Two Passions

Hardly ever have I known anybody to cherish such loyalty as I did to the British Constitution. I can see now, that my love of truth was at the root of this loyalty. It has never been possible for me to simulate loyalty, or for that matter, any other virtue. The National Anthem used to be sung at every meeting that I attended in Natal. I then felt, that I must also join in the singing. Not that I was unaware of the defects in the British rule, but I thought that it was on the whole acceptable. In those days I believed, that the British rule was on the whole beneficial to the ruled.

I have hardly ever known anyone to be as loyal to the British Constitution as I was. I can now see that my love of truth was the root of this loyalty. I have never been able to pretend to be loyal or to possess any other virtue. The National Anthem was sung at every meeting I attended in Natal. At the time, I felt that I had to join in. I was aware of the flaws in British rule, but I thought it was acceptable overall. In those days, I believed that British rule was, on the whole, beneficial to the people it governed.

The colour prejudice, that I saw in South Africa, was, I thought, quite contrary to British traditions, and I believed that it was only temporary and local. I therefore vied with Englishmen in loyalty to the throne. With careful perseverance I learnt the tune of the National Anthem, and always joined in the singing whenever it was sung. Whenever there was an occasion for the expression of loyalty, without fuss or ostentation, I readily took part in it.

I thought the racial prejudice I saw in South Africa went against British traditions. I believed it was only temporary and limited to that place. So I tried to match Englishmen in my loyalty to the throne. I carefully and persistently learned the tune of the National Anthem and always joined in whenever it was sung. Whenever there was an occasion to show loyalty, I readily took part, without fuss or show.

Never in my life did I exploit this loyalty, never did I seek to gain a selfish end by its means. It was for me more in the nature of an obligation, and I rendered it without expecting a reward.

Never in my life did I take advantage of this loyalty or use it for selfish gain. To me, it was more of a duty, and I fulfilled it without expecting a reward.

Preparations were going on for the celebration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee when I reached India. I was invited to join the committee appointed for the purpose in Rajkot. I accepted the offer, but I had a suspicion that the celebrations would be largely a matter of show. I discovered much humbug about them, and was considerably pained. I began to ask myself whether I should remain on the committee or not, but ultimately decided to rest content with having done my part of the business.

When I reached India, preparations were underway for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. I was invited to join the committee appointed for the celebrations in Rajkot. I accepted, but I suspected that the celebrations would be largely for show. I found much insincerity surrounding them, and this pained me greatly. I began to ask myself whether I should remain on the committee. But I finally decided to be content with having done my part of the work.

One of the proposals was to plant trees. I saw that many did it merely for show, and for pleasing the officials. I tried to plead with them, that treeplanting was not compulsory, but merely a suggestion. It should be done seriously or not at all. I have an impression that they laughed at my ideas. I remember that I was in earnest when I planted the tree allotted to me, and that I carefully watered and tended it.

One proposal was to plant trees. I saw that many people planted trees merely for show and to please the officials. I tried to explain that planting trees was not compulsory, but only a suggestion. They should take the task seriously or not do it at all. I have the impression that they laughed at my ideas. I remember that I took the task seriously. I planted the tree assigned to me and carefully watered and tended it.

I likewise taught the National Anthem to the children of my family. I recollect having taught it to students of the local Training College, but I forget whether it was on the occasion of the Jubilee or of King Edward VII’s coronation as Emperor of India. Later on the text began to jar on me. As my conception of ahimsa went on maturing, I became more vigilant about my thought and speech. The lines in the Anthem:

I also taught the National Anthem to the children in my family. I remember teaching it to students at the local Training College. But I forget whether it was for the Jubilee or King Edward VII’s coronation as Emperor of India. Later, the words began to trouble me. As my understanding of ahimsa grew, I became more careful about my thoughts and words. The lines in the Anthem:

particularly jarred upon my sentiment of ahimsa. I shared my feelings with Dr. Booth who agreed that it ill became a believer in ahimsa to sing those lines. How could we assume that the so-called ‘enemies’ were ‘knavish’? And because they were enemies, were they bound to be in the wrong? From God we could only ask for justice. Dr. Booth entirely endorsed my sentiments, and he composed a new anthem for his congregation. But of Dr. Booth more later.

particularly offended my belief in ahimsa. I shared my feelings with Dr. Booth. He agreed that a believer in ahimsa should not sing those lines. How could we assume that the so-called ‘enemies’ were ‘dishonest’? And just because they were enemies, did that mean they had to be in the wrong? We could only ask God for justice. Dr. Booth fully agreed with me, and he wrote a new anthem for his congregation. But I will say more about Dr. Booth later.

Like loyalty, an aptitude for nursing was also deeply rooted in my nature. I was fond of nursing people, whether friends or strangers.

Like loyalty, a talent for nursing was deeply rooted in my nature. I enjoyed caring for people, whether friends or strangers.

