the ris# of the long ,ourney. * could not at that time
suffic iently raise my voice at meetings. The inca!acity to address meetings standing still abides.
My entire frame would sha# e, and heavy throbbing would start on an attem!t to s!ea# standing
for any length of time.

* have ever felt at home in the south. Than#s to my South 1frican wor# * felt * had some s ort of
s!ecial right over the Tamils and Telugus and the good !eo!le of the south have never belied my
belief. The invitation had come over the signature of the late S,t. Kasturi +anga *yengar. But the
man behind the invitation, as * subse3uently learnt on my way to Madras, was +a,ago!alachari.
This might be said to be my first ac3uaintance with himC at any rate this was the first time that we
came to # now each other !ersonally.
+a,aago!alachari had then only recently left Salem to settle down for legal !ractice in Madras at
the !ressing invitation of friends li#e the late S,t. Kasturi +anga *yengar, and that with a view to
ta#ing a more active !art in !ublic life. *t was with him that we had !ut u! in Madras. This
discovery * made only after we had stayed with him for a cou!le of days. 0or, since the bungalow
that we were staying in belonged to S,t. Kasturi +anga *yengar. * was under the im!ression that
we were his guests. Mahadev "esai, however, corrected me. )e very soon formed a close
ac3uaintance with +a,ago!alachari, who, from his innate shyness, #e!t himself constantly in the
bac#ground. But Mahadev !ut me on my guard. STyou should cultivate this manR he said to me one
day.
1nd so * did. 5e daily discussed together !lans of the fight, but beyond the holding of !ublic
meetings * could not then thin# of any other !rogramme. * felt myself at a loss to discover how to
offer civil disobedience against the +owlatt Bill if it was finally !assed into law. ne could disobey
it only if the Government gave one the o!!ortunity for it. 0ailing that, could we civilly disobey
other laws@ 1nd if so, where was the line to be drawn@ These and a host of similar 3uestions
formed the theme of these discussions of ours.
S,t. Kasturi +anga *yengar called together a small conference of leaders to thrash out the matter.
1mong those who too# a cons!icuous !art in it was S,t. .i,ayaraghavachari. )e suggested that *
should draw u! a com!rehensive manual of the science of Satyagraha, embodying even minute
details. * felt the tas# to be beyond my ca!acity, and * confessed as much to him.5hile these
cogitations were still going on, news was received that the +owlatt Bill had been !ublished as an
1ct. That night * fell aslee! while thin# ing over the 3ues tion. Towards the small hours of the
morning * wo#e u! somewhat earlier than usual. * was still in that twilight condition between slee!
and consciousness when suddenly the idea bro#e u!on meUit was as if in a dream. 6arly in the
morning * related the whole story to +a,ago!alachari.
(The idea came to me last night in a dream that we should call u!on the country to observe a
general hartal. Satyagraha is a !roces s of self/!urification, and ours is a sacred fight, and it
seems to me to be in the fitness of things that it should be commenced with an act of self/
!urification. 4et all the !eo!le of *ndia, therefore, sus!end their business on that day and observe
the day as one of fasting and !rayer. The Musalmans may not fast for more than one dayC so the
duration of the fast should be twenty/four hours. *t is very difficult to say whether all the !rovinces
would res!ond to this a!!eal of ours or not, but * feel fairly sure of Bombay, Madras, Bihar and
Sindh. * thin# we should have every reason to feel satisfied even if all these !laces observe the
hartal fittingly.(
+a,ago!alachari was at once ta#en u! with my s uggestion. ther friends too welcomed it when it
was communicated to them later. * drafted a brief a!!eal. The date of the hartal was first fi&ed on
the DAth March 9<9<, but was subse3uently changed to ;th 1!ril. The !eo!le thus had only a
short notice of the hartal. 1s the wor# had to be started at once, it was hardly !ossible to give
longer notice.
But who #nows how it all came about@ The whole of *ndia from one end to the other, towns as
well as villages, observed a com!lete hartal on that day. *t was a most wonderful s!ectacle.

Chapter 155
THAT MEMORABLE +EE) 8 ,,I
1fter a short tour in South *ndia * reached Bombay, * thin# on the Eth 1!ril, having received a
wire from S,t. Shan#arlal Ban#er as#ing me to be !resent there for the ;th of 1!ril celebrations.
But in the meanwhile "elhi had already observed the hartalon the DAth March. The word of the
late Swami Shraddhanand,i and )a#im 1,mal Khan Saheb was law there. The wire about the
!ost!onement of the hartaltill the ;th of 1!ril had reached there too late. "elhi had never
withnessed a hartalli#e that before. )indus and Musalmans seemed united li#e one man. Swami
Shraddhanand,i was invited to deliver a s!eech in the $umma Mas,id which he did. 1ll this was
more than the authorities could bear. The !olice chec #ed the hartal!rocession as it was
!roceeding towards the railway station, and o!ened fire, causing a number of casualties, and the
reign of re!ression commenced in "elhi. Shraddhanand,i urgently summoned me to "elhi. * wired
bac#, saying * would start for "elhi immediately after the ;th of 1!ril celebrations were over in
Bombay.
The story of ha!!enings in "elhi was re!eated with variations in 4ahore and 1mritsar. 0rom
1mritsar "rs. Satya!al and Kitchlu had sent me a !ressing invitation to go there. * was altogether
unac3uainted with them at at that time, but * communicated to them my intention to visit 1mritsar
after "elhi.
n the morning of the ;th the citi2ens of Bombay floc#ed in their thous ands to the -how!ati for a
bath in the sea, after which they moved on in a !rocession to Tha#urdvar. The !rocession
included a fair s!rin#ling of women and children, while the Musalmans ,oined it in large numbers.
0rom Tha#urdvar some of us who were in the !rocession were ta#en by the Musalman friends to
a mos3ue near by, where Mrs . %aidu and myself were !ersuaded to deliver s!eeches . S,t.
.ithaldas $era,ani !ro!osed that we should then and there administer the Swadeshi and )indu/
Muslim unity !ledges to the !eo!le, but * resisted the !ro!osal on the ground that !ledges should
not be administered or ta#en in !reci!itate hurry, and that we should be satisfied with what was
already being done by the !eo!le. 1 !ledge once ta#en, * argued, must not be bro# en afterwardsC
therefore it was necessary that the im!lications of the Swadeshi !ledge should be c learly
understood, and the grave res!onsibility entailed by the !ledge regarding )indu/Muslim unity fully
reali2ed by all concerned. *n the end * suggested that those who wanted to ta#e the !ledges
should again assemble on the following morning for the !ur!ose.
%eedless to say the hartalin Bombay was a com!lete success. 0ull !re!aration had been made
for starting civil disobedience. Two or three things had been discussed in this connection. *t was
decided that civil disobedience might be offered in res!ect of such laws only as easily lent
themselves to being disobeyed by the masses. The salt ta& was e&tremely un!o!ular and a
!owerful movement had been for some time !ast going on to secure its re!eal. * therefore
suggested that the !eo!le might !re!are salt from sea/water in their own houses in disregard of
the salt laws. My other suggestion was about the sale of !roscribed literature. Two of my boo#s,
vi)6'Hind S&arajand Sarvdaya>Gu,arati ada!tation of +us#in(s %nt #his -ast?, which had been
already !roscribed, came handy for this !ur!ose. To !rint and sell them o!enly seemed to be the
easiest way of offering civil disobedience. 1 sufficient number of co!ies of the boo#s was
therefore !rinted, and it was arranged to sell them at the end of the monster meeting that was to
be held that evening after the brea# ing of the fast.
n the evening of the ;th an army of volunteers issued forth accordingly with this !rohibited
literature to sell it among the !eo!le. Both Shrimati Saro,ini "evi and * went out in cars. 1ll the

co!ies were soon sold out. The !roceeds of the sale were to utili2ed for furthering the civil
disobedience cam!aign. Both these boo#s were !riced at four annas !er co!y, but * hardly
remember anybody having !urchased them from me at their face value merely. Huite a large
number of !eo!le sim!ly !oured out all the cash that was in their !oc#ets to !urchase their co!y.
0ive and ten ru!ee notes ,ust flew out to cover the !rice of a single co!y, while in one case *
remember having sold a co!y for fifty ru!eesB *t was duly e&!lained to the !eo!le that they were
liable to be arrested and im!risoned for !urchasing the !roscribed literature. But for the moment
they had shed all fear of ,ail/going.
*t was subse3uently learnt that the Government had conveniently ta#en the view that the boo#s
that had been !roscribed by it had not in fact been sold, and that what we had sold was not held
as coming under the definition of !roscribed literature. The re!rint was held by the Government to
be a new edition of the boo#s that had been !roscribed, and to sell them did not constitute an
offence under the law. This news caused general disa!!ointment.
The ne&t morning another meeting was held for the administration of the !ledges with regard to
Swadeshi and )indu/Mus lim unity. .ithaldas $era,ani for the first time reali2ed that all is not gold
that glitters. nly a handful of !ersons came. * distinctly remember s ome of the sisters who were
!resent on that occasion. The men who attended were also very few. * had already drafted the
!ledge and brought it with me. * thoroughly e&!lained its meaning to those !resent before *
administered it to them. The !aucity of the attendance neither !ained nor sur!rised me, for * have
noticed this characteristic difference in the !o!ular attitude !artiality for e&citing wor#, disli#e for
3uiet constructive effort. The difference has !ersisted to this day.
But * shall have to devote to this sub,ec t a cha!ter by itself. To return to the story. n the night of
the Fth * started for "elhi and 1mritsar. n reaching Mathura on the :th * firs t heard rumours
about my !robable arrest. 1t the ne&t sto!!age after Mathura, 1charya Gidvani came to meet
me, and gave me definite news that * was to be arrested, and offered his servic es to me if *
should need them. * than# ed him for the offer, assuring him that * would not fail to avail myself of
it, if and when * felt it necessary.
Before the train had reached Palwal railway station, * was served with a written order to the effect
that * was !rohibited from entering the boundary of the Pun,ab, as my !resenc e there was li# ely
to result in a disturbance of the !eace. * was as#ed by the !olice to get down from the train. *
refused to do so saying, (* want to go to the Pun,ab in res!onse to a !ressing invitation not to
foment unrest, but to allay it. * am therefore sorry that it is not !ossible for me to com!ly with this
order.(
1t last the train reached Palwal. Mahadev was with me. * as#ed him to !roceed to "elhi to convey
to Swami Shraddhanand,i the news about what had ha!!ened and to as# the !eo!le to remain
clam. )e was to e&!lain why * had decided to disobey the order s erved u!on me and suffer the
!enalty for dis obeying it, and also why it would s!ell victory for our side if we could maintain
!erfect !eace in s!ite of any !unishment that might be inflicted u!on me.
1t Palwal railway station * was ta#en out of the train and !ut under !olice custody. 1 train from
"elhi came in a short time. * was made to enter a third class carriage, the !olice !arty
accom!anying. n reaching Mathura, * was ta#en to the !olice barrac#s, but no !olice official
could tell me as to what they !ro!osed to do with me or where * was to be ta#en ne&t. 6arly at E
o(cloc# the ne&t morning * was wa#ed u! and !ut in a goods train that was going towards
Bombay. 1t noon * was again made to get down at Sawai Madho!ur. Mr. Bowring, *ns!ector of
Police, who arrived by the mail train from 4ahore, now too# charge of me. * was !ut in a firs t class
com!artment with him. 1nd from an ordinary !ris oner * became a (gentleman( !risoner. The
officer commenced a long !anegyric of Sir Michael ("wyr. Sir Mic hael had nothing against me
!ersonally, he went on, only he a!!rehended a disturbance of the !eace if * entered the Pun,ab
and so on. *n the end he re3uested me to return to Bombay of my own ac cord and agree not to

