The Storm

We have seen that the two ships cast anchor in the port of Durban on or about the 18th of December. No passengers are allowed to land at any of the South African ports before being subjected to a thorough medical examination. If the ship has any passenger suffering from a contagious disease, she has to undergo a period of quarantine. As there had been plague in Bombay when we set sail, we feared lest we might have to go through a brief quarantine. Before the examination every ship has to fly a yellow flag, which is lowered only when the doctor has certified her to be healthy. Relatives and friends of passengers are allowed to come on board, only after the yellow flag has been lowered.

As we have seen, the two ships anchored in the port of Durban on or about December 18. Passengers cannot land at any South African port without a thorough medical examination. If any passenger has a contagious disease, the ship must undergo a period of quarantine. There had been plague in Bombay when we set sail, so we feared we might face a brief quarantine. Before the examination, every ship must fly a yellow flag. The flag is lowered only when the doctor has certified the ship as healthy. Passengers' relatives and friends may come on board only after the yellow flag has been lowered.

Accordingly our ship was flying the yellow flag, when the doctor came and examined us. He ordered a five days’ quarantine, because in his opinion, plague germs took twenty three days at the most to develop. Our ship was therefore ordered to be put in quarantine until the twenty third day of our sailing from Bombay. But this quarantine order had more than health reasons behind it.

So our ship was flying the yellow flag when the doctor came and examined us. He ordered a five-day quarantine because he believed plague germs took no more than twenty-three days to develop. The ship was therefore ordered to remain in quarantine until the twenty-third day after we sailed from Bombay. But the quarantine order was not based on health concerns alone.

The white residents of Durban had been agitating for our repatriation, and the agitation was one of the reasons for the order. Dada Abdulla and Co, kept us regularly informed about the daily happenings in the town. The whites were holding monster meetings every day. They were addressing all kinds of threats and at times offering even inducements to Dada Abdulla and Co. They were ready to indemnify the Company if both the ships should be sent back. But Dada Abdulla and Co, were not the people to be afraid of threats. Sheth Abdul Karim Haji Adam was then the managing partner of the firm. He was determined to moor the ships at the wharf and disembark the passengers at any cost. He was daily sending me detailed letters. Fortunately the late Sjt. Mansukhlal Naazar was then in Durban having gone there to meet me. He was capable and fearless and guided the Indian community. Their advocate Mr. Laughton was an equally fearless man. He condemned the conduct of the white residents and advised the community, not merely as their paid advocate, but also as their true friend.

The white residents of Durban had been campaigning to have us sent back. Their campaign was one of the reasons for the order. Dada Abdulla and Co. kept us regularly informed about what was happening in town each day. The white residents held enormous meetings every day. They made all kinds of threats against Dada Abdulla and Co., and sometimes even offered incentives. They were prepared to compensate the company if both ships were sent back. But Dada Abdulla and Co. were not afraid of threats. Sheth Abdul Karim Haji Adam was then the firm's managing partner. He was determined to dock the ships at the wharf and bring the passengers ashore at any cost. He sent me detailed letters every day. Fortunately, the late Sjt. Mansukhlal Naazar was then in Durban. He had gone there to meet me. He was capable and fearless, and he guided the Indian community. Their lawyer, Mr. Laughton, was equally fearless. He condemned the conduct of the white residents and advised the community. He did so not merely as their paid lawyer, but also as their true friend.

Thus Durban had become the scene of an unequal duel. On one side there was a handful of poor Indians and a few of their English friends, and on the other were ranged the white men, strong in arms, in numbers, in education and in wealth. They had also the backing of the state, for the Natal Government openly helped them. Mr. Harry Escombe, who was the most influential of the members of the Cabinet, openly took part in their meetings.

Durban had become the scene of an unequal struggle. On one side were a handful of poor Indians and a few English friends. On the other were the white men, who had more weapons, greater numbers, more education, and more wealth. The white men also had the support of the state, as the Natal Government openly helped them. Mr. Harry Escombe, the most influential member of the Cabinet, openly took part in their meetings.

The real object of the quarantine was thus to coerce the passengers into returning to India by somehow intimidating them or the Agent Company. For now threats began to be addressed to us also: ‘If you do not go back, you will surely be pushed into the sea. But if you consent to return, you may even get your passage money back.’ I constantly moved amongst my fellow passengers cheering them up. I also sent messages of comfort to the passengers of the s. s. Naderi. All of them kept calm and courageous.

The real purpose of the quarantine was to force the passengers to return to India by intimidating either them or the Agent Company. Now we began to receive threats too: ‘If you do not go back, you will surely be pushed into the sea. But if you agree to return, you may even get your passage money back.’ I went among my fellow passengers, cheering them up. I also sent comforting messages to the passengers of the s. s. Naderi. All of them remained calm and courageous.

