In late 1885, Gandhi's father Karamchand died.

[68]
Gandhi, then 16 years old, and his wife of age 17 had
their first baby, who survived only a few days. The two
deaths anguished Gandhi.[68] The Gandhi couple had
four more children, all sons: Harilal, born in 1888;
Manilal, born in 1892; Ramdas, born in 1897; and
Devdas, born in 1900.[64]

In November 1887, the 18-year-old Gandhi graduated

from high school in Ahmedabad.[69] In January 1888, he
enrolled at Samaldas College in Bhavnagar State, then
the sole degree-granting institution of higher education
in the region. However, he dropped out, and returned to
his family in Porbandar.[70]
Gandhi had dropped out of the cheapest college he
could afford in Bombay.[71] Mavji Dave Joshiji, a
Brahmin priest and family friend, advised Gandhi and his
family that he should consider law studies in
London.[72][73] In July 1888, his wife Kasturba gave
birth to their first surviving son, Harilal.[74] His mother
was not comfortable about Gandhi leaving his wife and
family, and going so far from home. Gandhi's uncle
Tulsidas also tried to dissuade his nephew. Gandhi
wanted to go. To persuade his wife and mother, Gandhi
made a vow in front of his mother that he would abstain
from meat, alcohol and women. Gandhi's brother
Laxmidas, who was already a lawyer, cheered Gandhi's
London studies plan and offered to support him. Putlibai
gave Gandhi her permission and blessing.[70][75]

Gandhi in London as a law student

On 10 August 1888, Gandhi aged 18, left Porbandar for
Mumbai, then known as Bombay. Upon arrival, he
stayed with the local Modh Bania community whose
elders warned him that England would tempt him to
compromise his religion, and eat and drink in Western
ways. Despite Gandhi informing them of his promise to
his mother and her blessings, he was excommunicated
from his caste. Gandhi ignored this, and on 4 September,
he sailed from Bombay to London, with his brother
seeing him off.[74][71] Gandhi attended University
College, London, where he took classes in English
literature with Henry Morley in 1888–1889.[76]