cross the frontier of the Pun,ab. * re!lied that * could not !ossibly com!ly with the order, and that *
was not !re!ared of my own accord to go bac#. 5hereu!on the officer, seeing no other course,
told me that he would have to enforce law against me. (But what do you want to do with me@( *
as#ed him. )e re!lied that he himself did not #now, but was awaiting further orders. (0or the
!resent,( he said, * am ta#ing you to Bombay.(
5e reached Surat. )ere * was made over to the charge of another !olice officer. (=ou are now
free,( the officer told me when we had reached Bombay. (*t would however be better,( he added, (if
you get down near the Marine 4ines where * shall get the train sto!!ed for you. 1t -olaba there is
li# ely to be a big crowd.( * told him that * would be glad to follow his wish. )e was !leased and
than#ed me for it. 1ccordingly * alighted at the Marine 4ines. The carriage of a friend ,ust
ha!!ened to be !assing by. *t too# me and left me at +evashan#ar $haveri(s !lac e. The friend
told me that the news of my arrest had incensed the !eo!le and roused them to a !itch of mad
fren2y. (1n outbrea# is a!!rehended every minute near Pydhuni, the Magistrate and the !olice
have already arrived there,( he added.
Scarcely had * reached my destination, when Umar Sobani and 1nasuyabehn arrived and as#ed
me to motor to Pydhuni at once. (The !eo!le have become im!atient, and are very much e&cited,(
they said, (we cannot !acify them. =our !resence alone can do it.(
* got into car. %ear Pydhuni * saw that a huge crowd had gathered. n s eeing me the !eo!le
went mad with ,oy. 1 !rocession was immediately formed, and the s#y was rent with the shouts of
*ande mataramand Allah akbar. 1t Pydhuni we sighted a body of mounted !olice. Bric#bats
were raining down from above. * besought the crowd to be calm, but it seemed as if we should
not be able to esca!e the shower of bric# bats. 1s the !rocession iss ued out of 1bdur +ahman
Street and was about to !roceed towards the -rawford Mar#et, it suddenly found itself confronted
by a body of the mounted !olice, who had arrived there to !revent it from !roceeding further in
the direction of the 0ort. The crowd was densely !ac#ed. *t had almost bro#en through the !olice
cordon. There was hardly any c hance of my voice being heard in that vast concourse. $ust then
the offic er in charge of the mounted !olice gave the order to dis!erse the crowd, and at once the
mounted !arty charged u!on the crowd brandishing their lances as they went. 0or a moment * felt
that * would be hurt. But my a!!rehens ion was groundless, the lances ,ust gra2ed the car as the
lancers swiftly !assed by. The ran#s of the !eo!le were soon bro#en, and they were thrown into
utter confusion, which was soon converted into a rout. Some got tram!led under foot, others were
badly mauled and crushed. *n that seething mass of humanity there was hardly any room for the
horses to !as s, nor was there an e&it by which the !eo!le could dis !erse. So the lancers blindly
cut their way through the crowd. * hardly imagine they could see what they were doing. The whole
thing !resented a most dreadful s!ectacle. The horsemen and the !eo!le were mi&ed together in
mad confusion.
Thus the crowd was dis!ersed and its !rogress chec#ed. ur motor was allowed to !roceed. *
had it sto!!ed before the -ommissioner(s offic e, and got down to c om!lain to him about the
conduct of the !olice.

Chapter 156
THAT MEMORABLE +EE) 8,,,II
So * went to the -ommissioner Mr. Griffith(s office. 1ll about the staircas e leading to the office *
saw soldiers armed from to! to toe, as though for military action. The verandah was all astir.
5hen * was admitted to the office, * saw Mr. Bowring sitting with Mr. Griffith.
* described to the -ommissioner the scenes * had witnessed. )e re!lied briefly' (* did not want the
!rocession to !roceed to the 0ort, as a disturbance was inevitable there. 1nd as * saw that the
!eo!le would not listen to !ersuasion, * could not hel! ordering the mounted !olice to charge
through the crowd.(
(But,( said *, (you #new what the cons e3uences must be. The horses were bound to tram!le on
the !eo!le. * thin# it was 3uite unnecessary to send that contingent of mounted men.(
(=ou cannot ,udge that,( said Mr. Griffith. (5e !olice officers #now better than you the effect of
your teaching on the !eo!le. *f we did not start with drastic measures, the situation would !ass
out of our hands. * tell you that the !eo!le are sure to go out of your control. "isobedience of law
will 3uic# ly a!!eal to themC it is beyond them to understand the duty of #ee!ing !eaceful. * have
no doubt about your intentions, but the !eo!le will not understand them. They will follow their
natural instinct.(
(*t is there that * ,oin issue with you,( * re!lied. (The !eo!le are not by nature violent but !eaceful.(
1nd thus we argued at length. Ultimately Mr. Griffith said, (But su!!ose you were convinced that
your teaching had been lost on the !eo!le, what would you do@(
(* should sus!end civil disobedience if * were so convinced.(
(5hat do you mean@ =ou told Mr. Bowring that you would !roceed to the Pun,ab the moment you
were released.(
(=es, * wanted to do so by the ne&t available train. But it is out of the 3uestion today.(
(*f you will be !atient, the conviction is sure to grow on you. "o you #now what is ha!!ening in
1hmedabad@ 1nd what has ha!!ened in 1mritsar@ Peo!le have everywhere gone nearly mad. *
am not yet in !ossession of all the facts. The telegra!h wires have been cut in some !laces. * !ut
it to you that the res!ons ibility for all these disturbances lies on you.(
(* assure you * should readily ta#e it u!on myself wherever * discovered it. But * should be dee!ly
!ained and sur!rised, if * found that there were disturbances in 1hmedabad. * cannot answer for
1mritsar. * have never been there, no one #nows me there. But even about the Pun,ab * am
certain of this much that, had not the Pun,ab Government !revented my entry into the Pun,ab, *
should have been considerably hel!ful in # ee!ing the !eace there. By !reventing me they gave
the !eo!le unnecessary !rovocation.(
1nd so we argued on and on. *t was im!ossible for us to agree. * told him that * intended to
address a meeting on -hau!ati and to as# the !eo!le to #ee! the !eace, and too# leave of him.
The meeting was held on the -hau!ati sands. * s!o#e at length on the duty of non/violence and
on the limitations of Satyagraha, and said' (Satyagraha is essentially a wea!on of the truthful. 1

Satyagrahi is !ledged to non/ violence, and, unless !eo!le observe it in thought, word and deed, *
cannot offer mass Satyagraha.(
1nasuyabehn, too, had received news of disturbances in 1hmedabad. Some one had s!read a
rumour that she also had been arrested. The mill/ hands had gone mad over her rumoured arrest,
struc# wor# and committed acts of violence, and a sergeant had been done to death.
* !roceeded to 1hmedabad. * learnt that an attem!t had been made to !ull u! the rails near the
%adiad railway station, that a Government officer had been murdered in .iramgam, and that
1hmedabad was under martial law. The !eo!le were terror/stri#en. They had indulged in acts of
violence and were being made to !ay for them with interest.
1 !olice officer was waiting at the station to escort me to Mr. Pratt, the -ommiss ioner. * found him
in a state of rage. * s!o#e to him gently, and e&!ressed my regret for the disturbances. *
suggested that martial law was unnecessary, and declared my readiness to co/o!erate in all
efforts to restore !eace. * as#ed for !ermission to hold a !ublic meeting on the grounds of the
Sabarmati 1shram. The !ro!osal a!!ealed to him, and the meeting was held, * thin#, on Sunday,
the 9Dth of 1!ril, and martial law was withdrawn the same day or the day after. 1ddressing the
meeting, * tried to bring home to the !eo!le the sense of their wrong, declared a !enitential fast of
three days for myself, a!!ealed to the !eo!le to go on a similar fast for a day, and suggested to
those who had been guilty of acts of violence to confess their guilt.
* saw my duty as clear as daylight. *t was unbearable for me to find that the labourers, amongst
whom * had s!ent a good deal of my time, whom * had served, and from whom * had e&!ected
better things, had ta#en !art in the riots, and * felt * was a sharer in their guilt.
$ust as * suggested to the !eo!le to confess their guilt, * suggested to the Government to
condone the c rimes. %either acce!ted my suggestion.
The late Sir +amanbhai and other citi2ens of 1hmedabad came to me with an a!!eal to sus!end
Satyagraha. The a!!eal was needless, for * had already made u! my mind to sus!end
Satyagraha so long as !eo!le had not learnt the lesson of !eace. The friends went away ha!!y.
There were, however, others who were unha!!y over the decision. They felt that, if * e&!ected
!eace everywhere and regarded it as a condition !recedent to launching Satyagraha, mass
Satyagraha would be an im!ossibility. * was sorry to disagree with them. *f those amongst whom *
wor#ed, and whom * e&!ected to be !re!ared for non/violence and self/suffering, could not be
non/violent, Satyagraha was certainly im!ossible. * was firmly of o!inion that those who wanted to
lead the !eo!le to Satyagraha ought to be able to #ee! the !eo!le within the limited non/violenc e
e&!ected of them. * hold the same o!inion even today.
Chapter 15
&A HIMALAYAN MISCALCULATION&
1lmost immediately after the 1hmedabad meeting * went to %adiad. *t was here that * first used
the e&!ression ()imalayan miscalculation( which obtained such a wide currency afterwards. 6ven
at 1hmedabad * had begun to have a dim !erce!tion of my mista#e. But when * reached %adiad

