Back to South Africa

Manilal was thus restored to health, but I saw that the Girgaum house was not habitable. It was damp and ill-lighted. So in consultation with Sjt. Revashankar Jagjivan I decided to hire some well-ventilated bungalow in a suburb of Bombay. I wandered about in Bandra and Santa Cruz. The slaughter house in Bandra prevented our choice falling there. Ghatkopar and places near it were too far from the sea. At last we hit upon a fine bungalow in Santa Cruz, which we hired as being the best from the point of view of sanitation.

Manilal recovered, but I saw that the house in Girgaum was unfit to live in. It was damp and poorly lit. So, after consulting Sjt. Revashankar Jagjivan, I decided to rent a well-ventilated bungalow in a suburb of Bombay. I looked around Bandra and Santa Cruz. We ruled out Bandra because of the slaughterhouse there. Ghatkopar and nearby places were too far from the sea. At last, we found a fine bungalow in Santa Cruz. We rented it because it was the best choice for health and sanitation.

I took a first class season ticket from Santa Cruz to Churchgate, and remember having frequently felt a certain pride in being the only first class passenger in my compartment. Often I walked to Bandra in order to take the fast train from there direct to Churchgate.

I bought a first-class season ticket from Santa Cruz to Churchgate. I remember often feeling a certain pride in being the only first-class passenger in my compartment. I often walked to Bandra to catch the fast train directly to Churchgate.

I prospered in my profession better than I had expected. My South African clients often entrusted me with some work, and it was enough to enable me to pay my way.

I did better in my profession than I had expected. My South African clients often gave me work, and it was enough to cover my expenses.

I had not yet succeeded in securing any work in the High Court, but I attended the ‘moot’ that used to be held in those days, though I never ventured to take part in it. I recall Jamiatram Nanabhai taking a prominent part. Like other fresh barristers I made a point of attending the hearing of cases in the High Court, more, I am afraid, for enjoying the soporific breeze coming straight from the sea than for adding to my knowledge. I observed that I was not the only one to enjoy this pleasure. It seemed to be the fashion and therefore nothing to be ashamed of.

I had not yet managed to get any work in the High Court, but I attended the ‘moot’ held in those days. I never dared to take part, though. I remember Jamiatram Nanabhai playing a prominent role. Like other new barristers, I made a point of attending hearings in the High Court. I am afraid I went more to enjoy the sleep-inducing breeze coming straight from the sea than to learn anything. I noticed that I was not the only one who enjoyed it. It seemed to be fashionable, and therefore nothing to be ashamed of.

However I began to make use of the High Court library and make fresh acquaintances and I felt that before long I should secure work in the High Court.

However, I began using the High Court library and making new acquaintances. I felt that I would soon find work in the High Court.

Thus whilst on the one hand I began to feel somewhat at ease about my profession, on the other hand Gokhale, whose eyes were always on me, had been busy making his own plans on my behalf. He peeped in at my chambers twice or thrice every week, often in company with friends whom he wanted me to know, and he kept me acquainted with his mode of work.

I began to feel somewhat at ease about my profession. Meanwhile, Gokhale, who was always watching over me, was busy making plans for me. He stopped by my chambers two or three times a week, often with friends he wanted me to meet. He also kept me informed about how he worked.

But it may be said, that God has never allowed any of my own plans to stand. He has disposed them in His own way.

But it may be said that God has never allowed any of my own plans to stand. He has arranged them in his own way.

Just when I seemed to be settling down as I had intended, I received an unexpected cable from South Africa: ‘Chamberlain expected here. Please return immediately.’ I remembered my promise and cabled to say that I should be ready to start the moment they put me in funds. They promptly responded, I gave up the chambers and started for South Africa.

Just as I seemed to be settling down as planned, I received an unexpected cable from South Africa: ‘Chamberlain expected here. Please return immediately.’ I remembered my promise and cabled back. I said I would be ready to leave as soon as they sent me the money. They sent it promptly. I gave up my office and left for South Africa.

I had an idea that the work there would keep me engaged for at least a year, so I kept the bungalow and left my wife and children there.

I thought the work there would keep me busy for at least a year. So I kept the bungalow and left my wife and children there.

I believed then, that enterprising youths, who could not find an opening in the country, should emigrate to other lands. I therefore took with me four or five such youths, one of whom was Maganlal Gandhi.

At the time, I believed that enterprising young people who could not find opportunities in their own country should move abroad. So I took four or five such young people with me, including Maganlal Gandhi.

The Gandhis were, and are, a big family. I wanted to find out all those who wished to leave the trodden path, and venture abroad. My father used to accommodate a number of them in some state service. I wanted them to be free from this spell. Not that I could secure other service for them, I would not even if I could. I wanted them to be self-reliant.

The Gandhis were, and still are, a large family. I wanted to find everyone who wished to leave the familiar path and venture abroad. My father used to find government jobs for a number of them. I wanted them to be free from the hold of such jobs. Not that I could find them other jobs. I would not do so even if I could. I wanted them to be self-reliant.

But as my ideals advanced, I tried to persuade these youths also to conform their ideals to mine and I had the greatest success in guiding Maganlal Gandhi. But about this later.

But as my ideals developed, I also tried to persuade these young people to adopt them. I had the greatest success in guiding Maganlal Gandhi. But more about that later.

The separation from wife and children, the breaking up of a settled establishment, and the going from the certain to the uncertain,—all this was for a moment painful, but I had inured myself to an uncertain life. I think it is wrong to expect certainties in this world, where all else but God that is Truth is an uncertainty. All that appears and happens about and around us is uncertain, transient. But there is a Supreme Being hidden therein as a Certainty, and one would be blessed if one could catch a glimpse of that Certainty and hitch one’s waggon to it. The quest for that Truth is the summum bonum of life.

Leaving my wife and children, giving up a settled home, and moving from certainty to uncertainty were painful for a moment. But I had grown used to an uncertain life. I think it is wrong to expect certainty in this world. Everything is uncertain except God, who is Truth. Everything that appears and happens around us is uncertain and fleeting. But hidden within it all is a Supreme Being who is certain. One would be blessed to catch a glimpse of that Certainty and anchor one’s life to it. The search for that Truth is the highest good of life.

I reached Durban not a day too soon. There was work waiting for me. The date for the deputation to wait on Mr. Chamberlain had been fixed. I had to draft the memorial to be submitted to him and accompany the deputation.

I arrived in Durban just in time. Work was waiting for me. A date had been set for the delegation to meet with Mr. Chamberlain. I had to draft the petition to be submitted to him and accompany the delegation.

END OF VOLUME I

END OF VOLUME I