Whilst busy in Rajkot with the pamphlet on South Africa, I had an occasion to pay a flying visit to Bombay. It was my intention to educate public opinion in cities on this question by organising meetings there, and Bombay was the first city I chose. First of all I met Justice Ranade, who listened to me with attention, and advised me to meet Sir Phirozeshah Mehta. Justice Badruddin Tyebji whom I met next also gave the same advice. ‘Justice Ranade and I can guide you but little,’ he said. ‘You know our position. We cannot take active part in public affairs, but our sympathies are with you. The man who can effectively guide you is Sir Phirozeshah Mehta.’

While I was busy in Rajkot with the pamphlet on South Africa, I made a brief visit to Bombay. I wanted to inform public opinion on the question by organizing meetings in cities, starting with Bombay. First, I met Justice Ranade. He listened to me attentively and advised me to meet Sir Phirozeshah Mehta. I next met Justice Badruddin Tyebji, who gave me the same advice. ‘Justice Ranade and I can offer you little guidance,’ he said. ‘You know our position. We cannot take an active part in public affairs, but our sympathies are with you. Sir Phirozeshah Mehta is the man who can guide you effectively.’

I certainly wanted to see Sir Phirozeshah Mehta, but the fact, that these senior men advised me to act according to his advice, gave me a better idea of the immense influence that Sir Phirozeshah had on the public. In due course I met him. I was prepared to be awed by his presence. I had heard of the popular titles that he had earned, and I knew, that I was to see the ‘Lion of Bombay,’ the ‘Uncrowned King of the Presidency.’ But the king did not overpower me. He met me, as a loving father would meet his grown up son. Our meeting took place at his chamber. He was surrounded by a circle of friends and followers. Amongst them were Mr. D. E. Wachha and Mr. Cama, to whom I was introduced. I had already heard of Mr. Wachha. He was regarded as the right-hand man of Sir Phirozeshah, and Sjt. Virchand Gandhi had described him to me as a great statistician. Mr. Wachha said, ‘Gandhi, we must meet again.’

I certainly wanted to meet Sir Phirozeshah Mehta. But these senior men’s advice to follow his guidance gave me a better sense of his immense influence on the public. In due course, I met him. I expected to be awed by his presence. I had heard the popular titles he had earned. I knew I was about to meet the ‘Lion of Bombay,’ the ‘Uncrowned King of the Presidency.’ But the king did not overwhelm me. He greeted me as a loving father would greet his grown son. We met in his office, where he was surrounded by friends and followers. Among them were Mr. D. E. Wachha and Mr. Cama, to whom I was introduced. I had already heard of Mr. Wachha. He was regarded as Sir Phirozeshah’s right-hand man, and Sjt. Virchand Gandhi had described him to me as a great statistician. Mr. Wachha said, ‘Gandhi, we must meet again.’

These introductions could scarcely have taken two minutes. Sir Phirozeshah carefully listened to me. I told him, that I had seen Justices Ranade and Tyebji. ‘Gandhi,’ said he, ‘I see that I must help you. I must call a public meeting here.’ With this he turned to Mr. Munshi, the secretary, and told him to fix up the date of the meeting. The date was settled, and he bade me good-bye, asking me to see him again on the day previous to the meeting. The interview removed my fears, and I went home delighted.

These introductions could hardly have taken two minutes. Sir Phirozeshah listened to me carefully. I told him that I had seen Justices Ranade and Tyebji. ‘Gandhi,’ he said, ‘I see that I must help you. I must call a public meeting here.’ He then turned to Mr. Munshi, the secretary, and told him to set a date for the meeting. Once the date was settled, he said goodbye and asked me to see him again the day before the meeting. The meeting with him relieved my fears, and I went home delighted.

During this stay in Bombay I called on my brother-in-law, who was staying there and lying ill. He was not a man of means, and my sister (his wife) was not equal to nursing him. The illness was serious, and I offered to take him to Rajkot. He agreed, and so I returned home with my sister and her husband. The illness was much more prolonged than I had expected. I put my brotherin-law in my room, and remained with him night and day. I was obliged to keep awake part of the night, and had to get through some of my South African work whilst I was nursing him. Ultimately, however, the patient died, but it was a great consolation to me, that I had had an opportunity to nurse him during his last days.

During this stay in Bombay, I visited my brother-in-law, who was ill there. He had little money, and my sister, his wife, was unable to nurse him. His illness was serious, and I offered to take him to Rajkot. He agreed, so I returned home with my sister and her husband. His illness lasted much longer than I had expected. I put my brother-in-law in my room and stayed with him night and day. I had to stay awake for part of the night and do some of my South African work while nursing him. In the end, he died, but it was a great comfort to me that I had been able to nurse him during his last days.

My aptitude for nursing gradually developed into a passion, so much so, that it often led me to neglect my work, and on occasions I engaged not only my wife but the whole household in such service.

My talent for nursing gradually became a passion. It often led me to neglect my work. Sometimes I involved not only my wife but the whole household in caring for others.

Such service can have no meaning unless one takes pleasure in it. When it is done for show or for fear of public opinion, it stunts the man and crushes his spirit. Service, which is rendered without joy, helps neither the servant nor the served. But all other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy.

Such service has no meaning unless one takes pleasure in it. When done for show or out of fear of public opinion, it stunts a person and crushes their spirit. Service given without joy helps neither the person serving nor the person being served. But all other pleasures and possessions pale into nothing beside service given with joy.