and saw the actual state of things there and heard re!orts about a large number of !eo!le from
Kheda district having been arrested, it suddenly dawned u!on me that * had committed a grave
error in calling u!on the !eo!le in the Kheda district and elsewhere to launch u!on c ivil
disobedience !rematurely, as it now seemed to me. * was addres sing a !ublic meeting. My
confess ion brought down u!on me no s mall amount of ridicule. But * have never regretted having
made that confession. 0or * have always held that it is only when one sees one(s own mista#es
with a conve& lens, and does ,ust the reverse in the case of others, that one is able to arrive at a
,ust relative estimate of the two. * further believe that a scru!ulous and conscientious observance
of this rule is necessary for one who wants to be a Satyagrahi.
4et us now see what that )imalayan miscalculation was. Before one can be fit for the !ractice of
civil disobedience one must have rendered a willing and res!ectful obedience to the state laws.
0or the most !art we obey such laws out of fear of the !enalty for their breach, and this holds
good !articularly in res!ect of such laws as do not involve a moral !rinci!le. 0or instance, an
honest, res!ectable man will not suddenly ta# e to stealing, whether there is a law against stealing
or not, but this very man will not feel any remorse for failure to observe the rule about carrying
head/lights on bicycles after dar#. *ndeed it is doubtful whether he would even acce!t advice
#indly about being more careful in this res!ect. But he would observe any obligatory rule of this
#ind, if only to esca!e the inconvenience of facing a !rosecution for a breach of the rule. Such
com!liance is not, however, the willing and s!ontaneous obedience that is re3uired of a
Satyagrahi. 1 Satyagrahi obeys the laws of society intelligently and of his own free will, becaus e
he cons iders it to be his sac red duty to do so. *t is only when a !erson has thus obeyed the laws
of society scru!ulous ly that he is in a !osition to ,udge as to which !articular rules are good and
,ust and which in,ust and ini3uitous. nly then does the right accrue to him of the civil
disobedience of certain laws in well/defined circ umstances. My error lay in my failure to observe
this necessary limitation. * had called on the !eo!le to launch u!on civil disobedience before they
had thus 3ualified themselves for it, and this mista# e seemed to me of )imalayan magnitude. 1s
soon as * entered the Kheda district, all the old recollections of the Kheda Satyagraha struggle
came bac# to me, and * wondered how * could have failed to !erceive what was so obvious. *
reali2ed that before a !eo!le could could be fit for offering civil disobedience, they should
thoroughly understand its dee!er im!lications. That being so, before restarting civil disobedience
on a mass scale, if would be necessary to create a band of well/tried, !ure/hearted volunteers
who thoroughly understood the strict conditions of Satyagraha. They could e&!lain these to the
!eo!le, and by slee!less vigilance #ee! them on the right !ath.
5ith these thoughts filling my mind * reached Bombay, raised a c or!s of Satyagrahi volunteers
through the Satyagraha Sabha there, and with their hel! commenced the wor# of educating the
!eo!le with regard to the meaning and inner significance of Satyagraha. This was !rinci!ally
done by issuing leaflets of an educative character bearing on the sub,ect.
But whilst this wor# was going on, * could see that it was a difficult tas# to interes t the !eo!le in
the !eaceful side of Satyagraha. The volunteers too failed to enlist themselves in large numbers.
%or did all those who actually enlisted ta#e anything li#e a regular sys tematic training, and as the
days !assed by, the number of fresh recruits began gradually to dwindle instead of to grow. *
reali2ed that the !rogress of the training in civil disobedience was not going to be as ra!id as *
had at first e&!ected.

Chapter 15#
&NA.A6I.AN& AND &YOUNG INDIA&
Thus, whilst this movement for the !reservation of non/violence was ma#ing steady though
slow !rogress on the one hand, Government(s !olicy of lawless re!ression was in full career on
the other, and was manifesting itself in the Pun,ab in all its na#edness. 4eaders were !ut under
arrest, martial law, which in other words meant no law, was !roc laimed, s!ecial tribunals were set
u!. These tribunals were not courts of ,ustice but instruments for carrying out the arbitrary will of
an autocrat. Sentences were !assed unwarranted by evidence and in flagrant violation of ,ustice.
*n 1mritsar innocent men and women were made to crawl li#e worms on their bellies. Before this
outrage the $alianwala Bagh tragedy !aled into insignificance in my eyes, though it was this
massacre !rinci!ally that attracted the attention of the !eo!le of *ndia and of the world.
* was !res sed to !roceed to the Pun,ab immediately in disregard of conse3uences. * wrote and
also telegra!hed to the .iceroy as#ing for !ermission to go there, but in vain. *f * !roceeded
without the necessary !ermission, * should not be allowed to cros s the boundary of the Pun,ab,
but left to find what satisfaction * could from civil disobedience. * was thus confronted by a serious
dilemma. 1s things stood, to brea# the order against my entry into the Pun,ab could, it seemed to
me, hardly be classed as civil disobedience, for * did not see around me the #ind of !eaceful
atmos!here that * wanted, and the unbridled re!ression in the Pun,ab had further served to
aggravate and dee!en the feelings of resentment. 0or me, therefore, to offer cicil disobedience at
such a time, even if it were !ossible, would have been li#e fanning the flame. * therefore decided
not to !roceed to the Pun,ab in s!ite of the suggestion of friends. *t was a bitter !ill for me to
swallow. Tales of ran# in,ustice and o!!ression came !ouring in daily from the Pun,ab, but all *
could do was to sit hel!lessly by and gnas h my teeth.
$ust then Mr. )orniman, in whose hands The Bombay -hronicle had became a formidable
force, was suddenly s!irited away by the authorities. This act of the Government seemed to me to
be surrounded by a foulness which still stin# s in my nostrils . * #now that Mr. )orniman never
desired lawlessness. )e had not li#ed my brea#ing the !rohibitory order of the Pun,ab
Government without the !ermission of the Satyagraha -ommittee, and had fully endorsed the
decision to sus!end civil disobedience. * had even announced my decision to that effect. nly
owing to the distance between Bombay and 1hmedabad * got the letter after the announcement.
)is sudden de!ortation therefore caused me as much !ain as sur!rise.
1s a result of these develo!ments * was as#ed by the directors of The Bombay -hronicle to ta#e
u! the res!onsibility of conducting that !a!er. Mr. Brelvi was already there on the staff, so not
much remained to be done by me, but as usual with my nature, the res!onsibility would have
become an additional ta&.
But the Government came as it were to my rescue, for by its order the !ublication of The
-hronicle had to be sus!ended.
The friends who were directing the management of The -hronicle, .i2, Messrs. Umar Sobani
and Shan#arlal Ban# er, were at this also controlling =oung *ndia. They suggested that, in view
of the su!!ression of The -hronicle , * should now ta#e u! the editorshi! of =oung *ndia, and
that, in order to fill the ga! left by the former, =oung *ndia should be converted from a wee#ly
into a biwee#ly organ. This was what * felt also. * was an&ious to e&!ound the inner meaning of
Satyagraha to the !ublic, and also ho!ed that through this effort * should at least be able to do
,ustice to the Pun,ab situation. 0or, behind all * wrote, there was !otential Satyagraha, and the
Government #new as much. * therefore readily acce!ted the suggestion made by these friends.

But how could the general !ublic be trained in Satyagraha through the medium of 6nglish@ My
!rinci!al field of wor# lay in Gu,arat. S,t. *ndulal =a,ni# was at that time ass ociated with the grou!
of Messrs. Sobani and Ban#er. )e was conducting the Gu,arati monthly %ava,ivan which had
the financial bac#ing of thes e friends. They !laced the monthly at my dis!osal, and further S,t.
*ndulal offered to wor# on it. This monthly was converted into a wee#ly.
*n the meantime The -hronicle was resuscitated. =oung *ndia was therefore restored to its
original wee#ly form. To have !ublished the two wee# lies from two different !laces would have
been very inconvenient to me and involved more e&!enditure. 1s %ava,ivan was already being
!ublished from 1hmedabad =oung *ndia was also removed there at my suggestion.
There were other reasons besides for this change. * had already learnt from my e&!erience of
*ndian !inion that such ,ournals needed a !ress of their own. Moreover the !ress laws in force
in *ndia at that time were s uch that, if * wanted to e&!ress my views untrammelled, the e&isting
!rinting !resses, which were naturally run for business, would have hesitated to !ublish them.
The need for setting u! a !ress of our own, therefore, became all the more im!erative, and since
this could be conveniently done only at 1hmedabad, =oung *ndia too had to be ta#en there.
Through these ,ournals * now commenced to the best of my ability the wor# of educating the
reading !ublic in Satyagraha. Both of them had reached a very wide circulation, which at one time
rose to the neighbourhood of forty thousand each. But while the circ ulation of %ava,ivan went
u! at a bound, that of =oung *ndia increas ed only by slow degrees. 1fter my incarceration the
circulation of both these ,ournals fell to a low ebb, and today stands below eight thousand.
0rom the very start * set my face against ta#ing advertisements in thes e ,ournals. * do not thin#
that they have lost anything thereby. n the contrary, it is my belief that it was in no small
measure hel!ed them to maintain their inde!endence.
*ncidentally these ,ournals hel!ed me also to some e&tent to remain at !eace with myself for,
whilst immediate resort to civil disobedience was out of the 3uestion, they enabled me freely to
ventilate my views and to !ut heart into the !eo!le. Thus * feel that both the ,ournals rendered
good service to the !eo!le in this hour of trial, and did their humble bit towards lightening the
tyranny of the martial law.
Chapter 15$
IN THE PUN6AB
Sir Michael ("wyer held me res!onsible for all that had ha!!ened in the Pun,ab, and some
irate young Pun,abis held me res!onsible for the martial law. They as serted that, if only * had not
sus!ended civil disobedience, there would have been no $alianwala Bagh massacre. Some of
them even went the length of threatening me with assassination if * went to the Pun,ab.
But * felt that my !osition was so correct and above 3uestion that no intelligent !erson could
misunderstand it.
* was im!atient to go to the Pun,ab. * had never been there before, and that made me all the more
an&ious to see things for myself. "r. Satya!al, "r. Kitchly and Pandit +ambha, "utt -howdhari,

