The story of

my
Group 4

experiments
with Truth
 COMPARISON
BRIEF WITH
01 NARRATIV 03 BUSINESS
E LEADERS
02 DISCUSSION 04 THEME’S
ON THE RELEVANC
PROTAGONI E TODAY
ST
 3
IT IS NOT MY PURPOSE TO ATTEMPT A REAL
AUTOBIOGRAPHY. I SIMPLY WANT TO TELL
STORY OF MY EXPERIMENTS WITH TRUTH….
AS MY LIFE CONSISTS OF NOTHING BUT
THOSE EXPERIMENTS
—MAHATMA GANDHI
 BRIEF
NARRATIVE OF

Protagonist & the Theme

THE STORY
4
Traces Gandhi's life from his birth in Porbandar until the
end of 1920, after his policy of non-cooperation with
government is passed by the All-India Congress
Committee
The Childhood

● Belonged to Bania caste

● His father, Kaba Gandhi, was
Prime Minister from the State of
Rajkot and outlived 4 wives.
5
● Mohandas was the youngest son
of Kaba.
● Kaba who spent his life in public
service was an inspiration to
Gandhi.
Early adoption of truth

● A story about the arrival of

school inspector Mr.Giles in his
school for inspection.
● Giles took a word spelling test in
6
which gandhiji could not spell
the word ‘kettle’ inspite of the
school teacher prompting him to
copy from others.
● He never learnt the art of
copying or cheating.
Text that influenced

● The Play “Harishchandra”

● Shravana Pitrabhakti Nataka

7
 Early Marriage
“It is my painful duty to have to record here
my marriage at the age of thirteen...I can
see no moral argument in support of such a
preposterously early marriage.”
8
● Got married at 13 to Kasturba
Gandhi
● Was against early marriage
Other incidents

● Death of his father

● He detained physical education
in school but in the later part of
the book, praised about it.
9
Second class treatment to
Indians in Africa

● Rule of British & Dutch in South Africa

● The white settler and the independent
Boer states continued to engage in
volatile interactions with the British, so a
threat of violent eruptions always loomed
large. 10
● In order to placate both the Boer and
other white settlers, the British adopted a
number of racist policies, and while the
Indians, most of them working on sugar
and coffee plantations, did not suffer as
much as the black population, they
clearly experienced a treatment as
second-class citizens.
Initial struggle in Africa

● Gandhi repeatedly experienced the sting of

humiliation during his long African
sojourn.
● The incident at Maritzburg - Gandhi was
thrown off the train has become justly
famous. When Gandhi, as a matter of 11

principle, refused to leave the first class

compartment, he was thrown off the train.
● Later, Gandhi also had difficulty being
admitted to hotels, and saw that his fellow-
Indians, who were mostly manual laborers,
experienced even more unjust treatment.
Transvaal Indians: Public Figure

● This into a growing sense of outrage and

propelled him into assuming a position as a
public figure at the assembly of Transvaal
Indians.
● He delivered his first speech urging Indians
not to accept inequality but instead to unite, 12

work hard, learn English and observe clean

living habits.
Resonance with Tolstoy
● Though stuck in his barrister’s work, Gandhi found
time to read ‘Tolstoy’
● Greatly influenced his understanding of peace and
justice and eventually inspired him to write to Tolstoy,
setting the beginning of a prolific correspondence.
● Both Tolstoy and Gandhi shared a philosophy of non-
violence and Tolstoy's harsh critique of human society 13
resonated with Gandhi's outrage at racism in South
Africa.
Spiritual quest fulfilled from
Bhagwat Gita & Raychandra
● Gandhiji took inspiration from Bhagwat Gita. Viewed
his work not as self-denial at all, but as a higher form
of self-fulfillment
● Adopting a philosophy of selflessness even as a public
man, Gandhi refused to accept any payment for his
work on behalf of the Indian population, preferring to
support himself with his law practice alone. 14
● He also had work with Raychandra. He deeply began
to appreciate Hinduism as a non violent faith and its
related scriptures
● Such deep appreciation also gave birth to a desire to
seek inner purity and illumination, without solely
relying on external sources, or on the dogma within
every faith
Stay Back in Africa
● Even after his work got completed, he stayed back in
South Africa.
● This pivotal reason involved the "Indian Franchise
Bill", with which the Natal legislature intended to
deprive Indians of the right to vote.
● Only Gandhi and some of his friends opposed.
● Although a last-minute petition drive failed to the 15
Indian Franchise Bill from passing, Gandhi remained
active and organized a much larger petition, which he
sent to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in
London, and distributed to the press in South Africa,
Britain and India.
● The petition raised awareness of the plight of Indians
and generated discussions in all three continents to the
point where both the Times of London and the Times
of India published editorials in support of the Indian
right to the vote.
Natal Indian Congress
● Purpose: Meeting, library, finances
● They also issued two major pamphlets, An Appeal to
Every Briton in South Africa, and The Indian
Franchise–An Appeal, which offered a logical
argument against racial discrimination

