Return to India

On my relief from war-duty I felt, that my work was no longer in South Africa but in India. Not that there was nothing to be done in South Africa, but I was afraid that my main business might become merely money-making.

When I was released from war duty, I felt that my work was now in India, not South Africa. It was not that there was nothing to do in South Africa. But I was afraid that my main occupation might become merely making money.

Friends at home were also pressing me to return, and I felt that I should be of more service in India. And for the work in South Africa, there were, of course, Messrs Khan and Mansukhlal Naazar. So I requested my co-workers to relieve me. After very great difficulty my request was conditionally accepted, the condition being that I should be ready to go back to South Africa if, within a year, the community should need me. I thought it was a difficult condition, but the love that bound me to the community made me accept it.

Friends at home were also urging me to return, and I felt I could be more useful in India. And of course, Khan and Mansukhlal Naazar were there to carry on the work in South Africa. So I asked my co-workers to let me leave. Only after great difficulty did they agree, and on one condition. I had to be ready to return to South Africa if the community needed me within a year. I thought this was a difficult condition, but my love for the community made me accept it.

sang Mirabai. And for me, too, the cotton thread of love that bound me to the community was too strong to break. The voice of the people is the voice of God, and here the voice of friends was too real to be rejected. I accepted the condition, and got their permission to go.

sang Mirabai. For me, too, the cotton thread of love that bound me to the community was too strong to break. The voice of the people is the voice of God. And here, my friends' voice was too real to ignore. I accepted the condition and received their permission to go.

At this time I was intimately connected only with Natal. The Natal Indians bathed me with the nectar of love. Farewell meetings were arranged at every place, and costly gifts were presented to me.

At this time, I had close ties only to Natal. The Indians of Natal showered me with love. Farewell meetings were held everywhere, and I was given expensive gifts.

Gifts had been bestowed on me before when I returned to India in 1899, but this time the farewell was overwhelming. The gifts of course included things in gold and silver but there were articles of costly diamond as well.

I had received gifts before, when I returned to India in 1899, but this farewell was overwhelming. The gifts included gold and silver items, of course, but there were also items with expensive diamonds.

What right had I to accept all these gifts? Accepting them, how could I persuade myself, that I was serving the community without remuneration? All the gifts, excepting a few from my clients, were purely for my service to the community, and I could make no difference between my clients and co-workers; for the clients also helped me in my public work.

What right did I have to accept all these gifts? If I accepted them, how could I believe I was serving the community without payment? All the gifts, except a few from my clients, were purely for my service to the community. And I could not distinguish between my clients and my co-workers, because my clients also helped me in my public work.

One of the gifts was a gold necklace worth fifty guineas, meant for my wife. But even that gift was given because of my public work, and so it could not be separated from the rest.

One gift was a gold necklace worth fifty guineas, intended for my wife. But even that gift was given because of my public work. So it could not be separated from the other gifts.

The evening I was presented with the bulk of these things I had a sleepless night. I walked up and down my room deeply agitated, but could find no solution. It was difficult for me to forego gifts worth hundreds, it was more difficult to keep them.

The evening I received most of these gifts, I could not sleep. I paced around my room, deeply troubled, but could find no solution. It was hard to give up gifts worth hundreds, but even harder to keep them.

And even if I could keep them, what about my children? What about my wife? They were being trained to a life of service, and to an understanding that service was its own reward.

And even if I could keep them, what about my children? What about my wife? They were learning to live a life of service and to understand that service was its own reward.

I had no costly ornaments in the house, we had been fast simplifying our life. How then could we afford to have gold watches? How could we afford to wear gold chains and diamond rings? Even then I was exhorting people to conquer the infatuation for jewellery. What was I now to do with the jewellery that had come upon me?

I had no expensive ornaments in the house. We had been simplifying our lives quickly. How, then, could we afford gold watches? How could we afford to wear gold chains and diamond rings? Even then, I was urging people to overcome their fascination with jewellery. What was I now to do with the jewellery I had received?

I decided that I could not keep these things. I drafted a letter, creating a trust of them in favour of the community and appointing Parsi Rustomji and others trustees. In the morning I held a consultation with my wife and children and finally got rid of the heavy incubus.

I decided that I could not keep these things. I drafted a letter placing them in a trust for the community. I appointed Parsi Rustomji and others as trustees. In the morning, I discussed the matter with my wife and children. At last, I was free of the heavy burden.

I knew that I should have some difficulty in persuading my wife, and I was sure that I should have none so far as the children were concerned. So I decided to constitute them my attorneys.