who had invited me to the Pun,ab, were at this time in ,ail. But * felt sure that the Government
could not dare to #ee! them and the other !risoners in !rison for long. 1 large number of
Pun,abis used to come and see me whenever * was in Bombay. * ministered to them a word of
cheer on these occasions, and that would comfort them. My self/ confidence of that time was
infectious.
But my going to the Pun,ab had to be !ost!oned again and again. The .iceroy would s ay, (not
yet,( every time * as#ed for !ermission to go there, and so the thing dragged on.
*n the meantime the )unter -ommittee was announced to hold an in3uiry in connection with the
Pun,ab Government(s doings under the martial law. Mr. -. 0. 1ndrews had now reached the
Pun,ab. )is letters gave a heart/rending descri!tion that the martial law atrocities were in fact
even worse than the !ress re!orts had showed. )e !res sed me urgently to come and ,oin him. 1t
the same time Malaviya,i sent telegrams as#ing me to !roceed to the Pun,ab at once. * once more
telegra!hed to the .ic eroy as#ing whether * could now go to the Pun,ab. )e wired bac# in re!ly
that * could go there after a certain date. * cannot e&actly recollect now, but * thin# it was 9Fth of
ctober.
The scene that * witnessed on my arrival at 4ahore can never be effaced from my memory. The
railway station was from end to end one seething mass of humanity. The entire !o!ulace had
turned out of doors in eager e&!ectation, as if to meet a dear relation after a long se!aration, and
was delirious with ,oy. * was !ut u! at the late Pandit +ambha, "utt(s bungalow, and the burden of
entertining me fell on the shoulders of Shrimati Sarala "evi. 1 burden it truly was, for even then,
as now, the !lace where * was accommodated became a veritable caravanserai.
wing to the !rinci!al Pun,ab leaders being in ,ail, their !lace, * found, had been !ro!erly ta#en
u! by Pandit Malaviya,i, Pandit Motilal,i and the late Swami Sharddhanand,i. Malaviya,i and
Shraddhanand,i * had #nown intimately before, but this was the first occasion on which * came in
close !ersonal contact with Motilal,i. 1ll these leaders, as also such local leaders as had esca!ed
the !rivilege of going to ,ail, at once made me feel !erfectly at home amongst them, so that *
never felt li#e a stranger in their midst.
)ow we unanimously decided not to lead evidence before the )unter -ommittee is now a matter
of history. The reasons for that decision were !ublished at that time, and need not be
reca!itulated here. Suffice it to say that, loo#ing bac# u!on these events from this distance of
time, * still feel that our dec ision to boyc ott the -ommittee was abs olutely correct and !ro!er.
1s a logical conse3uence of the boycott of the )unter -ommittee, it was decided to a!!oint a
non/official *n3uiry -ommittee, to hold almost a !arallel in3uiry on behalf of the -ongress. Pandit
Motilal %ehru, the late "eshbandhu -. +. "as, S,t. 1bbas Tyab,i, S,t. M.+.$aya#ar and myself
were a!!ointed to this -ommittee, virtually by Pandit Malaviya,i. 5e distributed ourselves over
various !laces for !ur!oses of in3uiry. The res!onsibility for organi2ing the wor# of the -ommittee
devolved on me, and as the !rivilege of conducting the in3uiry in the largest number of !laces fell
to my lot, * got a rare o!!ortunity of observing at close 3uarters the !eo!le of the Pun,ab and the
Pun,ab villages.
*n the course of my in3uiry * made ac3uaintance with the women of the Pun,ab also. *t was as if
we had #nown one another for ages. 5herever * went they came floc#ing, and laid before me
their hea!s of yarn. My wor# in connection with the in3uiry brought home to me the fact that the
Pun,ab could become a great field for Khadi wor#.
1s * !roceeded further and further with my in3uiry into the atrocities that had been committed on
the !eo!le, * came across tales of Government(s tyranny and the arbitrary des!otism of its
officers such as * was hardly !re!ared for, and they filled me with dee! !ain. 5hat sur!rised me

then, and what still continues to fill me with sur!rise, was the fact that a !rovince that had
furnished the largest number of soldiers to the British Government during the war, should have
ta#en all these brutal e&cesses lying down.
The tas# of drafting the re!ort of this -ommittee was also entrusted to me. * would recommend a
!erusal of this re!ort to any one who wants to have an idea of the #ind of atrocities that were
!er!etrated on the Pun,ab !eo!le. 1ll that * wish to say here about it is that there is not a single
conscious e&aggeration in it anywhere, and every statement made in it is substantiated by
evidence. Moreover, the evidence !ublished was only a fraction of what was in the -ommittee(s
!ossession. %ot a single statement, regarding the validity of which there was the re!ort. This
re!ort, !re!ared as it was solely with a view to bringing out the truth and nothing but the truth, will
enable the reader to see to what lengths the British Government is ca!able of going, and what
inhumanities and barbarities it is ca!able of !er!etrating in order to maintain its !ower. So far as *
am aware, not a single statement made in this re!ort has ever been dis!roved.
Chapter 16'
THE )HILA%AT AGAINST CO+ PROTECTION -
5e must now leave, for the time being these dar# ha!!ening in the Pun,ab.
The -ongress in3uiry into "yerism in the Pun,ab had ,ust commenced, when * received a letter of
invitation to be !resent at a ,oint conference of )indus and Musalmans that was to meet at "elhi
to deliberate on the Khilafat 3uestion. 1mong the signatories to it were the late )a#im 1,mal Khan
Sahab and Mr. 1saf 1li. The late Swami Shraddhanand,i, it was stated, would be attending and, if
* remember aright, he was to be the vice/!resident of the conference, which, so far as * can
recollect, was to be held in the %ovember of that year. The -onference was to deliberate on the
situation arising out of the Khilafat betrayal, and on the 3uestion as to whether the )indus and
Musalmans should ta#e any !art in the !eace celebrations. The letter of invitation went on to say,
among other things, that not only the Khilafat 3uestion but the 3uestion of cow !rotection as well
would be discussed at the conference, and it would, therefore, afford a golden o!!ortunity for a
settlement of the 3ues tion. * did not li#e this reference to the cow 3uestion. *n my letter in re!ly to
the invitation, therefore, whilst !romising to do my best to attend, * suggested that the two
3uestions should not be mi&ed u! together or considered in the s!irit of a bargain, but should be
decided on their own merits and treated s e!arately.
5ith these thoughts filling my mind, * went to the conference. *t was a very well attended
gathering, though it did not !resent the s!ectacle of later gatherings that were attended by tens of
thousands. * discussed the 3uestion referred to above with the late Swami Shraddhanand,i, who
was !resent at the conference. )e a!!reciated my argument and left it to me to !lace it before
the conference. * li#ewise discussed it with the late )a#im Saheb. Before the conference *
contended that, if the Khilafat 3uestion had a ,ust and legitimate basis, as * believe it had, and if
the Government had really committed a gross in,ustic e, the )indus were bound to stand by the
Musalmans in their demand for the redress of the Khilafat wrong. *t would ill become them to
bring in the cow 3uestion in this connection, or to use the occasion to ma# e terms with the
Musalmans, ,ust as it would ill become the Musalmans to offer to sto! cow slaughter as a !rice
for the )indus ( su!!ort on the Khilafat 3uestion. But it would be another matter and 3uite graceful,
and reflect great credit on them, if the Mus almans of their own free will sto!!ed cow slaughter out
of regard for the religious sentiments of the )indus, and from a sense of duty towards them as
neighbours and children of the same soil. To ta#e u! such an inde!endent attitude was, *

contended, their duty, and would enhance the dignity of their conduct. But if the Musalmans
considered it as their neighbourly duty to sto! cow slaughter, they should do so regardless of
whether the )indus hel!ed them in the Khilafat or not. (That being so,( * argued, (the two
3uestions should be discussed inde!endently of each other, and the deliberations of the
conference should be confined to the 3uestion of the Khilafat only.( My argument a!!ealed to
those !resent and, as a result, the 3uestion of cow !rotection was not dis cussed at this
conference.
But in s!ite of my warning Maulana 1bdul Bari Saheb said' (%o matter whether the )indus hel!
us or not, the Musalmans ought, as the countrymen of the )indus, out of regard for the latter(s
susce!tibilities, to give u! cow slaughter.( 1nd at one time it almost loo# ed as if they would really
!ut an end to it.
There was a suggestion from some 3uarters that the Pun,ab 3uestion should be tac#ed on to that
of the Khilafat wrong. * o!!osed the !ro!osal. The Pun,ab 3uestion, * said, was a local affair and
could not therefore weigh with us in our decision to !artici!ate or not in the !eace celebrations . *f
we mi&ed u! the local 3uestion with the Khilafat 3uestion, which aros e directly out of the !eace
terms, we should be guilty of a serious indiscretion. My argument easily carried conviction.
Maulana )asrat Mohani was !resent in this meeting. * had #nown him even before, but it was
only here that * discovered what a fighter he was. 5e differed from each other almost from the
very beginning, and in several matters the differences have !ersisted.
1mong the numerous resolutions that were !assed at this conference, one called u!on both
)indus and Musalmans to ta# e the Swadeshi vow, and as a natural corollary to it, to boycott
foreign goods. Khadi had not as yet found its !ro!er !lace. This was not a resolution that )asrat
Saheb would acce!t. )is ob,ect was to wrea# vengeance on the British 6m!ire, in case ,ustice
was denied in a c ounter !ro!osal for the boycott !urely of British goods so far as !racticable. *
o!!osed it on the score of !rinci!le, as also of !racticability, adducing for it those arguments that
have now become !retty familiar. * also !ut before the conference my view/!oint of non/violence.
* noticed that my arguments made a dee! im!ression on the audience. Before me, )asrat
Mohani(s s!eech had been received with such loud acclamations that * was afraid that mine
would only be a cry in the wilderness. * had made bold to s!ea# only because * felt it would be a
dereliction of duty not to lay my views before the conference. But, to my agreeable sur!rise, my
s!eech was followed with the closest attention by those !resent, and evo#ed a full measure of
su!!ort among those on the !latform, and s!ea#er after s!ea#er rose to deliver s!eeches in
su!!ort of my views. The leaders were able to see that not only would the boycott of British
goods fail of its !ur!ose, but would, if ado!ted, ma#e of them a laughing stoc#. There was hardly
a man !resent in that assembly but had some artic le of British manufacture on his !erson. Many
of the audience therefore reali2ed that nothing but harm could result from ado!ting a resolution
that even those who voted for it were unable to carry out.
(Mere boycott of foreign cloth cannot satisfy us, for who # nows long it will be, before we shall be
able to manufacture Swadeshi cloth in sufficient 3uantity for our needs, and before we can bring
about effective boycott of foreign cloth@ 5e want something that will !roduce an immediate effect
on the British. 4et your boycott of foreign cloth stand, we do not mind it, but give us something
3uic#er, and s!eedier in addition(/ so s!o#e in effect Maulana )asrat Mohani. 6ven as * was
listening to him, * felt that something new, over and above boycott of foreign cloth, would be
necessary. 1n immediate boycott of foreign cloth seemed to me also to be a clear im!ossibility at
that time. * did not then #now that we could, if we li#ed, !roduce enough Khadi for all our clothing
re3uirementsC this was only a later discovery. n the other hand, * #new even then that, if we
de!ended on the mills alone for effecting the boycott of foreign cloth, we should be betrayed. *
was still in the middle of this dilemma when the Maulana c oncluded his s!eech.

