A Month With Gokhale: Part I

From the very first day of my stay of with him Gokhale made me feel completely at home. He treated me as though I were his younger brother, he acquainted himself with all my requirements and arranged to see that I got all I needed. Fortunately my wants were few, and as I had cultivated the habit of self-help, I needed very little personal attendance. He was deeply impressed with my habit of tending for myself, my personal cleanliness, perseverance and regularity, and would often overwhelm me with praise.

From the first day I stayed with Gokhale, he made me feel completely at home. He treated me like a younger brother. He learned about all my needs and made sure I had everything I needed. Fortunately, I needed little, and because I was used to taking care of myself, I needed very little personal help. He was deeply impressed by my self-reliance, personal cleanliness, perseverance, and regular habits. He would often overwhelm me with praise.

He seemed to keep nothing private from me. He would introduce me to all the important people that called on him. Of these the one who stands foremost in my memory is Dr. (now Sir) P. C. Roy. He lived practically next door and was a very frequent visitor.

He seemed to keep nothing from me. He introduced me to all the important people who visited him. Of these, Dr. (now Sir) P. C. Roy stands out most in my memory. He lived almost next door and visited very often.

This is how he introduced Dr. Roy: ‘This is Prof. Roy, who having a monthly salary of Rs. 800, keeps just Rs. 40 for himself and devotes the balance to public purposes. He is not, and does not want to get, married.’

This is how he introduced Dr. Roy: ‘This is Prof. Roy. He earns Rs. 800 a month, keeps just Rs. 40 for himself, and gives the rest to public causes. He is not married and does not want to marry.’

I see little difference between Dr. Roy as he is today and as he used to be then. His dress used to be nearly as simple as it is, with this difference of course, that whereas it is Khadi now, it used to be Indian mill-cloth in those days. I felt I could never hear too much of the talks between Gokhale and Dr. Roy, as they all pertained to public good or were of educative value. At times they were painful too, containing, as they did, strictures on public men. As a result, some of those whom I had regarded as stalwart fighters began to look quite puny.

I see little difference between Dr. Roy today and the way he was then. His dress was nearly as simple then as it is now. The difference, of course, is that he wears Khadi now, while he wore Indian mill-cloth in those days. I felt I could never hear too much of the conversations between Gokhale and Dr. Roy. All of them concerned the public good or had educational value. At times, the conversations were painful too, because they included criticism of public figures. As a result, some people I had regarded as strong fighters began to look quite feeble.

To see Gokhale at work was as much a joy as an education. He never wasted a minute. His private relations and friendships were all for public good. All his talks had reference only to the good of the country, and were absolutely free from any trace of untruth or insincerity. India’s poverty and subjection were matters of constant and exclusive concern to him. Various people sought to interest him in different things. But he gave every one of them the same reply: ‘You do the thing yourself. Let me do my own work. What I want is freedom for my country. After that is won, we can think of other things. Today that one thing is enough to engage all my time and energy.’

Watching Gokhale work was both a joy and an education. He never wasted a minute. All his personal relationships and friendships served the public good. Everything he talked about concerned the good of the country. His words were completely free of untruth or insincerity. India’s poverty and lack of freedom were his constant and exclusive concern. Various people tried to interest him in other things. But he gave them all the same reply: ‘Do it yourself. Let me do my own work. What I want is freedom for my country. Once we have won freedom, we can think about other things. For now, that one goal is enough to occupy all my time and energy.’

