Birth and Family Background

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 Ota Gandhi, my grandfather, must have been a man of principle. State intrigues compelled him to leave Porbandar, where he was Diwan, and to seek refuge in Junagadh. There he saluted the Nawab with the left hand. Some one noticing the apparent discourtesy asked for an explanation which was thus given: ‘The right hand is already pledged to Porbandar.’

The Gandhis belong to the Bania caste and seem to have originally been grocers. But for three generations, beginning with my grandfather, they have been Prime Ministers in several Kathiawad States. My grandfather, Uttamchand Gandhi, alias Ota Gandhi, must have been a man of principle. Political intrigues forced him to leave Porbandar, where he was Diwan, and seek refuge in Junagadh. There he saluted the Nawab with his left hand. Someone noticed what seemed to be a discourtesy and asked for an explanation. My grandfather replied: ‘The right hand is already pledged to Porbandar.’

Ota Gandhi married a second time having lost his first wife. He had four sons by his first wife and two by his second wife. I do not think that in my childhood I ever felt or knew that these sons of Ota Gandhi were not all of the same mother. The fifth of these six brothers was Karamchand Gandhi, alias Kaba Gandhi, and the sixth was Tulsidas. Gandhi. Both these brothers were Prime Ministers in Porbandar one after the other. Kaba Gandhi was my father. He was a member of the Rajasthanik Court, now extinct, but in those days it was a very influential body for settling disputes between the chiefs and their fellow clansmen. He was for some time Prime Minister in Rajkot and then in Vankaner. He was a pensioner of the Rajkot State when he died.

Ota Gandhi married a second time after his first wife died. He had four sons by his first wife and two by his second. I do not think I ever realized as a child that Ota Gandhi’s sons did not all have the same mother. The fifth of the six brothers was Karamchand Gandhi, also known as Kaba Gandhi, and the sixth was Tulsidas Gandhi. Both brothers served as Prime Minister in Porbandar, one after the other. Kaba Gandhi was my father. He was a member of the Rajasthanik Court, which no longer exists. In those days, the court was a very influential body for settling disputes between chiefs and their fellow clansmen. He served as Prime Minister in Rajkot for some time, and then in Vankaner. He was receiving a pension from the Rajkot State when he died.

Kaba Gandhi married four times in succession having lost his wife each time by death. He had two daughters by his first and second marriages. His last wife, Putlibai, bore him a daughter and three sons, I being the youngest.

Kaba Gandhi married four times, each time after his previous wife had died. He had two daughters from his first two marriages. His last wife, Putlibai, had a daughter and three sons. I was the youngest.

My father was a lover of his clan, truthful, brave and generous, but short-tempered. To a certain extent he may have been even given to carnal pleasures. For he married for the fourth time when he was over forty. But he was incorruptible and had earned a name for strict impartiality in his family as well as outside. His loyalty to the state was well known. An Assistant Political Agent spoke insultingly of the Rajkot Thakore Saheb, his chief, and he stood up to the insult. The Agent was angry and asked Kaba Gandhi to apologise. This he refused to do and was therefore kept under detention for a few hours. But when the Agent saw that Kaba Gandhi was adamant he ordered him to be released.

My father loved his clan. He was truthful, brave, and generous, but he had a quick temper. He may also have been somewhat given to sexual pleasures, since he married for the fourth time after he was forty. But he was incorruptible and had a reputation for strict impartiality, both within his family and outside it. His loyalty to the state was well known. An Assistant Political Agent insulted his chief, the Rajkot Thakore Saheb, and my father stood up to him. The Agent was angry and asked Kaba Gandhi to apologize. Kaba Gandhi refused, so he was detained for a few hours. But when the Agent saw that Kaba Gandhi would not give in, he ordered his release.

My father never had any ambition to accumulate riches and left us very little property.

My father never wanted to become rich and left us very little property.