* was handica!!ed for want of suitable )ind or Urdu words. This was my first occasion for
delivering an argumentative s!eech before an audience es!ecially com!osed of Musalmans of
the %orth. * had s!o#en in Urdu at the Muslim 4eague at -alcutta, but it was only for a few
minutes, and the s!eech was intended only to be a feeling a!!eal to the audience. )ere, on the
contrary, * was faced with a critical, if not hostile, audience, to whom * had to e&!lain and bring
home my view/!oint. But * had c ast as ide all shyness. * was not there to deliver an addres s in the
faultless, !olished Urdu of the "elhi Muslims, but to !lace before the gathering my views in such
bro# en )indi as * could command. 1nd in this * was successful. This meeting afforded me a direct
!roof of the fact that )indi/Urdu alone c ould become the Jlingua francaJ of *ndia. )ad * s!o#en in
6nglish, * could not have !roduced the im!ression that * did on the audience, and the Maulana
might not have felt called u!on to deliver his challenge. %or, if he had delivered it, could * have
ta#en it u! effec tively.
* could not hit u!on a suitable )indi or Urdu word for the new idea, and that !ut me out
somewhat. 1t last * described it by the word (non/ o!/o!eration,( an e&!ression that * used for the
first time at this meeting. 1s the Maulana was delivering his s!eech, it seemed to me that it was
vain for him to tal# about effective resistance to a Government with which he was co/o!erating in
more than one thing, if resort to arms was im!ossible or undesirable. The only true resistance to
the Government, it therefore seemed to me, was to cease to co/ o!erate with it. Thus * arrived at
the word non/co/o!eration. * had not then a clear idea of all its manifold im!lications. * therefore
did not enter into details. * sim!ly said'
( The Musalmans have ado!ted a very im!ortant resolution. *f the !eace terms are unfavourable
to them / which may God forbid / they will sto! all co/o!eration with Government. *t is an
inalienable right of the !eo!le thus to withhold co/o!eration. 5e are not bound to retain
Government titles and honours, or to continue in Government service. *f Government should
betray us in a great cause li#e the Khilafat, we could not do otherwise than non/co/o!erate. 5e
are therefore entitled to non/co/o!erate with Government in case of a betrayal.(
But months ela!sed before the word non/co/o!eration became current coin. 0or the time being it
was los t in the !roceedings of the conference. *ndeed when * su!!orted the co/o!eration
resolution at the -ongress which met at 1mritsar a month later, * did so in the ho!e that the
betrayal would never come.
Chapter 161
THE AMRITSAR CONGRESS
The Pun,ab Government c ould not #ee! in confinement the hundreds of Pun,abis who, under
the martial law regime, had been cla!!ed into ,ail on the strength of the most meagre evidence by
tribunals that were courts only in name. There was such an outcry all round agains t this flagrant
!iece of in,ustice that their further incarceration became im!ossible. Most of the !risoners were
released before the -ongress o!ened. 4ala )ar#ishanlal and the other leaders were all released,
while the session of the -ongress was still in !rogress. The 1li Brothers too arrived there straight
from ,ail. The !eo!le(s ,oy #new no bounds. Pandit Motilal %ehru, who, at the sac rifice of his
s!lendid !rac tice, had made the Pun,ab his head3uarters and had done great service, was the
Pres ident of the -ongressC the late Swami Shraddhanand,i was the -hairman of the +ece!tion
-ommittee.

U! to this time my share in the annual !roceedings of the -ongress was confined only to the
constructive advocacy of )indi by ma#ing my s!eech in the natinal language, and to !resenting in
that s!eech the case of the *ndians overseas. %or did * e&!ect to be called u!on to do anything
more this year. But, as had ha!!ened on many a !revious occasion, res!onsible wor# came to
me all of a sudden.
The King(s announcement on the new reforms had ,ust been issued. *t was not wholly satisfactory
even to me, and was unsatisfactory to everyone else. But * felt at that time that the reforms,
though defec tive, could still be acce!ted. * felt in the King(s announcement and its language the
hand of 4ord Sinha, and it lent a ray of ho!e. But e&!erienced stalwarts li#e the late 4o#amanya
and "eshabandhu -hittaran,an "as shoo# their heads . Pandit Malaviya,i was neutral.
Pandit Malaviya,i had harboured me in his own room. * had a glim!se of the sim!licity of his life
on the occasion of the foundation ceremony of the )indu UniversityC but on this occasion, being in
the s ame room with him, * was able to observe his daily routine in the closest detail, and what *
saw filled me with ,oyful sur!rise. )is room !resented the a!!earance of a free inn for all the
!oor. =ou could hardly cross from one end to the other. *t was so crowded. *t was accessible at
all odd hours to chance visitors who had the licence to ta#e as much of his time as they li# ed. *n a
corner of this crib lay mycharpaiin all its dignity.
But * may not oc cu!y this cha!ter with a descri!tion of Malaviya,i(s mode of living, and must
return to my sub,ect. * was thus enabled to hold daily discussions with Malaviya,i, who used
lovingly to e&!lain to me, li#e an elder brother, the various view/!oints of the different !arties. *
saw that my !artici!ation in the deliberations on the resolution on the reforms was inevitable.
)aving had my share of res!onsibility in the drawing u! of the -ongress re!ort on the Pun,ab
wrongs, * felt that all that still remained to be done in that connection must claim my attention.
There had to be dealings with Government in that matter. Then similarly there was the Khilafat
3uestion. * further believed at that time that Mr. Montagu would not betray or allow *ndia(s cause
to be betrayed. The release of the 1li Brothers and other !risoners too seemed to me to be an
aus!icious sign. *n these circumstances * felt that a resolution not re,ecting but acce!ting the
reforms was the correct thing. "eshabandhu -hittaran,an "as, on the other hand, held firmly to
the view that the reforms ought to be re,ected as wholly inade3uate and unsatisfactory. The late
4o#amanya was more or les s neutral, but had decided to throw in his weight on the side of any
resolution that the "eshabandhu might a!!rove.
The idea of having to differ from such seasoned, well tried and universally revered leaders was
unbearable to me. But on the other hand the voice of conscience was clear. * tried to run away
from the -ongress and suggested to Pandit Malaviya,i and Motilal,i that it would be in the general
interest if * absented myself from the -ongres s for the rest of the session. *t would save me from
having to ma#e an e&hibition of my difference with such esteemed leaders.
But my suggestion found no favour with these two seniors. The news of my !ro!osal was
somehow whis!ered to 4ala )ar#ishanlal. (This will never do. *t will very much hurt the feelings of
the Pun,abis,( he said. * discussed the matter with 4o#amanya, "eshabandhu and Mr. $innah, but
no way out could be found. 0inally * laid bare my distress to Malaviya,i. (* see no !ros!ec t of a
com!romise,( * told him, (and if * am to move my resolution, a division will have to be called and
votes ta#en. But * do not find here any arrangements for it. The !ractice in the o!en session of
the -ongress so far has been to ta#e votes by a show of hands with the result that all distinction
between visitors and delegates is lost, while, as for ta#ing a count of votes in such vast
assemblies, we have no means at all. So it comes to this that, even if * want to call a division,
there will be no facility for it, nor meaning in it.( But 4ala )ar# ishanlal came to the rescue and
undertoo# to ma#e the necessary arrangements. (5e will not,( he said, (!ermit visitors in the
-ongress !andal on the day on which voting is to ta#e !lace. 1nd as for ta#ing the count, well, *
shall see to that. But you must not absent yours elf from the -ongress.( * c a!itulatedC * framed my
resolution, and in heart trembling undertoo# to move it. Pandit Malaviya,i and Mr. $innah were to

su!!ort it. * could notice that, although our difference of o!inion was free from any trace of
bitterness, and although our s!eeches too contained nothing but cold reasoning, the !eo!le could
not stand the very fact of a differenceC it !ained them. They wanted unanimity.
6ven while s!eeches were being delivered, efforts to settle the difference were being made on
the !latform, and notes were being freely e&changed among the leaders for that !ur!ose.
Malaviya,i was leaving no stone unturned to bridge the gulf. $ust then $eramdas handed over his
amendment to me and !leaded in his own sweet manner to save the delegates from the dilemma
of a division. )is amendment a!!ealed to me. Malaviya,i(s eye was already scanning every
3uarter for a ray of ho!e. * told him that $ eramdas(s amendment seemed to me to be li#ely to be
acce!table to both the !arties. The 4o#amanya, to whom it was ne& t s hown, said, 7*f -.+."as
a!!roves, * will have no ob,ection.( "eshabandhu at last thawed, and cast a loo# towards S,t.
Be!in -handra Pal for endorsement. Malaviya,i was filled with ho!e. )e snatched away the sli! of
!a!er containing the amendment, and before "eshabandhu had even !ronounced a definite
(yes(, shouted out, (Brother delegates, you will be glad to learn that a com!romise had been
reached.( 5hat followed beggars descri!tion. The !andal was rent with the cla!!ing of hands,
and the erstwhile gloomy faces of the audience lit u! with ,oy.
*t is hardly necessary to deal with the te&t of the amendment. My ob,ect here is only to describe
how this resolution was underta#en as !art of my e&!eriments with which these cha!ters deal.
The com!romise further increased my res!onsibility.
Chapter 162
CONGRESS INITIATION
* must regard my !artici!ation in -ongress !roceedings at 1mritsar as my real entrance into the
-ongress !olitics. My attendance at the !revious -ongress was nothing more !erha!s than an
annual renewal of allegiance to the -ongress. * never felt on these occasions that * had any other
wor# cut out for me e&ce!t that of a mere !rivate, nor did * desire more.
My e&!erience of 1mritsar had shown that there were one or two things for which !erha!s * had
some a!titude and which could be useful to the -ongress. * could already see that the late
4o#amanya, the "eshabandhu, Pandit Motilal,i and other leaders were !leased with my wor# in
connection with the Pun,ab in3uiry. They used to invite me to their informal gatherings where, as *
found res olutions for the Sub,ects -ommittee were conceived. 1t these gatherings only those
!ersons were invited who en,oyed the s!ecial confidence of the leaders and whose services were
needed by them. *nterlo!ers also s ometimes found their way to these meetings.
There were, for the coming year, two things which interested me, as * had s ome a!titude for
them. ne of these was the memorial of the $alianwala Bagh Massacre. The -ongress had
!assed a resolution for it amid great enthusiasm. 1 fund of about five la#hs had to be collected for
it. * was a!!ointed one of the trus tees. Pandit Malaviya,i en,oyed the re!utation of being the
!rince among beggars for the !ublic cause. But * #new that * was not far behind him in that
res!ect. *t was whilst * was in South 1frica that * discovered my ca!acity in this direc tion. * had not
the unrivalled magic of Malaviya,i for commanding !rincely donations from the !otentates of *ndia.
But * # new that there was no 3uestion of a!!roaching the +a,as and Mahara,as for donations for
the $alianwala Bagh memorial. The main res !onsibility for the collection thus fell, as * had
e&!ected, on my shoulders. The generous citi2ens of Bombay subscribed most liberally, and the

