Changes

Let no one imagine that my experiments in dancing and the like marked a stage of indulgence in my life. The reader will have noticed that even then I had my wits about me. That period of infatuation was not unrelieved by a certain amount of self-introspection on my part. I kept account of every farthing I spent, and my expenses were carefully calculated. Every little item, such as omnibus fares or postage or a couple of coppers spent on newspapers, would be entered, and the balance struck every evening before going to bed. That habit has stayed with me ever since, and I know that as a result, though I have had to handle public funds amounting to lakhs, I have succeeded in exercising strict economy in their disbursement, and instead of outstanding debts have had invariably a surplus balance in respect of all the movements I have led. Let every youth take a leaf out of my book and make it a point to account for everything that comes into and goes out of his pocket, and like me he is sure to be a gainer in the end.

Let no one imagine that my experiments with dancing and similar activities were a period of self-indulgence. The reader will have noticed that even then I kept my wits about me. During that period of infatuation, I also spent some time examining myself. I kept track of every farthing I spent and carefully calculated my expenses. I recorded every small item, such as bus fares, postage, or a couple of coppers spent on newspapers. Every evening before bed, I worked out the balance. I have kept that habit ever since. As a result, though I have handled public funds amounting to lakhs, I have spent them with strict economy. And every movement I have led has always had a surplus rather than outstanding debts. Let every young person follow my example and keep track of everything that comes into and goes out of their pocket. Like me, they are sure to benefit in the end.

As I kept strict watch over my way of living, I could see that it was necessary to economise. I therefore decided to reduce my expenses by half. My accounts showed numerous items spent on fares. Again my living with a family meant the payment of a regular weekly bill. It also included the courtesy of occasionally taking members of the family out to dinner, and likewise attending parties with them. All this involved heavy items for conveyances, especially as, if the friend was a lady, custom required that the man should pay all the expenses. Also dining out meant extra cost, as no deduction could be made from the regular weekly bill for meals not taken. It seemed to me that all these items could be saved, as likewise the drain on my purse caused through a false sense of propriety.

As I carefully watched how I lived, I could see that I needed to save money. So I decided to cut my expenses in half. My accounts showed many payments for transportation. Living with a family also meant paying a regular weekly bill. Courtesy also required me to take family members out to dinner occasionally and attend parties with them. All this involved high transportation costs. In particular, if a friend was a woman, custom required the man to pay all the expenses. Dining out also cost extra, because I could not deduct missed meals from my regular weekly bill. It seemed to me that I could save all these expenses, as well as the money I spent out of a false sense of propriety.

So I decided to take rooms on my own account, instead of living any longer in a family, and also to remove from place to place according to the work I had to do, thus gaining experience at the same time. The rooms were so selected as to enable me to reach the place of business on foot in half an hour, and so save fares. Before this I had always taken some kind of conveyance whenever I went anywhere, and had to find extra time for walks. The new arrangement combined walks and economy, as it meant a saving of fares and gave me walks of eight or ten miles a day. It was mainly this habit of long walks that kept me practically free from illness throughout my stay in England and gave me a fairly strong body.

So I decided to rent rooms of my own instead of continuing to live with a family. I also decided to move from place to place according to the work I had to do, gaining experience along the way. I chose rooms that allowed me to walk to work in half an hour, saving on fares. Before this, I had always taken some form of transport whenever I went anywhere. I also had to make extra time for walks. The new arrangement combined walking with saving money. It saved me fares and gave me eight or ten miles of walking each day. This habit of taking long walks was the main reason I stayed practically free from illness throughout my time in England. It also gave me a fairly strong body.

Thus I rented a suite of rooms; one for a sitting room and another for a bedroom. This was the second stage. The third was yet to come.

So I rented a set of rooms, one as a sitting room and another as a bedroom. This was the second stage. The third was still to come.

These changes saved me half the expense. But how was I to utilise the time? I knew that Bar examinations did not require much study, and I therefore did not feel pressed for time. My weak English was a perpetual worry to me. Mr. (afterwards Sir Frederick) Lely’s words, Graduate first and then come to me, still rang in my ears. I should, I thought, not only be called to the Bar, but have some literary degree as well. I inquired about the Oxford and Cambridge University courses, consulted a few friends, and found that if I elected to go to either of these places, that would mean greater expense and a much longer stay in England than I was prepared for. A friend suggested that if I really wanted to have the satisfaction of taking a difficult examination, I should pass the London Matriculation. It meant a good deal of labour and much addition to my stock of general knowledge, without any extra expense worth the name. I welcomed the suggestion. But the syllabus frightened me. Latin and a modern language were compulsory! How was I to manage Latin? But the friend entered a strong plea for it: ‘Latin is very valuable to lawyers. Knowledge of Latin is very useful in understanding law-books. And one paper in Roman law is entirely in Latin. Besides a knowledge of Latin means greater command over the English language.’ It went home and I decided to learn Latin, no matter how difficult it might be. French I had already begun, so I thought that should be the modern language. I joined a private Matriculation class. Examinations were held every six months and I had only five months at my disposal. It was an almost impossible task for me. But the aspirant after being an English gentleman chose to convert himself into a serious student. I framed my own time-table to the minute; but neither my intelligence nor memory promised to enable me to tackle Latin and French besides other subjects within the given period. The result was that I was ploughed in Latin. I was sorry but did not lose heart. I had acquired a taste for Latin, also I thought my French would be all the better for another trial and I would select a new subject in the science group. Chemistry which was my subject in science had no attraction for want of experiments, whereas it ought to have been a deeply interesting study. It was one of the compulsory subjects in India and so I had selected it for the London Matriculation. This time however I chose Heat and Light instead of Chemistry. It was said to be easy and I found it to be so.

