Cast Out of the Caste

With my mother’s permission and blessings, I set off exultantly for Bombay, leaving my wife with a baby of a few months. But on arrival there friends told my brother that the Indian Ocean was rough in June and July, and as this was my first voyage, I should not be allowed to sail until November. Some one also reported that a steamer had just been sunk in a gale. This made my brother uneasy and he refused to take the risk of allowing me to sail immediately. Leaving me with a friend in Bombay, he returned to Rajkot to resume his duty. He put the money for my travelling expenses in the keeping of a brother-in-law, and left word with some friends to give me whatever help I might need.

With my mother’s permission and blessing, I set off happily for Bombay, leaving my wife with our baby, who was a few months old. But when I arrived, friends told my brother that the Indian Ocean was rough in June and July. Since this was my first voyage, they said I should not be allowed to sail until November. Someone also reported that a steamship had just sunk in a storm. This made my brother uneasy, and he refused to risk letting me sail immediately. He left me with a friend in Bombay and returned to Rajkot to resume his duties. He entrusted the money for my travel expenses to a brother-in-law. He also asked some friends to give me whatever help I might need.

Time hung heavily on my hands in Bombay. I dreamt continually of going to England.

Time passed slowly for me in Bombay. I constantly dreamed of going to England.

Meanwhile my caste-people were agitated over my going abroad. No Modh Bania had been to England up to now, and if I dared to do so, I ought to be brought to book! A general meeting of the caste was called and I was summoned to appear before it. I went. How I suddenly managed to muster up courage I do not know. Nothing daunted, and without the slightest hesitation, I 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:

Meanwhile, the people of my caste were upset about my going abroad. No Modh Bania had been to England before, and if I dared to go, I deserved to be called to account! A general meeting of the caste was called, and I was summoned to appear before it. I went. I do not know how I suddenly found the courage. I appeared before the meeting without fear or the slightest hesitation. The Sheth, the head of the community, addressed me. He was distantly related to me and had been on very good terms with my father:

‘In the opinion of the caste, your proposal to go to England is not proper. Our religion forbids voyages abroad. We have also heard that it is not possible to live there without compromising our religion. One is obliged to eat and drink with Europeans!’

‘The caste believes your plan to go to England is wrong. Our religion forbids travel abroad. We have also heard that you cannot live in England without compromising our religion. You have to eat and drink with Europeans!’

To which I replied: ‘I do not think it is at all against our religion to go to England. I intend going there for further studies. And I have already solemnly promised to my mother to abstain from three things you fear most. I am sure the vow will keep me safe.’

I replied: ‘I do not think going to England is against our religion at all. I intend to go there for further studies. And I have already made a solemn promise to my mother to avoid the three things you fear most. I am sure the vow will keep me safe.’

‘But we tell you,’ rejoined the Sheth, ‘that it is not possible to keep our religion there. You know my relations with your father and you ought to listen to my advice.’

‘But we tell you,’ the Sheth replied, ‘that it is not possible to practice our religion there. You know my relationship with your father, and you should listen to my advice.’

‘I know those relations,’ said I. ‘And you are as an elder to me. But I am helpless in this matter. I cannot alter my resolve to go to England. My father’s friend and adviser, who is a learned Brahman, sees no objection to my going to England, and my mother and brother have also given me their permission.’

‘I know about those relationships,’ I said. ‘And you are like an elder to me. But I am helpless in this matter. I cannot change my decision to go to England. My father’s friend and adviser is a learned Brahman. He sees no objection to my going to England. My mother and brother have also given me their permission.’

‘But will you disregard the orders of the caste?’

‘But will you ignore the orders of the caste?’

‘I am really helpless. I think the caste should not interfere in the matter.’

‘I really can’t do anything. I don’t think the caste should interfere in this matter.’

This incensed the Sheth. He swore at me. I sat unmoved. So the Sheth pronounced his order: ‘This boy shall be treated as an outcaste from today. Whoever helps him or goes to see him off at the dock shall be punishable with a fine of one rupee four annas.’

This enraged the Sheth. He swore at me, but I sat unmoved. So the Sheth gave his order: ‘From today, this boy shall be treated as an outcaste. Anyone who helps him or goes to see him off at the dock shall be fined one rupee and four annas.’

The order had no effect on me, and I took my leave of the Sheth. But I wondered how my brother would take it. Fortunately he remained firm and wrote to assure me that I had his permission to go, the Sheth’s order notwithstanding.

The order had no effect on me, and I said goodbye to the Sheth. But I wondered how my brother would react to the order. Fortunately, he stood firm and wrote to assure me that I had his permission to go despite the Sheth’s order.

The incident however made me more anxious than ever to sail. What would happen if they succeeded in bringing pressure to bear on my brother? Supposing something unforeseen happened? As I was thus worrying over my predicament, I heard that a Junagadh vakil was going to England, for being called to the bar, by a boat sailing on the 4th of September. I met the friends to whose care my brother had commended me. They also agreed that I should not let go the opportunity of going in such company. There was no time to be lost. I wired to my brother for permission which he granted. I asked 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. I then sought a friend of the family and requested him to accommodate me to the extent of my passage and sundries, and to recover the loan from my brother. The friend was not only good enough to accede to my request, but he cheered me up as well. I was so thankful. With part of the money I at once purchased the passage. Then I had to equip myself for the voyage. There was another friend who had experience in the matter. He got clothes, and other things ready. Some of the clothes I liked and some I did not like at all. The necktie, which I delighted in wearing later, I then abhorred. The short jacket I looked upon as immodest. But this dislike was nothing before the desire to go to England which was uppermost in me. Of provisions also I had enough and to spare for the voyage. A berth was reserved for me by my friends in the same cabin as that of Sjt. Tryambakrai Mazmudar, the Junagadh vakil. They also commended me to him. He was an experienced man of mature age and knew the world. I was yet a stripling of eighteen without any experience of the world. Sjt. Mazmudar told my friends not to worry about me.

The incident, however, made me more anxious than ever to sail. What if they succeeded in putting pressure on my brother? What if something unforeseen happened? As I worried about my predicament, I heard that a vakil from Junagadh was going to England to be called to the bar. His boat was sailing on the 4th of September. I met the friends to whose care my brother had entrusted me. They also agreed that I should not miss the chance to travel with him. There was no time to lose. I sent my brother a telegram asking for permission, and he gave it. I asked my brother-in-law to give me the money. But he mentioned the Sheth’s order and said he could not afford to lose caste. I then went to a family friend and asked him to lend me enough for my passage and other expenses. I asked him to recover the loan from my brother. The friend was kind enough not only to agree, but also to cheer me up. I was so grateful. I used part of the money to buy my passage at once. Then I had to prepare for the voyage. Another friend had experience in such matters. He got clothes and other things ready for me. I liked some of the clothes, but I did not like others at all. I hated the necktie, though I later came to enjoy wearing one. I thought the short jacket was immodest. But my dislike was nothing compared with my desire to go to England, which mattered most to me. I also had more than enough provisions for the voyage. My friends reserved a berth for me in the same cabin as Sjt. Tryambakrai Mazmudar, the vakil from Junagadh. They also asked him to look after me. He was a mature, experienced man who knew the world. I was still a youth of eighteen, with no experience of the world. Sjt. Mazmudar told my friends not to worry about me.

I sailed at last from Bombay on the 4th of September.

I finally sailed from Bombay on September 4.