He had no education, save that of experience. At best, he may be said to have read up to the fifth Gujarati standard. Of history and geography he was innocent. But his rich experience of practical affairs stood him in good stead in the solution of the most intricate questions and in managing hundreds of men. Of religious training he had very little, but he had that kind of religious culture which frequent visits to temples and listening to religious discourses make available to many Hindus. In his last days he began reading the Gita at the instance of a learned Brahman friend of the family, and he used to repeat aloud some verses every day at the time of worship.

He had no education except what he gained through experience. At most, he may have studied up to the fifth grade in Gujarati. He knew nothing of history or geography. But his wide experience of practical affairs helped him solve the most complicated problems and manage hundreds of men. He had very little religious instruction. But he had the kind of religious understanding that many Hindus gain by visiting temples often and listening to religious talks. In his last days, he began reading the Gita at the urging of a learned Brahman friend of the family. He used to recite some verses aloud every day during worship.

The outstanding impression my mother has left on my memory is that of saintliness. She was deeply religious. She would not think of taking her meals without her daily prayers. Going to Haveli—the Vaishnava temple—was one of her daily duties. As far as my memory can go back, I do not remember her having ever missed the Chaturmas.² She would take the hardest vows and keep them without flinching. Illness was no excuse for relaxing them. I can recall her once falling ill when she was observing the Chandrayana³ vow, but the illness was not allowed to interrupt the observance. To keep two or three consecutive fasts was nothing to her. Living on one meal a day during Chaturmas was a habit with her. Not content with that she fasted every alternate day during one Chaturmas. During another Chaturmas she vowed not to have food without seeing the sun. We children on those days would stand, staring at the sky, waiting to announce the appearance of the sun to our mother. Every one knows that at the height of the rainy season the sun often does not condescend to show his face. And I remember days, when, at his sudden appearance, we would rush and announce it to her. She would run out to see with her own eyes, but by that time the fugitive sun would be gone, thus depriving her of her meal. “That does not matter,” she would say cheerfully, “God did not want me to eat today.” And then she would return to her round of duties.

My strongest memory of my mother is of her saintliness. She was deeply religious. She would never think of eating without saying her daily prayers. One of her daily duties was visiting the Haveli, the Vaishnava temple. As far back as I can remember, she never missed the Chaturmas.² She would take the hardest vows and keep them without hesitation. Illness was no excuse for easing them. I remember her falling ill once while observing the Chandrayana³ vow. But she did not let her illness interrupt the observance. Keeping two or three fasts in a row was nothing to her. She was in the habit of eating one meal a day during Chaturmas. Not content with that, she fasted every other day during one Chaturmas. During another Chaturmas, she vowed not to eat without seeing the sun. On those days, we children would stand staring at the sky, waiting to tell our mother when the sun appeared. Everyone knows that at the height of the rainy season, the sun often does not deign to show its face. I remember days when the sun suddenly appeared and we rushed to tell her. She would run out to see it for herself. But by then the fleeting sun would be gone, depriving her of her meal. “That does not matter,” she would say cheerfully. “God did not want me to eat today.” Then she would return to her daily 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. Often I would accompany her, exercising the privilege of childhood, and I still remember many lively discussions she had with the widowed mother of the Thakore Saheb.

My mother had a lot of common sense. She was well informed about all matters of state, and the women at court respected her intelligence. I often went with her, as children were allowed to do. I still remember her many lively discussions with the widowed mother of the Thakore Saheb.

Of these parents I was born at Porbandar, otherwise known as Sudamapuri, on the 2nd October 1869. I passed my childhood in Porbandar. I recollect having been put to school. It was with some difficulty that I got through the multiplication tables. The fact that I recollect nothing more of those days than of having learnt, in company with other boys, to abuse our teacher, would strongly suggest that my intellect must have been sluggish, and my memory raw.

I was born to these parents in Porbandar, also known as Sudamapuri, on October 2, 1869. I spent my childhood in Porbandar. I remember being sent to school. I had some difficulty learning the multiplication tables. The only other thing I remember from those days is learning to insult our teacher along with the other boys. This strongly suggests that my mind must have been slow and my memory undeveloped.