16
Natal Indian Congress
● Purpose: Meeting, library, finances
● They also issued two major pamphlets, An Appeal to
Every Briton in South Africa, and The Indian
Franchise–An Appeal, which offered a logical
argument against racial discrimination

17
Brief return to India
● In 1896, he made brief return to India.
● He noticed he enjoyed popularity in India, when he
visited Madras.
● Sailed back to South Africa in Dec 1896.
● As Gandhi resumed his work at the Natal Indian
Congress, his loyalty to the British guided him to assist
them in the Boer War, which started three years later. 18
● Because Gandhi remained a passionate pacifist, he
wanted to participate in the Boer War without actually
engaging in violence so he organized and led an
Indian Medical Corps which served the British in a
number of battles, including the important battle of
Spion Kop in January 1900.
Belief on Britishers
● In 1896, he made brief return to India.
● Gandhi believed that the British Empire shared the
values of liberty and equality.
● He also believed that British constituency deserved
loyalty and respect from all people including Indians.
● He viewed racist policy in South Africa as a temporary
characteristic aberration, rather than a permanent 19
tendency.
● Gandhi expected that the win of British in British &
Dutch outrage will bring some peace to Indians in
Africa and allow him to return to India.
● Soon after he reached India, he was called back by
Natal Indian Congress, as he was informed that British
& Boer formed alliance and are acting in detriment to
Indians.
Protect Indians
● Gandhi travelled back to South Africa immediately
and met with Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of
State for the Colonies.
● Chamberlain refused to take action on Gandhi’s
paper on injustice and told that they need to follow
the instructions of Afrikaners.
● Fast response by Gandhi,
20
○ Instead of working in Natal, he now
established a camp in the newly conquered
Transvaal region and began helping Indians
who had escaped from the war in that region,
and now had to purchase overly expensive re-
entry passes.
○ New magazine - Indian Opinion
Changes in other facets of life
● Brahmachary - Voluntary absenteeism from sexual
relationships (philosophy of selflessness or self
restraint)
● Satyagraha - “truth force” - this practice meant
protesting injustice steadfastly, but in a non-violent
manner.
● He put this theory into practice on September 8, 1906, 21
when, at a large gathering of the Indian community in
Transvaal, he asked the whole community to take a
vow of disobedience to the law, as the Transvaal
government had started an effort to register every
Indian child over the age of eight, which would make
them an official part of the South African population.
Gandhi against Unjust rules
● In response to strikingly unjust rules, Gandhi
organized a large-scale satyagraha, which involved
women crossing the Natal-Transvaal border illegally.
When they were arrested, five thousand Indian coal
miners also went on strike.
● Although Smuts and Gandhi did not agree on many
points, they had respect for each other. 22
● In 1913, Smuts relented due to the sheer number of
Indians involved in protest and negotiated a settlement
which provided for the legality of Indian marriages
and abolished the poll tax. Further, the import of
indentured laborers from India was to be phased out by
1920. In July 1914, Gandhi sailed for Britain, now
admired as "Mahatma," and known throughout the
world for the success of satyagraha.
Role in the World War
● The Great War (WW1) broke on 4th August, 1913
● Held the view that Indians in England out to help England with
the War
● Considered it an opportunity to win favour with the British – for
he considered the British System to be fair, and held individual
British Officials responsible for discrimination and slavery.
Trained for Medical Aid for 6 weeks
23

