On the Way to Pretoria

I soon came in contact with the Christian Indians living in Durban. The Court Interpreter, Mr. Paul, was a Roman Catholic. I made his acquaintance, as also that of the late Mr. Subhan Godfrey, then a teacher under the Protestant Mission, and father of Mr. James Godfrey, who since has been a member of the South African Deputation which visited India last year. I likewise met the late Parsi Rustomji and the late Adamji Miyakhan about the same time. All these friends, who, up to then, had never met one another except on business, came ultimately into close contact, as we shall see later. Whilst I was thus widening the circle of my acquaintance, the firm received a letter from their lawyer saying that preparations should be made for the case, and that Abdulla Sheth should go to Pretoria himself, or send a representative.

I soon met the Christian Indians living in Durban. The court interpreter, Mr. Paul, was a Roman Catholic. I also met the late Mr. Subhan Godfrey, who was then a teacher under the Protestant Mission. He was the father of Mr. James Godfrey, who later became a member of the South African Deputation that visited India last year. Around the same time, I met the late Parsi Rustomji and the late Adamji Miyakhan. Until then, all these friends had met one another only on business. As we shall see later, they eventually came to know one another well. As I was getting to know more people, the firm received a letter from its lawyer. He said preparations should be made for the case and that Abdulla Sheth should go to Pretoria himself or send a representative.

Abdulla Sheth gave me this letter to read, and asked me if I would go to Pretoria. ‘I can only say after I have understood the case from you,’ said I. ‘At present, I am at a loss to know what I have to do there.’ He thereupon asked his clerks to explain the case to me.

Abdulla Sheth gave me the letter to read and asked if I would go to Pretoria. ‘I can only answer after you explain the case to me,’ I said. ‘Right now, I don’t know what I would have to do there.’ He then asked his clerks to explain the case to me.

As I began to study the case, I felt as though I ought to begin from the A B C of the subject. During the few days I had had at Zanzibar, I had been to the court to see the work there. A Parsi lawyer was examining a witness, and asking him questions regarding credit and debit entries in account books. It was all Greek to me. Book-keeping I had learnt neither at school, nor during my stay in England.

As I began to study the case, I felt I needed to start with the basics. During the few days I spent in Zanzibar, I had visited the court to see how it worked. A Parsi lawyer was questioning a witness about credit and debit entries in account books. It was all Greek to me. I had learned nothing about bookkeeping at school or during my stay in England.

And the case for which I had come to South Africa was mainly about accounts. Only he who knew accounts could understand and explain it. The clerk went on talking about this debited and that credited, and I felt more and more confused. I did not know what a P. Note meant. I failed to find the word in the dictionary. I revealed my ignorance to the clerk, and learnt from him that a P. Note meant a promissory note. I purchased a book on book-keeping and studied it. That gave me some confidence. I understood the case. I saw that Abdulla Sheth, who did not know how to keep accounts, had so much practical knowledge that he could quickly solve intricacies of book-keeping. I told him that I was prepared to go to Pretoria.

The case that had brought me to South Africa was mainly about accounts. Only someone who understood accounting could understand and explain the case. The clerk kept talking about debits and credits, and I grew more and more confused. I did not know what a P. Note meant. I could not find the term in the dictionary. I admitted my ignorance to the clerk, and he told me that a P. Note meant a promissory note. I bought a book on bookkeeping and studied it. That gave me some confidence. I understood the case. I saw that Abdulla Sheth did not know how to keep accounts. But he had so much practical knowledge that he could quickly solve complicated bookkeeping problems. I told him that I was ready to go to Pretoria.

‘Where will you put up?’ asked the Sheth.

‘Where will you stay?’ asked the Sheth.

‘Wherever you want me to,’ said I.

‘Wherever you want me to,’ I said.

‘Then I shall write to our lawyer. He will arrange for your lodgings. I shall also write to my Meman friends there, but I would not advise you to stay with them. The other party has great influence in Pretoria. Should any one of them manage to read our private correspondence, it might do us much harm. The more you avoid familiarity with them, the better for us.’

‘Then I will write to our lawyer. He will arrange a place for you to stay. I will also write to my Meman friends there, but I would not advise you to stay with them. The other party has great influence in Pretoria. If any of them manages to read our private letters, it could do us great harm. The less familiar you become with them, the better for us.’