memorial trust has at !resent a handsome credit balance in the ban#. But the !roblem that faces
the country today is what #ind of memorial to erect on the ground, to sanc tify which, )indus,
Musalmans and Si# hs mingled their blood. The three communities, instead of being bound in a
bond of amity and love, are, to all a!!earance, at war with one another, and the nation is at a loss
as to how to utili2e the memorial fund.
My other a!titude which the -ongress could utili2e was as a draftsman. The -ongress leaders
had found that * had a faculty for condensed e&!ression, which * had ac 3uired by long !ractice.
The then e&isting cons titution of the -ongress was Go#hale(s legacy. )e had framed a few rules
which served as a basis of running the -ongress machinery. The interesting history of the
framing of these rules * had learnt form Go# hale(s own li!s. But everybody had now come to feel
that these rules were no longer ade3uate for the ever increasing business of the -ongress. The
3uestion had been coming u! year after year. The -ongress at that time had !ractically no
machinery functioning during the interval between session and session, or for dealing of the year.
The e&isting rules !rovided for three secretaries, but as a matter of fact only one of them was a
functioning secretary, and even he was not a whole/timer. )ow was he, single/handed, to run the
-ongress office, to thin# of the future, or to discharge during the current year the obilgations
contracted by the -ongress in the !ast@ "uring that year, therefore, everybody felt that this
3uestion would assume all the more im!ortanc e. The -ongress was too unwieldy a body for the
discussion of !ublic affairs. There was no limit set to the number of delegates in the -ongress or
to number of delegates that each !rovince could return, Some im!rovement u!on the e&isting
chaotic condition was thus felt by everybody to be an im!erative necessity. * undertoo# the
res!onsibility of framing a constitution on one condition. * saw that there were two leaders,Jvi2J.,
the 4o#amanya and the "eshabandhu who had the greatest hold on the !ublic. * re3uested that
they, as the re!resentatives of the !eo!le, should be associated with me on the -ommittee for
framing the constitution. But since it was obvious that they would not have the time !ersonally t
!artici!ate in the constitution/ma#ing wor#, * suggested that two !ersons en,oying their
confidence should be a a!!ointed along with me on the -onstitution -ommittee, and that the
number of its !ersonnel should be limited to and the late "eshabandhu, who suggested the
names of S,ts. Kel#ar and *.B. Sen res!ectively as their !ro&ies. The -onstitution -ommittee
could not even once come together, but we were able to consult with each other by
corres!ondence, and in the end !resented a unanimous re!ort. * regard this constitution with a
certain measure of !ride. * hold that, if we could fully wor# out this constitution, the mere fact of
wor#ing it out would bring us Swara,. 5ith the assum!tion of this res!onsibility * may be said to
have made my real entrance into the -ongress !olitics.
Chapter 163
THE BIRTH O% )HADI
* do not remember to have seen a handloom or a s!inning wheel when in 9<A: * described it in
Hind S&araj as the !anacea for the growing !au!erism of *ndia. *n that boo# * too# it as
understood that anything that hel!ed *ndia to get rid of the grinding !overty of her masses would
in the same !rocess also establish Swara,. 6ven in 9<9I, when * returned to *ndia from South
1frica, * had not actually seen a s!inning wheel. 5hen the Satyagraha 1shram was founded at
Sabarmati, we introduced a few handlooms there. But no sooner had we done this than we found
ourselves u! against a difficulty. 1ll of us belonged either to the liberal !rofessions or to businessC
not one of us was an artisan. 5e needed a weaving e&!ert to teach us to weave before we could
wor# the looms. ne was at last !rocured from Palan!ur, but Maganlal Gandhi was not to be

easily baffled. Possessed of a natural talent for mechanics, he was able fully to master the art
before long, and one after another several new weavers were trained u! in the 1shram.
The ob,ect that we set before ourselves was to be able to clothe ourselves entirely in cloth
manufactured by our own hands. 5e therefore forthwith discarded the use of mill/woven cloth,
and all the members of the 1shram resolved to wear hand/woven cloth made from *ndian yarn
only. The ado!tion of this !ractice brought us a world of e&!erience. *t enabled us to # now, from
direct contact, the conditions of life among the weavers, the e&tent of their !roduction, the
handica!s in the way of their obtaining their yarn su!!ly, the way in which they were being made
victims of fraud, and, lastly, their ever growing indebtedness. 5e were not in a !osition
immediately to manufacture all the cloth for our needs. The alternative therefore was to get our
cloth su!!ly from handloom weavers. But ready/made cloth from *ndian mill/yarn was not easily
obtainable either from the cloth/ dealers or from the weavers themselves. 1ll the fine cloth woven
by the weavers was from foreign yarn, since *ndian mills did not s!in fine counts. 6ven today the
outturn of higher counts by *ndian mills is very limited, whilst highest counts they cannot s!in at
all. *t was after the greatest effort that we were at last able to find some weavers who
condescended to weave Swadeshi yarn for us, and only on condition that the 1shram would ta#e
u! all the cloth that they might !roduce. By thus ado!ting cloth woven from mill/yarn as our wear,
and !ro!agating it among our friends, we made ourselves voluntary agents of the *ndian s!inning
mills. This in its turn brought us into contact with the mills, and enabled us to #now something
about their management and their handica!s. 5e saw that the aim of the mills was more and
more to weave the yarn s!un by them' their co/o!eration with the handloom weaver was not
willing, but unavoidable and tem!orary. 5e became im!atient to be able to s !in our own yarn. *t
was c lear that, until we could do this ourselves, de!endence on the mills would remain. 5e did
not feel that we could render any service to the country by continuing as agents of *ndian s!inning
mills.
%o end of difficulties again faced us. 5e could get neither s!inning wheel nor a s!inner to teach
us how to s!in. 5e were em!loying some wheel for filling !earns and bobbins for weaving in the
1shram. But we had no idea that these could be used as s!inning wheels. nce Kalidas $haveri
discovered a woman who, he said, would demonstrate to us how s!inning was done. 5e sent to
her a member of the 1shram who was #nown for his great versatility in learning new things. But
even he returned without wresting the secret of the art.
So the time !assed on, and my im!atience grew with the time. * !lied every chance visitor to the
1shram who was li#ely to !ossess some information about hands!inning with 3uestions about the
art. But the art being confined to women and having been all but e&terminated, if there was some
stray s!inner still surviving in some obsc ure corner, only a member of that se& was li#ely to find
out her whereabouts.
*n the year 9<9F * was ta#en by my Gu,arati friends to !reside at the Broach 6ducational
-onference. *t was here that * discovered that remar#able lady Gangabehn Ma,mundar. She was
a widow, but her enter!rising s!irit #new no bounds. )er education, in the acce!ted sense of the
term, was not much. But in courage and commonsense she easily sur!assed the general run of
our educated women. She had already got rid of the curse of untouchability, and fearlessly
moved among and served the su!!ressed classes. She had means of her own, and her needs
were few. She had a well s easoned constitution, and went about everywhere without an escort.
She felt 3uite at home on horsebac#. * came to #now her more intimately at the Godhra
-onference. To her * !oured out my grief about the char#ha, and she lightened my burden by a
!romise to !rosecute an earnest and incessant search for the s!inning wheel.

Chapter 164
%OUND AT LAST 8
1t last, after no end of wandering in Gu,arat, Gangabehn found the s!inning wheel in .i,a!ur in
the Baroda State. Huite a number of !eo!le there had s!inning wheels in their homes, but had
long since consigned them to the lofts as useless lumber. They e&!ress ed to Gangabehn their
readiness to res ume s!inning, if someone !rovide them with a regular s u!!ly of slivers , and to
buy the yarn s!un by them. Gangabehn communicated the ,oyful news to me. The !roviding of
slivers was founded to be a difficult tas#. n my mentioning the thing to the late Umar Sobani, he
solved the difficulty by immediately underta# ing to send a sufficient su!!ly of slivers from his mill.
* s ent to Gangabehn the slivers received from Umar Sobani, and soon yarn began to !our in at
such a rate that it became 3uite a !roblem how to co!e with it.
Mr. Umar Sobani(s generosity was great, but still one could not go on ta# ing advantage of it for
ever. * felt ill at ease, continuously receiving slivers from him. Moreover, it seemed to me to be
fundamentally wrong to use mill/slivers . *f one could us e mill/ slivers, why not use mill/yarn as
well @ Surely no mills su!!lied slivers to the ancients @ )ow did they ma#e their slivers then @
5ith these thoughts in my mind * suggested to Gangabehn to find carders who could su!!ly
slivers. She confidently undertoo# the tas#. She engaged a carder who was !re!ared to c ard
cotton. )e demanded thirty/five ru!ees, if not much more, !er month. * considered no !rice too
high at the time. She trained a few youngs ters to ma#e slivers out of the carded cotton. * begged
for cotton in Bombay. S,t. =ashvant!rasad "esai at once res!onded. Gangabehn(s enter!rise
thus !ros!ered beyond e&!ectations. She found out weavers to weave the yarn that was s!un in
.i,a!ur, and soon .i,a!ur Khadi gained a name for itself.
5hile these develo!ments were ta#ing !lace in .i,a!ur, the s!inning wheel gained a ra!id footing
in the 1shram. Maganlal Gandhi, by bringing to bear all his s!lendid mechanical talent on the
wheel, made many im!rovements in it, and wheels and their accessories began to be
manufactured at the 1shram. The first !iece of Khadi manufactured in the 1shram cost 9F annas
!er yard. * did not hesitate to commend this very coarse Khadi at that rate to friends, who willingly
!aid the !rice.
* was laid u! in bed at Bombay. But * was fit enough to ma#e searches for the wheel there. 1t last
* chanced u!on two s!inners. They charged one ru!ee for a seer of yarn, i.e., 8: tlasor nearly
three 3uarters of a !ound. * was then ignorant of the economics of Khadi. * considered no !rice
too high for securing hands!un yarn. n com!aring the rates !aid by me with those !aid in
.i,a!ur * found that * was being cheated. The s !inners refused to agree to any reduction in their
rates. So * had to dis!ense with their service. But they served their !ur!ose. They taught s!inning
to Shrimatis 1vanti# abai, +amibai Kamdar, the widowed mother of S,t. Shan#arlal Ban#er and
Shrimati .asumatibehn. The wheel began merrily to hum in my room, and * may say without
e&aggeration that its hum had no small share in restoring me to my health. * am !re!ared to admit
that its effect was more !sychological than !hysical. But then it only shows how !owerfully the
!hysical in man reacts to the !sychological. * too set my hand to the wheel, but did not so muc h
with it at the time.
*n Bombay, again, the same old !roblem of obtaining a su!!ly of hand/ made slivers !resented
itself. 1 carder twanging his bow used to !ass daily by S,t. +evashan# ar(s residence. * sent for
him and learnt that he c arded for slivers, but stuffing mattresses. )e agreed to card for slivers,
but demanded a stiff !rice for it, which, however, * !aid. The yarn thus !re!ared * dis!osed of to