“Because ahimsa is the unity of all life, the error of one cannot but
affect all, and hence a man cannot be wholly free from himsa. So long
as he continues to be a social being, he cannot but participate in the
himsa that the very existence of society involves. When two nations
are fighting, the duty of the votary of ahimsa is to stop the war. He
who is not equal to that duty, he who has no power of resisting war,
he who is not qualified to resist war, may take part in the war, and yet
wholeheartedly try to free himself, his nation and the world from
war.”
Return to India - Humility
● Returned to India at the start of the first World War
(1913-19), proclaimed as Mahatama
● Expressed unease with the title, insisted that all souls
are equal
● Established Satyagraha Ashram in 1915
● Lived with untouchables
24
● Helped with Indigo farmers (tinkathia) – Champaran
Satyagrah
Pragmatism
● Gave up vow to not consume milk after prolonged coaxing
over deteriorating health conditions
● Broke the spirit of his vow by consuming Goat milk instead
● Hadtal in Bombay on April 6th - refused to have the crowds
pledge Satyagraha unless they understood its full
implications
25
“I have noticed this characteristic difference in popular
attitude - partiality for exciting work, dislike for quiet
constructive work”

● Ahmedabad - Suspended Satyagrah over violence and

insufficient commitment to non-violent means among
supporters
 Discussion on
protagonist with
reference to the theme

Mahatma Gandhi
Ethics & Follies
The turning point
 ETHICS & FOLLIES
The understanding of what is morally right and morally
wrong is called the Ethics. It addresses the fundamental
issues of decision making.

While follies talk about the mistakes done out of

foolishness which lead to the wrong consequences.
Truth Service to Others Means and ends
29

Honesty & Integrity Righteousness

 I.TRUTH

“My religion is based on

truth and non-violence.
Truth is my God. Non-
30

violence is the means of

realising Him.”
 Satyagraha
Satyagraha means holding
on to truth devotion to truth,
remaining firm on the truth
and resisting untruth actively
but nonviolently
Sabarmati Ashram Movements
It was from his base here There were various
that Gandhi led the Dandi movements led by Mahatma
march also known as the Gandhi where he practiced
Salt Satyagraha on 12 March holding on to the truth to
1930. achieve effective results
31
Satyagraha
● Gandhi first conceived satyagraha in 1906 in
response to a law discriminating against Asians that
was passed by the British colonial government of
the Transvaal in South Africa.
● Apart from holding on to the truth, Satyagraha also
stands for being non-violent and only showcasing a
civil resistance. 32
● It was a movement started by Gandhi but not limited
to him. It ended up influencing leaders like Martin
Luther King Jr & Nelson Mandela in their respective
struggles.
● One of the strongest movements associated with
Satyagraha in India was the Civil disobedience
movement which consisted of the Salt March led by
Mahatma Gandhi
● Led to an arrest of 60K people along with Gandhi,
but it struck a symbolic win of how people can defy
laws set by British
 Sabarmati Ashram
“This is the right place for our activities to carry on the search
for truth and develop fearlessness, for on one side are the iron
bolts of the foreigners, and on the other the thunderbolts of
Mother Nature."

● Sabarmati Ashram, earlier known as Satyagraha

Ashram is located in the Sabarmati suburb of 33
Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
● Sabarmati Ashram was created with a dual mission.
To serve as an institution that would carry on a
search for truth and a platform to bring together a
group of workers committed to non-violence who
would help secure freedom for India.
Other movements based on
Truth
● A South African General by the name of Jan
Christian Smuts promised to eliminate the
registration law, but broke his word. Gandhi did not
waiver, instead he went all the way to London in
1909 and gathered enough support among the
British to convince Smuts to eliminate the law in
1913.
● Gandhiji was persuaded to study the conditions of 34
the Indigo Plantation workers in Champaran, a
district in Bihar. The peasants were required to
mandatorily cultivate indigo in 3/20th of their land
holdings. Through Satyagraha, a compromise was
reached and Planters were ordered to refund 25% of
the amount they had illegally taken.
 II. Service to Others

