In April 2023, I finished reading the book “Mahatma Gandhi, An Autobiography – The Story of My Experiments with Truth”. The version I read had been translated from the original Gujarati into English by Mahadev Desai. Mahadev was an Indian independence activist, scholar, and writer, was best remembered as Mahatma Gandhi’s personal secretary.
On reflection, Gandhi’s original purpose was not to write a real autobiography, but his intentions were to tell the story of his experiments with truth, and their spiritual value. However, the style of writing would eventually take shape as an autobiography. I have now learnt so much about Mahatma Gandhi’s life from a young age to adulthood – a journey that allowed him to be open minded to these experiments, discovering and searching for himself.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869 and raised in a Hindu Family. At the age of 13 he was betrothed without his knowledge. Nevertheless, he came to be fond of his child/wife, Kasturbai who was illiterate, but independent, simple, and reserved. During those days child marriages were widespread in communities in India and was rooted in gender inequality.
At 16, Gandhi’s wife was expecting her first child, and at 18, Gandhi left for England, and this was to be a long separation from his wife and child. Given Gandhi was born into the Vaishnava faith, he found the Bhagavad Gita an insightful book, (the Bhagavad Gita is one of the most prominent Hindu texts, forming a part of the Indian epic known as Mahabharata) offering universal concepts of faith, duty, and morality than the Manusmriti (an ancient legal text or ‘dharmashastra’ of Hinduism. It describes the social system from the time of the Aryans) is full of customs, Sanskrit law code and advice.
After much fighting to convince his parents to allow him to study in England, he finally made his first trip there alone by boat. It took time to adjust to London and to becoming an English ‘gentleman.’ Gandhi read plenty of books, bought black suits from Bond Street, took dancing classes, invested in a violin, and had elocution lessons to perfect his English. He also kept account of every farthing spent and all expenses were meticulously calculated. Gandhi was elected to the executive committee of ‘The London Vegetarian Society’ and made it a point to attend every meeting without fail. However, whilst others expressed their opinions, he always felt tongue-tied, and sat in silence and listened. Despite being shy, he has since thought the shyness was his shield, allowing him to grow and helping his discernment of truth.
Gandhi passed his bar examinations on 10th June 1891, enrolled in the High Court on the 11th and sailed home to India on the 12th of June. Sadly, on his arrival, he came to learn that his mother passed away. After some time, his friends advised him to go to Mumbai to gain experience of the High Court and to study Indian law. Whilst in Mumbai, his brother tried to get him briefs but he found the study of Indian law tedious.
In April 1893 he set off to South Africa to work for a law firm called Dada Abdulla & Co. He was hardly going to be barrister so whilst working for the law firm he used that opportunity to explore the country bringing new experiences. Gandhi had also faced first-hand racism on his way to Pretoria on a train as a coloured man, he was removed from the first-class compartment despite having a first-class ticket. Gandhi had argued with them, but sadly lost a symptom of the deep disease of the racial prejudice of the time. He began to think whether he should fight for his rights or go back to India. After being in South Africa for 3 years, in 1896 he asked to go back to India for 6 months to fetch his wife and children.
On a boat to Natal with his family and knowing that the white community were after his blood, he was attacked. Once Gandhi was off the ship in Natal, sporting a few bruises from his (Caucasian) assailants, the Secretary of State for the Colonies asked the Natal government to prosecute his assailants. Gandhi replied,” I do not want to prosecute anyone. It is possible I may be able to identify one or two of them, but what is the use of getting them punished? Besides, I do not hold the assailants to blame. They were given to understand that I had made exaggerated statements in India about the Caucasians in Natal and insulted them. If they believed these reports, it is no wonder they were enraged. I’m sure if the truth becomes known, they will be sorry for their conduct “. Gandhi was known to be forgiving of all humans and having no anger against those who had wronged him.
He was continuously searching and pondering over becoming a Brahamcharya (Brahamcharya is a concept within Indian religions that literally means “conduct consistent with Brahman” or “on the path of Brahman”. The Sanskrit term is derived from Brahman, meaning “Ultimate Reality” or “Divine Creator,” and charya, meaning “to move” or “to follow.” Brahmacharya is also frequently translated as “right use of energy.” Lochtefeld, James, 2023) including its complications. After much thought, he took the decision on becoming a Brahamcharya, which led to so many changes, the first being that he stopped sharing the same bed with his wife. Gandhi had been observing Brahamcharya since 1900 and then emerged the birth of Satyagraha, a word coined by Gandhi – (sat=truth, Agraha = firmness). Gandhi’s first experience in jail was in 1908 and by then his diet was modified, but soon afterward he decided to live on a pure fruit diet.
Years later, Gandhi was invited to a war conference in Delhi by the Viceroy, Mountbatten, but leaders like the Ali brothers were excluded. Everyone spoke highly of the Ali brothers, Shaukat Ali and Mohamed Ali Jauhar, who were the leaders of the Kailafat Movement, which rallied support among Indian Muslims for the Sultan of the Ottoman empire. Gandhi had observed in South Africa that there was no genuine friendship between the Hindus and the Muslims.
At the conference, Gandhi has asked permission to speak in Hindi and was accepted, but that he also speaks in English too. Gandhi had no speech, but one sentence to this effect, “with a full sense of my responsibility I beg to support the resolution“. He was congratulated by many for his speech since it was the first instance in living memory of anyone speaking in Hindi at such a conference. However, it hurt Gandhi’s national pride to know that the language of the country should be taboo in meetings held in the country and that a speech there in Hindi by a stray individual like himself should be a matter for congratulations. Incidents like these are reminders of how low the state had been reduced to.
Mahatma Gandhi, a freedom fighter for India, who advocated nonviolent resistance, faced discrimination from the British and became a respected leader by being the voice of the oppressed communities of India. A phenomenal journey of achievements which should be celebrated!
Lochtefeld, James, ed. (13 August 2023). “Brahmacharya”. The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Hinduism. Vol. 1: A–M. Rosen Publishing. p. 120