some .aishnava friends for ma#ing from it the gariands for thepavitra ekadashi. S,t. Shiv,i started
a s!inning class in Bombay. 1ll these e&!eriments involved considerable e&!enditure. But it was
willingly defrayed by !atriotic friends, lovers of the motherland, who had faith in Khadi. The
money thus s!ent, in my humble o!inion, was not wasted . *t brought us a rich store of
e&!erience, and revealed to us the !ossibilities of the s!inning wheel.
* now grew im!atient for the e&culsive ado!tion of Khadi for my dress. Mt dhtiwas still of *ndian
mill cloth. The coarse Khadi manufactured in the 1shram and at .i,a!ur was only DA inches in
width. * gave notice to Gangabehn that, unless she !rovided me with a Khadi dhtiof EI inches
with within a month. * would do with coarse, short Khadi dhti. The ultimatum came u!on her as a
shoc#. But she !roved e3ual to the demand made u!on her. 5ell within the month she sent me a
!air of Khadi dhtisof EI inches width, and thus relieved me from what would then have been a
difficult situation for me.
1t about the same time S,t. 4a# shmidas brought S,t. +am,i, the weaver, with his wife Gangabehn
from 4athi to the 1shram and got Khadi dhtiswoven at the 1shram. The !art !layed by this
cou!le in the s!read of Khadi was by no means insignificant. They initiated a host of !ersons in
Gu,arat and als o outside into the art of weaving hand/ s!un yarn. To see Gangabehn at her loom
is a stirring sight. 5hen this unlettered but self/!ossessed sister !lies at her loom, she becomes
so lost in it that it is difficult to distract her attention, and much more difficult to draw her eyes off
her beloved loom.
Chapter 165
AN INSTRUCTI.E DIALOGUE
0rom its very ince!tion the Khadi movement, Swadeshi movement as it was then called, evo#ed
much criticism from the mill/owners. The late Umar Sobani, a ca!able mill/owner himself, not only
gave me the benefit of his own #nowledge and e&!erience, but #e!t me in touc h with the o!inion
of the other mill/owners as well. The argument advanced by one of these dee!ly im!ressed him.
)e !ressed me to meet him. * agreed. Mr. Sobani arranged the interview. The mill/owner o!ened
the conversation.
(=ou #now that there has been Swadeshi agitation before now @(
(=es, * do,( * re!lied.
(=ou are also aware that in the days of the Partition we, the mill/ owners, fully e&!loited the
Swadeshi movement. 5hen it was at its height, we raised the !ric es of c loth, and did even worse
things.(
(=ou, * have heard something about it, and it has grieved me.(
(* can understand your grief, but * can see no ground for it. 5e are not conducting our business
out of !hilanthro!y. 5e do it for !rofit, we have got to satisfy the shareholders. The !rice of an
article is governed by the demand for it. 5ho can chec# the law of demand and su!!ly @ The
bengalis should have #nown that their agitation was bound to send u! the !rice of Swadeshi cloth
by stimulating the demand for it.(

* interru!ted' (The Bengalis li#e me were trustful in their nature. They believed, in the fulness of
their faith, that the mill/owners would not be so utterly selfish and un!atriotic as to betray their
country in the hour of its need, and even to go the length, as they did, of fraudulently !assing off
foreign cloth as Swadeshi.(
(* #new your believing nature,( he re,oinedC (that is why * !urt you to the trouble of coming to me,
so that * might warn you against falling into the same error as these sim!le/hearted Bengalis.(
5ith these words the mill/owner bec #oned to his cler# who wa standing by to !roduce sam!les of
the stuff that was being manufactured in his mill. Pointing to it he said' (4oo# at this stuff. This is
the latest variety turned out by our mill. *t is meeting with a wides!read demand. 5e manufacture
it from the waste. %aturally, therefore, it is chea!. 5e send it as far %orth as the valleys of the
)imalayas. 5e have agencies all over the country, even in !laces where your voice or your
agents can never reach. =ou can thus see that we do not stand in need of more agents. Besides,
you ought to #now that *ndia(s !roduction of cloth falls far short of its re3uirements. The 3uestion
of Swadeshi, therefore, largely resolves itself into one of !roduction. The moment we can
increase our !roduction sufficiently, and im!rove its 3uality to the necessary e&tent, the im!ort of
foreign cloth will automatically cease. e&tent, the im!ort of foreign cloth will automatically cease.
My advice to you, therefore, is not to carry on your agitation on its !resent lines, but to turn your
attention to the erection of fresh mills. 5hat we need is not !ro!aganda to inflate demand for our
goods, but greater !roduction.(
(Then, surely, you will bless my effort, if * am laready engaged in that very thing,( * as#ed.
()ow c an that be @( he e&claimed, a bit !u22led, (but may be, you are thin#ing of !romoting the
establishment of new mills, in which case you certainly deserve to be congratulated.(
( * am not doing e&actly that,( * e&!lained, (but * am engaged in the revival of the s!inning wheel.(
(5hat is that @( he as#ed, feeling s till more at sea. * told him all about the s!inning wheel, and the
story of my long 3uest after it, and added, (* am entirely of your o!inionC it is no use my becoming
virtually an agent for the mils. That would do more harm than good to the country. ur mills will
not be in want of custom for a long time to come. My wor# should be, and therefore is , to organi2e
the !roduction of hands!un cloth, and to find means for the dis!osal of the Khadi thus !roduced. *
am, therefore, concentrating my attention on the !roduc tion of Khadi. * swear by this form of
Swadeshi, because through it * can !rovide wor# to the semi/starved, semi/em!loyed women of
*ndia. My idea is to get these women to s!in yarn, and to clothe the !eo!le of *ndia with Khadi
woven out of it. * do not # now how far this movement is going to succeed, at !resent it is only in
the inci!ient stage. But i have full faith in it. 1t any rate it can do no harm. n the contrary to the
e&tent that it can add to the cloth !roduction of the country, he it ever so small, it will re!resent so
much solid gain. =ou will thus !erceive that my movement is free from the evils mentioned by
you.(
)e re!lied, (*f you have additional !roduction in view in organi2ing your movement, * have nothing
to say agains t it. 5hether the s!inning wheel can ma#e headway in this age of !ower machinery
is another 3uestion. But * for one wish you every success.
Chapter 166
ITS RISING TIDE

* must not devote any more cha!ters here to a descri!tion of the further !rogress of Khadi. *t
would be outside the sco!e of these cha!ters to give a history of my various activities after they
came before the !ublic eye, and * must not attem!t it, if only because to do so would re3uire a
treatise on the sub,ect. My ob,ect in writing these cha!ters is sim!ly to describe how certain
things , as it were s!ontaneously, !resented themselves to me in the course of my e&!eriments
with truth.
To resume, then, the story of the non/co/o!eration movement. 5hilst the !owerful Khilafat
agitation set u! by the 1li Brothers was in full !rogress, * had long discussions on the sub,ect with
the late Maulana 1bdul Bari and the other %lema, es!ecially, with regard to the e&tent to which a
Musalman could observe the rule of non/violence. *n the end they all agreed that *slam did not
forbid its followers from following non/violence as a !olicy, and further, that, while they were
!ledged to that !olicy, they were bound faithfully to carry it out. 1t last the non/co/o!eration
resolution was moved in the Khilafat conference, and carried after !rolonged deliberations. * have
a vivid recollection how once at 1llahabad a committee sat all night deliberating u!on the sub,ect.
*n the beginning the late )a#im Saheb was sec!tic al as to the !racticability of non/violent non/co/
o!eration. But after his sce!ticism was overcome he threw hims elf into it heart and soul, and his
hel! !roved invaluable to the movement.
%e&t, the non/co/o!eration resolution was moved by me at the Gu,arat !olitical conference that
was held shortly afterwards. The !reliminary contention raised by the o!!osition was that it was
not com!etent to a !rovincial conference to ado!t a resolution in advance of the -ongress . 1s
against this, * suggested that the restriction could a!!ly only to a bac#ward movementC but as for
going forward, the subordinate organi2ations were not only fully com!etent, but were in duty
bound to do so, if they had in them the necessary girt and confidence. %o !ermission, * argued
was needed to try to enhanc e the !restige of the !arent institution, !rovided one did it at one(s
own ris#. The !ro!osition was then discussed on its merits, the debate being mar#ed by its
#eenness no less than the atmos!here of (sweet reasonableness( in which it was conducted. n
the ballot being ta#en the resolution was declared carried by an overwhelming ma,ority. The
successful !assage of the resolution was due not a little to the !ersonality of S,t. .allabhbhai and
1bbas Tyab,i. The latter was the !resident, and his leanings were all in favour of the non/co/
o!eration resolution.
The 1ll/*ndia -ongress -ommittss resolved to hold a s!ecial session of the -ongress in
Se!tember 9<8A at -alcutta to deliberate on this 3uestion Pre!arations were made for it on a
large scale. 4ala 4a,!at +ai was elected President . -ongress and Khilafat s!ecials were run to
-alcutta from Bombay. 1t -alcutta there was a mammoth gathering of delegates anad visitors.
1t the re3uest of Maulana Shau# at 1li * !re!ared a draft of the non/ co/o!eration resolution in the
train. U! to this time * had more or less avoided the use of the word non/vilent in my drafts. *
invariably made use of this word in my s!eeches. My vocabulary on the sub,ect was still in
!rocess of formation. * found that * could not bring home of the Sams#rit e3uivalent for non/
violent. * therefore as#ed Maulana 1bdul Kalam 12ad to give me some other e3uivalent for it. )e
suggested the word ba.amanC similarly for non/co/o!eration he suggested the !hrase tark.i.
mavalat.
Thus, while * was still busy devising suitable )indi, Gu,arati and Urdu !hraseology for non/co/
o!eration, * was called u!on to frame the non/co/o!eration resolution for that eventful -ongress.
*n the original draft the word (non/violent( had been left out by me. * had handed over the draft to
Maulana Shau# at 1li who was travelling in the same com!artment, without noticing the omission.
"uring the night * disc overed the error. *n the morning * sent Mahadev with the message that the
omission should be made good before the draft was sent to the !ress. But * have an im!ression
that the draft was !rinted before the insertion could be made. The Sub,ects -ommittee was to