His reverence for Ranade could be seen every moment. Ranade’s authority was final in every matter, and he would cite it at every step. The anniversary of Ranade’s death (or birth, I forget which occurred during my stay with Gokhale who observed it regularly. There were with him then besides myself, his friends Prof. Kathavate and a Sub-Judge. He invited us to take part in the celebration, and in his speech he gave us his reminiscences of Ranade. He compared incidentally Ranade, Telang and Mandlik. He eulogised Telang’s charming style and Mandlik’s greatness as a reformer. Citing an instance of Mandlik’s solicitude for his clients, he told us an anecdote as to how once, having missed his usual train, he engaged a special train so as to be able to attend the court in the interest of his client. But Ranade, he said, towered above them all, as a versatile genius. He was not only a great judge, he was an equally great historian, economist and reformer. Although he was a judge, he fearlessly attended the Congress, and every one had such confidence in his sagacity that they unquestioningly accepted his decisions. Gokhale’s joy knew no bounds, as he described these qualities of head and heart which were all combined in his master. Gokhale used to have a horse-carriage in those days. I did not know the circumstances that had made a horse-carriage a necessity for him, and so I remonstrated with him: ‘Can’t you make use of the tramcar in going about from place to place? Is it derogatory to a leader’s dignity?’

Gokhale’s reverence for Ranade was always apparent. Ranade’s authority was final in every matter, and Gokhale cited it at every step. During my stay with Gokhale, the anniversary of Ranade’s death or birth came around. I forget which it was. Gokhale observed the anniversary regularly. Besides me, his friends Prof. Kathavate and a Sub-Judge were there. Gokhale invited us to join the celebration, and in his speech he shared his memories of Ranade. Gokhale also compared Ranade, Telang and Mandlik. He praised Telang’s charming style and Mandlik’s greatness as a reformer. To show Mandlik’s concern for his clients, he told us a story. Once, Mandlik missed his usual train. He hired a special train so he could attend court for his client. But Ranade, Gokhale said, stood above them all as a genius with many talents. He was not only a great judge but also an equally great historian, economist and reformer. Although he was a judge, he attended the Congress without fear. Everyone had such confidence in his wisdom that they accepted his decisions without question. Gokhale’s joy knew no bounds as he described these qualities of mind and heart, all combined in his master. In those days, Gokhale had a horse-carriage. I did not know what circumstances had made the carriage necessary for him, so I objected: ‘Can’t you use the tramcar to get around? Is it beneath a leader’s dignity?’

Slightly pained he said, ‘So you also have failed to understand me! I do not use my Council allowances for my own personal comforts. I envy your liberty to go about in tramcars, but I am sorry I cannot do likewise. When you are the victim of as wide a publicity as I am, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for you to go about in a tramcar. There is no reason to suppose, that everything that the leaders do is with a view to personal comfort. I love your simple habits. I live as simply as I can, but some expense is almost inevitable for a man like myself.’

Slightly hurt, he said, ‘So you have also failed to understand me! I do not use my Council allowances for personal comfort. I envy your freedom to travel by tram, but I am sorry I cannot do the same. When you receive as much public attention as I do, you will find it difficult, if not impossible, to travel by tram. There is no reason to think that everything leaders do is for their personal comfort. I love your simple habits. I live as simply as I can, but some expense is almost inevitable for a man like me.’

He thus satisfactorily disposed of one of my complaints, but there was another which he could not dispose of to my satisfaction.

He resolved one of my complaints to my satisfaction. But he could not resolve the other one to my satisfaction.

‘But you do not even go out for walks,’ said I. ‘Is it surprising that you should be always ailing? Should public work leave no time for physical exercise?’

‘But you don’t even go out for walks,’ I said. ‘Is it surprising that you’re always ill? Should public work leave no time for exercise?’

‘When do you ever find me free to go out for a walk?’ he replied.

‘When do you ever see me with time to go for a walk?’ he replied.

I had such a great regard for Gokhale that I never strove with him. Though this reply was far from satisfying me I remained silent. I believed then, and I believe even now, that no matter what amount of work one has, one should always find some time for exercise, just as one does for one’s meals. It is my humble opinion, that far from taking away from one’s capacity for work, it adds to it.

I respected Gokhale so much that I never argued with him. Though his reply was far from satisfying, I remained silent. I believed then, and still believe, that no matter how much work one has, one should always make time for exercise, just as one makes time for meals. In my humble opinion, exercise does not reduce one’s capacity for work. It increases it.