‘I shall stay where your lawyer puts me up, or I shall find out independent lodgings. Pray don’t worry. Not a soul shall know anything that is confidential between us. But I do intend cultivating the acquaintance of the other party. I should like to be friends with them. I would try, if possible, to settle the case out of court. After all Tyeb Sheth is a relative of yours.’

‘I’ll stay wherever your lawyer arranges for me, or I’ll find a place to stay on my own. Please don’t worry. No one will learn anything confidential between us. But I do intend to get to know the other party. I’d like to be friends with them. If possible, I’ll try to settle the case out of court. After all, Tyeb Sheth is a relative of yours.’

Sheth Tyeb Haji Khan Muhammad was a near relative of Abdulla Sheth.

Sheth Tyeb Haji Khan Muhammad was a close relative of Abdulla Sheth.

The mention of a probable settlement somewhat startled the Sheth, I could see. But I had already been six or seven days in Durban, and we now knew and understood each other. I was no longer a ‘white elephant.’ So he said:

I could see that mentioning a possible settlement startled the Sheth somewhat. But I had already been in Durban for six or seven days, and we now knew and understood each other. I was no longer a ‘white elephant.’ So he said:

‘Y... es, I see. There would be nothing better than a settlement out of court. But we are all relatives and know one another very well indeed. Tyeb Sheth is not a man to consent to a settlement easily. With the slightest unwariness on our part, he would screw all sorts of things out of us, and do us down in the end. So please think twice before you do anything.’

‘Y... es, I see. Nothing would be better than settling out of court. But we are all relatives and know one another very well. Tyeb Sheth is not a man who would agree to a settlement easily. If we are even slightly careless, he will get all sorts of things out of us and defeat us in the end. So please think twice before you do anything.’

‘Don’t be anxious about that,’ said I. ‘I need not talk to Tyeb Sheth, or for that matter to any one else, about the case. I would only suggest to him to come to an understanding, and so save a lot of unnecessary litigation.’

‘Don’t worry about that,’ I said. ‘I don’t need to discuss the case with Tyeb Sheth or anyone else. I would only suggest that he reach an agreement and so avoid a lot of unnecessary legal proceedings.’

On the seventh or eighth day after my arrival, I left Durban. A first class seat was booked for me. It was usual there to pay five shillings extra, if one needed beddings. Abdulla Sheth insisted that I should book one bedding, but out of obstinacy and pride, and with a view to saving five shillings, I declined. Abdulla Sheth warned me. ‘Look, now,’ said he, ‘this is a different country from India. Thank God, we have enough and to spare. Please do not stint yourself in anything that you may need.’

On the seventh or eighth day after I arrived, I left Durban. A first-class seat had been booked for me. There, passengers usually paid five shillings extra if they needed bedding. Abdulla Sheth insisted that I book bedding, but I refused. I was being stubborn and proud, and I wanted to save five shillings. Abdulla Sheth warned me. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘this country is different from India. Thank God, we have more than enough. Please do not go without anything you may need.’

I thanked him and asked him not to be anxious.

I thanked him and asked him not to worry.

The train reached Maritzburg, the capital of Natal, at about 9 p.m. Beddings used to be provided at this station. A railway servant came and asked me if I wanted one. ‘No,’ said I, ‘I have one with me.’ He went away. But a passenger came next, and looked me up and down. He saw that I was a ‘coloured’ man. This disturbed him. Out he went and came in again with one or two officials. They all kept quiet, when another official came to me and said, ‘Come along, you must go to the van compartment.’

The train reached Maritzburg, the capital of Natal, at about 9 p.m. Bedding was provided at this station. A railway employee came and asked if I wanted some. ‘No,’ I said, ‘I have some with me.’ He went away. But then a passenger came and looked me up and down. He saw that I was a ‘coloured’ man. This disturbed him. He went out and came back with one or two officials. They all remained silent. Then another official came to me and said, ‘Come along, you must go to the van compartment.’

‘But I have a first class ticket,’ said I.

‘But I have a first-class ticket,’ I said.

‘That doesn’t matter,’ rejoined the other. ‘I tell you, you must go to the van compartment.’

‘That doesn’t matter,’ the other replied. ‘I’m telling you, you must go to the van compartment.’