have met the s ame evening. * had therefore to ma#e the necessary correction in the !rinted
co!ies of the draft. * afterwards saw that there would have been great difficulty, had * not been
ready with my draft.
%one the less my !light was !itiable indeed. * was absolutely at sea as to who would su!!ort the
resolution and who would o!!ose it. %or had * any idea as to the attitude that 4ala,i would ado!t. *
only saw an im!osing !halan& of veteran warriors assembled for the fray at -alcutta, "r. Besant,
Pandit Malaviya,i, S,t. .i,ayaraghavachari, Pandit Motilal,i and the "eshabandhu being some of
them.
*n my resolution non/co/o!eration was !os tulated only with a view to obtaining redress of the
Pun,ab and the Khilafat wrongs. That, however, did not a!!eal to S,t. .i,ayaraghavachari. (*f non/
co/ o!eration was to be declared, why should it be with reference to !articular wrongs @ The
absence of Swara, was the biggest wrong that the non/co/o!eration should be directed,( he
argued. Pandit Motilal,i als o wanted the demand for Swara, to be included in the resolution. *
readily acce!ted the suggestion and incor!orated the demand for Swara, in my resolution, which
was !ass ed after an e&haustive, serious and somewhat s tromy discussion.
Motilal,i was the first to ,oin the movement. * still remember the sweet discussion that * had with
him on the resolution. )e suggested some changes in its !hraseology which * ado!ted. )e
undertoo# to win the "eshabandhu for the movement. The he felt sce!tical as to the ca!acity of
the !eo!le to c arry out the !rogramme. *t was only at the %ag!ur -ongress that he and 4ala,i
acce!ted it whole heartedly.
* felt the loss of the late 4o#amanya very dee!ly at the s!ecial session. *t has been my firm faith
to this day that, had the 4o#amanya been then alive, he would have given his benedictions to me
on that occasion. But even if it had been otherwise, and he had o!!osed the movement, * should
still have esteemed his o!!osition as a !rivilege and an education for myself. 5e had our
differences of o!inion always, but they never led to bitterness. )e always allowed me to believe
that the ties between us were of the closest. 6ven as * write these lines, the circumstances of his
death stand forth vividly before my mind(s eye. *t was about the hour of midnight, when
Patwardhan, who was then wor#ing with me, conveyed over the tele!hone the news of his death.
* was at that time surrounded by me com!anions. S!ontaneously the e&clamation esca!ed my
li!s, (My strongest bulwar# is gone.( The non/ co/o!eration movement was then in full swing, and
* was eagerly loo#ing forward to encouragement and ins!iration from him. 5hat his attitude would
have been with regard to the final !hase of non/coo!eration will always be a matter of
s!eculation, and an idle one at that. But this much is certain that the dee! void left by his death
weighed heavily u!on everybody !resent at -alcutta. 6veryone felt the absence of his counsels
in that hour of crisis in the nation(s history.
Chapter 16
AT NAGPUR
The resolutions ado!ted at the -alcutta s!ecial session of the -ongress were to be confirmed
at its annual session at %ag!ur. )ere again, as at -alcutta there was a great rush of visitors and
delegates. The number of delegates in the -ongress had not been limited yet. 1s a result, so far
as * can remember, the figure on this occasion reached about fourteen thousand. 4ala,i !ressed
for a slight amendment to the clause about the boycott of schools, whic h * acce!ted. Similarly

some amendments were made at the instance of the "eshabandhu, after which the non/co/
o!eration resolution was !assed unanimously.
The resolution regarding the revision of the -ongress constitution too was to be ta#en u! at this
session of the -ongress. the s ub/ committee(s draft was !resented at the -alcutta s!ecial
session. The matter had therefore been thoroughly ventilated and thrashed out. 1t the %ag!ur
session, where it came u! for final dis!osal, S,t. -. .i,ayaraghavachariar was the President. The
Sub,ects -ommittee !assed the draft with only one im!ortant change. *n my draft the number of
delegates had been fi&ed, * thin# , at 9,IAA C the Sub,ects -ommittee substituted in its !lace the
figure ;,AAA. *n my o!inion this increase was the result of hasty ,udgment, and e&!erience of all
these years has only confirmed me in my view. * hold it to be an utter delusion to believe that a
large number of delegates is in any way a hel! to the better conduct of the business, or that it
safeguards the !rinci!le of democracy. 0ifteen hundred delegates, ,ealous of the interests of the
!eo!le, broad/minded and truthful, would any day be a better safeguard for democracy than si&
thousand irres!onsible men chosen anyhow. To safeguard democracy the !eo!le must have a
#een sense of inde!endence, self/res!ect and their oneness, and should insist u!on choosing as
their re!resentatives only such !ersons as are good and true. But obsessed with the idea of
numbers as the Sub,ects -ommittee was, it would have li# ed to go even beyond the figure of si&
thousand. The limit of si& thousand was therefore in the nature of a com!romise.
The 3uestion of the goal of the -ongress formed a sub,ect for #een discussion. *n the constitution
that * had !resented, the goal of the -ongress was the attainment of Swara, within the British
6m!ire if !ossible and without if neces sary. 1 !arty in the -ongress wanted to limit the goal to
Swara, within the British 6m!ire only. *ts view/ !oint was !ut forth by Pandit Malaviya,i and Mr.
$innah. But they were not able to get many votes . 1gain the draft constitution !rovided that the
means for the attainment were to be !eaceful and legitimate. This condition too came in for
o!!osition, it being contended that there should be no restriction u!on the means to be ado!ted.
But the -ongress ado!ted the original draft after an instructive and fran# discussion. * am of
o!inion that, if this constitution had been wor#ed out by the !eo!le honestly, intelligently and
2ealously, it would have become a !otent instrument of mass education, and the very !rocess of
wor#ing it out would have brought us Swara,. But a discussion of the theme would be irrelevant
here.
+esolutions about )indu/Muslim unity, the removal of untouchability and Khadi too were !assed
in this -ongress, and since then the )indu members of the -ongress have ta#en u!on
themselves the res!onsibility of ridding )induism of the curse of untouchability, and the -ongress
has established a living bond of relationshi! with the (s#eletons( of *ndia through Khadi. The
ado!tion of non/co/o!eration for the sa#e of the Khilafat was its elf a great !ractical attem!t made
by the -ongress to bring about )indu/Muslim unity.
Chapter 16#
%ARE+ELL
The time has now come to bring these cha!ters to a close.
My life from this !oint onward has been so !ublic that there is hardly anything about it that !eo!le
do not #now. Moreover, s ince 9<89 * have wor#ed in such close association with the -ongress
leaders that * can hardly describe any e!isode in my life since then without referring to my
relations with them. 0or though Shraddhanand,i, the "eshabandhu, )a#im Saheb and 4ala,i are
no more with us today, we have the good luc# to have a host of other veteran -ongress leaders
still living and wor#ing in our midst. The history of the -ongress, since the great changes in it that
* have described above, is still in the ma#ing. 1nd my !rinci!al e&!eriments during the !ast s even
years have all been made through the -ongress. 1 reference to my relations with the leaders
would therefore be unavoidable, if * set about describing my e&!eriments further. 1nd this * may
not do, at any rate for the !resent, if only from a sense of !ro!riety. 4astly, my conclusions from
my current e&!eriments can hardly as yet be regarded as decisive. *t therefore seems to me to be
my !lain duty to close this narrative here. *n fact my !en instinc tively refuses to !roceed further.
*t is not without a wrench that * have to ta#e leave of the reader. * set a high value on my
e&!eriments. * do not #now whether * have been able to do ,ustice to them. * can only say that *
have s!ared no !ains to give a faithful narrative. To describe truth, as it has a!!eared to me, and
in the e& act manner in which * have arrived at it, has been my ceaseless effort. The e&ercise has
given me ineffable mental !eace, because, it has been my fond ho!e that it might bring faith in
Truth and 1himsa to waverers.
My uniform e&!erience has convinced me that there is no other God than Truth. 1nd if every
!age of these cha!ters does not !roclaim to the reader that the only means for the reali2ation of
Truth is 1himsa, * shall deem all my labour in writing these cha!ters to have been in vain. 1nd,
even though my efforts in this behalf may !rove fruitless, let the readers #now that the vehicle,
not the great !rinci!le, is at fault. 1fter all, however sincere my strivings after 1himsa may have
been, they have still been im!erfect and inade3uate. The little fleeting glim!ses, therefore, that *
have been able to have of Truth can hardly convey an idea of the indescribable lustre of Truth, a
million times more intense than that of the sun we daily see with our eyes. *n fact what * have
caught is only the fainest glimmer of that mightly effulgence. But this much * can say with
assuranc e, as a result of all my e&!eriments, that a !erfect vision of Truth can only follow a
com!lete reali2ation of 1himsa.
To see the universal and all/!ervading S!irit of Truth face to face one must be able to love the
meanest of creation as oneself. 1nd a man who as!ires after that cannot afford to #ee! out of any
field of life. That is why my devotion to Truth has drawn me into the field of !oliticsC and * can say
without the slightest hesitation, and yet in all humility, that those who say that religion has nothing
to do with !olitics do not #now what religion means.
*dentification with everything that lives is im!ossible without self/ !urificationC without self/
!urification the observance of the law of 1himsa must remain an em!ty dreamC God can never be
reali2ed by one who is not !ure of heart. Self/!urification therefore must mean !urification in all
the wal#s of life. 1nd !urification being highly infectious, !urification of oneself necessarily leads
to the !urification of one(s surroundings.
But the !ath of self/!urification is hard and stee!. To attain to !erfect !urity one has to become
absolutely !assion/free in thought, s!eech and actionC to rise above the o!!osing currents of love
and hatred, attachment and re!ulsion. * #now that * have not in me as yet that tri!le !urity, in s!ite
of constant ceaseless striving for it. That is why the world(s !raise fails to move me, indeed it very
often stings me. To con3uer the subtle !assions to me to be harder far than the !hysical
con3uest of the world by the force of arms. 6ver since my return to *ndia * have had e& !erience of
the dormant !assions lying hidden with in me. The #nowledge of them has made me feel
humiliated though not defeated. The e&!eriences and e&!eriments have sustained me and given
me great ,oy. But * #now that * have still before me a difficult !ath to traverse. * must reduc e
muself to 2ero. So long as a man does not of his own free will !ut himself last among his fellow
creatures, there is no salvation for him. 1himsa is the farthest limit of humility.
*n bidding farewell to the reader, for the time being at any rate, * as# him to ,oin with me in !rayer
to the God of Truth that )e may grant me the boon of 1himsa in mind, word and deed.
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