The Phoenix Settlement

I talked over the whole thing with Mr. West, described to him the effect Unto this Last had produced on my mind, and proposed that Indian Opinion should be removed to a farm, on which every one should labour, drawing the same living wage, and attending to the press work in spare time. Mr. West approved of the proposal, and £3 was laid down as the monthly allowance per head, irrespective of colour or nationality.

I discussed the whole matter with Mr. West and told him how Unto this Last had affected me. I proposed moving Indian Opinion to a farm, where everyone would work and receive the same living wage. They would work on the newspaper in their spare time. Mr. West approved the proposal, and we set the monthly allowance at £3 per person, regardless of color or nationality.

But it was a question whether all the ten or more workers in the press would agree to go and settle on an out of the way farm, and be satisfied with bare maintenance. We therefore proposed that those who could not fit in with the scheme should continue to draw their salaries and gradually try to reach the ideal of becoming members of the settlement.

But it was uncertain whether all ten or more workers at the press would agree to settle on a remote farm and live on only the basics. So we proposed that those who could not fit into the plan should continue to receive their salaries. They could gradually work toward the ideal of becoming members of the settlement.

I talked to the workers in the terms of this proposal. It did not appeal to Sjt. Madanjit, who considered my proposal to be foolish and held that it would ruin a venture on which he had staked his all; that the workers would bolt, Indian Opinion would come to a stop, and the press would have to be closed down.

I explained the proposal to the workers. Sjt. Madanjit did not like it. He thought it was foolish and would ruin a venture in which he had invested everything. He believed the workers would run away, Indian Opinion would stop, and the press would have to close.

Among the men working in the press was Chhaganlal Gandhi, one of my cousins. I had put the proposal to him at the same time as to West. He had a wife and children, but he had from childhood chosen to be trained and to work under me. He had full faith in me. So without any argument he agreed to the scheme and has been with me ever since. The machinist Govindswami also fell in with the proposal. The rest did not join the scheme, but agreed to go wherever I removed the press.

One of the men working at the press was my cousin Chhaganlal Gandhi. I had proposed the scheme to him at the same time as I proposed it to West. He had a wife and children, but since childhood he had chosen to train and work under me. He had complete faith in me. So he agreed to the scheme without arguing and has been with me ever since. The machinist Govindswami also agreed to the proposal. The others did not join the scheme, but agreed to go wherever I moved the press.

I do not think I took more than two days to fix up these matters with the men. Thereafter I at once advertised for a piece of land situated near a railway station in the vicinity of Durban. An offer came in respect of Phœnix. Mr. West and I went to inspect the estate, and within a week purchased twenty acres of land. It had a nice little spring and a few orange and mango trees. Adjoining it was a piece of 80 acres which had many more fruit trees and a dilapidated cottage. We purchased this too, the total cost being a thousand pounds.

I do not think it took me more than two days to settle these matters with the men. I then immediately advertised for land near a railway station in the Durban area. An offer came for land at Phœnix. Mr. West and I went to inspect the property, and within a week we bought twenty acres. It had a pleasant little spring and a few orange and mango trees. Next to it was an 80-acre plot with many more fruit trees and a run-down cottage. We bought that plot too. The total cost was a thousand pounds.

The late Mr. Rustomji always supported me in such enterprises. He liked the project. He placed at my disposal second-hand corrugated iron sheets of a big godown and other building material, with which we started work. Some Indian carpenters and masons, who had worked with me in the Boer War, helped me in erecting a shed for the press. This structure, which was 75 feet long and 50 feet broad, was ready in less than a month. Mr. West and others, at great personal risk, stayed with the carpenters and masons. The place, which was uninhabited, and thickly overgrown with grass, was infested with snakes, and was obviously dangerous to live in. At first all lived under canvas. We carted most of our things to Phœnix in about a week. It was fourteen miles from Durban, and two and a half miles from Phœnix station.

The late Mr. Rustomji always supported me in such projects. He liked this one. He gave us used corrugated iron sheets from a large warehouse and other building materials. We began work with these materials. Some Indian carpenters and masons who had worked with me during the Boer War helped me build a shed for the press. The shed was 75 feet long and 50 feet wide. It was ready in less than a month. Mr. West and others stayed with the carpenters and masons, at great personal risk. The place was uninhabited, thickly overgrown with grass, and infested with snakes. It was clearly dangerous to live there. At first, everyone lived in tents. We transported most of our belongings to Phœnix in about a week. Phœnix was fourteen miles from Durban and two and a half miles from Phœnix station.

Only one issue of Indian Opinion had to be printed outside, in the Mercury press.

Only one issue of Indian Opinion had to be printed elsewhere, at the Mercury press.

I now endeavoured to draw to Phœnix those relations and friends who had come with me from India to try their fortune, and who were engaged in business of various kinds. They had come in search of wealth and it was therefore difficult to persuade them, but some agreed. Of these I can single out here only Maganlal Gandhi’s name. The others went back to business. Maganlal Gandhi left his business for good to cast in his lot with me, and by his ability, sacrifice and devotion he stands foremost among my original co-workers in my ethical experiments, and as a self-taught handicraftsman his place among them is unique.

I now tried to draw to Phœnix the relatives and friends who had come with me from India to seek their fortune. They were engaged in various kinds of business. They had come looking for wealth, so they were hard to persuade, but some agreed. Of these, I can mention only Maganlal Gandhi here. The others went back to business. Maganlal Gandhi left his business for good to join me. His ability, sacrifice, and devotion place him foremost among my original co-workers in my ethical experiments. As a self-taught craftsman, his place among them is unique.

Thus the Phœnix Settlement was started in 1904, and in spite of numerous odds Indian Opinion continues to be published at the Settlement.

The Phœnix Settlement was founded in 1904. Despite many difficulties, Indian Opinion continues to be published there.

But the initial difficulties, the changes made, the hopes and the disappointments demand a separate chapter.

But the early difficulties, the changes made, the hopes, and the disappointments need a separate chapter.