These changes cut my expenses in half. But how was I to use my time? I knew that the Bar examinations did not require much study, so I did not feel pressed for time. My weak English worried me constantly. The words of Mr. Lely (later Sir Frederick) still rang in my ears: “Graduate first and then come to me.” I thought I should not only qualify for the Bar but also earn a literary degree. I asked about the courses at Oxford and Cambridge University and consulted a few friends. I found that attending either university would cost more and keep me in England longer than I was prepared for. A friend made a suggestion. If I really wanted the satisfaction of passing a difficult examination, I should take the London Matriculation. It would require a great deal of work and add much to my general knowledge, with almost no extra expense. I welcomed the suggestion, but the syllabus frightened me. Latin and a modern language were compulsory! How was I to manage Latin? But my friend argued strongly in its favor: “Latin is very valuable to lawyers. Knowing Latin is very useful for understanding law books. And one Roman law examination paper is entirely in Latin. Besides, knowing Latin gives you a better command of English.” The argument persuaded me, and I decided to learn Latin, however difficult it might be. I had already begun studying French, so I thought I should choose that as my modern language. I joined a private Matriculation class. Examinations were held every six months, and I had only five months available. It was an almost impossible task for me. But I had wanted to become an English gentleman, and now I chose to become a serious student. I made myself a timetable, planned to the minute. But neither my intelligence nor my memory seemed likely to help me master Latin, French, and the other subjects in time. As a result, I failed Latin. I was sorry, but I did not lose heart. I had developed a taste for Latin. I also thought my French would be better for another attempt, and I would choose a new science subject. Chemistry had been my science subject, but it did not appeal to me because there were no experiments. With experiments, it should have been a deeply interesting subject. Chemistry was compulsory in India, so I had chosen it for the London Matriculation. This time, however, I chose Heat and Light instead of Chemistry. It was said to be easy, and I found that it was.

With my preparation for another trial, I made an effort to simplify my life still further. I felt that my way of living did not yet become the modest means of my family. The thought of my struggling brother, who nobly responded to my regular calls for monetary help, deeply pained me. I saw that most of those who were spending from eight to fifteen pounds monthly had the advantage of scholarships. I had before me examples of much simpler living. I came across a fair number of poor students living more humbly than I. One of them was staying in the slums in a room at two shillings a week and living on two pence worth of cocoa and bread per meal from Lockhart’s cheap Cocoa Rooms. It was far from me to think of emulating him, but I felt I could surely have one room instead of two and cook some of my meals at home. That would be a saving of four to five pounds each month. I also came across books on simple living. I gave up the suite of rooms and rented one instead, invested in a stove, and began cooking my breakfast at home. The process scarcely took me more than twenty minutes for there was only oatmeal porridge to cook and water to boil for cocoa. I had lunch out and for dinner had bread and cocoa at home. Thus I managed to live on a shilling and three pence a day. This was also a period of intensive study. Plain living saved me plenty of time and I passed my examination.

As I prepared for another attempt at the examination, I tried to simplify my life even further. I felt that my way of living still did not suit my family’s modest means. It pained me deeply to think of my struggling brother, who generously answered my regular requests for money. I saw that most people spending eight to fifteen pounds a month had scholarships. I also saw examples of much simpler living. I met quite a few poor students who lived more modestly than I did. One lived in the slums, in a room that cost two shillings a week. For each meal, he spent two pence on cocoa and bread at Lockhart’s cheap Cocoa Rooms. I had no thought of copying him. But I felt I could surely rent one room instead of two and cook some meals at home. That would save me four to five pounds a month. I also found books on simple living. I gave up my suite of rooms, rented one room instead, and bought a stove. I began cooking my breakfast at home. It took me hardly more than twenty minutes, since I only had to cook oatmeal porridge and boil water for cocoa. I ate lunch out and had bread and cocoa at home for dinner. In this way, I managed to live on one shilling and three pence a day. This was also a time of intensive study. Simple living saved me plenty of time, and I passed my examination.

Let not the reader think that this living made my life by any means a dreary affair. On the contrary the change harmonised my inward and outward life. It was also more in keeping with the means of my family. My life was certainly more truthful and my soul knew no bounds of joy.

Do not think that living this way made my life dreary in any way. On the contrary, the change brought my inner and outer life into harmony. It also suited my family's financial means better. My life was certainly more truthful, and my soul knew no bounds of joy.