We arranged all sorts of games on the ship for the entertainment of the passengers. On Christmas Day the captain invited the saloon passengers to dinner. The principal among these were I and my family. In the speeches after dinner I spoke on Western civilisation. I knew that this was not an occasion for a serious speech. But mine could not be otherwise. I took part in the merriment, but my heart was in the combat that was going on in Durban. For I was the real target. There were two charges against me:

We organized all sorts of games on the ship to entertain the passengers. On Christmas Day, the captain invited the saloon passengers to dinner. My family and I were the principal guests. In a speech after dinner, I spoke about Western civilisation. I knew the occasion did not call for a serious speech. But I could not speak otherwise. I joined in the merriment, but my heart was with the struggle going on in Durban. For I was the real target. There were two charges against me:

1. That whilst in India I had indulged in unmerited condemnation of the Natal whites.

1. That while I was in India, I had unfairly criticized the white people of Natal.

2. That with a view to swamping Natal with Indians I had specially brought the two shiploads of passengers to settle there.

2. That I had deliberately brought two shiploads of passengers to settle in Natal, intending to flood it with Indians.

I was conscious of my responsibility. I knew, that Dada Abdulla and Co, had incurred grave risks on my account, the lives of the passengers were in danger, and by bringing my family with me I had put them likewise in jeopardy.

I was aware of my responsibility. I knew that Dada Abdulla and Co. had taken serious risks because of me. The passengers' lives were in danger, and by bringing my family with me, I had put them in danger too.

But I was absolutely innocent. I had induced no one to go to Natal. I did not know the passengers when they embarked. And with the exception of a couple of relatives, I did not know the name and address of even one of the hundreds of passengers on board. Neither had I said, whilst in India, a word about the whites in Natal that I had not already said in Natal itself. And I had ample evidence in support of all that I had said.

But I was completely innocent. I had persuaded no one to go to Natal. I did not know the passengers when they boarded. Except for a couple of relatives, I did not know the name or address of any of the hundreds of passengers on board. And while in India, I had said nothing about the whites in Natal that I had not already said in Natal itself. I had plenty of evidence to support everything I had said.

I therefore deplored the civilisation, of which the Natal whites were the fruit, and which they represented and championed. This civilisation had all along been on my mind, and I therefore offered my views concerning it in my speech before that little meeting. The captain and other friends gave me a patient hearing, and received my speech in the spirit in which it was made. I do not know, that it in any way affected the course of their lives, but afterwards I had long talks with the captain and other officers regarding the civilisation of the West. I had in my speech described Western civilisation as being, unlike the Eastern, predominantly based on force. The questioners pinned me to my faith, and one of them,—the captain, so far as I can recollect,—said to me:

I therefore deplored the civilization that had produced the Natal whites and that they represented and championed. This civilization had long been on my mind, so I shared my views about it at that small meeting. The captain and other friends listened patiently and received my speech in the spirit in which I gave it. I do not know whether it affected their lives in any way. But afterward, I had long talks with the captain and other officers about Western civilization. In my speech, I had described Western civilization as based mainly on force, unlike Eastern civilization. My questioners pressed me to stand by my belief. One of them, the captain, as far as I can remember, said to me:

‘Supposing the whites carry out their threats, how will you stand by your principle of non-violence?’ To which I replied: ‘I hope God will give me the courage and the sense to forgive them, and to refrain from bringing them to law. I have no anger against them. I am only sorry for their ignorance and their narrowness. I know, that they sincerely believe that what they are doing today is right and proper. I have no reason therefore to be angry with them.’

‘If the whites carry out their threats, how will you stand by your principle of nonviolence?’ I replied: ‘I hope God will give me the courage and good sense to forgive them and not take them to court. I feel no anger toward them. I only feel sorry for their ignorance and narrow-mindedness. I know they sincerely believe that what they are doing today is right and proper. So I have no reason to be angry with them.’

The questioner smiled, possibly distrustfully.

The questioner smiled, perhaps distrustfully.

Thus the days dragged on their weary way. When the quarantine would terminate was still uncertain. The Quarantine Officer said, that the matter had passed out of his hands, and that as soon as he had orders from the Government, he would permit us to land.

The days dragged on wearily. We still did not know when the quarantine would end. The Quarantine Officer said the matter was no longer in his hands. As soon as he received orders from the Government, he would allow us to land.

At last ultimatums were served on the passengers and me. We were asked to submit, if we would escape with our lives. In our reply the passengers and I both maintained our right to land at Port Natal, and intimated our determination to enter Natal at any risk.

At last, the passengers and I were given ultimatums. We were told to give in if we wanted to escape with our lives. In reply, we maintained our right to land at Port Natal. We said we were determined to enter Natal at any risk.

At the end of twenty three days the ships were permitted to enter the harbour, and orders permitting the passengers to land were passed.

After twenty-three days, the ships were allowed to enter the harbor, and orders were issued allowing the passengers to land.