’I tell you, I was permitted to travel in this compartment at Durban, and I insist on going on in it.’

’I tell you, I was allowed to travel in this compartment at Durban, and I insist on staying in it.’

‘No, you won’t,’ said the official. ‘You must leave this compartment, or else I shall have to call a police constable to push you out.’

‘No, you won’t,’ said the official. ‘You must leave this compartment, or I’ll have to call a police officer to push you out.’

’Yes, you may. I refuse to get out voluntarily.’

’Yes, you may. I refuse to get out willingly.’

The constable came. He took me by the hand and pushed me out. My luggage was also taken out. I refused to go to the other compartment and the train steamed away. I went and sat in the waiting room, keeping my hand-bag with me, and leaving the other luggage where it was. The railway authorities had taken charge of it.

The police officer came. He took me by the hand and pushed me out. My luggage was taken out too. I refused to go to the other compartment, and the train pulled away. I went and sat in the waiting room, keeping my handbag with me and leaving the other luggage where it was. The railway staff had taken charge of the luggage.

It was winter, and winter in the higher regions of South Africa is severely cold. Maritzburg being at a high altitude, the cold was extremely bitter. My overcoat was in my luggage, but I did not dare to ask for it lest I might be insulted again, so I sat and shivered. There was no light in the room. A passenger came in at about midnight and possibly wanted to talk to me. But I was in no mood to talk.

It was winter, and winters in the higher regions of South Africa are severely cold. Maritzburg was at a high altitude, so the cold was bitter. My overcoat was in my luggage, but I was afraid to ask for it. I feared I might be insulted again, so I sat and shivered. There was no light in the room. A passenger came in around midnight and may have wanted to talk to me. But I was in no mood to talk.

I began to think of my duty. Should I fight for my rights or go back to India, or should I go on to Pretoria without minding the insults, and return to India after finishing the case? It would be cowardice to run back to India without fulfilling my obligation. The hardship, to which I was subjected, was superficial, only a symptom of the deep disease of colour prejudice. I should try, if possible, to root out the disease and suffer hardships in the process. Redress for wrongs I should seek only to the extent that would be necessary for the removal of the colour prejudice.

I began to think about my duty. Should I fight for my rights or go back to India? Or should I continue to Pretoria, ignore the insults, and return to India after finishing the case? It would be cowardly to run back to India without fulfilling my obligation. The hardship I had suffered was superficial. It was only a symptom of the deep disease of racial prejudice. I should try, if possible, to root out the disease and endure hardship in the process. I should seek redress for the wrongs only as far as necessary to remove racial prejudice.

So I decided to take the next available train to Pretoria.

So I decided to take the next train to Pretoria.

The following morning I sent a long telegram to the General Manager of the Railway, and also informed Abdulla Sheth, who immediately met the General Manager. The Manager justified the conduct of the Railway authorities, but informed him that he had already instructed the Station Master to see that I reached my destination safely. Abdulla Sheth wired to the Indian merchants in Maritzburg and to friends in other places to meet me and look after me. The merchants came to see me at the station and tried to comfort me by narrating their own hardships and explaining that what had happened to me was nothing unusual. They also said, that Indians travelling first or second class had to expect trouble from Railway officials and white passengers. The day was thus spent in listening to these tales of woe. The evening train arrived. There was a reserved berth for me. I now purchased at Maritzburg the bedding ticket I had refused to book at Durban.

The next morning, I sent a long telegram to the General Manager of the Railway. I also informed Abdulla Sheth, who immediately met with the General Manager. The Manager defended the conduct of the Railway authorities. But he told Abdulla Sheth that he had already instructed the Station Master to ensure I reached my destination safely. Abdulla Sheth sent telegrams to the Indian merchants in Maritzburg and to friends elsewhere, asking them to meet and look after me. The merchants came to see me at the station. They tried to comfort me by telling me about their own hardships. They explained that what had happened to me was nothing unusual. They also said that Indians traveling first or second class had to expect trouble from Railway officials and white passengers. I spent the day listening to these sad stories. The evening train arrived with a berth reserved for me. At Maritzburg, I bought the bedding ticket I had refused to buy at Durban.

The train took me to Charlestown.

The train took me to Charlestown.