“The best way to find 35

yourself is to lose
yourself in the service of
others.”
 Harijans
In 1932, Gandhi founded the
Harijan Sevak Sangh as part
of his efforts to eradicate the
concept of ‘untouchability’
from India’s caste system.
People’s Rights
Gandhi devoted most of his
time in service of others and
fighting against injustice for
people’s rights, both in
South Africa & on returning
to India
Military Service
Gandhi took active part in
military services back in
South Africa.
36
Military Service & publication
● During the Second Boer War (1899−1902), Gandhi
organised and led the Natal Indian Ambulance
Corps. He served in Estcourt from 19 December
1899 until the Indian Ambulance Corps was
disbanded on 28 January 1900, following the arrival
of the British Red Cross. For his service Gandhi was
awarded the Queen's South Africa campaign medal.
● Formed the Natal Indian Congress post this.
● He established the weekly newspaper, the Indian 37
Opinion. The publication was an important tool for
the political movement led by Gandhi and the Natal
Indian Congress to fight racial discrimination and
win civil rights for the Indian immigrant community
in South Africa. In 1904 Gandhi founded the
Phoenix communal settlement near Durban and the
publishing office was relocated there.
People’s Rights
● In September 1894 Gandhi applied for permission to
practice law in the Natal Supreme Court. Later that
year, Gandhi founded the Natal Indian Congress to
carry on the work against discriminatory legislation
where he worked hard on behalf of Indian settlers,
many of whom were illiterate and knew little about
the few rights they had. He battled for labour rights
and immigration issues for indentured workers
across South Africa, organising walkouts and strikes 38
in mines.
● In 1907, Gandhi led a passive resistance movement
against the compulsory registration of Indians in
Transvaal. Gandhi's main antagonist in South Africa
was General Smuts, Transvaal colonial secretary.
Gandhi was imprisoned three times by Smuts, but
did not abandon his principles. The continued
protests forced Smuts to set up a commission to
investigate Indian grievances. This would ultimately
lead to the passing of the Indian Relief Act
Harijans
“ I do not want to be reborn.But if I have to be reborn ,I
should be born an untouchable, so that I share their sorrows,
sufferings and affront levelled at them,in order that I may
endeavour to free myself and them from the miserable
conditions “

● He coined the term “Harijan” replacing

39
untouchables, meaning ‘children on God’.
● In 1932, Gandhi founded the Harijan Sevak Sangh
as part of his efforts to eradicate the concept of
‘untouchability’ from India’s caste system.
● The group’s efforts have helped the depressed
classes to access public places such as temples,
schools, roads, and water resources that were
previously available only to those of privilege
 III. Righteousness

“Blessed are they that 40

hunger and thirst after

righteousness: for they
shall be filled.”
 BETTER THAN WORSHIPING GODS IS OBEDIENCE TO THE LAWS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
- Gautam Buddha

● In London, when Mahatma Gandhi was a part of

Vegetarian society, there was a dispute between
the President of the society and a member
● Majority were with the President on the dispute
● Gandhiji felt that the whole point behind the
dispute is not justifiable 41
● He decided to stand up for the member.
● Even though they lost, Gandhiji felt comfortable
for raising his voice

Vegetarian Society
RIGHT IS RIGHT, EVEN IF EVERYONE IS AGAINST IT, AND WRONG IS WRONG, EVEN IF EVERYONE
IS FOR IT
- William Penn
 IV. Honesty and
Integrity

“Whoever is careless 42

with the truth in small

matters cannot be trusted
with important matters”
 WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN YOUR OWN HIGHEST STANDARDS OF INTEGRITY-
REGARDLESS OF WHAT OTHERS MAY DO, YOU ARE DESTINED FOR GREATNESS
- Napoleon Hill

● One of the incidents from his early life

● Mahatma Gandhi was told to cheat in his exams
by the teacher
● He denied, scored the lowest marks 43
● Never regretted his action

NO LEGACY IS SO RICH AS HONESTY

- William Shakespeare
 V. Means and Ends

“The end may justify the 44

means as long as there is

something that justifies
the end ”
 ● Goal: Betterment of the Indians residing in South
Africa
● Means followed: Ahimsa

Two incidents

● One happened during his first visit in South 45

Africa
● He was walking on the road post 9 PM when he
was stopped and attacked by the police officials.
● Another happened when he came to South Africa
second time and was lynched by the mob, was
attacked and beaten.