I knew I would have some difficulty persuading my wife, but I was sure I would have none with the children. So I decided to have them speak for me.

The children readily agreed to my proposal. ‘We do not need these costly presents, we must return them to the community, and should we ever need them, we could easily purchase them,’ they said.

The children readily agreed to my proposal. ‘We do not need these expensive gifts. We must return them to the community. If we ever need them, we can easily buy them,’ they said.

I was delighted. ‘Then you will plead with mother, won’t you?’ I asked them.

I was delighted. ‘Then you’ll plead with my mother, won’t you?’ I asked them.

‘Certainly,’ said they. ‘That is our business. She does not need to wear the ornaments. She would want to keep them for us, and if we don’t want them, why should she not agree to part with them?’

‘Of course,’ they said. ‘That is our business. She doesn’t need to wear the ornaments. She would want to keep them for us. If we don’t want them, why wouldn’t she agree to give them up?’

But it was easier said than done.

But it was easier to say than to do.

‘You may not need them,’ said my wife. ‘Your children may not need them. Cajoled, they will dance to your tune. I can understand your not permitting me to wear them. But what about my daughters-in-law? They will be sure to need them. And who knows what will happen to-morrow? I would be the last person to part with gifts so lovingly given.’

‘You may not need them,’ said my wife. ‘Your children may not need them. You can coax them into doing whatever you want. I can understand why you won’t let me wear them. But what about my daughters-in-law? They will surely need them. And who knows what will happen tomorrow? I would be the last person to give up gifts given with so much love.’

And thus the torrent of argument went on, reinforced, in the end, by tears. But the children were adamant. And I was unmoved.

And so the arguments kept coming, and in the end, there were tears too. But the children refused to give in. And I did not change my mind.

I mildly put in: ‘The children have yet to get married. We do not want to see them married young. When they are grown up, they can take care of themselves. And surely we shall not have, for our sons, brides who are fond of ornaments. And if after all, we need to provide them with ornaments, I am there. You will ask me then.’

I gently added: ‘The children are not married yet. We do not want them to marry young. When they grow up, they can take care of themselves. And surely we will not choose brides for our sons who love jewelry. If we do need to provide them with jewelry, I will be there. You can ask me then.’

‘Ask you? I know you by this time. You deprived me of my ornaments, you would not leave me in peace with them. Fancy you offering to get ornaments for the daughters-in-law! You who are trying to make sadhus of my boys from today! No, the ornaments will not be returned. And pray what right have you to my necklace?’

‘Ask you? I know you by now. You took away my ornaments. You wouldn’t let me keep them in peace. Imagine you offering to get ornaments for our daughters-in-law! You’re already trying to turn my boys into sadhus! No, I won’t return the ornaments. And what right do you have to my necklace?’

‘But,’ I rejoined, ‘is the necklace given you for your service or for my service?’

‘But,’ I replied, ‘was the necklace given to you for your service or for mine?’

‘I agree. But service rendered by you is as good as rendered by me. I have toiled and moiled for you day and night. Is that no service? You forced all and sundry on me, making me weep bitter tears, and I slaved for them!’

‘I agree. But your service is as good as mine. I have worked hard for you day and night. Isn’t that service? You forced everyone on me, making me weep bitterly, and I slaved for them!’

These were pointed thrusts, and some of them went home. But I was determined to return the ornaments. I somehow succeeded in extorting a consent from her. The gifts received in 1896 and 1901 were all returned. A trust-deed was prepared, and they were deposited with a bank, to be used for the service of the community, according to my wishes or to those of the trustees.

These were sharp arguments, and some of them struck home. But I was determined to return the ornaments. Somehow, I managed to extract her consent. All the gifts received in 1896 and 1901 were returned. A trust deed was drawn up, and the gifts were deposited with a bank. They were to be used in service of the community, according to my wishes or those of the trustees.

Often, when I was in need of funds for public purposes, and felt that I must draw upon the trust, I have been able to raise the requisite amount, leaving the trust money intact. The fund is still there being operated upon in times of need, and it has regularly accumulated.

Often, I needed money for public purposes and felt I had to draw on the trust. But I was able to raise the amount needed, leaving the trust money untouched. The fund is still there. It is used in times of need, and it has steadily grown.

I have never since regretted the step, and as the years have gone by, my wife has also seen its wisdom. It has saved us from many temptations.

I have never regretted taking that step. Over the years, my wife has also come to see that it was wise. It has saved us from many temptations.

I am definitely of opinion that a public worker should accept no costly gifts.

I firmly believe that a public worker should not accept expensive gifts.