THE END IS INHERENT IN THE MEANS

- Mahatma Gandhi
 IDEALISM vs PRAGMATISM

Idealism: Pragmatism:
“Never take advantage “Sometimes influence
of any acquaintance” works to get the things
done”
46

Idealism: Pragmatism:
“Following the vows in “Making changes as
letter and spirit ” per the need of the
hour”
 FOLLIES
First Incident
● Happened when he was in
high school
● Got into a bad company
● Despite warning from
parents, continued the
friendship
● The person convinced
Mahatma Gandhi to eat
meat
● He also made him doubt
his wife Kasturba
Second Incident
● Happened again when
he was in high school
● Started smoking
● Became compulsive
smoker
● Started stealing money 47
from Servant
● There was a desire to
get independence from
elders
● All this led to him
attempting suicide
GANDHI VS SHRI RAM

48
“Just as people are afraid of serpents
they are afraid of people who utter lies.
Truth controls this world and dharma is
rooted in truth”
 49

“My fight against untouchability is a fight

against the impure in humanity”

“Hinduism dies if untouchability lives and

untouchability has to die if hinduism is to live
What chiefly distinguishes man
from the beast is that man from
his age of discretion begins to
practice a life of continual self-
restraint.

- Rashmirathi (1952)
“Rāma chandra fasted for the sea to give way
for his army of monkeys. Parvati fasted to
secure Mahadeva himself as her Lord and
51
Master. In my fasts, I have but followed
these great examples, no doubt, for ends,
which less noble than theirs”
 50

A divine kingdom where values of

The one who is Vaishnav who feel
justice and equality prevails, where
the pain of others, help those who
every citizen is treated respectably,
are in misery, but never let self-
irrespective of caste, colour and
conceit enter their mind
creed
52
 53

“By Ramrajya, I do not mean Hindu Raj.

For me Ram and Rahim are one and the
same deity. The ancient ideal of Ramrajya
is one of true democracy in which the
meanest citizen could be sure of swift
justice”
- Gandhi (1929)
 54

Tulsidas’ Ramayana is a notable

book because it is informed with
the spirit of purity, pity and piety.
The very fact that Lord Ram wanted to
understand the agonies of ordinary people and 55
connect with them in a manner that doesn’t
distinguish between a prince and a pauper is
what Gandhiji embraced in his life too.

When Lord Ram and Lord Lakshman

accompanied Vishwamitra during their exile in
the forest, they left their chariots behind and
walked throughout the exile.
 56
The padyatras or the walks that
Mahatma Gandhi undertook and
the will that he had to connect with
the common man, to know his
plights, and to help in putting an
end to his sufferings—all expressed
his faith in Lord Ram and his
teachings
 COMPASSION &
LOVE FOR OTHERS “First they ignore you, then they laugh at
The Tatas were the first employers to introduce you, then they fight you, then you win.” -
the 8-hour working day, free medical aid, Gandhi
workers' provident fund scheme, accident
fund & many other welfare schemes even
before they were introduced in the West

58
NEVER
DEFEATED BY A
“A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it
LOSS
is the prerogative of the brave.” - Gandhi Saddled with the debt of INR 21,900 Cr
post acquisition of JLR in 2008, the Tatas,
with the right strategy & winner’s mindset
made the company a profitable one
overnight
 FLAG BEARER OF
LARGER THAN LIFE
GOALS “"We can be hurt but cannot be knocked
Tata group was founded on the spirit of down" - Ratan Tata
nationalism. From building the modern
temples of India to launching Nano, the most
affordable car, for the non-affluent Indians,
Tatas have always gone that extra mile for this
nation’s betterment
59
STICKING TO
THEIR VALUES &
“Be the change that you wish to see in the
ETHICS
world.” - Gandhi Tata Steel has been recognised as one of the
2019 World’s Most Ethical Companies
by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader
in defining and advancing the standards of
ethical business practices.
"His simplicity was remarkable
may India produce many Tatas" 60

- Gandhi
RELEVANCE OF THEME IN MODERN
TIMES
Exuberance and simplicity
Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi vs Azim Premji and N R Narayana
Murthy

Inequality exploding
Far too many leaders content with personal gains
61
India is the second most "unequal" country in the world after
Russia, with millionaires controlling more than half of its total
wealth
Millionaires control 54 percent of its wealth

Cleanliness and COVID

96 lakh infected, 1.4 lakh deceased in India
RELEVANCE OF THEME IN MODERN
TIMES
Polarization and Trust Deficit

Filter bubbles and social media

Confirmation Biases

62
Enduring legacy of peaceful political movements

South Africa
Anna Hazare and IAC

Internationally - Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther

King Jr.
THANK YOU